Syllabus
- What is philosophy?
- We will cover three interrelated themes in the history of Western philosophy: (1) ethics: is there a standard of right conduct?; what is the good life?; how should I live?; (2)epistemology: what can I know?; how can I possibly know what I know?; and (3) philosophy of religion: does God exist?; what is his relation to any system of ethics?. We will explore different issues and questions and try to gain a better understanding of our lives and our connection to the world in which we exist. Our method will consist of providing good reasons to support the positions that we take.
- Required text
- Solomon, Robert C. and Clancy Martin, eds. Since Socrates: A Concise Sourcebook of Classic Readings. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth, 2005.
- Course requirements
|
Points |
Grade Percentage |
| First Exam |
100 |
25% |
| Second Exam |
100 |
25% |
| Third/Final Exam |
100 |
25% |
| Short Paper |
60 |
15% |
| Attendance |
40 |
10% |
| Total |
400 |
100% |
- Exams
- Exams will be composed of roughly twenty-five true/false, multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank questions and one short essay question per exam.
- Attendance
- Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class. Attendance will count as a part of your final grade, albeit only a small percentage of it. Asking questions and voicing comments on the readings are highly beneficial to you and your classmates.
- Make-up Policy
- Exams may be made up within one week of the original exam date, if I am notified before the regularly scheduled exam date. Make-up exams will be significantly more difficult than the originals. I reserve the right to refuse a student a make-up exam if he/she does not make it up within the allotted time or does not have a good reason to make it up in the first place.
- Inclement Weather
- I will send out a mass email to students the day before the potential inclement weather (snow/ice/meteor/locusts) notifying you of the cancellation of class, if such weather occurs.
- Extra Credit
- There is no extra credit.
