Heartland Community College
Humanities & Fine Arts
Course Syllabus for Students
Course Prefix and Number: PHIL 101
Course Title: Introduction to Philosophy
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Laboratory Hours:
0
Days and times the course meets: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12:30-1:45 pm in ICB 1705
Catalog Description
An introduction to philosophical questioning and to the rudiments of philosophical ways of
reasoning. This course will examine some key notions of the history of philosophy, especially in
the areas of metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics.
Instructor Information
Name: Iker Garcia Plazaola, PhD
(note: “Garcia” is my first last name, not my middle name; think of me as “Iker (name) Garcia (last name)”)
Phone: (309) 268-8620 (Humanities Office)
E-mail address: Iker.Garcia@heartland.edu
Office: 2000 ICB Humanities Office
Office Hours: By appointment on Tuesdays, Thursdays.
Textbook
Philosophy: The Quest For Truth, Louis Pojman & Lewis Vaughn, Oxford University Press 8th
edition (2012).
Relationship to Academic Development Programs and Transfer:
(Indicate if course is General Education/IAI)
PHIL 101 fulfills 3 of the 9 semester hours of credit in Humanities/Fine Arts required for the
A.A. or A.S. degree. It satisfies the Humanities component of this requirement. PHIL 101
should transfer to other Illinois colleges and universities as the equivalent of the General
Education Core Curriculum course H4 900, described in the Illinois Articulation Initiative.
However, students should consult an academic advisor for transfer information regarding
particular institutions. Refer to the IAI web page for information as well at www.itransfer.org
1
Course Objectives (Learning Outcomes)
After completing this course you should be able to
1.
Distinguish the various subdisciplines of philosophy and recognize the
subdiscipline of particular philosophical works and concepts.
2.
Outline philosophy's historical development, matching important works with the
philosophers who wrote them and important beliefs with the philosophers who
held them(D5).
3.
Identify the historically dominant philosophical "problems," which philosophers
dealt with each of them, and why they have become viewed as "problems"(P1).
4.
Appraise the effectiveness of various solutions that have been proposed to the
main philosophical problems(P3,P5).
5.
Distinguish the beliefs of philosophers working in the mainstream western
philosophical tradition from the marginalized and diverse voices that either are
outside of that tradition or compose the counter-tradition(D2,D3).
6.
Demonstrate tolerance and appreciation for a diversity of philosophical
perspectives and problems from various cultures(D1).
7.
Analyze critically the extent that a philosopher's identity and assumptions
influence his or her perspective or beliefs(D4).
8.
Improve your ability to aptly interpret difficult philosophical texts and support
those interpretations with reasoned arguments(C7).
9.
Reflect in an engaged manner on the processes and experiences that enable you to
come to knowledge.
10.
Exhibit responsibility for your learning by participating in critical and creative
dialogues about philosophical issues and concepts(D6,C8).
11.
Demonstrate the ability to write critically and analytically about philosophical
issues, supporting opinions with arguments, evidence, and reasoning(C3).
Course/Lab Outlines
1. About Philosophy
2. Logic
3. Philosophy of Religion
4. Epistemology
5. Ethics
6. Applied Ethics
Method of Evaluation (Tests/Exams, Grading System)
There will be 4 exams, each consisting of both objective questions (true-false, multiple
choice, and matching) and essay questions.
Required Writing and Reading
Required writing will take the form of four 2-3 pages response papers, as well as pop
quizzes. Required reading will be from the textbook, although occasionally handouts may
be distributed.
2
Assignments
First exam
Second exam
Third exam
Response papers (4 in total, 5% each)
Quizzes
Attendance/participation
20%
20%
20%
20%
10%
10%
Exams
The exams will consist of short answer questions, such as multiple choice, true/false, fill
in the blank or matching, as well as essay questions. The exams are all non-cumulative.
Response paper (3 pages)
There will be four response papers throughout the semester. The due dates are:
September 3rd, October 1st, November 5th, December 3rd. These basically are papers to
track your understanding of the gist of each portion of the course, as well as your writing
skills. En each case I will supply a bank of questions for you to choose one, but
essentially the questions will ask you to explain a philosophical position about some
specific topic and to give a one-paragraph response to that position.
Quizzes
Quizzes. There will be 10 reading quizzes regularly given throughout the course. These
are pop quizzes that for the most part will cover the reading assigned for the day. The
quizzes will be simple and straightforward, and they are designed to check if the student
has done the reading for the day. The purpose of the quiz is to reward and encourage
regular reading of the assignments. Each quiz is worth 1%, for a total of 10% of the
grade. Two quizzes will be dropped (the two lowest scores).
Attendance/Participation
Heartland community college requires that all instructors take attendance on a daily basis.
Accordingly I will take daily attendance. You are allowed a total of three absences. You
do not need to contact me about them. However, you cannot make-up any further
absences under any circumstances. For every class you miss beyond the allotted three,
two percentage points will be deducted from your attendance/participation score. This
means that if you miss six classes, you will receive a zero for the attendance portion of
your grade. Additional points will be awarded to your participation/attendance score for
regular and helpful participation.
Grading Scale
Grades will be determined by the following scale:
A=90%
B=80%
C=70%
D=60%
F=less than 60%
3
Blackboard Learning System
You can access the Blackboard website for this course through the Heartland Website. Log in to
My Heartland, and you will find a Blackboard tab on the upper left portion of the webpage. By
clicking the tab, you will be able to gain access to the course website. On the website, you will
find the course handouts, PowerPoint presentations, assignments, additional links and
information, and grade postings. I use Blackboard for the purpose of administrating the course
and providing a centralized place for posting course documents and grade records. If you miss a
class, you can acquire the handout used for that period on Blackboard.
Course Policies
Make-up of tests and assignments
Under no condition will make up quizzes and worksheets be provided. As stated above,
three quizzes and/or worksheets will be dropped in compensation. Exams should not be
missed. Late exams will be taken at a significant point penalty and require a significant
reason for the absence.
Student Conduct: Cell phone policy
Do not text during class or use your cell phone for any purpose. You must turn off your
phones and store them away in your bag. Even if you cell phone is off, it should not be on
your desk or your lap. Repeated infractions may be subject to disciplinary action. Cell
phone use is distracting to me and others, and it contributes to a poor classroom and
learning environment.
Incompletes
The official college policy, as found in the College Catalog, states the following
information regarding the conditions for giving incompletes: “An incomplete grade may
be given to a student who, by the withdrawal date, can reasonably be expected to pass the
course. Incompletes may be granted only when justified by extreme circumstances (e.g.
serious illness, accident, death or serious illness in the immediate family).”
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a fundamental principle of collegial life at Heartland Community College
and is essential to the credibility of the College’s educational programs. Moreover, because
grading may be competitive, students who misrepresent their academic work violate the right of
their fellow students. The College, therefore, views any act of academic dishonest as a serious
offense requiring disciplinary measures, including course failure, suspension, and even expulsion
from the College. In addition, an act of academic dishonesty may have unforeseen effects far
beyond any officially imposed penalties.
Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to cheating, aiding or
suborning cheating or other acts of academic dishonesty, plagiarism, misrepresentation of data,
falsification of academic records or documents and unauthorized access to computerized
academic or administrative records or systems. Definitions of these violations may be found in
the college catalog.
4
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the presenting of others’ ideas as if they were your own. When you write a paper,
create a project, do a presentation or create anything original, it is assumed that all the work,
except for that which is attributed to another author or creator, is your own. Plagiarism is
considered a serious academic offense and may take the following forms:
1
Copying word-for-word from another source and not giving that source credit.
2
Paraphrasing the work of another and not giving that source credit.
3
Adopting a particularly apt phrase as your own.
4
Using an image or a copy of an image without crediting its source.
5
Paraphrasing someone else’s line of thinking in the development of a topic as if it
were your own.
6
Receiving excessive help from a friend or elsewhere, or using another project as
if it were your own.
Note that word-for-word copying is not the only form of plagiarism.
The penalties for plagiarism may be severe, ranging from failure on the particular piece
of work, failure in the course or expulsion from school in extreme cases.
[Adapted from the Modem Language Association’s MLA Handbook for Writers of
Research Papers. New York: MLA, 1995: 26]
Support Services:
Heartland Library Information
The Library, located in the Students Commons Buildings at the Raab Road campus, provides
Heartland students with a full range of resources including books, online journal databases,
videos, newspapers, periodicals, reserves, and interlibrary loan. Librarians are available to assist
in locating information. For more information please call the Library (309) 268-8200 or (309)
268-8292
Tutoring Center
Heartland Community College offers tutoring in various forms at no cost to
Heartland students at the Academic Support Center (ASC) in Normal and at the Pontiac
and Lincoln Centers. Tutors are available at convenient times throughout the week.
Study groups, group tutoring facilitated by a specially-trained tutor, are also available by
request. For more information about services available at each location, please call the
ASC in Normal (309) 268-8231; the Pontiac Center (815) 842-6777; the Lincoln Center
(217) 735-1731.
Testing Center
The Testing Center provides a quiet environment for students to complete make-up exams,
online exams, and exams for students with special accommodations. Students may be able to
complete exams in the Testing Center if arrangements are made with their instructor. For more
information, contact the Testing Center at (309) 268-8231.
5
Syllabus disclaimer:
The instructor reserves the right to change any and all assignments, rules or requirements in this
class. Students will be notified of any changes in assignments, rules or requirements at the
earliest possible moment. It is possible that the schedule will be altered at some point in the
semester. If this happens, I will notify the class and provide an updated syllabus.
Course Calendar:
The class schedule is subject to change based on class response and instructor discretion. In the
case of modifications (which may happen), I will supply an updated schedule. Readings should
be completed in their entirety by the date on which they are assigned. The reading should be
completed and ready to be discussed by the beginning of class that day.
(See back)
6
WEEK
Week 1
DATE
TOPIC
(GENERAL)
T,
August 20
TOPIC
(ANALYTIC)
READING
(All
from
Pojman/Vaughn,
Philosophy: The Quest For
Truth)
(Readings in smaller font are
Pojman/Vaughn’s introductions)
ASSIGNMENT
(10
quizzes
unannounced
throughout
the
semester)
Syllabus. Introduction to the course.
Th,
August 22
The Value of Philosophy
Bertrand Russell:
The Value of Philosophy
Reading
The Value of Philosophy
Plato:
Socratic Wisdom (pgs. 6-12)
Plato:
Socratic Wisdom (pgs. 13-17)
Deductive
Arguments
Inductive Arguments
Reading
I. WHAT IS
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
T,
August 27
Th,
August 29
T,
September 3
PHILOSOPHY?
The Value of Philosophy
Excursus: A Little Bit of Logic
Th,
September 5
Excursus: A Little Bit of Logic
T,
September 10
Th,
September 12
T,
September 17
Excursus: A Little Bit of Logic
Th,
September 19
Is Belief in God Rationally
Justified?
The Cosmological Argument
Excursus: A Little Bit of Logic
PHILOSOPHY
T,
September 24
OF
RELIGION
Th,
September 26
Week 7
T,
October 1
Th,
October 3
Week 8
T,
October 8
Is Belief in God Rationally
Justified?
The Teleological Argument
Is Belief in God Rationally
Justified?
The Ontological Argument
Why Is There Evil?
Is Faith Compatible with Reason?
III.
What Can We Know?
Classical Theories of Knowledge
KNOWLEDGE
Th,
October 10
Reading,
1st Response Paper
Inference
to
the
Best Reading
Explanation
Identifying Arguments
Some Applications
Reading
Fallacies of Reasoning
Practice Session/Review
1st Exam
II.
Week 6
Reading
What Can We Know?
Classical Theories of Knowledge
7
Pojman/Vaughn: pgs. 54-58
William Lane Craig:
The Kalam Cosmological
Argument and the Anthropic
Principle (until pg. 68
included)
William Paley:
The
Watch
and
the
Watchmaker
St. Anselm and Gaunilo:
The Ontological Argument
Pojman/Vaughan: Why is There
Evil? (pgs. 114-116)
Fyodor Dostoevsky:
Why Is There Evil?
Blaise Pascal:
Yes, Faith is a Logical Bet
Pojman/Vaughn: What Can We
Know? Classical Theories of
Knowledge (pgs. 186-188)
René Descartes:
Cartesian Doubt and the
Search for Foundational
Knowledge
John Hospers:
An
Argument
Against
Skepticism
Reading
Reading
Reading
Reading
2nd
Response
Paper
Reading
Reading
Reading
Week 9
T,
October 15
Truth, Rationality, and Cognitive
Relativism
Th,
October 17
Week
10
Truth, Rationality, and Cognitive
Relativism
T,
October 22
Th,
October 24
Week
12
Week
13
Week
14
T,
October 29
Are There Any Moral Absolutes or
Is Morality Completely Relative?
Ruth Benedict:
Morality Is Relative
James Rachels:
Morality Is Not Relative
Th,
October 31
Ethics and Egoism: Why Should
We Be Moral?
T,
November 5
Which Is
Theory?
the
Correct
Ethical
Th,
November 7
Which Is
Theory?
the
Correct
Ethical
T,
November 12
Th,
November 14
Which Is the Correct Ethical
Theory?
Contemporary Moral Problems
T,
November 19
T,
November 26
Th
November 28
Week
16
T,
December 3
Reading
Reading
2nd Exam
Are There Any Moral Absolutes or
Is Morality Completely Relative?
Th,
November 21
Week
15
Bertrand Russell:
The Correspondence Theory
of Truth
Richard Rorty:
Dismantling Truth:
Solidarity versus Objectivity
Pojman/Vaughn: What is Ethics?
(pgs. 474-477)
IV. ETHICS
Week
11
Pojman/Vaughn: Truth,
Rationality, and Cognitivie
Relativism (pgs. 226-227)
VIII.
WHAT
IS THE
MEANING
OF LIFE?
Pojman/Vaughn:
Ethics and
Egoism: Why Should We Be
Moral? (pg. 492)
Plato:
Why Should I Be Moral?
Gyges’ Ring and Socrates’
Dilemma
Aristotle:
The Ethics of Virtue
Reading
Reading
Reading
Reading
3rd Response Paper
Immanuel Kant:
The Moral Law (until pg. 532
included)
John Stuart Mill:
Utilitarianism
One Topic/Reading TBA
(I’ll take a poll to select one of
the topics in section IX)
Epicurus
Moderate Hedonism
Reading
What is the Meaning of Life?
Epictetus
Stoicism: Enchiridion
Reading
Political Philosophy
Robert Paul Wolff
In Defense of Anarchism
Reading
What is the Meaning of Life?
VII.
POLITICAL
Reading
Reading
Reading
PHILOSOPHY
THANKSGIVING
Political Philosophy
Thomas
Hobbes:
The Absolutist Answer: The
Justification of the State is the
Security it Affords
Review Day
Th,
December 5
Final Exams
Week
3rd Exam
8
Reading
4th Response Paper
9