Monday, August 29, 2011

Homework #1: Email Subscription

So why does this course have a blog? Well, why is anything anything?

A blog is a website that works like a journal – users write posts that are sorted by date based on when they were written. You can find important course information (like assignments, due dates, reading schedules, etc.) on the blog. I’ll also be updating the blog throughout the semester, posting interesting items related to the stuff we’re currently discussing in class. You don't have to visit the blog if you don't want to. It's just a helpful resource. I've used a blog for this course a lot, and it's seemed helpful. Hopefully it can benefit our course, too.

Since I’ll be updating the blog a lot throughout the semester, you should check it frequently. There are, however, some convenient ways to do this without simply going to the blog each day. The best way to do this is by getting an email subscription, so any new blog post I write automatically gets emailed to you. (You can also subscribe to the rss feed, if you know what that means.) To get an email subscription:

1. Go to http://2011cccphilosophy.blogspot.com.

2. At the main page, enter your email address at the top of the right column (under “EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION: Enter your Email”) and click the "Subscribe me!" button.

3. This will take you to a new page. Follow the directions under #2, where it says “To help stop spam, please type the text here that you see in the image below. Visually impaired or blind users should contact support by email.” Once you type the text, click the "Subscribe me!" button again.

4. You'll then get an email regarding the blog subscription. (Check your spam folder if you haven’t received an email after a day.) You have to confirm your registration. Do so by clicking on the "Click here to activate your account" link in the email you receive.

5. This will bring you to a page that says "Your subscription is confirmed!" Now you're subscribed.

If you are unsure whether you've subscribed, ask me (609-980-8367; slandis@camdencc.edu). I can check who's subscribed and who hasn't.

Laptop Kitty

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Course Details

Introduction to Philosophy
Camden County College, Blackwood Campus
Philosophy 101, Section 01
Fall 2011
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Madison Hall, Room 311
Instructor: Sean Landis
Email: slandis@camdencc.edu
Phone: 609-980-8367
Course Website: http://2011cccphilosophy.blogspot.com
Office Hourse: by appointment

Required Texts
A Rulebook for Arguments, 3rd Edition, Anthony Weston (RA)
Classics of Western Philosophy, 7th Edition, Steven M. Cahn (CWP)

About the Course

This course is designed to introduce students to philosophy. Throughout the semester, we will explore a handful of classic philosophical questions: What is knowledge, and what can we know? What evidence is there regarding the existence of a God? Do humans have free will? What does it mean to say that one thing is morally right and another is morally wrong?

We will also be developing various philosophical skills, including:
  • Understanding: the ability to identify and explain an author’s main point in your own words, along with the ability to identify and explain an author’s argument in support of this main point.
  • Evaluating: the ability to critically and charitably determine whether these arguments provide accurate, logical reasons in support of their main points, along with the ability to engage in critical and charitable dialogue with people who hold different views from your own.
  • Defending: the ability to develop your own arguments in support of your opinions on the ethical issues we study, along with the ability to honestly assess your opinions and critically evaluate the quality of your arguments in support of them.
A broader goal of this course is to gain an appreciation for philosophical reflection. Hopefully, we will learn that careful, systematic, detailed thought is a great tool for increasing understanding on complex topics.

Evading the Issue
Grades
900-1000 points = A
800-899 points = B
700-799 points = C
600-699 points = D
below 600 points = F.

Quiz 100 points
Midterm 200 points
Final 250 points
Fun Fridays 50 points total
2 Short Papers 50 points each (100 points total)
Journal 100 points
Group Presentation 150 points
Attendance/Participation 50 points

Quiz: There will only be one quiz, held at the end of arguments section of the course. The quiz will last about 25 minutes, and be held at the beginning of class on the scheduled day.

Exams: There will be a midterm and a final exam. The midterm tests everything covered during the first half of the course, and will last the full period (50 minutes) on the scheduled day. The final exam is cumulative—that is, it tests everything covered throughout the whole course. The final will last 50 minutes, and will take place during finals week.

Fun Fridays: There will be three in-class graded assignments scheduled on some Fridays during the semester.

Papers: There will be 2 papers (about 2 pages long each), the first on our section on knowledge, and the second on our section on ethics.

Journal: Each student will keep a journal during our section on the existence of God and free will.

Group Presentation: There will be a group project presented in front of the class toward the end of the semester. Each group of 3 to 6 students will research a topic in philosophy not discussed in class, and present a 10- to 15-minute lesson on it to the rest of class.

Attendance/Participation: Most of this will be based on your attendance. If you’re there every class, you’ll get full credit for your attendance grade. In addition, there will be a lot of informal group work throughout the semester in which students get together to analyze the readings or philosophical issues being discussed in class. Group work can impact your grade.

Extra Credit: I like giving extra credit! I’ll be giving some official extra credit assignments throughout the semester. I’ll also be offering some extra credit points more informally during class time. Remind me about this if I slack off on dishing out extra credit points.

Classroom Policies
Academic Integrity: Cheating and plagiarism (using someone else’s words or ideas in a paper or assignment without giving credit to the source) will not be tolerated in the class. Students found guilty of either will definitely fail the exam or assignment—and possibly the entire class. FYI: I’m pretty good at catching plagiarists. I recommend not trying it!

Attendance: I take attendance each class. CCC policy prohibits you from completing a course if you have been absent for more than 2 weeks (6 classes)—excused or unexcused.

Excused Absences: Any assignment will only be rescheduled for an excused absence. Excused absences include religious observance, official college business, and illness or injury (with a doctor’s note). An unexcused absence on the day of any assignment or test will result in a zero on that assignment or test. Make-up quizzes and exams will be arranged through the Test Center (2nd floor of the Library).

Ask Me About My Bunny
Disability Accommodations: If you have special requirements let me know as soon as possible so we can make all necessary arrangements.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Course Schedule

*This schedule is tentative and will probably change a lot*

August 31—September 2: Intro to Class/Philosophy

Wednesday: Introduction to Class (no reading)
Friday: What is Philosophy? (no reading)

September 5—9: Arguments
Monday: LABOR DAY (no class)
Wednesday: Understanding & Evaluating Arguments (RA Chapter 1)
Friday: Arguments: Generalizations (RA Chapters 2); group work

September 12—16: Arguments
Monday: Arguments by Analogy & Causal Arguments (RA Chapter 3 & 5)
Wednesday: Arguments: Sources (RA Chapter 4); group work
Friday: Deductive Arguments (RA Chapters 6)

September 19—23: Arguments
Wednesday: Deductive Arguments (RA Chapter 6); group work
Monday: Fallacies (RA Chapter 10)
Friday: FUN FRIDAY #1: Biases (no reading)

September 26—30: Knowledge
Monday: QUIZ #1; Intro to Knowledge (no reading)
Wednesday: Defining Knowledge | Plato’s Account (handout: Plato)
Friday: Skepticism (CWP 482-483, 490-496)

October 3—7: Knowledge & Existence of God
Monday: Skepticism | Descartes’ Meditations One (CWP 490-492); group work
Wednesday: Descartes’ Meditations Two (CWP 429-496)
Friday: God | Intro to Philosophy of Religion (handout: Lawhead)

October 10—14: Existence of God
Monday: Cosmological Argument | Aquinas: Summa Theologiae Question 2 (CWP 440-441, 450-453)
Wednesday: PAPER #1 due; Cosmological Argument (no new reading); group work
Friday: Ontological Argument | Anselm: Prologue & Chapters 1-8 in Proslogian (CWP 411-417)

October 17—21: Existence of God
Monday: Ontological Argument | Gaunilo: Reply on Behalf of the Fool (CWP 425-427)
Wednesday: Design Argument | Hume II & V in Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion (CWP 862-867, 873-875)
Friday: Design Argument | (no new reading); group work

October 24—28: Existence of God
Monday: Design Argument | Chance vs. Design (no new reading)
Wednesday: Review for Midterm (no reading)
Friday: MIDTERM

October 31—November 4: Existence of God
Monday: Problem of Evil | Intro (handout: Sober)
Wednesday: Problem of Evil | Augustine: Books 1, 2, & part of 3 in On Free Choice of the Will (CWP 357-369)
Friday: FUN FRIDAY #2: Proof

November 7—11: Existence of God & Free Will
Monday: Friday: Problem of Evil | Hicks (handout: Soul-Building)
Wednesday: Free Will | Freedom vs. Determinism (handout: Nagel)
Friday: Free Will | Maimonides The Guide of the Perplexed (CWP 434-439)

November 14—18: Free Will & Ethics
Monday: Free Will | Aristotle: Book III in On the Soul (CWP 223-227) and Book III, Chapter 1 of Nicomachean Ethics (CWP 275-277)
Wednesday: Free Will | Determinism (handout: Hospers)
Friday: Ethics | Utilitarianism: Mill part of Chapter 2 in Utilitarianism (CWP 1060-1063)

November 21—25: Ethics
Monday: Ethics | Evaluating Utilitarianism (handout: Rachels)
Wednesday: Journal due; Ethics | Kant 1st section in Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals (CWP 984-991)
Friday: THANKSGIVING BREAK (no class!) (woo?)
carpe diem, lazy bones

November 28—December 2: Ethics
Monday: Ethics | Evaluating Kantian Ethics (handout: Rachels)
Wednesday: Ethics | Virtue Ethics: Aristotle Book II of Nicomachean Ethics (CWP 269-275)
Friday: FUN FRIDAY #3 | Practical Ethics (no new reading)

December 5—9: Ethics/Group Presentations
Monday: Ethics | Virtue Ethics evaluated (handout: Rachels)
Wednesday: preparation for presentations (no reading)
Friday: group presentations

December 12—16: Group Presentations & Review
Monday: group presentations
Wednesday: group presentations
Friday: PAPER #2 due; review for Final Exam

December 19: Final Exam
Monday: FINAL EXAM (11:00-11:50 p.m.)

We Should Greet Each Other This Way
Important Dates
August 30th: Last day to drop a course & receive a 100% refund.
September 14th: Last day to drop a course & receive a 50% refund.
September 21st: Last day to sign up to audit a course.
December 2nd: Last day to withdraw from Fall classes.