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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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501
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Semester/Year:
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F/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 9781603847438
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INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
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Name of Instructor:
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Matthew Lampert
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Campus/Office Location:
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Flower Mound
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Telephone Number:
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E-mail Address:
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mlampert@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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11:30 – 12:30
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11:30 – 12:30
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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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1
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A course journal. For each class period, I will give you one or more response question(s); a few paragraphs should be sufficient in each case, but journals will be graded on relevance, completeness, and use of course material (your journal responses should show that you have read, and are applying, the assigned reading). Journals will be kept throughout the semester, and I will collect them at the end. Journals should be typed, and handed in printed, in accordance with course policies (see below). Late journals will be accepted (in person, printed) during the final exam week only, and will receive only ¾ credit, unless specific alternate arrangements have been made with me ahead of time.
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20
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2
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Weekly in-class quizzes (see schedule for specific dates); at the end of the semester, your lowest quiz score will be dropped; the rest will be averaged for your quiz grade. You must be present to take the quiz, which will be given at the very beginning of class—quizzes will not be sent home, nor given as make-ups. A missed quiz is a zero.
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20
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3
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Weekly word definitions (see schedule for specific dates). From each reading, you will find three words you don’t know. You will look up the definitions of these words in a dictionary, and copy out the full definition of each word. These three definitions will be handed in (in hard copy) in class on the first day of the reading. Late definitions will only be accepted during the following class period, for half credit.
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20
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4
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A short mid-term essay assignment. This will be a short (2-5 page), formal writing assignment, intended to demonstrate your ability to critically read and respond to the course material. A full description of the assignment will be handed out early in the term.
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20
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5
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Class participation is very important. This includes not only attendance (see below), but also active involvement in class discussion. I expect that each student will come in with some thoughts to share on each topic of discussion.
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20
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COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (Major Assignments, Due Dates, and Grading Criteria)
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August
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27
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First Day of Class:
Syllabus, Introductions, Etc.
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29
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Lecture: What is philosophy? Laying the foundations…
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September
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3
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Labor Day Holiday: No Class
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5
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Reading: Plato: Meno CWP 80-97
Definitions & Quiz #1
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10
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Meno, continued
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12
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Meno, continued
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17
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Reading: Aristotle: On the Soul, Book II.2 and III.4 CWP 231-233
CWP 239-240
Aristotle: Metaphysics, Book I.1-3 CWP 243-247
Definitions & Quiz #2
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19
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On the Soul and Metaphysics, continued
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24
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On the Soul and Metaphysics, continued
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26
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Reading: Epictetus: Enchiridion CWP 340-351
Definitions & Quiz #3
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October
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1
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Enchiridion, continued
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3
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Enchiridion, continued
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8
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Reading: Rene Descartes: Discourse on Method CWP 501-526
Definitions & Quiz #4
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10
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Discourse on Method, Parts I and II, continued
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15
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Discourse on Method, Parts II and III
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17
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Discourse on Method, Parts III and IV
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22
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Readings: Immanuel Kant: “What Does it Mean to Orient Oneself in Thinking?” and “What is Enlightenment?” Canvas
Definitions & Quiz #5
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24
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Kant essays, continued
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29
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Kant essays, continued
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31
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Kant essays, continued
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November
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5
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Kant essays, continued
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7
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Reading: Karl Marx: Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844 Canvas
Definitions & Quiz #6
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12
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Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844, continued
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14
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Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844, continued
Essay Assignment Due
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19
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Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844, continued
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21
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Thanksgiving Holiday: No Class
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26
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Reading: Jean-Paul Sartre: “The Humanism of Existentialism” CWP 1321-1333
Definitions & Quiz #7
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28
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“The Humanism of Existentialism,” continued
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December
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3
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“The Humanism of Existentialism,” continued
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5
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“The Humanism of Existentialism,” continued
Journals Due
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10
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Final Exam Period: General Wrap-up
Last chance to hand in late journals!
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12
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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)
Additional Instructor-specific Absence Policy:
Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is November 8, 2018.
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
o 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
o Academic General Education Course (from ACGM but not in NCTC Core)
X Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course
o WECM Course
Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook and published online.
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)]”.
[Instructor-specific Academic Dishonesty Policy:
Academic honesty is taken very seriously. In a philosophy class, this means that sources used in papers or journals should be cited somehow (MLA style, Chicago style, etc.), and quotations from any text clearly indicated. It also, more importantly, means not taking credit for the work of another. Plagiarism, handing in papers downloaded off of the internet, or any other case of a student handing in something he or she has not written will be grounds for immediate failure of the class, no exceptions. If you have any questions at all, please consult the college’s policy, and/or see me directly: “I didn’t know this wasn’t okay” is not an excuse.
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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1500 North Corinth St, Corinth, TX 76208-5408
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Telephone Number:
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940-498-6464
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E-mail Address:
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bking@nctc.edu
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