INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
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INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY_DL SYLLABUS FOR PH201 Distance Learners Φιλοσώφια (Eng. Philosophy): The Love of Wisdom Course Description We will be looking for answers to: What is a “philosophical question”? How do philosophers do philosophy? What is reality? What makes something real? What are we? Mind? Body? Both? How do we know anything? What are the differences between opinion, belief, knowledge and certainty? What constitutes a “good life” or a “good person”? How do we know what we ought to do? How do we know when something is right or wrong? What basis is there for letting one person or group of persons rule over another group of persons? What makes a thing beautiful? Are there rational reasons to believe there is a God? Why do bad things happen to good people? Course objectives Learning to be appropriately skeptical, asking “Why?” when explanations are offered, and knowing when rational reasons to believe them have been given. Knowing the basic ideas of at least six major philosophical thinkers. Writing effectively and critically about the ultimate questions. Thinking carefully and clearly about thinking, and feeling strong concern when others who should know better don’t think carefully and clearly about thinking. Professor Christopher Ullman – Christian Life College -- Email: cullman@christianlifecollege.edu -Phone: 847-259-1840 ext. 109 1 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY_DL SYLLABUS FOR PH201 Distance Learners Examining our own world-views to see if they can “hold water.” Recognizing how philosophers have made and will make a difference in the way millions of people live their everyday lives. Ideas have consequences: As you think, so you are. Realizing why the Christian philosopher Boethius called philosophy “the handmaiden of theology” Grading A B C D F 90-100% 80-89% 70-79% 60-69% 0-59% Assessment tools Points/ % of grade 220 / 38% 60 / 10% 100 / 100 / 17% 17% 100 / 18% 580 / 100% Tool Short assessments Dialogues (NOTE: All six must be completed to pass this course) Class Project: Midterm exam: An exam on the major topics covered in the first half of the course Final exam: An exam on the major topics covered in the second half of the course Total points for the course Textbooks φ Life’s Ultimate Questions by Ronald Nash1 φ The Philosophy of Jesus by Peter Kreeft φ Philosophy Coursepack2 1 To hear Ronald Nash teach, click on this link: http://www.biblicaltraining.org/speaker/ron-nash/ Coursepack of readings and presentations can be found at http://www.christianlifecollege.edu/#/news/intro-to-philosophy Professor Christopher Ullman – Christian Life College -- Email: cullman@christianlifecollege.edu -Phone: 847-259-1840 ext. 109 2 2 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY_DL SYLLABUS FOR PH201 Distance Learners Methods φ Reading the assigned texts φ Viewing each video φ Dialogue: Students are encouraged to raise pertinent questions as they come to mind, and to participate in dialogue with the purpose of deepening understanding in the area being discussed. READING PHILOSOPHY Everyone does Philosophy, all the time, but most people do not think very carefully about it. The student of Philosophy does. This means that s/he will want to: Find a quiet place to read and reflect on what has been read. Without reflection, you are not going to get much out of reading Philosophy. Read out loud, when the passage is difficult. Hearing yourself read the carefully-crafted sentences of a good philosopher may very well be the way you will break out of the fog and into the daylight. Make reading a priority: if you become distracted by thoughts of other things you need to do, write them down to deal with after you are through reading. Then, tell yourself that this is your time to read. Stay focused on reading. Read through an entire section in one sitting, even if you don’t understand most of it. After your first reading, you’ll have a clearer idea of the structure of the argument or explanation. Then reread and jot down main points and questions. Highlighting key passages is my personal favorite technique. Ask for help. Professor Christopher Ullman – Christian Life College -- Email: cullman@christianlifecollege.edu -Phone: 847-259-1840 ext. 109 3 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY_DL SYLLABUS FOR PH201 Distance Learners Don’t confuse a tired mind or body with reading difficulties. Reading is a physical activity that requires you to sit upright and motionless for an extended period of time. Take care of your physical needs for exercise, rest, nutrition and water, and your body won’t rebel when you tell it to sit still. Carve out hour-long blocks of time to do your reading. Turn off the phone, tv, radio and stereo, and let your mind and soul sip the cool nectar of Philosophy, and feast on the brain-food set before you. Professor Christopher Ullman – Christian Life College -- Email: cullman@christianlifecollege.edu -Phone: 847-259-1840 ext. 109 4 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY Assignments and Assessments MODULE ASSIGNED READINGS and PRESENTATIONS (Coursepack and Online Presentations are posted at http://www.christianlifecollege.edu/#/news/intro-tophilosophy ) 1. Introduction Coursepack Battling the Philosophy of this Age Nash - Chapter 1 – Worldview Thinking Kreeft - Introductions I, II & III Online Presentation Worldview 2. How Jesus Kreeft answered the - Jesus’ Metaphysics question, Online Presentation “What is really Jesus’ Metaphysics real?” 3. The Nash Worldview of - Chapter 2 – Naturalism Naturalism Coursepack - Greek Naturalist Philosophers Online Presentation Naturalism 4. The Nash Worldviews of - Chapter 3 – Plato Plato and - Chapter 4 – Aristotle Aristotle Coursepack - Primary Source Readings of Plato - Primary Source Readings of Aristotle Online Presentations Plato Aristotle ASSESSMENT POINTS POSSIBLE Assessment on Nash Chapter 1 – Worldview Thinking 10 Class Project Part One 30 Assessment on Naturalism 20 Professor Christopher Ullman – Christian Life College -- Email: cullman@christianlifecollege.edu -- Phone: 847-259-1840 ext. 109 POINTS EARNED 5 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY MODULE 5. The Worldview of Plotinus 6. The Worldviews of Augustine & Aquinas 7. “What is true?” ASSIGNED READINGS and PRESENTATIONS (Coursepack and Online Presentations are posted at http://www.christianlifecollege.edu/#/news/intro-tophilosophy ) Nash - Chapter 5 – Plotinus Online Presentation Plotinus Nash - Chapter 6 – Augustine Coursepack - Primary Readings of Augustine Nash - Chapter 7 – Aquinas Coursepack Primary Readings of Thomas Aquinas Online Presentations Augustine Aquinas Nash - Chapter 8 – The Law of Noncontradiction Kreeft - Jesus’ Epistemology Nash - Chapter 10 – Epistemology I: Whatever Happened to Truth? - Chapter 11 – Epistemology II: A Tale of Two Systems - Chapter 12 – Reformed Epistemology Online Presentations The Law of Noncontradiction Truth, Postmodernism & Epistemology ASSESSMENT POINTS POSSIBLE Assessment on Plato, Aristotle & Plotinus 45 Midterm Exam on Modules 1-5 Assessment on Augustine & Aquinas 100 Assessment on The Law of Noncontradiction and on Jesus’ Epistemology 25 Assessment on Nash’s Epistemology chapters 30 Professor Christopher Ullman – Christian Life College -- Email: cullman@christianlifecollege.edu -- Phone: 847-259-1840 ext. 109 POINTS EARNED 30 6 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY MODULE 8. “Is there a God?” & “What is God like?” 9. “What is a human being?” & “What is human nature?” 10. “What did Jesus say about how we ought to live?” ASSIGNED READINGS and PRESENTATIONS (Coursepack and Online Presentations are posted at http://www.christianlifecollege.edu/#/news/intro-tophilosophy ) Nash - Chapter 13 – God I: The Existence of God - Chapter 14 – God II: The Nature of God Online Presentation The Existence of God Kreeft - Jesus’ Anthropology Nash - Chapter 18 – Human Nature: The Mind-Body Problem and Survival After Death Online Presentation The Mind-Body Problem & Survival after Death Kreeft - Jesus’ Ethics Coursepack A Final Thought on Being Philosophers ASSESSMENT POINTS POSSIBLE Assessment on The Existence of God and The Nature of God 30 Assessment on Jesus’ Anthropology and Nash’s Human Nature chapter 30 Class Project Part Two 70 Final Exam on Modules 6-10 100 Dialogues (6 each, 30 minutes minimum for each, 10 points for each) Total Points 60 Professor Christopher Ullman – Christian Life College -- Email: cullman@christianlifecollege.edu -- Phone: 847-259-1840 ext. 109 POINTS EARNED 580 7
