Page 1Page 2Page 3Philosophy 225 MB Summer 2002INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY8:30 - 11:50 MTWR, Plumb Hall 408Instructor: Dr. Ted ToadvinePhone: 341-5566 (office); 341-5462 (Social Sciences Secretary)Email: [email protected] Hours: 1:00 - 5:00 M-F, Plumb Hall 411LREQUIRED TEXTTraversing Philosophical Boundaries, ed. by Max Hallman (Wadsworth, 1998).COURSE OBJECTIVESC To come to an understanding of relevant issues and arguments surrounding some of the deepest and most enduringproblems of human existence, e.g., Is there an eternal self? How can I distinguish right from wrong? What are myobligations to other people and the world around me? What role should religion play in my life and in society?C To explore the diverse perspectives and positions on these issues across a wide range of cultures and time periods.C To introduce you to the specific ways of thinking appropriate for philosophical questions and train you to think andwrite critically about philosophical issues.C To encourage your reflection on these and other significant issues which confront us all today.This course fulfills the "Multicultural Intensive" course requirement and the General Education requirement inLiterature and Ideas (Basic Skills VI) for certain majors.COURSE REQUIREMENTSC 3 weekly reading questionaires @ 5% each = 15%C 2 600-word take-home essays @ 20% each = 40%C 3 tests @ 15% each = 45%" ATTENDENCE: Since participation in class discussions is an integral component of this course, attendance at everyclass is expected as a minimum requirement for this course. Lectures and discussions will include material not containedin the reading assignments. Since each day of summer class counts for more than a week during the regular semester,missing TWO classes FOR ANY REASON will result in a full grade reduction. In the event that BOTH absences arethe result of an extreme medical condition, documented by a statement from your physician or Health Services, notifyme as soon as possible to discuss required makeup work. Missing THREE or more classes will result in an “F” for thecourse. Three late arrivals for class will count as one unexcused absence. NO MAKEUP TESTS will be given for thosewho are absent or late for class without documentation of an emergency. All makeup work is at my discretion. I do notaccept last-minute “extra-credit” work from those whose failure to attend has resulted in a poor grade at the end of thesemester." READING ASSIGNMENTS & QUESTIONNAIRES: Please do not take this class unless you are committed to completingthe reading as assigned. You are expected to be in command of the assigned readings PRIOR to the class period inwhich we will discuss them, since you cannot intelligently discuss what you have not read. Some of the readings willbe quite dense and require effort on your part to understand them. Give yourself time to read difficult passages morethan once. I reserve the right to dismiss unprepared students from class and to count such dismissals as unexcusedabsences. Three reading questionnaires will be distributed with questions for you to answer while reading theassignments. These questionnaires are due each Thursday, and each is worth 5% of your final grade. No late readingquestionnaires will be accepted." ESSAYS: You will write two take-home essays, each worth 20% of the final course grade, in response to questionsdistributed in class. Essays will be due each Monday and must be brought to class on the due date, since students willbe selected at random to read essays to the class. Essays must be at least 600 words (about 2 pages), and a WORDCOUNT must appear on the first page of your essay. Papers less than the minimum number of words will receive an“F.” Essays will only be accepted if TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE-SPACED, STAPLED, AND PROOF-READ. For helpconstructing your essays, please visit my “essay writing pointers” athttp://www.emporia.edu/socsci/philos/pointers.htm. Further assistance is available from the Writing Center, 345Southeast Morse Hall (341-5380)." READING DAYS: On the days that essays are due, we will have a “reading day” devoted to discussion of studentpapers. PARTICIPATION AT ESSAY READING DAYS IS MANDATORY. PAPERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTEDFROM STUDENTS WHO DO NOT ATTEND UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION OFAN EMERGENCY. On these days, students will be selected at random to present their essays to the class and answerquestions from classmates about their essays. You will not be graded on your reading or comments. If you have alegitimate reason for not wishing to read in front of the class (e.g., a medical reason), you must discuss this with meprior to the first essay assignment." TESTS: Each Thursday we will have a short test covering material from that week’s class. Each test will be worth15% of the final grade, and may include true/false, fill-in-the-blank, short answer, or similar components. The finalexamination will cover only material from the final course segment, and will be weighted equally with the previousthree tests. Ample class time will be provided to ask questions about the material to be covered on tests." CLASS DISCUSSION: Discussion is crucial to this class, and I will do my best to make you feel at ease and welcometo contribute to the class conversation. The best way to understand these sometimes difficult and controversial topicsis to talk about them with each other, so please feel free to contribute any question, objection, or other thought aboutthe topic at hand when such occurs to you. NO RELEVANT REMARK IS OUT OF BOUNDS IN THIS CLASS. Asan added incentive for your participation, I will take into account your regular contributions to the ongoing discussionin borderline grade cases. For example, regular thoughtful participation in discussion (not just quantity, of course, butalso quality) may raise a high “B” grade (an 89, for example) up to an “A.”" GRADING SCALE: This course is NOT graded according to the plus/minus system. Grades will be determined asfollows, out of 100 possible points: (A) = 100-90; (B) = 89-80; (C) = 79-70; (D) = 69-60; (F) = 59-0." ACADEM IC DISHONESTY: Academic dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated. This includes plagiarism, theparaphrase or quotation of any published or unpublished source—including the textbook—without full and clearacknowledgment. If you are uncertain about what documentation is appropriate, please consult the Writing Center ormyself before