PHL 107-I

PHL 107: Critical and Historical Introduction to Philosophy

Tues. Thurs. 0:00–0:00 HC zzz

office: HC 116 office hours: TBA phone (with voicemail): 280-2632 email: stphns at creighton dot edu

Course Description

An introduction to philosophy through the reading of a variety of original texts in the history of Western thought, the practice of good (logical) reasoning, and open, critical discussion. We will study all of three short Platonic dialogues and parts of a fourth. These selections contain an argument that everyone desires the apparent good, an argument for the immortality and reincarnation of the human soul, an argument that virtue is knowledge and so it is teachable, an argument that virtue is not teachable, and an argument that suicide is wrong because humans belong to the gods as pets belong to us. We will also read about Socrates' divine mission, his belief that no harm befalls a good person, his reasons for believing that the unexamined life is not worth living, and his argument for not fearing death. Then we will study Epictetus' Stoic view that happiness is up to us, not up to luck. From the medieval period we will examine some of Augustine's arguments for the immortality of the human soul. Then in close detail we will work through the 18th century philosopher David Hume's short but dense essay on the soul. Interspersed with these readings will be several chapters from the 20th century metaphysician Richard Taylor on persons and bodies, mind-body interactionism, fate, and what makes life meaningful.

Required Texts

Feezell & Brown, Just Enough Logic (Philosophy Dept. $8)
William O. Stephens, How to Write Philosophy Papers (Philosophy Dept. $3)
Plato, Five Dialogues, 2nd ed. 2002 (Grube tr./Cooper rev., Hackett) CU Bookstore
Epictetus, The Discourses, The Handbook, Fragments (Christopher Gill ed./Robin Hard tr., Everyman) CU Bookstore
Augustine, "On the Immortality of the Soul"
David Hume, "Of the Immortality of the Soul"
Richard Taylor, Metaphysics (Prentice Hall, 4th ed.) CU Bookstore

Internet Resources

Epictetus, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Stoicism, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Stoic Ethics, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Augustine, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
David Hume's Writings on Religion, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Requirements and Course Grade Calculations

1. Quizlets (including #4 below) and class participation	14%
2. Quiz on Just Enough Logic (Jan. 23)	8%
3. Exam on Meno and Taylor Intro., Chs. 1, 2, 3 (Feb. 8)	16%
4. Quizlet on How to Write Philosophy Papers manual (Feb. 27)

5. 1100–1400 word Paper on Apology & Crito (Feb. 27)	16%
6. 700–900 word paper on Epictetus (March 15)	10%
7. Exam on Augustine & Hume (April 10)	16%
8. Quiz on Taylor Chapters 4 and 6 (April 19)	6%
9. Take-home Final Exam (April 30)	14%

Standards of Evaluation for Letter Grades

F "Failure – no credit" (below 60% average)

Extreme lack of clarity or lack of coherence of argument or expression of thought.
Disregard for the requirements of the assignment.
Irrelevant use or failure to use relevant course readings.
Submission of another's words or thoughts as if they were your own, whether in the form of plagiarism or failure to acknowledge the source of an idea.
Very poor class attendance with no participation in discussions.

D "Work of inferior quality, but passing" (60% to below 70% average)

Unclarity or incoherence of argument or expression of thought.
Failure to satisfy the requirements of the assignment.
Poor or inadequate understanding or use of relevant course readings.
Improper acknowledgment or citation of the sources of your ideas.
Poor class attendance with little or no participation in discussions.

C "Satisfactory work"

Basic clarity and coherence of argument and expression of thought.
Satisfaction of the assignment's basic requirements.
Fair or adequate understanding of the major views and theories in the relevant course readings and the arguments presented in support of those views and theories.
Minimally clear and coherent evaluation of the views and arguments in the relevant course readings.
Minimally proper acknowledgment and citation of the sources of your ideas.
Generally consistent class attendance with occasional participation in discussions.
77% to below 80% average for a C+; 70% to below 77% average for a C.

B "Noteworthy level of performance" Demonstrates all of the qualities of satisfactory work plus:

Good, above average clarity and coherence of argument and expression of thought.
Clear, logical organization of the essay's introduction, body, and conclusion.
Clear, detailed, and accurate understanding of the major views and theories in the relevant course readings and of the arguments presented in support of those views and theories.
Good attempt to provide argumentative support for your evaluation of the views, theories, and arguments presented in the relevant course readings.
Regular, consistent class attendance with regular, good participation in discussions.
87% to below 90% average for a B+; 80% to below 87% average for a B.

A "Outstanding achievement and an unusual degree of intellectual initiative" Demonstrates all of the qualities of noteworthy performance plus:

Excellent, superior clarity and coherence of argument and expression of thought.
Clear, rigorous, and cogent argumentative support for your evaluation of the views, theories, and arguments presented in the relevant course readings.
Originality and creativity of interpretation, explanation, argumentation, or criticism.
Superior class attendance with consistent, excellent, and thoughtful participation in discussions.
90% average or above.

Class Participation

Regular and punctual class attendance is a necessary but not sufficient condition for a good class participation grade. Six (6) or more absences will result in an AF (failure due to excessive absence) for this course. Each absence fewer than six will incrementally lower your class participation grade. You are responsible for all material discussed and all announcements made in every class. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed. Being tardy twice counts as one absence. By "participation" I mean raising your hand to be called on and making comments about the reading or the discussion, or asking questions about the reading or my lecture, or responding to questions I raise or comments made by other students. It is difficult to learn how to do philosophy by merely listening. You also need to actively, orally think out loud in class. Both quality and quantity of oral remarks count; I keep track of both. Since we will be closely attending to the readings in our class discussions, it is important that everyday you bring to class your book containing that day's reading assignment.

Quizlets

To encourage you to do the assigned reading faithfully, I will from time to time, without prior announcement, give a tiny "pop" quiz (quizlet) on the reading assignment at the beginning of class. If you are late to class or absent that day, then you miss the quiz, get a zero for it, and cannot retake it. Your scores on quizzes figure into your class participation grade.

Papers

Late papers will be penalized half a letter grade (5 points) per each 24 hour period late. Requests for extensions must be made at least three days before the paper is due. Be sure to read closely and follow consistently my How to Write Philosophy Papers manual. You can also get additional assistance at the Writing Center (Hitchcock Communication Arts Building Room 306, phone 280-4707).

Academic Honesty Statement

If you plagiarize any part of a paper or written assignment, then you will receive an F for that assignment. Students are required to produce their own original work in their papers and assignments, including all ideas, arguments, and sentences. Students may NOT work with others, and may NOT borrow from others, when writing the sentences of their assignments. However, students are encouraged to discuss ideas pertaining to their papers with other students in the course and with other people not taking the course. Citations on the paper should follow the guidelines in How to Write Philosophy Papers. Cheating will be punished with at minimum an F (zero) on that assignment. In cases of cheating I judge to be flagrant, the punishment is an F for the course. See the Creighton College of Arts & Sciences Academic Honesty Procedures.

Keep in Contact with the Instructor throughout the Course

If you have any problem that hinders you from attending class, doing the assigned reading, studying for the exams, or writing your papers, please come see me or call me or send me e-mail or leave me a note in my mailbox or under my office door. Whatever happens, it is your responsibility to keep in contact with me.

Schedule of Assignments

Jan. 11	Introduction to philosophy, argument, and logic; read Why Study Philosophy?
Jan. 16	Just Enough Logic pp.1–49
Jan. 18	JEL pp.50–73: Informal Fallacies
Jan. 23	Quiz on JEL pp.1–67 (sections I–VI) and Honer, Hunt, & Okholm, "Why Study Philosophy?"
Jan. 25	Cooper's intro. (pp.58–59) and Plato, Meno 70a–89e (pp.59–82)
Jan. 30	Plato, Meno 89e to end (pp.82–92)
Feb. 1	Plato, Meno 89e to end (pp.82–92)
Feb. 6	Taylor, Introduction and Ch. 1: The Need for Metaphysics (pp.1–8) and Ch. 2: Persons and Bodies (pp.9–17)
Feb. 8	Exam on Meno and Taylor, Intro. through Ch. 2 Review Guide for Exam on Plato's Meno and Taylor, Intro. through Ch. 2
Feb. 13	Plato, introduction (p.21–22) and Apology 17a–31c (pp.22–35)
Feb. 15	Plato, Apology 31c to end (pp.35–44)
Feb. 20	Plato, Crito (pp.45–57)
Feb. 22	"Marcus Aurelius' Meditations: The Stoic Ideal" VIDEO; Paper Assignment on Apology & Crito
Feb. 27	Quizlet on How to Write Philosophy Papers; Paper on Apology & Crito DUE; Epictetus, The Discourses Book 1 Chs. 1–4, 6, 9, 11, 12, 15, 18, 24, 25, 28–29
March 1	Epictetus, The Discourses Book 2 Ch. 1, 4–6, 9, 10, 13, 16, 17, 22 and Book 3 Chs. 1, 3, 9, 10, 13
SPRING RECESS
March 13	Read Epictetus, The Discourses Book 3 Chs. 16, 20, 24, 26 and Book 4 Chs. 1, 6, 7, 9, 10; Paper Assignment on Epictetus
March 15	Augustine, selection from On the Immortality of the Soul Paper on Epictetus DUE
March 20	Hume, "Of the Immortality of the Soul"
March 22	Hume (cont'd)
March 27	Hume (cont'd)
March 29	Hume (cont'd)
April 3	Hume concluded Review Guide for Exam on Augustine and Hume
April 5	EASTER RECESS no class
April 10	Exam on Augustine and Hume
April 12	Taylor, Ch. 3: Interactionism (pp.18–24) and Ch. 4: The Mind as a Function of the Body (pp.25–34)
April 17	Taylor, Ch.6: Fate (pp.54–67); Review Guide for Taylor Chs. 3, 4, and 6 (ignore 13)
April 19	Quiz on Taylor Chapters 3, 4, and 6; begin discussion of Taylor, Ch. 13
April 24	Taylor, Ch.13: Metaphysics and Meaning (pp.131–141)
April 26	Last class

The take-home final exam is DUE at 1:00 pm on MONDAY, April 30.
Late exams will be penalized 10 points (equivalent to one letter grade) per hour late.
LOCATION: Slide exams under my office door, HC 116.
RESOURCES: Use any books and your class notes as you like.

LENGTH: 1600 words absolute MAXIMUM. The quality of the essay is not necessarily improved by increasing the length of the essay.
FORMAT: Neatly typed, single-spaced, pages numbered, your five digit ID NUMBER at the top right corner, the exact WORD COUNT at the top, centered. Do not put your name on the exam.
Click here for the CONTENT of the Take-home Final Exam assignment.