PHL 234: Philosophy and Modern Society



PHL 1200: INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY

Peter Gratton, PhD

FALL 2012

Class Time, Location: T/TH 10:30am-11:50am.

Office Hours: T/TH 12:00-2:00pm and by appointment

Course web site: grattoncourses.

e-mail: pgratton@mun.ca

 

What is philosophy? Does one need training to become a philosopher? What is the relationship between the philosopher and the culture surrounding him/her? In this class, we will read a number of different thinkers in relation to these basic, though far from easy, questions. We will begin with perhaps the most famous text in the history of philosophy, namely, Plato’s Republic, which will take us through questions of the role of philosopher in society. We will then read from important canonical figures in philosophy, from Augustine to Spinoza to a contemporary text on time and physics. We will broach a number of important philosophical concerns, from the nature of the soul to the problems of societal inequality. But our first and last concern is captured in the question what is called thinking? In modernity, thought and its patient formation is being short-circuited in the name of efficiency, where all that can be said must fit into 120-character tweets or text messages to friends. Are we on the cusp of loving thought forever? By reading closely these canonical and ever-important texts, we will find it is always necessary to think about our world and our place within it, politically, socially, and ethically.

Requirements

Reading: You must read the assigned texts prior to class and it is highly recommended that you read any philosophical texts at least twice. Given the breadth of any survey course, but especially one in philosophy and literature, it will be important for you to keep up with the readings and bring to class any questions you have about the text(s). Use a dictionary to look up words that you don’t understand, and come to class with any questions you have. This is a work-intensive class, as you will see below. You should do your best to keep up with the readings and homework assignments from the beginning, since it will be difficult, if not impossible, to catch up later on. The readings, as you will see, speed up when we do works of literature. Be sure to take notes on major themes and characters and you should be fine. (Please note that at least one of these works takes up mature themes and situations. I will provide you page numbers to skip in case this should be a problem for any of you.)

Quizzes (45%): Quizzes will be given as either in-class tests or pre-assigned discussion papers to ensure that everyone is keeping up with the readings.There will be no make-ups for the quizzes, though extra assignments can be used to make up for missed quizzes.

Class Participation (15%): You will be expected to attend each class having read the relevant materials and able to comment upon them to other members of the class. Your participation grade will be assessed with the following in mind: (1) attendance (no more than three absences during the semester, no exceptions) and (2) level and quality of participation. If you are shy, you will need to get over this rather early in the class, given the importance of class participation in your overall grade.

Each student is required to write a two-page, single-spaced protocol for one of the days’ reading assignments listed below. The handouts can be a summary of the material, a response to one of the ideas contained in the reading, or some combination thereof. Since you will be writing these handouts on readings that we have not gone over, you are not expected to have mastered the material. Rather, it is more than fair to raise in your handout any passages that were particularly difficult and that we need to go over. You should make enough copies or printouts at the computer lab for everyone in the class, or send it to me via email so that I can put it up on the front projector. Everyone must complete this assignment in order to receive any participation points in the course.

A final note about participation:

If you suffer from any disabilities, such as a social phobia and/or a physical or mental condition, which you believe may impede your progress and participation in the course, either with regard to the class itself or quizzes and exams, please let me know as soon as possible. I have worked with students with special circumstances before and I will be glad to do so again to make this classroom as inclusive as possible.

Extra Credit: Each semester, I make extra credit available to students because I am aware that simply one bad class or missing notes or a bad cold during finals week can greatly affect one’s grade. I will come up with extra credit assignments during the semester provided that you are keeping up with the homework assignments and participating regularly in the course.

Final Exam (40%): The final examination will be cumulative and no make-up will be available. We will have a study session prior to the exam and I will provide a study guide before the exam. If you have kept up with the readings, asked questions during class about difficult passages, and met with me when the need arose, then you will have little difficulty with the final exam, which will be a series of essays to be written during the final examination time available.

ASSESSMENT:

You will be assessed a final grade in this class based upon a combination of your quiz, paper, and in-class discussion grades:

|Class Participation |Quizzes / Papers |Final Exam: |

|20 points |40 points |40 points |

READING ASSIGNMENTS:

Note well: the dates for readings and quizzes might change as we move along. Attendance in the course will ensure that you know when assignments are due and quizzes are to be given. Texts not available in the book store will be supplied by links on the course web site. Also, students are expected to review all resources posted for the different thinkers. Quizzes will in part be made up of questions raised by these resources.

Books ordered:

Republic of Plato, ISBN 0465069347, Basic Books

Augustine, Confession, ISBN 0199537828, Oxford University Press

Spinoza, Ethics etc., ISBN 0872201309, Hacket

Leibniz, Discourse on Metaphysics and Other Essays, ISBN 0872201325, Hacket

Smolin, The Rebirth of Time, ISBN: 9780547511726, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Reading Schedule and Resources

Thursday, September 5

Introduction to the course

Tuesday, September 10

Intro to class and Plato's Republic, Book I

Resources for Plato:

1. BBC In Our Times: Socrates

2. Philosophy Bites, “Edward Craig – What is Philosophy?” (podcast)

Thursday, September 12

Plato's Republic, Book II-III

Tuesday, September 17

Plato's Republic, Book IV-V

Thursday, September 19

Plato's Republic, Book VI-VII

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Tuesday, September 24

Plato's Republic, Book VIII-X

Thursday, September 26

Augustine, Confessions, Books I-III

Augustine Resources:

1. BBC In these Times, Neoplatonism podcast. 

Tuesday, October 1

Augustine, Confessions, Books IV-VIII

Thursday, October 3

Augustine, Confessions, Books IX-XI

Tuesday, October 8

Augustine, Confessions, Books XII-end

Thursday, October 10

Spinoza, Ethics, Book I (first half)

Spinoza Resources:

1. BBC, In Our Times, Spinoza podcast.

2. “Spinoza,” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Tuesday, October 15

No classes, Thanksgiving Break

Thursday, October 17

Spinoza, Ethics, Book I (second half)

Tuesday, October 22

Spinoza, Ethics, Book II

Thursday, October 24

Spinoza, Ethics, Book III (first half)

Tuesday, October 29

Spinoza, Ethics, Book IIII (second half)

Thursday, October 31

Spinoza, Ethics, Book IV

Dress as your favorite philosopher, no quiz for you.

Tuesday, November 5

Spinoza, Ethics, Book V

Thursday, November 7

Leibniz, TBA

Tuesday, November 12

Leibniz, TBA

Thursday, November 14

Leibniz, TBA

Tuesday, November 19

Leibniz, TBA

Thursday, November 21

Smolin, The Rebirth of Time, Part I

Tuesday, November 26

Smolin, The Rebirth of Time, pp. 91-139

Thursday, November 28

Smolin, The Rebirth of Time, pp. 140-end.

Tuesday, December 3

catch-up day

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