PHH 2000

                                    Fall, 2003

Professor Charles Guignon       

                         Phone: 974-9839

Office: FAO 213, Hours: Thurs, 11:00-1:00 & by appointment

E-mail:  guignon@chuma1.cas.usf.edu

 

 

Introduction to Philosophy

 

Course Objectives:

Reading a variety of major philosophical works and philosophically relevant fiction, we will explore some of the major issues discussed by philosophers today.  These include questions about alternative worldviews and relativism, the meaning and purpose of life, the breakdown of morality in the modern world, the relation of mind and body, the limits of knowledge, the possibility of free will, the significance of modern scientific discoveries for our lives, the existence of God, the problem of evil, the religious life, and political commitment under contemporary conditions.  Our goals are (1) to gain a deep understanding of the ideas formulated by some of the greatest minds of all time, (2) to develop skills of critical thinking to enable us to assess ideas, and (3) to develop and defend our own personal philosophy.

 

Texts (including book price as listed on Amazon.com in July, 2003):

 

Chinua Achebe, THINGS FALL APART (Anchor)  $9.95

F. Dostoevsky, THE GRAND INQUISITOR (Hackett)  $5.95 = GI

C. Guignon, ed., THE GOOD LIFE (Hackett)  $14.95 = GL

R. Rorty, ACHIEVING OUR COUNTRY (Harvard)  $11.20

F. Nietzsche, TWILIGHT OF THE IDOLS & THE ANTICHRIST (Viking)  $8.76 = TI

Additional readings will be available on Library reserve and in class handouts

 

Reading Schedule:

 

Aug 26            Introduction: What Is Philosophy?

Sept 2  A Traditional Worldview: Achebe (all); the question of cultural relativism

Sept 9  The Pursuit of Happiness: Chapters 13 and 10, and pp. 11-12 and vii-xv in GL

Sept 16            Nature and Other People: Chapters 1, 17, 22 and 23 in GL

Sept 23            The Death of Absolutes (Nietzsche): Chapter 18 of GL

                                                            First short paper due

Sept 30            Self-Mastery (Plato): Chapter 2 in GL; Plato’s “Cave” analogy (handout)

Oct 7   What Can I Know? (Descartes): 1st Meditation (Library reserve); T. Nagel (handout)

Oct 14 Mind and Body (Descartes): 2nd Meditation (Library reserve); GL, pp. 143-47

Oct 21            Determinism: Pereboom essay (Library reserve), also, TI, p. 56 & GL, pp. 253-260

Second short paper due

Oct 28 Being-in-the-world: Guignon essay (Library reserve)

Nov 4     Is There a God?: Aquinas’ “Five Ways” (handout), and GI, pp. xxix-xx and 1-19

Nov 18            The Religious Life: GI, pp. ix-xxvii and 19-80

                                                            Third short paper due

Nov 25            The Postmodern Turn: TI, pp. 39-51

Dec 2   Political Involvement: Rorty, pp. 3-38, 125-140 (Recommended: pp. 75-107)

                                                            Final Exam

 

 

Requirements:

Anywhere from 5 to 100 pages of reading a week, depending on whether we are reading difficult philosophical works or fiction.  Do the readings in advance.  Usually you will have to read

slowly and carefully, often reading more than once.  It is a good idea to underline with a sharp pencil and write notes in the margins.  If your underlining is in pencil, you can erase it later.  Put question marks next to anything you do not understand and be prepared to ask about it in discussion sections. 

 

Three short reflection papers during the semester.  Topics and information on precise due date, etc., will be handed out in advance.  In these papers, you will be asked to (1) clearly and precisely explain ideas from the thinker(s) you are discussing, (2) critically assess the thinker’s views, and (3) present and defend your own view(s) on the subject.  The paper assignments will be based primarily on materials presented in class and discussion sections.  It will be graded on the basis of (1) mastery of materials presented in class, (2) understanding of the text(s) being discussed, (3) ability to present and defend a position clearly and effectively, and (4) originality, creativity, organization, and effective writing (grammar, spelling, etc.).

 

A comprehensive final exam consisting of two essays in which you will (1) compare and contrast the views of different thinkers and (2) draw some conclusions of your own.  You will have the choice of taking this exam either as an in-class exam (using a blue book) or as a take-home exam.  Everyone will receive the exam questions in advance to give them time to prepare for the final.  The exams will be based on your mastery of the materials presented in lecture and discussion groups, and on your understanding of the readings and issues.

 

In addition, Teaching Assistants may assign quizzes or “extra credit” assignments when they feel that doing so would help you to learn the material.

 

All written work will be on the materials presented in lecture and discussion groups, so attendance is extremely important.  You should prepare in advance for class and be alert and engaged during class, especially in discussion sections.  I strongly recommend you take notes – nothing focuses the mind more than trying to put ideas into your own words immediately.  It is a very good idea to read over and revise your notes that evening, adding questions or comments to bring up in discussion section.  If you work hard in class, you will find that you don’t have too much to do outside of class.  If you don’t work hard in class, or if you miss class (shudder!), nothing will help you!

 

Note on plagiarism:  If you use any sources in your writing assignments, you must document them by citing them in your work.  My preferred way to cite a source is to put the last name of the author and the page number in parentheses right after the material used, and to list the source in the “References” at the end of the paper.  Any source you use should be identified under “References” at the end of the paper.  Any direct quote of more than a couple of words must be in quotation marks and cited.  Quoted material should never be more than a few lines; if you are using more material than that, summarize it in your own words and then cite it.  The vast majority of your paper should be a product of your own thinking and your own personal way of formulating things.  If you use material from elsewhere and do not cite it, even if you have changed a few words here and there, you are guilty of plagiarism and subject to extremely harsh penalties.  We are trained to identify material that has been taken from the Web or elsewhere, and we will not hesitate to take action if we find anyone guilty of this despicable crime.

 

Grading:                  Class participation                         20%

                                    Reflection papers                          50%

                                    Final Exam                                   30%

 

Students who will miss class due to religious observance must inform their Teaching Assistant in advance and make arrangements to make up missed work.  Students who are absent more than three days during the semester should present evidence of a medical excuse.  Papers turned in after the due date will be marked down one increment of a grade (a “+” or a “-”) for each class day late.  Papers more than three class days late will not be accepted.