Introduction to Philosophy - PHI 213

Instructor: Dr. Daniel Skubik, PhD JD MDiv
Voice: 909.343.4288 / Fax: 909.343.4437
Web: http://www.calbaptist.edu/dskubik
E-Mail: dskubik@calbaptist.edu

Introduction to Philosophy

PHI 213 BE (Main Campus)

California Baptist University
November/December Evening College term, 2003

This introductory course provides general coverage of the principal issues, methods, and value of philosophy both as an academic discipline and as a way of life. It does not presume any background knowledge in the formal disciplinary field, but it does presume a basic knowledge of and willingness to engage in good faith discussion and argumentation, and a good faith effort on the part of students to apply themselves to the love of wisdom—the meaning of the word “philosophy,” itself. This course is thus a prerequisite for all upper division philosophy courses.

By the end of the term, students should grasp the rudiments of three of the primary sub-fields within the discipline of philosophy (epistemology, metaphysics/ontology, and axiology); and have gained insight into selected applied issues, such as philosophical problems arising in religion and ethics.

Required Texts

Jostein Gaarder, Sophie’s World: A Novel about the History of Philosophy (any edition)

The book is available in the CBU Bookstore, and is also readily available from web shops such as Amazon, or Barnes & Noble. Web pages will likewise be referenced throughout the term, contents of which you also will be responsible.

Class Readings & Discussion Schedule

Week #1 (November 3)	Introduction to course: scope, methods, procedures, expectations Introduction to Introduction to Philosophy Gaarder: read through “Socrates” by beginning of class next week
Week #2 (November 10)	Epistemology: How do we know anything? Discuss Gaarder through “Socrates” Quiz #1 Aim to read through “Two Cultures” by beginning of class next week
Week #3 (November 17)	Metaphysics: What is? Discuss Gaarder through “Two Cultures” Quiz #2 Aim to read through “Hume” by beginning of class next week
Week #4 (November 24)	Metaphysics: What is freedom? Discuss Gaarder through “Hume” Quiz #3 Aim to read through “Hegel” by beginning of class next week
Week #5 (December 1)	Ethics: What is the right and the good? Discuss Gaarder through “Hegel” Quiz #4 Gaarder: aim to read through “Our Own Time” by beginning of class next week
Week #6 (December 8)	Ontology: What is a person? Discuss Gaarder through “Our Own Time” Quiz #5 Aim to complete the book by beginning of class next week
Week #7 (December 15)	Book Study Due Concluding discussion of Gaarder and philosophical topics
Week #8 (December 22)	Final Exam Final exam is cumulative, and covers our lectures/discussions and Gaarder

Assessment & Grading Scale

Quizzes = 28% (4 x 7%/each)	90 - 100 = A range (90-94 = A-)
Final Examination = 25%	80 - 89 = B range (80-83 = B- / 87-89 = B+)
Book Study = 25%	70 - 79 = C range (70-73 = C- / 77-79 = C+)
Participation in Class = 12%	60 - 69 = D range (60-63 = D- / 67-69 = D+)
Participation on Web = 10%	0 - 59 = F

Quizzes

Five (5) quizzes are scheduled throughout the term, as noted in our calendar. Each quiz is worth 7%, cumulatively comprising 28% of your final grade for the course. I will drop your lowest quiz grade from the calculation, but will award an extra 2% if you do take all 5 quizzes during the term, for a possible total of 30% towards your final grade.

Quizzes are objective in nature, with questions being phrased as true/false, multiple choice, fill-in the blank, short answer, and matching type questions. Content will cover whatever we most recently discussed/are discussing in lectures and Gaarder at the time it is given.

Final Examination

There will be a final examination, as noted in the schedule. The exam constitutes 25% of your final grade for the course; and it is cumulative, with questions concerning our lectures and book. The exam is closed book, open notes. Meaning of open notes: You are permitted to bring 1 (one) 8.5” x 11” sheet of paper with notes written on it for use during the exam. The notes may be in your own handwriting, or produced by a computer, of any size writing or font, front and back, without regard to margins.

Book Study

You are to read the novel by Gaarder, and then write one (1) Book Study for the instructor. The Study is due no later than the beginning of our final class, Monday, December 15th, and constitutes 25% of your final grade for the course. No late papers will be accepted. No exceptions. Early submissions are both encouraged and rewarded: 5% bonus if your Study is submitted to me by the beginning of class, Monday, December 8th.

Select any portion of the book for your focus, from one chapter to the work as a whole. (N.B. A selected portion, like one chapter or one section, usually works better than trying to tackle the work as a whole. Choose wisely.) You should then adopt either of the following approaches to composing your Study:

Relate what you have learned in this class with what is happening in the book to/with the characters, especially addressing the issue of how your view of the world and your life have/have not been affected by what you have read and learned. This is a personal, reflection-oriented paper, but should still be informed by class materials and discussions. You may even fairly claim not to have been affected by or learned anything in this class whatsoever, but you must still explain that claim with some detail.

Based on your selection, address two main queries: (a) what is happening in this part of the book? (that is, provide a brief review of what you deem to be the salient events/lessons in this portion of the text); and (b) what linkages can be drawn between the themes or occurrences in this part of the book with the topics of our class discussions? In short, you are to demonstrate that you have been reading the book, and that you have given some considered thought to integrating the book’s events and lessons with our other class materials and discussions. This can be more objectively oriented, and need contain no personal reflections or revelations. Such content is permitted, but not required to complete the assignment.

Suggested length: the paper should run ~1250-1600 words (= 5-6 pages of standard size print and margins), and must be computer-generated in a digital format for submission (see below for details). No handwritten or hardcopy work will be accepted. Longer essays are fine; shorter essays are likely too short satisfactorily to complete the Study as outlined.

Special note: CBU is now using Turnitin.com for processing written assignments. This replaces all hardcopy and Blackboard submissions for this class. To submit your paper to me, use your web browser and go to http://www.turnitin.com Create a user profile for yourself (click on the “create user profile” line in the top right corner of the screen and follow the wizard) and then register for this class: the class account ID is 1097768 (all numbers) and the password is phil213be (all lowercase letters). You can then submit your Book Study by uploading your essay via the web. The work you prepare can be in MS Word (.doc), Adobe PDF (.pdf), or RTF (.rtf) or standard Text (.txt) formats.

Participation in Class & on Web

Although speaking in class, publicly putting and defending a position, can be daunting, you are strongly encouraged to learn to think through your own and others’ experiences and insights within the context our discussions. In short, you are encouraged to demonstrate your internalization of our material for application in the real world. In this context, you are not being evaluated for reaching “right” conclusions, but for demonstrating your facility in forming arguments for any conclusions put, given the material we will cover in class.

To give direct incentive to so engage, 22% of your mark for the course will be comprised of my assessment of your overall participation during the term: 12% for regular in-class discussion participation; 10% for regular online participation. Web contributions should be made on a consistent basis: for example, read your classmates contributions and post a comment yourself at least once each week during the term. Don’t post 10 comments all at once when the term is coming to an end. Go to this class on the CBU Blackboard site for discussions, as well as course documents.

Caveat

This syllabus is composed in good faith, with a schedule of readings, assignments and discussions which will guide us throughout the term. Still, the instructor reserves the right to make adjustments to this schedule as deemed necessary for the overall enterprise of the course. Any changes will be communicated as far in advance as feasible, and you are responsible for knowing if and when any changes have been made.

Make-Ups

Quizzes — you must arrange a make-up with me before the quiz is given, not after. No exceptions.

Final Examination — no make-ups will be arranged for the final exam. No exceptions.

Book Study — no late work will be accepted for marking. No exceptions.