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Syllabus - Phil 1
Introduction to Philosophy, Phil. 1,
Tony Hanson
anthanson@live.com (DO NOT USE FHDA.EDU EMAIL ACCOUNT)
Themes and Objectives - I will be presenting philosophical views and debates within the context of a certain theme. This theme is the challenge by largely modern philosophers to certain widely held and common philosophical assumptions and concepts related to God, Evil, the Soul, the Mind, the Self, Freedom and Knowledge. The purpose of philosophy is to find good justification for beliefs about these issues, and we will be exploring and evaluating the various arguments for these beliefs. In addition to this broad purpose the objectives of this course are:
1. To introduce philosophy as a perennial human need and activity and as an academic discipline with its own special subject matter and methodology.
2. To challenge, develop and refine the student�s own philosophical ideas through rational and critical inquiry into basic philosophical questions about reality, knowledge, moral values, human nature, God, and free will.
3. To learn and explore the answers to these questions they are expressed in the philosophical systems of the great philosophers of the western world over the past 2500 years.
4. To develop critical thinking skills through analyzing and evaluating arguments, and to teach the application of these skills in our thinking about broad social, political and philosophical issues that are important in all our lives.
5. To develop the skill of expressing ideas clearly in written and spoken discourse.
Methodologies of the course include, lectures, class discussions (mostly) and collaborative learning
REQUIRED TEXTS � Hard copy. You need to bring both hard copy books to class EVERY DAY.
1. Donald Palmer, Does the Center Hold? Second Edition (Mayfield), or Third Edition (McGraw-Hill), or Fourth Edition (McGraw-Hill) abbreviated . The FOurth Edition is preferred. The De Anza bookstore will stock only the latest edition. Earlier editions (new or used) are also available from online vendors such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Half.com (eBay). It is OK to use earlier editions; you do not need the most recent (most expensive) version. This text will be referred to as DP in the schedule below.
2. Christopher Biffle, A Guided Tour of Five Works By Plato, Third Edition, Mayfield Publishing. You can also use the second edition, if you can find one, but the third edition is preferred. This is a workbook which you will write in, and therefore you will not be able to return it to the bookstore when the class is over. This text will be referred to as CB in the schedule below.
REQUIRED TEXTS � Online
1.Rene Descartes, Meditations. A reasonably good version of the text (the Veitch translation) is available free online here
http://evans-experientialism.freewebspace.com/descartesmeditations01.htm
2.David Hume, Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding. It is available free online here,
http://www.davidhume.org/
3.Plato, Meno is available here: http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/meno.html
Assessments and Grading
1. 10 quizzes, at 10 points each = 90 points. (Low score for 1 quiz thrown out)
2. Final Exam = 50 points.
3. Plato Skit - Group Project = 20 points.
4. A Guided Tour of Five Works of Plato Workbook = 40 points.
Grade Scale
A = 180 - 200
A- = 170 - 179
B+ = 163 - 169
B = 156 - 162
B- = 150 - 155
C = 130 - 149
D+ = 123 - 129
D = 116 - 122
D- = 110 - 115
F = Below 110
Total possible points = 200
Notice, you only need 130 points or 65% to get C, 75% to get a B-, 85% to get an A-. This means I am spotting you 5% or 10 extra points compared to most grading systems where 70% is required for a C. Also I will throw out your lowest quiz score. If you miss one quiz them that the 0 is your lowest score and will be thrown out. This means I am spotting you another 10 points or 5%. Since I am essentially giving you a total of 20 points or 10% boost in your grade there is NO EXTRA CREDIT in this class nor make up quizzes. If you miss one quiz then you are not penalized. If you miss more than one, well then you better get your * together and organize your life so that you can come to class more.
Quizzes include objective, multiple choice, True/False fill in the blank, short essay questions.
The Final Exam is comprehensive, and you need to bring a scantron to class.
You will be given an incomplete or fail if you miss the final exam, depending on the circumstances. Incompletes are only given if a verifiable documented emergency prevents you from taking the final exam, and the final exam is the only thing you need to make up.
No Laptop computers will be allowed in class as it is my experience that they are often not used for class note-taking. Take notes as they have been taken for hundreds of years - in hand writing.
Attendance
I will keep attendance and monitor your presence in class. If you come to class after I take roll, it is your responsibility after class to let me know you are here and change your absence to a tardy. You must do it the same day, if you want the record changed. If you are absent more than 6 hours (two weeks), I will retain the option to drop you or give an F. To avoid an F in this circumstance, you need to drop the class, if it is still possible to do so. It is your responsibility to be aware of the drop deadlines and do the paper work to drop the class. If you have obligations that often prevent you from attending class, then you should probably take the class at another time. Attendance will affect your grade in cases where your total class points are borderline between two grades (one or two points). If your attendance is regular, I will give you the benefit of doubt and give you the higher score. If it is not, then I see no reason to give you the benefit of doubt and you will get the grade corresponding to your precise points.
A Guided Tour of Five Works of Plato Workbook.
Through the class, you will be assigned reading/writing exercises from the Plato workbook. The purpose of this workbook is to give you the opportunity to do a close reading of the work of one of the greatest philosophical thinkers and writers in the history of philosophy. You will write directly in the book in response to your reading. There are numerous annotation assignments, exercises and quizzes. I will assign particular sections of the book through the quarter, and collect them, sometimes unannounced, to check your work. I will collect all the books on the 11th week of class to give ou a final score (out of 40). The workbook will be graded on completeness, accuracy, and depth of thinking and reflection.
READING AND QUIZ SCHEDULE
Quizzes are scheduled for the last day of each week, but I reserve the option to make changes to the quiz schedule when necessary. Any changes will be announced in class, and you are responsible for knowing quiz dates even if you miss class when the change is announced. All items in bold black print below are reading assignments, and need to be completed on the designated week.
Week 1
Preparing for Quiz 1
DP Ch 1 to "The Philosophy of Socrates"
What is philosophy?
Mythos and Logos
The Pre-Socratics
Necessary and Sufficient Conditions
Closed and open concepts
Objectives for Quiz 1 (Sample Essay Questions)
You should be able to answer essay questions such as the following:
Explain the difference between mythos and logos world-views.
Why is Thales considered the first Western philosopher?
Who were the Pre-Socratics? Explain the major views of Parmenides, Heraclitus, and Pythagoras.
Explain the difference between a necessary and a sufficient condition.
Explain the different between open and closed concepts.
Why do philosophers not worry much about formulating an exact definition of philosophy?
What are the major periods of philosophy?
Name and explain the subject matter of the following major branches of philosophy: metaphysics (ontology), epistemology, logic, axiology, aesthetics, ethics.
What's the difference between metaphysics and epistemology?
What's the difference between "philosophy of" specialties (like philosophy of religion, philosophy of science, philosophy of law, etc.) and other areas of philosophy (like metaphysics)?
Week 2
Preparing for Quiz 2
DP Ch 1 "The Philosophy of Socrates"
CB The Apology
CB Phaedo (The death scene)
Objectives for Quiz 2
You should be able to answer questions such as the following:
Why is Socrates important in the history of philosophy? HINT: To answer this question well, you need to talk about open and closed concepts.
What is Socratic irony?
When Socrates says he is ignorant, what does he mean?
Why did the Oracle say Socrates was the wisest man in Athens?
Who were the Sophists?
Why was Socrates so interested in finding definitions of concepts like beauty, courage, and aretê?
Week 3
Preparing for Quiz 3
DP Ch 2 "Rationalist Epistemology" and "The Philosophy of Plato"
DP Ch 7 "Ancient Greek Moral Philosophers"
(on Plato's ethics only)
DP Ch 9 "Political Philosophy" (on Plato's political philosophy only)
DP Ch 10 "Plato and Freud"
CB The Allegory of the Cave
http://www46.homepage.villanova.edu/john.immerwahr/Plato%27s%20Cave.jpg
http://rivertext.com/images_weil/platoscave.gif
Meno (all) Online
Objectives for Quiz 3
You should be able to answer the following essay questions:
What is epistemology?
What is the difference between metaphysics and epistemology?
What are typical questions in epistemology?
What is rationalism in epistemology?
Who were the Sophists?
What is the difference between rationalism and empiricism in epistemology?
What mistake does Meno keep making in his attempted definitions of arete?
What point is Socrates making when he mentions the statues of Daedalus in the last pages of the Meno?
What is Glaucon�s story of the ring of Gyges and what does Glaucon think it shows?
According to Plato, the good (well-ordered) city and the good (well-ordered) soul are alike because both adhere to the same governing principle. What is that principle?
Why does Plato forbid art in his ideal city?
What is Plato's Theory of Forms? What problems in metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics is it intended to solve? Does it work?
Week 4
Preparing for Quiz 4
DP Ch 2 "Rene Descartes' Rationalism"
DP Ch 4 "Dualism" ( on Descartes only)
Meditations I, II, VI Online
Objectives for Quiz 4
You should be able to answer the following essay questions:
What is the difference between a priori and a posteriori knowledge?
The question of whether or not Jupiter has moons is an astronomical matter; it�s not a question of theology or Scripture. So why did the Church find this discovery alarming?
What happens in the first Meditation?
What is �Cartesian dualism�?
In Meditation VI, Descartes finally concludes that he has knowledge of the world external to his mind. Why? What sort of knowledge of the external world does he get? Why was the Church happy with Descartes� conclusions?
What is Descartes' argument of the wax? What does Descartes think it proves? NOTE: An argument is a set of statements (premises and conclusion). So if I ask you to give an argument, I mean you should give all the statements that comprise the argument (the premises AND the conclusion � not just the conclusion).
Why did Descartes write the Meditations? HINT: Philosophers today don't address their works to the Church. Why did Descartes dedicate the Meditations to the faculty of theology of the University of Paris? Why did Descartes want the Church to notice the Meditations?
Terry says, �For all I know, I'm really a brain in a vat, with my sense inputs controlled by space aliens. The real world may be nothing at all like the world I experience.� Assuming Terry is not hallucinating or insane, what arguments might Descartes present to convince her that her view is unreasonable?
What is epistemology?
What is the difference between metaphysics and epistemology?
What are typical questions in epistemology?
What is rationalism in epistemology?
What is the difference between rationalism and empiricism in epistemology?
WEEK 5
Preparing for Quiz 5
DP Ch 3 sections on Locke and Berkeley
Empiricism
Aristotle
Locke and Berkeley
Objectives for Quiz 5
You should be able to answer the following essay questions:
How does Berkeley�s empiricism differ from Locke�s? (Be sure to give Berkeley�s reasons for disagreeing with Locke.)
What is the problem of substance in Locke?
What role does God play in Berkeley�s metaphysics and epistemology?
Terry says, �For all I know, I'm really a brain in a vat, with my sense inputs controlled by space aliens. The real world may be nothing at all like the world I experience.� Assuming Terry is not hallucinating or insane, what arguments might Locke and Berkeley present to convince her that her view is unreasonable?
What is epistemology?
What is empiricism in epistemology?
What is the difference between rationalism and empiricism in epistemology?
WEEK 6
Preparing for Quiz 6
DP Ch 3 sections on Hume and Kant
Enquiry II - V (Part I only) Online
Enquiry VII (Part II only) Online
Hume, Logical Positivism, and Kant
Kant: The Copernican Revolution in Philosophy
Objectives for Quiz 6
You should be able to answer the following essay questions:
Hume claims that there is no knowledge of any necessary connection between causes and effects. What is Hume�s argument for this claim?
Explain Hume�s Fork.
Explain the "Copernican Revolution" in philosophy. How did Kant go beyond rationalism and empiricism?
WEEK 7
Preparing for Quiz 7
DP Ch 4.
Ontology/Mind and Body
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFQ0Spu50Oc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK1Yo6VbRoo&feature=related Chalmers and Zombies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0I4pmTvdiw&feature=related Richard Dawkins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYYFQiN052c&NR=1 Daniel Dennet
Objectives for Quiz 7
You should be able to answer the following essay questions:
Explain the difference between hard and soft behaviorism.
Why do mental states and processes pose problems for materialism and dualism, but not for idealism?
Explain at least two problems with Cartesian dualism.
Why does Ryle oppose Cartesian dualism?
A common view says that people �are� (or �have�) souls and bodies. On this view, the soul is the �real� self and the body is a kind of container for this soul. The soul is free, while the body is governed by physical laws. In addition, souls are immortal, bodies mortal. What is the name of this view? What philosophers have supported it? What reasons might be given in support of this view? (Note: give reasons. Do not simply re-state the view.) In opposition? If this view is correct, how are people free?
Why are phenomena such as intentions, embarrassment, disappointment, shyness, etc. metaphysically interesting?
How does idealism lead to solipsism?
Explain the distinction between hard and soft behaviorism. What are the strengths and weaknesses of these positions?
According to pluralism, why is pluralism superior to other metaphysical stances?
WEEK 8
Preparing for Quiz 8
DP Ch 6
Freedom
In this section we address the question of freedom.
Readings for Quiz 8
Note we are going out of order in the DP book here. We are reading Chapter 6 BEFORE Chapter 5. The reading assignments for this section are:
DP Ch 6 "The Largest Airline in the Free World" (all)
Objectives for Quiz 8
You should be able to answer the following essay questions:
Explain the difference between hard and soft determinism.
Explain Sartre�s notion bad faith. Give at least one example.
Explain the libertarian critique of soft determinism.
You're driving to school on Highway 85 at 8:30 AM. You have a 9:00 class. The radio DJ says there's a back-up farther up 85. You know this back-up will make you late for class. You also know another route, and taking the alternative route would get you to class on time. You want to be on time for class. So you get off Highway 85 and go the other way. How would a hard determinist analyze your choice to go the other way? Would your decision be free or not free, and why? What would a soft determinist say? What would an indeterminist say? What would an existentialist say?
Soft determinism has been adopted by many famous philosophers, including Descartes and Hume. What is soft determinism (be precise) and what are its chief weaknesses?
What would Sartre say about hard and soft determinism?
WEEK 9
Preparing for Quiz 9
DP Ch 5 "Philosophy of Religion," "Theism"
Descartes' Meditation V (Online),
The case for theism based on reason: Cosmological, teleological arguments and criticisms.
The ontological argument and criticisms
Objectives for Quiz 9
You should be able to answer the following essay questions:
Descartes was aware of all the usual cosmological and teleological arguments for God, but he doesn�t use them anywhere in the Meditations, even though a primary goal of the work was to demonstrate the existence of God. Why doesn�t Descartes employ cosmological and teleological arguments in the Meditations?
Explain clearly why Kant objected to the ontological argument.
Explain the difference between a priori and a posteriori arguments for God.
WEEK 10
Preparing for Quiz 10
DP Ch 5 "Atheism"
The problem of evil
CB Euthyphro
Robot Socrates http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSHHXqjXCV4&feature=related
WEEK 10
CB Euthyphro (Continued)
CB Plato Workbook (Apology, Phaedo, Allegory of the Cave, Euthyphro) due Monday(400 points).
Presentations: Due Wednesday
FINAL EXAM
PowerPoints:
https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0Ac-8ap34K2xTZGY3cDdkdjZfMTRodHI5Ym5kaw&hl=en_US
https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0Ac-8ap34K2xTZGY3cDdkdjZfMThoam16OGZkdA&hl=en_US
https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0Ac-8ap34K2xTZGY3cDdkdjZfMTJmN3dnamdkMg&hl=en_US
https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0Ac-8ap34K2xTZGY3cDdkdjZfNTdkcnN2YnZmdw
Syllabus Ends Here. Please print the syllabus and bring it the first day of class. No hard copies will be handed out.
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A Guided Tour of Five Works of Plato Workbook Assessment Codes.
A. Good engagement with the text.
B. Annotations/activities missing
C. Many annotations and responses are too brief or sketchy. Need elaboration, explanation.
D. Annotations/responses are not accurate. Do not correctly address the prompts.
Empiricism questions
1. How is Locke's theory of knowledge an application of Ockham's Razor?
2. What is the difference between simple and complex ideas?
3. Explain the difference between primary and secondary qualities, using examples.
4. What is representaive realism and how is it different from the common person's understanding of knowledge?
5. How does Locke's discussion of substance involve a contradiction in Locke's thinking?
6. What are sense data? For Locke, what is the source of sense data? For Berkeley?
7. Why doesn't Berkeley believe in the distinction between primary and secondary qualities?
8. How is Berkeley's epistemology similar to and different from Descartes' evil genius?
9. Why is Berkeley a more radical empiricist than Locke? In what ways is he not empirical?
10. What is Esse est Percipi?
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Euthyphro - You must know the answers to these questions:
1. What is the first definition of holiness offered by Euthyphro?
2. What is Socrates refutation of it?
3. What is the second definition of holiness offered by Euthyphro?
4. What is Socrates refutation of it?
5. What is the third definition of holiness offered by Euthyphro?
6. What are the two possible meanings of his third definition?
7. Which meaning is ruled out and why?
8. How does Socrates show the remaining meaning does not answer his question about what holiness is?
9. How does Socrates analysis of the third definition refute what is known in moral philosophy as the divine command theory?
10. What is the logical relationship between moral rightness and holiness according to Socrates?
11. How does Socrates show Euthyphro's fourth definition is just a restatement of the third definition, and that Euthyphro is arguing in circles?
12. How does the dialogue end? In what sense might the discussion have been productive for Euthyphro?
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Plato Skit Project Instructions
This 20 point project involves creating a short play/skit which explores a philosophical
problem discussed in class by using Socrates as the main character in a dialogue or debate
about the concept. In other words you are enacting a mini-Platonic dialogue exploring a
philosophical issue we discussed in class. While the skit should be educational and teach
something about the issue, it can also creatively use humor or satire. It is something meant to be fun, too.
You should incorporate in your skit everything you know about Socrates, and his methods, and the structure of a
Platonic dialogue as discussed in class, and as represented in the dialogues we have read
in The Guided Tour of Plato. The skit should not just reenact one of the dialogues in
the Guided Tour, but use the context of a Platonic dialogue(and Socrates as a character)to explore
the issue. The skit can be performed live in the class or recorded digitally
and shown in class. This is a group project and all individuals in the group will be accountable
for their contributions, since all group members will anonymously evaluate all other members at the
end of the project.
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