Available as a PDF here: http://aphilosopher.googlepages.com/intro-syl.pdf
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
- Martin Luther King Jr.
Introduction to Philosophy - 41179 - HPHI 201G - 01
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9-9:50, Sale Hall
Instructor: Nathan Nobis, Ph.D. (www.NathanNobis.com)
Contact: nathan.nobis@gmail.com
Office: Sale Hall
Office Hours: MWF 11:00-12:00, 2:00-2:30 and by appointment
Course Description: This course introduces students to the questions and methods of philosophy. We will attempt to reasonably answer questions about the nature of good reasoning, whether God exists, whether we survive death, how – despite the many changes to our bodies and minds – we might remain the same individual over time, the nature of our minds and selves and whether we are thinking purely physical things or whether we have immaterial souls, whether we have free will or not, what knowledge is and whether we have any, whether morality is objective or not, what it is for an action to be morally right and what it is for an action to be morally wrong and, perhaps, address a number of practical moral questions about how we should live our lives and make our lives meaningful. By identifying and evaluating some arguments given for and against various conclusions on these issues, students will become more careful and critical thinkers and better learn to responsibly and rationally engage controversial topics.
Text: James Rachels’ Problems from Philosophy (McGraw Hill, 2005)
or James Rachels and Stuart Rachels’ Problems from Philosophy, 2nd Edition (McGraw Hill, 2009). Please find a used, cheaper copy of either book online: the first edition of the book is more likely to be available cheaper and used.
Additional readings will be posted online and/or passed out in class.
Course blog: http://morehousephilosophy101.blogspot.com/
Email group: http://groups.google.com/group/morehouse-philosophy-101
Course Requirements:
Detailed Outlines, Paraphrases or Summaries of readings: 40%
Midterm Exam: 20%
Final Exam: 20%
Final Paper = 20% final grade
Attendance: Attendance is mandatory.
Preparedness: You are expected to bring your book to class. You are also expected to have read and attempted to understand the assignment prior to arriving. Learning is not a passive process; it is your responsibility to come to class prepared.
Etiquette: Be courteous and respectful of those in class with you. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated; this includes but is not limited to noisemakers, phones, whispered conversations (including text messages), thrown objects, abusive language or gestures, etc. Falling asleep will simply encourage me to wake you.
Cell Phones: Should not ring during class, this will be considered a disruption.
Texting: Is not allowed in class, this is the same as having a private conversation. It is distracting to you, your neighbors, and the instructor.
Plagiarism: If you plagiarize, you will fail this course. Plagiarism is to take the words or ideas of another and to use them as your own without properly citing the original author. Philosophy is about thinking clearly. Taking another’s thoughts as your own ignores the point of the class and it disrupts the process by which learning takes place. Plagiarism is therefore anathema to the study of philosophy and will not be tolerated. Further, no external sources are neither required nor allowed so there is no possibility of accidently plagiarizing. Further, external sources are discouraged since they will, invariably, lead to confusion. If you are uncertain what plagiarism is, it is your responsibility to learn prior to turning in your paper.
Schedule of
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