PHIL& 101, Introduction to Philosophy, Syllabus

PHIL& 101, Introduction to Philosophy, Syllabus

Item number: 1906, TuTh at 12:30pm-2:40pm in R202 Winter 2018

Instructor: E-mail: Office location:

Benjamin Visscher Hole IV, PhD ben.hole@bellevuecollege.edu B200 D, office hours TBD

Course Information This course introduces some current and traditional problems in philosophy. Students examine diverse views and arguments and develop basic philosophy skills including critical reasoning and conceptual analysis. Specific questions include the following. What is Philosophy? What makes me the same person over time? What makes it morally wrong to kill a person? Does human nature provide a good basis for living one's life? Is nature designed? Does God exist? How can we know? What is knowledge? Do we have a duty to aid the less fortunate? Is abortion morally permissible? We will examine these questions and various answers to them through reading several philosophical texts, both historical and contemporary. We will pay particular attention to different methods of philosophical argumentation. Students will be encouraged not only to master the material itself but also to develop their own critical and philosophical skills. The format of this course will be a mixture of lecture and discussion.

Books and Materials There is no textbook. All required readings are posted on the course website.

Course Outcomes. After completing this class, students should be able to: Distinguish and describe the major branches of philosophical inquiry Identify philosophical issues and explain them using basic philosophical vocabulary Discuss positions and arguments relevant to philosophical issues Formulate and evaluate philosophical arguments Motivate and explain their own philosophical views

Week 1. 1/2-1/5

2. 1/8-1/12

3. 1/16-1/19 (holiday 1/15)

4. 1/22-1/26

5. 1/29-2/2

6. 2/5-2/9

Readings Vaughan, "How to Read an Argument" Chalmer's Zombie Argument and Eliminative Materialism The Ship of Theseus Argument John Locke: "Our Psychological Properties Define the Self" Split Case Arguments, Personal Identity Jeremy Bentham, "The Principle of Utility" Robert Nozick, "The Experience Machine" Midterm 1, Friday online (1/19), no in-person class Peter Singer, "Famine, Affluence, and Morality" Garrett Hardin, "Living on a Lifeboat" Immanuel Kant, "The Moral Law" Thomas Mappes: "A Liberal View of Sexual Morality and the concept of Using Another Person" Pope John Paul II, "The Unspeakable Crime of Abortion" Mary Anne Warren, "On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion"

(No class

2/8)

7. 2/12-2/16 Don Marquis, "Why Abortion Is Immoral"

Judith Jarvis Thomson, "A Defense of Abortion"

Midterm 2, Friday (2/16) online, no in-person class

8. 2/20-2/23 Aristotle's Function Argument

(No class Leon Kass, "The Wisdom of Repugnance,"

2/19)

9. 2/26-3/2

Thomas Aquinas: "Five Ways"

B.C. Johnson: "Why Doesn't God Intervene to Prevent Evil?"

10. 3/5-3/9

Descartes: "Cartesian Doubt and the Search for Foundational Knowledge"

(No class

3/6)

11. 3/12-3/16 Descartes, "Substance Dualism"

Peer Review, Final Review

12. 3/19-3/22 Final Exam Week, Online Final Exam, Tuesday, 3/20, 11:30 a.m.-1:20 p.m.

Winter 2018, BC Calendar

Holiday

Jan. 1

Quarter Starts

Jan. 2

Holiday

Jan. 15

College issues day - no classes/offices closed Feb. 8

Classified professional development day - no classes/offices closed Feb. 19

Faculty professional development - no day or evening classes, offices open. Mar. 6

Final exams Mar. 20-22

Quarter EndsMar. 22

How Outcomes Will be Met "When students know the goals, are given opportunities to practice and get feedback, and are able to show their level of understanding-- learning is supported."1 Students are expected to familiarize themselves with the grading mechanics and to take responsibility for regulating their own learning process. This involves reading the syllabus carefully, thinking strategically about your performance in class, and being communicative with your instructor. Think metacognitively about your learning. Metacognition is the process of reflecting on and adjusting your own thinking. These thought processes help monitor and control your learning when you, for example: assess the task at hand, assess your own skills and knowledge, plan an approach to a task, apply strategies and monitor progress, reflect on whether approach is working, and/or make adjustments to your approach. Keep the final paper and exam in mind and continually think about ways to do well in the areas where you will be assessed.

Discussion Participation Knowledge-Check Quizzes Midterm Prep Assignment Midterm Exam 1 Midterm Exam 2 Outline of Final Paper

10% 10%

5% 15% 15%

5%

1 Ambrose, et al., How Learning Works: Seven Research-Based Principles for Smart Teaching (Jossey-Bass, 2010), 85.

 Peer Review of Paper Final Paper Final Exam

Total

5% 15% 20% 100

Grading Discussion Participation (10%): All students are expected to play an active role. Such participation presupposes regular attendance. Credit will be given for active engagement with the material, and for helpful interactions with others. We aim to establish an environment where mutual respect is accompanied by serious reflective engagement with the material. There is a grading rubric for your participation grade, also posted on the course website, which clarifies expectations and defines the elements of quality class participation. Active involvement in your learning increases what you remember, how well it is assimilated, and how you apply what you have learned in new contexts. You must, for example, articulate your thoughts about the topics discussed in class and submit them for critical examination by your peers. In listening to peers, you hear many different ways of interpreting and applying class material and therefore are better able to integrate and apply ideas to many examples. This grading category is divided into three segments, with opportunities for selfassessment, so you can check-in on how you're doing.

Knowledge Check Quizzes (10%). Almost every week there will be a short quiz to allow you to check your knowledge and understanding of the readings. You should have all of the readings for the upcoming week completed over the weekend. Then, by Monday evening (due at midnight), you should take a quiz on the week's materials. The quizzes will be short quizzes of true/false and multiple-choice questions, designed to take about half an hour. There will be quizzes weeks 2-11, for a total of 9 quizzes. Although there are 9 possible quizzes, only your 7 highest quiz grades will be recorded for credit. This allows you to miss up to two quizzes and still earn full credit. The knowledge check quizzes are designed to be closed notes and closed book. The point is for you to internalize the knowledge, which you won't do if you are looking up the answers as you take the quiz. So, please do not open up any tabs, look at the reading, or look at your notes when you take these quizzes. As a measure for academic integrity, Canvas tracks when you read each question, how long you spend on each, whether you minimize the quiz or open up any windows, and then makes a report for the instructor.

Midterm Assignment (5%): Before the first midterm, there will be a short assignment to help you review for the midterm examination. This assignment is due on Canvas 1/12, 11:59pm.

Midterm Examinations (15% each, 2xs): There will be online midterm examinations on 1/19 and 2/16, 11:30-12:20. They will consist of multiple choice and short essay questions. The point is for you to show that you are familiar with a broad range of concepts and skills used in the class. Although the exams will be scheduled during class (with some leeway), since it is online, you will not be expected to attend in person.

Outline of Final Paper (5%). There will be an outline of your final paper due on 3/2, 11:59pm. The point of this assignment is to give you an opportunity to receive feedback on your argumentative structure. A prompt will be posted on the course website.

Peer Review for Final Paper (5%). There will be a peer review for the final paper on 3/13. The point of this assignment is for you to collaborate with a peer to improve your final paper by reviewing the grading criteria and discussing how well you meet those standards. Participation in the review requires a full rough draft. You will be graded on the basis of participation and good faith effort.

Final Examination (20%): There will be an online final examination, as scheduled by the College. It will consist of multiple choice and short essay questions. The point of the exam is for you to show that you are familiar with a broad range of concepts and skills used in the class. Although the exam will be scheduled during class (with some leeway), since it is online, you will not be expected to attend in person. There is no in-person class the day of the final.

Final Paper (15%): The point of the final paper is for you to demonstrate that you are familiar with a philosophical issue and are able to critically evaluate that view with philosophical rigor. Your critical evaluation is an opportunity for you to demonstrate the philosophical skills you have practiced throughout the term. The final paper is due 3/15 at 11:59pm.

Grading Policies If you are unable to take the midterm or final examination as scheduled, you will receive zero credit unless you have a legitimate excuse. Excuses will only be granted in extremely rare instances. Normally, the reason for your absence must be both serious and unpredictable (e.g., serious illness). In these cases, documented evidence (e.g., a doctor's note) is required. If you have a documented excuse, I will calculate your grades based on what you have earned to date by weighting out the examination. Everyone has to take exams at roughly the same time in order to preserve the exam's security. For this reason, nobody will be allowed to take an exam after the scheduled exam time. No exceptions. Late Submission Policy. Normally, extensions can be granted only if the reason for the delay is both serious and unpredictable (e.g., serious illness). In these cases, documented evidence (e.g., a doctor's note) is required. Without extensions, late submissions will be penalized by 3 points (e.g., from 100 to 97) per day or part thereof (i.e., after 9am). Although extensions can be granted under the right circumstances for the summary paper, outline, and final paper, extensions cannot be granted for assignments which require participation in activities (such as exams, participation in discussion and the peer review). The link to the College Grading Policy is located on page 10 of the Course Catalog: Grading Policy

Classroom Learning Atmosphere Instructor's Expectations

Respectful participation is mandatory. We aim to establish an environment where mutual respect is accompanied by serious reflective engagement. You have a duty to your fellow students to be here to discuss, critique, and improve their ideas. Regular participation presupposed regular attendance. So, I also expect that you both attend and participate on a regular basis.

You have an obligation to learn about what counts as academic dishonesty and avoid it. Most plagiarism isn't deliberate, for example, but the result of misunderstanding what counts as acceptable academic practice. Unintentional plagiarism, such as missing citations, still counts as plagiarism. All cases of suspected academic dishonesty will be reported to the proper Bellevue College authorities. If the College finds your academic integrity in question, you will

fail the given assignment. This means it is your job to avoid even the suspicion of academic dishonesty. I will err on the side of caution and report anything that looks suspicious or that the plagiarism detection software flags. So, you should err on the side of caution and cite any description claim about the course materials. Attend. A college course requires a significant amount of time and attention. The single biggest cause of failing college classes is simply failing to show up and participate. Please make every effort to arrive in class on time. Please do not leave the class before the period is over. Please wait for the class to end before you pack your bag to leave. If you have to arrive late or leave early for any special circumstances, please let me know beforehand. Turn your cell phones and other electronic devices off during the class period. The use of a laptop in class is also discouraged, except in the case where it accommodates a disability. I encourage you to (1) take notes by hand and (2) prioritize listening and contributing to discussion above taking notes. I will post the lecture slides.

Additional Information and Advice I am a philosopher who teaches and studies in areas of ethics (normative and applied), ancient philosophy, the philosophy of mind (psych/cog/neuro), and the scholarship of teaching and learning (metacognition and writing pedagogy). As your professor, my goal is to create a learning environment in which you can be incredibly successful. In return, I ask and encourage you to make the most of this learning opportunity. Come to class prepared. During class, make an effort to engage with ideas and with your classmates.

Use me as a resource. Please feel free to stop by my office early in the quarter, and stop by often. I am here not only to answer questions about lectures, our discussions, and the readings, but also to engage in conversation about philosophy in general.

Be present. The classroom is much more than a place to review the information presented in the readings. It is a place to learn additional, new concepts (not in the readings), to participate in projects, to see useful images, and to have engaging discussions. The information presented in class is important, and it is difficult to "re-live" it through a peer's notebook. This is a discussion based class. With that said, if you have to miss class, be sure to ask someone to take detailed notes.

Do the assigned reading multiple times ?at least two or three. Before class look at it, and again after. The readings are short, but rich. If possible, do the readings two or three times before class. Try to read slowly and carefully ? including the editors' notes. Knowing the material will familiarize you with the concepts we discuss in class. It is helpful to take brief notes on the readings or (at the very least) to underline/highlight important concepts. This will provide you with the skills to understand better the conceptual aspects of the material. Reviewing the readings will reinforce what you have learned in class.

Find a study partner or group to discuss things with outside of class. The sooner you get together with your peers to talk about the class, the better. That way you can look over your notes right away, when they are still fresh. You are likely to learn a lot from one another and find places where you need clarification or discussion. You are strongly encouraged to discuss the class material, your ideas, your puzzles and difficulties with each other. (Note, however, that if you study together, you still need to take responsibility for doing your own work. Ethics class honor system.)

Are you thinking of majoring in philosophy? In case you are considering majoring in philosophy, you should be prepared to answer questions about what you plan to do with a philosophy degree. Tell

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