Page 1Page 2Page 31Introduction to Philosophy Fall 1998PI 225 B & C, 12:00/1:00 MWFDr. Ted Toadvine, 411P Plumb HallPhone: 341-5566 (office); 341-5462 (dept)Email: [email protected] Hours: MW 2:00 - 3:00; T 2:00 - 4:00; and by appointmentTexts Traversing Philosophical Boundaries, Max Hallman, ed. (Wadsworth, 1998).The Death of Ivan Ilych, Leo Tolstoy (Signet).Man's Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl (Simon & Schuster, 1984).Course Goals & TopicsThe main objective of this course is to introduce you to philosophical ways of thinking and train youto think and write critically about philosophical issues. In addition, the course will introduce you toa wide range of historical and contemporary perspectives on perennial philosophical questions:what is the nature of the self? What is the nature of reality? How can I know what is right? What isthe nature of religious belief? Unlike courses which place emphasis on transmitting content to bememorized, this course invites you to reflect on the significance and meaning of your own life, andthe role philosophical reflection may play in it. To fulfill this goal, we will conclude the course withliterary and historical narratives concerned with the meaning of life in the contemporary world.This course satisfies the General Education requirement in Literature and Ideas (Basic Skills VI)for certain majors. Course Requirements and GradingYour final grade will be determined as follows:4 quizzes @ 5% each = 20%4 short take-home essays @ 12.5% each = 50%in-class Final Exam = 25%participation = 5%-----100%The resulting percentage may be multiplied by .04 to determine your final grade in accordance withthe plus/minus four-point grade scale (A=4, A-=3.7, B+=3.3, B=3, etc. See p. 27 of theUndergraduate Catalogue for further information).Quizzes, based on assigned readings and previous class discussions, will be unannounced. Thesebrief, open-book quizzes at the beginning of class are to insure preparation for class discussion.Passing quizzes will require that you CAREFULLY read all assignments on time and attend class.Makeup quizzes will not be given for those who arrive late for class.Short essays must be at least 600 words (about 2 pages on most word-processors), and will onlybe accepted if typewritten, double-spaced, proof-read, and stapled. These essays will be inresponse to a question distributed in class, and must be brought to class on the due date. Oncertain designated days, students will be selected at random to read their essays to the class. If you2do not have your essay on a day you are selected to read, your participation grade will sufferdramatically.The Final Exam will consist of two in-class essays. These essays will be open-book, although theymust be written during the scheduled exam time. Possible essay topics will be distributed in classprior to the exam, and the actual exam questions will be drawn from these topics. You will need tobring blue books with you for the final exam.Academic dishonest of any kind will not be tolerated. This includes plagiarism, the paraphrase orquotation of any published or unpublished source without full and clear acknowledgement. Theuniversity policy regarding academic dishonest, as explained in the Student Handbook (p. 37), willbe strictly enforced. For help constructing your essays, please read the Appendix in Hallman, "Writing Philosophically"(665-684). Further assistance is available from the Writing Center, 345 Southeast Morse Hall. Youcan check the Writing Center hours or ask grammar and writing questions by calling the GrammarHotline, 341-5380. If you anticipate trouble with your writing, please consult with the Writing Centeror myself as soon as possible during the semester. Students having trouble with writingfundamentals may be required to seek assistance from the Writing Center as a condition forcontinuing in the course.You will be expected to attend class, and to come prepared to discuss assigned material. Missingthree classes will result in a full grade reduction. In the event of an absence when a quiz is givenor an essay is due, you must notify me in advance of the absence or if there is an emergency assoon as possible after the emergency. If you miss because of an emergency, I expect you todocument it. No make-ups or paper extensions will be given otherwise.If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations or emergencyevacuation, please contact me as soon as possible.Office HoursAs listed above, my office hours are Monday & Wednesday, 9:30 to 10:30, and Tuesday, 2:00 to4:00. I will be spending these hours in my office for the sole purpose of being available for yourquestions. If these times are not convenient for you, and there is something you need to discusswith me, please ask to make an appointment. Messages can be left with the Social Sciencessecretary (PH 411) at 341-5462. You are also welcome to address inquiries to me via email [email protected] Course ScheduleWEEK 1: Introduction to course: requirements, syllabus, mystery game8/24 - 8/28 "Introduction," Hallman (xvii-xxiii)Problems of Self and Identity (1-4)Selections from Upanishads and Buddhist scriptures (4-13)WEEK 2: Self Identity8/31 - 9/4 Selections from Hume, Schopenhauer, & Borges (13-24)3WEEK 3: LABOR DAY HOLIDAY (Monday, 9/7)9/7 - 9/11 ESSAY 1 READING DAY (Wednesday, 9/9)Mind vs. BodySelection from Plato (24-38)WEEK 4: Dualism and Beyond9/14 - 9/18 Selections from Descartes, Spelman, Ryle, & Parfit (38-72)WEEK 5: Self-Determination and Society9/21 - 9/25 Selections from Sartre, Mead, Beauvoir, and Zack (85 - 115)WEEK 6: ESSAY 2 READING DAY (Monday, 9/28)9/28 - 10/2 Introduction to Ethics (293-7)Selections from Aristotle, Mencius, and Kant (297-317)WEEK 7: Ethics Continued10/5 - 10/9 Selections from Bentham, Radhakrishnan, and Schweitzer (325-341)WEEK 8: Questioning Traditional Values10/12 - 10/16 Selections from Jain scriptures, Eagle Man, Leopold, Gilligan, Daly (349-383).WEEK 9: ESSAY 3 READING DAY (Monday, 10/19)10/19 - 10/23 Introduction to Religion (539-542)Selections from Augustine, Black Elk, and Kierkegaard (543-562)WEEK 10: The Value of Religion Today10/26 - 10/30 Selections from Buber, Gutiérrez, and Starhawk (562-595)WEEK 11: Evaluating Traditional Christianity11/2 - 11/6 Selections from Campbell (596-602), Whitehead (613-622), and Lin (644-651)WEEK 12: Concluding Discussion of Religion11/9 - 11/13 VETERAN'S DAY HOLIDAY (Wedns, 11/11)ESSAY 4 READING DAY