Course Title: PHIL 110: Introduction to Philosophy
Course Time: 1-4pm Mon.-Fri., May 18-June 5.
Class Location: Busch Hall, Room 113
Instructor: Chris Eliasmith
Office Hours: 10am-1pm Mon.-Fri. (These are approximate
office hours. Please try to make an appointment if at all possible.)
Office Location: Busch Hall, Room 10
Email: chris@twinearth.wustl.edu
Text: Wolff (1997). About Philosophy. 7th Edition. Prentice-Hall.
Course Description: This is a survey course intended to introduce the student to traditional and contemporary philosophical problems, concepts and methods. Areas of study include ethical theory, social and political philosophy, philosophy of religion and art, epistemology, feminist theory, philosophy of science, metaphysics and philosophy of mind. The text being used contains numerous biographies of famous philosophers and discussions relating the course material to contemporary issues.
Schedule:
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pp. 2-39 | What Do Philosophers Do? |
| Limits of Western Philosophy | |||
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pp. 40-76 | Kant and Categoricals |
| Utilitarianism | |||
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pp. 76-131 | Feminist Critiques |
| Medical Ethics | |||
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pp. 132-156 | Mill and Liberalism |
| Capitalism | |||
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pp. 156-199 | Social Contract Theory |
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pp. 200-253 | Plato and Aristotle on Art |
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Romanticism and Tolstoy | ||
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Marcuse and the Sake of Art | ||
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pp. 254-303 | Kierkegaard and the Existence of God |
| Proofs of God's Existence | |||
| The Problem of Evil | |||
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pp. 304-324 | Descartes' Doubt |
| Approved Topic Due | Rationalism and Empiricism (Leibniz and Hume) | ||
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pp. 324-349 | Kant's Resolution |
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pp. 350-362 | Scientific Method |
| Theory and Observation | |||
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pp. 362-387 | Kuhn and Society |
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pp. 388-405 | Metaphysics and Materialism |
| Free Will | |||
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pp. 405-423 | Mind/Body Problem |
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Final Essays Due | ||
Grading: The course requires the writing of two 5-7 page papers each worth 30% of the final grade. In addition, there will be a midterm and final quiz worth 25% and the final 15% of the course grade will be assigned based on class participation. Class participation will be based on the quality of questions raised by the student and their skill at participating in philosophical discussions.
Policies: A maximum of two unpenalized absences are permitted for the duration of the course. Beyond that, 5 percent will be deducted from the class participation score for each subsequent absence. Absences beyond these five will result in a loss of a letter grade per absence.
There will be no makeup exams unless the student has informed me of their impending absence on the quiz day at least 5 days in advance, or in cases of extreme extenuating circumstance.
Late papers will lose a partial letter grade (i.e. B- will become C+) per day late.