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INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOHY – P100, SECTION 29022

INDIANA UNIVERSITY SOUTHEAST – FALL 2016

MONDAY, WEDNESDAY:  9:30AM – 10:45PM; ROOM – Crestview Hall 201

INSTRUCTOR:  ROY FULLER, Ph.D. 

Office Hours: Knobview Hall, room 225, Monday, Wednesday, 8:45-9:15 AM

Email: rfuller@ius.edu  

 

Course Description: PHIL-P 100 Introduction to Philosophy (3 cr.) Perennial problems of philosophy, including problems in ethics, in epistemology and metaphysics, and in philosophy of religion. Readings in selected writings of philosophers from Plato to the present.

 

General Education Requirements: Phil – P100 can fulfill General Education degree requirements for the following areas relating to Student Learning Outcomes:

Reasoning about Ethical Questions

  1. Explain and evaluate several key moral principles and ethical theories.
  2. With respect to a particular moral issue, evaluate alternative positions using appropriate principles or theories and articulate the ramifications and consequences both of alternative courses of action and of the acceptance of different moral principles and ethical theories.
  3. Engage in moral discussions constructively and effectively.

Critical Thinking

  1. Evaluate the quality of arguments and evidence, and the accuracy of claims.
  2. Evaluate the quality of statistical evidence.
  3. Identify logical errors and fallacies.
  4. Distinguish among facts, inferences, opinions, and value assertions.
  5. Recognize alternative approaches and conflicting viewpoints.

Central Ideas, Issues and Methods of Inquiry for Arts and Humanities (select)

  1. Apply disciplinary methodologies, epistemologies, and traditions of the humanities and the arts, including the ability to distinguish primary and secondary sources.
  2. Analyze and evaluate texts, objects, events, or ideas in their cultural, intellectual or historical contexts.

 

Phil – P100 also fulfills necessary course hours for the Major in Philosophy.

 

Required Text:

Philosophy: The Power of Ideas by Brooke Noel Moore & Kenneth Bruder. McGraw Hill, 2014, 9th edition. ISBN 9780078038358

 

Course Expectations and Assignments:

  • Class attendance and participation: Class attendance and participation is essential to a course of this nature. Excessive absences can negatively affect you grade. Illness is usually the only acceptable excuse for absence from class. Other absences must be explained to the satisfaction of the instructor, who will decide whether missed assignments may be made up. A student who is absent from the final examination and who has a passing grade up to that time may be given a grade of I (incomplete) at the discretion of the instructor. Reading the assigned materials is essential. Take notes on what you read; outline the material; jot down comments, questions, agreements and/or disagreements you may have, so that you can raise these in class. All students need to be prepared to talk about the texts and the issues involved.
  • Examinations: Format: Each test will be a combination of short answer and essay questions. Make-Up Exams will be permitted only rarely.  In case of emergency, the student should make every effort to notify the instructor as soon as possible.  Advance notice must be given in the case of a planned absence.
  • Written assignment: Each student will compose a term paper in which the student, employing both primary and secondary sources, which: (1) researches a philosophical problem of their own choosing, (2) reflects a diversity of opinion on the problem, and (3) summarizes their own position. Additional information will be provided.
  • Final grade will be calculated based on the following: Exams = (3) each worth 25% of final grade; Written Assignment (1) = 25% of final grade

Grading Information:

  • Grading scale: For examinations and written assignments are as follows:

A+ = 100-98   B+ = 92-90     C+ = 84-82     D = 76-66

A = 97-95        B = 89-87        C = 81-79        F = 65 and below

A- = 94-93      B- = 86-85      C- = 78-77

 

Institutional Policies Relating to Students:

Students with Disabilities:  Students who have a disability that requires accommodations in the classroom should contact the Office of Disability Services by phone (941-2243) or email (mtspring@ius.edu) early in the semester so that their learning needs may be appropriately met.  The student will need to provide documentation of the disability and if further documentation is needed, recommendations can be provided from the Office of Disability Services. Additional information about the Office of Disability Services may be obtained at: http://www.ius.edu/asc/disabilityservices/

Academic Misconduct: Please consult the following web page for IU policies regarding academic misconduct:   http://studentcode.iu.edu/responsibilities/academic-misconduct.html

Harassment: A student has the right to be free from sexual or discriminatory harassment. Please find policies pertaining to harassment at:  http://studentcode.iu.edu/rights/harassment.html

Summary of Student Conduct Rights and Responsibilities may be found here: https://www.ius.edu/dean-of-students/code-of-conduct/iu-code-summary.php

 

  • Instructor reserves the right to make adjustments to the schedule of sessions, assignments and examinations. Students will be informed via email of any changes.
  • Audio/video recordings of class sessions may be allowed with instructor permission. Classroom discussions and guest speakers may only be recorded with permission of all participating speakers.

 

OUTLINE OF SUBJECTS AND READINGS

Week 1

Aug. 22           Philosophy is Dangerous       

Aug. 24           Why are we here?  Pages 1-16

 

Metaphysics and Epistemology: Existence and Knowledge

Week 2            The First (known) Philosophers

Aug.29, 31      Pages 18-69

 

Week 3            Hellenistic and Early Christian Philosophers

Sept. 5 – No Class – Labor Day

Sept. 7             Pages 70-91

 

Week 4            Philosophy goes modern

Sept. 12, 14     Pages 92-123

 

Week 5            18th and 19th century thought

Sept. 19, 21     Pages124-189

 

Week 6

Sept. 26           Exam # 1

Ethics: The Moral Order

Sept. 28           Ethics through Hume; Pages 234-261

 

Week 7            Ethics through and after Hume

Oct. 3, 5          Pages 261-286

 

Week 8            Political Philosophy: Foundations

Oct. 10, 12      Pages 287-333

 

Week 9            Contemporary Moral and Political Philosophy

Oct. 17, 19      Pages 334-271

Last Day to Withdraw – Oct. 23

 

Week 10          Feminist Philosophy

Oct. 24            Pages 422-462

Oct. 26            Exam # 2

 

Philosophy of Religion and the Mind

Week 11          Is it possible to prove God?

Oct. 31, Nov. 2 Pages 374-420

 

Week 12          Science and Faith

Nov. 7, 9         Handout

 

Week 13          Current Philosophical Problems

Nov. 14, 16     Pages 547-578

 

Week 14          Current Philosophical Problems (continued)

Nov. 21          

Thanksgiving Break – Nov. 22-27

 

Week 15          Eastern Philosophy

Nov. 28, 30     Pages 463-516

 

Final Exam – Wednesday, December 7, 9:30-11:20 AM

Course Summary:

Course Summary
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