| An
Introduction to Philosophy - Spring 2008 |
Dr.
Elizabeth Shadish |
| Phone:
310-660-3763 |
eshadish@elcamino.edu |
Use this
syllabus to keep ahead in your readings and to keep track of important
dates and assignments. Journals are worth 30 points each; debate reports
are worth 15 points each; the first test is worth 50 points and the last
two are worth 60 points each.
Journals
must be typed/double-spaced, and turned in either in class (on the due
date) or as an email attachment (by 11:00 am on the due date. Only one
makeup test will be allowed; see course policies for further details.
| Month |
Week |
Topics/Readings |
Tests/Assignments/Notes |
| Feb |
1
|
Philosophical
Thinking
R, Chpt. 1 |
|
| |
|
|
|
| Feb |
2
& 3 |
God
and Evil
W, Does God Exist? (1)
R, The Problem of Evil (3) |
Orientation
Quiz - in class on Thurs, Feb 21
Journal 1 - Due in class on Thurs, Feb 28
Last day to drop with NG/refund: Feb 22 |
| |
|
|
|
| |
4
& 5 |
Religion
and Science
R, Do We Survive Death? (4)
W, Are Religion and Science in Conflict? (2) |
Test
1 - March 13 (bring Mini-Essay Scantron)
Last day to drop with NG: March 7 |
| |
|
|
|
| |
6
& 7 |
Mind,
Body and Machines
W, Are All My Hopes...Brain Impulses? (5)
R, Could a Machine Think? (7) |
Debate
1 - March 20
No
Class - March 27 |
| |
|
|
|
| April |
8 |
Epistemology
W, How Do I Know That Jupiter Is the Largest Planet...? (3) |
Journal
2 - Due in class on April 3 |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
April
7 - 11: Spring Break Holiday |
| |
|
|
|
| |
9 |
W,
Can We Ever Have Genuine Knowledge? (4) |
Debate
2 - April 17 |
| |
|
|
|
| April-May |
10
& 11 |
Freedom
and Responsibility
W, Are We Morally Responsible...? (9)
W, Do We Have Free Will? (7) |
Test
2 - May 1 (bring Mini-Essay Scantron) |
| |
|
|
|
| |
12
& 13 |
The
Foundations of Ethics
R, Why Should We Be Moral? (12)
W, Are There Objective Ethical Truths? (10)
W, Is Ethics Based on a Social Contract? (11) |
Debate
3 - May 8
Last
day to drop with a W: May 9 |
| |
|
|
|
| |
14 |
Ethics
and Social Life
W, Should Our Country Promote a Specific Moral Code? (14) |
Journal
3 - Due in class on May 22 |
| |
|
|
|
| |
15 |
Philosophical
Living
R, The Meaning of Life
Instructor Handout |
Debate
4 - May 29 |
| |
|
|
|
| June |
16 |
No
new topics/readings
Review/Wrap-up |
Test
3 - June 3 (bring Mini-Essay Scantron) |
Readings
from Bruce Waller's You Decide!: Current Debates in Introductory Philosophy
are indicated with a W, followed by a title/debate number. Example
from Weeks 2 & 3: W, Does God Exist? (1) = the Waller text,
Debate 1, titled "Does God Exist?
Readings
from James Rachels' Problems from Philosophy are indicated with
a R, followed by a chapter title and number. Example
from Weeks 2 & 3: R, The Problem of Evil (3) = the Rachels
text, Chapter 3, titled "The Problem of Evil"
I will be
posting some of our class material online at http://www.elcamino.edu/faculty/eshadish/Phil2/Index2.htm.
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