Phil.100 Main Page

College of San Mateo

Introduction to Philosophy

Course Info


Course Description	Readings	Required Materials	Other Resources	Grading Info

Course Description

This class is an introduction to the discipline of philosophy. We will examine theories of the Self, knowledge, ultimate reality and how these relate to several fundamental philosophical questions. We wil also discuss the relation of the Good, the True and the Beautiful.

pIn addition to lectures, class time will be spent in discussions, some of which will focus on readings in the Readings in Philosophy text.

You also need to choose one of the 5 books below and read it.
pThe goal of this course is for you to gain an understanding of the nature of philosophical questions and ideas, and to be able to participate in your own development of your life concerning these questions. Another goal is for you to experience the difficulty and joy of presenting, discussing and understanding your own views and those of others.

For a copy of the Syllabus click here. MWF 9:10 - 10, MWF 11:10 - 12

Homework Update

Logic Handout

Logic Worksheet

Writing Center Workshops

ESL Workshops

[back to the top]

Readings

We will then be reading out of the Readings in Philosophy Text as we progress. The order of the reading will be determined as we progress.

If you bought the Soccio book "How to Get the Most out of Philosophy" read it completely as soon as possible. There are many helpful sections as a grounding for this class. It also has good advice when facing the exams. The second recommended book, by Donald Palmer, can be useful. If provides context for many of the philosophers we will read and discuss. His book summarizes their ideas clearly and easily.

You also need to choose and read one of the five recommended texts. I highly encourage choosing and reading that book as soon as possible.

Readings in Philosophy: This will be our main text. It is in your best interest to bring it to class for each session that we are discussing a reading. We will be reading approximately one selection every week.

The following is the order in which we will read the text. Freire, Plato, Descartes, Hume, Marx, Ophuls, Laing, Greer, Polanyi, Kierkegaard, Suzuki. Look them over to decide which you would like to lead.

Freire Freire Handoutr

Read the following essay by John Gatto

An online version of the reading is HERE.

Mark Morford wrote an article in the S.F. Chronicle. What do you think?

Here is a review of the Rock Band: Guitar Hero III

Tom Lehrer’s Periodic Table Song

Plato Plato Handouts There are on line versions of the Republic. The specific parts we read are at the end of Book 6, VI, and the beginning of Book 7 VII. We read the Divided Line and the Myth of the Cave. Here

Here is a video of Shadows on the Wall. It may be the kind of show Plato imagined.

The School of Athens Raphael’s Painting

Descartes Descartes Handout An on line version of The Meditations are HERE. Read Meditation I and II.

Hume Hume Handout

On line section is HERE. Scroll down and read SECT. VI. Of Personal Identity

Here is an experiment click on the following site. Your task is to count the number of times the people pass the basketball. Come to class and give me the correct number for extra credit. (On your honor watch the video only once.) HERE

Marx Marx Handout

An excellent analysis of Marx is Here. (It contains a link to the text we read.)

Ophuls Ophuls Handout No online links to this text