Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL& 101B
Spring 2009
Daily 10:30-11:20a; L213
Instructor: Mark Storey
Office Hours:
Mon-Fri 9:30-10:20; R230E (in the Arts & Humanities office)
(425) 564-2118,
mstorey@bellevuecollege.edu
Course Description:
This course introduces students to a variety of philosophic issues. This quarter, we will explore issues introduced by Plato, René Descartes, and Mencius on the nature of philosophic inquiry, ethics, social and political philosophy, metaphysics, epistemology, the existence of God, and aesthetics
Philosophy texts and courses are a bit different from those found elsewhere in the humanities. Often the texts are difficult to read. This is due in small part to many of the best ones being from an earlier age. Their difficulty is due in larger part to their addressing issues and questions in ways that are more complicated than found in contemporary novels, newspapers, or presidential debates. Also, philosophers do not usually write to entertain; they wish to offer an answer to a perplexing question, and they go to great lengths to defend themselves adequately. Expect to approach our texts more slowly and thoughtfully than you would most standard college textbooks or works of fiction.
You will be expected to accomplish three fundamental goals for each text, issue, or question we explore. First you must understand and be able to articulate in writing what the issue is and how the philosopher we study addresses it. What is the question being asked? How does the philosopher answer it? What defense does the philosopher offer? Second you should be able to explain why an intelligent and informed person might agree with the philosopher. Third you should be able to explain why an intelligent and informed person might disagree with the philosopher. We will be discussing only “philosophically interesting” questions. Such questions are ones that intelligent and informed people might disagree on. Whether or not murder is morally permissible is not philosophically interesting. Whether or not we have the moral right to disobey an unjust law is philosophically interesting.
It may seem like philosophers do nothing but debate “unanswerable” questions. Philosophers, however, are usually not interested in discussing issues they can approach in a merely empirical fashion. Moreover, once philosophers come up with an answer that garners general agreement, they no longer find it philosophically interesting. At one point the function of the human heart was philosophically interesting; now it is not. The bottom line? Philosophers enjoy complicated subjects that continue to merit informed debate.
Required Texts:
* Plato, Republic
(Hackett, trans., G.M.A. Grube and C.D.C Reeve)
* René Descartes, Discourse on Method and Meditations on First Philosophy (Hackett, trans. Donald A. Cress)
* Mencius, Mencius: With Selections from Traditional Commentaries (Hackett, trans., Bryan W. Van Norden)
Course Requirements:
* Regular reading and thoughtful consideration of the texts prior to class
* Four in-class tests (1/6 of course grade each)
* Two take-home, 3-4-page papers (1/6 of course grade each)
* Informed and informing class participation and in-class assignments will raise or lower a course grade up to 0.3 GPA points
* Appropriate classroom behavior (e.g., no cell phones, chatting, arriving late)
* Read www.bellevuecollege.edu/artshum/studentinfo.html by first week of class
Grading Policy:
Hard copies of the papers are due in class and at the time of the class on the due dates. Do not email papers to the instructor. Papers that are turned in late (for whatever reason) will be penalized as follows. If it is turned in late on the day it is due, its GPA grade will be lowered 0.2 GPA points. If it is turned in one day late, its GPA grade will be lowered 0.5 GPA points. For each day late thereafter (including weekends and holidays), the GPA grade will be lowered an additional 0.2 GPA points. For example, if a take-home paper is due Friday and it is turned in the following Monday (i.e., three days late) and it would have received a 3.0 (B), then the grade would be lowered 0.9 GPA points (0.5+0.2+0.2=0.9) to a 2.1 (C). Tests may not be taken early or late; note their date and plan your vacation (or work schedule) accordingly.
An optional third paper on Mencius may be turned at the time of the Mencius test. The instructor would grade it as he did the two assigned take-home essays. The optional Mencius essay grade may be used in lieu of a student’s lowest or missing test or assigned essay grade.
The instructor does not give HWs (Hardship Withdrawals) or
Is (Incompletes) to salvage a student’s GPA or financial aid status. If your
schedule changes and you are no longer able to attend class, go to Registration
and drop the class officially before the final date to withdraw. All
assignments missed prior to a student’s request of a HW will be given an F. The
instructor will consider giving an HW only if the hardship is verified and
the student is passing the course at
the time of the request. Again, do not expect a HW if you merely disappear from
class and wish to avoid a poor grade.
Students with disabilities who have accommodation needs are required to
meet with the Director of Disability Resource Center (room B132-G; 425-564-2498
or TTY 425-564-4110) to establish their eligibility for accommodation. The DRC
office will provide each eligible student with an accommodation letter.
Students who require accommodation in class should review the DRC accommodation
letter with the instructor during the first week of the quarter.
For information on BC’s
Philosophy Tutorial Program and
other Philosophy classes, visit the
Philosophy Department’s website at www.bellevuecollege.edu/philosophy.
Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL 101&B
Spring 2009
Course Schedule
This is a tentative course reading schedule. If the instructor believes that an adjustment in it must be made, he will inform you of the change in class. You are responsible for being in class on time to hear of any changes. Do a thorough reading of the assigned text before coming to class. Number below refer to text page numbers.
P: Plato D: Descartes M: Mencius
|
Date |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
|
Apr 1- 3 |
X |
X |
Intro |
P 1-12 |
P 12-19 |
|
Apr 6-10 |
P 19-31 |
P 32-42 |
P 42-52 |
P 52-80 |
P 80-93 |
|
Apr 13-17 |
P 94-110 |
P 110-121 |
|
TEST |
P 122-141 |
|
Apr 20-24 |
P 141-156 |
P 157-178 |
P 178-185 |
No class |
P 186-206 |
|
Apr 27 - May 1 |
P 206-212 |
P 213-240 |
P 241-263 |
P 264-279 |
P 279-292 |
|
May 4-8 |
TEST |
D 1-18 |
D 18-22, 47-56 |
No class |
D 59-63 |
|
May 11-15 |
|
D 63-69 |
|
D 69-81 |
|
|
May 18-22 |
D 81-87 |
D 87-103 |
|
|
TEST |
|
May 25-29 |
|
M 1-32 |
Film |
M 33-62 |
Film |
|
Jun 1-5 |
M 63-87 |
|
M 88-0115 |
|
M 116-142 |
|
Jun 8-12 |
|
M 143-170 |
|
M 171-197 |
|
|
Jun 15-18 |
TEST |
X |
X |
Optional paper due |
X |
Test dates: April 16, May 4, May 22, and June 15
Paper due dates: May 4 and May 22
Optional Mencius paper due: June 18