Page 1Page 2Introduction to Philosophy Fall 1999PI 225 MB, 2:00-2:50 MWFDr. Ted Toadvine, 411P Plumb HallPhone: 341-5566 (office); 341-5462 (dept); Email: [email protected] Hours: MWF 3:00 - 4:00; T 2:00 - 3:20; and by appointmentText Traversing Philosophical Boundaries, ed. by Max Hallman (Wadsworth, 1998).Course Goals & TopicsThe main objective of this course is to introduce you to philosophical ways of thinking and train you to think andwrite critically about philosophical issues. In addition, the course will introduce you to a wide range of historicaland contemporary perspectives on perennial philosophical questions: Is there an eternal self? What is the natureof reality? Do I have obligations to other people and society? Is religious belief justified? Unlike courses whichemphasize facts to be memorized, this course will encourage you to reflect philosophically on the significant issueswhich confront us all today.For certain majors, this course satisfies the General Education requirement in Literature and Ideas (Basic SkillsVI). This is also a "Multicultural Intensive" course. Course Requirements and GradingYour final grade will be determined as follows:5 quizzes @ 3% each = 15%3 600-word take-home essays @ 15% each = 45%2 in-class exams, mid-term and final @ 20% each = 40%Quizzes, based primarily on assigned readings, will be unannounced. Passing these brief, open-book quizzes willrequire that you CAREFULLY read all assignments at arrive at class on time. No makeup quizzes will be givenfor those who are absent or late for class without a documented excuse. Take-home essays must be at least 600words (about 2 pages on most word-processors), and a word count must appear on the first page of your essay.Essays will only be accepted if typewritten, double-spaced, stapled, and proof-read. These essays will be inresponse to a question distributed in class, and must be brought to class on the due date. On these days, studentswill be selected at random to read their essays to the class. Failure to read your essay on a day that you are selectedwill result in a failing grade for that assignment. In-class exams, including the non-cumulative final, will includean “objective” (true/false and short answer) component and an essay component. Review sheets will bedistributed prior to exams. You are expected to attend class and to come prepared to discuss assigned material.Four absences will result in a full grade reduction. No make-up quizzes or exams will be given withoutdocumented evidence of an emergency.Academic dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated. This includes plagiarism, the paraphrase or quotation ofany published or unpublished source without full and clear acknowledgment. The university policy regardingacademic dishonesty, as explained in the Student Handbook (p. 37), will be 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 (341-5380). If you anticipatetrouble with your writing, please consult with the Writing Center or myself as soon as possible during thesemester. Students having trouble with writing fundamentals may be required to seek assistance from the WritingCenter as a condition for continuing in the course.If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations or emergency evacuation,please contact me as soon as possible.Office HoursAs listed above, my office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 3:00 to 4:00, and Tuesday, 2:00 to 3:20.I will be spending these hours in my office for the sole purpose of being available for your questions. If thesetimes are not convenient for you, and there is something you need to discuss with me, please ask to make anappointment. Messages can be left with the Social Sciences secretary (PH 411) at 341-5462. You are also welcometo address inquiries to me via Email at [email protected] Schedule This schedule is tentative and will be modified in accordance with our progress. Changes in reading assignments will be announced inthe prior class.WEEK 1 (8/23-8/27): "Introduction," Hallman (xvii-xxiii), Problems of Self and Identity (1-4)The Upanishads and Buddhist scriptures (4-13)WEEK 2 (8/30-9/3): Hume, Schopenhauer (13-22), Plato (24-38)WEEK 3 (9/6-9/10): HOLIDAY: Monday, 9/6Spelman (44-57), Sartre (85-95)WEEK 4 (9/13-9/17): Beauvoir, Zack (101-115)WEEK 5 (9/20-9/24): ESSAY 1 READING DAY, Monday, 9/20Creation and Reality (117-119), Plato (143-147), Wang Chung (150-154)WEEK 6 (9/27-10/1): Lucretius, Leibniz, Bergson (155-177)WEEK 7 (10/4-10/8): Nishida (178-182)CLASS CANCELED: Friday, 10/8WEEK 8 (10/11-10/15): Review, Monday 10/11MIDTERM EXAMINATION (Wednesday, 10/13)Ethics (293-297)WEEK 9 (10/18-10/22): Kant (297-317), Bentham (325-329), WEEK 10 (10/25-10/29): Schweitzer (336-341), McGaa (351-5), Hospers (383-392)WEEK 11 (11/1-11/5): ESSAY 2 READING DAY, Monday 11/1Politics (393-396), Jefferson (414-418), Marx & Engels (405-434) WEEK 12 (11/8-11/12): Maududi (441-451), Mill (470-481), Goldman (529-538)WEEK 13 (11/15-11/19): Religion (539-542), King (568-579), Starhawk (589-595)CLASS CANCELED: Friday, 11/9WEEK 14 (11/22-11/26): ESSAY 3 READING DAY: Monday, 11/22HOLIDAY: Wednesday and Friday, 11/24-11/26WEEK 15 (11/29-12/3): Whitehead (613-622), Lin (644-651)WEEK 16 (12/6-12/10): Russell (651-664)Review, Friday 12/10FINAL EXAM: Tuesday, 12/14, 1:00 -