Philosophy 101
Winter 2004
Dr. Stratton
PHILOSOPHY 101
INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
WINTER 2004
9:30 AM ROOM 108
Instructor: Dr. Jon Stratton
Office #4, Academic Faculty Area (Classroom Bldg.)
527-4222 (leave a message if I am not there)
Office Hours: 2:30-3:30 Daily, or by arrangement
Text: Sophie’s World, by Jostein Gaarder
Introduction to Philosophy is a survey of over 2,000 years of the profound ideas, deep feelings,
and insightful visions of creative and thoughtful philosophers.
Philosophy 101 has only one text; Sophie’s World. The novel was published in Norway in 1991
and since has become an international favorite. Students interested in the history of philosophy have made
the book a best-seller in France, Germany, and Great Britain. The central character in the novel is a fifteen
year-old girl who goes on an intellectual adventure with her teacher. Together they examine the ideas of
the great philosophers – Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Berkeley, Marx, Sartre, and many others.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM THIS CLASS
During the quarter, you can expect to be presented with dozens of ideas about human nature, truth,
reality, and values. Some of these ideas will appear strange and even silly at first glance. It is very
important to keep an open mind, to read and listen carefully, and to think. Philosophy is very rewarding,
but only to those who take the time and make the effort to understand its ideas.
There are two lectures given during the week, on Mondays and Tuesdays. The lectures are meant
to clarify and explain the ideas we study. They are always followed by a 5-10 minute in-class writing
assignment to be handed in before you leave. You will be involved in class discussions two days each
week. For Wednesdays, your assignment will be to find a good quotation from the reading assignment in
Sophie’s World, copy it and write a 100 word explanation of it that either asks a question or makes a
comment that will be of use in the class discussion. You will be asked to read your quotation to the class,
along with your explanation. Thursdays, the class will discuss and write about a quotation chosen by the
instructor from the original writing of one of the philosophers studied during the week. On Fridays, the
class will be presented with a contemporary issue that would be of interest to the philosophers we are
currently studying. You will be asked to write a 100 word response to the discussion at the conclusion of
the class session.
There are two essay exams in the course. Both ask you to summarize, compare, contrast, and
criticize the main ideas of the philosophers we study. Participation in the class discussions is an excellent
preparation for the exams.
You can expect to expand your intellectual horizons in this course. You can also expect to be
seriously challenged. Sophie’s World is full of complex, subtle, and profound ideas. In order to do well,
you will need to spend at least one hour every day on the course in outside study. You will need to read
some sections of the novel twice, even three or four times. Philosophy 101 is not easy but it is very
rewarding. It is an excellent opportunity to thoughtfully explore important ideas.
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The Learning Objectives of the course
Demonstrate clear and accurate communication of introductory philosophical ideas in class discussion
and in written assignments and essay examinations.
Demonstrate critical thinking, especially analysis and evaluation in regard to the selection and
explanation of key quotations from Sophie’s World.
Demonstrate critical thinking, especially open-mindedness and persistence in regard to explaining
introductory philosophical ideas in class discussion and in written assignments and essay
examinations.
Philosophy 101
Winter 2004
Dr. Stratton
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADES
Grades for the course are based on the description in the WWCC college catalog. (An A is given
for excellent work, B for good work, C for the minimum, D for below expectations, and F for very poor or
absent work.) Each activity is graded according to the following percentages.
Lecture Summaries (Monday and Tuesday) - 15%
Student Quotation Discussions and Writing (Wednesday) – 15%
Instructor Quotation Discussions and Writing (Thursday) – 15%
Friday in class writing – 15%
Midterm Exam – 20%
Final Exam – 20%
IMPORTANT THINGS
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Attend class consistently, do your assignments, and you will be happy with your grade.
As a general rule, no make-up work is accepted. Exceptions for illness or other difficult situations
can be made. Talk with the instructor.
The Student Quotation Written assignment must be completed on a word processor, doublespaced.
Leave margin space on your in-class written work so the instructor can make some comments.
Class discussion on Wednesday and Friday is part of the grade on the written assignment.
The instructor will lower your grade or ask you to drop the course if you engage in distracting
behavior (rude behavior, whispering, eating, drinking anything but water).
Turning in work that is not your own will result in either dropping or failing the course.
DAILY ACTIVITIES
Monday – Lecture Day
Tuesday – Lecture Day
Wednesday – Student Quotation Day
Thursday –Instructor Quotation Day
Friday – Contemporary Issue Day
SPECIAL NEEDS
Students who feel a need for accommodation for disabilities of any kind should contact the WWCC
Disabilities Coordinator (La Dessa Smelcer 527-4543)
This course has an HONORS MODULE for students in the WWCC Honors Program. Please schedule an
appointment with the instructor for an introduction to the module.
Philosophy 101
Winter 2004
Dr. Stratton
READING ASSIGNMENTS IN SOPHIE’S WORLD
Fall 2003
You should have completed the reading assignment by the date on the schedule.
Friday, January 9: pp. 1-56
Tuesday, January 13: pp. 56-104
Tuesday, January 20: pp. 104-165
Tuesday, January 27: pp. 165-216
Tuesday, February 3: pp. 216-257
Friday, February 6: Midterm Exam
Tuesday, February 10: pp. 257-303
Tuesday, February 17: pp. 303-372
Tuesday, February 24: pp. 372-447
Tuesday, March 2: pp. 447-471
Tuesday, March 9: pp. 471-513
Friday, March 19: Final Exam
LECTURE SCHEDULE
You will gain more from the lectures if you have prepared properly. Read about the appropriate
philosopher and ideas in Sophie’s World.
January 8, Thursday - Socrates
January 12, Monday – Plato
February 9, Monday – Empiricism
January 13, Tuesday – Aristotle
February 10, Tuesday – Locke and Berkeley
January 20, Tuesday – Hellenism I
February 17, Tuesday – Kant I
January 21, Wednesday – Hellenism II
February 18, Wednesday – Kant II
January 26, Monday – Aquinas and Augustine
February 23, Monday – Hegel
January 27, Tuesday – Descartes
February 24, Tuesday – Marx
February 2, Monday – Spinoza
March 1, Monday – Kierkegaard
February 3, Tuesday – Summary of first half
March 2, Tuesday – Freud
lectures
March 8, Monday – Sartre
February 6, Friday, Midterm Exam
March 9, Tuesday – DeBeauvoir
March 15, Monday – Summary
March 16, Tuesday – Review
March 19, Friday – Final Exam