Course Syllabus

INSTRUCTOR

Michael Aparicio   maparicio@santarosa.edu   INSTRUCTOR HOMEPAGE

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The course's goal is to fine-tune our ability to deliberate over philosophical issues, concentrating on questions concerning human knowledge, the relationship between the body and the mind, free will, morality, and life after death.  In the end, however, all of these questions will be pursued in an effort to understand the nature of wisdom and philosophy, examining the nature of philosophical deliberations and questioning their role in our everyday lives.

 

COURSE EXPECTATIONS

PARTICIPATION You are not graded for your class participation.  However, participating in our daily class meetings is a precondition for our learning process. For this reason there are four (4) participation expectations. 

First, you are expected to attend class.  Any student missing at least 10% of our class meetings will be considered "excessively absent," in violation of the college's "Attendance policy," and expected to attend an office meeting to determine if the student will be dropped from the class. 

Second, you are expected to attend class promptly.  Tardiness is a form of disruption.  If you are tardy, you are expected to comply with any instructor directives, which may include an after-class meeting, sitting in front of class, or leaving class.  If you are tardy and find a note on the classroom door, you are expected to comply with the directions on the note.   Any student failing to comply with a directive or repeatedly disrupting the class will be suspended from class as defined in the college’s Rules and Regulations: http://www.santarosa.edu/for_students/rules-regulations/ .  Any class meeting during which a student is asked to leave or from which a student is suspended will count as an absence. 

Third, you are expected to behave in a way that is consistent with the college’s Academic Integrity policies, Discrimination policies, Sexual Harassment policies, and Student Conduct policies: http://www.santarosa.edu/for_students/rules-regulations/ .  Please note: “Disruptive behavior” includes any behavior that distracts the instructor or any student (including you) from the course’s stated educational tasks. This includes, but is not limited to, 1- tardiness, 2- leaving the room during class, 3- use of a cell phone or other electronic equipment, 4- eating, 5- "side talking," and 6- passing notes. If you are disruptive, you are expected to comply with any instructor directives, which may include an after-class meeting, seat relocation, or leaving class. Any student failing to comply with a directive or repeatedly disrupting the class will be suspended from class as defined in the college’s Rules and Regulations. Any class meeting during which a student is asked to leave or from which a student is suspended will count as an absence. 

Fourth, our class is a facilitated classroom learning experience.  While electronic devices can be useful for note-taking, they are distracting to the students using them, the students nearby, and often the instructor.  As a result, once class begins, electronic devices may not be used in class.  Exceptions will be granted for students who have accommodation needs or other warranted and responsible requests.  Any student failing to meet these expectations will be suspended from class.  

Please remember that our classroom is for the purpose of learning.  The moment you enter the classroom you are expected to comply with our class's participation policies. 

GRADED ASSIGNMENTS Our class includes three different types of graded assignments.  They will be the only measures used to determine how well you are learning in our course. 

Reading Quizzes: This course includes regular reading quizzes.  First, every time there is a required reading assignment there will be two graded quizzes on that material.  The same week that the reading is assigned there will be a graded online reading quiz.  Then, the week after each required reading there will be an in-class reading quiz.  This quiz's questions will be based on the reading's online reading quiz questions.  Finally, some week's will include graded online "Review Quizzes," which will ask questions about past weeks' required readings.  Successful students should be able to use these quizzes' concepts, names, themes, and arguments in our class discussions. 

Mid-Term Exams: There will be two (2) mid-term exams. Each exam's multiple-choice questions will be based on our previous weeks' online reading quiz questions, which can be found on our course's online schedule.  Each exam's essay question will be based on our previous weeks' "Recommended Discussion Questions." 

Final Exam: There will be a final exam. The exam's multiple-choice questions will be based on our entire semester's online reading quiz questions, which can be found on our course's online schedule.  The exam's essay questions will be based on our entire semester's "Recommended Discussion Questions." 

NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED 
YOU MUST HAVE PRIOR INSTRUCTOR APPROVAL TO RE-SCHEDULE ANY ASSIGNMENT. 

 

GETTING STARTED

Please begin by buying our course textbook, reviewing our course website, and completing all of the tasks listed under Week #1 on our course schedule.

 

 

IMPORTANT DATES

Each week's required and recommended tasks are listed in our course schedule. Please remember that, in the end, you are responsible for knowing each assignment's due date and completing each assignment promptly. 

TEXTBOOK

We have one required textbook: 

Thomas Nagel, What Does It All Mean?, Oxford University Press 

Our other required texts will be online readings accessed through our class web site.  To confirm each week's required reading(s), just review our course web site's semester schedule. 

 

GRADING

Reading Quizzes: You will earn one point for each correctly answered reading quiz question.  Combined, your reading quizzes are worth over 250 points. 

Mid-Term Exams: The first mid-term exam will be worth 150 points.  The second mid-term exam will be worth 200 points.  Taken together, the exams will be worth 350 points. 

Final Exam: The final exam will be worth 400 points. 

Semester Grade: Your semester grade will be determined by applying your total points to the following scale: 

A: 90% and above  B: 80%-89%  C: 70%-79%  D: 60%-69%  F: 0%-59% 

 

EXTRA CREDIT

 

Replacing All Reading Quiz Scores: If you are not satisfied with your semester reading quiz scores, you may write a short essay due at the end of the semester. In order to complete this assignment you should arrange an office visit with the instructor no later than the end of Week #11.  During this 30 minute office visit, we will review your online reading quizzes and identify your essay's subject.  No exceptions! 

Mid-Term Exam: You may improve one of your mid-term grades by completing Week 17's extra-credit mid-term exam.  The grade you earn on this assignment will replace your lowest mid-term grade. 

Final Exam: Interested students may select to complete a project instead of completing our final exam.  While the project must demonstrate your ability to critically analyze a philosophical issue, it is an opportunity to use our course's concepts and skills imaginatively.  To complete a Final Exam project, you must arrange multiple office visits with the instructor.  The first meeting, during which we will define your project's guidelines, must be completed no later than Week #13.  No exceptions! 

The course's grading policy is designed to consider improvement and minimize the impact of occasional failure. No other considerations will be used to determine your semester grade.  Remember the single most important factor in your grade is your own work. Ultimately only you can change this for the better. 

NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED 
YOU MUST HAVE PRIOR INSTRUCTOR APPROVAL TO RE-SCHEDULE ANY ASSIGNMENT. 

 

ACADEMIC FREEDOM

Philosophical discussions, activities, and assignments frequently involve questioning one’s assumptions. The goal of this self-examination is not to persuade you to change your beliefs. Rather, the goal is for each of us to fine-tune our ability to identify, analyze, and assess arguments, no matter how controversial the topic. To promote an environment in which each of us feels comfortable doing this, it will be important to understand, appreciate, and value each other’s academic freedom. Toward this end, both the instructor and students are expected to honor the following policies: 
Student Academic Freedom Policy  Every student has a right to pursue instruction objectively. This includes, but is not limited to, having instruction which distinguishes between general knowledge and the instructor’s personal opinion, having instruction which acknowledges the existence of plausible opposing opinions, and being evaluated using only the standards noted in this syllabus. In addition, every student has a right to instructional methods which are conducive to his/her academic freedom. While a student’s presuppositions may be questioned by the instructor or other students, and the student may be expected to question his/her presuppositions, this shall be pursued in a manner that is consistent with each student’s freedom:  1. To inquire;  2. To explore difficult and controversial material within official course descriptions;  3. To access any available information relevant to the official course descriptions;  4. To express differing opinions with students, faculty, staff, and administration;  5. To demonstrate, learn, and defend critical thinking skills;  6. To demonstrate, learn, and defend intellectual honesty;  7. To learn in an environment free of intimidation and censorship; and  8. To be graded solely on considerations that are intellectually relevant to the subject matter as articulated in the course’s official course description and described in the course’s syllabus. 
Faculty Academic Freedom Policy  The instructor has a right to pursue instruction objectively. This includes, but is not limited to, having the freedom to state personal opinion, having the freedom to ignore or identify implausible opposing opinions, and having the freedom to evaluate using solely the standards noted in this syllabus. In addition, the instructor has a right to use instructional methods which are conducive to academic freedom. As such, the instructor not only has a right to question a student’s presuppositions, allow other students to question a student’s presuppositions, or expect the student to question his/her presuppositions; but, so long as instruction is pursued in a manner that is consistent with each student’s academic freedom, the instructor shall be free: 

1. To inquire;  2. To present and explore difficult and controversial material that is relevant to the official course descriptions; 

3. To present and explore any information that is relevant to the official course descriptions;  4. To express differences of opinion with students, faculty, staff, and administration;  5. To demonstrate, teach, and defend critical thinking skills;  6. To demonstrate, teach, and defend intellectual honesty; and  7. To teach and interact in an environment free of intimidation and censorship. 

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Hopefully this syllabus has provided a good introduction to our course's resources, expectations, and policies.  A key to successfully completing the course will be understanding each.  If, at any time during our semester, you have any questions about our course, including questions about our resources, expectations, and policies, don't hesitate to ask before class, after class, or during one of my office hours.  My office is close to our classroom in Emeritus 1516.