phil102_2015s

Introduction to Philosophy (PHIL 102)

Description | Schedule

Study Helps & Philosophy Links

Spring 2015

MWF 9:10-10:10

John R. Howard Hall 115

Email: fritzman@lclark.edu

Class email: 15sp-phil-102-01@lclark.edu

Phone: 503-768-7477

Office: Howard 223

Hours: MW 10:30-12:30, MW 3:00-4:30, and by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION

René Char: "Develop your legitimate strangeness."

John Dewey: "Philosophy, then, is a generalized theory of criticism. Its ultimate value for life-experience is that it continuously provides instruments for the criticism of those values -- whether of beliefs, institutions, actions or products -- that are found in all aspects of experience."

Rosa Luxemburg: "Freedom is always freedom for the one who thinks differently."

Brian Massumi: "A concept is a brick. It can be used to build the courthouse of reason. Or it can be thrown through the window."

Hilary Putnam: "Any philosophy that can be put in a nutshell belongs in one."

Bertrand Russell: "Philosophy is to be studied, not for the sake of any definite answers to its questions, since no definite answers can, as a rule, be known to be true, but rather for the sake of the questions themselves; because these questions enlarge our conception of what is possible, enrich our intellectual imagination, and diminish the dogmatic assurance which closes the mind against speculation; but above all because, through the greatness of the universe which philosophy contemplates, the mind also is rendered great, and becomes capable of that union with the universe which constitutes its highest good."

Ludwig Wittgenstein: "Working in philosophy -- like work in architecture in many respects -- is really more a working on oneself. On one's interpretation. On one's way of seeing things. (And what one expects of them)."

As the course title indicates, this is an introduction to philosophy. There is one required text in this course:

Introduction to Philosophy: Classical and Contemporary Readings, Fifth Edition,

edited by John Perry, Michael Bratman, and John Martin Fischer.

Wiley-Blackwell, 2009, Paperback

ISBN-10: 0195390369

ISBN-13: 978-0195390360

New: Starting at $34.94

Used: Starting at $6.99

Introduction to Philosophy is available through the College Bookstore, Amazon.com, or Barnes & Noble.

There are also learning outcomes for students who graduate with a major in Philosophy.

In preparation for each class meeting, you should have read the assigned material. You should arrive in class with prepared questions or comments about something in the assigned reading.

In addition to learning about philosophy, a major goal of this course is to cultivate intellectual abilities which have general application. This course aims to provide the resources which will enable you to develop intellectual survival skills, question what passes as common knowledge and accepted wisdom, evaluate your own and others' positions, and formulate new ideas. Such skills consist in the ability to summarize the assigned material, and to write pieces in which ideas and arguments are articulated, criticized, defended. Such skills also involve developing the ability to think critically about the views of ourselves and others. Critical thinking consists in understanding several sides of a debate, and seeing both the advantages and limitations of an opinion. Learning to question your opinions is as crucial as arguing for them. If you only learn to give reasons for opinions already held, you merely are giving rationalizations for prejudices. You need to learn to think for yourself, developing, defending, and criticizing your beliefs.

In this connection, I am especially concerned that you develop the ability to discuss issues cogently and to write intelligent, reflective pieces in clear, grammatical English. It is important that you learn to think, in a disciplined way, about the books and issues they raise. Part of that discipline consists in being able to analyze, evaluate, and formulate arguments. This involves knowing how to identify basic assumptions, develop a line of reasoning, recognize the steps that lead to a conclusion, and determine whether an argument is sound. In this way, hopefully, you will develop intellectual curiosity and the competencies to reason logically, evaluate critically, communicate effectively, imagine creatively, and appreciate aesthetic and creative expressions of humanity.

You are encouraged to share your questions and observations with the rest of the class, and to engage critically with the material, myself, and each other. By participating in class discussions, you will encounter directly differing interpretations of the material, become aware of the history of these views, and be encouraged to develop your own critical perspectives. In interacting with the material and each other, you will acquire a knowledge and appreciation of self, society, human cultures, and the natural world. I intend that you discover what has been written and said concerning, in the words of Socrates, "the most important things" -- questions about human character and the conduct of life. Such skills will enable you to succeed in subsequent courses and in endeavors outside of the classroom. Those abilities also will contribute to your development as educated citizens in a democratic society.

Each student will write a précis for almost every reading assignment, complete various research exercises that teach research skills, and write and present in class one assessment on a specific reading assignment. There also will be one argumentative research paper (which includes a prospectus, an outline, a draft, and a mandatory rewrite). And a class presentation of the argumentative research paper on the Final Exam Day.

The précis, research exercises, and class participation will be weighted together and will count for 20% of your final grade. The assessment will count for 20% of your final grade. The prospectus will count for 5%, the outline will count for 10%, the draft will count for 15%, and the argumentative research paper will count for 25% of your final grade. The presentation will count for 5% of your final grade. The grading scale is as follows:

A = 93%-100%

A- = 90%-92%

B+ = 86%-89%

B = 83% 85%

B- = 80%-82%

C+ = 76%-79%

C = 73%-75%

C- = 70%-72%

D+ = 66%-69%

D = 60%-65%

F = 0%-59%.

A précis will be due almost every class session. Each précis will be one typed page -- never longer -- double-spaced, with 1 inch margins on the right & left sides and the top & bottom. It must be at least 3/4 of a page in length. Use a 12-point Times or Times Roman font. There will be no spelling or grammatical errors in your précis. Your name will be typed in the upper right-hand corner. In each précis, you will summarize -- in your own words, without using any quotes -- the assigned reading's mainclaims, as well as the reasons which are given to support those claims. You will not include any opinion, evaluation, or commentary. At the bottom of each précis, or on the back, you will write one question that you have about the reading. This question must written prior to, not during, class. I never will accept a late précis, but I will allow you to drop one.

An assessment should be approximately 1500 words, typed, double-spaced. Except for the length, the assessment should follow the same format requirement as the précis. You will sign up for a dates on which you will present your assessments. On the day you present, you will distribute copies to all of the persons in this class. This will require, of course, that you have enough copies made so that each member of the class has one. You first will read your assessment, and then you and I will serve as the main resource persons for fielding questions concerning the material. Since the class discussion will be centered around the assessment, it is crucial that you distribute the assessment the class session when you present it, and that you actually be in class to read your assessment.

The primary purpose of the assessment is to summarize, consolidate, and explicate the central issues, main points, and key motifs of the assigned reading in order to facilitate class discussion of the material. It is important that the assessment contextualize the reading by describing briefly both how the reading is a continuation and development of material which has come before, and how it contributes to the overall trajectory of the thinker's thought.

It is crucial that you critically engage the reading. You might argue that a claim that the author makes is incorrect, for example, or that a criticism in the secondary literature is incorrect. Alternatively, you might argue that an interpretation advanced in the secondary literature is incorrect. The assessment should reflect an acquaintance with the requisite secondary literature. This means that you must incorporate at least three secondary sources you consulted while writing your assessment.

A student presenting an assessment will not submit a précis of that material too.

The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, the Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, and Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy will be useful.

The Philosopher's Index will be vital for the Assessment and Argumentative Research Paper.

The Chicago Manual of Style's Citation Quick Guide is online.

There will be an argumentative research paper, 2000 words, typed, double-spaced. It will be on the same topic as your assessment.

You're welcome to consult the Writing Center, located on the main floor of Watzek Library.

Also useful is the Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University.

If you would find it useful to create concept maps, to help write your assessment or argumentative research papers, you can download the software to create them from IHMC Cmap Tools.

All work must be submitted when it is due. Late work -- précis, assessments, papers -- will not be accepted and will receive no credit.

This class will be successful only if there is a high degree of participation and attendance, and so I want you in class participating. The final grade for the course will be lowered by a full-letter grade if you miss four class sessions, the final grade will be lowered by two full-letter grades if you miss five class sessions, and you will be withdrawn from the course if you miss six or more class sessions. I will not accept make-up work unless you can document the reason for your absence. Documenting the reason for your absence means providing a note from, for example, your doctor explaining why you were absent. Serious illnesses and emergencies will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

Throughout the course you are expected to read carefully the assigned material. It is impossible to do well in this course without reading and studying the books. You should spend a minimum of three hours preparing for each class session. Read the assigned material at least twice and take notes on what you read. You are expected to attend all class sessions, come to class having read thoroughly the assigned material, and to contribute to the discussions.

Gorgias of Leontini maintained that "those who neglect philosophy and spend their time on ordinary studies are like the suitors who desired Penelope but slept with her maids." In philosophy, unlike ordinary studies, there are few right and wrong answers. There are better and worse arguments and ideas, however, usually in direct proportion to thoughtfulness and care. What is important is that you think for yourself, and that you develop and defend your own ideas. It would be an excellent idea to write drafts or outlines of your précis and papers, and to have a comrade read them to check on spelling, grammar, development of arguments, and so forth.

You are strongly encouraged to discuss the class material, your ideas, your puzzles and difficulties with each other. A word to the wise: Find a study partner to discuss things with outside of class. (To see why this is effective for creativity and learning, read Malcolm Gladwell's article, Group Think: What Does "Saturday Night Live" Have in Common with German Philosophy?, The New Yorker, 2 December 2002, pages 102-107).

There's a Bollwood tune for every occasion. Click here.

When it comes to finally writing your précis and essays, though, do your own writing. That is the only way you will get the full benefit of your own efforts. I will be happy to discuss ideas with you, read outlines and rough drafts, and so forth. That is partly why I keep office hours.

A final word to the wise. It is not difficult to do well in this class, but it also is easy to do badly. Let me talk about the bad stuff first. You will receive a major grade reduction -- or fail this course -- if you do not read the material, seldom participate in class discussions, do not write your précis, assessment, or argumentative research paper, plagiarize, cheat, and so forth.

About plagiarizing and cheating. All students are expected to follow Lewis & Clark College's Academic Integrity Policy. Plagiarizers and cheaters will be given an "F" for the entire course (they will not be allowed to drop or withdraw from the course). I also will turn their cases over to the Honor Board; I will recommend that disciplinary penalties be assessed. It is never in your interest to plagiarize or cheat!

Now for the good stuff. With a concerted effort, you will do well in this class. To do well, you must participate in class discussions, read and study the assigned material, write the précis, assessment, argumentative research paper, be in class (almost) all of the time, etc. I do not grade on a curve, and so there is no good reason why you should not get an "A" for the course!

The Festival of Scholars is a campus-wide celebration of student work. It is an opportunity to discuss research, to exhibit, perform, or appreciate art, and to cross disciplinary boundaries. The Festival will be held on Friday, April 17, 2015. Classes will be cancelled on that day, but you are still required to participate in the Festival, either by presenting your work or attending presentations by your fellow students.

Course policy on disability accommodation. If you have a disability or learning difference that may impact your academic performance, you may request accommodations by submitting documentation to Student Support Services, located in Albany 206 (access@lclark.edu, 503-768-7156). They will notify me of the accommodations for which you are eligible.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Oscar Wilde: "The more mechanical people ... always know where they are going, and go there.... A man whose desire is to be something separate from himself, to be a Member of Parliament, or a successful grocer, or a prominent solicitor, or a judge, or something equally tedious, invariable succeeds in being what he wants to be. That is his punishment. Those who want a mask have to wear it. But with the dynamic forces of life ... it is different. People whose desire is solely for self-realisation never know where they are going. They can’t know."

Week 1

Wednesday, 1/21:

Introduction to the course.

Read:

Malcolm Gladwell's article, Group Think.

Jim Pryor's essay, Guidelines on Reading Philosophy.

Existential Issues

Friday, 1/23:

Susan Wolf, "Moral Saints," pages 755-767; précis.

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J. M. Fritzman

Department of Philosophy

Lewis & Clark College

0615 SW Palatine Hill Road

Portland, OR 97219-7899

USA

503-768-7477

fritzman@lclark.edu