Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PH 101-1"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to Philosophical Thinking"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2020

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: David Levy
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 3:00 PM 4:15 PM
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:

We will study in this course a selection of classic and modern philosophic texts presenting contrasting views on the following topics:

· Virtue, pleasure, and freedom (Epictetus, Epicurus, Mill, Sartre.)

· Justice, community, and law (Xenophon, Aristotle, Aquinas, Hobbes, and others.)

· Women and Men. Are the sexes fundamentally the same or not, and what difference does it make? (Simone de Beauvoir, Harvey Mansfield.)

· Is morality relative to culture or are there universal norms? (Ruth Benedict, Allan Bloom, Montaigne.)

Classes will consist of a mixture of discussion and lecture, as well as oral presentations by students on the assigned readings. Much of our time will be spent in close analysis of texts and arguments; we will also consider how these arguments bear on current moral and political controversies and more generally, on how we ought to live our lives.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1. Gain experience in the careful reading of difficult and complex texts.

2. Learn how to evaluate an argument (that is, a set of reasons supporting a claim) and how to make one.

3. Improve your capacity for clear and logical thinking, speaking, and writing.

4. Gain a basic understanding of some of the major philosophical problems and of the alternative solutions to them.

TEXTBOOK:

NONE

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Library Call Number
Manliness	Harvey Mansfield	Yale	9780300106640	HQ1090 .M365
The Discourses	Epictetus	Everyman	0460873121
Existentialism a Very Short Introduction	Thomas Flynn	Oxford	9780192804280

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
class participation	(1) Class discussions help us test our opinions, improve our speaking and reasoning skills, and learn from each other. In order to participate in such discussions productively, we must do the assigned readings carefully and thoughtfully. Be ready to ask questions or offer opinions about the reading and the issues it concerns. (2) You are required to bring to each class a paper copy of the assigned reading for that day (electronic devices may not be used in class). (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 or give an oral presentation. If you are absent from a class, you may turn in two comments the following class. Each comment should be tightly focused on the assigned reading for that day. Comments are not graded individually. (4) Once during the semester, each student, in lieu of a written comment, will present orally to the class a 5-minute outline/analysis of that day's reading. (You will need to turn in to me any written notes that you prepare for this presentation.) (5) More than two unexcused absences will negatively affect your grade. Examples of excusable absences are those due to illness or pre-planned travel. Requests for an excused absence should be made in advance whenever possible. (6) Be punctual and do not take breaks in the middle of class unless it is an emergency. (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	Typically 1000-1400 words. Late papers will be assessed a penalty unless an extension has been granted in advance. Papers that refer to translated texts must be based on the translation(s) 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.)
BThis 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.
CThis 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.
DThe 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.
FThis 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

All readings are posted on My JCU. You must print out each reading and bring it to class (the use of electronic devices in the classroom is not permitted). Should you have trouble accessing My JCU, email me and I will send you the reading.

Also on My JCU, consult the document "Guide to Readings" for background information on some of the readings below.

Jan 21 intro

Unit 1: Virtue, pleasure, and freedom

Jan 23 Stoic virtue. Epictetus, Discourses: Arrian's introductory letter to Lucius Gellius; Book One, chapters 1, 2, 4, 18, 19; Book Two, chapter 15.

Jan 28 Stoic virtue in practice. Vice Admiral James Stockdale, "Courage under Fire: Testing Epictetus's Doctrines in a Laboratory of Human Behavior"

Jan 30 Epicurus and the case for pleasure. Epicurus, "Letter to Menoeceus"

Feb 4 Utilitarianism. John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism, ch. 1, ch. 2 pp. 12-21 (to the end of the top paragraph which ends: "the whole sentient creation"). Note: if you find Mill's 19^th century English difficult, you are permitted to use the modernized version of this text provided at www.earlymoderntexts.com.

Feb 6 Mill, Utilitarianism ch. 2, pp. 21-31

Feb 11 Mill, Utilitarianism ch. 2, pp. 31-end.

Feb 13 Existentialism. Jean-Paul Sartre, "Existentialism is a Humanism", pp. 1-7.

Feb 18 "Existentialism is a Humanism", pp. 7-14. Receive assignment for first paper.

Unit 2: Justice, community, and law

Feb 20 Justice: the lawful or the beneficial? Xenophon, Education of Cyrus, Book One, chapters 2-3

Feb 25 Man is a political animal. Aristotle, Politics I. chapters 1-6. (Note that the summaries in italics are by the translator not Aristotle.)

Feb 27 Thomas Aquinas on natural law: Summa Theologiae I-II.94 articles 2 and 4. First paper due.

Mar 3 Leo Strauss on "classic natural right": Natural Right and History, pp. 126-135

Mar 5 Natural law in practice. Martin Luther King's application of natural law to the struggle for civil rights: "Letter from Birmingham Jail"

Mar 17 Man is not a political animal. Hobbes's radically new natural law teaching: On the Citizen, ch. 1

Mar 19 On the Citizen, ch. 2 (sections 1-3), ch. 3 (sections 1, 3, 8-15, 26, 29, 31, 32)

Mar 24 On the Citizen, ch. 5

Mar 26 On the Citizen, ch. 6 (sections 1-9, 12, 13, 17-18). Receive second paper assignment.

Unit 3: Women and men

*Recommended background reading for this unit*: the debate between Steven Pinker and Elizabeth Spelke on gender differences (2005): https://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/debate05/debate05_index.html#p46

Mar 31 A philosophy of feminism. Simone di Beauvoir, The Second Sex, Introduction

Apr 2 Simone di Beauvoir, The Second Sex, Part 2, ch. 1. Second paper due.

Apr 3 at 10:00 am (make-up class for April 9) Simone di Beauvoir, The Second Sex, Conclusion

Apr 7 Critique of feminism. Harvey Mansfield, "What has Happened to Manliness?" pp. 5-11

Apr 9 – no class

Apr 14 "What has Happened to Manliness?" pp. 12-17

Apr 16 Harvey Mansfield, "A New Feminism". Receive third paper assignment.

Unit 4: Cultural relativism or universal norms?

Apr 21 Morality is culturally relative. Ruth Benedict, "The Concept of the Normal," pp. 591-598

Apr 23 Against cultural relativism. Allan Bloom, The Closing of the American Mind, p. 35 (from the bottom paragraph beginning "One of the techniques") – p. 40 (to end of the paragraph that begins "I know that men"). Third paper due.

Apr 28 A non-relativistic critique of European ethnocentrism: Montaigne, "The Cannibals"

Apr 30 Wrap up Unit 4, review semester, prep for final exam