Introduction to Philosophy 1050 Fall 2015 Tues./Thurs. 11-12:20pm PEB 219 Instructor: Dr. Samantha Langsdale Office & Office Hours: Env. 320C; Mon. & Wed. 2-4pm Email: samantha.langsdale@unt.edu Course Description: This course is a lecture- based survey of leading figures in the history of philosophy from Ancient Greece, Medieval Europe, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and the 20th century. Central areas of philosophy are studied, including metaphysics, epistemology, human nature, ethics, political theory, aesthetics, gender theory, and race theory. The main objectives of this course are: (1) to become familiar with major philosophical problems and the methods of dealing them, (2) to learn how to read and interpret philosophical texts (rightly considered as belonging to the category of the most complex intellectual products), (3) to acquire an initial command of philosophical language. (4) to demonstrate what does it mean to adopt "philosophical attitude" as an elevated form of human curiosity and resistance to any kind of dogmatism. Course Materials: Required Texts: Classics of Philosophy (3e) by Louis Pojman and Lewis Vaughn [9780199737291] Recommended Texts: Writing Philosophy: A Student s Guide to Writing Philosophical Essays by Lewis Vaughn [9780195179569] The instructor will provide all other reading materials for this course. These readings, as well as other pertinent and helpful information, can be found on Blackboard. If you have any issues retrieving the readings, please let the instructor know.
Assessment: Students grades will be determined by a combination of attendance record, weekly discussion boards, two exams, and one research paper. Attendance (10%) Your regular attendance is mandatory and will be worth ten percent of your total grade. Please see Attendance Policy below for more details. Group Discussion Boards (15%) You will be divided into groups and will be responsible for posting weekly in your group s Blackboard discussion thread. The purpose of these discussions is to develop your interpretation of the readings and communicate this interpretation clearly to the instructor and your peers. Usual standards of professionalism and courtesy apply. You must quote from the readings for the week and/or other independently researched material, and include a citation and bibliography to receive credit. Such referencing must follow an accepted style. Each weekly posting is worth 1 point. You may post throughout the week (highly encouraged) but all entries must be made by NO LATER than 5pm Sunday. Exams (50%) Exam #1 (20%) will be held at the beginning of 7 and will cover the material up to that point. The final exam (30%) will cover the assigned content and readings from weeks 8-14 of the term and may include questions regarding material covered throughout the course. Exams will be primarily in a short- essay format with possible multiple choice and true/false questions. Exam 1 will be taken within the normal class period, Exam 2 during Finals. See the Class Schedule below for dates. Research Paper (25%) Students will be provided with several possible essay questions and will choose ONE on which to write a 4-5 page paper (1000-1250 words) informed by academic research. The paper must have a clear thesis statement, good organization, appropriate formatting, correct use of academic sources/accurate citations, and a bibliography. The paper may be submitted ANY time from the end of 5 until the end of 15. It must be submitted to TurnItIn on Blackboard by NO LATER THAN 11:59pm Friday, Dec. 4 th. (I would NOT recommend leaving this until the end of term as you ALSO have an exam to study for. Plan ahead!) Grading Policy: This course is graded according to the requirements specified and weighted below. A = 90%+ B = 80-89% C = 70-79% D = 60-69% F = 0-59%
Attendance Policy: You are required to regularly attend lectures. However, you are allowed THREE unexcused absences for whatever life throws your way (illness, broken alarm, hangover, existential crises, etc.). After those three absences, every subsequent absence will result in the loss of ten points from an overall total of 100 (i.e. one absence after the initial three drops you from 100 to 90; two additional absences drops you from 100 to 80). If you are required to miss class due to a UNT function, or because of a religious holiday, please notify me IN ADVANCE. If you miss class, YOU AND YOU ALONE, are responsible for finding out what you missed. ADA Statement: The University of North Texas is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation; reference Public Law 92-112 The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. With the passage of new federal legislation entitled Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, there is renewed focus on providing this population with the same opportunities enjoyed by all citizens. The Office of Disability Accommodation is located in Suite 321 of the University Union Building and can be reached at (940) 565 4323 and TTY (940) 369 8652 or through the Website at http://www.unt.edu/oda/index.html If you require any special accommodation, please contact me so that we can work together to ensure your success in this class. Academic Integrity: Academic integrity emanates from a culture that embraces the core values of trust and honesty necessary for full learning to occur. As a student- centered public research university, the University of North Texas promotes the integrity of the learning process by establishing and enforcing academic standards. Academic dishonesty breaches the mutual trust necessary in an academic environment and undermines all scholarship. For a full look at the UNT Policy for Academic Integrity, see https://policy.unt.edu/sites/default/files/untpolicy/pdf/7- Student_Affairs- Academic_Integrity.pdf If you are caught cheating on a quiz or test, you will receive an F for that assignment. Similarly, if you plagiarize your paper, you will receive an F. This may result in your failing the class.
Classroom Policies & Student Conduct: Students must be respectful of the Instructor, the TA, and their fellow students. Any behavior which is deemed racist, sexist, ableist or bigoted will not be tolerated. For more on appropriate conduct, see http://deanofstudents.unt.edu/sites/default/files/code_of_student_conduct.pdf In order to reduce disruptions to the class, NO CELL PHONES, LAPTOPS OR TABLETS ARE PERMITTED! Let me say that again: NO PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY WILL BE PERMITTED IN THE CLASSROOM. If you require a device because of particular learning needs, you must speak with me and provide appropriate documentation. Late/Missed Assignments: If you are unable to attend class during the exams, you must notify me ASAP in order to arrange a re- take. You will not be allowed to re- take exams for reasons other than illness, UNT functions, or religious holidays. If you submit your essay after the deadline, you will lose a letter grade for every school day that passes (i.e. if you do not submit the essay until Monday, Dec. 7, the best you can hope to achieve is a B. If it is submitted on Tuesday 12/8, the best you may receive is a C). Add/Drop Schedule for Fall 2015: http://registrar.unt.edu/registration/fall- add- drop Topic Reading 1 Introduction Aug. 25 Aug. 27 2 Sept. 1 Sept. 3 Course Description/Syllabus Introduction & Overview The Syllabus (no jokes) Make first entries on Discussion Boards The Apology in CoP 36-58 3 Sept. 8 Sept. 10 Euthyphro in CoP 25-36
4 Sept. 15 Sept. 17 5 Sept. 22 Sept. 24 6 Sept. 29 Oct. 1 7 Oct. 6 Oct. 8 8 Oct. 13 Oct. 15 9 Oct. 20 Oct. 22 10 Oct. 27 Oct. 29 Exam & Modern Exam #1 on Ancient Intro to Descartes and Descartes Descartes Hume Hume Hume Kant Analogy of the Sun and Divided Line from Republic in CoP 167-173 (start at Chapter 9) Allegory of the Cave from Republic in CoP 173-177 (start last paragraph of left column) Nic Ethics in CoP, Book VI, 293-299 Nic Ethics in CoP, Book X, 302-308 Physics in CoP, Book II, 217-226 Physics in CoP, Book III, 226-228 Kill it. Descartes, First Meditation in CoP 487-491 Descartes, Second- Sixth Meditation in CoP 491-516 Hume, Enquiry, Sections I- II, in CoP 718-727 Hume, Enquiry, Sections III- IV, in CoP 727-734 Hume, Enquiry, Sections V & VII, in CoP 734-740 & 741-748 Kant, Preface Critique of Pure Reason in CoP, 909-921
11 Nov. 3 Nov. 5 12 Nov. 10 Nov. 12 13 Nov. 17 Nov. 19 14 Nov. 24 Nov. 26 15 Dec. 1 Dec. 3 Hegel Intro to Nietzsche (film) Modern- Postmodern Philosophy Nietzsche Sartre Feminist Philosophy Where are the women? The Godmother: Simone De Beauvoir Critical Race Theory Intro to Critical Race Theory & WEB DuBois No Classes: TurkeyDay Wrap- Up Wrap up Exam Review Hegel Phenomenology of Spirit in CoP, 921-928 Nietzsche Beyond Good and Evil in CoP, 1044-1050 Sartre, Being and Nothingness in CoP, 1218-1231 Maria Lugones and Elizabeth Spelman, Have We Got A Theory For You! Feminist Theory and the Demand for 'The Woman's Voice' on Blackboard De Beauvoir, Introduction The Second Sex on Blackboard DuBois, Souls of Black Folk Ch. 1 on Blackboard LAST POSSIBLE WEEK TO TURN IN PAPER!!! REVIEW!! 16 Final Exam on s 8-14 Tuesday Dec. 8, 10:30am 12:30pm