Philosophy 101: Introduction to Philosophy

Syllabus and Course Description

Fall-12, 2002

8:00-9:20 AM Hinsdale 210

Course Description: This course constitutes an introduction to philosophy. We will explore in great depth a single fundamental philosophical problem—the meaning of human life—by exploring the accounts that three philosophers—Aristotle, Kant, and Nietzsche—give of the ultimate meaning of human life. Each of these philosophers identify the “highest good” for human beings which, if it were possessed, would make a human life good. The competing notions of the “highest good” will provide us with the means necessary for exploring the problem of the meaning of human life with philosophical rigor. As an introduction to philosophy, this course also intends to identify and develop some of the most important skills that are necessary for studying philosophy: reading, interpreting, and analyzing philosophical texts; identifying and analyzing philosophical arguments; questioning and criticizing philosophical assumptions; formulating philosophical theses.

Course Goals: This course shares the goals of the liberal arts tradition. It is committed to the vision of education as broadly preparing students to be free human beings, equipped to thoughtfully and seriously confront their lives and question the society, the times, and the beliefs within which they live. The course intends to foster an independent and inquiring attitude to fundamental beliefs; to begin a confrontation with both the perennial questions of the Western philosophical tradition and contemporary philosophical problems; to develop the intellectual attitudes necessary for a full engagement with important moral problems and consequently for ethical judgments; to practice and strengthen the abilities to formulate thought clearly and rigorously in both verbal and written communication.

Texts: The following texts are required for this course:

Plato, The Death of Socrates. Hackett Publishing.

Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics. Translated by Joe Sachs. Focus Publishing, 2002.

Kant, Immanuel, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. Translated by Mary Gregor. Cambridge University Press, 1997.

Nietzsche, Friedrich, The Genealogy of Morals. Translated by M. Clark and A. Swensen. Hackett Publishing, 1998.

Assignments and Grading: This class is intended as an introduction to philosophizing. This means that we will focus on the basic skills that are necessary in order to be able to do philosophy. The assignments in this course are designed to develop these skills through the duration of the semester. The most significant assignment this semester will be a final paper. This paper will require a close reading of a portion of one or more of our assigned texts. The assignments over the earlier portion of the semester are designed to help you acquire and develop the skills that are necessary for completing the final paper. In addition there will be a final exam.

Final Paper (30% of grade): The final paper should consist of a close reading of some portion or portions of one of the assigned texts. You will identify a fundamental question that the texts address and explain the authors' answer to the question. In addition you must reflect critically on the question and attempt to formulate clearly and thoroughly your own thoughts about this question. These papers are expected to be 1800-2400 words in length (6-8 pages). These papers will develop out of some of the assignments over the second half of the semester. A paper proposal will be due by November 1. And you will be required to turn in a rough draft of the paper on November 11. You will also exchange rough drafts with another student and comment on their paper.

Writing Assignments (30% of grade): Over the semester, there will be a series of short assignments on the assigned readings, the longest of which will be papers of several pages (2-4). These assignments will be gradated, each building on the skills of the prior assignments. They will occur roughly once a week, though occasionally more often (see the attached schedule for projected due dates). The assignments prior to October 4^th will constitute an indicator of your progress at the mid-term.

Final Exam (20% of grade): There will be an open-text essay exam. You will have four essay questions from which you will answer two. These questions will be interpretive and synoptic. In order to answer them well you will need to have read the texts carefully and thoroughly throughout the semester. This exam will not be one for which last minute preparation will be profitable: conversely if you have worked steadily throughout the semester, this exam should not present you with significant difficulties or excessive demands on your time at the end of the semester.

Discussion Leading and Participation (20% of grade): Twice during the semester each student, in groups of three, will lead a discussion of the assigned reading during the first thirty minutes of our class. This will involve structured preparation of one or more guiding questions concerning the assigned text and a collection of follow-up questions. The group will then be expected to pose these questions to the class. The class will be responsible for answering them.

As stated above in the “Course Expectations” section, your consistent attendance is expected in this class. Our meetings constitute a significant part of the work that we are doing in this class. Failure to attend class will be a clear sign that you are not engaging in the work on which you are to be graded. Thus, although there is no formal penalty for missing classes, it will be noted and it will affect your evaluation in terms of “participation.” Since our course time will be devoted to the careful explication of difficult philosophical texts, your willingness to contribute to this explication will be considered part of your willingness to participate in the work of this class. In addition there will occasionally be in-class assignments which will count towards your participation grade: There will be no “make-ups” for these assignments.

Policies:

Academic Honesty: I take academic honesty extremely seriously. The work of a college can only occur under assumption about the integrity and honesty of both faculty and students. Any instances of academic dishonesty undermine the very project of higher education in this college and thus is a wrong suffered not only by those it immediately affects but by the whole community, present and future. I strongly suggest that you familiarize, or re-familiarize, yourself with the statement concerning academic honesty in the College catalogue.

Attendance: I will not generally take formal attendance in class. I expect, however, that you attend class every day of the semester. The work of this course includes the work that occurs in class. Any absence prevents you from doing this work and hence affects your grade, just as failure to complete a formal assignment would.

Discussion: Class discussion in philosophy courses requires a great deal more from us than many other pedagogical methods. Above all else, it requires respect and consideration for all other members of the class.