COURSE GUIDE FOR PHILOSOPHY 1

University of the Philippines Open University

First Term, AY 2013-2014

COURSE CODE AND TITLE

PHILO 1 Philosophical Analysis

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Application of basic concepts, skills, and principles drawn from the Philosophy of
Language, Symbolic Logic, Epistemology, Philosophy of Science, and Ethics

Greetings! Welcome to your Philosophy 1 class.

I wouldn’t at all be surprised if this is the first time you will be taking a philosophy
course in school. Unlike courses in mathematics, English and science, to which you
have been exposed to since primary education, very few students get the chance to
take a philosophy course in elementary and high schools as philosophy is seldom
included in our elementary and high school curricula. Thus, although you may have
heard of names of renowned philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle and may
have formed impressions on them and on what they do as philosophers, the question
as to whether you have created the wrong or the right notions may still be lingering in
your head. So, what really is philosophy? What is its value? What are its concerns?
Who do we call philosophers? Is this name only reserved for the great minds? What
does it mean to philosophize and when do we call a subject or an issue philosophical?
Our lesson will begin with topics that are directed towards answering these questions
as a way of introducing you to philosophy. You will be familiarized with seven of its
divisions (Metaphysics, Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Religion, Epistemology,
Philosophy of Art, Socio-Political Philosophy and Ethics) and with selected
philosophical issues in order to give you a clearer grasp of the nature and concerns of
philosophy.

The second part of the course will teach you valuable knowledge, concepts and
skills that can be drawn from different areas of philosophy such as philosophy of
language, epistemology, logic and ethics. These include the skill to analyze concepts,
the ability to determine the truth or falsity of statements, the aptitude to evaluate the
validity of arguments and the facility to analyze moral situations using selected ethical
theories. All these philosophical concepts and skills are deemed helpful in transforming
you into a “critical thinker,” which is the foremost goal of Philosophy 1.

COURSE GOALS:

Philosophy 1 aspires to familiarize you with the nature and concerns of

Page 1 of 13 Course Guide for Philosophy 1 - First Term, AY 2013-2014 Prof. Arlyn V. Pinpin-Macapinlac, FIC
philosophy and to enhance your appreciation for this field of study and for philosophy
as a mental activity. It also endeavors to make you realize that you are a thinking
being. As such, you have the ability to inquire, to understand, to closely listen and
critically examine ideas of others and of yourself and to reason and reflect on various
human concerns. The primary goal of the course is to arm you with philosophical skills
and tools that can help maximize these mental capacities and transform you into a
critical thinker. It seeks to develop your reasoning and analytical skills and your ability
to apply these to various problems and issues. These skills are vital not only to your life
as a student and as a professional but also to your growth as a person. These skills,
when properly cultivated and applied, can help bring you closer to living a more
reflective and more meaningful life.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the course you should be able to:

1. articulate the nature and value of philosophy

2. identify divisions of philosophy and their concerns
3. recognize and discuss selected philosophical issues
4. understand, discuss and apply concepts and skills drawn from different areas
of philosophy such as philosophy of language, epistemology, logic and ethics
to various problems and issues
5. instill in yourself a sense of critical inquiry
6. enhance your appreciation for philosophy as a mental activity

COURSE MATERIALS

Upon enrolment, you will receive the following materials:

1. this Course Guide

2. the seventh edition of Prof. Andresito E. Acuna’s Philosophical Analysis
3. photocopy of my lecture on “Rationalism and Empiricism”

(Note: Please watch out for additional reading materials that I will
upload at our course site)

COURSE OUTLINE
PART I: INTRODUCTION
A. What is Philosophy

Page 2 of 13 Course Guide for Philosophy 1 - First Term, AY 2013-2014 Prof. Arlyn V. Pinpin-Macapinlac, FIC
 B. The Nature of Philosophy
C. The Value of Philosophy
D. Divisions of Philosophy
E. Sample Philosophical Problems
PART II: PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS
A. PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE/EPISTEMOLOGY
1. ANALYSIS OF CONCEPTS
a. Words and Concepts
b. Problem of Meaning
(1) Referential Theory of Meaning (Bertrand Russell)
(2) Use Theory of Meaning (Ludwig Wittgenstein)
c. Intension and Extension of Concepts
d. Ambiguous and Vague Concepts
e. Types of Concepts
f. Definitions
2. ANALYSIS OF STATEMENTS
a. Sentences and Statements
b. Three Laws of Thought
c. Ambiguous and Vague Statements
d. Rationalism and Empiricism
e. Epistemological Types of Knowledge Claims
f. Method of Validation
B. LOGIC
1. Sentences, Representations and Truth Values
a. Kinds of Statements
b. The Logical Connectives Used
c. Classification of Compound Statements
d. Representing Statements
e. Truth Tables
2. Formal Reasoning
a. Basic Structure of Arguments
b. Representation of Arguments
c. Testing Validity of Arguments Using the Truth Table Method
d. Five Basic Deductive Argument Forms
(modus ponens, modus tollens, hypothetical syllogism, fallacy of
affirming the consequent and fallacy of denying the antecedent)
3. Informal Reasoning
a. The Subject Matter of Informal Logic
b. Informal Fallacies

Page 3 of 13 Course Guide for Philosophy 1 - First Term, AY 2013-2014 Prof. Arlyn V. Pinpin-Macapinlac, FIC
 C. ETHICS
ANALYSIS OF ETHICAL SYSTEMS
1. The Subject Matter of Ethics
2. Types of Ethical Theory
3. John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarian Ethics
4. Immanuel Kant’s Duty Ethics

D. PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS OF SELECTED CONTEMPORARY ISSUES

(Group Paper)

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING

You will be evaluated based on your performance on the following course

requirements:

1. Midterm (25%) and Final Examinations (25%) 50 %

2. Group Philosophical Paper (GPP) 20%
3. Participation in online discussion (DB) 15%
4. Assignment 15%
____
100%
As a student of this class, you are expected to:

1. post an answer to the discussion board question about a selected

philosophical topic. In the forum, you are not only expected to post an
answer to my philosophical question but you must also be ready to respond
to the reactions of your classmates as you are also enjoined to react and
critically examine the ideas presented by at least one classmate. Thus, you
must post at least 3 messages on the topic:

(a) your response to my question;

(b) your reactions or insights on the presented ideas of at least one
classmate; and
(c) your response to at least one reaction of your classmate to defend or
clarify your point.

In case letter c cannot be accomplished because no one reacted on your

post, you can add another reaction/insight on the presented ideas of your
other classmates to replace letter c.

Please take note also that it is alright to change your position or your take
on the issue if after a careful scrutiny of your very own thoughts, you find
very good reasons to abandon your original position and embrace a new
stand. In other words, it is healthy to change your mind provided that you

Page 4 of 13 Course Guide for Philosophy 1 - First Term, AY 2013-2014 Prof. Arlyn V. Pinpin-Macapinlac, FIC
 have very good reasons for doing so. Your reason, in case you decide to
change your position, must be well-explained.

Please be reminded also that since interactions will be done on-line, a

reliable internet access is a must.

2. thoroughly read all the assigned readings and handouts. In addition, you are
highly encouraged to answer the module exercises in assigned portions of
Philosophical Analysis. After completing your answers to the exercises,
check them against the provided answer key to monitor how well you
grasped the lessons.

3. produce a well-thought of answer to the assignment and turn it in on the

announced submission schedule. (**Take note that all the deadlines set are
non-negotiable).

4. earn a passing mark (60%) in the midterm and final examinations.

Below is the equivalent grade of your raw scores:

RAW SCORES EQUIVALENT GRADE

98-100 1.0 Excellent
95-97 1.25
90-94 1.5 Very Good
85-89 1.75
80-84 2.0 Good
75-79 2.25
70-74 2.5 Satisfactory
65-69 2.75
60-64 3.0 Pass
55-59 4.0 Conditional
0-54 5.0 Fail

5. collaborate with your groupmates on how your group project can

demonstrate your (1) good grasp of pertinent philosophical concepts and
skills and (2) ability to correctly apply them to the given issue. You must
strive to produce a good philosophical paper on the topic that will be
assigned to your group.

6. strictly follow the announced submission schedules.

STUDY SCHEDULE

Page 5 of 13 Course Guide for Philosophy 1 - First Term, AY 2013-2014 Prof. Arlyn V. Pinpin-Macapinlac, FIC
 Below is the study plan for the course. Please be guided accordingly.

STUDY ACTIVITIES
TOPICS READINGS SCHEDULE (Deadlines)
PART I: INTRODUCTION
A. What is Philosophy “Philosophy” by Sprague and May 4- May 17
Taylor (2 weeks)
“What is Philosophy” part 1 of
my Rationalism-Empiricism
lecture
B. The Nature of Philosophy “The Nature of Philosophy” by
Mourant and Freund
C. The Value of Philosophy “The Value of Philosophy” by
Bertrand Russell
D. Divisions of Philosophy “The Nature of Philosophy” by DB:
Mourant and Freund May 18 –June 14
(4 weeks)
GP: June 15-21
E. Sample Philosophical Problems
PART II: PHILOSOPHICAL
ANALYSIS
A. PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE/
EPISTEMOLOGY
May 18- 31
1. ANALYSIS OF CONCEPTS (2 weeks)
a. Words and Concepts - Unit I: Module 1 of Assignment:
Philosophical Analysis, 4th ed June 7- July 5
(PA) (4 weeks)
- Unit I: Module 1 of
Philosophical Analysis, 7th ed
(PA*)
b. Problem of Meaning
(1) Referential Theory of Meaning (B.Russell) -Unit I:Modules2-4of PA
(2) Use Theory of Meaning (L. Wittgenstein) -Unit I: Module 3 of PA*
c. Intension and Extension of Concepts -Unit I: Module 2 of PA*
d. Ambiguous and Vague Concepts - Unit I: Modules 3 & 5 of PA*
e. Types of Concepts -Unit I: Module 4 of PA*
f. Definitions (Types of Definition, Rules Unit I: Module 6 & 7 of PA*
in Composing Good Definitions)
June 1-June 7
2. ANALYSIS OF STATEMENTS (1 week)
a. Sentences and Statements - Unit II: Modules 1-5 of PA*
b. Three Laws of Thought - part 2 of my Rationalism and
c. Ambiguous and Vague Statements Empiricism lecture
d. Rationalism and Empiricism
e. Epistemological Types of Knowledge
Claims
f. Method of Validation

MIDTERM EXAMINATION JUNE 15 Midterm Exam:

June 15
STUDY ACTIVITIES
TOPICS READINGS SCHEDULE (Deadlines)
B. LOGIC
1. SENTENCES, June 8-June 28
REPRESENTATIONS AND (3 weeks)

Page 6 of 13 Course Guide for Philosophy 1 - First Term, AY 2013-2014 Prof. Arlyn V. Pinpin-Macapinlac, FIC
 TRUTH VALUES
a. Kinds of Statements - Unit III: Modules 1-3 of PA*
b. The Logical Connectives Used - Copi and Cohen’s
c. Classification of Compound Introduction to Logic
Statements
d. Representing Statements
e. Truth Tables
2. FORMAL REASONING
a. Basic Structure of Arguments - Unit III: Modules 4-7 of PA*
b. Representation of Arguments - Copi and Cohen’s
c. Testing Validity of Arguments Introduction to Logic
Using the Truth Table Method
d. Five Basic Argument Forms
3. INFORMAL REASONING
a. The Subject Matter of Informal Unit IV: Modules 1-5 of PA*
Logic Copi and Cohen’s Introduction
b. Informal Fallacies to Logic

C. ETHICS
ANALYSIS OF ETHICAL SYSTEMS June 29-July 12
(2 weeks)
a. The Subject Matter of Ethics - Unit V: Modules 1-4 of PA*
b. Types of Ethical Theory - “What Utilitarianism Is” by
c. John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarian Ethics John Stuart Mill
d. Immanuel Kant’s Duty Ethics - “Groundwork of the
Metaphysics of Morals” by
Immanuel Kant

D. PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS OF July 13- July 26 Submission of

SELECTED CONTEMPORARY (2 weeks) Group
ISSUES Philosophical
Paper: July 20-26
FINAL EXAMINATION JULY 27 Final Exam:
July 27

ACTIVITIES/ASSIGNMENTS

Carefully read and follow the general guidelines for your DB Postings (Forum),
Assignment, and Group Philosophical Paper (GPP). GPP, Assignment and DB
topics/questions will be announced later at our course site.

GUIDELINES FOR PARTICIPATING IN ONLINE DISCUSSION (DB)

1. Read the question carefully before posting your answers.

2. Make sure to follow the given instructions.

3. Keep the discussion within the confines of the specified topic.

4. There must only be one thread per question per group. This means that all the
members of the group must follow the thread started by their groupmate who first
posted an answer to the given question. Take note that I will not read and grade the
answers that are posted outside the original thread.

Page 7 of 13 Course Guide for Philosophy 1 - First Term, AY 2013-2014 Prof. Arlyn V. Pinpin-Macapinlac, FIC
5. Post at least 3 messages: (1) your response to my question; (2) your reactions or
insights on the presented ideas of at least one groupmate; and (3) your response to
at least one reaction of your groupmate to defend or clarify your point. Reactions
(whether it is an expression of approval or disapproval) must be clearly explained
and must be well-supported.

In case number 3 cannot be accomplished because no one reacted to your post,

you can add another reaction/insight on the presented ideas of your other
classmates to replace # 3.

6. Take note that there are no right and wrong opinions; there are only more
intelligible and well-supported opinions. Always endeavor to present clear and well-
substantiated ideas.

7. Keep an open mind and a respectful attitude towards the other members of your
group.

8. Your active participation in the forum, the clarity of your presented points and the
strength of your justifications, as well as the observance of proper decorum, will be
the criteria for the determination of your DB grade.

9. Please be reminded also that since interactions will be done online, a reliable
internet access is a must.

10. You will be given one more week after the specified period of posting to register
your reactions (just your reactions) if you are unable to do so on the date indicated.

11. The indicated schedule for posting will be observed strictly. Take note that answers
or reactions beyond this specified period will not merit points.

DB : Topic/Question: to be announced later on the course site

Period of Posting: May 18- June 14 (4 weeks)

Grace Period for Posting Reactions:
June 15-21

GUIDELINES FOR ANSWERING ASSIGNMENT

1. Carefully read and follow the instructions.

2. Upload your assignment on the Assignment bin that will appear at our course
site.

Page 8 of 13 Course Guide for Philosophy 1 - First Term, AY 2013-2014 Prof. Arlyn V. Pinpin-Macapinlac, FIC
 3. Your assignment must be an MS Word document with file name
Assignment_yourfullname.doc

4. Make sure to write the following information on the first page of your answer to
your assignment:

Complete name of student: Juan dela Cruz Subject: Philosophy 1

Assignment topic: On Philosophical Issue X Date submitted: July 5, 2013

5. The following will be the main criteria for the determination of your Assignment
grade:

Correctness
Consistency, coherence and clarity of presented ideas
Strength of justifications
Depth of reflections/insights

6. Please watch out for the online announcement of the topic/question for your
Assignment.

7. Strictly follow the submission schedule. The deadline is non-negotiable.

Assignment: topic will be announced later at the course site

Schedule of Submission: June 7- July 5 (4 weeks)

8. Take note that the deadline for the submission of Assignment is July 5, 2013,
11:55 pm. This means that the submission bin will close at exactly 11:55 pm of
July 5, 2013.

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING YOUR GROUP PHILOSOPHICAL PAPER (GPP)

1. Carefully read and follow the instructions.

2. The topic of your group paper will be announced later.

3. Your group must elect/designate your group leader who will be responsible for
mobilizing the members of your group to accomplish your assigned task. Watch
out for the forum that I will be creating especially for this purpose.

4. Take note that you are not allowed to utilize the forum at our course site to
discuss your group stand and arguments for your group paper. Your exchanges
in the forum can also be read by other members of our class who do not belong
to your group. Please find other ways how you can accomplish your tasks like

Page 9 of 13 Course Guide for Philosophy 1 - First Term, AY 2013-2014 Prof. Arlyn V. Pinpin-Macapinlac, FIC
 creating an e-group for this group project, using ym, skype or whatever it is that
you think can help you.

5. Your group paper should contain the following:

On the first page:

Subject: Philosophy 1
Group Name: Socrates Group
Group Project: Topic X (to be announced later)

Date Submitted: July 26, 2013

Group Leader: Juan de la Cruz
Group Members:

Note: Write only the names [complete names] of your groupmates who
contributed in the writing of your group paper. Students whose names
will not appear in the list will automatically get a grade of 5.0 for this
requirement. If you contributed, make sure to double-check if your name
is in the list before your group paper is submitted to me. The list that
appears on the group paper will be incontestable once it is
submitted.

On the paper proper:

I. Analysis of the Morality of issue X using the basic tenets of

Utilitarian and Duty Ethics

Your group paper must be able to answer the following guide

questions:

A. John Stuart Mill on issue X

1. What are the basic tenets of J.S. Mill’s Utilitarian Ethics?
Clearly discuss.**
2. How would you apply the basic principles of Utilitarian
Ethics to analyze the morality of X?
3. Is X morally justifiable in Utilitarian Ethics?
B. Immanuel Kant on issue X
1. What are the basic tenets of Kant’s Duty Ethics?**
2. How would you apply the basic tenets of Kant’s Duty Ethics
to analyze the morality of X?
3. Is X morally justifiable in Duty Ethics?
II. Insights (Write your group’s insights/reflections/realizations on this
group project)

Page 10 of 13 Course Guide for Philosophy 1 - First Term, AY 2013-2014 Prof. Arlyn V. Pinpin-Macapinlac, FIC
 III. References
Make sure to properly document your paper.
(** Please feel free to use other references in addition to Acuna’s
Philosophical Analysis to answer items I-A-1 and I-B-1).

6. Once the paper is done, the group leader must upload on or before the deadline
the final output of his group on the Group Paper submission bin that will
appear on our course site.
7. The soft copy of your group project must be an MS Word document with file
name GroupPaper_byyourgroupname.doc
8. The following will be the criteria for grading your group project:

a. Organization ( Consistency, coherence and clarity of presented ideas)

b. Aptness of ethical principles/concepts applied

c. Strength of Arguments
d. Depth of philosophical reflections/insights

9. Strictly follow the submission schedule. The deadline is non-negotiable. :

GPP: Topic will be announced later at the course site

Schedule of Submission: July 20-26, 2013.

10. Please take note that the deadline for the submission of GPP is on July 26,
11:55 pm. This means that the submission bin will close at exactly 11:55 p.m. of
July 26.

PHILO 1 EXAMINATIONS

1. Examinations will be taken in a face-to-face (proctored) setting at the UPOU

Learning Center (LC) or Testing Center. Your LC coordinator will set the time
and specific venue of the exam.

2. For students who are based abroad, the arrangements will be made by UPOU’s
Virtual Learning Center (offshore@upou.edu.ph).

3. The course requires 2 examinations that constitute 50% of your final Philosophy
1 grade.

a. MIDTERM EXAM (25%)

DATE: June 15, 2013, Saturday

Page 11 of 13 Course Guide for Philosophy 1 - First Term, AY 2013-2014 Prof. Arlyn V. Pinpin-Macapinlac, FIC
 VENUE AND TIME: please check these with your respective learning
centers
COVERAGE: Introduction - Analysis of Statements (a-f)
TYPE OF EXAM: To be announced later

b. FINAL EXAM (25%)

DATE: July 27, 2013, Saturday
VENUE AND TIME: please check these with your respective learning
centers
COVERAGE: Logic - Ethics
TYPE OF EXAM: To be announced later

HOUSE RULES

1. Carefully read and strictly follow all the given guidelines/instructions.

2. Make sure that the name that you will use at our course site and in the other course
requirements that you will submit is the name you used for registering at UPOU.
This corresponds to your MyPortal account name as provided by UPOU’s
techsupport team.

3. Upload a “recent photo" of yourself (not a picture of your pet, family, friends, a
cartoon character, et cet.) to your profile.

4. You must strictly adhere to the announced submission schedules. Failure to submit
a requirement on the indicated date means a 0 or a 5.0 for that missed requirement.
This is non-negotiable.

5. In connection with house rule #4, I suggest that you officially drop the course if it is
very obvious that your failure to submit requirements as scheduled will only result in
obtaining a failing mark in the course. A mark of “DRP” is better than getting a final
grade of “5.0.” I suggest the same thing (that you officially drop the course) if you
are officially enrolled in this class but for whatever reason decide not to participate
in any of our class activities.

6. Observe netiquette in our online discussions.

7. UP students must at all times pursue academic excellence and uphold intellectual
integrity. I will not tolerate any form of intellectual dishonesty. I will strictly enforce
and uphold the rules of the university regarding this matter. Remember that you can
be expelled from the university if you are found guilty of cheating, of claiming the
work of someone as your own, or of any other kind of intellectual dishonesty.

8. Regularly check our course site for important announcements.

9. Feel free to contact me via Myportal if you have concerns about the class but give

Page 12 of 13 Course Guide for Philosophy 1 - First Term, AY 2013-2014 Prof. Arlyn V. Pinpin-Macapinlac, FIC
 me 2-3 days to respond to your mail. Do not expect me to be on-line 24/7.

YOUR FIC

I am Arlyn V. Pinpin-Macapinlac, an affiliate faculty of the UP Open University since

2009 and a regular faculty member of the Department of Philosophy, University of the
Philippines Diliman. I have been teaching philosophy courses since 1993 (in UPLB
from June 1993- May 2012; and in UP Diliman from June 2012-present). I earned my
BA degree in Communication Arts in UPLB and finished MA Philosophy in UP Diliman.
To date, I have already completed my course work in the PhD in Philosophy program of
Ateneo de Manila University.

Page 13 of 13 Course Guide for Philosophy 1 - First Term, AY 2013-2014 Prof. Arlyn V. Pinpin-Macapinlac, FIC