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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PH 101-2"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to Philosophical Thinking"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2022
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Annette Merle Bryson
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 10:00 AM 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 provides an introduction to some of the most enduring and difficult philosophical questions. These include: Can we know that the external world exists? Can we know that there are other minds? What is the relation between mind and body? What is personal identity? What is race? What is gender? Does anything really matter? Does God exist? We will explore the intellectual significance of the questions we address and evaluate some of the answers philosophers have proposed.We will consider both contemporary and historical responses. We will develop and defend our own ideas regarding these and other questions while refining the skills we will need to critique our own answers as well as those of others through readings, class discussions, and writing assignments.         
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will have gained:  

·         a clearer understanding of some of the fundamental philosophical questions and the range of answers that have been given;

·         a better understanding of the shortcomings and strengths of these various approaches to answering these fundamental questions;

·         a refinement of your own critical reasoning and argumentative skills;

·         a refinement of your capacities to recognize and assess philosophical arguments;

·         an enhancement of the conceptual tools we need to develop and defend our own philosophical views;

·         a refinement of your abilities to defend and express philosophical positions in a clear, well-reasoning way through both writing and conversation;

·         the (re)discovery of the joy of philosophical inquiry!
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
The Norton Introduction to Philosophy, 2nd editionRosen, Byrne, Cohen, Harman, and ShiffrinNorton978-0-393-63146-3 Please wait to purchase the book after our first week together!! Ebook  
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
EngagementOur time together will be more rewarding for all if everyone does the reading before class and takes part in our class discussions, both during class meetings and on the discussion forums on Moodle. 20%
QuizzesAll quizzes will be open-book (on Moodle).20%
Writing Assignment 1You will be expected to write a short paper, which will be due mid-way through the term. Details about the paper will be provided in class.20%
Writing Assignment 2You will be expected to write a second short paper, which will be due at the end of the term. Details about the paper will be provided in class.20%
Final Exam The final exam will cover all material we have covered over the course of the semester. (The final exam will be on Moodle.)20%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
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.
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

Note: This syllabus is intended to give the student guidance in what may be covered during the semester and will be followed as closely as possible. However, the professor reserves the right to modify, supplement, and make changes as the course needs arise. [All readings are from The Norton Introduction to Philosophy, unless otherwise specified.]

 

 

 I. Thought Experiments & Philosophical Reasoning

Week 1:             Introduction to Each Other and to Philosophy; Thought Experiements

Week 2:             Moral Reasoning: Philosophical Arguments

“Why Philosophy? Five Views"

"A Brief Guide to Logic and Argumentation"

II.The Meaning of Life

Week 3:                What is the Meaning of life?

Richard Taylor, "The Meaning of Life"

Susan Wolf, "Meaning in Life and Why it Matters" 

Week 4:                What is the Meaning of Life? 

  Thomas Nagel, "The Absurd"

  Samuel Scheffler, "Death and the Afterlife"

 

III. Topics in Epistemology

Week 5:                Analysis of Knowledge: What is it to know?

Plato, Meno (excerpt)

"Introduction to Knowledge" (Bryson will furnish)

Week 6:                Knowledge & Skepticism   

                                        René Descartes, "Méditation I: What Can be Called into Doubt?"

  David Hume, "Of Skepticism with Regard to the Senses"

Week 7:                Responses to Skepticism

G. E. Moore, "Proof of an External World"

Jonathan Vogel, “Skepticism and Inference to the Best Explanation” 

 

IV. Topics in Social Epistemology

Week 8:               Social Epistemology: Forming Beliefs in the Wild

                                         C. Thi Nguyen, "Escape the Echo Chamber" (Bryson will furnish)

       [Additional reading: TBD]

Week 9:               Social Epistemology: Standpoint Theory and Testimony

                                        W. E. B. Du Bois, “Of the Ruling of Men” (Bryson will furnish)

      Linda Alcoff, “The Problem of Speaking for Others” (Bryson will furnish)

      Kristie Dotson, “Tracking Epistemic Violence, Tracking Practices of Silencing” (Bryson will furnish) 

 

V. Topics in Metaphysics

Week 10:            Making Sense of What Is

 Bertrand Russell, “Appearance and Reality”

 Direct and Indirect Realism and Phenomenalism (handout)

Week 11:            Personal Identify, Race, and Gender

 Sally Haslanger "Gender and Race: "(What) Are They? (What) Do We Want Them To Be?

Kwame Anthony Appiah, "The Uncompleted Argument: Du Bois and the Illusion of Race

 

VI. Topics in Ethics

Week 12:              Contemporary Ethics

 Judith Jarvis Thomson, “A Defense of Abortion”

Don Marquis, “Why Abortion is Immoral”

Week 13:              Contemporary Ethics

Shannon Dea, “A Harm-Reduction Approach to Abortion” (Bryson will furnish)

Alison Jaggar, ”Abortion Rights and Gender Justice” (Bryson will furnish) 

 

Week 14:              Wrapping up & Final exam preparation