1 of 7 PHIL 1301 (4005, 4006, 4481, or 4500): INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPY INSTRUCTOR: Mr. Glenn Chicoine, M.A.(R), M.A.; Ph.D. (candidate) Philosophy SCHEDULE & LOCATION: Spring 2012: Jan. 17, 2012 to May 10, 2012 4005 (733397): Tues./Thurs., 09:30–10:50 AM, room C–281; 4006 (733397): Tues./Thurs., 12:30–01:50 PM, room G–219; 4481 (733431): Tues. ONLY, 11:00 AM–12:20 PM, G–222; & Internet; or 4500 (733436): Tues./Thurs., 07:05–08:25PM, room N–114. INSTRUCTOR CONTACT: Make clear exactly who is e-mailing or calling: [email protected]; Or: Messages c/o Adjunct Office, Room C–201, Telephone (972) 391–1047. Primarily using e-mail, you can also meet with the Instructor on most days shortly before or shortly after class, depending on scheduling. But the Instructor has a sort of ―open door policy.‖ Just speak up and he will help you and meet with you, if he is at all able, including at special times and days. Of course, such meetings must always be on campus and in a more-or-less public place. COURSE DESCRIPTION: PHIL 1301 Introduction to Philosophy (3) This is a Texas Common Course Number. Prerequisite: Developmental Reading 0093 or English as a Second Language (ESOL) 0044 or have met the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) standard in Reading. An introduction to the ideas about such things as the good life, reality, God, the acquisition and characteristics of knowledge, and the nature of humans. Students will evaluate both ancient and modern theories about these issues in terms of their logic, historical significance, and meaning in everyday life, as they practice the methods for doing philosophy. (3 Lec.) Coordinating Board Academic Approval Number 3801015112 [For more TSI information: https://www1.dcccd.edu/cat0910/admiss/tsi.cfm?loc=4.] REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS—ONE TEXTBOOK: Steven M. Cahn, ed., Classics of Western Philosophy, 7th Edition (Indianapolis/Cambridge: Hackett, 2006), ISBN-13: 978-0-87220-859-9 (pbk.); or (for the same book): ISBN-10: 0-87220-859-1 (pbk.). WORK REQUIRED FOR THIS COURSE: This semester is organized around selections in your textbook from six major Western thinkers: (in the first half) Plato, Aristotle, and Sextus Empiricus; and then (in the second half) Immanuel Kant, Søren Kierkegaard, and John Stuart Mill. You must read certain, rather short selections at home prior to class. Then you will bring them to class in order to analyze them and apply them to our existence and modern life. You must be present, reflective, interpersonally open, and single-tasked.2 In our analysis we must challenge both the philosophers and ourselves; as well as each other too, if others so wish, and if done civilly. There will be background lectures. You must maintain an e-mail address for handouts, questions, and counseling. Agendas and posturing will be heard; in fact, they are welcomed. Yet they must be presented briefly and to the point. After that, they will be considered ―disruptive‖ (see ―Quarter-Grade Breakdown‖ below). My motto: ―Be a brain surgeon, not a headhunter.‖ GRADING: There is a Midterm Test and a non-cumulative Final Test, each is for half of your final grade. Each includes multiple choice and true-and-false questions, together with a brief essay. We will review for the tests, though not necessarily exhaustively—i.e.: Anything covered in class or in the textbook assignments can be on the tests. WRITING EXPECTATIONS: The ―short essay‖ sections on these tests require the student to write the English language in longhand or to print legibly (at the Instructor’s discretion), using grammatically correct sentences that are complete and that have proper punctuation. Your college-level dictionaries should always be carried and used. Experience shows that higher grades correlate with higher attendance and involvement. So your cumulative grade depends also in part on (1) attendance, (2) class preparation (esp. assigned reading), and (3) calm, clear, and concise discussion input. The precise numerical values of these in lowering your grade are as follows: ―QUARTER-GRADE BREAKDOWN‖: Your cumulative test numerical grade can be lowered precisely as follows: - 5 for each indefensible absence (i.e. you give no substantive excuse); - 5 for each instance of unpreparedness, or lack of involvement (after two warnings); and -5 for each instance of class disruption, including lateness (after two warnings). EXTRA-CREDIT ASSIGNMENTS: Your Cumulative Test Numerical Grade can be increased several points by Extra-Credit Assignments (there are no minuses here). These include special Answer Sheets, Quizzes, Attendance at School Events, or Extra Readings with Report Forms. Therefore, your Final Grade is calculated as follows: Midterm Test plus Final Test equals Subtotal / divided by 2 equals Cumulative Test Numerical Grade minus ―Quarter-Grade Breakdown‖ (if merited) plus Extra-Credit Assignment Points (if merited) equals Final Grade Numerical Grade Grading Scale: A 100–90, B 89–80, C 79–70, D 69–60, F below.3 PHIL 1301 (Intro Philosophy) is a part of the Core Curriculum and addresses the following Exemplary Educational Objectives and Core Curriculum Intellectual Competencies as set forth by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board: Exemplary Educational Objectives in Intro Philosophy 1. To demonstrate awareness of the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities. 2. To understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within an historical and social context. 3. To respond critically to works in the arts and humanities. 4. To articulate and have informed personal reaction to works in the arts and humanities. 5. To demonstrate knowledge of the influence of literature, philosophy, and/or the arts on intercultural experiences. Core Curriculum Intellectual Competencies 1. Reading – the ability to analyze and interpret a variety of printed materials – books, documents, and articles – above 12th grade level. 2. Writing – the ability to produce clear, correct and coherent prose adapted to purpose, occasion and audience – above 12thgrade level. 3. Speaking – the ability to communicate orally in clear, coherent, and