Page 1Page 2Page 3Philosophy 225 MC & MD Spring 2002INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHYPI 225 MC: 12:00 - 12:50 MWF, Plumb Hall 409PI 225 MD: 1:00 - 1:50 MWF, Plumb Hall 409Instructor: Dr. Ted ToadvineOffice Hours: 2:00-3:20 MWF (or by appointment) in Plumb Hall 411PPhone: 341-5566 (office); 341-5462 (Social Sciences Secretary)Email: [email protected] 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 in Literatureand Ideas (Basic Skills VI) for certain majors.COURSE REQUIREMENTS C 4 reading questionnaires @ 2.5% each = 10%C 2 600-word take-home essays @ 15% each = 30%C 4 tests @ 15% each = 60%B ATTENDANCE: Since participation in class discussions is an integral component of this course, attendance at every classis expected as a minimum requirement for this course. Lectures and discussions will include material not contained inthe reading assignments. It is your responsibility to document your attendance on a sheet which will be circulated inclass. Missing SIX classes FOR ANY REASON will result in a full grade reduction. In the event that ALL SIX absencesare the result of an extreme medical condition, documented by a statement from your physician or Health Services, ordue to participation in University-sanctioned activities, notify me as soon as possible to discuss required makeup work.After the sixth, each further absence will result in an additional full grade reduction. Three late arrivals for class willcount as one unexcused absence. There is no need to document illness for fewer than six absences, except in the caseof having missed a test or reading day. NO MAKEUP TESTS will be given for those who are absent or late for classwithout documentation of an emergency. All makeup work is at my discretion. I do not accept last-minute “extra-credit”work from those whose failure to attend has resulted in a poor grade at the end of the semester.B READING ASSI GNMENTS & 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 in whichwe will discuss them, since you cannot intelligently discuss what you have not read. Some of the readings will be quitedense and require effort on your part to understand them. Give yourself time to read difficult passages more than once.I reserve the right to dismiss unprepared students from class and to count such dismissals as unexcused absences. Fourreading questionnaires will be distributed with questions for you to answer while reading the assignments. Thesequestionnaires are due on the dates of your exams (indicated on your course schedule), and each is worth 2.5% of yourfinal grade. No late reading questionnaires will be accepted.B ESSAYS: You will write two take-home essays, each worth 15% of the final course grade, in response to questionsdistributed in class. Essays must be brought to class on the due date, since students will be selected at random to readessays to the class. Essays must be at least 600 words (about 2 pages), and a WORD COUNT must appear on the firstpage of your essay. Papers less than the minimum number of words will receive an “F.” Essays will only be acceptedif TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE-SPACED, STAPLED, AND PROOF-READ. For help constructing your essays, pleasevisit my “essay writing pointers” at http://www.emporia.edu/socsci/philos/pointers.htm. Further assistance is availablefrom the Writing Center, 345 Southeast Morse Hall (341-5380).B READING DAYS : On the days that essays are due, we will have a “reading day” devoted to discussion of student papers.PARTICIPATION AT ESSAY READING DAYS IS MANDATORY. PAPERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FROMSTUDENTS WHO DO NOT ATTEND UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION OF ANEMERGENCY. 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 me priorto the first essay assignment.B TESTS: On the days indicated on the course schedule, you will have a short test covering material from the precedingsegment of the course. Each test will be worth 15% of the final grade, and may include true/false, fill-in-the-blank, shortanswer, or similar components. The final examination will cover only material from the final course segment, and willbe weighted equally with the previous three tests. Review sheets will be distributed one week prior to tests, and ampleclass time will be provided to ask questions about the material to be covered on tests.B CLASS DI SCUS S ION: 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 about thetopic at hand when such occurs to you. NO RELEVANT REMARK IS OUT OF BOUNDS IN THIS CLASS. As anadded incentive for your participation, I will take into account your regular contributions to the ongoing discussion inborderline grade cases. For example, regular thoughtful participation in discussion (not just quantity, of course, but alsoquality) may raise a high “B” grade (an 89, for example) up to an “A.”B GRADING SCALE: This course is NOT graded according to the plus/minus system. Grades will be determined asfollows, out of 100