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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PH 101-1"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to Philosophical Thinking"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2015
SYLLABUS

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

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course provides a historical introduction to philosophical reflection, through reading and discussion of major works in the Western philosophical tradition. The course requires attentive outside reading to enable the individual student to engage him - or herself in active classroom discussions and argumentation and thus to progress in the learning and practicing of philosophical analysis and thoughtful discourse.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course will introduce philosophy through the intensive study of selections from Nietzsche's Untimely Meditations and of several shorter dialogues of Plato including the Laches (on courage) and the Hippias Major (on beauty).
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Acquire an understanding of philosophy as a way of thinking and living and of the challenges it poses to other such ways (and vice versa).

Gain experience in the art of reading carefully a philosophic text.

Improve one’s ability to speak and write clearly, correctly and thoughtfully.

TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
The Roots of Political PhilosophyThomas L. Pangle (editor)Cornell0-8014-9465-6 (paperback)     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
Untimely MeditationsFriedrich NietzscheCambridge0521289270 B3317.N28 

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
attendance, participation, short written comments, pop quizzesAll absences from class should be justified (for example: illness, travelling), preferably in advance. Punctuality is important. Short written comments (handwritten is fine) on the assigned readings are due every class, except for five times during the semester at the student's discretion. In addition, no written comment is required on days when a paper is due. If you miss a class, you may turn in two comments the following class. Although comments are not graded individually, they should be thoughtful and well-written. Pop quizzes will be graded Pass / Fail. Students are strongly encouraged to participate actively in class discussions; those who do not, however, can still receive a good class participation grade by performing well in other respects. The individual elements of class participation do not have fixed percentage weights; rather, in determining your final class participation grade I take into account each element and make an overall evaluation.20%
3-4 short papers 60%
final exam (essay questions on the assigned readings) 20%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
A Work of this quality provides a coherent, orderly argument based on an 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 This level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material. Important information is omitted and 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 any act of plagiarism or other form of academic dishonesty.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY

Students are expected to attend class regularly and on time.  Unexcused absences and lack of punctuality will negatively affect a student's grade.  If you will have to miss a class, please let the instructor know in advance.

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 December 11, 2015.
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

1 Sept – What is philosophy?  In-class exercise: what kind of wisdom is most worth having?

3 Sept – The happiness of the philosopher: Spinoza, excerpts from Treatise on the Emendation of the Intellect and Theological-Political Treatise (handout)

8 Sept – Nietzsche, Schopenhauer as Educator, pp. 127-130, 136-137, 161-166

10 Sept – On the Uses and Disadvantages of History for Life, Foreword and part 1

15 Sept – On the Uses… part 2

17 Sept – On the Uses… part 3

22 Sept – On the Uses… part 4, pp. 77-80; part 7, pp. 95-98.  Hand out topics for first paper (due 1 Oct)

24 Sept – Plutarch, Life of Alcibiades

25 Sept – Alcibiades’ speech in Plato’s Symposium   

29 Sept – Plato, Alcibiades I 103a-109c. 

1 Oct – Alcibiades I 109c-116e.  First paper due.

6 Oct – Alcibiades I 116e-127e

8 Oct – Alcibiades I 127e-end

13 Oct – Plutarch, Life of Nicias.  In-class exercise: what is courage?

15 Oct – Plato, Laches 178a-184c

20 Oct – Laches 184d-189d. Hand out topics for second paper (due 29 Oct)

22 Oct – Laches 189d-194b

27 Oct – Laches 194b-196c. 

29 Oct – Second paper due.  Laches 196d-end.  In-class exercise: what is beauty?

3 Nov –Plato, Hippias Major 281a-283b

5 Nov – Hippias Major 283b-286a. 

10 Nov – Hippias Major 286c-291c.  Hand out topics for third paper (due 19 Nov)

12 Nov – Hippias Major 291c-295a

17 Nov – Hippias Major 295a-297d

19 Nov – Hippias Major 297d-302c.  Third paper due.

24 Nov – 302c-end.  In-class exercise: what is law?

1 Dec – Plato, Minos 313a-317d

3 Dec – Minos 317d-end.  Prep for final.