Guilford Technical Community College

Humanities & Social Sciences, Dr. Carolyn Schneider

English/Humanities, Dr. Jo Ann Buck

Spring, 2005

                                              

Course Prefix and Number:        PHI 210 History of Philosophy

 

Contact/Credit:                        3-0-3

 

Course Description: This course introduces fundamental philosophical issues through an historical perspective. Emphasis is placed on such figures as Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, Descartes, Locke, Hume, Berkeley, Kant, Hagel, Nietzche, Wittgenstein, Popper, Ryle, and a sampling of contemporary philosophers who are writing today. Upon completion, students should be able to identify and distinguish among the key positions of the philosophers studied. This course has been approved to satisfy the comprehensive articulation agreement, general education core requirements in humanities/fine arts.  ENG 111 is a prerequisite.

 

Prerequisites/Co-requisites: Appropriate Placement Test scores or completion of developmental reading and writing courses.

 

Instructor: Robert W. Newsom, III, B.A., J.D.          

 

Website: http://members.fortunecity.com/professorbob                                             

 

Telephone Number: (336) 274-0502  Email Address:  [email protected]

 

Office Location: 220 Davis Hall            Hours/Days: MWF 11A-1P                                                                                                                                                                                                              

 

Required Textbooks: 1- Fearn’s Zeno and the Tortise: How to Think like a Philosopher, 2- Palmer’s Looking at Philosophy- 3rd Edition and 3- Gaardner’s Sophie’s World.

 

Disability Access Statement:  If a student has a disability that may affect his/her academic performance and is seeking accommodations, it is the student’s responsibility to inform the instructor and the Disability Access Service Director (Mrs. Angela Leak) within the first two weeks of class, or as soon as possible. It is important to request accommodations early enough to give Disability Access Services adequate time to consider your request and recommend reasonable accommodations. Your Instructor will provide necessary accommodations based upon the recommendations of Disability Access Services.

 

Student Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

1)  Understand and apply a variety of philosophical theories and principles;

2)  Think about and discuss philosophical issues in a reasoned manner;

3)  Communicate and discuss philosophical views with an open mind;

4)  Critically reflect about his or her own views on philosophical topics;

5)  Develop the ability to think critically about philosophical issues.

 

Linked Employability Skills

A-11 – Value individual differences (get along with others)

B-5 - Come to work on time/regular attendance

B-9 - Meet deadlines

C.1.H - Demonstrate understanding through paraphrasing

C.2.B - Summarize and write in a brief and concise manner

D-11 - Weigh alternative solutions

E-5 – Select, synthesize and organize information

F-2 - Learn new knowledge, skills and jargon

 

Class Format

    Philosophy is a subject most students are not used to; they find it very difficult to understand at times. So, a good amount of lecture will be necessary. However, the best way to learn philosophy is to engage in conversation about it, and so we will balance lecture with discussion. Your active participation is of the utmost importance if you want to take something valuable and useful away from this course!

 

Course Requirements and Evaluation of Performance:

There will be two 4-page papers, with a rewrite of the first, counting 35% each, and a 1 hour final (10%).  The remaining 20% is for degree of participation and diligence in terms of keeping your Philosopher’s Notebook.  The Philosopher’s Notebook will be explained and illustrated on the first day of class.

 

Submitting Assignments   All assignments must be submitted on the date stipulated by the instructor.  Absence from class does not excuse a late paper, or any other assignment that is due, either in draft or final version.  Any exceptions, due to emergencies or extenuating circumstances, must be instructor authorized.  Please notify me of these circumstances (in person, by calling or by e-mail); otherwise no late papers or other assignments will be accepted.  NOTE:  In order to earn a final grade of “C” or better in the course, a student MUST complete all assignments.  Academic honesty is expected.  The department’s plagiarism policy is in effect, so intentional dishonesty will result in an “F” in the course.

 

College Grading Scale:

 

Grade           Explanation             Numerical Points                                   Quality Points

                                                                                                                                            

A                 Superior                      94-100                                               4.0

B                 Above Average             88-93                                                3.0

C                 Average                      78-87                                                2.0

D                 Below Average              70-77                                                1.0

F                 Failure                         0-69                                                 0.0

 

Be advised that when a student's average is borderline (typically below the next grade level by at most 3 percentage points), I will take into consideration (a) whether, and how much, improvement was shown over the semester, and b) how consistently that student attended class. Therefore, if you consistently attend class, and steadily improve as a student, you can help your grade by as much as 3 points overall. 

 

Quality of Instruction Statement:

The GTCC faculty members are committed to providing quality instruction.  If there is a concern about the instruction provided, treatment of an individual or a group of students, or professional conduct of instructors, consult with the faculty member, department chair, division chair, or read the description of Students' Rights and Responsibilities which can be found in the Student Handbook.

 

College Attendance Policy:

Regular attendance in class is essential to receiving maximum benefit from the educational experience.   A curriculum student is to attend and be on time for all classes and lab/shop/clinic sessions.  A student who has missed more than the number of clock hours the class meets each week may not be permitted to continue in that class, shop, lab or clinic without permission of the instructor.  In all cases of absence, the student is responsible for making up all missed class work and for coming prepared to the class following the absence.

 

General Course Outline:

1.  Ancient Philosophy

         A. Early Greek Thought (Sophie's World, pp. 3-77)

               1. Syllabus & Introductory 

               2. The Presocratics 

               3. Socrates & the Sophists  

         B. Classical Greek Thought (Sophie's World, pp. 78-120)

               1. Plato 

               2. Aristotle  

         C. Hellenistic Thought (Sophie's World, pp. 121-139)

               1. The Epicureans 

               2. The Stoics 

               3. The Cynics & Skeptics  

         D. Medaieval Thought (Sophie's World, pp. 140-187)

               1. The Semites 

               2. Augustine of Hippo 

               3. Thomas Aquinas 

2. Early Modern Philosophy

         A. The New Science (Sophie's World, pp. 188-246)

               1. Galileo 

               2. Descartes 

               3. Hobbes  

         B. Continental Rationalism (Sophie's World, pp. 247-256)

               1. Spinoza 

         C. Empiricism (Sophie's World, pp. 257-266 & 282-287)

               1. Locke

               2. Berkeley 

         D. Hume (Sophie's World, pp. 267-281)

               1. The Origin of Ideas 

               2. Causality & Induction 

               3. Liberty & Necessity; 

         E. Kant (Sophie's World, pp. 323-341)

               1. A Copernican Revolution

               2. The Limits of Knowledge 

3. Modern  Philosophy

         A. Hegelian Idealism (Sophie's World, pp. 343-371)

               1. Reason & History 

               2. The Logic of Self-Actualization 

         B. Kierkegaard (Sophie's World, pp.372-384)

               1. Existentialism

         C. Marxist Materialism (Sophie's World, pp. 385-403)

               1. The Logic of Alienation 

               2. Dialectical Materialism  

         D. Two New Sciences (Sophie's World, pp. 404-446)

               1. Darwin and Freud 

         E. Pragmatism

         F. Wittgenstein and the "Linguistic Turn"

         G. Philosophy Today

 

 Please be advised that this syllabus and course outline is a general guide and does not contain a complete list of all of the assignments you will have, or the due dates for your papers. Pay attention to class announcements, and visit the course website frequently. If you miss class, and therefore do not hear an assignment announced, you are still responsible for completing it on time, since it will also be posted on the website.