PHIL 101: Great Western Philosophers

Syllabus for Spring 2017

T/R 2:00-3:15 in Gore 104

 

 

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

 

The syllabus can be found on the Sakai page for the course. Be sure to check your e-mail regularly for messages about the class.  This is especially important if we have weather issues.

 (Note that the notes on this web page may differ somewhat from the lectures and PowerPoint. You are responsible for what is on the Sakai page, not what is in these notes. If you have questions, feel free to ask.)

 

 

TEXT: Philosophy: History and Readings , Samuel Enoch Stumpf and James Fieser, eds. You can use either the 8^th or the 9^th Edition.

 

Page numbers preceded by 8: refer to the Eighth Edition.

 

Page numbers preceded by 9: refer to the newest, Ninth Edition. (The Ninth Edition includes summaries and study questions which you are not required to read, but which you might find helpful.)

 

 

Do the readings before class.  Note that the book is divided into a primary section about the philosophers under discussion, and a secondary section of material by the philosophers.  The page numbers start over at the beginning of the second section.

 

The class is being recorded on UD Capture so that you can find the PowerPoint and the audio for each class shortly after the class. The link is on the first page of the Sakai page for the course.  I will also post the Powerpoint slides on the Sakai page under “Resources” shortly after each lecture.  

REQUIREMENTS: Four multiple choice tests, one after each section, plus a grade for the daily class quizzes. The scores for these five elements will be weighted equally in figuring the final grade.  At the end of the semester I will add up the five scores and divide by five.  Numerical and letter equivalents are as follows: 93-100=A, 90-92=A-, 87-89=B+, 83-86=B, 80-82=B-, 77-79=C+, 73-76=C, 70-72=C-, 67-69=D+, 63-66=D, 55-62=D-, below 55 = F.

 

Multiple Choice Tests: Each of the four multiple choices tests will have 30 questions. I cannot alter the score you receive on the test, even if it is the result of clerical errors on your part. (I will make a sample cover sheet and a few sample questions available before the test.)

 

Quiz score: Over the course of the semester I will ask a number of clicker quizzes (probably about 40). At the end of the semester I will record the scores as if it were for a test of 30 questions. So if you get 37 right, that’s a 100, and if you get 30 right, that’s a 100, and if you get 29 right that’s a 97, etc.  I will not be allowing makeups for the clicker quizzes , since you can miss so many and still get a 100. The clicker quizzes might be on the assigned reading, on what we talked about in the previous class, or on what we talked about earlier in the same class. With a 100 being 30 out of  40 right, consider this an easy way to get an A on 1/5 of the course requirements. YOU WILL NEED TO HAVE A CLICKER AND TO REGISTER IT ON THE SAKAI PAGE FOR THIS COURSE. I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU CREDIT FOR A QUIZ EXCEPT THROUGH YOUR GETTING IT RIGHT IN CLASS. (So if, for example, your clicker isn’t working or you forget your clicker one day, I won’t be able to give you credit, even if you knew the answer. I will post the clicker scores a day or two after the class, so be sure to check to make sure your clicker is working.)

 

 

I. ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY

FEBRUARY

 

7          Introduction

 

9          The Pre-Socratics: 8: pp.3-19, 11-15 (from  Fragments); 9: pp.3-19, 5-9.

 

14        The Pre-Socratics continued: 8: pp.19-25, 15-16 (from Fragments); 9: pp.19-26, 9-10.

 

16        The Sophists and Socrates: 8: pp.26-40, pp.16-17 (from Fragments), pp. 32-37 (from Apology, just the beginning.); 9: pp.28-42, 10-11, 26-31.         

 

21        Plato: 8:pp. 41-67, pp. 60-66 (from the Republic); 9: pp.45-72, 54-60.

 

23        Plato continued

 

28        Aristotle: 8: pp.68-89 (You can skip the part on art.), pp.70-75 (from Physics, Metaphysics, and On the Soul); 9: pp.74-95, 64-69.

 

            MARCH

 

            2          No class. I have to be out of town.

 

            7          Aristotle continued:8: pp. 75-89 (from Nichomachean Ethics and Politics); 9: pp.69-83.

 

            9          TEST #1 (Tests include questions on all the material we have covered up to the test.)       

 

 

 

II. MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY

 

 

14        Introduction to God (no readings).

 

16        St. Augustine: 8: pp.114 – 129; 9:  pp.124-140.        

 

21        Augustine continued,:8: pp. 117-119 (from Of the Morals of the Catholic Church.); 9:pp. 111- 113.

 

            23      Brief note on Islamic and Jewish thought:8: pp.143-148; 9: pp.155-161:

St. Thomas Aquinas: 8: pp. 149-161, Proving God  pp.124-127 (from Summa Theologica. Note that AObjections@ are the views with which Aquinas disagrees!); 9: pp.163-175, 118-123.

 

 

SPRING BREAK

 

APRIL

 

4          Aquinas’ proofs for God continued. (no readings).

 

            6         Aquinas, Ethics and Law: 8:pp. 162- 168,  pp.129-133 (from Summa Theologica); 9: pp. 176-182, pp.123-127

 

            11        TEST #2        

 

III. MODERN PHILOSOPHY, PART I

 

 

             13         Descartes: 8: pp.204-215, pp.150-163 (from Meditations and The Passions of the Soul);

                          9: pp.222-233, 153-166.

             

            18        Locke's epistemology: 8: pp.229-236, 167-173 (from Essay concerning Human Understanding); 9: pp.249-256, 195-201 and Berkeley: 8: pp.239-244, 174 -183(from Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous); 9: pp.259-264, 202-211.

 

 

20        Hobbes and Locke on government: 8: pp.199-203, 236-239; 9: pp. 215-219, 256-259.

 

25        Hume: 8: pp.244-253, pp.183-196 (from Treatise of Human Nature); 9: pp.264-273, 211-224.

 

27        Hume continued: 8:  pp. 210-216 (from  Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion; 9:pp. 238-245  

 

MAY

 

2          Test #3