-
PHIL 111: INTRODUCTION TO
PHILOSOPHY IINSTRUCTOR:
Phil Smolenski
1
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Phil Smolenski (ALMOST) PhD, Philosophy Queen’s University
Email: [email protected]
Office: PE C13
Office Hours: T/R 5:00-6:00 (and by appointment)
2
OVERLORD PHIL
2
-
COURSE WEBSITE
http://teaching.philsmolenski.com/ [Launch Day: Sept. 9]
3
3
COURSE TEXTBOOK
Gideon Rosen (et al), NORTON INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
Additional Readings (*) Available Online
4
4
-
COURSE READINGS
EXPECTATION: Readings completed in ADVANCE
Short…BUT Difficult and Challenging
Read carefully and slowly
Philosophy Lecture NOT a “Murder Mystery”
5
5
OVERVIEW
What is Philosophy?
Investigation of fundamental Ideas (Nature, Reality, Value, etc)
More Questions — Fewer Answers
Exercise in abstract thinking — Mode of thinking
Critical Thinking — Solving Problem
Philosophical Questions…
- What gives life meaning?
- What is the nature of reality?
- What is knowledge?
- What makes something right/wrong?
- What is a just distribution of benefits/burdens?
6
6
-
BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHY
LOGIC
METAPHYSICS
EPISTEMOLOGY
VALUE THEORY
7
Nature of Reality
Theories of Knowledge
Ethics AND Aesthetics
Study of Valid Inferences
7
TOPIC LIST
- Introduction to Philosophy
- What is Knowledge?
- Reasonable to Believe
- David Hume Week
- External World
- Appearance and Reality
8
- What is morality?
- Major Moral Theories
• Utilitarianism
• Deontology
• Virtue Ethics
- Challenges to Morality
8
-
EVALUATIONS
POP Quizzes…………………..10%
Short Papers.……………….…60% [20% EACH X 3]
Final Exam..……………………30%
9
9
POP QUIZZES
Randomly occurring with some frequency
1-3 Multiple Choice Questions
Based on lecture’s readings
Possible BONUS points
10
10
-
SHORT PAPERS
THREE SHORT PAPERS:
LENGTH: 1000 - 1250 words
- Week 5: October 3rd - Week 9: October 31st - Week 13: November 28th
2 COMPONENTS: Exposition + Evaluation
11
11
SHORT PAPERS
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
- First Paper = APPROXIMATELY 1000 words - Second/Third Papers = APPROXIMATELY 1250 words
- NO EXTERNAL SOURCES - No title page/bibliography - In-Text Citations (Author, p. ###)
LATE POLICY: 1/3 letter grade EACH day (e.g., B+ → B)
12
12
-
UNSTAPLED PAPER POLICY
13
13
FINAL EXAM
SCOPE: Cumulative
FORMAT: Different types of questions
DATE: Set by College
STUDY GUIDE: Distributed Week 13
14
14
-
COURSE POLICIES
Course outline subject to change
Email Policy: [email protected]
Accommodations: contact Accessibility Services
Plagiarism. DON’T DO IT. Simple as that
15
15
NEXT LECTURE…
Introduction to Philosophy:
Bertrand Russell, “What is the Value of Philosophy?”
Plato, “Allegory of the Cave”
16
16