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NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
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Course Title:
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Introduction to Philosophy
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Course Prefix & Number:
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PHIL1301
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Section Number:
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100
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Semester/Year:
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Spring/2018
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Semester Credit Hours:
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3
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Lecture Hours:
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3
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Lab Hours:
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0
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Course Description (NCTC Catalog):
A study of major issues in philosophy and/or the work of major philosophical figures in philosophy. Topics in philosophy may include theories of reality, theories of knowledge, theories of value, and their practical applications.
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Course Prerequisite(s): None
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Required Course Materials:
Cahn. Classics of Western Philosophy. 9th edition. Hackett Publishing.
ISBN 978-8-872-20859-9
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INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
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Name of Instructor:
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Steve Sorensen
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Campus/Office Location:
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Gainsville Campus
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Telephone Number:
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E-mail Address:
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ssorensen@nctc.edu
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OFFICE HOURS
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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10:00–11:00 AM
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10:00–11:00 AM
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2:00–5:00 pm
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2:00–5:00 pm
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STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog
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At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
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Read, analyze, and critique philosophical texts.
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Demonstrate knowledge of key concepts, major arguments, problems, and terminology in philosophy.
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Present logically persuasive arguments both orally and in writing.
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Demonstrate critical thinking skills in evaluation an application of philosophical concepts to various aspects of life.
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Evaluate the personal and social responsibilities of living in a diverse world.
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GRADING CRITERIA
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# of Graded Course Elements
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Graded Course Elements
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Percentage or Point Values
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11
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Weekly Quizzes
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10%
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4
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Summary Papers
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30%
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4
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Take Home Exams
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45%
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1
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Final Exam
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15%
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The grade scale is: A = 90 – 100 B = 80 – 89 C = 70 -- 79 D = 60 -- 69 F = below 60
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COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (Major Assignments, Due Dates, and Grading Criteria)
Reading and Lecture Tentative Schedule
Week 1: Jan. 16–18 What is philosophy? Is it possible or necessary?
Week 2: Jan. 23–25 Plato’s Phaedo: The Socratic Turn
Classical Philosophy: Politics vs Philosophy
Week 3: Jan. 30–Feb. 1 Plato’s Republic: What is justice?
Week 4: Feb. 6–8 Plato’s Republic: What is the best regime?`
Exam One
Week 5: Feb. 13–15 Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics: What is happiness?
Week 6: Feb. 20–Feb. 22 What are the virtues?
Week 7: Feb 27–March 5 Aristotle’s Physics and Metaphysics: What is teleology?
Exam Two
Medieval Philosophy: Revelation vs Reason
Week 8: March 6–8 Maimonides’ Guide of the Perplexed: Divine Law and Augustine’s Confessions: Religious Experience
March 13–15 Spring Break
Week 9: March 20–22 Aquinas Summa Theologica: Divine Dogma
Exam Three
Early Modern Philosophy: Ancients vs Moderns
Week 10: March 27–29 Descartes: Meditations on First Philosophy: What is knowable?
Week 11: April 3–5 Hobbes: Leviathan: How to achieve permanent peace.
Week 12: April 10–12 Hume: An Enqiry Concerning Human Understanding: Proof of the impossibility of knowledge of cause.
Exam Four
Late Modern Philosophy: Historicism vs. Nature
Week 13: April 17–19 Kant: Critique of Pure Reason: Mind over nature.
Week 14: April 24–26 Hegel: Phenomenology of Spirit: History of mind.
Week 15: May 1–3 Nietzsche: Twilight of the Idols: The End of Philosophy
(May 7–11) Final Exam Week
Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is Feb. 22`.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered. All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies as determined by the instructor. It is the student responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgement by the faculty member. Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence. Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work. Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor. A student who is compelled to be absent when a test is given should petition the instructor, in advance if possible, for permission to postpone the exam. Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives. Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)
Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is Feb. 22.
DISABILITY SERVICES (Office for Students with Disabilities)
The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides support services for students with disabilities, students enrolled in technical areas of study, and students who are classified as special populations (i.e. single parents).
Support services for students with disabilities might include appropriate and reasonable accommodations, or they may be in the form of personal counseling, academic counseling, career counseling, etc. Furthermore, OSD Counselors work with students to encourage self-advocacy and promote empowerment. The Counselors also provides resource information, disability-related information, and adaptive technology for students who qualify.
For support, please contact the counselors at (940) 498-6207 or (940) 668-4321. Alternatively, students may stop by Room 170 in Corinth or Room 110 in Gainesville.
CORE CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT AREA (For classes in the Core)_______
o Communication
o Mathematics
o Life and Physical Science
X Language, Philosophy & Culture
o Creative Arts
Government/Political Science
o Social and Behavioral Sciences
o Component Area Option
o American History
REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES (For classes in the Core)
X Critical Thinking
X Communication
o Empirical and Quantitative
o Teamwork
X Personal Responsibility
X Social Responsibility
COURSE TYPE
o Academic General Education Course (from ACGM but not in NCTC Core)
X Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course
o WECM Course
STUDENT HANDBOOK
Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook and published online.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion. Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty. See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)]”.
QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS
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Name of Chair/Coordinator:
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Crystal R.M. Wright
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Office Location:
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Gainesville Campus, Room 824
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Telephone Number:
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940-668-7731, ext. 4320
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E-mail Address:
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cwright@nctc.edu
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Name of Instructional Dean:
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Dr. Bruce King
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Office Location:
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1525 W. California St., Gainesville, Texas
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Telephone Number:
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940-668-4267
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E-mail Address:
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bking@nctc.edu
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