Philosophy 101 (02), Introduction to Philosophy
TR: 9:25AM-10:40AM, MECC - 246
Dan Lloyd
Dan.Lloyd@trincoll.edu
Office: McCook 326, 297 2528
Office hours: M 2:15-4:30; W 2:15-3:45; and by appointment
Welcome!
Manifestly, no condition of life could be so well adapted for the practice of philosophy as this in
which chance finds you today! (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations)
This course will introduce you to the study of philosophy. The main goal is to immerse you in the
practice of philosophy as a way of life. The activities of a philosopher (you) include:
 Asking unexpected questions, especially questions that challenge unstated assumptions. We take
nothing for granted.
 Pursuing unexpected answers with philosophical rigor. This involves an even-handed search for
evidence pro and con, where the evidence is relevant and complete, and logically supports or
undermines a conclusion. It also involves the precise use of language as the outward expression of a
clear grasp of concepts. These concepts will often be unfamiliar and sometimes difficult.
The path to philosophy in this course is historical, but highly selective. We will read complete original
works (in translation) of four titanic figures in the tradition of Western philosophy: Plato, Aristotle,
Descartes, and Kant. As their foil, we will also read The Book of Tao and Teh (also known as Tao Te
Ching) by the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu. We will also make extensive use of a little book
called A Rulebook for Arguments. Plato and Lao Tzu will be available online (and via handouts); the other
books are available in the bookstore.
We will discover that philosophy often reveals itself in conversation, in dialogues that can be both
playful and relentlessly argumentative. We will have many such conversations in and out of class, and
discover that in many cases these conversations originated hundreds or even thousands of years ago. In
the Western tradition and in Lao tzu, three of the main questions are these:



What exists?
What do I really know?
How should I live my life?
Each of you must ultimately answer these questions for yourself. It would be wise to answer them well.
The study of philosophy is an excellent means to this end.
Your work for the course:
Philosophy is fundamentally a social enterprise. As philosophers, you will be in conversation with the
authors of this course, but more important, you will be in conversation with each other. These
conversations will be wide ranging, sometimes about the reading but often about life, the universe, and
1
everything. Your work for this course thus includes opportunities to explore our authors but also
opportunities to get to know your classmates, and jointly to explore the context in which we find
ourselves – on campus, and in the lively city of Hartford.
Here are your responsibilities to the course:
Reading. You should plan to read the main texts at least twice, and slowly. Reserve at least six hours a
week just for carefully reading, taking notes as you do. The content of the course is entirely in the
readings. For each reading, you’ll write a very short analysis paper. In each of these, you'll identify one
argument from the current reading, and identify its logical form, using A Rulebook for Arguments (see
below) as your guide. This assignment will get started on the third week of class. Stay tuned for an
extensive handout and examples to guide you.
Participating: Your attendance at every meeting of the class is required. The classroom is the hub of
philosophical discussion, essential for your learning. Moreover, your classmates depend on your insight
for their learning as well. (Most of the class will be discussion.) More than two unexcused absences will
decrement your course grade. Absences may be excused only if you contact DL prior to class. At the end of
each class meeting, you’ll write a short “5 minute paper” of your reflections on the discussion in class.
These are ungraded.
Interpreting philosophy: The main writing for the semester comprises five papers of about five pages
each. These will not be simple academic papers, but will often take more creative forms, which you may
find more challenging but also more fun. Late papers will lose one letter grade for each day late.
Experiencing the world as a philosopher: On five occasions (at your convenience) during the semester
you’ll attend some cultural event or venue and write a brief (one page) philosophical review pointing
out how your experience raised philosophical questions (or answers) for you. You are stongly
encouraged to bring a friend. The best of these will be published at our philosophy 101 website, Many
Worlds. Many Worlds is public; your publication there can go on your resume.
Experiencing each other as philosophers, also known as Philosophy with Friends: On five occasions (at
your convenience) during the semester you will meet with one other member of the class to discuss any
philosophical topic you choose. Each of you will write a summary of the discussion. The best of these
will be published in Many Worlds.
Consolidating your understanding of the course through two exams. The first, in late September,
covers the main topics of Weston’s Rulebook for Arguments. There will also be a three-hour open-book
open-notes essay final. During the exam period, you will write two essays from a topics list circulated in
advance.
Academic dishonesty of any form will lead to failure in the course and formal judicial hearings, with
penalties up to expulsion from Trinity. Any idea or piece of writing (even phrases) that comes from
another source must be explicitly cited with information about the source. Sources that must be cited
include standard references (like books) but also informal sources, like classmates, Wikipedia, other
courses, etc. If you have any questions about appropriate use of sources, see Dr. Lloyd.
2
Please silence your cell phones and close your laptops during class, as a courtesy to everyone. Thank
you.
(Acknowledgment: DL would like to thank Professors Marcano, Nenadic, Brown, Greenberg, and Hyland
for several ideas and examples incorporated in this syllabus.)
Grading:
Attendence/participation: 10%
Short analysis (~10): 20%
Interpretive papers (5): 30%
Philosophical reviews (5): 10%
Philosophical conversations with classmates (5): 10%
Final exam: 20%
The books:
ARISTOTLE
Title NICOMACHEAN ETHICS
ISBN 9781585100354
Edition 02
Publisher FOCUS
DESCARTES
Title MEDITATIONS ON FIRST PHILOSOPHY
ISBN 9780872201927
Edition 3RD 93
Publisher HACKETT
KANT
Title GROUNDWORK OF THE METAPHYSICS OF MORALS
ISBN 9780521626958
Edition 2010
Publisher CAMB
LAO TZU (to be announced)
WESTON
A RULEBOOK FOR ARGUMENTS 4th edition ,
ISBN 978-0872209541
Hackett
Getting started:
We will read the books in the order above.
A schedule of readings will be available shortly.
Meanwhile, for Thursday 9/6 read Plato’s Euthyphro
A schedule of readings will follow shortly.
NO TALKING POINTS MEMO DUE THIS WEEK.
(We will read one dialogue per each class meeting.)
3