PHIL 102 Page
COURSE OUTLINE
TERM: Spring 2024 COURSE NO: PHIL 102
INSTRUCTOR: Alice Everly COURSE TITLE: Introduction to
Philosophy: Knowledge and Reality
SECTION NO(S): CREDITS:
E-MAIL: 03 3.0
aliceeverly@capilanou.ca
OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday 9 am - 1 pm PST (Zoom)
COURSE WEBSITE: See eLearn
Capilano University acknowledges with respect the Lilwat7úl (Lil’wat), xʷmə
โ θkʷəyəm (Musqueam),
shíshálh (Sechelt), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Səlílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-
Waututh) people on whose territories our campuses are located.
COURSE PREREQUISITES/CO-REQUISITES
None
WELCOME AND COURSE FORMAT
Welcome to PHIL 102-03! This course will be delivered fully online,
asynchronously at eLearn.capu.ca for a 15-week semester, which includes two
weeks for final exams/assignments. The final exam will be in person at Capilano
University, date and location TBA. Students should expect to log in 3-4 times per
week and to spend 8‐10 hours per week on course readings, weekly learning
activities, and assignments. Virtual office hours are hosted on Zoom, Tuesdays
9 am – 1 pm PST.
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION
An introduction to the part of philosophy concerned with questions about the
ultimate nature of the world we live in and our knowledge of it (traditionally
called Metaphysics and Epistemology). The issues discussed include: the
existence and nature of God, the place of human beings in the universe, the
nature of reality, human nature, human knowledge and skepticism, freedom and
determinism, and the relationship between mind and body. The emphasis of the
course varies from instructor to instructor.
COURSE NOTE
PHIL 102 is an approved Self and Society course for Cap Core requirements.
REQUIRED TEXTS AND/OR RESOURCES
All readings will be posted to eLearn.
PHIL 102 Page
2
To participate in this course, you will need to have access to a device (laptop or
computer) and WiFi. For live discussion sessions, you may need speakers and a
microphone, although you should feel free to rely on the chat function, too. The
earphones from your mobile device may be an option. You will also need to
download Zoom to your laptop or computer. Zoom is available for free here. I
will send you a link to join our meeting every week, as well as my virtual office
hours.
The Capilano University Security Safe App may also be useful to you if you are
attending campus: download the CapU Mobile Safety App.
COURSE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
On successful completion of this course, students will be able to do the
following:
1. Explain the key concepts of epistemology and metaphysics.
2. Explain the major epistemological and metaphysical theories and
positions covered in the course.
3. Discuss abstract questions relating to metaphysical and epistemological
issues
4. Critically challenge often uncritically accepted assumptions about what
we know and the nature of reality.
5. Apply their understanding of epistemological and metaphysical theories
and arguments to contemporary issues and contexts.
Students who complete this Self and Society course will be able to do
the following:
1. Identify potential root causes of local/global problems and how they affect
local/global cultures, economies, politics, and policies.
2. Assess and evaluate individual and collective responsibilities within a
diverse and interconnected global society.
3. Synthesize a range of differing community perspectives on ethics and
justice and explain how these perspectives can inform structural change.
4. Explain how contexts (e.g. cultural, historical, colonial, economic,
technological) shape identity formation and social structures.
COURSE CONTENT
Topics and required readings are listed below.
Topic Wee Reading
k
Introduction 1 bell hooks: “Critical Thinking”
: What is Monroe C. Beardsley and Elizabeth
Philosophy? Lane Beardsley: “What is Philosophy?”
PHIL 102 Page
3
2 Helena de Bres: The Pink Guide to
Philosophy
Anthony Weston: “Short Arguments:
Some General Rules”
The Study of 3 René Descartes: Meditations II
Existence Margery Williams: The Velveteen
(Metaphysic Rabbit
s) Epicurus: “Letter to Menoeceus”
* Text Annotation Due*
Theories of 4 Simone de Beauvoir, Introduction to
Existence The Second Sex
(Social
Construction
)
5 Judith Butler: “Performative Acts and
Gender Constitution”
The Study of 6 Plato: Meno (excerpts)
Knowledge Plato: The Allegory of the Cave
(Epistemolog * Quiz 1 Due*
y)
Reading 7 No assigned reading
Week – No
Class
8 René Descartes: Meditations I
Edmund Gettier: “Is Justified True Belief
Knowledge?”
Theories of 9 Alison Wylie: “Why Standpoint Matters”
Knowledge Linda Martín Alcoff: “Sotomayor’s
(Standpoint Reasoning”
Epistemolog *Essay Due*
y)
Identity and 10 Jean-Paul Sartre: Existentialism is a
Consciousne Humanism (excerpts)
ss
11 Thomas Nagel: “What Is It Like to Be a
Bat?”
Freedom 12 Jean-Paul Sartre: “Self-Negation” and
and “Facticity”
Embodiment * Quiz 2 Due*
13 Iris Marion Young: “Throwing Like a
Girl”
Review 14 No assigned reading
Lecture
EVALUATION PROFILE
PHIL 102 Page
4
Participation: 10%
1% per weekly discussion post on the Discussion Forum (eLearn)
Essays: 40%
Text Annotation (January 19): 10%
Lecture Notes (date TBD): 10%
Essay (March 1): 20%
Quizzes: 20%
February 9: 10%
March 22: 10%
Exam (in person): 30%
Date TBD
GRADING PROFILE
A+ = 90-100 B+ = 77-79 C+ = 67-69 D = 50-59
A = 85-89 B = 73-76 C = 63-66 F =0-49
A- = 80-84 B- = 70-72 C- = 60-62
Incomplete Grades
Grades of Incomplete “I” are assigned only in exceptional circumstances when
a student requests extra time to complete their coursework. Such agreements
are made only at the request of the student, who is responsible to determine
from the instructor the outstanding requirements of the course.
Late Assignments
Not accepted except at the instructor’s discretion, under extenuating
circumstances.
Turnitin
Written work for this course will be submitted via eLearn. Turnitin, a third-party
service licensed for use by Capilano University, is integrated with eLearn. Turnitin
is used for text-matching to help detect plagiarism. Students will be required to
agree to Turnitin’s end-user license agreement when submitting the first
assignment on eLearn. All submitted assignments will be included in the Capilano
University dedicated database of assignments at Turnitin and will be used solely
for the purpose of checking for possible plagiarism during the grading process
during this term and in the future. Any student with a concern regarding using
this service should contact the instructor to make alternative arrangements. This
service is compliant with British Columbia’s Freedom of Information and
Protection of Privacy Act.
Missed Exams/Quizzes/Labs etc.
Make-up exams, quizzes and/or tests are given at the discretion of the
instructor. They are generally given only in medical emergencies or severe
personal crises. Some missed labs or other activities may not be able to be
PHIL 102 Page
5
accommodated. Please consult with your instructor.
Participation
The participation grade is based on making at least ten posts on the discussion
board (approximately one per week).
English Usage
Students are expected to proofread all written work for any grammatical,
spelling and stylistic errors. Instructors may deduct marks for incorrect
grammar and spelling in written assignments.
Electronic Devices
Students may use electronic devices during class.
Online Communication
Outside of the classroom, instructors will (if necessary) communicate with
students using either their official Capilano University email or Moodle; please
check both regularly. Official communication between Capilano University and
students is delivered to students’ Capilano University email addresses only.
UNIVERSITY OPERATIONAL DETAILS
Tools for Success
Many services are available to support student success for Capilano
University students. A central navigation point for all services can be found at:
https://www.capilanou.ca/student-life/
Capilano University Security: download the CapU Mobile Safety App
Policy Statement (S2009-06)
Capilano University has policies on Academic Appeals (including appeal of
final grade), Student Conduct, Academic Integrity, Academic Probation and
other educational issues. These and other policies are available on the
University website.
Academic Integrity (S2017-05)
Any instance of academic dishonesty or breach of the standards of academic
integrity is serious and students will be held accountable for their actions,
whether acting alone or in a group. See policy S2017-05 for more information:
https://www.capilanou.ca/about-capu/governance/policies/
Violations of academic integrity, including dishonesty in assignments,
examinations, or other academic performances, are prohibited and will be
handled in accordance with the Student Academic Integrity Procedures.
Academic dishonesty is any act that breaches one or more of the principles
of academic integrity. Acts of academic dishonesty may include but are not
limited to the following types:
Cheating: Using or providing unauthorized aids, assistance or materials
PHIL 102 Page
6
while preparing or completing assessments, or when completing practical
work (in clinical, practicum, or lab settings), including but not limited to the
following:
Copying or attempting to copy the work of another during an
assessment;
Communicating work to another student during an examination;
Using unauthorized aids, notes, or electronic devices or means
during an examination;
Unauthorized possession of an assessment or answer key; and/or,
Submitting of a substantially similar assessment by two or more
students, except in the case where such submission is specifically
authorized by the instructor.
Fraud: Creation or use of falsified documents.
Misuse or misrepresentation of sources: Presenting source material in
such a way as to distort its original purpose or implication(s); misattributing
words, ideas, etc. to someone other than the original source;
misrepresenting or manipulating research findings or data; and/or
suppressing aspects of findings or data in order to present conclusions in a
light other than the research, taken as a whole, would support.
Plagiarism: Presenting or submitting, as one’s own work, the research,
words, ideas, artistic imagery, arguments, calculations, illustrations, or
diagrams of another person or persons without explicit or accurate citation
or credit.
Self-Plagiarism: Submitting one’s own work for credit in more than one
course without the permission of the instructors, or re-submitting work, in
whole or in part, for which credit has already been granted without
permission of the instructors.
Prohibited Conduct: The following are examples of other conduct
specifically prohibited:
Taking unauthorized possession of the work of another student (for
example, intercepting and removing such work from a photocopier or
printer, or collecting the graded work of another student from a
stack of papers);
Falsifying one’s own and/or other students’ attendance in a course;
Impersonating or allowing the impersonation of an individual;
Modifying a graded assessment then submitting it for re-grading; or,
Assisting or attempting to assist another person to commit any
breach of academic integrity.
Sexual Violence and Misconduct
All Members of the University Community have the right to work, teach and
study in an environment that is free from all forms of sexual violence and
misconduct. Policy B401 defines sexual assault as follows:
Sexual assault is any form of sexual contact that occurs without ongoing and
PHIL 102 Page
7
freely given consent, including the threat of sexual contact without consent.
Sexual assault can be committed by a stranger, someone known to the
survivor or an intimate partner.
Safety and security at the University are a priority and any form of sexual
violence and misconduct will not be tolerated or condoned. The University
expects all Students and Members of the University Community to abide by
all laws and University policies, including the B.401 Sexual Violence and
Misconduct Policy and B.401.1 Sexual Violence and Misconduct Procedure.
Emergencies: Students are expected to familiarise themselves with the
emergency policies where appropriate and the emergency procedures posted
on the wall of the classroom.
