Modern Philosophy Fall 2024

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Syllabus?

Here it is.  Technically, this FAQ will fill you in on everything you need to know as well.

How do I know what we are doing if I miss a class day or forgot what we did?

• What we do in class is posted on the drop down menu that says daily schedule.  But, here is a short cut to the daily schedule if you need it.

When and where does this course meet?

• Period 6

• Room 230

How can I contact the teacher?

• Email is best: justin.benolkin@moundsviewschools.org

What type of content will be covered?

• The goal of this course is to acquaint students with a  large variety of topics in philosophy and to ultimately apply these topics to current events and issues that affect their everyday lives.  The course will cover 6 (maybe 7) topics: Ethics, Metaphysics, The Self, Philosophy of Religion, Existentialism, Free Will, and (maybe) Aesthetics.

What will we do in this course?

• The overarching goal of the course is: 

  • When exposed to complex philosophical thought or debate, you will feel reasonably confident that you can understand the arguments/debate, place it in a larger social or intellectual context, and evaluate the strengths/weaknesses and relevance, both your own life, to others, and to society more broadly.

What is the textbook?

• There is no textbook.  The course information will be presented through presentations, videos, discussions, and readings.

What is the attendance policy of this course?

• You are expected to attend class.  We cover a ton of stuff in class.  The trade-off is there is little to no homework or outside of class work.  I try to cram the class full of material so we don't have to do any of it at home.  That is the trade off.  With that said, if you miss a day, you will have to do work outside of class to makeup the missed material.  This can include doing the class work independently or meeting with me before/after school or during reflect to catch up. 

Where will assignments be posted?

• All assignments will be posted in Google Classroom.  In addition, lesson plans for each day will be posted on the links above for Daily Lessons

Can I collaborate with others?

• Absolutely!  But, and this is super important, the line between collaboration and cheating or academic dishonesty can be very thin at times.  Do not cross it!  Pay close attention to when you are instructed to do something independently.  If you do it with others, even with good intentions, you could be violating the schools academic dishonesty policy (see the student handbook).

What do I have to do to illustrate I have mastered the material?

• We measure your mastery of the material through assessments.  Assessments take many forms in the class: exams, discussions, photo analysis, podcasts, and blogposts in Google Classroom

What goes into my grade?

• 100% Performance 

• Your grade should be a reflection of your learning and will be directly linked to the ability to illustrate the following Learning Goals:

  1. Explain some of the key concepts and theories in the various philosophical topics we study.

  2. Interpret, summarize, and assess complex philosophical texts.

  3. Construct and evaluate philosophical arguments.

  4. Engage in civil conversations over controversial matters/topics.

  5. Apply concepts in the course to examples from your lived experience. 

  6. Reflect on and evaluate your own growth in learning in the course.

• There will be little to no homework for the course.  All course material is meant to be completed during class time.