Philosophy 101 (02 & 03) | "Michael Kagan |
Philosophical Foundations of Western Thought | Office Hours in RH 436: MWF 9:30-10:25 AM |
Le Moyne College | and by appointment. |
Spring 2001 | Email: kagan@maple.lemoyne.edu |
Phone: Ext. 4489 | Homepage: http://webserver.lemoyne.edu/~kagan/index.html |
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
(1) Carefully read the assigned texts, trying to answer the following general reading questions:
1. "What problem is bothering this philosopher?"(2) Be prepared to talk about the readings in class.
2. "Why is it important?"
3. "What is this philosopher's response to this problem?" or "What is this philosopher's thesis?"
4. "How well does the philosopher support this thesis?" (What are the evidence, reasons, grounds, suggested consequences offered for accepting the thesis? Are these grounds credible, relevant, and convincing? Why/Why not?)
5. "What are the virtues (or strengths or advantages or good points) and defects (or weaknesses or disadvantages or bad points) of this philosopher's response to the problem?"
GRADING
GRADING IS DONE ON THE "TRADITIONAL TEN POINT SCALE� [90-100
= A RANGE, 80-89 = B RANGE, ETC. [Plus and minus grades determined by three
point divisions; e.g., 70-73 = C-, 77-79 = C+.]
Two quizzes, each quiz counts for 25% of your grade.
Group work, in-class writings, attendance and participation will together
count for the other 50% of your grade. Extra-credit presentations, exceptional
contributions to class discussion and individual insights may raise your
core grade more. Exceptionally poor attendance may result in an F. Students
who miss in-class writings are obligated to turn in typewritten
make-ups on the same topic within one week of the date the in-class writing
took place.
You are encouraged to talk to me about any grading requirement
or grade you think inappropriate to your situation.
SPECIAL NEEDS
In coordination with the Academic Support Center (ASC), reasonable accommodations are provided for qualified students with disabilities. Please register in the ASC Office for disability verification and determination of reasonable accommodations. After receiving your accommodation form from the ASC, you will need to make an appointment with me to review the form and discuss your needs. Please make every attempt to meet with me within the first week of class so your accommodations can be provided in a timely manner.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
WEEK 1: 1/17 READ THE SYLLABUS CAREFULLY. FOR 1/19 READ
How
to Read a Book (referred to as HTR from now on), from the beginning
to page 56 (Part One).
WEEK 2: FOR 1/22 READ HTR, Part Two, pp. 57-188. For
1/24 read HTR, Ch. 18, "How to Read Philosophy," pp. 270-295. Then, for
1/26, begin reading Plato's Euthyphro in CWP.
Part I: Classical foundations
Aristotle
WEEKS 6-7: (of 2/19 and 2/26) Read CWP, selections from
Categories
and
Physics (pp. 178-193)) Read CWP selections from Metaphysics,
209-230. NOTE: no class week of 3/5)
WEEKS 8-9: (of 3/12 and 3/19. QUIZ 1: March 14.
Read
Nicomachean
Ethics selections in CWP., pp. 231-268. Read selection from Book
8 at http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.8.viii.html.
Find Generation
of Animals on the internet at http://www.knuten.liu.se/~bjoch509/works/aristotle/generation_animals.txt;
read Book 2, CH. 3. NOTE: No class March 23.
Hellenistic Philosophy
WEEK 10 (of 3/26) Read CWP, selections from Epicurus
(CWP, pp. 271-276) and Epictetus (CWP, pp. 279-290). Lectures this week
also concern philosophy in transition - stoics, cynics, materialists, neo-platonists;
the encounter with Judaism and Christianity.
Part II: Medieval foundations
WEEK 11 (of 4/2) Augustine: Read CWP, selection
from Confessions. Read City
of God, Book 1, Ch. 17, on-line at http://ccel.org/fathers/NPNF1-02/Augustine/cog/t125.html#t125.html.0.
WEEK 12 (of 4/9 NOTE: No class 4/12- 4/16)) Anselm and
Aquinas: Discussion of Anselm's proof for the existence and nature of God.
Read Anselm section in CWP, pp. 306-328. Read Aquinas' criticism in CWP,
selection from Summa Theologica ("Whether the existence of God is
Self-Evident?") pp. 339-340.
WEEK 13 (of 4/16) Aquinas continued: Read CWP, selection
from
Summa Theologica, pp. 329-342. Read Aquinas selection
on "The
Production of the Woman (Four Articles)" on the www at http://www.ccel.org/a/aquinas/summa/FP/FP092.html#FPQ92OUTP1
WEEK 14 (of 4/23) QUIZ 2: April 23. Some
Jewish Medieval Philosophy: Lecture on Saadia and Maimonides.
Part III: Modern foundations and foundationalism
WEEKS 15-16 (of 4/30 and 5/1) Descartes. Read Descartes' first three Meditations in CWP (pp. 343-364). OPTIONAL READING: Finish reading the Meditations. LAST DAY OF CLASS, MAY 7: TBA.