Introduction
to Philosophy
PHH 2000: Sections 001 through 012, 014 & 016
Fall 2004
Professor Charles Guignon
Best way to reach me is by e-mail: guignon@chuma1.cas.usf.edu
Office: FAO 213, Phone:
974-9839
Office Hours: Mon & Wed.,
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 ideal community, 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 possibility of 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 new book price as listed on Amazon.com in August,
2004):
Chinua Achebe, THINGS FALL
APART (Anchor) $6.96
F. Dostoevsky, THE GRAND
INQUISITOR (Hackett) $6.95
= GI
C. Guignon, ed., THE GOOD LIFE
(Hackett) $14.95
= GL
R. Rorty, ACHIEVING OUR COUNTRY
(Harvard) $10.47
F. Nietzsche, TWILIGHT OF THE
IDOLS & THE ANTICHRIST (Viking) $5.95 = TI
Additional
readings will be available on Library reserve and in class handouts
Reading Schedule:
Aug 24 Introduction: What Is Philosophy?
Aug 31 A Traditional Worldview: Achebe (all);
the question of cultural relativism
Sept 7 The Pursuit of Happiness: Chapters 13
and 10, and pp. 11-12 and vii-xv in GL
First short paper due week of Sept.13-17
Sept 14 Nature and Other
People: Chapters 1, 17, and either 22 or 23 (you choose) in GL
Sept 21 The Death of Absolutes (Nietzsche): Chapter 18 of GL
Sept 28 Self-Mastery
(Plato): Chapter 2 in GL; Plato’s “Cave” analogy (handout)
Second short paper due week of
Oct. 4-8
Oct 5 What Can I Know? (Descartes): 1st
Meditation (Library reserve); T. Nagel (handout)
Oct 12 Mind and Body (Descartes): 2nd
Meditation (Library reserve); GL, pp. 143-47
Oct 19 Determinism: Pereboom essay (Library
reserve), also, TI, p. 56
Oct 26 Terrible Freedom (Sartre): Chapter 19
in GL
Third short paper due week of
Nov. 1-5
Nov 2 Is There a God?: Aquinas’ “
Nov 9 The Problem of Evil: GI, pp. xxix-xxx
and 1-19
Nov 16 The Religious Life:
GI, pp. ix-xxvii and 19-80
Fourth short paper due week of
Nov. 29-Dec. 3
Nov 23 The Postmodern Turn: TI, pp. 39-51
Nov 30 Political
Involvement: Rorty, pp. 3-38, 125-140 (Recommended: pp. 75-107)
Final Exam
Note: Reflection papers must be handed in to your Teaching
Assistant in your regularly scheduled discussion section during the week it is
due.
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 and you make a mistake, 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.
A large part of this course consists in what are called “close readings” – we
will read together and discuss passages from the texts. Always bring the book or reading being
discussed to the lecture and discussion section on the day it is to be
discussed.
Four short
reflection papers during the semester.
Topics and information on writing papers 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.) – roughly in that
order.
A comprehensive final exam
consisting of two essays (selected from 4 on the exam sheet) in which you will
(1) compare
and contrast the views of different thinkers on some topic 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 exam 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!
Grading: Class
participation 20%
Reflection papers 50%
Final Exam 30%
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. (If you are using a selection
by an author from an edited collection of readings, put the name of the author
of the reading, NOT the name of the editor of the collection!) 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.
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 may
not be accepted.