Introduction to Philosophy - Spring 2007

ARMSTRONG ATLANTIC STATE UNIVERSITY
DEAPRTMENT OF LANGUAGES, LITERATURE AND PHILOSOPHY
COURSE NUMBER: PHIL 2201 Introduction to Philosophy
Spring 2007

Instructor: Dr. Jack Simmons
Telephone: 921-7336
Office: 202A Gamble Hall
E-mail: simmonja@mail.armstrong.edu
Office Hours: MWF: 1:00-2:30
TTH: 1:45-2:45

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will introduce students to the history of Western philosophy, from Plato to Jean-Paul Sartre. This introduction will develop the historical development of the distinction between knowledge and wisdom, objective truth and subjective truth. Developing this distinction will include: 1) a direct encounter with Plato, Descartes, Kiekegaard, Heidegger, and Sartre, 2) illustrating the historical development of human and natural sciences, 3) showing how this distinction determines the social and political character of society, and 4) demonstrate the nihilism associated with this distinction and the contemporary existential condition in which people today find themselves.
OBJECTIVES:
1. Introduce students to philosophical ideas that define contemporary North American culture.
2. Establish a fundamental understanding of philosophical issues and argumentative techniques that will provide grounding for further theoretical investigation in philosophy and other fields of study.
3. Illustrate the importance of examining one’s life and world.
4. Uncover hidden social and personal presuppositions that influence our beliefs about the world and ourselves.
5. Improve skills in reading and writing sophisticated theoretical arguments.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
The Trial and Death of Socrates, Plato, New York: Dover Publications, Inc
0-486-27066-1
Meditations on First Philosophy, Rene Descartes, Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company
0-87220-192-9
Philosophy and Myth in Karl Marx, Robert Tucker
0-7658-0644-4
Existentialism from Dostoevsky to Sartre, Walter Kaufmann
0-452-00930-8
FILMS:
The Last Kiss, The Graduate, Garden State, Accidental Tourist, The Stranger (by Camus), American Beauty or Fight Club
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Journals 30 points Weekly writing assignments.
Exam I 10 points Essay Exam - Peer Review
Exam II 10 points Exam – Faculty Review
Exam III 20 points 5 page paper – oral exam
Exam IV 30 points Exam
SCHEDULE (actual class-room progress may vary)
Week Readings Exam Schedule
Jan 8-12 Plato, "Euthyphro"
Jan 15-19 Plato, "Apology"
Jan 22-26 Plato, "Crito" Exam I
Jan 29-Feb 2 Descartes (Meditations 1-2-3)
Feb 5-9 Descartes (Meditations 3-4-6)
Feb 12-16 Tucker (Marx, Part I) Exam II
Feb 19 Tucker (Marx Part II)
Feb 21 Library Day
Feb 23 Paper Review
Feb 26-28 Tucker (Marx Part III)
Mar 2-5 Paper Writing Sessions
Mar 7-9 Contemporary Readings Oral Exam
Mar 12-16 Spring Break
Mar 19-23 Kierkegaard (pp. 83-94)
Mar 26-30 Kierkegaard (pp. 94-101)
Apr. 2-6 Sartre (pp. 309-316)
Apr 6-13 Sartre (pp. 345-368)
Apr 16-20 Heidegger (pp. 234-248)
Apr 23-27 Heidegger (pp. 250-257)
April 30 Review Exam III
GRADING SCALE
A – 100-90 B – 89-80 C – 79-66 D – 65-60 F – 59-0


COURSE POLICIES:
Electronics: No beepers, mobile telephones or other noise making electronic devices are allowed in class. If you must carry one, make sure it is off, and hidden so that the professor cannot see it.
Academic Honor Code: Plagiarism and/or cheating will result in automatic failure of the course, and possible disciplinary action through established university procedures.
Attendance: Students must attend class. Failing to attend class is likely to lead to a failing grade.
Visitor Policy: The classroom remains open to all adult visitors, including all AASU faculty, administration and staff. Visitors are encouraged to participate in classroom activities.
Free Speech: The Introduction to Philosophy classroom is a free speech zone. This means that students, faculty and visitors may offer any ideas they like, and use any words available in English or any other language that they feel necessary to express their ideas. Students, faculty and visitors are encouraged to exercise this liberty. Comments in class do not necessarily represent the views of Armstrong Atlantic State University, and may not represent the views of the student, faculty member or visitor member making the comment.
Graduating Seniors: Graduating seniors are responsible for notifying the professor of their status.
Journals: Late journals will not be accepted. Journals may not be turned in early, nor may they be turned in by a fellow student. Each journal entry must be bound in a folder sporting the class title and time, student’s name, address, telephone number and e-mail address. Each journal entry must be typed, double-spaced and one entire page in length. Each journal entry must also include the following heading:
Title of the Assignment
Name of Student
Date
Journal Entry Number
Term Paper
The paper may be written on any of the philosophers appearing in the textbook (disciples not included). The paper will be due on March 12-16. The papers will be graded based upon an oral examination. The paper must have the following elements:
Maximum 5 pages typed, double spaced.
A minimum of 2 references.
The paper must include quotations from all of the required references.

Philosophy is...freeing oneself from the idols we all have and to which we are wont to go cringing.
Martin Heidegger

Introduction to Ethics

ARMSTRONG ATLANTIC STATE UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGES, LITERATURE AND PHILOSOPHY
COURSE NUMBER: PHIL 2251 – Introduction to Ethics
Fall 2006

Instructor: Dr. Jack Simmons
Office: 202A Gamble Hall
Telephone: 921-7336
E-mail: simmonja@mail.armstrong.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday: 3:45-5:00, Wednesday 2:00-6:00

COURSE DESCRIPTION
When we think of ethics, we often think in terms of 'good,' 'evil,' 'right,' and 'wrong,' and we apply these terms to actions as diverse as executing murderers, voting, practicing homosexuality, and eating dinner (when it includes meat or dairy). In this course, we will discuss the right, wrong, good and evil of some issues that we face today. In our discussions, we will consider 1) what constitutes our notions of good and evil, 2) how we can apply those notions of good and evil to actual issues, and 3) whether these ethical considerations should determine public policy (should we have laws enforcing what is ethically right) or merely represent a guide for private morality.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. Introduce classic and contemporary ethical thought.
2. Develop skills in ethical analysis and reasoning.
3. Improve skills in reading and writing sophisticated theoretical arguments.
4. Apply ethical analysis to contemporary moral issues.
REQUIRED READING
Morality and Moral Controversies, John Arthur
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Journals 20% Weekly writing assignments on the readings. These assignments will be one page typed and double spaced. The assignments will be turned in, reviewed by the class, saved by the student, and turned in again at the end of the semester.
Exam I 20% Exam, Peer Review
Exam II (Midterm) 20% Exam
Exam III 20% Exam, Essay
Exam IV (Final) 20% Exam

CLASS SCHEDULE (actual classroom progress may vary)
Week Topic

1 Introduction
2 Classical Readings – Arthur, Aristotle
4 Mill
5 Kant
6 Free Speech – Affirmative Action
7 Date Rape
8 Gender Equality
9 Hobbes/Locke
10 Marx - Property Rights
11 War
12 St Augustine
13 Rawls
14 Abortion
15 TBA
16 Review







COURSE POLICIES
Electronics: No beepers, mobile telephones or other noise making electronic devices are allowed in class. If you must carry one, make sure it is off, and hidden so that the professor cannot see it.
Academic Honor Code: Plagiarism and/or cheating will result in automatic failure of the course, and possible disciplinary action through established university procedures.
Attendance: Students must attend class. Failing to attend class is likely to lead to a failing grade.
Visitor Policy: The classroom remains open to all adult visitors, including all AASU faculty, administration and staff. Visitors are encouraged to participate in classroom activities.
Free Speech: The Ethics 2251 classroom is a free speech zone. This means that students, faculty and visitors may offer any ideas they like, and use any words available in English or any other language that they feel necessary to express their ideas. Students, faculty and visitors may exercise their free speech without fear of retaliation. The only limit on free speech is that comments must be directed to the classroom, not to individuals in the classroom. Comments in class do not necessarily represent the views of Armstrong Atlantic State University, and may not represent the views of the student, faculty member or visitor making the comment. Speakers may be called upon to defend any idea presented in class.
Graduating Seniors: Graduating seniors are responsible for notifying the professor of their status.
Journals: Late journals will not be accepted. Journals may not be turned in early, nor may they be turned in by a fellow student. Journals that do not conform to the following requirements will not be accepted. Each journal entry must be bound in a folder sporting the class title and time, student’s name, address, telephone number and e-mail address. Each journal entry must be typed, double-spaced and one entire page in length. Each journal entry must also include the following heading:
Title of the Assignment
Name of Student
Date
Journal Entry Number