Bioethike

PHL 150 (MWF): Intro to Philosophy

Fall, 2011

Instructor: Robert C. Baker, M.Div., M.S.                Office & Office Hours:
Phone: 314…                                                               Instructor is generally available after
E-mail: …@lindenwood.edu                                          class and by appointment.

Course Description: This course is an introduction to philosophy. Students will be introduced to the subject and methods of philosophy by a close reading of primary texts. Topics will include questions about reality, knowledge, ethics, and social and political philosophy.

Texts: (1) Plato’s Republic, C.D.C. Reeve, trans. (Hackett, 2005), ISBN: 9780872207363; (2) Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Martin Ostwald, trans. (Prentice Hall, 1962), ISBN: 9780023895302; and (3) James V. Schall’s A Student’s Guide to Liberal Learning (Intercollegiate, 2000), ISBN 9781882926534. Texts will be supplemented by materials provided by the instructor (Blackboard, handouts, etc.).

Requirements: Four non-cumulative exams (each 15% of grade); a 5-7-page term paper (30% of grade); and class participation (10% of grade). Exams will cover the material discussed in the appropriate section of the course. Exam 4 is the final. All students at Lindenwood University are expected to attend all classes and class activities for which they have enrolled. Excuses for absences should be offered in writing (a) in advance from the University (for extra-curricular activities, etc.); (b) in advance from the student (for funerals, weddings, etc.); or (c) following the absence by an emergency room or personal physician.  An unexcused absence on the date of an exam will result in a penalty of one letter grade (A-B) on the exam. Class participation presupposes class attendance, which will be recorded throughout the semester. Three unexcused absences will result in the loss of a letter grade (A-B, B-C, etc.) Seven unexcused absences will result in an F for the course.

Grading scale: A = 100%-90%, B = 80%-89.9%, etc.

Lindenwood Mission Statement: Provide values-centered programs leading to the development of the whole person–an educated, responsible citizen of a global community.

Lindenwood is firmly rooted in Judeo-Christian values including belief in an ordered, purposeful universe, the dignity of work, the worth and integrity of the individual, the obligations and privileges of citizenship, and the primacy of the truth.

More on Term Paper: Term paper title, sources, abstract, and outline must be approved by the instructor before a paper will be accepted. The term paper must treat at least one of the main philosophers covered in class, though it need not be limited to them. The term paper must included 2 primary (original) and 2 secondary (derivative) sources, though the student may include more. Primary sources are limited to works by philosophers covered in the course and listed in this syllabus. Secondary sources include contemporary (less than 100 years old). Descartes, Kant, Hume, Mill and other philosophers not covered in this course are neither primary nor secondary sources for this course. All sources must be properly cited. At least one of the secondary sources must be a contemporary writer.

Papers should be 5-7 (8 ½ x 11 inch) pages in length, double-spaced with twelve-point type, in Times New Roman or a similar font (this Syllabus is in Cambria, for example). Margins should be 1 ½ inches. Student identification should be placed in the header (top of page; see above). Page numbers should be centered in the footer (bottom of page; see below). I do not require a particular style format, such as MLA, but do require footnotes over endnotes (see the Chicago Manual of Style). For finding and using library resources, speak to a reference librarian. Online databases such as ATLA, JSTOR, and the Philosopher’s Index are strongly suggested. Use spell check frequently; read through your paper orally to ensure that your grammar and spelling are correct and that your arguments are sound. Revise, revise, revise! If you perceive that you will have difficulties in writing the term paper, contact the University’s Writing Center a.s.a.p. Also highly recommended are the following books: Anthony Weston, A Rulebook for Arguments (Hackett); Strunk & White, Elements of Style (3^rd ed. or later.)

Course Objectives: By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• give evidence of critical reading, writing and reasoning skills;
• explain key philosophical and logical terms and concepts;
• demonstrate proficiency in various subjects and methods in philosophy;
• compare and contrast various philosophical arguments;
• evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of those arguments; and
• formulate their own perspectives in light of what they have learned.

Optimal Learning Environment: Your education, and the education of your colleagues, is important. To minimize distraction during class, cell phone ringers are to be turned off. You are strongly discouraged from checking phone or e-mail messages, texting, or surfing the Web during class.

Testing: Electronic devices (laptops, iPads, cell phones, etc.), books, notes, and papers, as well as food and drink items are not permitted during the administration of tests. On test days, leave these items at home or store them securely elsewhere.

Hats: Lindenwood University policy prohibits hats or other head covers from being worn in class or in University buildings. Please consult the Student Handbook for additional regulations.

University Policies and Guidelines: This class is governed by the University’s published policies and guidelines in the Undergraduate Catalog and the Student Handbook. The following policies are of special interest:

Disability Statement: If you have a disability that requires reasonable accommodations for participation in this course, you need to contact Jared Conner, Student Support and Accessibility Coordinator, at 636-949-4510 or jconner@lindenwood.edu and notify your professor during the first week of class so that accommodations can be made. Reasonable accommodations will be made to ensure that disabled students have a fair opportunity to perform at their potential. Students are responsible for providing the instructor with a Campus Accessibility Faculty Notification Form specifying classroom accommodations.  Your academic advisor can also help with this process.

Academic Honesty: Academic dishonesty is an exceptionally serious offense to oneself and one’s colleagues. The fabric of a learning community is woven by a bond of trust: the work to which we affix our names is our own.  To act otherwise is to undermine the contract of good faith on which productive study and the open exchange of ideas is based.  Therefore, students wishing to maintain formal membership in a learning community must display the high level of integrity expected of all its members.  According to Lindenwood University’s Academic Honesty policy, names of students found guilty of cheating or plagiarizing will be sent to the University Provost.  A first offense of academic dishonesty may result in a lessened or failing grade on the work/test or failure in the course.  A second offense will lead to academic probation and failure of the class, and a third offense will result in expulsion from the University.  Any questions concerning this policy should be directed to the Provost.

Cheating: Cheating shall be defined by Lindenwood University as “disseminating or receiving answers, data, or other information by any means other than those expressly permitted by the instructor.  Examples of cheating include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Copying answers, data, or other information (or allowing others to copy) during an examination, quiz, or laboratory experiment or on homework or any other academic exercise.
2. Assuming another individual’s identity or allowing another person to do so on one’s own behalf for the purpose of fulfilling any academic requirement or in any way enhancing the student’s grade or academic standing.
3. Using any device, implement, or other form of study aid during an examination, quiz, laboratory experiment, or any other academic exercise without the faculty member’s permission.”

Source for quotation: http://www.deltacollege.edu/dept/ar/catalog/cat0910/index.htm.

Lying/Deception: Deception, in either written or oral form, directed at University personnel by a student for the purpose of improving his/her own academic standing or that of another student is subject to disciplinary action as part of the Lindenwood University Academic Integrity policy.

Withdrawals:  Undergraduate students may drop a class within the first week of class of each term without having to obtain the signature of the faculty member, and the class will be dropped as a “never attend” if the drop does not affect his/her academic load. Students dropping a class during the first week of class resulting in a change of his/her academic load will be withdrawn from his/her class with the grade of “W” if the student attended the class. Students wishing to withdraw from all of his/her classes need to obtain the signature of each instructor to indicate the last date of attendance in each class. To withdraw from a course with a “W,” students must complete and sign a withdrawal form before the last day to withdraw with a “W,” secure the signature of his/her academic advisor, and, if he/she has attended the course at least once, the signature of the instructor of the course. Students wishing to withdraw from a course after the deadline to withdraw with a “W” will receive either a grade of “WP” (withdraw passing) or “WF” (withdraw failing). The deadline for WP/WF grades shall be a date for each term as set annually on the Academic Calendar at the 60% mark of the term, semester, quarter, or five-term program. Neither grade will affect the student’s grade point average.

Subject to Change: This syllabus and course calendar is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor to accommodate instructional and/or student needs.

Important Dates 2011-2012 Academic Year:  Fall Semester

Classes Begin                                                                                                             August 22

Last day to register for or add class, or choose audit                    August 26

Convocation @ 10 AM                                                                                         August 31

Labor Day Holiday                                                                                                 September 5

Last day to withdraw with “W”                                                                    September 30

Last date to withdraw with “WP”/”WF”                                                 October 28

Faculty In-service Day- no classes

held except for MBA and LCIE evening classes                             November 23

Thanksgiving Holiday                                                                                         November 24-25

Last Day of Classes                                                                                                 December 2

Final Exams                                                                                                                 December 5-9

Lindenwood residential semester student housing

closes at 4:30 PM                                                                                             December 9

Final Grades due, 5:00 p.m.                                                                               December 13

Deadline to apply for March/May/June Graduation                       December 3

Date      Lecture	Readings
8/22     Introduction	Review syllabus
8/24     What is Philosophy?
8/26     Basic Reasoning Skills and LogicFIVE “TOPICS” FOR TERM PAPER DUE
8/29     The Pre-Socratics	Fragments from the Poem of Parmenides
8/31     Socrates and Plato	Plato’s Apology
9/2       Plato’s Epistemology and Metaphysics	Phaedo
9/5       LABOR DAY HOLIDAY
9/7       The Absurdity of Relativism, Part 1	Theatetus
9/9       The Absurdity of Relativism, Part 2	Theatetus
9/12     Plato on Justice, Part 1	Republic, Book I
9/14     Plato on Justice, Part 2	Republic, Book I
9/16     REVIEW
9/19     FIRST EXAM (Pre-Socratics through Theatetus)
9/21     Society as a Metaphor	Republic, Books II & III
9/23     The Soul, Virtues, and Justice	Republic, Book IV
9/26     The Philosopher-King	Republic, Book VI
9/28     Simile of the SunTERM PAPER DISCUSSION	Republic, Book VI
9/30     The Divided LineLAST DAY TO WITHDRAW WITH “W”	Republic,Book VI
10/3     Allegory of the CaveTERM PAPER TITLE, ETC. DUE	Republic,Book VIIInclude title, sources, abstract & outline.
10/5     Introduction to Aristotle	Aristotle’s Categories 1-5
10/7	Physics
10/10	De Anima
10/12   REVIEW
10/14   SECOND EXAM (Republic through De Anima)
10/17   Dialectic and Happiness	Nicomachaen Ethics I
10/19   The Function Argument	NE I
10/21   Moral Virtue	NE II
10/24   The Practical Syllogism	NE III:1-5
10/26   The Chart of the Soul, Virtues, Prudence	NE VI
10/28   Psychological TypesLAST DAY TO WITHDRAW WITH “WP/WF”	NE VII:1-10
10/31   Contemplation	NE X:6-9
11/2      TERM PAPER ASSISTANCE
11/4      Thomas Aquinas, Part 1
11/7      Thomas Aquinas, Part 2
11/9      REVIEW
11/11    THIRD EXAM (Nicho. Ethics thru Thomas)
11/14    Natural Law, Part 1
11/16    Natural Law, Part 2
11/18    The Importance of the Liberal Arts	Schall, Ch. 1
11/21	Schall, Ch. 2
11/23    FACULTY INSERVICE
11/24-25 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
11/28    TERM PAPER DUE	Schall, Ch. 3
11/30	Schall, Ch. 4
12/2       REVIEW
12/5-9   FINALS: FOURTH EXAM (NL thru Schall)

Readings and Schedule subject to change. Changes will be announced in class and/or via Blackboard.