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
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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
Mindwalk
Video Mindwalk Handout
HERE is a link to Fritjof Capra’s
web page.
Greer GreerHandout There are no online links
to this text which comes from “The Female Eunuch”
Laing Laing Handout There are no online links
to this text. There is a site devoted to his ideas HERE.
Arendt A longer
version of the essay we will read is HERE.
Suzuki Handout Mandala Photos Yogi Laser
More Mandala Construction
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Required
Materials
Required: Readings in Philosophy, James Ogilvy, Jerry Gill, Melvin Rader
This is our central textbook. It contains original sources without much
explanation. The explanations and discussions occur in class.
Recommended: How to Get the Most out of Philosophy, James Soccio (ABE Books)
**This is a very helpful book for a first time philosophy
student!**
Recommended:
Looking At Philosophy, Donald Palmer, 3rd ed. (ABE Books) This is a brief, easy to read
history of Western Philosophy. It will augment the lectures and readings. Not
all of our readings are discussed, but students find it an invaluable
resource.
You
will need to choose and read one of the following. It is best to start reading soon in the semester in order to gain
the maximum experience from the reading. You will be held accountable for the
material in the book before the final exam.
Recommended:
A Language Older Than Words, Derrick Jensen(ABE Books)
(Derrick Jensen has a website with more of his writing.http://www.derrickjensen.org/
Recommended:
The Kin of Ata are Waiting for You, Dorothy Bryant (ABE Books)
Recommended:
The Story of B, Daniel Quinn (ABE Books)
There is a website devoted to related issuesHERE
Recommended:
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Pirsig (ABE Books)
Read
the book online here.
Recommended:
An Unknown Woman, Alice Koller ( ABE Books)
Philosophy
Notebook
You
will also need to keep a philosophy notebook. We will be discussing this in
class regularly. The 1st 10 minutes of class will be spent writing. The
initial assignment can be downloaded here. Notebook
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Other
Resources
Movie Night Handout Old Movie Nights
Below
are some websites that may be of help during the semester. There are other
sites mentioned in the Soccio text.
This
is a link to a Philosophy Encyclopedia. http://plato.stanford.edu/
This
is a link that has a comprehensive list of philosophy websites. http://www.earlham.edu/~peters/philinks.htm
This
link connects you to Philosophy Texts on the Web. http://www.epistemelinks.com/Main/MainText.aspx
A
paper on Synesthesia on the Psyche online journal of consciousness HERE
Here
is a link to my Humanities 125 video page
A
couple of good reads
Eric Schlosser on Tomato Pickers
Jon Carroll on Activism
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Grading
Information
(Each of
the %'s are approximations to give relative values. There is a certain amount
of ambiguity purposely included here.)
- There
will be three exams. The first is worth 10%, the second worth 30% and a final
exam worth 10% of the final grade. (Total Exams = 50% of final grade)
- There
will be short homework/ in-class quizzes (unannounced) based on the readings,
lectures and the discussions. These will count for 25%. [The first homework
assignments are included below, read the due dates carefully.]
- You will
need to attend an office discussion on one of the readings. 10%
- There
will be a philosophy notebook to complete worth 10% of the grade.
- Lastly,
your participation will count for 5%.
A good
reference on Plagiarism is located HERE |