Introduction to Philosophy
Spring, 2009
Humanities 127-0G1 ..….MW 9:30-10:45…..No Prerequisites…….3 Credits
Dr.
Hollace Graff
Course Description
This course provides discussion of knowledge, ethics, aesthetics, and metaphysics as exemplified by leading philosophers.
Learning Objectives
After completing this course, the student will be able to
a) identify certain problems with which philosophy deals,
b) explain the answers which selected philosophers have given to these problems,
c) begin to formulate the philosophy which guides his or her own life with some degree of philosophical rigor,
d) demonstrate familiarity
with the development of philosophy as a discipline,
e) exhibit curiosity about basis questions and assumptions of one's own and
others' philosophies,
f) apply philosophical reasoning to issues outside the classroom.
Students and employees at Oakton Community College are required to demonstrate academic integrity and follow Oakton’s Code of Academic Conduct. This code prohibits:
· cheating,
· plagiarism (turning in work not written by you, or lacking proper citation),
· falsification and fabrication (lying or distorting the truth),
· helping others to cheat,
· unauthorized changes on official documents,
· pretending to be someone else or having someone else pretend to be you,
· making or accepting bribes, special favors, or threats, and
· any other behavior that violates academic integrity.
There are serious consequences
to violations of the academic integrity policy. Oakton’s policies and procedures
provide students a fair hearing if a complaint is made against you. If you are
found to have violated the policy, the minimum penalty is failure on the
assignment and, a disciplinary record will be established and kept on file in
the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for a period of 3 years.
Details of the Code of Academic Conduct can be found in the Student Handbook.
Instructional Materials
“Apology” and “Euthyphro” by Plato
Meditations on First Philosophy
by Rene Descartes
Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche (Kaufmann translation)
Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of
1844 by Karl Marx
Hind Swaraj by Mohandas Gandhi
Hope on a Tightrope by Cornel West
Updates to this schedule and exact reading assignments will be given in class and will be available on the class website
January 26, 28, February 2…… Plato and West
February 4…..Journal collected
February, 4, 9, 11.….. Descartes
February 18…..First Exam
February 23, 25, March 2, 4, 9, 11.….. Nietzsche
Spring Break
March 23……Journals collected
March 23, 25 30, April 1, 6 ….….. Gandhi
April 6…..Essay on Gandhi collected
April 8…..Second Exam
April 13, 15, 20, 22, 27 ….. Marx
April 29, May 4, 6, 11 ….. West
May 13…..Journal due
May 18…..Final Exam
Methods of Instruction
Although I will occasionally
lecture, this class will mainly be conducted as a seminar. Students will give
brief presentations, and the class will discuss those presentations. I will
lecture only occasionally. Please note that this class is part of the Great
Books Program.
Course Practices Required
1.
You will keep a philosophical journal. In this journal you will record
your reactions to the assigned readings and your responses to questions that I
will suggest. The journal should not consist of notes or summaries of the
readings. Rather, you should take positions and offer arguments for those
positions. You may also consider ways in which the material we read in class
relates to your own experiences. Your journal will be collected several times
during the semester. When I read your journals, I may ask questions about what
you have written, and you should answer these questions in the next part of your
journal. When you hand in your journal, you will always hand in the complete
journal – including those parts with my comments. Your final journal should be
at least 15 – 20 typewritten pages. In the interest of preserving trees, your
journal should not be more than double-spaced, should not use larger than
12-point type, and should not have extra-large margins or large blank spaces
between sections. The precise format for your journal is up to you. Although I
will give you an indication of how you are doing on your journal when I collect
it during the semester, only the overall grade for your journal assigned at the
end of the semester will be recorded. I do accept late work if you make an
appointment to see me for assistance. However, failure to get timely feedback
from me on your journal entries may result in your not doing as well as you
might have on this assignment. Part of your journal will be an essay on
Gandhi.
2.
In this class, participation is extremely important. You will earn
participation points by attending class, by speaking during class, and by
volunteering to give brief summaries of parts of the assigned readings. You
will receive one participation point for every class you attend. If you come to
class late or leave early, you will receive one-half credit for the day. You
will also receive one-half to one participation point for every brief summary
you give. (You should plan to volunteer for about three summaries over the
course of the semester.) I will also ask you to attend two Oakton events for
participation credit. You may select these from a number of alternatives I will
suggest. I will provide some extra credit opportunities to make up for lost
participation points. These extra credit opportunities will also involve
attending Oakton events such as plays and public forums on issues relevant to
humanities or philosophy. I do not distinguish between excused and unexcused
absences. However, if you need to be absent because of something such as
religious holidays or family emergency, I will make every effort to insure that
you have ways to earn extra credit that will compensate for your absence.
3.
There will be three exams. These exams will consist of short answer
questions and short essay questions. One week before the exam, I will
distribute a study guide. All exams will be cumulative. If you miss an exam,
you will be able to take a make-up exam in the Testing Center. If you take the
make-up after I have handed back the exams, your exam will consist of one long
essay.
4.
In unusual circumstances such as hospitalization or compulsory
military service, I will work with students to determine alternative ways to
complete course requirements.
Methods of Evaluation
1. The journal will count for 1/3 of your final grade.
2. The exams will count for 1/3 of your final grade.
3. Participation will count
for 1/3 of your final grade. (A…34+, B…..31-33, C….28-30, D….25-27)
Disabilities
If you have a
documented learning, psychological, or physical disability, you may be entitled
to reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request accommodation or
services, contact the ASSIST office in Instructional Support Services. All
students are expected to fulfill essential course requirements. The College will
not waive any essential skill or requirement of a course or degree program.
Discrimination
The Oakton Community College Catalog states:
Oakton Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, or marital status in admission to and participation in its educational programs, activities and services, or employment practices. The College does not tolerate sexual harassment or sexual assault by or of its students or employees.
In keeping with this policy of tolerance and non-discrimination, in this class all of us (myself included) should strive to listen and give careful consideration to all ideas expressed in class, especially those that are different from our own, without attacking or demeaning the people who have those views. We should also strive to avoid using insulting terms or telling offensive jokes when talking to or about individuals or groups.
Office Hours
Des Plaines Office……3614
Des Plaines
Telephone……847-376-7033
E-mail……hgraff@oakton.edu
Web page…..http://www.oakton.edu/~hgraff
My office hours are as follows: Mondays,…..3:30-5:00
Tuesdays……9:30-12:00
Thursdays……9:30-12:00
Fridays……2:00-4:00
Other times by appointment
Please feel welcome to stop by and chat, and be sure to see me if you are having any difficulties in the course. If you cannot make any of these times, please see me for an appointment. On a personal note, in the interest of promoting non-authoritarian education, I would prefer if you addressed me by my first name which is Holly.