Introduction to Philosophy
Fall 1999
PI 225 MB, 2:00-2:50 MWF
Dr. Ted Toadvine, 411P Plumb Hall
Phone: 341-5566 (office); 341-5462 (dept); Email: toadvint@emporia.edu
Office Hours: MWF 3:00 - 4:00; T 2:00 - 3:20; and by appointment
Text
Traversing Philosophical Boundaries, ed. by Max Hallman (Wadsworth, 1998).

Course Goals & Topics
The main objective of this course is to introduce you to philosophical ways of thinking and train you to think and write critically about philosophical issues. In addition, the course will introduce you to a wide range of historical and contemporary perspectives on perennial philosophical questions: Is there an eternal self? What is the nature of reality? Do I have obligations to other people and society? Is religious belief justified? Unlike courses which emphasize facts to be memorized, this course will encourage you to reflect philosophically on the significant issues which confront us all today.

For certain majors, this course satisfies the General Education requirement in Literature and Ideas (Basic Skills VI). This is also a "Multicultural Intensive" course.
 
Course Requirements and Grading
Your final grade will be determined as follows:

Quizzes, based primarily on assigned readings, will be unannounced. Passing these brief, open-book quizzes will require that you CAREFULLY read all assignments at arrive at class on time. No makeup quizzes will be given for those who are absent or late for class without a documented excuse. Take-home essays must be at least 600 words (about 2 pages on most word-processors), and a word count must appear on the first page of your essay. Essays will only be accepted if typewritten, double-spaced, stapled, and proof-read. These essays will be in response to a question distributed in class, and must be brought to class on the due date. On these days, students will be selected at random to read their essays to the class. Failure to read your essay on a day that you are selected will result in a failing grade for that assignment. In-class exams, including the non-cumulative final, will include an "objective" (true/false and short answer) component and an essay component. Review sheets will be distributed prior to exams. You are expected to attend class and to come prepared to discuss assigned material. Four absences will result in a full grade reduction. No make-up quizzes or exams will be given without documented evidence of an emergency.

Academic dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated. This includes plagiarism, the paraphrase or quotation of any published or unpublished source without full and clear acknowledgment. The university policy regarding academic dishonesty, as explained in the Student Handbook (p. 37), will be strictly enforced.

For help constructing your essays, please read the Appendix in Hallman, "Writing Philosophically" (665-684). Further assistance is available from the Writing Center, 345 Southeast Morse Hall (341-5380). If you anticipate trouble with your writing, please consult with the Writing Center or myself as soon as possible during the semester. Students having trouble with writing fundamentals may be required to seek assistance from the Writing Center as a condition for continuing in the course.

If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations or emergency evacuation, please contact me as soon as possible.

Office Hours
As listed above, my office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 3:00 to 4:00, and Tuesday, 2:00 to 3:20. I will be spending these hours in my office for the sole purpose of being available for your questions. If these times are not convenient for you, and there is something you need to discuss with me, please ask to make an appointment. Messages can be left with the Social Sciences secretary (PH 411) at 341-5462. You are also welcome to address inquiries to me via Email at toadvint@emporia.edu.

Course Schedule  
This schedule is tentative and will be modified in accordance with our progress. Changes in reading assignments will be announced in the prior class.

WEEK 1 (8/23-8/27):  "Introduction," Hallman (xvii-xxiii), Problems of Self and Identity (1-4)
     The Upanishads and Buddhist scriptures (4-13)

WEEK 2 (8/30-9/3):  Hume, Schopenhauer (13-22), Plato (24-38)

WEEK 3 (9/6-9/10):  HOLIDAY: Monday, 9/6
    Spelman (44-57), Sartre (85-95)

WEEK 4 (9/13-9/17):  Beauvoir, Zack (101-115)

WEEK 5 (9/20-9/24):  ESSAY 1 READING DAY, Monday, 9/20
    Creation and Reality (117-119),
    Plato (143-147), Wang Chung (150-154)

WEEK 6 (9/27-10/1):  Lucretius, Leibniz, Bergson (155-177)

WEEK 7 (10/4-10/8):  Nishida (178-182)
    CLASS CANCELED: Friday, 10/8

WEEK 8 (10/11-10/15): Review, Monday 10/11
    MIDTERM EXAMINATION (Wednesday, 10/13)
    Ethics (293-297)

WEEK 9 (10/18-10/22): Kant (297-317), Bentham (325-329),

WEEK 10 (10/25-10/29): Schweitzer (336-341), McGaa (351-5), Hospers (383-392)

WEEK 11 (11/1-11/5):  ESSAY 2 READING DAY, Monday 11/1
    Politics (393-396), Jefferson (414-418), Marx & Engels (405-434)
 
WEEK 12 (11/8-11/12): Maududi (441-451), Mill (470-481), Goldman (529-538)

WEEK 13 (11/15-11/19): Religion (539-542), King (568-579), Starhawk (589-595)
    CLASS CANCELED: Friday, 11/9

WEEK 14 (11/22-11/26): ESSAY 3 READING DAY: Monday, 11/22
    HOLIDAY: Wednesday and Friday, 11/24-11/26

WEEK 15 (11/29-12/3): Whitehead (613-622), Lin (644-651)

WEEK 16 (12/6-12/10): Russell (651-664)
    Review, Friday 12/10

FINAL EXAM: Tuesday, 12/14, 1:00 - 2:50

This page created by Ted Toadvine
Last Updated 13 September 1999