Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PH 101-1"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to Philosophical Thinking"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2018

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: David Levy
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 10:00-11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
We all have opinions about what is true and false, right and wrong, what is just, divine, and beautiful, what the self, mind, and soul are, or what makes us free. But can we justify our opinions about such things? Have we given rational and open-minded consideration to criticisms and alternatives, or are our opinions perhaps based only on prejudices and assumptions? In this course you will learn to use philosophical thinking to test and improve your opinions and your ability to evaluate the claims of important philosophers. Through the study and discussion of philosophical texts, classic or contemporary, you will grapple with issues of fundamental human importance and develop your capacities for careful reading, clear writing and speaking, and logical argumentation.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course has three parts. The first part introduces a perennial philosophical problem, that of soul (or mind) and body. Do human beings (and perhaps other living things) possess a soul? Or has this view been refuted by modern science? Without the soul can we still believe in freedom, morality, and a purposeful life?

The second part of the course will consist in a careful reading of one of Plato's most celebrated works, the Symposium. The Symposium recounts the speeches in praise of Love supposedly delivered at an Athenian drinking party by Socrates, eminent poets, and others; it also contains the only extended conversation of Socrates with a woman (Diotima) in the Platonic corpus. We will consider questions such as the following: What is love? What do lovers desire? What is the relation between love and poetry? and between love and philosophy?

The third part of the course introduces modern philosophy through readings from Voltaire, Locke, and Burke. Voltaire was a leading representative of the Enlightenment, a philosophical movement that aimed to substitute reason and science for what it regarded as prejudice and superstition. We will read selections from his witty and irreverent Philosophical Dictionary. Of John Locke, another source of Enlightenment thinking and a founder of social contract theory, we will read selections from the Second Treatise of Government. Edmund Burke attacked Voltaire and other Enlightenment philosophers for what he regarded as their reckless contempt for tradition and sentiment, and their overly narrow conception of civil society. We will read selections from his eloquent and impassioned Reflections on the Revolution in France.

Please note: this course is not for the meek. While no prior acquaintance with philosophy is required, some of the assigned texts are very challenging and students will be expected to devote substantial time and effort to them outside of class. It will be necessary to read these texts slowly, carefully, and at least twice in order to prepare properly for class discussions.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

One of the main goals of this course is to gain experience in the careful reading of texts. In the words of Sherlock Holmes: "Never trust to general impressions, but concentrate yourself upon details," for "the little things are infinitely the most important." (In concentrating on details we must not, of course, lose sight of the bigger picture; we must not miss the wood for the trees.)

Careful reading is, in turn, a foundation of good writing. One "learns to write well by reading well good books" (Leo Strauss). And good writing is inseparable from clear and logical thinking. We will work on improving all of these capacities--for reading, writing, and thinking.

Additionally, we aim to improve our capacity to listen to and consider seriously opinions that differ (sometimes drastically) from our own. And not least, we aim to deepen our understanding of issues of fundamental human importance.

TEXTBOOK:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Library Call Number	Comments	Format	Local Bookstore	Online Purchase
Symposium	Plato (tr. Brann, Kalkavage & Salem)	Focus	9781585105977		You are required to use this translation.
Philosophical Dictionary	Voltaire (tr. Besterman)	Penguin	9780140442571		You are required to use this translation.

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Library Call Number	Comments
What does it all mean?	Nagel	Oxford	978-0195052169

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Library Call Number	Comments
The Atheist's Guide to Reality	Alex Rosenberg	Norton	9780393080230	BL2747.3 .R67 2012
Mythology	Edith Hamilton	any	any	BL310 .H3 1989	Useful background reading for Plato's Symposium.
Four Texts on Socrates	Plato/Aristophanes	Cornell	978-0195052169	B316.F68 1984	For an introduction to Socrates, read Plato's Apology of Socrates.
Plato on Love	Plato	any	any	B358 .R44 2006	For those who wish to consult an additional translation of the Symposium.

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
class participation	(1) You are strongly encouraged to participate in class discussions. In order to do so productively, you must do the assigned readings ahead of time. For every class, you should be prepared to answer the question: "Tell me about the reading for today." (2) You are required to bring to each class a hard copy of the assigned reading for that day (electronic devices may not be used in class), and for translated texts, you are required to use the translations specified in the syllabus. FAILURE TO FULFILL THESE REQUIREMENTS WILL NEGATIVELY AFFECT YOUR GRADE FOR THE SEMESTER. (3) A short written comment or question (minimum two sentences; handwritten is OK; please double-space and leave margins) on the assigned readings is due every class, except for five times during the semester at your discretion. In addition, no comment is required on the day you turn in a paper. If you are absent from a class, you should turn in two comments the following class. Each comment should be focused on the assigned reading for that day, and should demonstrate that you have done that reading carefully and thoughtfully. Comments are not graded individually. (4) At least once during the semester, each student will present a 5-minute outline of a reading assignment (in lieu of a written comment). (5) You are permitted two absences without an excuse. Additional unexcused absences will negatively affect your grade. Examples of excusable absences are those due to illness or travel. Requests for an excused absence should be made in advance whenever possible. (6) Please make every effort to be punctual to class; consistent lack of punctuality will negatively affect your grade. (7) The instructor may require students to attend one or more evening lectures or lunchtime events that are relevant to this course or the study of philosophy.	20
3 papers	Late papers will be assessed a penalty unless an extension has been granted in advance. For the first paper, students will be required to visit the Writing Center before turning in the paper. A penalty will be assessed if this requirement is not met. Papers that refer to translated texts must be based on the translations specified in the syllabus; failure to use these translations will negatively affect your grade.	60
final exam	Essay questions on the assigned readings.	20

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
A Work of this quality provides a coherent, orderly argument based on a very careful reading of the relevant texts and a solid understanding of the relevant issues. The student displays superior reasoning skills and has done a good deal of original thinking about the material. He or she knows how to raise important questions about the text and to evaluate possible answers to them. The student writes very clearly and has a near-perfect command of English usage and grammar. (Appropriate allowances are made for those for whom English is not a first language.)
B This is a good level of performance. The student displays a capacity for careful reading and good reasoning. The work reflects some original thinking and is not simply a repetition of lecture material and readings. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions. The student writes clearly and has a good command of English usage and grammar.
C This is an acceptable, or fair, level of performance. The student provides answers that are clear but limited, consisting mainly in a repetition of the text or lectures. The student has some ability to write clearly and correctly.
D The student fails to demonstrate a coherent grasp of the material. Important information is omitted and/or irrelevant points included. The paper is poorly organized, and the student shows limited ability to write clearly and correctly.
F This work fails to show any significant knowledge of the texts and the issues. Most of the material is irrelevant or inaccurate. There is no coherent argument and the student shows little ability to write clearly and correctly. This grade is also given for an act of plagiarism or other form of academic dishonesty.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________

ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.

STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

You must bring to each class a hard copy of the assigned readings for that day. (The use of electronic devices in class is not permitted.) Failure to do so will negatively affect your grade. Students who consistently fail to do so will receive a failing grade for class participation.

Except for the Symposium and the Philosophical Dictionary, all readings may be printed out from the course post-it on MyJCU.

For translated works, you are required to use the translations specified in the syllabus.

Jan. 16 – What is philosophy? Why philosophy?

Jan. 18 – A very brief introduction to logic. Readings from Hardegree and Joseph (handout - also posted on MyJCU as "Logic A" and "Logic B")

Written assignment for Hardegree reading: Invent one argument for each of the following categories:
1. Factually correct but not valid
2. Valid but not factually correct
3. Sound (both factually correct and valid)

   Written assignment for Joseph reading:
   1. Invent two arguments that are fallacious.
   2. Describe a thing or event and distinguish between its condition(s) and its cause(s).

No additional written comment is due for this class.

Part I. Souls, brains, and science: or, what are we, really?

Jan. 23 – Thomas Nagel on the mind-body problem. [Optional: Nagel, "What is it like to be a bat?"]

Jan. 25 - Alex Rosenberg, "Disenchanted Naturalism": Introduction and sections 1-3. Optional: section 4 and excerpt from Rosenberg,The Atheist's Guide to Reality (useful for understanding the references to the second law of thermodynamics in sections 3-4)

Jan. 30 - Rosenberg, sections 5-6 and 9.

Feb. 1 - Richard Polt, "Anything But Human"

Feb. 6 - Polt, "Reality is Flat". Receive topics for first paper.

Part II. Plato, Symposium

Note: While reading the Symposium, please use the "Symposium Study Guide" (MyJCU). Also use the translators' Glossary.

Feb. 8 - Symposium: Translators' introduction ("To the Reader"), pp. xi-xv; 172A-180B = pp. 1-11.

Feb. 13 - 180C-188E

Feb. 15 – 189A-193D. First paper due.

Feb. 20 – 189A-193D (again).

Feb. 22 – 193D-197E

Feb. 27 – 198A-201C

Mar. 1 – 201D-207A

Mar. 6 – 207A-212C

Mar. 8 – 212C-216C.

Mar. 13 – 216C-222B

Mar. 15 – 222C-end. General discussion of the Symposium. Receive topics for second paper

Part III. Intro to the Enlightenment: For and Against

While reading Voltaire, please use the "Voltaire Study Guide" (MyJCU).

Mar. 20 – "Intro to Voltaire" (My JCU); Philosophical Dictionary: Chronology, pp. 401-3; “Abbé”, “Fanatisme: Fanaticism”, “Tolerance: Toleration”.

Mar. 22 – Philosophical Dictionary: “Liberté de pensée: Freedom of thought”

Mar. 27 – Philosophical Dictionary: “Liberté (de la): On freewill." Second paper due

Mar. 29 – Philosophical Dictionary: “Athée, athéisme: Atheist, atheism” (read all of it but focus especially on the discussion on pp. 54-57 as to whether an atheist society is possible and desirable); “Théiste: Theist."

Apr. 10 – Philosophical Dictionary: “Préjugés: Prejudices”.

Apr. 12 – Excerpts from Locke, Second Treatise of Government and excerpts from revolutionary documents (MyJCU, "Locke excerpts")

Apr. 17 – Burke's defense of prejudice. "Intro to Burke" (MyJCU); excerpt from Reflections on the Revolution in France (My JCU, "Burke excerpt 1"), pp. 181-182 (to the end of the last full paragraph). Receive topics for third paper.

Apr. 19: Burke's critique of natural rights. Burke, Reflections: "Burke excerpt 2": read from first full paragraph on p. 150 ("Far am I from denying in theory") to the end of the last full paragraph on p. 152.

Apr. 24 - Burke's critique of social contract theory. Burke, Reflections: "Burke excerpt 3" from the bottom of p. 192 ("Society is indeed a contract") to the top of p. 194 ("vice, confusion, and unavailing sorrow"). Third paper due.

Apr. 26 - Review of semester and preparation for final exam.