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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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Semester/Year:
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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. 8th edition. Hackett Publishing.
ISBN 9781603847438
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INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
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Name of Instructor:
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Dr. Jack O’Connor
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Campus/Office Location:
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COR 337
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Telephone Number:
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940-498-6258
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E-mail Address:
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joconnor@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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Online by appointment – but online weekdays from 8-10 and 5-7
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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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Grading Policy and Procedures:
You will be evaluated in three ways in this class. The first is through Reading Quizzes, the second is through Reaction Papers, and the third is a comprehensive Final Exam. The Reading Quizzes will be short multiple choice tests based on an assigned reading. They are intended to encourage you to read the text and are more about literal comprehension than full understanding of what you read. They are more about focusing you on key parts of the reading. The Reaction 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. The first will be about connecting themes between the first two parts of the course, and will be due roughly half way through. The other paper will also be geared toward finding connections between parts of the course - the last two parts - and will be due toward the end of the semester. I will expect that you can adequately write a standard college level essay and, since grammar is graded, expect a certain proficiency in English and the ability to proofread your work. The Final Exam will be during exam week and will be comprehensive. More details will be given in the last couple weeks of the course. Here is the weighted breakdown of the elements:
- Reading Quizzes – 10 (8 of which will count) = 40% Note: I drop 2 quizzes
- Reaction Papers – 2 (all will count) = 40% Note: I drop 0 papers
- Final Exam = 20% Note: The Final Exam is mandatory
A = 90-99, B = 80-89, C = 70-79, D = 60-69, F = 0-32, Plagiarized Papers = F as 0 (zero)
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COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (Major Assignments, Due Dates, and Grading Criteria)
Orientation
- Welcome to the course, syllabus, expectations etc
- Nature and history of the discipline of philosophy (Canvas)
- Mythology vs. Philosophy – the Presocratics (Canvas)
- How to read philosophy: Descartes, Discourse on Method, (p.501-508, Parts 1,2)
Critical Thinking – Thinking Correctly
- Logic; an overview (Canvas)
- Plato’s Euthyphro – a dialogue on critical thinking, Euthyphro, (p.18-26)
Truth – What is True?
- Common theories of truth
- Plato – truth as form, The Republic: BK I&II (p.128-155), VI, VII (p.175-178)
- Hume – truth as impressions, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (p.842-847)
- Locke – truth as representation, Essay Concerning Human Understanding, BK I,II (p.672-705)
Ethics – What is Good?
- Common theories of ethics
- Aristotle – good is what makes us fully human Nicomachean Ethics BK I,II (p. 275-290) and X (320-329)
- Mill – good is the greatest good for the greatest many Utilitarianism (p.1187-1192)
- Stoics – good is conforming to nature Encheiridion, (p.340-351)
Political Science – What is a way to Organize a Country?
- Common theories of political science
- Hobbes – Monarchy. The Leviathan (p. 562-591; concentrate on: Introduction, Part One, Chapt. I, V, VI, XIII, XIV, Part II, Chapt. XVII [13])
- Marx – Communism The Communist Manifesto (Canvas)
- Madison – American Republicanism, Federalist 10 (Canvas)
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 _______________.
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:
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Academic Integrity: I believe that education serves a higher purpose and as such, I take plagiarism very seriously, and will penalize students who commit it with the full extent of NCTC policy. I do not tolerate plagiarism because education is about “turning souls toward the truth,” as Plato explains in the Republic, and so my purpose is to open students to a higher truth. Hence this course is a public service aimed at enlightening citizens in this republic. Plagiarism disrespects this important mission. I believe that the role of education is crucial to a free republic, and is about nurturing the intellect so that citizens can appreciate the Artes Liberalis (the arts of a freeperson). Thus education is about helping people to think beyond the practical and to make them aware of less obvious truths essential for a democracy; it is not something to be simply gotten through as easily as possible. For this reason, scholastic dishonesty demonstrates that one does not care for the true value of education, but cares only for a grade, and is therefore cheating not only him or herself, but also the other students and the taxpayers of the State of Texas and Cook County who have provided the resources for students to be educated. So, to discourage this fraudulent behavior, I will not hesitate to enforce all available consequences open to us in punishing instances of scholastic dishonesty. You will receive a "1" (out of either 10 or 20) on the assignment in the first instance as a code for me to recognize, and I will submit a Scholastic Dishonesty Report Form (see the first module for the form) to inform the Registrar’s Office.
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Plagiarism is the appropriating of another person’s ideas or words without giving them credit. Here is NCTC’s official definition: “Plagiarism” shall be defined as the appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another’s work and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one’s own written work. Generally, in my courses, this has been copying and pasting passages from internet sources and submitting them in essays. In this course I want you ONLY to use OUR TEXT. You should not consult other sources except for supplemental purposes. So, even if you do cite that places that you obtained passages from, and thereby do not plagiarize, I will still penalize the submission. The point is this: I want YOU to engage with the material, struggle with it, dialogue with me and others, and internalize the ideas so that YOUR mind grows. I am not interested in your ability to google things. In the same way that you cannot cheat your body by not doing the exercises that you are supposed to do, you cannot cheat your mind of its necessary exercises – to do so makes one weak, either physically or mentally.
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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