1 PHIL 1000 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY University of New Orleans Spring 2013 | T/TH 11:00-12:15 | Room: Liberal Arts Bldg

g 120 Chris W. Surprenant Office: Liberal Arts Bldg 387 Office Hours: M:3:00-5:00pm , T/TH: 12:15 1:15pm ; and by appointment csurpren@uno.edu Course Description An introductory study of basic philosophical concepts and problems. This course is an introduction to the study of philosophy, the nature of philosophical problems, and the central ideas and thinkers in the history of philosophy. Some of the issues to be examined include: What is knowledge? How is knowledge acquired? What can we know and what do we know? Does God exist? What is the connection between faith and reason? Is there such a thing as morality? If so, what does it mean to be moral? A primary objective of this class will be learning how to read and analyze philosophical arguments and texts. Learning Outcomes This course addresses the following learning outcomes: 1. Students will learn the theories central to philosophy and how these theories can be applied to contemporary problems. 2. Students will deepen their ability to work with philosophical concepts and methods, and to construct and evaluate arguments. 3. Students will participate in classroom discussion, developing and displaying an ability and readiness to defend ones own point of view while listening openly but carefully to others. 4. Students will demonstrate a willingness to entertain criticism, formulate and reply to reasonable objections, and represent opposing views both critically and sympathetically. 5. Students will be able to read both primary and secondary texts and analyze the arguments contained in them correctly. Course Policies Attendance Attendance is expected at all class meetings. Attendance is taken via the daily response paper assignment. No late papers will be accepted and you cannot submit your paper if you are not in class. Failing to submit a daily response paper will count as an absence. You may miss up to two classes (and not submit the two corresponding response papers) without penalty. For each class missed beyond the second, youll lose 2% off your final grade (i.e., 2% of the 10%). The cap is 10%, or one, full letter grade. Computers, phones, and similar devices are not allowed in class. If you are on one of

Electronics

2 these devices (e.g., texting) and I see you (and, believe me, I will see you), I will stop class and we will have a phone quiz. Phone quizzes will consist of one, short answer question, graded on a 4-point scale. Everyone who takes the quiz will score at least 1 out of 4 points. Students not present will be exempt (since they are already being penalized with the absence policy). The person who was on his/her phone will not be allowed to take the quiz and will receive a 0. Quizzes will count towards each students 10% grade in this section. Disability It is university policy to provide, on a flexible and individualized basis, reasonable accommodations to students who have disabilities that may affect their ability to participate in course activities or to meet course requirements. Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact their instructors to discuss their individual needs for accommodations. If you have any questions, contact the Office of Disability Services at UC 260, (504) 280-6222 (voice). Academic dishonesty undermines the academic enterprise and includes, but is not limited to, the following: cheating, plagiarizing, tampering with academic records or exams, falsifying identity, and being an accessory to acts of academic dishonesty. If you are foolish enough to do one of these things, youll be caught, expelled from the course with a failing grade, and I will pursue further penalties available to me. Dont do it.

Academic Honesty

Grading All assignments are graded on a 4.0 grade scale: A = 4.0, A- = 3.67, B+ = 3.33, B = 3.0, etc. In accordance with UNO policy, all final grades are whole letter grades (A, B, C, D, or F). In calculating final grades, numerical averages will correspond with the following letter grades: A = 3.5 and above, B = 2.5 to 3.49, C = 1.5 to 2.49, D = 0.5 to 1.49, and F = below 0.5. Midterm Exam (30%) The midterm exam will be held in-class on Tuesday, March 7. The format of the exam will be discussed in class. The midterm will be open book, open notes. You are not allowed to have your computer or use any electronic devices during the exam. Sharing of notes during the exam is not allowed. Exams are graded blind. The grading procedure will be discussed in-class. Final Exam (60%) The final exam will be held on Thursday, May 9 from 12:30-2:30pm. The format of the final exam and the rules governing it will be the same as the midterm. Response Papers, Quizzes, Participation, and Attendance (10%) Attendance and intelligent participation at all class meetings is expected. For each class, you must write a response paper that is due (typed or hand-written) at the beginning of class (~250 words). Response papers should address (1) what is the most important point raised in the reading and (2) why do you think that point is important? Grading will be done according to the following scale: (credit) or 0 (no credit). If you submit a response containing significant grammatical, syntactical, spelling, or usage errors, or is otherwise poorly written, you will receive no credit. Finally, your final grade may be raised by no more than a full letter based on intelligent and thoughtful class participation throughout the semester and noticeable improvement in the quality of your written work.

Bonus (possible +1/3rd of a letter grade and reduction of absences, see below) The primary reason for attending college is to begin the process of becoming a scholar by reflecting on complicated questions related to the human experience. To this end, you will receive a bonus of 1/3rd of a letter (0.33 numerical) grade added to your final grade (e.g., from a B to a B+) for attending scholarly lectures sponsored by the Philosophy Department of my Alexis de Tocqueville Project on Democratic Ideals and Institutions. To receive this bonus, you must attend at least 3 lectures during the semester. Further, for each of these talks you attend, I will reduce your course absences by 1. A schedule for this semesters talks has been included on the back of this syllabus. Required Text Pojman, Introduction to Philosophy: Classical and Contemporary Readings, 4th. ISBN: 9780195311617 Course Schedule Reading is due for the date listed. Jan 15 Allen Bloom, Introduction to The Closing of the American Mind (on electronic reserve) Jan 17 Pojman and Fieser, What is Philosophy? (pp. 1-10) Bertrand Russell / The Value of Philosophy (pp. 25-30) Jan 22 Sextus Empiricus / Skepticism and Tranquility (pp. 42-47) Jan 24 Rene Descartes, Meditation I and Meditation II (pp. 49-56) Jan 29 John Locke / Knowledge Through Experience (pp. 80-88) Jan 31 George Berkeley / An Idealist Theory of Knowledge (pp. 89-111) Feb 5 David Hume / Experience and the Limits of Human Reason (112-126) Feb 7 Rene Descaretes, Meditation III (pp. 56-64) Feb 12 No Class Mardi Gras Break Feb 14 Anselm versus Guanilo / The Ontological Argument (pp. 205-208) Feb 19 Samuel Clarke and David Hume / The Causal Argument for God (pp. 185-187) Feb 21 William Paley / The Watch and the Watchmaker (pp. 196-198) and David Hume / A Critique of the Teleological Argument (pp. 199-204) Feb 26 A. Flew, R.M. Hare, and B. Mitchell / A Debate on the Rationality of Religious Belief (pp. 251-255) Feb 28 W.K. Clifford / The Ethics of Belief (pp. 259-263) Mar 5 Exam review. Mar 7 MIDTERM EXAM Mar 12 Louis Pojmam / Ethical Relativism versus Ethical Objectivism (pp. 519-528) Mar 14 J.L. Mackie / The Subjectivity of Values (pp. 529-539) Mar 19 Aristotle / Virtues (pp. 592-601) Mar 21 Mar 26 & 28 No Class Spring Break Apr 2 John Stuart Mill / Utilitarianism and Pleasure (pp. 611-616) Apr 4 Immanuel Kant / Duty and the Categorical Imperative (pp. 617-628) Apr 9 David Hume / Morality Not Derived from Reason (pp. 630-635) Apr 11 Thomas Nagle / Moral Luck (pp. 655-664) Apr 16 & 18 Reading TBD Apr 23 Galen Strawson / The Impossibility of Moral Responsibility (pp. 445-454) Apr 25 Michael Levin / A Compatibilist Defense of Moral Responsibility (pp. 455-466) Apr 30 Peter Singer, Famine, Affluence, and Morality (on electronic reserve)

4 May 2 Course Conclusion