PHILOSOPHY 1: INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
Doug McFerran, Professor of Philosophy
Email:
mcferrdd@piercecollege.edu
So what is this course
about?
From the Pierce Catalog:
Students analyze some of the fundamental issues of philosophy and
humanity that includes topics such as knowledge and reality, the foundations of
truth and science, and the nature of human consciousness and self.
(CSU GE Area C2 • IGETC Area 3B) C-ID: PHIL 100
This particular class is often described as being about M & E
(metaphysics and epistemology), meaning we are talking about how we are
supposed to tell the difference between what is objectively real as against
what we might just believe is so.
What do we hope you
get from this course (what we call SLOs -- student learning outcomes)?
Statement adopted by the
Philosophy department:
Students will have the ability to formulate some of the core
questions of philosophy and understand various philosophical responses to them
in their historical and present context.
Students will have the ability to analyze and evaluate philosophical
claims, arguments and theories using rigorous philosophical methods.
In short, we hope that at the least you will know some of the
textbook stuff specific to Western philosophy, such as the difference between
rationalism and empiricism in talking about how we get our ideas or what makes
someone a materialist or an idealist or a dualist in how we talk about our
minds.
How does the course work?
Everything will be online through the Canvas portal (ilearn.laccd.edu). Each week there
will be things to read, videos to watch, and activities (short reports or
papers and discussions that you will post to
). A list of assignments appears below the online syllabus.
We begin with a first look at what philosophy is about, then move
on to how a few key figures in its history have talked about the limits of our
knowledge. We will be looking at Socrates in ancient Greece and
Wittgenstein in England not that long ago, at Aristotle and the Dominican
priest who used his ideas to prove that God exists and we have mortal souls, at
Descartes who tried to do the same thing without Aristotle, at David Hume who
denied the very possibility any such proofs, and finally at a few other
thinkers who ask some old questions in interesting new ways.
I will try to guide you along with help from some of the
individuals who have tried to make philosophy, both old and new,
more accessible through YouTube. Each week I will post something
of a preview and several times along there will be a practice quiz that might
help you check your progress.
So how are you graded?
Each week's activities have a point
value with a few counting for extra-credit. The required activities add
up to 260 points and the final exam counts for 40 points more. Below are
the point totals for the letter grades.
A: 270+, B: 240-269, C: 210-239, D: 180-209
caution: the Canvas grade page includes
percentage scores based on graded assignments and for that reason is not always
a reliable indicator of your standing in the course
And a few things about what more Pierce can provide to help you
get through
Financial Assistance – If you need money to pay
for books, supplies, enrollment fees, parking, and other expenses to help you
with college, apply for financial aid. To learn about the financial aid
process, visit www.piercecollege.edu/offices/financial_aid (Links to an external site.) or
send an email to pierce_finaid@piercecollege.edu.
The office is located on the 2nd floor of the Student Services Building.
The Financial Aid Office uses a virtual queue called QLess which enables
students to wait in line virtually. To learn how to join the financial
aid queue, go to http://www.piercecollege.edu/offices/financial_aid/qlessvirtualline.asp
Students
with disabilities have access to a number of
services. Please see the Pierce webpage for our Special Services office.
Important
dates, especially those affecting withdrawal from a course, are on the calendar
on the Pierce website.
And
some other things you should know without asking
Disruptive
behavior and academic dishonesty (cheating on an exam, plagiarism on a paper)
are violations of school rules subject to a range of penalties. Please
see the information about both on the Pierce website.
There
is a legal expectation that all students are entitled to an education in an
environment conducive to learning, which calls on all of us to treat each other
with respect regardless of gender, religion, race, ethnicity, or sexual
orientation. In addition, California law now has specific requirements
for dealing with instances of sexual harassment on or off campus.