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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "PH 101-1"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to Philosophical Thinking"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall Semester 2012
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Levy David
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 11:30-12:45
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
TBD
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
What does it mean to think philosophically, and why should anyone wish to do so? Socrates, we may recall, was put to death by the Athenians for “corrupting the youth.” Is philosophy a pursuit that is, at best, useless, and, at worst, subversive of moral and religious opinion? Or is philosophy the necessary means of transforming opinion into knowledge? Yet to what extent is knowledge even attainable by human beings? To help us think about these questions, we will read challenging but accessible texts by Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Nietzsche and others.
Among the issues to be discussed:
The relation between philosophy and religion
The best way of life
Do human beings have a soul and if so, what is its character?
What can we be certain about?
Is there a fixed human nature, or does man create himself?
The format of the course will be a mixture of lecture and class discussion. Every student will have the right and responsibility to ask questions, to challenge the views of the instructor or of other students, and to defend his or her own views with appropriate reasons.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
In Plato we have the classical presentation of philosophy and of the philosopher (Socrates). The strange argument is made that philosophy, understood as the rational examination of common opinion, is in itself the greatest good, the best way of life.
Descartes effects a major change in the meaning and the goal of philosophy. Philosophy now means not so much the examination of opinion as the investigation of natural bodies by means of experiments. Moreover, philosophy is to be practised not merely for its own sake, but so that the human race may become “the master and possessor of nature.”
Both Plato and Descartes suppose that there is somehow a nature of things which philosophy can aspire to discover. But Nietzsche and the existentialists question whether the notion of nature is not merely a convenient human construct. If man and the world have no nature, no permanent structure, how then do we obtain standards by which to live and think? The short answer is that we ourselves create such standards.
Thus the course offers an introduction to three great alternative answers (ancient, modern and post-modern) to the question of the character and purpose of philosophy, and the related question of the human good.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
In this course, we will learn not so much how to answer philosophic questions as how to pose such questions. We will learn how to read a philosophic text carefully, how to evaluate an argument, and how to make an argument. We will learn how to distinguish fundamental and permanent problems from superficial or ephemeral ones. We will learn to identify the often unspoken assumptions that underlie beliefs--our own and those of others--and to examine those assumptions critically. We will, in other words, develop capacities that should belong to every liberally educated person.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| Four Texts on Socrates | West (ed.) | Cornell, 1998 | Paperback: 9780801485749 | | | | | |
| Discourse on Method | Descartes | Focus Publishing | Paperback: 9781585102594 | | | | | |
| Existentialism from Dostoevsky to Sartre | Kaufmann (ed) | Plume / Penguin 2004 | Paperback: 9780452009301 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments |
| The Ancient City | Fustel de Coulanges | | 0801823048 | JC51.F95 | |
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| attendance, quizzes and active participation | <span>Included in this part: bring to every class one written comment or question on the assigned reading for that class. Comments may be as short as one sentence. Students may be called upon to read their comments aloud.</span> | 20% |
| 3-page paper on Plato | All three papers for the course should be double-spaced. | 20% |
| 3-page paper on Descartes | | 20% |
| 3-page paper on existentialists | | 20% |
| final exam | Essay questions based on all course readings. Closed book; students may bring 1 page of notes (front and back). | 20% |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
Assessment Guidelines for assigning main letter grades: A, B, C,D, and F.
A: Work 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.
B: This is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.
There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluate theory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture and reference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
C: This is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
D: This 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.
F: This 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:
Students are expected to attend class regularly and unexplained absences will negatively affect a student's grade.
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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.
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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.
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SCHEDULE
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Week 1
Introduction
Is there a love of wisdom? Divergent views of Aristotle and Nietzsche
Weeks 2-6
Plato: Euthyphro and Apology
Recommended readings:
A. Aristophanes, Clouds (in West & West, Four Texts on Socrates), esp. lines 92-261, 364-435, 1408-1511.
B. Fustel de Coulanges, The Ancient City (on library reserve): Book III ch. 7 section 4, Book III ch. 17, Book IV ch. 11.
Weeks 7-10
Descartes: Discourse on Method
Weeks 11-14
Existentialists: Nietzsche, Ortega, Sartre
General review
Final Exam
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