PHP 4000 Plato T/R
INSTRUCTOR:
Office: FAO 232 and
by appointment
Office Phone: 974-5896
Email: jingle24@tampabay.rr.com
This course is an examination of Plato’s major philosophical
themes through acquaintance with some of his dialogues in their entirety. Specifically, tol
investigate how we, according to Plato, should
live and how it is we know how we should live.
OBJECTIVE
To familiarize you with some of Plato’s writings and the
influence they have had upon the ‘history of ideas’
and western philosophy.
REQUIRED TEXTS
Plato:
Complete Works,
ed. John M. Cooper, Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., 1997.
Various articles (see syllabus)
RECCOMENDED
TEXTS
Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction. Edward Craig,
ATTENDANCE POLICY
It should go without saying that attendance is expected, indeed, mandatory, and that the final grade for the course may be affected by absences. However, to be perfectly clear about it, please note the following:
Students are expected to attend all class meetings (of course). Any student who misses four or more class meetings cannot expect to receive a grade higher than a 'B' for the course; students missing six or more classes cannot expect a grade higher than a 'C'; students missing eight or more classes cannot expect a grade higher than a 'D'. Obviously, plagiarism or cheating will not be tolerated; this can hardly come as a surprise. Students who anticipate being absent from class due to religious observance should inform the instructor by the second class meeting.
RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE ABSENCE POLICY
Students who anticipate the necessity of being absent from class due to the observation of a major religious observance must provide notice of the date(s) to the instructor, in writing, by the second class meeting.
Any student with a disability should be encouraged to meet
with the instructor privately during the first week of class to discuss
accommodations (See Student responsibilities:
http://www.sds.usf.edu/Students.htm). Each student must bring a current Memorandum
of Accommodations from the Office of Student Disability Services that is
prerequisite for receiving accommodations. Accommodated examinations through
the Office of Student Disability Services require two weeks notice. All course
documents are available in alternate format if requested in the student’s Memorandum
of Accommodations. (See faculty responsibilities: http://www.sds.usf.edu/faculty.htm).
You will write four take home exams. See Exam Format handout for details. The remainder of your grade will be comprised of daily quizzes.
90% 4 Essay Exams
10% Quizzes
CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE & PROHIBITIONS
· Silence your cell phone/all noise-makers before class begins. Every time your cell phone rings during class, I will deduct one point from your final grade. In other words, do not answer your cell phone while in class.
· I encourage both questions and discussion – within the following guidelines: At any time during class you may raise your hand to ask a question or make a pertinent/intelligent comment. I will call on you at an appropriate juncture. This means that I may not call upon you immediately. Be patient. You are not to conduct conversations with other students during class. Your attention should be directed towards the instructor, an acknowledged (called upon) student speaker, and the discussion/lecture in general.
· Bring your book to every class.
· Recordings of class are prohibited with no exceptions.
· Disruptive behavior of any kind will not be tolerated. Disruptive behavior includes but is not limited to noisemakers, whispered conversations between students (or hollered ones for that matter), thrown objects, abusive language or gestures, etc.
· While I cannot prevent students from falling asleep in class, once you are asleep it is my duty to encourage you to wake up and participate.
· In general, people want the most product for their money. This generalization does not hold true in education. As upperclassmen, I’d like you to consider that the idea of being educated less (skipping class, sleeping in class) while still paying tuition is nonsense.
GRADING POLICY
100-93% A
92-90% A-
89-87% B+
86-83% B
82-80% B-
79-77% C+
76-73% C
72-70% C-
69-67% D+
66-63% D
63-60% D-
59-0% F
INSTRUCTOR AVAILABILIY
The easiest and best way to reach me is email. If you need to schedule an appointment
outside of my office hours, email me.
Feel free to stop by my office, with or without a question.
The penalty for plagiarism or cheating will be at least automatic failure in the
course. Review USF’s
policies on academic dishonesty at http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/0405/adadap.htm
and/or see me for further explanation.
The
S/U GRADING
The request for a grade of S/U must be made by the 3rd week
of the semester.
INCOMPLETE POLICY
Incomplete grades may be granted when, due to circumstances
beyond the control of the student, only a small portion of the required work
remains undone and the student is otherwise passing the course.
All course materials, handouts, etc. will be made available via myusf. Thus: there is never an excuse not to have material from a missed class. It is, however, your responsibility to borrow class notes from another student.
Quizzes may not be made-up. The only exception will be religious observance.
Exam dates are unlikely to change. Plan accordingly.
8/31 Introduction: Ancient Philosophy
9/2 Euthyphro
“Asebeia
and Sunousia: The Issues Behind
the Indictment of Socrates”— e-reserve
9/9 “
9/14 “
9/16 Crito
9/21 Laches
9/23 “
9/28 Meno
9/30 “
10/5 Meno
10/7 “
10/12 7th
Letter
10/14
10/19 Symposium
10/21 “
10/26 “
10/28 “
11/2 Republic
11/4 “
11/9 “
11/11 Veteran’s Day
11/16 Republic
11/18 “
11/23 “
11/25 Thanksgiving
11/30 “
12/1 “
12/4 Finals