Syllabus for Philosophy 251.513: Introduction to
Philosophy
Fall 2007, Dr. Stephen H. Daniel
Introduction to Philosophy develops
problem-solving and critical-thinking skills in the
context of discussions of God, religious belief, human nature, reality,
freedom,
knowledge, ethics, political obligation, and the meaning of life.
Students will
learn how to (1) analyze the major arguments traditionally proposed
concerning
these topics, (2) evaluate objections raised against those arguments,
and (3)
formulate replies to those objections through interactive exercises in
class
and writing assignments outside class.
Text:
Problems
from Philosophy
by
James Rachels (McGraw-Hill, 2005). Our copy of the text (ISBN
978-007-816048-6) is sold in a plastic wrapper. This packet includes a
coupon for $7 off of the $13 charge for using CPS-RF units ("clickers")
in the class. If you buy the text used or do not have the coupon, you
must pay $13 when you enroll in the class at www.einstruction.com (details
about how to do that are given below).
Class Date |
Topic |
Reading Assignment |
|
|
|
Pages in Textbook |
McGraw-Hill PowerWeb location* |
Aug. 27 |
vii-viii, 197-205 |
|
|
Aug. 29 |
|
|
|
Sept. 3 |
|
|
|
Sept. 5 |
|
22-28 |
|
Sept. 10 |
|
29-40 |
|
Sept. 12 |
|
Reading #9 |
|
Sept. 17 |
|
41-55 |
|
Sept. 19 |
|
56-68 |
|
Sept. 24 |
Body-Mind Dualism/Immaterialism |
69-79 |
|
Sept. 26 |
|
80-86 |
|
Oct. 1 |
|
|
|
Oct. 3 |
|
|
Newall: Philosophy of Mind |
Oct. 8 |
Mid-semester exam |
||
Oct. 10 |
|
99-116 |
|
Oct. 15 |
|
117-24 |
|
Oct. 17 |
|
124-32 |
|
Oct. 22 |
|
133-41 |
|
Oct. 24 |
|
141-52 |
|
Oct. 29 |
|
Reading #15 (see * below) |
|
Oct. 31 |
|
Reading #24 (see * below) |
|
Nov. 5 |
Ethics and Objectivity |
153-69 |
|
Nov. 7 |
|
|
Nietzsche: Beyond Good and Evil |
Nov. 12 |
Ethics and Religion |
170-78 |
|
Nov. 14 |
Utilitarianism and Kant |
178-85 |
|
Nov. 19 |
Wolgast: "World of Social
Atoms" |
Wolgast: "A World of Social Atoms" | |
(Nov. 21) |
(Class cancelled for Thanksgiving travel) |
||
(Nov. 23) |
(Thanksgiving Friday, holiday)
|
||
Nov. 26 |
186-96 |
||
Nov. 28 |
|
Taylor: "The Meaning of Life" | |
Dec. 7 (Friday) |
Final exam 8:00-9:30 |
|
*For readings, go to the McGraw-Hill
PowerWeb Location (http://www.dushkin.com/powerweb) and use "articles" for both your username and password. In the "Select a Title" box, scroll down to "PowerWeb--people." When that page comes up, look under the "Readings" heading and click on "Contents" and scroll down to the appropriate numbered reading. For example, the reading for Oct. 29 is #15, An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding by David Hume. You can view the reading in either an Acrobat (preferred) or HTML format simply by clicking on appropriate link.
Grades: This course aims to
develop a student's familiarity with philosophic concepts and arguments
and to help a student express philosophic insights in writing.
Accordingly, there are four categories of assignments:
How to do well: Read the text, outline it using the PowerPoint presentations, and consult as many resources as you can find. Of course, attend class. For each chapter you should combine all your notes in an outline that is structured based on answering these four questions about the philosophers or philosophical positions we study:
You should consult with the professor or
teaching
assistants
as often as possible to make sure you are understanding the material.
Do not
wait until the day before a test to begin to do your outline. This is
not the
kind of course for which you can cram and expect to do well on tests.
Take
advantage of our office hours!
Past test questions on Philosophy in General and Socrates
Past
test questions on Human Nature & Mind-Body
Past
test questions on Reality/Freedom-Determinism/Time
Past
test questions on Philosophy of Religion
Past
test questions on Knowledge
Past test questions on Social and Political Philosophy
Past test questions on Aesthetics (Philosophy of Art) & the Meaning of Life
Send Dr. Daniel a message: sdaniel@people.tamu.edu
Dr. Daniel: Office
Hours (
Phone: 845-5619 (office),
846-4649 (home)
E-mail: sdaniel@people.tamu.edu
Web:
people.tamu.edu/~sdaniel/251513sy07c.html
Students with disabilities are guaranteed a
learning
environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their
disabilities.
If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please
contact the Department of Student Life, Disability Services, Cain Hall
B118, or call 845-1637.
Students are bound by the Aggie honor code not to lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do. Using notes during a quiz or test, submitting another student's work as one's own, copying from another student's test, and modifying a previously graded test to improve the grade are acts of scholastic dishonesty. For more on cheating and plagiarism, see http://www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor/.