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NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
ONLINE
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Course Title: Introduction to Philosophy
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Course Prefix & Number: PHIL 1301
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Section Number: 0342
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Sem: Spring 2021
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Semester Credit Hours: 3
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Lecture Hours: 3
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Lab Hours: 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:
*Steven Cahn, ed. Classics of Western Philosophy. 8th (eighth) edition. Hackett Publishing.
ISBN# 978-1-60384-743-8 It is recommended to buy an actual, physical book (kindle versions have different pagination systems!!!). However, there is a digital edition available through the bookstore. DIGITAL ISBN# 978-1-62466-014-6
In addition, there are 2 films you will be expected to watch online: Inception (Christopher Nolan, 2010) and The Incredible Shrinking Man (Jack Arnold, 1957). These can be viewed online in CANVAS for free (under “STUDIO”). You can also view at Amazon Instant Video OR Youtube for a few dollars ($). Public libraries might also carry it.
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INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
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Name of Instructor:
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Mark Thompson
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Campus/Office Location:
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Virtual Office Hours: TUES. (4:30 – 5:30 pm). BY APPOINTMENT ONLY Sign up in “Cisco Webex” (video or non-video, just audio) in CANVAS. SEE NOTE BELOW FOR FULL DESCRIPTION (Pg. 3: “NOTE ON OFFICE HRS”)
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Telephone Number:
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--------------------- (use email)
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E-mail Address:
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USE CANVAS or mthompson@nctc.edu
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GRADING CRITERIA
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# of Graded Elements
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Graded Course Elements
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Percentage or Point Values
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Maximum Pts. Possible
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1000 pts
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5*
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Textbook Quizzes*
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16% (160 pts)
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2
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Movie Essays
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24% (240 pts)
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6*
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Module Assignments
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50% (500 pts)
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3
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General Discussion-Board Posts
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10% (100 pts)
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*Lowest grade will be dropped
COURSE PROMISES: This course is a journey (should you accept it) that will reveal why people think the way they do; it will help answer why people believe in certain ideas and how those beliefs lead to actions and habits; you will learn how to identity common assumptions and foundations that people utilize to make their way through this complex thing called “life”; at the end, you will discover why you are the person you are today, allowing for a more fulfilling human existence.
NOTE ON COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR PROFESSOR: You must use your NCTC-based email (either CANVAS or your @nctc.edu email account) to communicate with me.
During the week (Monday – Thursday), my policy is to respond to emails within 24 hours. During the weekend (Friday – Sunday) and on holidays, an email sent to me on those days/times might require 48 hrs. before getting a response. IF ONE IS NEEDING A QUICK RESPONSE, TRY THE ONLINE OFFICE HOURS (TUES. 3:30 - 4:30 pm) using the “CISCO-WEBEX” link near the bottom left of the CANVAS course). You will need to schedule a time (a 15-min. block).
FAQ
- All assignments will be due on Mondays. This will allow you to develop a habitual schedule for these 4 months. For monthly Discussion Board assignments, each student will be assigned to a small group of students (6-7). You will interact with and get to know a small group for this semester (your temporary “family”). For individual quizzes, you will post answers to multiple-choice questions about the assigned text (under “Quizzes”; see CALENDAR for due dates). THIS IS A TIMED QUIZ! YOU WILL HAVE 12 MIN. TO COMPLETE ANYWHERE FROM 6-8 MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS. DO NOT START UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THE ASSIGNED MATERIAL/TEXTBOOK PGS. The aim of these quizzes is to ensure that you have read and understood the assigned material.
- For online students, the easiest way to complete this class is click on “Modules.” Inside are all of the assignments (quizzes, discussions, etc.) that you will need to complete the module. YOU WILL NEED TO COMPLETE EACH STEP/ASSIGNMENT IN SEQUENTIAL ORDER BEFORE YOU CAN ADVANCE TO THE END! Modules consist of a variety of responses (quizzes, video clips to watch, power-point lectures, written lectures, Movie Essays, typically concluding with a Discussion Board assignment). These will help you make sense of the assigned text pages, and should be performed/watched AFTER you’ve completed the textbook reading (and accompanying quiz when appropriate). These textbook readings are the heart of this course; each MODULE is a collection of activities designed to substitute for face-to-face, in-class lectures. There will be 1 module every 2 weeks to complete. They can take anywhere from 1.5 to 3 hrs (not including the readings!), so you should begin as soon as possible. If you wait until the day they are due, you will feel rushed and your educational experience will have been a waste. You will not have to do all the activities in 1 day; you can work at your own speed. The key to successful online learning is to self-pace your learning experience. Reading the textbook (1-2 hrs.) and completing the modules are all you need; however, it is imperative that you be proactive and start near the beginning of the new module week (Tuesday).
- “General-Discussion Board Posts”: There are 3 Discussion-Board posts that will be open for 1 month (for each). During this time, I will offer topics relating to the textbook/module assignments for your group to start a conversation. These will close every 4 weeks, so it is important to not wait until the last week to start. You will be engaging with someone (or multiple people) in your group in a conversation about the topic (THE COMPLETE INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE FOUND UNDER THE LINK IN CANVAS: “Discussions”). The goal is to periodically chat once every 2 weeks with other group members so this online class will not be so isolating.
- There are no “exams” for this course; it is hoped that this will alleviate any “test anxiety” that you may be prone to. It is important to periodically check your syllabus to know what assignment is approaching (and its due date). This is a responsibility of the student, although the professor will provide helpful reminders occasionally by sending a group email in CANVAS. When in doubt, consult your syllabus schedule. Reduce unnecessary stress!!!
- NOTE ON OFFICE HOURS: If you need to speak with me (realtime audio, using your computer’s or i-phone’s microphone), you can schedule a 15-min. block of time during my office hours (see days and hours above) by clicking on “Cisco Webex” in CANVAS. Then, click on which 15-min. block you’d like to reserve in order to chat with me. If you do not have the audio capability to converse with me, we can head to “Conference” (under CANVAS) and just type in realtime. Lastly, we can just email (old-fashioned).
HOW TO SUCCEED IN THIS CLASS:
If you are unfamiliar with philosophy, it is going to be different than any other class you’ve taken. And, since it is online, it might be even more challenging. Philosophy and science were only recently separated into isolated disciplines. The essence of philosophy is to question things (often things that we simply accept as true because we’ve been habituated to accept things uncritically) and to construct rational and reasoned accounts for the nature of things in question. The “nature of things” also involves the natural world; this is why people were previously labeled “natural philosophers.” Today, we have “scientists” and “philosophers,” but the truth is, all humans do a little of everything. We think based on the information given us from a young age. These include cultural memes, scientific “proofs,” “conventional wisdom,” and other ideas. Each particular group, community, tribe, and nation from a particular era generates their ideas from a certain context—the social, political, cultural, and intellectual environment. This “habitat” (for lack of a better world) can allow certain thoughts to become “Truth” while discouraging other “truths.” An example is the debate between creationists and evolutionists; Darwin, the popularizer of evolution, was fighting against his era’s context; he was able to convince some people (mainly the new profession of scientists), but today, creationist ideas like the Intelligent Design Movement (see Stephen Meyer’s Darwin’s Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design for a recent and cogent summary) are battling this professional scientific environment. For the longest time, the word “science” (Latin: Scientia) has meant “knowledge” in general. It is only recently that people began distinguishing scientific knowledge from other types of knowledge (like math, history, psychology, etc.).
As a result, you may find the readings to be rather difficult, for they will lack “factual” quality of other disciplines. So if you like to have a sense of certainty, you may find yourself confused and frustrated—but don’t despair. You might have to read them a couple times to understand what’s being argued. This is to be expected.
I encourage you to budget out your reading time throughout the week. You will need at least 2 hrs. each week (typically, 1 reading per week). If you try to skim through this material you will not make sense of it. Most of our readings will present and follow out an argument. You have to follow the argument in order to understand the reading: that is the point of philosophy. The conclusions are easier to simply accept, but the point is to understand WHY a conclusion is made. Finally, make sure that when you read you are alone and in a quiet place. Newspapers, magazines and some textbooks can be mulled over in noisy and crowded places. Our material cannot. Carve out bits of time to read wherein you are free from the television, internet, phones, other people etc. This alone will greatly aid your ability to understand what you read. If you don’t believe me, I would recommend reading Nicholas Carr’s enlightening The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains (New York: Norton, 2010). You can also watch a short interview with the author here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tqRMbg7MPc Better yet, ask yourself after 5 minutes what you’re thinking of as you attempt to read your textbook for an uninterrupted hour: Emails? Headline news? Sports scores?
If you seek additional sources, beware of the internet, even though this is an online course. There are all kinds of sites that can claim to help you out, but many are run by charlatans, or deal with things beyond our scope. We will be looking at tiny slices of what a given philosopher has written, so whatever you find on the internet about Plato or Locke may have no bearing on what we are focusing on in class. I encourage you to either email me with questions or to talk to your other group members or bring it up during office hours.
Lastly, remember that philosophy is the art of living. The point of our encounters is not to get you a job, but to help you understand yourself and your world!
Other Helpful Texts and Support Materials:
Philosophy in 90 Minutes: One of my favorite series—you can read these literally in 90 minutes. All of the philosophers that we have assigned text readings for can be found either at bookstores (Half-Price Books) or online to purchase (quite cheap). I found these very helpful when first studying philosophy. In addition to being concise and to-the-point, the author (Paul Strathern) is usually funny (a little anti-religious, however).
Does the Center Hold? This is an introduction to the big philosophical issues accompanied by bizarrely drawn illustrations.
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (online). plato.stanford.edu: a trusted online source of everything philosophical.
Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is Monday April 5.
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.
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)]”.
CALENDAR
Instructor reserves the right to alter schedule at ANY time.
*Quizzes will be under “Discussions” in CANVAS (or find in MODULES)
UNIT 1: “The Origins of Philosophy”
JAN 19th – FEB 1st Complete Introductory Discussion Board. DUE: Thursday (1/21) at 11:59 pm.
Complete Module #1 (“Pre-Socratics, the Origins of Philosophy, and Plato”) DUE: Monday (2/1) at 11:59 pm. BE SURE TO COMPLETE END-OF-MODULE ASSIGNMENT!
UNIT 2: METAPHYSICS (Some Metaphysical “Problems”)
FEB 2nd – 15th Quiz: (have read) Augustine, On Free Choice of the Will, pgs. 372-384; DUE: Monday (2/8) at 11:59 pm.
Complete Module #2 (Freewill vs. Determinism in Christian Metaphysics”) DUE: Monday (2/15) at 11:59 pm
**REMINDER: 1st General-Discussion Board posts due soon (see “Discussions” for full instructions and DUE DATE)
FEB 16th – MAR 1st Quiz: (have read) Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy, pgs. 499-500; 533-539; DUE: Monday (2/22) at 11:59 pm.
Complete Module #3 (“Early Modern Philosophy and the Mind-Body Problem”) DUE: Monday (3/1) at 11:59 pm
UNIT 3: EPISTEMOLOGY (“What can I know and how?”)
MAR 2nd – 8th NOTE: THIS MODULE IS ONLY 1 WEEK! Complete Module #4 (“The Revival of Skepticism”; Quiz: (have read) Sextus Empiricus, Outlines of Pyrrhonism, pgs. 352-362; DUE: Monday (3/8) at 11:59 pm.
MAR 9TH – 29th Quiz: (have read) Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, pgs. 670-679; 687-688; DUE: Monday (3/15) at 11:59 pm.
WATCH FILM ONLINE: Inception (link is in “Modules” or “Studio”) See study guide and instructions under “Files”
Complete Module #5 (“Locke and the Impact of Empiricism”; DUE: Monday (3/29) at 11:59 pm.
NOTE: In this module, you will need to watch the movie Inception (link in “Modules” or “Studio”); MOVIE ESSAY #1 DUE MONDAY (March 29th) at 11:59 pm (Upload to link in CANVAS ([Under “Assignments”])
**REMINDER: 2nd General-Discussion Board posts due soon (see “Discussions” for full instructions and DUE DATE)
MAR 30th – APR 5th NOTE: THIS MODULE IS ONLY 1 WEEK! Have read: HANDOUT on CANVAS: Nietzsche, “On Truth and Lie[s] in a Nonmoral Sense”
Complete Module #6 (“Friedrich Nietzsche and the ‘Will to Power’”) DUE: Monday (4/5) at 11:59 pm.
UNIT 4: PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY (“What difference will it make in my life?”)
APRIL 6th – 19th Quiz: have read: James, Pragmatism and “The Will to Believe,” pgs. 1266-1272; 1278-1280) DUE: Monday (4/12) at 11:59 pm.
Complete Module #7 (“American Pragmatism”) DUE: Monday (4/19) at 11:59 pm.
**REMINDER: 3rd General-Discussion Board posts due soon (see “Discussions” for full instructions and DUE DATE)
APRIL 20th – MAY 3RD NOTE: THIS MODULE EXTENDS INTO FINALS WEEK! (Have read): HANDOUT on CANVAS, Ortega y Gasset, “Man Has No Nature”; Complete Module #8 (“French Existentialism”) DUE: Monday (5/3) at 11:59 pm.
WATCH FILM ONLINE (link is in “Modules” or “Studio”): See study guide and instructions under “Files”: The Incredible Shrinking Man
MAY 12th MOVIE ESSAY #2 DUE WEDNESDAY, MAY 12th at 11:59 pm (Upload to link in CANVAS ([Under “Assignments”])
ADDITIONAL HELPFUL INFORMATION:
Conversion of Onsite Classes to Online/Remote Format: North Central Texas College students should be aware that in the event of a college closure due to COVID-19, onsite classes will be converted to an online/remote format. Students should plan ahead to ensure they have access to the computer equipment (either PC, MAC, or tablet), webcam, and internet connectivity to continue their classes in an online/remote format. Please read all your official North Central Texas College student emails as the transition from onsite to online/remote might require a reorganization in your personal situation. Students will be granted a 72-hour transition and grace period. Online classes will continue as scheduled without disruption. Wear a mask, stay safe, and contact your Instructor as the situation arises. These policies and procedures were updated on July 30, 2020 and are subject to change as conditions change.
Face Coverings: Per the North Central Texas College guidance on face coverings on campus, in the instructional setting, faculty and students must wear face coverings, such as masks or face shields. Students without coverings, or those who do not comply with the rules relating to face coverings, will not be able to participate in on-campus classroom activities. To request an exception to this requirement, students should contact the NCTC HR Office of Enrollment Management (ccove@nctc.edu). Failure to comply with the face coverings requirement may result in the Instructor directing the student to leave the classroom. Any student asked to leave the classroom may be referred to the student conduct officer. These policies and procedures were updated on July 30, 2020 and are subject to change.
Temporary COVID-19 Attendance Policy for Face-to-Face Meetings: We are facing an unprecedented situation in which all of us must be flexible and make prudent decisions in the best interest of our families, our campus, and our community. In light of this, North Central Texas College is temporarily establishing the requirement that faculty keep records of student attendance for face-to-face course meetings as well as a documented seating chart. In addition, students who are sick or need to quarantine should not attend classes. Students will not be required to provide formal documentation from a health care provider and will not be penalized for COVID-19 related absences when proper notification to campus health officials is made in accordance with the guidelines stated below.
Faculty will:
- Notify students about important course information and delivery changes through Canvas and campus email.
Students should:
- Provide notification to campus officials (via NCTC Daily Health Check protocol through Canvas) if they have tested positive for COVID-19 or have to quarantine so we can confirm reported absence with instructors, monitor, and assist the campus community.
- Notify instructors in advance of the absence.
- Connect with that class through Webex if the class session is being transmitted in a hybrid fashion.
- Keep up with and/or make up missed classwork or assignments.
- Submit assignments digitally through Canvas or other means as announced by your instructor.
- Work with their instructors to reschedule exams, labs, and other critical academic activities described in the course syllabus.
- Check Canvas and campus email daily to receive important announcements pertaining to the course.
During the spring 2021 semester, faculty with face-to-face meetings will establish assigned seating/work stations to facilitate roll-taking, and, if necessary, contact tracing. Additionally, we ask all members of the College community to be attentive to their health, and safeguard others, by following the CDC’s guideline to “stay home when you are sick.” You should stay home if you have symptoms. More information on what to do if you are sick is available at the CDC’s website.
Additional NCTC information is available at http://www.nctc.edu/coronavirus/index.html
Affinity Groups
Staff and faculty representing the Employee Resource Groups (ERG’s), along with academic advisors, counselors and success coaches, serve as mentors for NCTC’s student-centered Affinity Groups.
An Affinity Group is a population of students who have specific needs, barriers or systems they are needing to navigate not only within college, but within life. Providing mentorship, support and resources for identified Affinity Groups such as Black/African American students, veterans and active military, single parents, students with disabilities, adult learners, Latinx, LGBTQ+ and students who have experienced foster care and/or homelessness, enables us to make more impactful, meaningful connections with students who are in dire need of equity and understanding.
Career Services Center
In need of employment? NCTC Career Coaches meet one-on-one to provide training in writing resumes, job searches, interviewing, and more. The Skills to Succeed Academy is also a free interactive, online employability training program focused on building the skills and confidence you need to find the best career.
Completion Center
The Completion Center provides a variety of services for first-time in college students. These include academic success coaching, goal setting, course planning, student resources, career development, and job placement services for all new college students. Free online Success Seminars are also available through Student Lingo and new students will also enroll in a First Year Experience (NCTC 1001) course to get started on the right track!
Counseling and Advising
Academic Advisors and Counselors help students explore majors and programs offered, how to take the best combination of classes to meet your goals, assist with questions related to university transfer, and guide students towards academic and personal success, and more. At NCTC, you are assigned to a specific advisor or success coach based on your major or career interests. You can locate our advisors and their majors, along with contact information on the Meet Your Advisor page-and even schedule an appointment with them through their online calendar!
Early Alert and CARES
The NCTC Early Alert program assists students who are at risk of failing or withdrawing from a course. Faculty and staff may refer students through the Early Alert process at any point in the semester in an effort to provide appropriate intervention and access to support services. Examples of behaviors that could prompt an Early Alert referral could be missing assignments, failing tests, excessive absences, or personal circumstances impacting academic performance. A student submitted as an Early Alert will be contacted by an academic advisor or success coach through text, phone, and/or via their NCTC e-mail address to discuss any current challenges as well as helpful resources and success strategies-we want our students to finish strong and know that education is a partnership!
The NCTC CARES Team is concerned not only about our students' academic success, but also their emotional and physical well-being. As a student, you have the ability to report concerning behavior which could impact your own safety or the safety of another NCTC student, such as stalking, harassment, physical or emotional abuse, violent or threatening behavior, or self-harm. Visit the NCTC CARES site to also locate campus and community resources, or email counseling@nctc.edu. As always, if you feel there is an immediate threat to your own safety or welfare (or to another student), please call 911 immediately.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
EDI partners with the entire campus community to create, maintain and demonstrate NCTC’s commitment to an equitable, diverse and inclusive learning environment where NCTC students succeed. NCTC defines equity as encompassing the practice of acknowledging individual differences and systemic disparities when developing new programs and resources for our campus community, which may sometimes challenge our own beliefs and assumptions, in order to ensure balanced educational opportunities toward completion. Everyone Included. Everyone Belongs. Everyone Valued. Everyone Inspired.
Financial Aid
The Office of Financial Aid provides students with information and guidance with applying for eligible types of financial assistance, such as the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Students who have any types of exemptions or tuition waivers will also work with the Financial Aid Office to have these funds applied to their accounts. Additionally, the Scholarship Office provides local scholarship opportunities through an online application process, and tips on how to secure other types of scholarship awards which can help finance educational goals.
Student Success Center
The Student Success Center is designed to help all students at NCTC develop tools to achieve their academic goals. The center links students to FREE tutoring, including a Writing Center, a Math Lab, and free online tutoring. Student Success offers academic coaching, tutoring, including a Writing Center, and a Math Lab to assist new students acclimate to college by providing computer lab services for prospective students. First generation students can also participate in TRIO which offers specialized services.
Testing Services
The mission of NCTC Testing Services is to provide high-quality testing services that adhere to the professional standards and guidelines to meet the needs of students, faculty, and community members.