Jennifer K. Bayne Lemma
Rm. 7
jennifer.baynelemma@wwcc.edu
phone: 527-4640
Office Hour: 11:30-12:30
(and by appointment)
Philosophy 101
Introduction to Philosophy
Fall 2015
Text: Classic Philosophical Questions, ed. Mulvaney (required)
Sophie’s World, Jostein Gaarder (suggested)
(In addition, you will need to purchase one pack of green scantrons, available at the
bookstore)
Philosophy is a reasonable discussion about the meaning of life.
This course is an introduction to some of the great philosophers and their philosophical
questions. The learning goal of the course is a demonstrated written understanding of the
diverse philosophical views of classic western philosophers in regard to God, morality,
government, and human nature.
How this course works
Description: This course will focus on the study of basic principles in western
philosophy, examining representative philosophical topics such as the existence of God,
epistemology and human nature as theorized by Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, St. Thomas
Aquinas, Epictetus, Descartes, Pascal, Hobbes, Locke, James, Marx and Mill.
Intended Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to:

Identify and define key philosophical vocabulary terms and theories.

Employ critical thinking strategies in philosophical discussion.

Evaluate, assess and apply abstract descriptions of value (such as justice,
freedom, worth, rights, resource distribution, political interaction and the
human condition) to concrete historical and contemporary situations.

Critique epistemological theories in the context of classic philosophical
writings and contemporary societal issues.

Interpret philosophical theory both in written and oral form.
Each class session focuses either on a lecture or class discussion. The lectures are
introductions to the philosophers the class is currently reading in the textbook. The class
discussions are centered on assigned reading study questions. All reading assignments in
the course are from primary sources in the textbook. The reading is very challenging;
you will need to read and reread. It is in your best interest to attend class prepared and
having read the assigned text as the class time and lecture time is devoted to clarification
of the reading points. While you are not expected to understand the material
immediately, you ARE expected to attend class and ask questions for the primary
principles of learning how to read difficult texts, formulate your own substantiated
opinions and develop critical thinking skills.
Civility in this class is not optional, but required. As this is a college level course, we
will be discussing controversial topics about which you may have strong opinions. A
tolerant classroom, where opinions are respected and shared, is critical for effective
expansion of the mind.
Canvas is used for grading purposes and to communicate about assignments, due dates,
material, etc., but it is not to be used as a venue to email assignments that should have
been handed in during class.
Assignments, Quizzes and Exams
Attendance, study question quizzes, and papers are the integral part of the course and
constitute the largest portion of your grade. Short papers, quizzes, a mid-term exam
and in-class response questions comprise 75% of your grade. Please remember: LATE
WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. You are allowed to drop one ten point quiz
without penalty. Quizzes may be taken early, but not late. If all five quizzes are
completed by the student, extra credit will be awarded. Occasional, additional extra
credit opportunities will be offered, including attending and documenting pre-approved
lectures and/or events. Extra credit papers are opportunities to delve deeper into the
material, not to supplement a fledgling grade at the end of the quarter.
The quizzes will have objective questions (true-false, multiple choice and so on). The
mid-term exam requires you to respond to questions similar to those you have already
been tested on during the quizzes. The mid-term exam will also have short response
questions and it is cumulative. Short response answers and papers are graded on
accuracy, detail, and quality of thought. Papers are roughly two pages in length and
MUST HAVE A CITATION/QUOTATION from our textbook included in the body of
the paper.
The final presentation/paper is 10% of your final grade. The final presentation/paper is
an application of philosophical thought and will be discussed in detail as the due date
approaches.
Participation and attendance constitute 15% of your grade. Consequently, texting,
Facebooking, Instagramming, etc., during class will result in a substantial grade
reduction. Your preparedness and participation in class discussion is vital to your
success. Participation points are awarded at the end of the quarter and attendance is
noted daily.
Important things to remember

Attend every class session. If you are planning to miss this class frequently,
you should drop it early and get your money back from the business office.
On-line classes are available if your schedule doesn’t allow for every day
attendance. If you are ill during the quarter, it is your responsibility to contact
other students for lecture notes or other material you missed. Attendance is key
to your success in this class.

If you know that you will be absent on a particular day, arrange with the instructor
to turn in your work in a timely manner, before it is due. Do not just email the
assignment! Canvas is used for grading and communication. Please do not
assume you can submit class work via canvas messaging or email.

Late work will not be accepted.

Class sessions are work sessions. Arrive on time, be prepared to discuss the study
questions and take notes during the lectures.

Turn off cell phones and computers. You may not use a laptop, cell phone or
tablet during class unless given explicit permission to do so.

Avoid distracting behavior (this includes leaving the room once class has started,
whispering, eating, or making rude comments). The instructor may lower your
grade considerably for any distracting behavior on your part.

Turning in any work that is not your own will result in either failing or dropping
the entire course. This includes working on study questions together. We will
discuss proper and appropriate referencing for study question responses and
papers.

To request accommodations related to a disability, contact Claudia Angus,
Ph.D., Coordinator of Disability Support Services, at 527-4262 or email
claudia.angus@wwcc.edu

If you or a fellow student does not have reliable access to food or other essential
needs, there are resources available through WWCC’s Warrior Resources. For
information, please contact Magdalena Moulton at 509-524-4790 or Paul Lund at
509-524-5231.

Are you the first in your family to attend college? Do you want to transfer to a
four-year university after WWCC? Are you unsure of what to major in? Not sure
where to transfer? Need academic support? Would you like your own personal
guide to help you? Contact the TRiO office at 509-527-4258 in Walla Walla or
509-758-1721 in Clarkston to see if you are eligible.
The Course
Study Question Quizzes and Essay Assignments
(Subject to change at instructor’s discretion)
TOPIC
DATE
ASSIGNMENT
Week One
Introduction & Review
of Syllabus
Socrates, Plato,
Aristotle: Socrates and
definition
Socrates and Plato;
Discuss questions on
page 1: 1,2
Debate
Plato; Discuss questions
on page 2: 3,4,5, and 6
Quiz #1 on line.
Continue discussion on
Plato.
Monday, 9/21/15
Tuesday, 9/22/15
Read Chapter 1
Wednesday, 9/23/15
Continue to review first chapter
Thursday, 9/24/15
Friday, 9/25/15
Continue to review first chapter;
Prepare for Quiz
Read Chapter 2
Monday, 9/28/15
Continue to review second chapter
Tuesday, 9/29/15
Continue to review second chapter
Week Two
Plato/Socrates; Discuss
questions on page 12:
1,2,3, 4
Plato/ Socrates; Discuss
questions on page 13:
4,5,6, and 7
Plato/Socrates; Discuss
questions on page 13:
8,9, and 10
Plato; Socrates, power
and the Unexamined
Life; Extra credit
activity offered
(staying off social
media).
Quiz #2 on line.
Discussion of papers
during class time: no
formal lecture.
Wednesday, 9/30/15
Continue to review second chapter
Thursday, 10/1/15
Review for Quiz. Paper Assigned.
Discussion and preparation
regarding the expectation of
philosophy papers. Topic for
paper: Does technology
(facebook/social media, texting)
keep us from examining our
lives, or does it encourage selfexamination? (Cite support from
textbook.)
Papers due Monday.
Friday, 10/2/15
Week Three
First Short Paper Due
(in class). Plato
(Allegory of the Cave
and the Ring of Gyges):
Plato’s relevance to
contemporary society.
Plato’s Cave. What is
the good life? In class
writing response:
contemporary example
of Plato’s Cave.
Aristotle and Virtue:
Eudaimonia and
Entelechy.
(Moderation)
Aristotle. What is
Virtue? The unmoved
mover. What is
“natural?” Introduction
to Epictetus and the
Stoics.
Epictetus, discuss p. 534
1, 2. In class writing
response: Which
philosophy do you find
Monday, 10/5/15
Read p. 111 and 335. First Short
Paper Due (in class).
Tuesday, 10/6/15
Homework reading: Read Chapter
14 (pages 127-134).
Wednesday, 10/7/15
Discussion of Aristotle.
Thursday, 10/8/15
Read Chapter 54 (pages 534-540).
Friday, 10/9/15
most
important/relevant?
Video with Vice
Admiral Stockdale.
Extra Credit Activity
Due.
Week Four
St. Anselm and a priori
logic; Arguments for the
existence of God
St. Anselm. Discuss p.
38: 1,2,3
St. Thomas Aquinas and
the cosmological
argument; Video Clips
St. Thomas Aquinas;
discuss p. 44: 3.
Quiz #3 on line. The
Stoics, Anselm and
Aquinas. No formal
lecture, conferencing.
Monday, 10/12/15
Read Chapter 3 (pages 37-41)
Tuesday, 10/13/15
Wednesday, 10/14/15
Read Chapter 4 (pages 43-49)
Thursday, 10/15/15
Friday, 10/16/15
Read chapter 6 (pages 56-61).
Monday, 10/19/15
Review Readings
Week Five
In class writing response
(2). Pascal’s Wager
Pascal: Emotion,
paradox, influence
Pascal; discuss p. 57:
1,2,3
Pascal p. 57: 4,5,6; In
class writing response:
Pascal’s idea of
tension.
Conferencing for papers;
no formal lecture.
Tuesday, 10/20/15
Wednesday, 10/21/15
Review Readings
Thursday, 10/22/15
Review Readings. Second short
paper assigned.
Friday, 10/23/15
Read Chapter 7 (pages 62-70)
Monday, 10/26/15
Second Paper Due in class.
Tuesday, 10/27/15
Wednesday, 10/28/15
Thursday, 10/29/15
Review for Mid-term (cumulative)
Week Six
Pascal/James; Video
Clip (Power, money and
influence) Discuss p. 62:
1,2,3,4
William James 63: 5,6,7
William James
William James
Mid-term: in class
(bring scantron,
please).
Friday, 10/30/15
Week Seven
René Descartes
Monday, 11/2/15
Tuesday, 11/3/15
Wednesday, 11/4/15
Read Chapter 36, Pages 345-351
Thursday, 11/5/15
Review
Friday, 11/6/15
Review readings; Read Chapter 31
David Hume
Monday, 11/9/15
David Hume:
Perception
No Class
David Hume
David Hume; no formal
lecture, paper
conferencing.
Tuesday, 11/10/15
Review Readings; Third short
paper assigned. Several topics
are available for this paper and
we will discuss them in class.
Read Chapter 30 and Chapter 31
Review Readings.
Descartes. Discuss p.
346: 1-5 (cogito ergo
sum)
Watch Ted Talk on
consciousness (John
Searle). Discuss p. 346:
4
Quiz #4-on line. No
formal lecture.
Read Chapter 24, Pages 242-252
Week Eight
Wednesday, 11/11/15
Thursday, 11/12/15
Friday, 11/13/15
No Class—Veteran’s Day
Review Readings.
Monday, 11/16/15
Tuesday, 11/17/15
Wednesday, 11/18/15
Thursday,11/19/15
Third Paper due in class.
Read Chapter 39
Advising Day
Review reading
Friday, 11/20/15
Political Philosophers: Readings
assigned over break.
Monday, 11/23/15
Tuesday, 11/24/15
Thanksgiving Break
Thanksgiving Break
Week Nine
TBD
John Dewey
No Class
John Dewey and
Language and Education
Bias in Language and
Education. Extra
Credit Opportunity
Week Ten
No Class
No Class
No Class
No Class
No Class
Wednesday, 11/25/15
Thursday, 11/26/15
Friday, 11/27/15
Thanksgiving Break
Thanksgiving Break
Thanksgiving Break
Lecture on the political
philosophers
Political Philosophers
Political Philosophers
Political Philosophers
Quiz #5-on line.
Review of presentations.
Monday, 11/30/15
Review readings on Locke,
Hobbes, Marx and Mill.
Hobbes
Marx
Mill
Final Presentations
Final Presentations
FINAL EXAM TIME
for 10:30 class
FINAL EXAM TIME
for 9:30 class
Monday, 12/7/15
Tuesday, 12/8/15
Wednesday, 12/9/15
10:30-12:30
Friday, 12/11/15
9:30-11:30
Week Eleven:
Finals
Tuesday, 12/1/15
Wednesday, 12/2/15
Thursday, 12/3/15
Friday, 12/4/15