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PHI 103 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY

Instructor: David Makinster, Greenfield Community College

Spring 2009 Tuesdays & Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

Course Description (from the GCC catalogue) Introduction the the major, classical philosophical problems through a thematic approach. Emphasis on active, informal discussion of contemporary issues. Prereq: Placement beyond or satisfactory completion of COL 090 and ENG 090.

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AGENDA/OBJECTIVES

1. Issues -- become familiar with some main problems of Philosophy, regarding knowledge, reality, and values.
2. Literacy -- carefully, creatively, critically read examples of classic and contemporary Philosophy.
3. Toolkit -- gain basic logical skills, to facilitate recognizing and evaluating arguments and evidence.

BOOKS

All of the following books are required.

1. Plato, THE REPUBLIC (Penguin Classics edition, translated by H.D.P. Lee)
2. Woodhouse, A PREFACE TO PHILOSOPHY
3. Russell, THE PROBLEMS OF PHILOSOPHY
4. Weston, A PRACTICAL COMPANION TO ETHICS

I will also provide study guides for each part of the course.

METHOD OF EVALUATION

1. Exam #1, Logic. Multiple choice/true-false/short answer (approx. 20% of your grade)
2. Paper: Plato 1. (approx. 15%of your grade)
3. Paper: Plato 2. (approx. 15%of your grade)
4. Take-home, essay exam: Russell (approx. 25% of grade)
5. Final exam, comprehensive. Multiple choice/true-false/essay (approx. 25% of grade)

At my discretion, I may raise your grade for the course because of improvement, regular attendance, quality participation, or outstanding work on a particular assignment. In general, extra credit is not an option.

BASIC EXPECTATIONS

• You are responsible for knowing and abiding by all GCC requirements explained in your Student Handbook.
• Plan to attend class regularly. If you must miss class, speak to me, preferably in advance, about making up the work. Undue, unexcused absence can lead to a grade of "F." If you arrive after I have taken attendance, it is your responsibility to make sure I count you as present.
• Plan to submit work on time. If this is ever impossible, speak to me about it. Allowances can be made for legitimate reasons, but I reserve the right to penalize for lateness.
• Although substance is more important than style, if your work is illegible or otherwise unacceptable in form, you may be asked to resubmit it.
• I may, at my discretion, require an oral examination over some part of the material, for a particular student, if warranted by uneven or anomalous performance.
• If you choose to drop the course, you must do the required paperwork to avoid an "F."
• If you need to take an "I" for the course, you MUST discuss this with me before the end of the semester. Failure to do so may result in an "F" for the course.
• Cheating, including plagiarism, will result in an automatic "F"…FOR THE COURSE. Please refer to your GCC Student Handbook for more information on academic honesty/academic offences. The GCC Student Handbook defines plagiarism as follows: The college accepts the definition of plagiarism by the Modern Language Association as the “act of using another person’s ideas or expressions in your writing without acknowledging the source...” Other academic offenses consist of dishonesty, fraud, cheating, disruption of teaching or any other activity which adversely affects the academic process.”
• In order to avoid class disruption, please turn off cell phones and beepers during class time, and do not leave class to answer cell phone calls. If you are on-call for work and therefore need an exception, please talk to me. It goes without saying that iPods and similar devices should be left home. Laptops and small audio recorders are acceptable unless they lead to disruption or distraction.
• If you do not understand any part of these rules, or are unsure of your current status in relation to them, it is YOUR responsibility to ask me for clarification.
• If you have any special needs regarding health or learning, please let me know ASAP. Self-disclosure is voluntary, but would help me to address your needs.

ATTENDANCE EXPECTATIONS

· No penalty will be applied for “excused” absences, when legitimate reasons for missing class are evident. Legitimate reasons can typically include illness, court appearances, transportation mishaps, family crisis, abduction by space aliens, and cosmic apocalypse. I may request documentation.

· Unexcused absences will result in a deduction from your final grade at the rate of 0.25 grade points per absence.

· Arriving late will treated in the same way as an absence - no penalty with a legitimate reason, possible penalty for unexcused tardiness with the penalty varying (at my discretion) based on how late you arrive. In general, you are better off coming late than not at all.

HOW TO CONTACT ME

Email: anta.baka@gmail.com
Office at GCC: N121

Voicemail = 413-775-1265

SNOWLINE = 413-775-1010.

*** This syllabus is not a contract, and may be changed without prior notice. ***

CALENDAR – Spring 2009 (subject to change as needed)

DATE	TOPIC	ASSIGNMENTS
1/29	Introduction – What is Philosophy?
2/3 – 2/5	The examined life.	Read: * Plato, The Common Prejudice Against Philosophy * Study Guide
2/10 – 2/17	Problems of Deductive Reasoning	Study Guide / Homework
2/19	Problems of Inductive Reasoning	Study Guide / Homework
2/24	Problems of Informal Logic	Study Guide / Homework
2/26	Pre-test & Review	Plato Essay #1 due.
3/3	Logic exam
3/5 – 3/12	Cosmological problems: Universals, Sun/Line/Cave	Read: * Russell, IX, X * Plato, Part VII, #5, #6, and #7 through 518b. * Study Guide
3/17 – 3/19	HOLIDAY – NO CLASSES
3/24	Skepticism	Read: * Study Guide
3/26 – 4/2	“how do we know…”	Plato Essay #2 due. Read: * Russell, V & VI * Study Guide
4/7 – 4/9	“truth”… or something like it	Read: * Russell, VII & XII * Study Guide
4/14 – 4/16	Unsolved Mysteries
4/21	Problems of Ethical Reasoning	Read: * Weston (entire) * Study Guide
4/23	HOLIDAY – NO CLASSES
4/28	Rashomon (begin)
4/30	Rashomon (conclude) + discussion
5/5 -5/14	Pulling it all together with a Socratic dialogue: REPUBLIC, Book I (finish)	Read: * Plato, Book One Take Home Essay Exam is DUE!
Final Exam Week = 5/19 – 5/22 -- Exact date & time to be announced.