Introduction to Philosophy focuses on problem-solving abilities through studying ways of reasoning about philosophic issues. This semester the course covers questions about human freedom, religious and ethical beliefs, political obligation, knowledge, and how gender may affect thinking and values.
There are twelve sections in this course, each with about 28 students. All students meet together on Monday and Wednesday in Zachry 102, and on Friday they meet at various times in their section groups to discuss the previous two lectures. The philosophy graduate teaching instructors who will direct these discussions are:
Joe Kallo--sections 502, 503, 504.
Office: Blocker 506B.
Office hrs: Mon & Wed 12:30-2:30, Tues & Thurs 10-11, & by appt.
Office phone: 845-7780.
E-mail: jkallo@snaefell.tamu.edu
Bob Moore--sections 505, 506, 507.
Office: Blocker 513A.
Office hours: Mon 1-3, Tues & Thurs 2-4.
Office phone: 862-1435.
E-mail: res8119@tam2000.tamu.edu
Michael Allen--sections 508, 509, 510.
Office: Blocker 513A.
Office hrs: Tues & Thurs 9-11, Fri 1:30-3:30.
Office phone: 862-1435.
E-mail: mwa2401@tam2000.tamu.edu
Stephen Barnes--sections 511, 512, 513.
Office: Blocker 506B.
Office hours: Mon 12:30-3:30, Wed 12:30-2:30, Thurs 2:30-3:30.
Office phone: 845-7780.
E-mail: sbarnes@philosophers.tamu.edu
Text: Discovering Philosophy: Brief Edition by Thomas I. White. Pages listed below should be read prior to each class meeting.
Dr. Daniel's Office Hours: Monday 3-5; Wednesday 1-5.
Office phone: 845-5619.
Office location: Blocker 510M
Email: sdaniel@tam2000.tamu.edu
Grades/Tests: The final grade is based on the three tests of the course; the final comprehensive exam is optional. Each test is of equal weight. Information on the format of the tests and on the group component of the test is given below. Any student who has to miss a test should contact Dr. Daniel or his or her graduate teaching assistant to schedule to take the test before the next class meeting. Class attendance and participation, especially in the Friday discussion sessions, do affect what grades you get.
Test Formats: There are three objective-format (true-false, multiple choice) scan-tron tests in this course. Each test will have two components, an individual part and a group part. In the individual part (worth 2/3 of the test grade), you will answer a set of questions by yourself and will turn in your answers after approximately 25 minutes. In the group part of the test, students in groups of five will have the remainder of the class period to answer a new set of questions as a group; this part is worth 1/3 of the test grade. You will fill out a second scan-tron sheet with your preferred answers. If you disagree with your group's answers, simply mark your preferences on your answer sheet. Each student will thus turn in two scan-tron (#882) forms for each test. These forms can be purchased at the bookstore.
Membership in the test groups will be decided on Friday of the second week of class so that group members can begin studying with one another in preparation for the first test. By that time students should also have decided where they want to sit in class so that they can get together quickly on test days.
The final exam is comprehensive (i.e., covers the material from the entire semester) and is optional. It will be an entirely individual affair, since there is no guarantee that all members of a student's group will take the final. The final counts for 1.4 times the weight of the other tests. Any student who is satisfied with his or her grade after the third test does not have to take the final. If, on the other hand, a student is willing to do the extra work necessary for doing well on the final, the rewards can be substantial. For example, suppose a student has earned scores of 72 on the three tests (thus a low C for the course). He or she then decides to go for it on the final and gets a 70. Since the 70 is worth 1.4 times the other tests, the calculation for the student's grade would be: 72+72+72+98=314 / 4 = 78.5 (which, from my perspective is close enough for a B for the course). [My general rule of thumb is that if a person makes an effort on the final and gets within 1= points of a letter grade, that is good enough. This point-and-a-half rule applies only to students who take the final.] Or suppose a student made a 74, 78, and 82 (average: 78--C for the course) and then got an 86 on the final. By making that extra effort at the end of the semester, the person would then have the following: 74+78+82+120.4=354.4 / 4 = 88.6 A). So such a person would have gotten two C's and a B on the tests and a B for the final, only to end up with an A for the course! Makes you think about taking the final, doesn't it? By the way, no one's semester grade will go down based on the final exam grade; the final can only improve one's semester grade.
Notes on Philosophy in General, Freedom, and Ethics.- Notes on Social-Political Philosophy, Metaphysics, and Epistemology.
- Notes on Philosophy of Religion and Gender.