NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS M / W   1:30 –  2:50 pm   FLM  Room #206

 

Course Title: Introduction to Philosophy
Course Prefix & Number: PHIL 1301	Section Number:  501	Sem:    Fall  2021
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: *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.

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:	Mark Thompson
Campus/Office Location:	Room #107 (Office Hours: Mon. and Wed.  3 – 4:00 pm); online hours [emails]: M / W  10 – 11:00 am)
Telephone Number:	--------------------- (use email)
E-mail Address:	USE CANVAS   or    mthompson@nctc.edu

 

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Elements	Graded Course Elements	Percentage or Point Values
	Maximum Pts. Possible	1000 pts
5*	Textbook Quizzes*	16% (160 pts)
2	Movie-Reflection Essays	34%  (340 pts)
2	Online Exams	40% (400 pts)
daily	In-Class Assignments /  Attendance	10% (100 pts)

 

*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 ATTENDANCE and ABSENCES:  Attendance composes 10% of your overall grade.  This includes any in-class assignments.  Each day is worth 2 pts (plus any additional in-class assignments; these particular assignments CANNOT be made up).  Students who arrive 20 or more minutes after the start of class will be considered partially absent for that day (1 pt. deduction), as will students who leave early.  As we have only 27 total class meetings, attendance, bodily participation, and reading are all crucial components for this class.  Without coming to class, you will struggle to understand the key concepts, ideas, and points regarding the philosophers we read.   

 

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.  Due to legal reasons, I CANNOT CONVERSE WITH YOU USING PERSONAL EMAILS!!!

 

 

 

FAQ

 

1. For individual quizzes, you will post answers to multiple-choice questions online in CANVAS about the assigned text pgs. (under “Quizzes”; see CALENDAR for time and 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.    

 

2. The Discussion-Board “exams” are taken online (under “Discussions”).  These will usually open during the last week of each unit.  You will have 3-4 days to complete and is an open-note and -book exam; 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/exam is approaching (and its due date).  This is a responsibility of the student, although the professor will provide helpful reminders.  When in doubt, consult your syllabus schedule.  Reduce unnecessary stress!!!
3. NOTE ON OFFICE HOURS:  If you need to speak with me, I can stay after class for office hours.  Just let me know and we can chat.  Due to pandemic restrictions, office hours have been curtailed.

 

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.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CALENDAR

 

                    Instructor reserves the right to alter schedule at ANY time. 

 

֎ONLINE EXAM and MOVIE-ESSAY Due Dates to Remember (each due by 1:00 pm, before class on Monday):  Exam #1 Due (Monday; 1:00 pm) 9/20;  Movie Essay #1 Due (Mon) 10/11; Exam #2 Due (Mon) 11/8; Movie Essay #2 Due TBA

        UNIT 1:  ANCIENT WISDOM

AUG.  

M (23rd)                      INTRODUCTION;  DISCUSS SYLLABUS

 

 

W (25th)                      Discuss: HAND OUT (have read before class) “What Are We Doing in This Class?  Is Philosophy Possible?” by Donald Palmer

                                   

 

 

M (30th)                      LECTURE:  “Wisdom in Ancient China/India”

 

 

SEPT.

W (1st)                        Discuss HAND OUT on CANVAS (“Files”): Excerpt from Bhagavad Gita; LECTURE:  “Origins of Philosophy”

 

 

M (6th)                                      LABOR DAY (no class)

 

 

 

W (8^th)                         “          “          “          “

 

 

M (13th)                      LECTURE:  “Plato and Forms”

 

 

W (15th)                      “          “          “          “

 

֎ Reminder:  1^st ONLINE EXAM DUE MON. 9/20 at 1: 00 pm

 

M (20th)                      EXAM #1 DUE BY 1:00 pm;                                                        LECTURE:  “Rationalism vs. Empiricism”

 

 

 

UNIT 2: EPISTEMOLOGY (“What can I know and how?”)

 

 

Be sure to watch Inception  (We will discuss on Wednesday).  USE STUDY GUIDE UNDER “FILES” TO HELP MAKE NOTES WHEN WATCHING

 

 

W (22nd)                     Discuss: INCEPTION;  Discuss: MOVIE ESSAY #1 INSTRUCTIONS

 

 

 

M (27th)                      QUIZ #1 DUE: 1:00 pm (before class; go to “Quizzes” in CANVAS): (have    read) Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy, pgs. 499-500; 533 – 545

 

 

 

W (29th)                      “          “          “          “

 

                                   

OCT.

M (4th)                        QUIZ #2 DUE: 1:00 pm (before class; go to “Quizzes” in CANVAS): (have read) Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding,  pgs. 670-679; 687-688

                              

 

W (6th)                        “          “          “          “

 

 

MOVIE ESSAY #1 DUE MONDAY (10/11) at 1:00 pm; Upload to link in CANVAS ([Under “Assignments”])  

 

UNIT 3: METAPHYSICS AND PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY (“What do I believe and what difference will it make in my life?”)

 

 

M (11th)                      MOVIE ESSAY #1 DUE BY 1:00 pm; LECTURE:  “Augustine and Christian Metaphysics”

                                   

                                   

W (13th)                      QUIZ #3 DUE: 1:00 pm (before class; go to “Quizzes” in CANVAS): (have read) Augustine, On Free Choice of the Will, pgs. 372-384

 

 

M  (18th)                     “          “          “          “

 

 

 

W (20th)                      Discuss: (have read) HANDOUT on CANVAS: Nietzsche, “On Truth and Lie[s] in a Nonmoral Sense”                                          

                       

 

M (25th)                      “          “          “          “

 

                                   

W (27th)                      LECTURE:  “American Pragmatism”

NOV.

M (1st)                        QUIZ #4 DUE: 1:00 pm (before class; go to “Quizzes” in CANVAS): (have read: James, Pragmatism and “The Will to Believe,” pgs. 1266-1272; 1278-1280)

 

 

 

W (3rd)                       “          “          “          “

 

֎ Reminder:  2^nd ONLINE EXAM DUE MON. 11/8 at 1: 00 pm

                                               

 

M (8^th)                         EXAM #2 DUE BY 1:00 pm; LECTURE:  “Origins of Existentialism”

 

 

W (10th)                      QUIZ #5 DUE: 1:00 pm (before class; go to “Quizzes” in CANVAS): HANDOUT on CANVAS, Ortega y Gasset, “Man Has No Nature”

 

 

 

 

M (15th)                      “          “          “          “

                                       

 

 

W (17th)                      LECTURE:  “French Existentialism”

 

 

 

M (22nd)                     “          “          “          “

 

 

W (24th)                                 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY (no class)

 

 

M (29^th)                       Discuss (have read): HANDOUT on CANVAS, Beauvoir, The Second Sex

 

 

DEC.

W (1st)                        “          “          “          “

 

 

 

“INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN”:  STUDY GUIDE, INSTRUCTIONS, AND FILM ARE UNDER “MODULES” IN CANVAS

 

FINAL EXAM WEEK:  MOVIE ESSAY #2 DUE (Date/Time to be Announced Later)

 

 

ADDITIONAL HELPFUL INFORMATION:

 

COVID-19 Specific Syllabi Statements Fall 2021

 

Syllabi statement regarding potential 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 or other health related crisis, 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. Contact your Instructor as the situation arises. These policies and procedures were updated on July 27, 2021 and are subject to change as conditions change.

 

Syllabi Statement Regarding Face Coverings: Per the North Central Texas College guidance on face coverings on campus, in the instructional setting, faculty and students are NOT required to wear face coverings, such as masks or face shields. In May, Texas Governor Gregg Abbott released an Executive Order prohibiting Government entities from mandating the use of masks. As a political subdivision of the State of Texas, NCTC will follow the Governor’s Executive Order for Government entities and effective immediately NCTC is no longer mandating the use of masks while on campus. This order does not mean that you cannot choose to wear a mask, rather it is no longer allowed to be mandated. These policies and procedures were updated on May 19, 2021 and are subject to change.

 

Return to Standard Attendance Protocol for Face-to-Face Meetings: In spring 2020, we faced an unprecedented situation in which all of us had to 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 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 fall 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

 

 

• Frequently Asked Questions-all you need to know as a new or continuing student

 

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.