NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title:	Introduction to Philosophy
Course Prefix & Number:		PHIL1301	Section Number:		Semester/Year:
Semester Credit Hours:		3	Lecture Hours:	3	Lab Hours:	0
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.
Course Prerequisite(s): None
Required Course Materials: Cahn. Classics of Western Philosophy. 9th edition.  Hackett Publishing. ISBN 9781603847438

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:	Dr. Jack O’Connor
Campus/Office Location:	COR 337
Telephone Number:	940-498-6258
E-mail Address:	joconnor@nctc.edu

 

OFFICE HOURS

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
11:00-12:30	10:00-1:00	11:00-12:30	10:00-1:00
2:00-3:30		2:00-3:30

 

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog

At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
	Read, analyze, and critique philosophical texts.
	Demonstrate knowledge of key concepts, major arguments, problems, and terminology in philosophy.
	Present logically persuasive arguments both orally and in writing.
	Demonstrate critical thinking skills in evaluation an application of philosophical concepts to various aspects of life.
	Evaluate the personal and social responsibilities of living in a diverse world.

 

 

 

 

 

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements	Graded Course Elements	Percentage or Point Values

 

COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (Major Assignments, Due Dates, and Grading Criteria)

Lecture Schedule:   Please note the following schedule may change slightly.  Also, notice that the course is divided into three main parts, and several subparts within each. The dates will change on these parts as to the length of the semester that you are in, but the parts will remain constant in both long and short semesters.  Here is the break down:

Part One:  The Nature of Philosophy

 Orientation: Syllabus, Nature of Philosophy, Branches & Chronology

1. Text: Descartes’ Discourse on Method, (p.501-508, Parts 1,2)

Mythology (See “Greek Mythology” packet on Canvas)

Critical Thinking and the Republic

1. Text: Plato; The Euthyphro (p. 18-26)
2. Movie: Gladiator (available NCTC library, and Netflix etc)

Part Two:  Being and Knowledge "The Individual"

Metaphysics (What is?) 

A.  Idealism: Plato

1. Text: Plato, The Republic: BK I&II (p.128-155), VI, VII (p.175-178)

B. Materialism: Aristotle

1. Text: Aristotle, The Categories (p. 195-198) 
2. Text: Aristotle, Metaphysics BK I, IV (p. 243-254)

Epistemology (What is True?)

A. Rationalism: Descartes

1. Text: Descartes, Meditations (Mediations One and Two p. 533-539)
2. Movie: Name of the Rose (available NCTC library, Netflix etc) 

B. Empiricism: Locke

1. Text;  Locke, Essay Concerning Human Understanding, BK I,II (p.672-705)

Part Three: The Polis  "The Community"

Ethics (What is Truly Good)

Text: Plato, The Apology (p.27-39)

A. Virtue Ethics: Aristotle, Stoics

1. Text: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics BK I,II (p. 275-290) and X (320-329)
2. Text: Epictetus, Encheiridion, (p.340-351)

B. Utility: John Stuart Mill

1. Text: Mill, Utilitarianism (p.1187-1192)

Politics (What is Truly Good for the Whole) 

PDF: Plato, The Republic, BK VIII

A.  Monarchy: Hobbes

1. Text: Hobbes, The Leviathan (p. 562-591; concentrate on: Introduction, Part One, Chapt. I, V, VI, XIII, XIV, Part II, Chapt. XVII [13])

B. Democracy and Liberalism: Mill and Madison

1. Text: Mill, On Liberty (p. 1220-1226)
2. James Madison, Federalist 10 (See Canvas)

 Final Exam – See Official NCTC Exam Schedule for date and time

Notice the symmetry and division of the course.  Each Part is broken into divisions, and each division has a specific theme and associated reading.  You will have an RQ on almost every one of these readings, and a SP which puts together larger themes within each Part.

Notice:  You are being assigned two movies to view on your own (Part One, Gladiator, Part Two, Name of the Rose).  Both of these movies are available at the NCTC library, but can be found also on other online media sources.  Please note that it is your responsibility to obtain the movies by whichever means you can.  You can try netflix, Amazon etc.

 

 

Grading Policy and Procedures:  You will be evaluated in three ways in this class.  The first is through Reading Quizzes, the second is through Synthesis Papers, and the third is a comprehensive Final Exam. The Reading Quizzes will be short multiple choice tests based on the assigned reading. They are intended to encourage you to read in advance of the lecture on that topic and are more about literal comprehension than full understanding of the text.  The Synthesis Papers will be medium length (3-5 page) written responses to a question that will require you put together larger themes within the sections of the course.  They are “synthetic” because I will ask you to show how smaller aspects are connected to a larger whole.  The Final Exam will be during exam week and will be comprehensive. Here is the breakdown:

1. Reading Quizzes – 14 (12 of which will count) = 40%
2. Synthesis Papers – 3 (all will count) = 40%
3. Final Exam = 20%

A = 90-99, B = 80-89, C = 70-79, D = 60-69, F = 0-32, Plagiarized Papers = F as 0 (zero)

 

 

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)

Additional Instructor-specific Absence Policy:

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is _____Nov.8__________.

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

 

o         Government/Political Science

o         Social and Behavioral Sciences

o         Component Area Option

o         American History

 

X             Critical Thinking

X              Communication

o           Empirical and Quantitative

 

o           Teamwork

X              Personal Responsibility

X              Social Responsibility

COURSE TYPE

STUDENT HANDBOOK

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