Course Syllabus
PHILOSOPHY 6, Section 1495
INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
FALL 2023, DR. MULDER
BLENDED - Online material every week
Meetings Tues. 10:00-12:00, Emeritus 1509
OFFICE HOURS: Tues 9:30-10:00 & 12:00-12:30
Contact: Message me through “INBOX” in CANVAS (email for non-students: dmulder @ santarosa.edu)
Final Exam Dec 12.
SRJC Academic Calendar, click here
Important dates for section 1495
(https://portal.santarosa.edu/SRWeb/SR_SectionDates.aspx?Section=1495&Semester=20237)
TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS:
AS SOON AS YOU ARE ENROLLED IN THIS CLASS, ***CLICK ON YOUR CANVAS ACCOUNT (just under SRJC logo in the top left), click "NOTIFICATIONS," and make sure "ANNOUNCEMENT" is turned ON. Also, turn on CONVERSATION MESSAGE under CONVERSATIONS. You may select others if you choose***
Students With Special Needs
Every effort is made to conform to accessibility standards for all instructor-created materials. Students should contact their instructor as soon as possible if they find that they cannot access any course materials. We can AWLAYS find a way to make it work! Students with disabilities who believe they need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Disability Resources (527-4278).
COURSE TEXTS:
Purchase: Philosophy: Asking Questions, Seeking Answers, by Stephen Stich and Tom Donaldson. Oxford Univ. Press, 2019.
Plus sources available for FREE online:
A Passion for Wisdom, by Solomon and Higgins. Oxford University Press, 2000.
The Problems of Philosophy, by Bertrand Russell
Meditations, by Descartes
Apologia, by Plato
BEWARE searching topics in this course online!! Inaccurate, oversimplified information on philosophical topics is common online!
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STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
This is an introductory course in the HISTORY and main TOPICS of philosophy. We will become familiar the major figures from ancient, medieval, classical modern, and contemporary philosophy. We will also become familiar with the major positions and arguments in philosophical theorizing about truth, reality, knowledge, morality, and justice. Along the way we will become familiar with philosophy's distinctive method of rational inquiry and the structure of argumentation.
| Upon completion of the course, students will be able to: |
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1. Recognize characteristic philosophical issues.
2. Identify and critically evaluate representative philosophical positions.
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| Objectives: |
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Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Differentiate between philosophy and other disciplines, e.g., physics, literature.
2. Differentiate fields of philosophy, e.g., aesthetics,epistemology, metaphysics, political philosophy, philosophy of religion, philosophy of mind,
3. Examine key topics and questions within the above fields: God and religion, the nature of truth, philosophy of mind, free will and determinism, and morality.
4. Summarize, analyze, and evaluate key arguments addressing the above topics.
5. Provide philosophical interpretation of primary texts.
6. Analyze and evaluate contemporary applications of the above arguments.
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COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
CLASSROOM (& ONLINE) RESPECT and COURTESY.
* Please show respect to your fellow students and the instructor. It's OK to disagree with others but do so respectfully rather than in a way that shuts people down or makes them feel hurt.
* Please arrive on time for class.
* Please pay attention, listen to the instructor and other students’ comments.
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IN-PERSON and ONLINE PARTICIPATION (10 points)
* Class participation includes several stages:
a. LOGGING IN at least 3x per week (except for school holidays). Showing up-participation (I make no distinction between “excused” and “unexcused”; you're either participating in a class meeting or you aren't)
b. Paying attention-participation
c. Active involvement-participation, such as asking questions and engaging in classroom discussions
d. ONLINE DISCUSSION BOARDS - 1-2 topics per week.
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HOMEWORK, ONLINE QUESTIONS, SHORT WRITING:
- Assigned homework READINGS in the textbooks and on the webnotes for the class.
- Three short (approx. 1 page) written assignments, worth 10 points each.
- Exercises/Questions turned in online through Canvas for a letter grade. Worth 20 points each. Some exercises, some short written answers. There will be six exercise sets throughout the semester. Lowest grade will drop from grade book after the fourth homework exercise set (leaving FIVE that count).
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SHORT ESSAY, 25 points: One brief essay (approx. 4 pages double-spaced, due two weeks before the last week of classes) on a figure or topic in philosophy.
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FINAL EXAM worth 35 points (comprehensive)
· If you pass the final (55% or better) your letter grade will not drop from what it was before the final.
IF YOU MISS THE FINAL, YOU WILL GET A SCORE OF ZERO. THIS WILL DROP A PERSON'S COURSE AVERAGE ONE FULL LETTER GRADE.
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GRADING SCALE: A = 100-90%; B = 90-79%; C = 79-67%; D = 67-55%
Participation (Discussions, Activities): 10 points
Online Homework: 130 points total
4-5 page Essay: 25 points
Final Exer. Set: 35 points
200 points total
Required Software
Chrome is the recommended browser for Canvas
Run this computer readiness test to check your browser for plugins and versions.
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ACADEMIC HONESTY: It is your responsibility to avoid every form of cheating and plagiarism, and this implies that it is your responsibility to know what actions count as cheating or plagiarism. Anyone caught cheating or plagiarizing will fail the course and may be reported to the dean.
Attendance
Instructors are required to drop all No-Show students immediately following the second class meeting. For classes that meet online, a No-Show is an enrolled student who has not logged on and initiated active participation by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time of the second day of the class.
Dropping the Class
If you decide to discontinue this course, it is your responsibility to officially drop it. A student may be dropped from any class when that student's absences exceed ten percent (10%) of the total hours of class time. It is strongly advised that if you need to miss more than one class/homework deadline in a row that you contact the instructor to avoid being dropped from the class.
Pass‐NoPass (P/NP)
You may take this class P/NP. You must decide before the deadline, and add the option online with TLC or file the P/NP form with Admissions and Records. With a grade of C or better, you will get P.
You must file for the P/NP by the due date. Once you decide to go for P/NP, you cannot change back to a letter grade. If you are taking this course as part of a certificate program, you can probably still take the class P/NP. Check with a counselor to be sure.
Instructor Announcements and Q&A Forum
The instructor will post announcements on the Announcements page in Canvas throughout the semester. Canvas notifies students according to their preferred Notification Preferences. SET YOUR NOTIFICATION PREFERENCES TO INCLUDE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
Standards of Conduct
Students who register in SRJC classes are required to abide by the SRJC Student Conduct Standards. The exact same standards apply to ONLINE BEHAVIOR. Violation of the Standards is basis for referral to the Vice President of Student Services or dismissal from class or from the College. See the Student Code of Conduct page. (Links to an external site.)
Collaborating on or copying of tests or homework in whole or in part will be considered an act of academic dishonesty and result in a grade of 0 for that test or assignment. Students are encouraged to share information and ideas, but not their work.