PHI201 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY



PHI201 Introduction to Philosophy

Instructor: Dr. John Z. Ding

Office: 1-328

Phone: (909) 869-4660

Fax: (909) 869-4434

E-mail: zding@csupomona.edu

Webpage: csupomona.edu/~zding

Office Hours:

Tuesday: 2:55pm—5:55pm

Wednesday: 4:55pm—5:55pm

Thursday: 4:55pm—5:55pm

I. Required Text:

Engel, S. Morris, The Study of Philosophy, 5th edition, Collegiate Press, 2002

II. Optional Readings:

J. Feinberg, Reason & Responsibility, Wadsworth Publishing Company

R. H. Popkin & A. Stroll, Philosophy and Contemporary Problems, Hot, Rinehart and Winston

P. T. Raju, Introduction To Comparative Philosophy, Southern Illinois University Press

III. Course Description:

This course provides a general introduction to some of the great classical and contemporary philosophers and the problems with which they dealt in metaphysics, epistemology, ethics and other branches of philosophy. This course will also discuss some philosophical issues through a comparative approach.

IV. Course Instructional Methods:

1. Students familiarize themselves with assigned reading materials.

2. Instructor provides additional information in lectures.

3. Instructor introduces particular topics, identifies major issues of significance or points of contention, and indicates the focus of class discussion.

4. Students refine and deepen their understanding of selected issues through additional research and the preparation of class, presentations or essays and research papers.

V. Course Format:

This course is divided into seven sections. A part of our class time will be devoted to discussing some philosophical issues.

VI. Course Schedule:

Part I. Introduction

1. The nature and scope of philosophy Ch.1 4/2

2. How can we philosophize? 4/7

Films

Speaker1

Speaker2

Quiz1 4/9

Part II. Philosophy's Method

3. Logic Ch.4 4/14

Speaker3

4. Fallacies Ch.5 4/16

Speaker4: Sam Wolff 4/16

Group Discussion1 4/21

Quiz2 4/23

Part III. Metaphysics

5. Ancient Metaphysics Ch.2 4/28

Speaker5: Jeff Denny

6. Modern Metaphysics Ch.6 4/30

Speaker6: Dora Villa 4/30

Film

Group discussion2 5/5

Quiz3 5/5

Part IV. Epistemology

7. The ground, nature & purpose of knowing Ch.7 5/7

Speaker7: William K. Verburg 5/7

8. The function, process & limitation of knowing Ch.7 5/12

Speaker8: Rodrigo Hernadez 5/12

Film

Group Discussion3 5/14

Quiz4 5/14

Part V. Ethics & Social Philosophy

9. Moral Theories Ch.8 5/19

Speaker9: Iswad Oargas 5/19

10. Moral Practice Ch.9 5/21

Speaker10: Jessica Goger 5/21

Films 5/28

Speaker11: Austin Tran 5/28

Group Dicussion4 6/2

Quiz5 6/2

Part VI. Religions

11. Comparison of the West and the East Handouts 6/4

Speaker12: Brandon Kingcaid 6/4

Part VII. Conclusion

Student debates on certain issues 6/4

VII. Course Requirements:

Your grade will be based on the following factors, weighted on percentage:

1. Five quizzes (multiple choices and term identifications) 25%

2. One oral speech with detailed outlines (7-10 minutes, classmates' evaluation and 25%

instructor's evaluation)

a. Good preparation; b. Specific topic; c. Good understanding and personal thinking; d. Good response to listeners.

3 One take-home essay final (2 questions, 2-3 double space typing pages for each) 25%

a. Good understanding; b. Good reasoning and criticism; c. Clear and logical writing

4. Group and class discussions 25%

a. Good attendance and participation; b. To be a group discussion leader and representative speaker to the whole class once.

A grade of F will be given if you miss 50% of class.

We hope you enjoy the course and get a lot out of it.

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