Introduction to Philosophy develops problem-solving and critical-thinking skills by examining discussions about knowledge, reality, God, freedom, ethics, political obligation, and the philosophy of art.

This course has twelve sections, each with about 26 students. All students meet together on Monday and Wednesday. On Friday they meet at various times in their sections to discuss material covered in the textbook and lectures, watch a video, and take a quiz on that material. Philosophy graduate teaching assistants direct these Friday sessions.

Text: Does the Center Hold? (2nd ed.) by Donald Palmer.  Pages listed below should be read before each class. Video numbers refer to episodes from The Examined Life (Intelecom, 1999), parts of which will be shown in Friday sessions.  Other episodes can be viewed in the Evans Library annex (5th floor) in the Education and Media Services Department.

To see class notes for each class, click on the topic for that day.
 

Grades/Tests: The final grade is based on three tests, the final exam, and the cumulative score of your 12 best (out of 13) Friday quizzes.  The final exam will be treated just like the three tests in coverage and weight.  However, as an added incentive, the test (or exam) with the highest score will be weighted 1.3 times its value in the semester grade.

The exam, tests, and quizzes are comprised of true/false, multiple-choice questions, some of which can be found at the course website. Closed-book quizzes occur in the last eight minutes of Friday classes, during which students in small groups can discuss the questions before individually selecting answers. Only your best 12 quizzes (of 13 total) will be used to calculate your cumulative quiz score, so if you miss a quiz (for any reason) it automatically counts as your freebie. If you miss more than one quiz because of a university-excused absence, you should notify me and I will give you an extra quiz later in the semester. Missing a test is more serious than missing a quiz. Any student who has to miss a test should contact me to schedule to take the test before the next class meeting. Class attendance can significantly affect your performance on tests and quizzes, but there is no specific grade for attendance as such.  If a student gets within a point and a half of a letter grade, he or she will receive that higher grade.

Test Formats: The three tests and final exam are objective-format (true-false, multiple choice) scan-tron tests. To take them you need the narrow green 882 forms that can be purchased at various bookstores and copy centers. You do not need scan-tron forms for the weekly quizzes.

How to do well: Read the text, outline the text, attend class, consult the website notes, study the practice questions on the website. For each chapter you should combine the notes from your reading, class, and website in an outline that is structured based on answering these four questions about the philosophers or philosophical positions we study:

• What is the basic position or claim being made?
• What are the arguments provided to support that position or claim?
• What objections can be raised against the position or claim?
• What replies can be given to defend the position or claim against these objections?

Past test questions on Philosophy in General and Socrates (Chapter One)--updated.

Past test questions on Epistemology: Rationalism, Plato, and Descartes (Chapter Two)--updated.

Past test questions on Epistemology: Empiricism, Kant, Positivism, Objections (Chapter Three)--updated.

Past test questions on Ontology, Mind-Body (Chapter Four)--updated.

Past test questions on Philosophy of Religion (Chapter Five)--updated.

Past test questions on Freedom-Determinism (Chapter Six)--updated.

Past test questions on Ethics (Chapters Seven and Eight)--updated.

Past test questions on Political and Social Philosophy (Chapter Nine)--updated.

Past test questions on Aesthetics (Philosophy of Art) (Chapter Ten)--updated.

Go to Dr. Daniel's Home Page

Send Dr. Daniel a message: sdaniel@people.tamu.edu

        Dr. Daniel: Office Hours (Bolton 302-B): Monday 4:00-5:30; Wednesday 2:00-5:30
        Phone: 845-5619 (office), 846-4649 (home)
        E-mail: sdaniel@people.tamu.edu
        Web: people.tamu.edu/~sdaniel/251sy01a.html

Graduate Teaching Instructors:

• Jeremy Garrett--sections 501, 504, 512. Office: Bolton 311. Office hours: Wed 2-5. Office phone: 845-0489. Email: j-garrett@people.tamu.edu

• Jake Noland--sections 502, 509, 510. Office: Bolton 306. Office hours: Wed 11:30-12:30, Fri 10:30-12:30. Office phone: 862-6972. Email: jrlnoland@hotmail.com

• Cathy Schmutz--sections 503, 507, 508. Office: Bolton 307. Office hours: Mon & Wed 3-4, Thurs 2-3. Office phone: 862-6973. Email: c-schmutz@people.tamu.edu

• Zach Manis--sections 505, 506, 511. Office: Bolton 305-E. Office hours: Mon & Wed 10-12. Office phone: 862-6976. Email: manisrz@hotmail.com