Introduction to Philosophy: Truth and Knowledge - PH 200

School of Arts and Sciences 2016-17 COURSE SYLLABUS Course Number PH 200 J Course Title Introduction to Philosophy Fall Semester Spring Semester XX Summer Semester Credit Hours 3 Name of Instructor Professor Daniel Tutt Meeting Day, Time, and Room Number Tuesday, Friday Gailhac, Room G110 3:30 – 4:45 PM Final Exam Day, Time, and Room Number Tuesday May 9th at 3 pm in Gailhac 101 Office Hours, Location, Phone Office: Gailhac G202 Appointments: to set an appointment students can email Professor Tutt at daniel.tutt@marymount.edu with a proposed time. Typically before class on Tuesday or Friday from 2 – 3:30 pm are the best times to meet. Phone: in the event of an emergency, students can call Professor Tutt at (202) 262-1304. NOTE: if a student is planning to be absent from a course they should convey this over email at least 24 hours in advance. Over three absences without an adequate excuse will harm the students overall grade (see below for more details). E-mail Daniel.tutt@marymount.edu Course Description An introduction to some of the major issues concerning fundamental problems of human existence including an understanding of the core areas: logic, epistemology, metaphysics, and ethics. Students will learn to recognize and evaluate logical arguments in the texts of central, primary figures. Prerequisite: EN 101. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: PH-1. (3) UNIVERSITY STATEMENTS ACADEMIC INTEGRITY By accepting this syllabus, you pledge to uphold the principles of Academic Integrity expressed by the Marymount University Community. You agree to observe these principles yourself and to defend them against abuse by others. Items submitted for this course may be submitted to TurnItIn.com for analysis. STUDENT COPYRIGHT INFORMATION For the benefit of current and future students, work in this course may be used for educational critique, demonstrations, samples, presentations, and verification. Outside of these uses, work shall not be sold, copied, broadcast, or distributed for profit without student consent.  ACCOMMODATIONS AND ACCESSIBILITY CONCERNS Please address any special challenges or needs with the instructor at the beginning of the semester. Students seeking accommodations for a disability must complete the required steps for obtaining a Faculty Contact Sheet from the Office of Student Access Services (SAS). Students are then responsible for meeting with their instructors at the beginning of the semester to review and sign the Faculty Contact Sheet and develop a specific plan for providing the accommodations listed. Accommodations cannot be granted to students who fail to follow this process. Appointments with the SAS director can be scheduled through the Starfish "Success Network" tab in Canvas. For more information, check the SAS website, e-mail access@marymount.edu, or call 703-284-1538 to reach the SAS director or an academic support coordinator. EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION POLICY When students are absent due to a crisis situation or unexpected, serious illness and unable to contact their individual instructors directly, the Division of Student Affairs can send out an Emergency Notification. To initiate an Emergency Notification, students should contact the Division of Student Affairs 703-284-1615 or studentaffairs@marymount.edu. Emergency Notifications are NOT appropriate for non-emergency situations (e.g. car problems, planned absences, minor illnesses, or a past absence); are NOT a request or mandate to excuse an absence, which is at the sole discretion of the instructor; and are NOT a requirement for student absences. If a student contacts instructors about an emergency situation directly, it is not necessary to involve the Division of Student Affairs as arrangements are made to resolve the absence. For non-emergency absences, students should inform their instructors directly.  ACCESS TO STUDENT WORK Copies of your work in this course, including copies of any submitted papers and your portfolios, may be kept on file for institutional research, assessment, and accreditation purposes. All work used for these purposes will be submitted anonymously.  UNIVERSITY POLICY ON WEATHER AND EMERGENCY CLOSINGS Weather and Emergency closings are announced on Marymount’s web site: www.marymount.edu, through MUAlerts, area radio stations, and TV stations. You may also call the Weather and Emergency Hotline at (703) 526-6888 for current status. Unless otherwise advised by local media or by official bulletins listed above, students are expected to report for class as near normal time as possible on days when weather conditions are adverse. Decisions as to inclement closing or delayed opening are not generally made before 6:00 AM and by 3:00 PM for evening classes of the working day. Emergency closing could occur at any time making MUAlerts the most timely announcement mechanism. Students are expected to attend class if the University is not officially closed. If the University is closed, course content and assignments will still be covered as directed by the course instructor. Please look for communication from the course instructor (e.g., Canvas) for information on course work during periods in which the University is closed.  BROAD PURPOSE OF COURSE An introduction to some of the major issues concerning fundamental problems of human existence including an understanding of the core areas: logic, epistemology, metaphysics, and ethics. Students will learn to recognize and evaluate logical arguments in the texts of central, primary figures. Specifically, this course will examine the concepts of Truth and Knowledge. Through our readings, lectures, class discussions and student presentations, we will continually ask how we know what we know, and how we arrive at truth and knowledge in philosophy. The course will examine some of the most important philosophical texts on truth and knowledge, as well as logic and reasoning, the nature of belief, faith and reason. COURSE OBJECTIVES Upon successful completion of this course, students will be expected to: LIBERAL ARTS CORE OBJECTIVES: A. Students will engage in critical reasoning/problem solving by evaluating basic philosophical claims, theories, and arguments, B. Students will use imagination to generate considered responses to questions about philosophical problems and texts, C. Students will demonstrate knowledge of fundamental philosophical concepts, such as basic concepts of informal logic, as well as elementary principles and theories in selected sub-fields of philosophy, and D. Students will develop epistemic virtues such as intellectual curiosity, courage to engage in independent inquiry, humility to hold beliefs provisionally, and striving to perfect one’s personal worldview. COURSE-SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: The aim of the course is enable students to become aware of what philosophy is all about: its history, the many areas of inquiry which fall under its domain (logic, epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, etc.), and its method of critical examination, argument, and debate. To that end, students will read primary source material, present their own ideas and their evaluations of these texts in argument form, and engage in classroom discussion. Thus, this course will promote competency in critical thinking and encourage students to examine questions of human existence, knowledge, and morality. By the end of the course, students should be able to identify major figures and trends in the history of philosophy, critically engage in contemporary debates, thoughtfully and logically express their own views on philosophical topics, and demonstrate intellectual curiosity and humility. 3. TEACHING METHOD This course takes a Socratic method and seeks to foster an environment of open exchange and critical inquiry into the subject of philosophy. Students are encouraged to bring an inquisitive mind to everything they read and to all class discussions. Each class will have a primary question (or questions) that are meant to help to focus the class on the key ideas and themes raised in the weekly readings. This course is meant to help students actively build their analytic skills, to question and challenge their assumptions about the world. Always remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question! 4. GRADING POLICY AND EXPECTIONS Grades will be assigned based on the following 5 criteria: Reflection Papers (3 in total): 30% Group Presentations: 15% Class Attendance and Participation: 25% Mid-Term Exam: 15% Final Exam: 15% Course Guidelines and Expectations: Attendance and Participation: Attendance and participation is very important both to the assessment of the students performance in the class and to gaining a fuller and richer understanding of philosophy. In-class participation does not simply mean that a student talks a lot in class. Good participation entails an active engagement with the material: challenging one’s own assumptions, taking risks, asking questions etc. This means engaging in discussion even when one is not sure of the answer to the question at hand. Extra credit will not outweigh significant absences from the course or participation. Extra credit has the chance to outweigh all other areas except attendance and participation. No Laptops in Class: No laptops or use of phones (except for emergencies) will be allowed when we meet for class unless otherwise noted by Professor Tutt. Note-taking is important and should be conducted in-writing. Note-taking of lectures, group presentations and class discussions will help students perform better on their mid-term and final exam essays as they will retain a richer understanding of the readings and topics addressed in the course. Students are expected to give their full attention to the class at all times whether we are engaging in a class discussion, a group exercise or lecture. Required Books: Students are strongly encouraged to purchase the required books for the course, which have been selected for their quality as well as for their affordability. Some readings on PDF of shorter essays will come up, but the majority of readings will be from the three required books. All links to PDF’s of required reading will be placed on Blackboard for students to easily download. Weekly Reading Expectations: philosophy starts with a love of reading. In this course, we will be reading texts you may not be familiar with and you may encounter ideas you have never considered. Reading philosophy texts help students to develop critical reading skills that can help them in assessing arguments, problem solving and seeing problems in a new way. Reading well, or being a good reader, is more than merely reading a lot of pages at any given time. Each week, the expectation is that every student is to read no more than 35 – 40 pages per week. Professor Tutt will email the class the specific pages students are to read before each class and students are expected to take notes on what they read, to read directly from the book and to come to class prepared to discuss the readings for that week. Students will not be quizzed on whether they have read the required reading, but they will be expected to come to class prepared to discuss the required readings. Extra Credit: Students will receive opportunities for two extra credit reflection papers throughout the semester such as writing a reflection on a film or other topic that comes up in class. Attending a lecture on campus and writing a reflection on how the themes addressed relate to truth and knowledge is another way to receive extra credit. To gain approval for conducting an extra credit reflection, please email your proposed idea to Professor Tutt at dtutt@marymount.edu. All extra credit papers are due two weeks before the end of the course or sooner depending on the student’s date of submitting the proposal to Professor Tutt over email. Extra credit papers should be no less than 500 words in length, Times New Roman 12 font, 1.5 spacing. Group Presentations: There will be three days (or possibly four days) of the course where small groups present. Groups are to present on material that we have been studying and they are required to submit their topic to Professor Tutt two weeks prior to their presentation. Group presentations are meant to convey the material we are studying in a creative way. All presentations should help students to understand the material from a new perspective. For example, a group presentation might show a short film clip to demonstrate a theme or idea in the course. A group might also facilitate a class exercise. Groups will be graded based on how well they distribute the work of presenting the material amongst all group members, the creativity of the presentation, and the rigor involved in the presentation of the topic. Each group will receive 20 – 30 minutes to present. Mid-Term and Final Exams: The Mid-Term and Final Exam will be in-class and essay format. Each exam will contain 3 – 4 questions that raise questions and themes we have discussed and studied throughout the course. Students are encouraged to cite their understanding of the readings, lectures and class discussions in their essays. Exams will not be open book, but students will be able to print out their notes on the readings and use their notes (up to four pages of notes are permitted). Students will be graded based on how well they convey their understanding of the material addressed in class including the readings, lectures and discussions. Additionally, students will be graded based on the quality of their writing, the cogency of their arguments and their ability to develop and defend a thesis. Reflection Papers: There are three reflection papers required for the course. These papers will be prompted based on specific questions offered by Professor Tutt which he will email to all students two weeks before the reflection paper is due. Strong reflection papers will demonstrate that the student has spent a good amount of time with the readings and thought critically about the ideas raised. The purpose of the reflection paper is for the student to demonstrate their ability to support a thesis and defend it. In addition to using your own voice, your reflection paper should also cite the readings but not summarize the readings. If you have to summarize something, do it in your own words. Reflection papers should be no less than 1,000 words in length, Times New Roman 12 font, 1.5 spacing. Reflection papers are to be emailed to Professor Tutt at dtutt@marymount.edu by 10 pm EST the day they are due (see the syllabus below for due dates). Friday, February 17, 2017, is the last day to withdraw from a class without academic record. Friday, March 24, 2017, is the last day to withdraw from a class with a grade of W. 5. CLASS SCHEDULE Week 1: Philosophy and the Problem of Truth Jan 17 What (and who) is philosophy good for? Overview of the course Review of the syllabus, class guidelines and expectations. Introduction to key concepts and desired outcomes of the class. Jan 20 Why is Socrates a threat to the social order? What is Socrates being accused of and why? Is Socrates a martyr, and if so, of what? Lecture and Discussion. Reading: Plato’s The Trial and Death of Socrates Form into groups to make preparations for presentations. Week 2: Philosophy and the Problem of Truth Jan 24 What’s the difference between a philosopher and a sophist? What is a gadfly? What are some contemporary examples of gadfly’s? What are contemporary examples of sophists? Small group discussions, lecture and large group discussion. Reading: Plato’s The Trial and Death of Socrates Jan 27 Introduction and overview of Plato’s cave allegory Lecture and Discussion. Reading: Plato’s The Republic (excerpts) Question for reflection paper is sent out to students, first reflection paper is due February 10th. Week 3: Truth in Plato’s Cave Allegory Jan 31 Plato’s theory of truth: spiritual, aesthetic, or mathematical? Lecture, Discussion and Group Exercise. Reading: Plato’s The Republic (excerpts) Feb 3 Popular culture applications of the cave allegory Continue overview of Plato’s cave allegory. Watch (in-class) film clips of Black Mirror (2011), The Matrix (1999), The Village (2004) Week 4: How Ideas Take Hold in the World Feb 7 Case study of how ideas enter the world: Science – Galileo’s discovery of the heliocentric world. Lecture, Discussion. Reading: Galileo, Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (excerpts) Feb 10 Groups 1 and 2 Present First reflection paper due by 11 pm Week 5: The Idea in the Cave? Ideology and Ignorance Feb 14 What is ideology and how do we detect it in the world? Lecture, class discussion Reading: Eagleton, What is Ideology? (Introduction) Feb 17 How is ignorance different from ideology? Lecture, class discussion Reading: Code, Lorraine The Power of Ignorance Week 6: Group Presentation and Mid-Term Exam Feb 28 Groups 3 and 4 Present March 3 Midterm Exam: in-class essay. The mid-term exam will consists of 3 – 4 questions from our study of Socrates, Plato, and ideology. Students will be graded based on their ability to form an argument, their grasp of the material and the quality of their writing. Week 8: March 7 – 10 Spring Break Week 9: Skepticism: How do we know what we know? March 14 Introduction to the key tenets of skepticism Lecture and Discussion Reading: Blackburn Think Chapter 1 March 17 What if we don’t know anything at all? Introduction to the Cartesian method. Reading: Descartes Meditations I and II Question for second reflection paper is sent out to students, due March 31st Week 10: Skepticism: How do we know what we know? March 21 How Do We Know Reality is Not a Dream? Lecture, Discussion Watch film clip of Inception (2010) Reading: Descartes, Meditations III – IV March 24 Who, or “What” is Thinking: The Self, the Soul, or the Ego? Lecture, Discussion Reading: Descartes, Meditations III – IV Week 11: Knowledge and Emancipation March 28 Introduction to the enlightenment epistemology of Kant Reading: Kant, What is Enlightenment? March 31 How does someone become enlightened according to Kant? Reading: Kant, What is Enlightenment? Second reflection paper due Week 12 Taking Subjectivity Into Account April 4 What is traditional epistemology and why must subjectivity be taken into account? Reading: Lorraine, Code Taking Subjectivity Into Account April 7 Is objective knowledge possible? Reading: Lorraine, Code Taking Subjectivity Into Account Week 13: Group Presentations April 11 Groups 5 and 6 Present April 14 – No school Easter holiday Week 14: Pragmatism and Normativity April 18 NO CLASS Reading: Rorty, Richard The Consequences of Pragmatism April 21 Is Plato obsolete? Truth as a normative construction Reading: Rorty, Richard The Consequences of Pragmatism Week 15: Logic and Argumentation: Making Arguments, Breaking Arguments Through Logic April 25 What are the most common logical fallacies in arguments and how do you detect them? Lecture, group exercise and discussion. Reading: Informal Fallacies, Chapter 4 in Logic by Baronett April 28 Exploring real world examples of logical fallacies Class discussion and group exercise. Reading: Informal Fallacies, Chapter 4 in in Logic by Baronett Second reflection paper due Week 16: Applying Logic to Information, Media and the News May 2 Group exercise on information literacy Small group exercise and large group discussion Reading: Information Literacy (TBD) May 5 Course review and reflection Third reflection paper due Week 17 Final Exam (in-class essay) Tuesday May 9th at 3 pm in Gailhac 101 6. REQUIRED TEXTS Plato and Benjamin Jowett (translator) Six Great Dialogues: Apology, Crito, Phaedo, Phaedrus, Symposium, The Republic Dover Publications, 2007 Descartes, René and Veitch (translator) Meditations on First Philosophy Watchmaker Publishing, 2010 Simon Blackburn Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy Oxford University Press, 1999 7. REQUIRED OR SUGGESTED READINGS OR AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIALS: These essays will be provided on Blackboard on PDF: Code, Lorraine The Power of Ignorance https://toleratedindividuality.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/race-and-epistemologies-of-ignorance.pdf Eagleton, Terry What is Ideology (chapter 1) http://www.sok.bz/web/media/video/EaglIdeologie.pdf Kant, Immanuel What is Enlightenment? 1784 http://www.allmendeberlin.de/What-is-Enlightenment.pdf Epistemology, Dreaming, Inception https://thephilosopherseye.com/2010/08/24/epistemology-dreaming-inception/ Rorty, Richard The Consequences of Pragmatism https://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/us/rorty.htm Galileli, Gailelo Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (excerpts) PDF provided on Canvas Lorraine, Code Taking Subjectivity Into Account PDF provided on Canvas Baronett, Stan Logic 2nd Edition Oxford University Press Rental from Amazon at this link: https://www.amazon.com/Logic-Stan-Baronett/dp/0199846316 9