SYLLABUS
Introduction to Philosophy
Phil A201, Friday evening class Spring 2020
William Jamison
THEME: Introduces works of influential thinkers, both ancient and modern, in the Western philosophical tradition. Emphasizes central problems of knowledge, reality, and good and evil.
Special Note: This page links to other pages on my web site that are an important part of the syllabus. Students should select those links to become familiar with the other elements of the syllabus. On following a link a page will state that it is part of the syllabus if it is. Other links are supplied as resources for students that are interested in taking advantage of them, but if they are not specifically noted as part of the syllabus it is up to the student to pursue them or not. The purpose of this is to simplify the main page of the syllabus while supplying supplementary information as necessary or to enrich the experience of taking the course.
Student Outcomes. Students will be able to:
Demonstrate their knowledge of key arguments and issues in metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics in classical and contemporary contexts.
Demonstrate critical reasoning and communication skills by comprehending and evaluating philosophical arguments.
Demonstrate the ability to apply philosophical methodology by developing their own positions and arguments.
TEXTS: None required. All readings will be available via the Internet links below.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Course grades are based on:
Exams - 50% - nine essays showing an understanding of the materials covered in class
and the assigned readings in response to questions, each with a minimum of 300
words,
25%
of the grade will be based on a term
project.
Response
to quiz questions posed in each lecture -25%.
CLASS: Hours: Friday 6:30 P – 9:15 P ERHS
OFFICE: Humanities and Administration Building Room 277 by appointment. Here is my Current Schedule. Phone: 786-4458 (office) and 694-1023 (home). The best way to get a message to me is via e-mail. Please feel free to call my home phone. My web page is located at http://wsjamison.uaa.alaska.edu and my e-mail address is wsjamison@alaska.edu. All tests are take home essays that can be turned in using e-mail. This syllabus on my web site has links to the sources for the texts of the philosophers we will discuss. Some of the links include wonderful web pages on the various philosophers.
January17:
1: This lecture includes an introduction to the course and description of course requirements. We will discuss: the purpose of doing philosophy, the course readings as an "all you can eat buffet", and what the tests and quizzes will be like.
2: The Postmodern Condition.
3. Society in prehistory, mythology, water and civilization. The first philosophers, Thales and water.
January 24:
1. The Apology. Try comparing the text with my version: what was Socrates' message to us? A major part of this topic will be Socrates, his life and mission. To read about Alcibiades check Plutarch. His relationship with Socrates is very interesting.
2. The Meno. Plato's Republic -- highlights. The topic of this lecture will be Plato and Idealism. Plato and his theories of knowledge and justice.
January 31:
1. Aristotle, his life and work. Be prepared to discuss Realism.
2. Aristotle's Ethics and Politics. Be prepared to discuss Ethics - moderation and the good life.
February 7:
1 This lecture topic is Greek thought after Aristotle. Be prepared to discuss Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and Plotinus.
2. The topic of this lecture will be Jesus, Paul and Christianity.
February 14:
1. Augustine: Relation of Philosophy and Faith.
2. Augustine and Church dogma.
February 21: First exam is due.
1. Anselm as an example of the early Medievalists.
2. This lecture focuses on later Medieval Philosophy, the rise and problems of Aristotelianism
February 28:
1.Thomas Aquinas and the dogmatic solution..
March 7:
1. Descartes "I think..." This is the start of Rationalism.
2. Hobbes "Dog eat dog world" British Empiricism versus European Rationalism.
March 13: No class - Spring Break
March 20:
1. Spinoza - This lecture looks at the arguments that lead to Pantheism.
2. Locke, Democracy - Jefferson . Tabula Raza, primary and secondary qualities will be the first focus for this lecture.
March 27:
1. This lecture will focus on Leibniz - Monadology "Best of all possible worlds." You may also be interested in Anne Conway and the ideas she gave to Leibniz. Stephen Hawking - What's a Quark?
2. Berkeley - Idealism This lecture topic is Bishop Berkeley's arguments against the concept of material substance. To be is to be perceived - if a tree falls... All in the mind of God.
April 3:
1. Hume - Skeptic of skeptics. This lecture covers David Hume's empirical argument against metaphysics. Who am I? Communitarian Ethics.
2. Kant - This lecture looks at Kant's answer to Hume concerning the a priori. Can Rationalism and Empiricism be partners? Duty and the categorical imperative.
April 10: Second exam is due.
1. Hegel - This lecture discusses Hegel's view of the World Spirit and Self-consciousness - We are as we see others see us. The dialectic and spirit - Absolute Spirit.
2. Mill - This lecture discusses Utilitarianism.
April 17:
1. Kierkegaard - This lecture discusses an individual spirit in crises. Sartre and "No Exit."
2. Marx - This lecture discusses the arguments for Dialectical Materialism and Communism. Reactions to Hegel.
April 24:1. Nietzsche and the Superman. This lecture looks at Nietzsche's claim that God is dead.
2. American Pragmatism, Peirce. James and the psychology of pragmatism.
May 1:
1. Dewey, and the Activity School. This lecture looks at the new teaching methods and the religion of Democracy. Third exam is due. Term Papers due.
This syllabus may be adjusted at any time to meet the class or instructor’s requirements upon one week’s notice to students.