Phil 1000: Introduction to Philosopy
Instructor: Kirsten Kringle
Fall, 2012
Saturday afternoons
University Policies:
Plagiarism, cheating, or academic dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated. If academic
dishonesty is suspected, you will be given a 0 on that assignment. If academic dishonesty is
discovered, you will be given a failing grade in the course, and will be reported to the University.
We will talk a great deal more about this when term paper topics are distributed.
If you require special accommodations in order to take exams or enjoy lecture, please contact the
O’Neill center immediately. They will contact me, and we can get started making arrangements
for your situation right away.
Course Policies:
Cell phone use is not permitted in class. Please turn your ringers off and refrain from texting
during class.
Laptop use is not permitted in class. The benefit of quick note taking, for most students, does not
outweigh the risk of distraction. If you require the use of a computer during class, please contact
the O’Neill Center for special permission.
Office hours are by appointment. To schedule an appointment, talk to me before or after class or
send me an email. Please feel free to approach me or email me with questions or concerns at any
time throughout the semester.
Because our class period is so long, you will be given one or two breaks each evening,
depending on the schedule for that night. Feel free to bring snacks and drinks to class.
Course Requirements:
Attendance is required and will be recorded. You are allowed up to one unexcused absence
without penalty. Any missed classes beyond the first will result in the lowering of your final
grade by 2/3 of a letter grade for each missed class.
Participation will count for 15% of your final grade. You are expected to come to lecture
prepared to ask questions regarding the assigned reading and contribute meaningfully to small
group and large group discussion. Participation points will be determined subjectively (that is,
there is no formula for their calculation).
Completing the assigned readings prior to class is extremely important. For that reason, I am
asking you to take written notes for every reading.
During the weeks we do not meet, you are required to participate in a discussion forum on d2l.
Your responses can vary in length from 1-2 sentences to 1 paragraph, at your discretion. Study
questions appear in your text at the beginning of each passage. Study questions will account for
25% of your final grade. Note: a significant portion of class discussion may be based on
thoughtful responses to these questions and, because we discuss the readings prior to your being
assigned to answer them (online) it would be prudent to familiarize yourself with them before
our class meeting. They are a helpful way to orient yourself toward the (often complex) assigned
reading.
Weekly quizzes will be administered at the beginning of each class. These quizzes will be drawn
primarily from your study questions and the “to think about” questions appearing at the end of
each text, as well as from the text itself. Late and make up quizzes will not be offered (you must
therefore be on time to class to take the quiz). Quizzes will account for 25% of your final grade.
You will be required to write one term paper, of approximately 8-10 pages in length. Your term
paper will be due on our final day of class. Late papers will not be accepted. You will receive
term paper topics, as well as more detailed instructions regarding this assignment in early in the
course. Your paper should be a work in progress throughout the course. I do not expect you to
write a 10 page paper in the last week, and discourage you from doing so. Your term paper will
be worth 35% of your final grade.
Course Description:
This course proposes to cover wide ranging issues across the discipline of philosophy. We will
begin with a look at what counts as philosophy, and what it is to do philosophy. We consider the
arguments for and against the existence of god. We will discuss epistemology, or the study of
knowledge, and metaphysics, or the study of what is.We will have an extensive investigation of
ethical theories including utilitarianism, Kantian, virtue ethics, and other more nontraditional
approaches. We will also discuss social and political philosophy, a branch of moral philosophy
concerned with government.
Overall, this course is aimed towards helping you acquire an appreciation for philosophical
issues and critical thought. But doing philosophy also helps one develop practical skills. This
course will teach you how to identify and evaluate the reasoning underlying difficult pieces of
writing. It will also help you learn to communicate more effectively, and to write and speak more
convincingly. Studying philosophy will encourage you to be open-minded towards new and
challenging ideas. And to top it off, philosophy is fascinating, intellectually fulfilling, and yes,
lots of fun!
Course Schedule
(Gentle Reminder: Readings are required to be completed prior to class and quizzes are
administered at the beginning of class)
9/8
Topic: Introduction to the course, introduction to philosophy, Plato and the founding myth of
philosophy
Readings: None
Assignments due: None
9/15 online
9/22
Topic: Introduction to ethical theories
Readings: #14, #15, #16
Assignments due: Quiz
9/29 Online
10/6
Topic: Ethics Continued
Readings: #17, #18, #19
Assignments due: quiz
10/13 Online
10/20
Topic: Paper
Readings: None
Assignments due: None
10/27 Online
11/3
Topic: Epistemology and Metaphysics
Readings: #24, #27, #28, #29
Assignments due: Quiz
11/10 Online
11/17
Topic: Epistemology and Metaphysics
Readings: #34, #36, #37, #38
Assignments due: Quiz
11/24 Online
12/1
Topic: Philosophy and Religion
Readings: #3, #4, #5. #6
Assignments due: quiz
12/8 Online
12/15
Topic: Social and Political
Readings: #43, #44, 45
Assignments due: quiz, final papers due