SYLLABUS
Introduction to Philosophy
Phil A201, section 191 - Spring 2007
William Jamison
THEME: Introduces works of influential thinkers, both ancient and modern, in the Western philosophical tradition. Emphasizes central problems of knowledge, reality, and good and evil.
Special Note: This page links to other pages on my web site that are an important part of the syllabus. Students should select those links to become familiar with the other elements of the syllabus. On following a link a page will state that it is part of the syllabus if it is. Other links are supplied as resources for students that are interested in taking advantage of them, but if they are not specifically noted as part of the syllabus it is up to the student to pursue them or not. The purpose of this is to simplify the main page of the syllabus while supplying supplementary information as necessary or to enrich the experience of taking the course.
TEXTS:
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Philosophic Classics: From Plato to Derrida (4th Edition) by Forrest E. Baird, Forrest Baird (Paperback - July 24, 2002) |
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Course grades are based on:
Exams
- 50% - nine essays showing an understanding of the materials covered in class
and the assigned readings in response to questions, each with a minimum of 300
words,
25%
of the grade will be based on a term
project.
Response
to quiz questions posed in each lecture -25%.
CLASS: Hours: Monday 06:30P – 09:20P Chugiak High School Room 205
OFFICE: Tuesday 9 AM - 12 PM, Thursday 1 - 2 PM, and Friday 11 AM - 12 PM in Administration and Humanities Building Room 261 or by appointment. Here is my Current Schedule.
Phone: 786-4458 (office) or 694-1023 (home- please no calls after 8P), Philosophy Department Secretary 786-4455. The best way to get a message to me is via e-mail. My web page is located at http://afwsj.uaa.alaska.edu and my e-mail address is AFWSJ@UAA.ALASKA.EDU. All tests and the term paper should be turned in using e-mail. This syllabus on my web site has links to other sources for many of the texts for the philosophers we will discuss. Some of the links include wonderful web pages on the various philosophers.
January 22:
1: This lecture includes an introduction to the course and description of course requirements. We will discuss: the purpose of doing philosophy, the course readings as an "all you can eat buffet", and what the tests and quizzes will be like.
2: The Postmodern Condition and society in prehistory, mythology, water and civilization.
3. The first philosophers, Thales and water. This Thales link is to Hegel's description of the Ionic Philosophers.
January 29:
1. Be prepared to discuss the Apology pages 21-38. Try comparing the text with my version: what was Socrates' message to us? A major part of this topic will be Socrates, his life and mission. To read about Alcibiades check Plutarch. His relationship with Socrates is very interesting.
2. The Meno pages 60 - 84.
3. Plato's Republic -- highlights from pages 84 - 141. The topic of this lecture will be Plato and Idealism.
February 5:
1. Focus will be Plato and his theories of knowledge and justice.
2. Aristotle, his life and work. What is Logic?
3. Be prepared to discuss Realism. Read over pages 151 - 183 for general familiarity.
February 12:
1. The topic will be Aristotle's Ethics - moderation and the good life. Read pages 184 - 242.
2. This lecture topic is Greek thought after Aristotle.
3. Be prepared to discuss Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and Plotinus. Read pages 243 - 276.
February 19:
1. The topic of this lecture will be Jesus, Paul and Christianity - and pages 277 - 281.
2. Augustine: Relation of Philosophy and Faith. Read over 283 - 310.
3. Augustine and Church dogma.
First exam given. This is a take home exam given out today and due at the next class meeting.
February 26: First Exam due.
1. Anselm pages 317 - 325 as an example of the early Medievalists.
2. This lecture focuses on later Medieval Philosophy, the rise and problems of Aristotelianism
3. Thomas Aquinas and the dogmatic solution. Be prepared to discuss pages 333 - 366.
March 5:
1. Descartes "I think..." Be prepared to discuss pages 381 - 430. This is the start of Rationalism.
2. Hobbes "Dog eat dog world" Be prepared to discuss pages 431 - 472. British Empiricism versus European Rationalism.
3. Spinoza - This lecture looks at the arguments that lead to Pantheism. Be prepared to discuss pages 483 - 508.
March 12:
1. Locke, Democracy - Jefferson . Be prepared to discuss pages 537 - 554. Tabula Raza, primary and secondary qualities will be the first focus for this lecture.
2. This lecture will focus on Leibniz - Monadology "Best of all possible worlds." Be prepared to discuss pages 591 – 593 and 622 - 631. You may also be interested in Anne Conway and the ideas she gave to Leibniz.
Second exam is given out on this day and is due at the next class meeting.
March 18-24: Spring Break No classes
March 26: Leibniz and Stephen Hawking - What's a Quark?
1. Berkeley - Idealism This lecture topic is Bishop Berkeley's arguments against the concept of material substance. To be is to be perceived - if a tree falls... All in the mind of God. Be prepared to discuss pages 632 - 659.
2. Hume - Skeptic of
skeptics. This lecture covers
David Hume's empirical argument against metaphysics. Who am I? Communitarian
Ethics. Be prepared to discuss pages 694 - 730. Second exam due
April 2:
1 and 2. Kant - This lecture looks at Kant's answer to Hume concerning the a priori. Can Rationalism and Empiricism be partners? Duty and the categorical imperative. Be prepared to discuss pages 774 - 817.
April 9:
1 and 2. Hegel - This lecture discusses Hegel's view of the World Spirit and Self-consciousness - We are as we see others see us. The dialectic and spirit - Absolute Spirit. Be prepared to discuss pages 893 - 906.
April 16:
1. Mill - This lecture discusses Utilitarianism. Be prepared to discuss pages 907 - 948 and follow up with a lecture on Russell A Liberal Decalogue and The Problems of Philosophy.
2. Kierkegaard - This lecture discusses an individual spirit in crises. Be prepared to discuss pages 949 - 961.
4. Marx - This lecture discusses the arguments for Dialectical Materialism and Communism. Reactions to Hegel. Be prepared to discuss pages 972 - 994.
April 23:
1. American Pragmatism, Peirce. An American Outburst.
2. James and the psychology of pragmatism.
3. Dewey, and the
Activity School. This lecture
looks at the new teaching methods and the religion of Democracy, followed up
with Wittgenstein and
Language Games.
April 30:
1. Nietzsche and the Superman. This lecture looks at Nietzsche's claim that God is dead. Be prepared to discuss pages 995 - 1027.
2. Sartre and "No Exit." Be prepared to discuss pages 1131 - 1134.
3. Derrida and Deconstruction.
Be prepared to discuss pages 1175 – 1198 contrasted with Quine
and Neopragmatism. Be prepared to discuss pages 1160
– 1174.
Third exam is given out on this day and is due on May 7.
Term Papers due. Class meets for the last time. We will discuss the postmodern dilemma. What is a person?
May 7: No class meeting.
Third exam due via email.
This syllabus may be adjusted at any time to meet the class or instructor’s requirements upon one week’s notice to students.
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