Cambridge College, Springfield Campus, Fall 2011
Introduction to Philosophy
Philosophy PHI201 - 3 credits
Instructor: Abigail Dolinger
Email: adolinger@cambridgecollege.edu
Office phone: (413) 747-0204 ext. 6645 Home phone: (413) 582-9673
Office Hours: Mondays, Tuesdays Thursdays *5 PM – 6 PM (or by appointment)
*(Subject to change based on students’ needs)
Meeting Dates: Sept. 20, 27 Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25 Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Dec. 6, 13
What do we know?
How do we know what we know?
And once we do, how aught we to live our lives?
Course Description:
How can we best understand the meaning of love, faith, friendship, truth, anger, forgiveness,
or address the purpose of life? Can we know that God exists? What is justice, and do we live in
a just universe? What is true happiness? What is the role and purpose of education in our lives?
While we all confront these issues, few of us are able to formulate answers to them in a
systematic way. When we do philosophy, we attempt to do just that. Philosophy comes from the
Greek word meaning, "love of wisdom." This simple statement hints that philosophy combines
passion and reason, emotion and intellect. This is why Aristotle wrote that experience of wonder
is the beginning of philosophy. Nearly all human beings spend time wondering about the big
issues mentioned above. All of us attempt some philosophy on our own. In this course, we work
on it together. We read works by some of the people who have wondered most carefully about
these issues. To do this, we develop our own capacities for rational inquiry. This means learning
how to make sound arguments, ask good questions, and recognize logical errors in our own
thinking and that of others. This course develops our capacity for rational inquiry and wonder so
that we can confront and begin to resolve the questions and problems that matter the most to us.
Required Readings & Text:
The Little Philosophy Book by Robert Solomon
Oxford University Press,
ISBN: 978-0-19-531114-3
“How Do We Know? Why Do We Believe” article by Patricia M. King
“Introduction To Philosophy” article by Robert Solomon
“The Allegory of the Cave” by Plato
Teaching Methodology:
Dialectics, cooperative learning exercises, presentations, brief lectures, peer sharing
Requirements & Expectations of Student Performance:
1) Attendance at all classes (one excused absence permitted, 2 and I cannot give you credit)
(See student handbook for college policy)
2) Participation in group work & discussion
3) Paper on philosopher/philosophy of student’s choice (approved by instructor)
5-6 pages due no later than the last class (any draft must be submitted by Nov. 22)
4) Group Presentation – a performed dialogue between philosophers (topic- students’ choice)
schedule determined in class
Objectives, Outcomes & Measurements:
The focus listed below is on a few fundamental things that students can do as a result of the
course. The organic whole of each student’s understanding of any course is beyond measure, but
some key pieces of their understanding can be measured through their performance in selected
activities. Therefore, the language of the three columns fits this form:
Objective: An area within which I expect students to develop competence.
Outcome: Specific actions within that area that demonstrate competence.
Measure: Things that serve as evidence that students meet a standard of performance.
PLEASE NOTE: These columns do not constitute a description of all that I expect students to
learn or all that I intend to teach in the course.
LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
To demonstrate an
understanding of
1. The branches of
philosophy focusing on
ethics, epistemology, &
metaphysics
LEARNING OUTCOMES
a) read
b) interpret
c) analyze & evaluate
the texts on moral
philosophy
Paper
Group Presentation
Response papers
2. Reflective judgments
a) verbally (&written)
expressing reflective
judgments
Paper
Group Presentation
Response papers
3) Philosophical films
a) read, analyze & interpret
films
Paper
Group Presentation
Response papers
4) Critical Thinking
a) Analyze and understand
complex ideas
b) Locate, evaluate and apply
research information
c) Draw inferences from
facts
d) Evaluate and present well
reasoned arguments
a) Read, write, interpret,
draw conclusions, dialogue
with classmates
Paper
Group Presentation
Response papers
5) Develop and demonstrate
language activities
Student will
Metaphysics: Study of Existence
Epistemology: Study of Knowledge
Ethics:
Study of Action
ASSESSMENT
METHODS
As measured by
In-class group work &
assignments
Peer sharing & critiquing
Class discussions
What's out there?
How do I know about it?
What should I do?
Note on Plagiarism
Plagiarism is not allowed in any academic setting and may be cause for serious consequences at
Cambridge College (see Student Handbook). Plagiarism is defined as follows:
"In an instructional setting, plagiarism occurs when a writer deliberately uses someone else's
language, ideas or other original (not common knowledge) material without acknowledging its
source. This definition applies to texts published in print, or on-line, to manuscripts, and to the
work of other students."
Council of Writing Program Administrations (WPA)
http://www.wpacouncil.org
Definitions of philosophy on the Web:
• doctrine: a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or
school
• the rational investigation of questions about existence and knowledge and ethics
• any personal belief about how to live or how to deal with a situation; "self-indulgence
was his only philosophy"; "my father's philosophy of child-rearing was to let mother
do it"
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
• Philosophy is the discipline concerned with the questions of how one should live
(ethics); what sorts of things exist and what are their essential natures
(metaphysics); what counts as genuine knowledge (epistemology); and what are the
correct principles of reasoning (logic).
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy
• love of wisdom (Plato)
home.salamander.com/~wmcclain/ev-glossary.html
• a study of human morals, character and behavior
www.millicentrogers.org/glossary.htm
• "The objects of philosophy . . . are upon the whole the same as those of religion. In
both the object is Truth, in that supreme sense in which God and God only is Truth."
Logic § 1.
www.class.uidaho.edu/mickelsen/texts/Hegel%20Glossary.htm
• love of wisdom'; rational investigation of theories and principles or knowledge,
existence, and conduct.
ablemedia.com/ctcweb/glossary/glossaryp.html
• concerning possibility, impossibility, necessity or contingency
www.rbjones.com/rbjpub/philos/glossary/m.htm
• [3: History of Western Philosophy ]; [3: Dictionary of philosophical terms and names
]; [3: Philosophers ]; [3:Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy ]; [3: Stanford
Encyclopedia of Philosophy ]; [3: Berkeley University ]; [Kemerling's philosophy
timeline ]
www.ecotao.com/holism/glosoz.htm
• the systematic inquiry of the fundamental questions concerning, among other things,
the nature of reality (metaphysics), the justification of belief (epistemology), and the
conduct of life (ethcis).
garnet.acns.fsu.edu/~cmh9639/phi2010/glossary.htm
• (Greek, "Love of wisdom"): The methodical and systematic exploration of what we
know, how we know it, and why it is important that we know it. Too frequently,
students use the term somewhat nebulously. They often mistakenly state, "My
philosophy about X is . . . ...
web.cn.edu/kwheeler/lit_terms_P.html
• The love, study, or pursuit of wisdom or of knowledge of things and their causes,
whether theoretical or practical, the study of all Wisdom at the Source and of all
Principle as Creation.
miriams-well.org/Glossary/index.html
• Gary M. Kenyon, St. Thomas University, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
books.elsevier.com/companions/9780122268601/articles.htm
• The study of seeking knowledge and wisdom in understanding the nature of the
universe, man, ethics, art, love, purpose, etc.
www.carm.org/atheism/terms.htm
• Love and pursuit of wisdom by intellectual means and moral self-discipline.
www.jabcreations.com/philosophy/philosophy-definitions.php
• 50, 249-58. Reprinted in Block 1980.
spot.colorado.edu/~rupertr/DynaSYNTH.doc
• (Gk., love of knowledge or wisdom) The study of the most general and abstract
features of the world and categories with which we think: mind, matter, reason, proof,
truth, etc. In philosophy, the concepts with which we approach the world themselves
become the topic of enquiry. ...
www.philosophy.uncc.edu/mleldrid/intro/odop.html
• The study of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct.
www.theology.edu/theology/glossary.htm
• These sections are small; but specialists will no doubt find in them a number of
interesting codices for collation. The most noteworthy manuscripts are: in ethics, the
unique "Ge' Ḥizzayon" of Abraham b. Jacob, and two copies of a Persian version in
Hebrew characters of Abraham b. ...
www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp
• A Glossary of Terms William J. Tsamis
www.apologetics.org/glossary.html
• A rational, logical methodology or practice of approaching questions which lie outside
the realm of hard science. For instance, what is the purpose of life? What is the
nature of the soul? What is moral? These questions cannot be answered (at this
time) by scientific experimentation. ...
www.jashan.net/sites/satanism/dict-common.php
• the study of truths about reality. The search for wisdom.
www.kyhorsepark.com/imh/china/ed/glos.html
Special Needs:
Cambridge College ensures access to facilities and academic programs for students with
physical, mental, or learning disabilities of permanent or temporary duration. Accommodations
are determined on an individual basis and include, but are not limited to, sign language
interpreters, note takers, audio recording, tutorial services, priority registration, course
modification, parking, and classroom modification. Please contact the Main campus at 617-8730200, to discuss your disability. Arrangements may be made to monitor services you need in
compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
You are responsible to obtain documentation from a qualified physician or clinician that presents
a specific diagnosis of your disability, explains its limiting effects, and makes recommendations
for accommodation. It is important to give her this documentation as soon as possible since many
services are outside the College and must be arranged far in advance. Course instructors and
advisors are notified of any students with disabilities and accommodations.
On-line library:
Cambridge College Library Resources:
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Services and Resources at Cambridge College” on the page
http://www.cambridgecollege.edu/student/research.cfm
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For instructions for using library services, see
www.cambridgecollege.edu/student/research.cfm
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For instructions and resources for researching and writing your research papers, see
www.cambridgecollege.edu/student/research.cfm
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