INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY                             Scott Austin

PHIL 251/513, Spring 2008                                               309 E Bolton

MWF 10:20-11:10                                                              Voicemail (979) 695-7628

Civil Engineering Building 222                                        s-austin@philosophy.tamu.edu

 

OFFICE HOURS (309 E Bolton):  MWF 9-10 and 11:30-12:30; T 9-12; TH none

 

An introduction to philosophy through reading, discussing, and writing about selected great works in one tradition stemming from Ancient Greece.  The course has no prerequisites.  Plato (January 14-February 1):  What is piety?  What do I owe the state?  The trial and death of Socrates.  Is the human soul immortal?  Augustine (February 4-20):  Why would a good God let bad things happen?  Can God’s existence be proved?  Descartes (February 22-March 17):  Is there anything I can know for certain?  What is the relationship between the mind and the body?  Nietzsche (March 19-April 7):  Is morality relative?  Is belief in God harmful?  Pirsig (April 9-29):  How can I determine values in a technological world?

 

BOOKS:   Plato, The Last Days of Socrates (Penguin)

                 Augustine, On Free Choice of the Will  (Hackett or Bobbs-Merrill)

                 Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy (Hackett)

                 Nietzsche, On the Genealogy of Morals (as translated by Kaufmann)

                 Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (Harper)

 

REQUIREMENTS:  three 7-12 page double-spaced papers, due Monday, February 18; Monday, March 31; and Tuesday, May 6 (at the time and place of the optional ‘final’).  There are extensions for religious holidays, for illness, and for crisis.  There are also rewrites, to be turned in by May 6.  Late papers must also be handed in by that date.  The grade for the course is normally the average of the three paper grades.  There is an optional ‘final’, also on May 6.  The grade for the ‘final’ can replace one lower paper grade, unless the paper received an F* for scholastic dishonesty.  The instructor reserves the right to begin taking attendance at any time and to count attendance for up to ¼ of the semester grade.  Submission of a paper in fulfillment of these course requirements constitutes an affirmation that the work conforms to the Aggie Honor Code.

 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Policy Statement

     The following ADA policy statement (part of the policy on Individual Disabling Conditions) was submitted to the University Curriculum Committee by the Department of Student Life.  The policy statement was forwarded to the Faculty Senate for information.

     The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute

that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities.  Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities.  If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Department of Student Life, Services for Students with Disabilities, in Cain Hall or contact (979) 845-1637.

 

 

 

PHIL 251/513, page 2

 

Course Objectives for the Humanities requirement

1.  To demonstrate awareness of the scope and variety of works in philosophy (EEO 1).

2.  To understand the values of various philosophers as expressions of their civilization (EEO 2).

3.  To respond critically to works in philosophy (EEO 3).

 

AGGIE HONOR CODE

     “An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do”

 

     Upon accepting admission to Texas A&M University, a student immediately assumes a commitment to uphold the Honor Code, to accept responsibility for learning, and to follow the philosophy and rules of the Honor System.  Students will be required to state their commitment on examinations, research papers, and other academic work.  Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the TAMU community from the requirements of the processes of the Honor System.

     For additional information please visit www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor/

 

PLEDGE:  On all course work, assignments, or examinations at Texas A&M University, the following Honor Pledge shall be pre-printed and signed by the student:  “On my honor, as an Aggie, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this academic work.”