Introduction to Philosophy
Dr. Michael Sudduth
Spring 2003, University of
Hartford
Office Information Contact Information
Office:
TBA msudduth@comcast.net
Office
Hours: By Appointment (Best
way to reach me!)
Course
Information:
Philosophy 110, Tuesday Evening, 7:00-10:00pm (Room #A425)
Website: http://www.homestead.com/mscourses/
(Click on Introduction to
Philosophy – In Session for the course web page)
1.
Course Description and
Objectives
"The
unexamined life is not worth living" - Socrates
This course is called
“Introduction to Philosophy.” It might
also be called Introduction to Philosophical Problems since the course is about
problems of a particular sort, philosophical problems. A "problem" is
the result of two (apparently) incompatible "answers" that are given
to a particular "question." A philosophical
problem, then, is the result of two (apparently) incompatible philosophical answers given to a
particular kind of question, a philosophical
question. This course is just as much an introduction to philosophical
questions as it is to philosophical problems.
The word
"philosophy" literally means "the love of wisdom." As a
very rough approximation philosophy may be understood as an activity of critical self-reflection or self-examination. More
specifically, it is the activity of reflecting, in a particular way, on a range
of very fundamental questions human persons ask about the world and themselves:
What is real? What is the purpose to life? What is the good? What is truth? Is
there a God? These are examples of philosophical questions. Philosophical
problems are generated when apparently incompatible answers are given to these
sorts of questions. One of the tasks of philosophy is to resolve such
conflicts, or at least attempt to do so.
Most of our ordinary, every day beliefs assume some stance toward
philosophical questions. All of us hold, even if unconsciously, many
philosophical presuppositions.
Typically we are not aware of them. Uncovering them is another task of
philosophy. Since these presuppositions
constitute an important dimension to the way an individual views the world,
philosophy is in fact a way of reflecting on oneself. Doing philosophy, then,
is not only an examination of ideas but it is an activity of self-examination. We might say that philosophy involves a
critical reflection on one's perspective.
In this process we seek to get as clear as possible about very
fundamental ideas and beliefs, draw out their logical implications, and
evaluate viewpoints in terms of their rational acceptability. One of the consequences of such an activity
is a sharpening of one's perspective and reasoning abilities, as well as a
development of self-understanding.
The central goal in this
course is to acquire a basic understanding of philosophy and cultivate the
habit of philosophizing. We will aim at this goal by way of three others:
·
Critically
discuss the questions and concepts articulated in the class texts.
·
Apply
the concepts of the texts to at least one film presentation.
·
Develop
the skill of good reasoning and its expression in clear, well-argued short
papers and writing assignments.
2.
Course Readings and Structure
We will read the following
texts in this class: Plato, “Allegory of the Cave” (from Plato’s Republic);
Plato, The Meno; Rene Descartes, Meditations;
Soren Kierkegaard, Johannes Climacus and “A Project in Thought” (from
Kierkegaard’s Philosophical Fragments). The first reading discusses
reality and appearances. The second work is a dialogue about the nature of
virtue and intellectual inquiry.
Descartes is the father of modern philosophy and his work focuses on the
search for certainty and the foundations of human knowledge. The final works by Kierkegaard critically
engage the central ideas of Plato and Descartes.
You must purchase Plato, Protagoras and Meno,
Descartes, Meditations, and Kierkegaard, Johannes Climacus. I will provide the rest of the readings in
the form of handouts.
You may purchase these books at the college
bookstore or alternatively through
In the event that you purchase the books through
B&N or Amazon, please use the following publication information to locate
the proper translation and edition of the book.
Plato, Protagoras and Meno (Penguin Books)
(ISBN 0-14-044-068-2)
Descartes, Discourse on Method and Meditations on
First Philosophy (Hackett Publishers), 3rd or 4th
edition (0-87220-172-4). The Penguin edition of this book is acceptable (ISBN
0-14-044206-5).
Kierkegaard, Johannes Climacus, trans. T.H.
Croxall (Serpent’s Tail, 2001), (ISBN 1-85242-669-1)
Direct link to publisher: http://www.serpentstail.com/
The course will revolve largely around the
discussion of these three text. We will
also watch at least one film that will allow us to apply course concepts to
dramatic situations. The first film
will be American Beauty, which we will watch and discuss during weeks
three and four.
3. Main Components of the Course
Readings: The course will demand a good deal of your time, not
merely in the way of reading but in the way of thinking and writing. It is
crucial that you keep up on the readings. Buy the required texts as soon as
possible. Although most reading assignments are not excessive in length, they
will be challenging in content. You should expect to read material more than
once to get a proper understanding. Be ready to discuss the readings when you
come to class. It may be helpful to
write down any text inspired questions that come to you while reading. Feel free to come by for an office visit to
discuss the readings with me.
Also, handouts and study questions will be available
on the class website accessible through the course homepage at: http://mscourses.homestead.com/introtophilosophy_fall2003.html
It will be important for all students to check this
website on a weekly basis for any up-dates.
Participation: Your participation grade is
based on your consistent verbal engagement with your fellow classmates and the
professor. This includes classroom discussion and small group activities.
Adequate participation also requires that you bring your book to class and that
your contributions be related to the text or topic at hand. I will also
frequently call on students. If you appear unprepared I will take note of this.
If you want full credit at the end of the semester, the matter is quite simple:
impress me and prove that your mind and body are both in and into the course.
Papers: Writing a philosophy
paper is no easy task. For this reason,
expect to spend considerable time on these papers, even though they are only
four pages long. You increase your
chances of success by following some basic guidelines.
(i)
Be sure that you have
done the necessary reading to write the paper. You cannot write any of the
papers if you have not completed the reading assignments for the course. The papers do not require that you do any
extra reading of books not being discussed in class.
(ii)
Begin working on your
paper several days before it is due.
(iii)
Write an outline of the
paper before writing the paper. (See below)
(iv)
Be sure that you have
followed all directions (technical and otherwise).
(v)
E-mail the professor if
you have questions or would like comments on your outline.
I strongly recommend that you write an
outline of your paper before writing the paper. To assist you with this, you should take the time to study Sudduth’s
Guide to Outlines for Philosophy Papers
[ http://www.homestead.com/mscourses/files/OutlineSuggestions.htm
].
Philosophy
papers are typically papers in which you are asked to argue in support of or
against a specific position. Are philosophy papers "opinion"
papers? Yes and No. Yes, in the sense that you are giving me your opinion, beliefs, viewpoint, etc.
But you are also explaining to me the viewpoints of others. Hence, it is
expected that you will properly understand and expound the views you critically
engage in your paper. So the class
papers are not merely about you expressing your opinion. Also, what I am
interested in and what this class is designed to help cultivate in you is the
ability to critically reflect on your opinions. So the crucial aspect of your
paper will be how well you organize your thoughts and support your beliefs or
claims.
Paper Grading: I grade primarily on the basis of the
following criteria: Structure and organization of paper, accuracy and adequacy
of exposition of the views of others, and the clarity and cogency of your
reasoning in support of your thesis. It is also important that your papers meet
some technical requirements: they must be 4 pages in length, double spaced, in
a standard 12 pt. font, stapled (no paper clips), and composed without
excessive or otherwise distracting grammatical errors. Failures in these areas
will result in your paper being marked down.
Here is a rough guide to paper grades:
A Paper: Demonstrates a superior grasp of ideas, arguments, or
theories it discusses, presents very good, clear, and thoughtful argument.
B Paper: Demonstrates a good grasp of ideas, arguments, or
theories it discusses, presents an argument that exhibits good reasoning, with
minimal grammatical problems. Paper may suffer from minor organizational
problems.
F Paper: Academic Meltdown. A paper
that commits plagiarism, presents little if any argumentation, and/or fails to
meet minimal assignment guidelines.
0 = no paper submitted
Be aware also of the following:
Summary of Assignments and
Grading:
Participation:
20%
Short
Response Papers: 15%
Philosophy
Essay Papers: 40%
There will be two papers during the semester. You have the option to rewrite one of these papers. The lower grade will be thrown out in favor of the higher grade. The due date for paper rewrites will be at the end of the semester. See Calendar.
Final Exam: 25 % (The precise nature of this exam will be determined later in the semester)
A
final point. . . .
Classroom
Demeanor:
It is crucial that everyone respect the classroom as a learning environment. Be
in class and on time. Be courteous to
professor and fellow classmates when they are speaking. In addition to helping
others, this is the best way to maximize your chances for success in the class. Although I do not penalize for
absences and tardiness as such, these will negatively affect your participation
grade and work in the class. Students
are responsible for any material and assignments missed due to absence or
tardiness. If you are not present, you are obviously missing classroom lecture
and discussion, and others will miss out on your contribution to the course.
4. Course
Calendar (Tentative)
September
9: Orientation
September
16: Plato, “Allegory of the Cave”
September
23: FILM: American Beauty
September
30: “Allegory of the Cave,” Film and Paper Discussion
October
7: Plato, The Meno PAPER
#1 DUE
October
14: Plato, The Meno
October
21: Plato, The Meno
October
30: Descartes, Meditations,
Meditation I and II
November
4: Descartes, Meditations, Meditation II and III PAPER #2 DUE
November 11: Descartes, Meditations, Meditation III and IV
November
18: Kierkgaard, Johannes Climacus
November
25: Kierkegaard, Johannes Climacus and “A Project of Thought”
December
2: Kierkegaard, “A Project in Thought” PAPER
REWRITES DUE
December
9: TBA