Introduction to Philosophy Class hours: Sun 12:30-3:15 PM
PHI 100 Section 922 Instructor: TANG, Xiaoyang
Spring 2011 Office hours: Th 10:30-11:30 AM
Credits 3 (N630, with appointment)
Website:philosophysunday.blogspot.com email: tangxyang@gmail.com
Course Description
The study of philosophy helps students develop analytic skills and gain an
appreciation of the general philosophical problems with which human beings
have grappled throughout the civilization. This course will introduce you to some of the main themes, problems and ideas in philosophy from a historical perspective. Our main goals are to develop an understanding of the nature of philosophical thinking, to get familiar with the most well-known philosophical texts and to acquire some basic philosophical skills of constructing arguments and developing ideas. Given that most (if not all) students have no previous exposure to philosophy, this course will start from the very beginning. We will not only read and discuss philosophical writings from thinkers in the history, but will also try to develop a sense for the process and practice of philosophical thinking.
Student Learning Outcomes
This course will examine different approaches to philosophy. The students will learn: 1) There are various possibilities of doing philosophy in the ancient, modern and contemporary times. Philosophy, in broad sense, is not limited to any particular form or question, but has a valuable and influential existence in many areas in our life.
2) In reading these classical philosophy texts, students will acquire a view of the essence of philosophy.
3) Students will also become more sophisticated readers, better writers, skilled analysts and clear, concise communicators.
Required Text and Readings
(Any version of the following texts can be used. Many of them can be downloaded from the website given)
Plato: Apology, translated by Benjamin Jowett, http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/apology.html
Euthyphro, translated by Benjamin Jowett, http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/euthyfro.html
Republic (excerpts), translated by Benjamin Jowett, http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.html
Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics, Translated by W.D. Ross, (excerpts) http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.html
Augustine: Confessions, Translated by Albert Outler, (excerpts) http://www.ccel.org/ccel/augustine/confessions.xiv.html
Descartes: Discourse on Method, (excerpts) http://www.gutenberg.org/files/59/59-h/59-h.htm
Kant: The Critique of Pure Reason, (excerpts) http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext03/cprrn10.txt
Hegel: The Phenomenology of Spirit, (excerpts) http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/hegel/works/ph/phprefac.htm
Nietzsche: The Birth of Tragedy, (excerpts) http://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/Nietzsche/tragedy_all.htm
Evaluation & Requirements of Students
1. Class Contribution (including attendance) 20%
2. Journals/Website entries 15%
3. Midterm paper 20%
4. In Class Presentation 15%
5. Final Exam 30%
1. Class Contribution (including attendance)
In order to ensure a strong class contribution grade, you must be prepared for each and every class. This means that you must be able to respond to, or to raise questions about the text, or to complete basic written and verbal quizzes. The class participation grade will be considerably reduced in the case of students who reveal that they have not completed the assigned reading by their inability to ask and answer basic questions about the text. Students who consistently contribute to the exchange of arguments in class discussion will be rewarded for their hard work.
You should read the text at least twice, the first time, to get a general idea of the text; and the second time to look more closely at the specific arguments and issues. Besides, absence and lateness affect your grade.
2. Journals/Website entries
Your journal entries will be based on the reading material. You must write your entries before the class during which the text is discussed and post them on the class website: www.philosophysunday.blogspot.com. No late journal entries will be accepted. The journal entries can be about anything, as long as they are inspired by, and in some way relate to, the reading material. Guidance questions will be provided, but your writings do not have to be limited to these questions. Journals must be a minimum of 100 words. You must write all assigned journals (with a grade of “pass”) in order to get a high grade on this assignment. Active comments and discussions on the website will be rewarded.
3. Midterm paper
A list of topics will be distributed in the middle of the semester. You should choose one topic and write a paper of 3-5 pages.
4. In Class Presentation
You should make a presentation about a philosopher, a philosophical school or a philosophical work which are not covered in the class readings. The topic is chosen by yourself, but should be approved by me in advance. You should present it in a clear and convincing manner to the class within 4 minutes, followed by 1-2 minutes Q&A session.
5. Final Exam
The final exam will be scheduled during the exam week. The exam will include some questions testing your knowledge of philosophy and short writings in response to topics that are not known in advance.
College Attendance Policy
At BMCC, the maximum number of absences is limited to one more hour than the number of hours a class meets in one week. For example, when you are enrolled in a three-hour class, you are only allowed four hours of absence (not 4 days). In the case of excessive absences, the instructor has the option to lower the grade or assign an F or WU grade.
Note: Two lateness is equivalent to an absence.
Academic Adjustments for Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations or academic adjustments for this course must contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities. BMCC is committed to providing equal access to all programs and curricula to all students.
BMCC Policy on Plagiarism and Academic Integrity Statement
Plagiarism is the presentation of some one else’s ideas, words or artistic, scientific, or technical work as one’s own creation. Using the idea or work of another is permissible only when the original author is identified. Paraphrasing and summarizing, as well as direct quotations require citations to the original source. Plagiarism may be intentional or unintentional. Lack of dishonest intent does not necessarily absolve a student of responsibility for plagiarism.
Students who are unsure of how and when to provide documentation are advised to consult with their instructors. The library has guides designed to help students to appropriately identify a cited work. The full policy can be found on BMCC’s website, www.bmcc.cuny.edu. For further information on integrity and behavior, please consult the college bulletin (also available online).
Outline of Topics (Asterisks mark due dates of journals)
Jan. 30 (Sunday) Introduction
Feb. 6 (Sunday)* Plato: Apology and Euthyphro Topics: Wisdom
Feb. 13 (Sunday)* Plato: Republic (Book I) Topic: Justice
Feb. 20 (Sunday)* Plato: Republic (Book II and the allegory of cave in Book VII) Topic: Politics
Feb. 27 (Sunday) *Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics (Book I) Topic: Happiness
Mar. 6 (Sunday) * Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics (Book X) Topic: The best life
Mar. 13 (Sunday)* Augustine: Confessions (Book XI) Topic: Time, Distribution of midterm paper topics
Mar. 20 (Sunday)* Descartes: Discourse on Method (Part 1-IV) Topic: Knowledge
Mar. 27 (Sunday) * Kant: The Critique of Pure Reason (a. Preface to the second edition 1787; b. the whole Introduction, namely from “I. Of the difference between Pure and Empirical Knowledge” to “VII. Idea and Division of a Particular Science, under the Name of a Critique of Pure Reason”), Topic: Self-consciousness
Apr. 3 (Sunday) Kant: The Critique of Pure Reason (continued) Due date of midterm papers
Apr. 10 (Sunday) * Hegel: The Phenomenology of Spirit (Preface), Topic: Absolute Truth
Apr. 17 (Sunday) Spring Break
Apr. 24 (Sunday) Spring Break
May. 1 (Sunday) * Nietzsche: The Birth of Tragedy (section 1-4, 7-15, please note these are the numbers of the sections in the text, not in the preface), Topic: Arts
May. 8 (Sunday) Midterm Presentation
May. 15 (Tuesday) Review
Socrates doesn’t consider himself to be a wise man but compared to the politicians, poets, craftsmen and all the other men who have a reputation of being wise he is wiser then they are in the sense that he doesn’t know anything. When he went to these men in search of wisdom he found out that although they were very good at what they did, they didn’t understand it because they were more focused in their reputation and appearing to be wise. Yet Socrates thinks he is wiser then they are because he questions them in search of true wisdom instead of claiming to know everything. However, Socrates considers it’s his contribution to Athens to expose these men with their false wisdom which he basically refers to it as ignorance. I personally agree with Socrates because wisdom is not something that is learned in a specific period of time but a never ending learning experience. Also because since we are only humans we cannot know everything and although we are wise in some aspects, we are also ignorant in others.
ReplyDeleteCan justice do good to friends and do harm to enemies? I found this question very compelling because justice means to be fair and equal in all manner of life. Therefore, with this statement being true as in science “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction”. So in some sense justice can bring harm to enemies ONLY if you judge one strictly on the surface of just being you enemy, then yes, I believe that this statement is true! However, I don’t believe that because someone is you enemy that you MUST always be unfair to them and this is what Socrates also. I feel that Socrates felt that all men are equal and it doesn’t matter what relations, possession or power that one has, had or will have with another should determines our behavior towards them. Socrates was trying to enlighten Polemarchus that whether or not the person is you enemy or not, then, (justice) we should be equal in every matter to that person despite our relationship with them.
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