Introduction to Philosophy - Syllabus

Instructor: Jay R. Halcomb

Course description: 120 Introduction to Philosophy (3) Fall, Spring

"This course provides an introduction to some of the enduring questions of thinking: What is the nature of knowledge, of morality, of justice, of the self, of religion, of the search for wisdom, of reality? Topics and approaches may vary from section to section. Satisfies GE, category C3 (Philosophy and Values)."

Text: An Introduction to Philosophical Analysis, Fourth Edition, by John Hospers. Other material will be distributed as handouts and posted on the class website. When in doubt about the meaning of a term in common use, consult a good general purpose dictionary.

What is philosophy, and how does it differ from the arts (both practical and cultural) and the sciences? In particular, what is philosophical analysis?

"Behold the beginning of philosophy!- a recognition of the conflict between the opinions of people, a search for the origin of that conflict, a condemnation of mere opinion, a skepticism regarding it, and a kind of investigation to determine whether the opinion is rightly held..."

- Arrian's Discourses of Epictetus, Book II xi. 13-14

"[A]ll deep thought begins and ends in the attempt to grasp whatever touches one most immediately." [Soren Kierkegaard, The Journals of Kierkegaard 98 (1959) (quoted in Patricia F. Sanborn, Existentialism 21 (New York: Pegasus, 1968))]

See also: What is Philosophy? (http://www.ephilosopher.com/Sections-article12-page1.html)
Philosophy (Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy)

Course outline and schedule

Course requirements, examinations, grading, and other class policies and procedures

Attendance: Being There (you might enjoy the entertaining film of that name) is at least half the battle. So be there. Roll will be taken each class, and will not count toward your grade, except as nonattendance will naturally affect performance. However, too many absences according to school policy will result in, first, a warning, then dismissal from class. Homework cannot be made up for easily, and similarly for examinations, except in the direst of circumstances.
Coursework: There will be weekly short take-home exercises or other assignments, usually to be done over the weekend. Additionally, 3 one hour mid-course examinations will be given, and a two hour final examination. These examinations will consist of short essay questions; i.e., you will be asked to write cogent English explanations, give analyses of examples similar to those discussed in class, and sometimes to regurgitate definitions.
Grading: 1/3 from the final (100 pts.), 1/3 (100 pts.) from the two midterms (hence, 1/6 each), 1/3 (100 pts.) from the homework assignments. The final will be cumulative; i.e., it will consist of questions about material taken equally from each of the class sections, as above.
Office hours: directly after class, by arrangement, or via e-mail.
Late work: Rarely will homework will be accepted late. Exams missed may be made up only under the direst of circumstances.
Classes will consist of a combination of lecture and discussion with the students. I like to conduct discussions casually and Socratically (up to a point!). Please feel free to interrupt the lectures with pertinent questions.
There will be a class website, on which handouts and weekly exercises will be posted.
Plagiarism is strictly forbidden, and penalties attached to it.