PHIL 111                                                                                                                                LARKIN: Spring 2003

 

PHIL 111:  Introduction to Philosophy

Syllabus

 

 

 

I.                   Instructor Information

A.     Name: Dr. William S. Larkin

B.     Office: Peck Hall 2207

C.     Office Hours: TR 1:00-2:00 PM, and by appointment

D.     Office Phone: 650-2643

E.     E-Mail: wlarkin@siue.edu

 

 

 

II.                Course Description

The primary objective of this course is to introduce students to some of the problems, methods, and figures of western philosophy.  We will consider problems from all four of the major sub-divisions of philosophy—metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and logic.  We will consider such philosophical methods as Socratic dialectic, rational argumentation, skeptical doubt, thought experiment, reflective equilibrium, and conceptual analysis.  And we will consider the work of figures from different historical periods—ancient, modern, and contemporary.  An over-arching theme of the course will be an examination of different philosophical views about the nature of philosophy itself.  The secondary objective of the course is to promote various critical thinking habits and analytical reasoning skills.      

 

 

III.             Texts

A.     RENTAL:

1.      Plato, Euthyphro, Apology, Crito

2.      Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy

3.      Ayer, Language, Truth, and Logic

 

B.     PURCHASE:

1.      Searle, Minds, Brains, and Science

 

 

 

IV.              Course Requirements

1.      Reading Journals (20%):  There will be reading questions given out for each week’s readings.  The objective of these questions is to promote active reading, understanding, and participation in class discussion.  Students will type up their answers to these questions and keep them in a specially designated folder (a reading journal).  These folders will be collected 2-4 times over the course of the semester at random intervals and graded mainly on the basis of effort.  The cumulative score on the reading journals will be worth 20% of the semester grade.     

   

2.      Three Tests (20%/ea.):  There will be three non-cumulative in-class tests.  Each test will involve a combination of multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions.  Each test will be worth 20% of the semester grade.

 

3.      Final Exam (20%):  There will be a cumulative final exam with the same basic format as the three tests.  The final exam will be held in PH 2412 on Monday, May 5th from 8:00 to 9:40 AM.  The final exam will be worth 20% of the semester grade.

 

 

V.                 Expectations

Genuine learning requires two-way communication.  Students are not merely empty vessels waiting to be filled up with information—they come to this course with various backgrounds, beliefs, skills and talents.  My goal is (1) to incorporate some new concepts, ideas, and perspectives into students’ pre-existing knowledge base, and (2) to help students acquire and hone certain critical thinking habits and argumentative skills.  It is expected that you will help facilitate this process by taking an active role in your own learning process.  Only with your active participation can genuine learning occur, and only genuine learning will insure success in the course. 

 

I expect you to take an active role in class by taking notes, participating in discussion, asking questions, and providing feedback on how you are doing and how you think the class is going.  No behavior that manifests a lack of respect for others or their learning objectives will be tolerated.  It is absolutely crucial that everyone feel comfortable stating and defending his or her own views.  

 

I expect you to take an active role outside of class by keeping up on the assigned readings, completing the assigned reading questions, reviewing notes, and coming to see me in office hours whenever a question or problem arises.  I also want to encourage you to get together with fellow students to discuss the material in the course and perhaps read related material that we will not be covering.  I am more than willing to help with either of those projects in any way I can.

 

 

VI.              Academic Dishonesty:

No kind or degree of academic dishonesty (i.e., cheating or plagiarism) will be tolerated.  Any such behavior on any assignment will certainly result in failing that assignment, will probably result in failing the course, and may require more drastic measures through official channels.  

 

 

 

VII.           Weekly Schedule

 

I.                   Plato / Value Theory

 

Week One:     “The Apolgy”

 

Week Two:     “Euthyphro”

 

Week Three:  “Crito”

 

Week Four:    “Phaedo”

 

                              TEST #1

 

 

 

II.                Descartes / Epistemology and Metaphysics

 

Week Five:     “Meditation One”

 

Week Six:       “Meditation Two”

 

Week Seven: “Meditation Three”

 

Week Eight:  Free Will

 

Week Nine:    The Mind-Body Problem

                 

      Week Ten:      TEST #2

 

 

     

III.             Ayer / Logic, Language, and the Nature of Philosophy

 

Week Eleven:             “The Elimination of Metaphysics”

 

Week Twelve:            “The Function of Philosophy”

                                         

                              NO CLASS: Thursday, April 10th

 

 

IV.              Searle / Minds, Machines and the Relationship between Philosophy and Science

 

      Week Thirteen: “Can Computers Think?”

 

Week Fourteen: TEST #3

 

Week Fifteen:  Final Summary and Review

 

 

                                    FINAL EXAM           [Monday, May 5th from 8:00 to 9:40 AM]