Philosophy 1100H (Fall 2012)
Syllabus
Central Classroom Building 0240, Tues. & Thurs. 12:45-2:05pm
Prof. Chris Pincock
chrispincock@gmail.com
Office: 337H University Hall
Office Hours: Thursday 9:00-11:00am, or by appointment
Web page: http://pincock-yilmazer.com/chris/ and click on “Courses”
Overview
We will investigate some of the basic problems of philosophy with a focus on the
problem of knowledge and the nature of reality. Topics will include the nature and
scope of our knowledge of the world around us, the justification of beliefs about the
future, the relation between mind and body, and the possibility of freedom of the
will. Readings will be drawn from historical and contemporary philosophers
including Plato, Descartes, Hume, David Armstrong and Harry Frankfurt.
General Education Category and Expected Learning Outcomes
http://ascadvising.osu.edu/gec/bachelorarts
Philosophy 1100 satisfies the Cultures & Ideas subcategory of the Arts & Sciences
GE requirements (2.C.3.). The expected learning objectives for the Cultures & Ideas
subsection are as follows.
2. C. 3. Cultures and Ideas Expected Learning Outcomes:
Goals:
Students evaluate significant cultural phenomena and ideas in order to develop
capacities for aesthetic and historical response and judgment; and interpretation and
evaluation.
Expected Learning Outcomes:
1. Students analyze and interpret major forms of human thought, culture, and
expression.
2. Students evaluate how ideas influence the character of human beliefs, the
perception of reality, and the norms which guide human behavior.
In Philosophy 1100, students will read and critically evaluate significant
philosophical works that address judgments about knowledge and the nature of
reality. Students will examine and interpret how these foundational beliefs are
explored in both classic and contemporary philosophical writings. Through critical
engagement with these works, they will develop their capacity for interpretation
and evaluation of philosophical theories and arguments.
Text
J. Perry, M. Bratman & J. M. Fischer, Introduction to Philosophy: Classical and
Contemporary Readings, Sixth edition, Oxford University Press, 2012.
Note: some additional readings will be distributed online through Carmen
(https://carmen.osu.edu).
Requirements
Three short essays (15% each), two tests (10% each) and one final exam (25%).
Class participation is worth 10% of your final grade.
Policies
Lecture attendance is required. This means that you are responsible for all material
covered in lecture including handouts, changes in deadlines and announcements
generally.
No late assignments will be accepted. Extensions will be given only in extraordinary
circumstances, e.g. serious illness or family emergency, and only before the due date
of the assignment. If you think you may need an extension contact the instructor as
soon as possible by e-mail.
All written work must be your own. If you use someone else’s words or ideas, these
sources must be appropriately cited. Plagiarism will result in an ‘F’ in this class
and possibly further disciplinary action by the university.
Academic Misconduct
The university understands academic misconduct to include “any activity which
tends to compromise the academic integrity of the institution, or subvert the
educational process” (http://studentaffairs.osu.edu/csc/). Examples include, but
are not limited to, such actions as cheating on exams and submitting a term paper
written by another. No one should be unclear about whether these are wrong, but
students are sometimes not clear about what constitutes plagiarism.
‘Plagiarism’ is defined by the University to be “the representation of another’s
works or ideas as one’s own; it includes the unacknowledged word for word use
and/or paraphrase of another person’s work, and/or the inappropriate
unacknowledged use of another person’s ideas.” There should be no
misunderstanding about word for word transcriptions or simple paraphrases—
these must be acknowledged through proper citations.
It is sometimes not clear, though, when simply using the ideas of another requires
citation. This is especially true in the context of a course, in which one is,
presumably acquiring fundamental ideas of a subject matter from the text or the
instructor. Certain ideas are “in the public domain,” so to speak; they are ideas used
by everyone working in the field, and do not require citation. Other ideas are such
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that their origin needs to be acknowledged. It is sometimes difficult for beginning
students to distinguish these. It is helpful to remember that what is at issue is
whether the failure to acknowledge a source would tend to misrepresent the idea as
your own. The failure to acknowledge your source for a distinction between
consequentialism and deontology, for example, would not tend to misrepresent the
distinction as your own since it is a distinction that most people working in the field
will draw in some way or other. To offer a specific account of this distinction that is
offered by another without citing the source could easily tend to misrepresent the
account as your own. It is clearly better to err on the side of over-acknowledgment
in cases in which one is in doubt. Electronic copies of papers will be scanned for
plagiarism and inappropriate use of web-based materials.
I view academic misconduct of any sort as a very serious violation of
university requirements. University rules provide for extremely serious sanctions
for academic misconduct, and I will, as I am required to do, forward any cases of
suspected misconduct to the Committee on Academic Misconduct
(http://oaa.osu.edu/coam.html).
Disability Services
Students with disabilities that have been certified by the Office of Disability Services
will be appropriately accommodated. They should inform me as soon as possible of
their needs. The Office of Disability Services is located in 150 Pomerene Hall, 1760
Neil Avenue; telephone 292-3307, TDD 292-0901; http://www.ods.ohio-state.edu/
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