COURSE OVERVIEW
PL
100 PHILOSOPHY AND THE HUMAN
CONDITION Summer 1
2006
M,W 9-12:15 am
INSTRUCTOR: Frank Farrell, Senior Associate Professor of
Religion
COURSE
DESCRIPTION: An introduction to the study of philosophy
through an examination of primary works in philosophy. The focus is on the historical development of
major ideas (e.g., theories of human nature, freedom, work, etc.).
COURSE
PREREQUISITE: Passing grade in EN 101, Fundamentals of Composition I.
COURSE
PHILOSOPHY: Students who have completed
English 101 have already been introduced to views of human nature and freedom
through a specific focus on the struggles of culturally diverse and often
marginalized groups in
COURSE
OBJECTIVES: By the end of the course, the
student will:
1. define the
discipline of philosophy;
2. display knowledge of
the major areas of philosophical inquiry;
3. explain in writing the following Western theories of human nature: classical Greek, Christian, Modern/political,
scientific theories
and existential theories;
4. critically discuss
these theories in essay form;
5. analyze theories of
human nature from a philosophical viewpoint;
6. display the ability
to analyze the influence of the above theories on her/his own beliefs about
human nature and freedom.
7. read successfully and comprehend excerpts from
primary philosophy sources;
8. identify and
retrieve information from a variety of primary and secondary electronic and
traditional sources.
9. work cooperatively
in group learning activities.
Student
Outcomes:
Outcome
one:
To demonstrate
effective communication skills:
a. MEASURE: Students will communicate knowledge of course
material in writing in written assignments and exams.
b. MEASURE: Students will communicate knowledge of
course material in speaking in collaborative group assignments and/or class
discussions.
Outcome
two:
To
demonstrate effective reading and critical thinking skills:
a. MEASURE: Students will take exams and/or quizzes
designed to determine preparation for class.
b. MEASURE: Students will critically analyze assigned
philosophical works in answering study questions, collaborative learning
questions and group projects and in taking exams.
Outcome
three:
To
understand the ethical and spiritual issues explored through philosophy.
a. MEASURE: Students will explore the ethical and
spiritual ideas of assigned readings by answering study questions and
collaborative learning questions and participating in class discussions and
group projects focusing on the ethical implications of selected works.
Outcome
four:
To
identify and retrieve information from a variety of primary and secondary
electronic and traditional sources.
a. MEASURE: Students will identify and retrieve information from a variety
of primary and secondary electronic and traditional sources by completing
assignments that require the use of this information.
APPROACHES
TO TEACHING:
1. Lectures 2. Collaborative Learning exercises
3. Written
assignments 4. Group Project
5. Exams 6. Films with guided discussion
7. Computer tutorials 8. Demonstration of search and retrieval
techniques for the Internet
REQUIRED TEXTS: Fifty
Internet
COURSE
REQUIREMENTS: This will be an intensive reading course run in a
seminar style. We will base our
discussions primarily on these readings.
Therefore, reading assignments should be done before the class in which
we will discuss them. There will be two
examinations: a midterm and final exam, one paper, one group project and weekly
homework written assignments. There may
also be occasional quizzes (both announced and unannounced). There are computer
tutorials for some topics available at the website for the course: http://apps.manor.edu/faculty/ffarrell
These
will help you to review definitions, terminology, basic ideas, etc. and should
be done for selected themes. Part of our course work will be done in
cooperative learning groups, so you should come to class ready to contribute to
the group. Questions are signs of
intelligent life.
ATTENDANCE: Because group work is an important part of
the course and this course is run in seminar style, it is important that you
attend class regularly and on time so that you may contribute to the
work of your assigned group. Lateness
disrupts the class and will count as an absence. Excessive (more than two)
absences and/or lateness (whether excused or not) will result in a lowered
final grade for the course. Any time
you are absent, you will miss important lecture information and class
activities. Therefore, it is your
responsibility to arrange to get any material (lecture notes, assignments,
handouts) covered in class when you are absent. All assignments and
class handouts are available on the course website: http://apps.manor.edu/faculty/ffarrell
GRADING: 90% <
100% total average earns a final grade of A.
80% < 90% average earns a final grade of B. 70% < 80% average earns a final grade of
C. 60% < 70% average earns a final
grade of D. 0 < 60% average earns a
final grade of F. Your final grade will be determined by exam grades, group
project, internet project, any quizzes, written assignments, class
participation and attendance.
All assignments must be
handed in on time in order to receive full credit. Partial credit may be given for late
assignments. If you miss class, you can
get the assignment and/or handout from the course website: http://apps.manor.edu/faculty/ffarrell
Absence on the day of a scheduled exam will result in a grade of
zero (0) for that exam unless you receive my permission to miss the exam
before the exam. If
you do not contribute to group work for a group project because of absence or
lack of participation, your assigned grade for that project will be zero (0).
ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY:
Plagiarism is a serious offense with serious consequences from failing
the essay, to failing the course, to being expelled from the college. Students are responsible for making sure that
they do not plagiarize. Also, see plagiarism policy in the student handbook.
Theme
Assignment/Class Activity
|
Week 1 Introduction
to course: discussion about human nature Introduction
to Philosophy Introduction to reading philosophy |
Bertrand Russell “The Problems of
Philosophy”, Reading #2. and study questions (handout) |
|
ML King
The Greeks |
Martin Luther Kings “Letter from Julian Bond essay
Plato's “Allegory of the Cave”, study
questions (handout) Handout on the definition and areas of
philosophy |
|
|
Film: “ |
|
Week 2 The
Greek view and the beginnings of Western philosophy Plato's views on human nature |
Plato:
"Apology" Plato, “Republic” Translated by
G. M. A. Grube |
|
Week Group
project: Socratic dialogue |
|
|
Group project: Socratic dialogue |
|
|
Week
3 |
|
|
Jesus and an alternative view of human nature Religious World View |
Lecture notes and readings
50 Readings: PP 24-64 |
|
Augustine's views on human nature |
Handouts and selections from Augustine's The
City of God, with study questions |
|
Mid Term Wed. June 7
Modern political views of human nature: Man in
society: Hobbes |
Lecture notes and readings |
|
Modern political views of human nature: Man in
society: Hobbes
|
Selections from Hobbes' Leviathan ( 50
readings: P 434) with
study questions |
|
Week 4
Modern political views of human nature: Man in society: Locke |
Locke’s The Second Treatise of Government
( 50 readings: P 444)
with study questions |
|
Modern Political view of human nature: Man as
“Homo Faber” |
|
|
Modern Political view of human nature: Man as Homo faber |
Selections from The Communist Manifesto;
( 50 readings: P 462)
study guide; |
|
Week 5 Modern satirical view |
Mark Twain “The Lowest Animal”, |
|
Modern scientific views of human nature:
Scientism |
Jacob Bronowski’s
“The Reach of Imagination”, Stephen Hawking’s “
Brief History of Time “ Desmond Morris’ “Territorial Behavior” Walt Whitman’s “When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer”, |
|
Internet project |
Demonstration in Library |
|
Week 6:Existential
view of human nature |
Lecture notes |
|
Existential view of human nature |
Dostoyevsky The Brothers Karamazov, |
|
Existential view of human nature; Internet project due |
Jean-Paul Sartre, Existentialism Is a Humanism, ( 50 readings: P 385) Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good
and Evil Rachels; Challenge of Cultural Relativism ( 50 readings: P 395) |
|
Can we change for the better? Closing Discussion |
; Lecture notes and review for final exam;
Lecture notes and review for final exam |
The final examination is during final exam week.
This schedule is subject to change if the pace of the course
demands it.
OFFICE HOURS: Mondays, Wednesdays
"The unexamined life is not worth living"
Socrates