Philosophy 101: Introduction to Philosophy

(MWF, Maybank, 206)



            Ned Hettinger                                                                                                Office: 16 Glebe, Rm. 201

            Spring 2011                                                                                                   Office Hrs: T, Th 11-1

            Office Phone: 953-5786                                                                                (Also by appointment or

            Email: hettingern@cofc.edu                                                                           stop by my office.)

            Class web page: https://hettingern.people.cofc.edu/Intro_Philosophy_SP_2011/Index.html

                                                                         

Course Description

 

What makes actions right or wrong? Are morality and beauty in the eye of the beholder? Is religious belief rational? Can society legitimately tell me what to do? Do we have obligations to animals or the wider environment? Is everything (including our minds) purely physical? Are we determined to behave as we do? Are women different than (or inferior to?) men? This course explores these fundamental philosophical questions and will introduce you to some major branches of philosophy: ethics (our major focus), aesthetics, philosophy of religion, epistemology, social and political philosophy, and metaphysics.


Texts

 

James Rachels, The Elements of Moral Philosophy (6th edition) – available at bookstores

Readings on the class webpage: https://hettingern.people.cofc.edu/Intro_Philosophy_SP_2011/Index.html

Evaluation


Midterm Exam (21%) Wednesday, February 23

Final Exam (25%)

This will focus on the material from the second half of the course, but may also include necessary material from the first half.

Major Paper (including a paper proposal) (34%)

5-7 page paper exploring a philosophical issue from one of the branches of philosophy that we examine. You will choose your topic and I will provide a list of some possible topics. A paper proposal is due on Friday, March 18. The paper is due on Friday, April 8th.

Reading Quizzes (10%)

There will be unannounced quizzes on the reading for the day (approximately 10 for the semester). I do not give quiz makeups, but I give “free quizzes” that can be used to substitute for a missed quiz. Also, if you will be absent, you may email me a summary of the reading for that day before the class begins and this will count for the quiz should there be one.

Class Participation and Attendance (10%)

This includes general quality of class involvement and attendance. Attendance is particularly important in this class. I want you to learn from each other and from class discussion. Developing the skill of thinking philosophically requires practice and following examples. These can't be adequately done on your own. Poor attendance will lower your grade; extremely poor attendance is sufficient grounds for failing the course. If you have a good reason for missing class, please email me an explanation. Please also come to class on time: Assignments, reading quizzes and an attendance sheet are given at the beginning of class. It is your responsibility to sign the attendance sheet. If the sheet somehow misses you during the class, please come up after class and sign it.

Grading Scale:            I use the College’s numeric grading scale. A = 4.0 , A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, B- = 2.7, C+ = 2.3, C = 2.0, C- = 1.7, D+ = 1.3, D = 1.0, D- = 0.7, F = 0.0