PHH 2000.003

Introduction to Philosophy

Course Syllabus

Tuesday/Thursday 12:30-1:45

Instructor: Jocelynn Jurkovich e-mail: jjurkovi@luna.cas.usf.edu

Office: FAO 238 and SVC 2037 phone: 974-8115

Hours: Wednesday 1:00-2:00, and by appointment

Course Description and Objectives: The main goal of this course is to introduce students to many of the major questions philosophers have faced throughout time. Responses from a variety of figures (both ‘canonical’/historical and contemporary ones) will be examined, and students will be strongly encouraged to add their own voices to the discussion. The questions and texts we cover are as relevant to our time and lives as they were in antiquity. Hopefully students will gain a more critical understanding of themselves, the world, and the lives they lead. Finally, this course seeks to prepare students for further study in the discipline of philosophy.

Course Requirements:

Final grades will be determined by three basic elements of the class: class participation, papers, and exams.

30% - Class Participation (attendance, discussion, in-class writing assignments)

You are expected to attend class regularly. You must read all of the assigned material and come prepared to discuss your thoughts and questions with the class. Additionally, each class period will begin with a five minute writing assignment based on the assigned readings. It will be a straightforward, easily answered question assuming you have done the reading. These may not be made up, and thus if you are repeatedly late and miss the question, your grade will be negatively affected. Likewise, a student who is absent more than three times will lose ten percentage points for each day missed thereafter.

20% - Paper #1 (6-8 pages)

20% - Paper #2 (6-8 pages)

As a Gordon Rule class, you are expected to do a heavy amount of writing. You will be assigned 2 papers, both will be substantial and will require a good understanding of the texts and concepts discussed in the course. You will be given a choice of topics as well as the opportunity to design your own topic – subject to my approval. Papers must be typed, double spaced, with one inch margins and must conform to proper academic style and regulations with college-level use of grammar and the English language. Papers not conforming to these standards will not be accepted. I am available to review drafts if submitted well in advance of the due date.

15% - Exam #1

15% - Exam #2

Two exams will be given, both will be short-answer format. A list of possible questions will be provided in advance, but the exams will be closed books, notes, outlines, etc.

** A note on late papers: except in extreme circumstances (see note pertaining to makeup exams), papers will not be accepted if submitted more than four days past the due date, and will be docked one letter grade for each day it is late. A paper not turned in at the beginning of class time on the day it is due is late. In other words, don’t come to class late (or miss class altogether) in order to finish a paper. If the paper is not finished by class time, it is best to come to class without it and get the paper to me as soon as possible after class is over.

** A note on makeup exams: except in extreme circumstances, makeup exams will not be administered. If such circumstances arise, arrangements must be made with me in advance of the exam to take it at a later date.

Miscellaneous Information:

Philosophy is fundamentally about questions and the search for answers. This search is perhaps best conducted in dialogue format. It is crucial that people are respectful of each other during the discussions. Everyone does not need to agree, but you can (and will) learn from one another if you are open to understanding different perspectives. Disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated and will result in a loss of class participation points.
Plagiarism, cheating, or any other type of dishonest behavior will not be tolerated. Please take great pains to insure that when representing ideas that are not your own to clearly CITE YOUR SOURCES!! This includes major figures, parents, friends, professors, etc. Misrepresenting someone else’s ideas or work as your own (whether in a paper, exam, or in class assignment) will result in an F on the assignment, and has the possibility of further disciplinary action by the University.
What if school is closed on a class day? Obviously, if school is closed for a hurricane or other catastrophic event, we will not be able to hold class. If it is a day when a paper is due or exam is to be held, it is your responsibility to contact me for instructions. In such an instance, I will send out an e-mail with instructions and schedule adjustments, but if I do not have your correct address or you do not receive the message, you must contact me. Usually, papers will be due the next day school is open to my box or may be e-mailed to me (in Word or Works format). Exams will be rescheduled for the next class period and the schedule adjusted accordingly.

Grading Scale:

A+ = 97-100; A = 93-96; A- = 90-92; B+ = 87-89; B = 83-86; B- = 80-82;

C+ = 77-79; C = 73-76; C- = 70-72; D+ = 67-69; D = 63-66; D- = 60-62; F = 59 & below

Required Text:

The Canon and It’s Critics: A Multi-Perspective Introduction to Philosophy. Furman and Avila, eds. Mayfield (2000).

Tentative Course Schedule:

August 29 introductions – syllabus, overview of course, etc.

What is Philosophy? – Introduction

Read: Plato pp. 4-9, Russell pp. 10-12

September 5 Metaphysics – Chapter 8

Read: Descartes pp. 214-221, Locke pp. 223-225, Berkeley pp. 227-233

7 Metaphysics continued

Read: Hawking pp. 233-240, Gleick pp. 241-247

12 Challenges to Metaphysics – Chapter 9

Read: Hume pp. 251-256, Haslanger pp. 258-264, Ayer pp. 266-272

Epistemology – Chapter 10

Read: Plato pp. 275-278, Descartes pp. 280-286, Hume pp. 288-290

19 Epistemology continued

Read: Kant pp. 292-298, James 299-301

21 Challenges to Epistemology – Chapter 11

Read: Jagger pp. 305-314, Code pp. 315-320, West pp. 321-326

26 Objectivity vs Subjectivity – Chapter 12

Read: Nagel pp. 329-332, MacKinnon pp. 334-340, Rorty pp. 341-347, Feyerabend pp. 347-354

28 Exam #1

October 3 The Mind/Body Problem – Chapter 4

Read: Moreland pp. 118-122, Ryle pp. 124-129, Skinner pp. 131-135, Armstrong pp. 134-143

5 Identity – Chapter 5

Read: Locke pp. 147-153, Williams pp. 154-156, Quinton pp. 157-162, Parfit pp. 164-168

10 Shaping Identity – Chapter 6

Read: Chodorow pp. 171-173, Bordo pp. 175-182, Fanon pp. 184-187, Warrior pp. 188-191

12 Language – Chapter 7

Read: Whorf pp. 195-201, Nagami pp. 203-207, Baker 209-214

17 Standpoint Theory – Chapter 13

Read: Harding pp. 357-361, hooks pp. 363-367, Fraser & Nicholson 369-377, McIntyre pp. 379-384

19 Ethics – Chapter 14

Read: Rachels pp. 387-394, Mill pp. 396-403, Kant pp. 405-412

24 Ethics continued

Read: Aristotle pp. 413-418, Singer pp. 420-425, Nietzsche (handout), Sartre (handout)

Morality – Chapter 15

Read: Hampshire pp. 429-435, Fingarette pp. 437-441, Gilligan pp. 443-450

31 PAPER #1 DUE; Free or Determined? – Chapter 1

Read: d’Holbach pp. 15-22, Campbell pp. 23-30, Ayer pp. 31-35, Flanagan pp. 37-43, Frankfurt pp. 44-51, Wolf pp. 32-57

November 2 Freedom and Society – Chapter 2

Read: Sartre pp. 61-64, Marx pp. 66-69, Wilson & Herrnstein pp. 72-79, Reiman pp. 80-86

7 Political Theory – Chapter 16

Read: MLK pp. 463-468, Locke pp. 470-476, Mill pp. 477-483

9 Political Theory continued

Read: Hospers pp. 485-492, Marx & Engels pp. 494-498, Rawls pp. 500-508

14 Challenges to Political Theory – Chapter 17

Read: Pateman pp. 511-516, Neville pp. 518-524, Tronto pp. 525-532

16 Exam #2

21 God – Chapter 18

Read: St. Anselem pp. 535-536, Aquinas pp. 538-539, Dawkins pp. 541-547, Russell pp. 548-556, Pascal pp. 557-559, James pp. 560-563

Thanksgiving – No Classes

28 Evil – Chapter 19

Read: Mackie pp. 568-575, Swinburne pp. 576-586, Fackenheim pp. 588-591, Copeland pp. 592-599

30 Challenges to God – Chapter 20

Read: Nietzsche pp. 602-611, Cone pp. 613-617, McFague pp. 619-625

December 5 Living Life – Chapter 21

Read: Aristotle pp. 629-632, Sartre pp. 634-641, West pp. 642-646, Bartky pp. 348-654

7 wrap up, course evaluations, etc.

13 PAPER #2 Due by 2:00 p.m. to my box