Fall 2007Phi 2010-7: Introduction to PhilosophyFlorida Atlantic UniversityBoca Raton, FLDr. Jari Niemi Phil 2010-7Office: AL 182 MWF 9:00-9:50Office Hours: MWF 10:00-11:00; F 2:00-4:00 SO 370And by appointment Office Phone: 297-4304E-Mail: [email protected]“The man who has no tincture of philosophy goesthrough life imprisoned in the prejudices derived from common sense, from the habitual beliefs of his age or his nation, and from convictions which have grown up in his mind withoutthe co-operation or consent of his deliberate reasoning”--Bertrand RussellRequired Textbooks: Descartes, Rene. Discourse on Method and Meditations on First Philosophy. Hackett,1999. ISBN: 0872204200. Hume, David. An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding. Oxford, 1999. ISBN: 0198752482. Locke, John. Second Treatise of Government, ed. C.B. Macpherson. Hackett, 1990. Mill, John Stuart. On Liberty: With the Subjection of Women and Chapters on Socialism, ed. Stefan Collini (Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1990) ISBN: 0521379172.Possible additional required readings available on the Blackboard (BB).Course Description and General Objectives: This is an introductory course in philosophy whose aim is to acquaint you with the discipline of philosophy, its method of inquiry as well as the central topics, concepts, and vocabulary. We shall attempt to accomplish this through engaging with some of most important and enduring thinkers in the philosophical canon. This, however, does not mean that our concentration will be on the thinkers themselves; rather, our main focus will be on understanding the central themes, ideas, and perennial philosophical problems presented in the works. In addition to our aim of understanding, we shall also endeavor to evaluate the validity of the ideas put forward. For example, is it true—which all of us probably believe--that tables, chairs, cars, and other human beings exist? What are some of the philosophical arguments for this? Against this? Can we know that a god exists? Can we objectively determine what is just and unjust? In other words, we all think that at least some of our beliefs are true and secure but, on further reflection, are they? How much dowe really know? Do our beliefs stand up to close philosophical scrutiny? What exactly isthe philosophical method? Is it distinct from the scientific method? Our attempt to answer such questions, and many others, will not only challenge your existing beliefs; it will also hopefully make you a more careful, better thinker. Specific Objectives: Some of the more specific aims of the course are:a. to understand and identify terms of argumentation such as premise, conclusion, statement, validity, among others;b. to understand, identify, and distinguish the different fields of philosophical inquiry: ontology, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy;c. to understand, identify, distinguish, and use such central philosophical terms as:rationalism, empiricism, idealism, materialism, skepticism, monism, dualism,solipsism, property, freedom, liberalism, libertarianism, socialism, among others;d. to be able to discuss philosophical issues with philosophical sophistication and clarity;e. to be able to write with philosophical sophistication and clarity, includingconstructing arguments, anticipating possible objections, stating fundamental assumptions, among others;f. to be able to identify logical and empirical weaknesses in arguments; g. to be able to distinguish philosophy from other disciplines such as biology,history, anthropology, sociology, and psychology; andh. to understand and distinguish the fundamental philosophical positions and possible disagreements of Descartes, Hume, Locke, and Mill.Course Requirements: - Attendance and Participation. You should attend every class, be on time, and notleave class early. Also, because your comprehension of the issues in this class cannot beaccomplished monologically, you must come to class having read the assignments andbeing prepared to contribute to the class discussion. In other words, attending class andsimply observing the proceedings will not work. Having said that, I will take attendanceonly for my own purposes, not for determining a part of your grade. Exceptional classparticipation (both quantitative and qualitative) may have a beneficial effect on yourfinal grade. - Exams. There will be two in-class exams, combining multiple choice and essayquestions. One of these exams will be the final, which is comprehensive. - Reading Questions. I shall post questions for most—possibly all--of the readingson the Blackboard prior to the reading assignment. You need to provide typedanswers to the questions and bring them to class with you. Your answer will beanalyzed for content and grammar. You will receive three possible grades on thereading questions: (a) a check mark for a full credit or; (b) no check markindicating no credit or; (c) a request to revise your answer for a full credit. If (c)occurs, your revised answer is due in the beginning of the next class period. Also,your resubmission of a revised answer does not guarantee any credit. I shallcollect eight of these answers unannounced in the beginning of the class, five ofwhich will count towards your grade. So, you should always answer all thereading questions and bring your answers to class. Reading Questions cannotbe made up for any reason. - Writing Assignments: This course is designated as a Writing AcrossCurriculum course. This means that students must engage in a significant amountof writing (minimum 5000 words); that the writing assignments will be graded forgrammar, spelling, syntax, clarity, content; that students cannot pass the courseunless they also pass the writing component of the course and, thereby, satisfy theWriting Across Curriculum requirements. So, in addition to the reading questions which fulfill a portion of this requirement,students will write one paper (Writing Assignment) outside of class which willhave a length of approximately 2000-2500 words, and consists of both a first draftand a substantially revised product. The professor will provide students withsubstantive feedback on the first draft, and students are expected to substantiallyrevise the first draft on the basis of the professor’s comments and