Jennifer K. Bayne Lemma
Rm. 7
jennifer.baynelemma@wwcc.edu
phone: 527-4640
Office Hour: daily 8:30-9:30
(and by appointment)
Philosophy 101
Introduction to Philosophy
Winter 2015
Daily 9:30 – 10:20 AM
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 (4), quizzes (5) and in class
response questions comprise 70% of your grade. Please remember: LATE WORK
WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. You are allowed to drop one quiz without penalty.
Quizzes may be taken early, but not late. 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 mid-term quiz and final examinations require you to respond to questions similar to
those you have already been tested on during the quizzes. The exam will have objective
questions (true-false, multiple choice and so on) in addition to short response questions.
Exams are graded on accuracy, detail, and quality of thought. The mid-term quiz is
cumulative. The final exam is 15% of your final grade.
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 taken
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
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. Continue
discussion on Plato
Monday, 1/5/15
Tuesday, 1/6/15
Read Chapter 1
Wednesday, 1/7/15
Continue to review first chapter
Thursday, 1/8/15
Friday, 1/9/15
Continue to review first chapter;
Prepare for Quiz
Read Chapter 2
Monday, 1/12/15
Continue to review second chapter
Tuesday, 1/13/15
Continue to review second chapter
Wednesday, 1/14/15
Continue to review second chapter
Thursday, 1/15/15
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
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. Discussion of
papers.
Friday, 1/16/15
lives, or does it encourage selfexamination? (Cite support from
textbook.)
Paper due Tuesday.
Week Three
MLK Day
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?
Aristotle and Virtue:
Eudaimonia and
Entelechy.
(Moderation)
Monday, 1/19/15
Tuesday, 1/20/15
No Class
Read p. 111 and 335. Extra Credit:
Interview people of different ages
(minimum of 3 people) and ask
them if they would accept the Ring
of Gyges; or, cite three examples of
power corrupting/not corrupting.
First Short Paper Due (in class).
Wednesday, 1/21/15
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 (1). (EC
activity response due.)
Vice Admiral Stockdale.
Thursday, 1/22/15
Second Paper Assigned. Topic:
Offer and discuss a
contemporary example of Plato’s
Cave. (Cite support from
textbook.) Read Chapter 14 (pages
127-134).
Read Chapter 54 (pages 534-540).
Week Four
Second Paper Due in
class. 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.
Friday, 1/23/15
Prepare for submission of paper on
Monday.
Monday, 1/26/15
Read Chapter 3 (pages 37-41)
Second Paper Due in class.
Tuesday, 1/27/15
Wednesday, 1/28/15
Thursday, 1/29/15
Read Chapter 4 (pages 43-49)
Quiz #3 The Stoics,
Anselm and Aquinas
Friday, 1/30/15
Read chapter 6 (pages 56-61).
Monday, 2/2/15
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
No Class
Tuesday, 2/3/15
Wednesday, 2/4/15
Review Readings
Thursday, 2/5/15
Friday, 2/6/15
Review Readings
No Class
Week Six
Pascal/James; Video
Monday, 2/9/15
Clip (Power, money and
influence)William James
Discuss p. 62: 1,2,3,4
Third Paper Due in
class. William James 63:
5,6,7
William James
William James
Quiz #4
Tuesday, 2/10/15
Read Chapter 7 (pages 62-70)
Third short paper assigned.
Several topics are available for
this paper and we will discuss
them in class.
Third Paper Due in class.
Wednesday, 2/11/15
Thursday, 2/12/15
Friday, 2/13/15
Review for Quiz (cumulative)
Monday, 2/16/15
Tuesday, 2/17/15
Wednesday, 2/18/15
Read Chapter 36, Pages 345-351
No Class—Advising Day
Read Chapter 24, Pages 242-252
Thursday, 2/19/15
Review
Friday, 2/20/15
Review readings
Monday, 2/23/15
Tuesday, 2/24/15
Wednesday, 2/25/15
Thursday, 2/26/15
TBD
Read Chapter 30
No Class
Read Chapter 31
Week Seven
René Descartes
No Class
Descartes. Discuss p.
346: 1-5 (cogito ergo
sum)
Watch Ted Talk on
consciousness (John
Searle). Discuss p. 346:
4
Quiz #5 René Descartes
Week Eight
TBD
Perception
Advising Day
David Hume
David Hume
Friday, 2/27/15
Review Readings; Fourth short
paper assigned. Several topics
are available for this paper and
we will discuss them in class.
Week Nine
TBD
John Dewey
No Class
John Dewey and
Language and Education
Bias in Language and
Education; Fourth
paper due in class.
Monday, 3/2/15
Tuesday, 3/3/15
Wednesday, 3/4/15
Thursday, 3/5/15
Read Chapter 39
Advising Day
Review reading
Friday, 3/6/15
Fourth Paper due in class.
Monday, 3/9/15
Hobbes, Locke, Marx and Mill
Tuesday, 3/10/15
Wednesday, 3/11/15
Thursday, 3/12/15
Friday, 3/13/15
Hobbes, Locke, Marx and Mill
Hobbes, Locke, Marx and Mill
Final Review
Final Review
Monday, 3/16/15
Tuesday, 3/17/15
Wednesday, 3/18/15
Final Review
Conferencing
Final Exam
9:30-11:30
Week Ten
Lecture on the political
philosophers
Political Philosophers
Political Philosophers
Final Review
Final Review
Week Eleven
Review
Conferencing as needed
Final Exam