INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY



Φιλοσ?φια (Eng. Philosophy): The Love of WisdomCourse DescriptionWe will be looking for answers to: What is a “philosophical question”? How do philosophers do philosophy? What is reality? What makes something real? What are we? Mind? Body? Both? How do we know anything? What are the differences between opinion, belief, knowledge and certainty? What constitutes a “good life” or a “good person”? How do we know what we ought to do? How do we know when something is right or wrong? What basis is there for letting one person or group of persons rule over another group of persons? What makes a thing beautiful? Are there rational reasons to believe there is a God? Why do bad things happen to good people?Course objectives Learning to be appropriately skeptical, asking “Why?” when explanations are offered, and knowing when rational reasons to believe them have been given. Knowing the basic ideas of at least six major philosophical thinkers. Writing effectively and critically about the ultimate questions. Thinking carefully and clearly about thinking, and feeling strong concern when others who should know better don’t think carefully and clearly about thinking. Examining our own world-views to see if they can “hold water.” Recognizing how philosophers have made and will make a difference in the way millions of people live their everyday lives. Ideas have consequences: As you think, so you are. Realizing why the Christian philosopher Boethius called philosophy “the handmaiden of theology” GradingA90-100%B80-89%C70-79%D60-69%F0-59%Assessment toolsPoints/ % of gradeTool220 / 38% Short assessments 60 / 10%Dialogues (NOTE: All six must be completed to pass this course)100 / 17% Class Project: 100 / 17%Midterm exam: An exam on the major topics covered in the first half of the course100 / 18%Final exam: An exam on the major topics covered in the second half of the course580 / 100%Total points for the courseTextbooksLife’s Ultimate Questions by Ronald NashThe Philosophy of Jesus by Peter KreeftPhilosophy CoursepackMethodsReading the assigned textsViewing each videoDialogue: Students are encouraged to raise pertinent questions as they come to mind, and to participate in dialogue with the purpose of deepening understanding in the area being discussed.READING PHILOSOPHY Everyone does Philosophy, all the time, but most people do not think very carefully about it. The student of Philosophy does. This means that s/he will want to:Find a quiet place to read and reflect on what has been read. Without reflection, you are not going to get much out of reading Philosophy.Read out loud, when the passage is difficult. Hearing yourself read the carefully-crafted sentences of a good philosopher may very well be the way you will break out of the fog and into the daylight.Make reading a priority: if you become distracted by thoughts of other things you need to do, write them down to deal with after you are through reading. Then, tell yourself that this is your time to read. Stay focused on reading.Read through an entire section in one sitting, even if you don’t understand most of it. After your first reading, you’ll have a clearer idea of the structure of the argument or explanation. Then reread and jot down main points and questions. Highlighting key passages is my personal favorite technique. Ask for help.Don’t confuse a tired mind or body with reading difficulties. Reading is a physical activity that requires you to sit upright and motionless for an extended period of time. Take care of your physical needs for exercise, rest, nutrition and water, and your body won’t rebel when you tell it to sit still.Carve out hour-long blocks of time to do your reading. Turn off the phone, tv, radio and stereo, and let your mind and soul sip the cool nectar of Philosophy, and feast on the brain-food set before you. Assignments and AssessmentsMODULEASSIGNED READINGS and PRESENTATIONS (Coursepack and Online Presentations are posted at ) ASSESSMENT POINTS POSSIBLEPOINTS EARNEDIntroductionCoursepackBattling the Philosophy of this AgeNashChapter 1 – Worldview ThinkingKreeftIntroductions I, II & IIIOnline PresentationWorldviewHow Jesus answered the question, “What is really real?”KreeftJesus’ MetaphysicsOnline PresentationJesus’ MetaphysicsAssessment on Nash Chapter 1 – Worldview Thinking 10The Worldview of NaturalismNashChapter 2 – NaturalismCoursepackGreek Naturalist PhilosophersOnline PresentationNaturalismClass Project Part One30The Worldviews of Plato and AristotleNashChapter 3 – PlatoChapter 4 – AristotleCoursepack Primary Source Readings of PlatoPrimary Source Readings of AristotleOnline PresentationsPlatoAristotleAssessment on Naturalism 20The Worldview of PlotinusNashChapter 5 – PlotinusOnline PresentationPlotinusAssessment on Plato, Aristotle & Plotinus 45Midterm Exam on Modules 1-5100The Worldviews of Augustine & AquinasNashChapter 6 – AugustineCoursepackPrimary Readings of AugustineNashChapter 7 – AquinasCoursepackPrimary Readings of Thomas AquinasOnline PresentationsAugustineAquinasAssessment on Augustine & Aquinas30“What is true?”NashChapter 8 – The Law of NoncontradictionKreeftJesus’ EpistemologyNashChapter 10 – Epistemology I: Whatever Happened to Truth? Chapter 11 – Epistemology II: A Tale of Two SystemsChapter 12 – Reformed EpistemologyOnline PresentationsThe Law of NoncontradictionTruth, Postmodernism & EpistemologyAssessment on The Law of Noncontradiction and on Jesus’ EpistemologyAssessment on Nash’s Epistemology chapters2530“Is there a God?” & “What is God like?”NashChapter 13 – God I: The Existence of GodChapter 14 – God II: The Nature of GodOnline PresentationThe Existence of GodAssessment on The Existence of God and The Nature of God30“What is a human being?” & “What is human nature?”KreeftJesus’ AnthropologyNashChapter 18 – Human Nature: The Mind-Body Problem and Survival After DeathOnline PresentationThe Mind-Body Problem & Survival after DeathAssessment on Jesus’ Anthropology and Nash’s Human Nature chapter30“What did Jesus say about how we ought to live?”KreeftJesus’ EthicsCoursepackA Final Thought on Being PhilosophersClass Project Part Two70Final Exam on Modules 6-10100Dialogues (6 each, 30 minutes minimum for each, 10 points for each)60Total Points580 ................
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