NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Title: Introduction to Philosophy
Course Prefix & Number: PHIL1301 Section Number: 0345 Semester/Year: Fall 2020, 2nd 8 Week
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:
None. All readings will be provided online.
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Name of Instructor: Dr. David Utsler
Campus/Office Location: N/A
Telephone Number:
E-mail Address: dutsler@nctc.edu
OFFICE HOURS
As this is an online course and I am not on campus, office hours will be by appointment upon request and can usually be arranged within 24 hours from the request. All office hours will be through a virtual format.
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
Your grade will be figured from accumulated points that will come from 6 discussion posts worth 15 points (90 total) each and a final exam worth 50 points (multiple choice, true or false, matching, etc.). Total points possible for the semester: 140
A: 126 – 140 points
B: 112 – 125 points
C: 98 – 111 points
D: 84 – 97 points
F: Fewer than 84 points.
Class Date Readings & Assignments
Week 1
October 19 – 23
- Lecture: What is Philosophy?
- Reading and Lecture: Apology (Plato)
- Reading and Lecture: Republic, Bk VII (Plato)
- Discussion Post: Due on October 24 by midnight.
Week 2
October 26 – 30
- Reading and Lecture: Categories, 1 - 5 (Aristotle)
- Reading and Lecture: Metaphysics, Books I & IV (Aristotle)
- Discussion Post: Due on October 31 by midnight.
Week 3
November 2 – 6
- Reading and Lecture: Discourse on Method, Parts I & II (René Descartes)
- Reading and Lecture: Meditations I & II (René Descartes)
- Discussion Post: Due on November 7 by midnight.
Week 4
November 9 – 13
- Reading and Lecture: Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Book I & Book II: Chapters 1 – 11 (John Locke)
- Discussion Post: Due on November 14 by midnight
Week 5
November 16 – 20
- Reading and Lecture: Utilitarianism, chapters 1 & 2 (John Stuart Mill)
- Reading and Lecture: What Pragmatism Means (William James)
- Discussion Post: Due on November 21 by midnight
Week 6
November 23 – 27
Have a happy Thanksgiving holiday!!!
Week 7
November 30 – December 4
- Lecture: Edmund Husserl and Phenomenology (no reading, just the Power Point lecture)
- Reading and Lecture: Existentialism is a Humanism (Jean-Paul Sartre)
- Discussion Post: Due on December 5 by midnight
Week 8
December 7 – 11
- Review for Final Exam
- Final Exam due on December 11 by midnight
ATTENDANCE POLICY
This is an online course and attendance is up to you. Attendance for an online course means that you sign on weekly and do the assignments. This is an asynchronous course, but there are weekly due dates on assignments. I do need to certify that each student has met the attendance requirements put out by the school, but after that, it is up to you. It is your duty to attend and I expect you will.
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
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)]”.
Instructor-specific Academic Dishonesty Policy: Instances of academic dishonesty will be addressed as follows: the first instance will result in a zero for the assignment and a 5% penalty on the final grade. If a second instance occurs, the academic dishonesty will be reported using the appropriate form and a letter grade “F” for the course.
QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS
Name of Chair/Coordinator: Crystal R.M. Wright
Office Location: Gainesville Campus, Room 824
Telephone Number: 940-668-7731, ext. 4320
E-mail Address: cwright@nctc.edu
Name of Instructional Dean: Dr. Bruce King
Office Location: 1500 North Corinth St, Corinth, TX 76208-5408
Telephone Number: 940-498-6464
E-mail Address: bking@nctc.edu