Philosophy 1301: Introduction to Philosophy
Instructor: Jay Arnold
Email: jay.arnold@hccs.edu
About the Course
This course will examine numerous philosophical theories from diverse philosophical traditions,
including but not limited to: Socrates, Plato, Aquinas, Descartes, Kant, Wollstonecraft,
Nietzsche, Marx, Gandhi, Sartre, and Camus.
This course fulfills a philosophy requirement for many academic and professional 4-year
programs as well as the HCC Philosophy AA-degree plan. It also satisfies the HCC Core
Curriculum requirement for Philosophy, Language, and Culture OR the Content Area
Option.
In keeping with the guidelines of the Texas Higher Education Curriculum Board, this course will
provide a solid foundation in the following Core Objectives: Critical Thinking Skills,
Communication Skills, Personal Responsibility, and Social Responsibility.
NOTICE: Students who have questions about whether their enrollment in this course will satisfy
their degree objectives should immediately see an HCC academic advisor who can review their
academic degree plans.
Required Texts:
5 Dialogues, Plato
Discourse on Method/Meditations on the First Philosophy, Rene Descartes
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, Mary Wollstonecraft
Existentialism & Human Emotions, Jean-Paul Sartre
Course Requirements
Attendance and class participation constitute 20% of your final grade. Class participation may
include written quizzes, assignments, essays and group projects. More than 3 unexcused
absences, or more than 3 late-attendances will result in a grade penalty of the full 20%
There will be 4 exams.
Exam 1 will be a take-home, multiple choice exam
Exam 2 will be in class.
Exam 3 will be a take-home, multiple choice exam
Exam 4 will be in class.
Each exam will be worth 20% of your overall grade (or 80% combined).
Classroom Etiquette
A college classroom is a “free speech zone” which means you are encouraged to express yourself
and your opinions in whatever way makes you feel most comfortable; however, you must always
be respectful of others.
Grading
In this class, I shall use the following scale
A: 90% or higher
B: 80-89.9%
C: 70-79.9%
D: 60-69.9%
F: 0-59.9%
Drop Policy
The official drop date for the class is online. You must drop yourself from this class. If you
simply stop attending class, I will not drop you from the class roster and you will receive an
Incomplete (I) as your course grade.
Medical Disabilities
If you have a medically certified handicap that impedes your ability to do the work in this course,
please see me as soon as possible in order to provide the proper documentation.
Policy on Rescheduled Work
Exams may be rescheduled only at my discretion, and any rescheduled work must be completed
in a timely manner. If I agree to a rescheduling, there may or may not be a penalty, depending on
whether you have an appropriate excuse. Only two sorts of excuse automatically count as
appropriate: (i) a medical emergency, and (ii) the death of a near relative. Both require written
documentation, and I need to be notified as soon as possible about the problem. (Waiting to
notify me until the next class meeting is an unacceptable delay.) Extenuating circumstances will
be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. I need to know about other potentially extenuating
circumstances as far in advance as possible, and they too require written documentation.
Whether excused or not, the content and structure of a rescheduled exam or quiz may differ from
those of the original. There will be no early scheduling of exams.
Office Hours
I am available outside of class (by appointment) to answer any questions or address any concerns
that you may have. I will be on campus periodically throughout the week.
Policy on Cheating & Plagiarism
Cheating on an exam or quiz are serious offenses. Academic dishonesty will be punished, and
the penalty may include failure in the course.