Philosophy 2020 / NPD 2000
Modern and Contemporary Philosophy
Spring 2013
Gregory A. Clark
Gym Room 2
MWF 9:15-10:20
Phone: x-6236; email: gclark@northpark.edu
Office: Caroline Hall, Third Floor, southeast corner
Office Hours: Tuesdays 11:00-4:00. and by appointment.
Course Web page: http://philosophiablog.net/history-of-philosophy/modern-and-contemporary/
I.
DESCRIPTION:
Modern philosophy says: “We must start again. We need to separate or distance
ourselves from our history, from our past, including past philosophy, which was
heavily influenced by religious superstition and also by aristocratic privileges. In its
place we will build our new philosophy, our life, and our society on the basis of
reason and of freedom.”
Contemporary philosophy says: “Modern philosophy has failed,” and it thereby
separates itself from modern philosophy. Beyond that, it can’t find agreement. Some
think we can get it right if we start again one more time. Others claim that one does
not simply “start again.” Others claim that modernity must fail: reason and freedom
have their shadows, and they often conflict. Further, religion and privilege aren’t so
simple to exercise. Still others claim that the entire project of civilization, of which
modernity is just one part, is itself bound to fail.
This course will look at modern and contemporary philosophy both in general and in
specific exemplars. We will focus on concepts of “freedom” and “happiness” (which
are central to ethics) especially as they relate to other concepts such as “reason” and
“history.” We will pay attention to the ways philosophers take a distance from “the
world” in order to see it better, and how they thereby establish a kind of doubleconsciousness as the act of philosophizing.
II.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: The instructor will introduce students to
1. Modern and contemporary philosophy and philosophers: Given the range of the
discipline and the number of philosophers, the course is only an introduction, a
sampling, and not a systematic or thorough survey. The course aims to lay a
foundation to build on and to use, not a complete package to be safely tucked
away on a shelf. We will focus on this aspect of the course by considering how
philosophers establish a distance from their subject-matter, and how they think
about the peculiar stances this requires of them.
2. Ethics: Ethics is a subfield within philosophy, so this objective will guide our
selection of philosophies and philosophers. Again, there is no pretense of a
systematic survey. We will focus on this aspect of the course by thinking about
concepts central to ethics: good, evil, bad, right, wrong, freedom, authority,
happiness, rights, duties, etc. Unlike other courses that might focus on an issue
(abortion, marriage, war, etc.) we will focus on these central concepts of ethics.
3. Argumentation: “to argue” is not just “to disagree” or “to be disagreeable.” It is
the giving of reasons and the examining of reasons. Argumentation is an essential
skill for finding truth. Questioning and arguing are two techniques by which
philosophers both distance themselves from their subject-matter and, conversely,
engage their subject-matter. We will observe how philosophers have done this in
the past, and we will practice it for ourselves.
4. Writing: Philosophy is primarily, though not exclusively, carried on by writing.
We could say, “Ethics is written argumentation about the nature of the good and
how we come to know it.” I will provide clear standards for good writing,
instruction in those standards, and practice in meeting those standards through
revision of drafts.
III.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Texts posted on the website.
http://philosophiablog.net/history-of-philosophy/modern-and-contemporary/
Quinn, Daniel. Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit. A Bantam / Turner
Book, 1992. ISBN: 0553375407
Strunk and White. The Elements of Style. Longman. ISBN: 020530902X
IV.
COURSE OUTCOMES: By the end of this course the student will be able to
1. describe several ethical theories and their constituent concepts.
2. apply those theories to analyze a debate in the field of ethics.
3. locate library resources, evaluate them for their credibility, and incorporate them in
a research paper.
4. express thoughts of oneself and of others in writing at a level appropriate for a
second year college student.
V.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
This course requires a great amount of reading. You will have the opportunity to read
and begin to respond to some classic texts that deal with fundamental problems and
debates in the history of philosophy.
1. Students are expected to attend class regularly. You don’t earn points here, but you
can lose them. Failure to attend class will make it difficult to do well in the course
and will affect your final grade. You may miss three classes without any penalty.
Each absence after the third will lower your grade by 1/3 a letter grade. Three tardies
count as one absence.
2. Discussion: Learning (and teaching) is not a passive activity. You will learn more and
help me teach more effectively if you come to class prepared and if you are able to ask
questions, offer alternate readings, etc.
3. Graded Work: Your final grade will be a compilation from the following types of
activities:
a. Quizzes: Each class will begin with a quiz on the reading, lecture, and
discussion from the previous class period. 27 quizzes. Quizzes cannot be made
up. (30% of final grade). (Outcome 1, 2).
b. Papers: You will write three papers. Papers will be graded according to the
clarity of the writing, the dexterity with which you handle the concepts, and your
record in meeting deadlines and conferences. (see the prompt on the handouts
for detailed guidance.) Papers should be submitted in a folder with all previous,
marked drafts included.
Paper 1: 5% of final grade. (Outcome 4);
Paper 2: 30% of final grade (Outcomes 3 and 4);
Paper 3: 35% of final grade. (Outcomes 1, 2, and 4);
Total of 70% of final grade.) (Outcomes 1, 2, 3, and 4).
V. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodations in this class are
encouraged to contact the Center for Academic Services at (773) 244-5737, advising
@northpark.edu, or stop by the office located on the 2nd floor of the Student Services Building.
Please do so as soon as possible to better ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a
timely manner. For further information please review the following website:
http://northpark.edu/ada
VI. ETHICS POLICY
·
1. Classroom Behavior
The classroom should be an environment for learning. Therefore, behavior which is
disruptive, which belittles another or which discourages others from achieving their
academic goals has no place in this classroom.
·
2. Academic Misconduct
When you turn in an assignment and take credit for it, it must be your own work. If it is
not, you have committed academic misconduct.
·
a. Plagiarism
Plagiarism is representing the work of someone else as your own. Most
commonly this occurs by copying from an internet source (e.g., Wikipedia) or a
textbook or some other source and failing to give proper credit to the author. You
may avoid this problem by always using quotation marks whenever you use
someone else's exact words and by always giving references whenever you quote
from or paraphrase another author.
·
b. Cheating
If you give or receive unauthorized aid while completing any of the requirements
for this course, you have cheated. Giving answers during an exam, writing a paper
for another student or copying another student's work are all forms of cheating.
Assistance from the writing lab, talking with a professor or fellow student or
forming a study group before an exam, however, are all acceptable forms of
getting and receiving assistance.
·
3. Penalties
Academic misconduct undercuts the fundamental basis of the university in research and
one of the fundamental functions of the university in education. To plagiarize or cheat is
to place yourself outside of the university community; there is no worse infraction a
student can commit. All instances of such misconduct will be reported to the Dean. It
may result in an “F” for the assignment and/or for the course. It may result in formal
expulsion from the university.
VII. MISCELLANEOUS POLICIES
·
1. Work Turned in Late
All work turned in late will be penalized or refused. If you would like an extension, you
must talk to the instructor before the assignment is due.
·
2. Electronic Submission of Written Work
All work must be turned in as a hard copy, that is, on an actual sheet of paper. Electronic
submission may be used only by special permission under special circumstances.
·
3. Use of Student Work in Class
The instructor will on occasion use excerpts from student work as examples for class
discussion. For example, a portion of a student’s essay may be distributed without
attribution to other members of the class for comment. If you object to your work being
used in this way, please inform the instructor.
·
4. Writing Advisors
As a required part of the writing process, you will have a working meeting with a trained
writing advisor. These meetings are not optional. Please respect your WA’s time--keep
your appointment. And remember that your WA is not there to edit your paper, but
rather to help you develop and organize your ideas.
VIII. PROVISO
The instructor reserves the right to alter this syllabus at any time should it be warranted by the
demands of sound pedagogy. Changes to the syllabus will be announced in class. In any event,
the posted, e-text version of the syllabus and schedule of classes are authoritative, taking
precedence over any printed version.