updated 4/22/05

PHIL 2101.003 Introduction to Philosophy (L,W)


MWF 1:00
Spring 2005

Michael Eldridge
Garinger 209
687-3318
Office Hours: M 2-4 and TR 2-3:30 (and by appointment)

Texts: Neil Turnbull, Get a Grip on Philosophy (Barnes & Nobles Books, 2003), and other materials to be found on the internet or made available to the class electronically by the instructor, perhaps with the assistance of members of the class.

 

Schedule

Date

Day Topic Reading
January
31 Mon Dewey Video  
February
2 Wed John Dewey and Philosophy as Cultural Criticism Eldridge, John Dewey, Turnbull, p. 161
4 Fri Philosophy as Criticism Eldridge, John Dewey
7 Mon Socrates and His Earlier Accusers Apology 17-23
9 Wed Socrates, Meletus and the Socratic Method Apology 23-27
11 Fri Socrates' Defense and Mission Apology 28-41
14 Mon John Mackie on Ethics: A Modern Example  Inventing Ethics, ch. 1: read pp.15-27
16 Wed Mackie's Moral Scepticism  
18 Fri Dewey's Opposition to Religion & Rel. Exp. A Common Faith (ACF), LW 9.3-20
21 Mon Dewey's Religious Proposal  
23 Wed Dewey's Religious Proposal (continued)  
25 Fri Dewey, Science and Mysticism ACF LW 9.21-8
28 Mon Dewey's "God" ACF LW 9.29-39
March
2 Wed No Class  
4 Fri Take Home Exam DUE Friday 4 March (as hard copy) or 7 March (via email attachment)

7 to 12

Spring Break
14 Mon Dewey and the Source of Value ACF LW 9.29-39
16 Wed A No-Church Society? ACF LW 9.40-52
18 Fri  no class
21 Mon A No-Church Society? (continued) ACF LW 9.52-58
23 Wed Passionate Intelligence ACF LW 9.52-58
25 Fri No Class: Spring Holiday
28 Mon Evolution, Creationism & Intelligent Design:
What's the Issue?
 
30 Wed The Biblical Understanding of the Cosmos http://www.lhup.edu/~dsimanek/febible.htm
April
1 Fri The Biblical Understanding (continued)

http://www.answersingenesis.org/

http://www.caseforacreator.com/intro_content.htm

4 Mon C. S. Lewis, Naturalism and Supernaturalism "The Naturalist and the Supernaturalist," Miracles, chapter 2; for information on (and some evaluation of) Miracles see a paper by Henry Imler
6 Wed no class
8 Fri Lewis on the Incoherence of Naturalism "The Cardinal Difficulty of Naturalism," Miracles, chapter 3
11 Mon Lewis and Naturalism (continued)  
13/15 We/Fri Descartes, Interactive Dualism and the Mind-Body Problem William Gale, Review of Paul Churchland's Matter and Consciousness; Robert H. Wozniak, "Rene Descartes and the Legacy of Mind/Body Dualism"
18/20 Mo/We Materialism Notes on Materialism from Kyle Cave's course
22 Fri Exam 2 (or Papers due): One either turns in a paper by 1:00 or takes the exam at 1:00
25 Mon Hume's Empiricism Hume's Enquiry: An Interactive Guide Go to Hume's Epistemology (3) and (4)
27 Wed Hume on Miracles Hume's Enquiry: An Interactive Guide Go to Miracles
29 Fri No Escape for the Empiricist  
May  
2 Mon Philosophical Reasoning  
11 Wed Final Exam 12:00-3:00

 

Grade Composition

Test 15%

Exam

20%

Paper or Exam II

25%

Final Exam

30%

Participation

10%

 

 

Grade Scale

90-100 is an A

80-89 is a B

70-79 is a C

60-69 is a D

59 and below is a F



 

Attendance Policy

 

Attendance is expected but students will not be directly penalized for failure to attend class or rewarded for attendance.

 

Participation

 

Students are expected to contribute to the class. They may do so by making a presentation in class, asking pertinent questions on a regular basis, responding regularly to the instructor's questions, organizing a study group, posting class notes on the web, identifying materials on the web or in some other form that makes a contribution to the class.   Students are encouraged to report (in writing) on their participation by the last day of class, thus influencing the instructor’s evaluation.  The grade, if the participation is satisfactory, will be at the student's course average or better.

 

NOTE

The instructor reserves the right to modify the course and its requirements as conditions warrant. Students will be notified of changes either in class or online but preferably in both ways.

 

Academic Integrity

 

Students have the responsibility to know and observe the requirements of "The UNC Charlotte Code of Student Academic Integrity" (UNC Charlotte Catalog). The most recent edition of the Code is available in the Office of the Dean of Students.

 

Disability Accommodation

 

Students with documented disabilities requiring accommodation in this course should contact Disability Services in Fretwell 230.

 

Philosophy Majors and Others Interested in Philosophy

 

Students are invited to participate via email in an electronic philosophy discussion list for students. To join Phil-D, send your email address to mjcroy@email.uncc.edu and request to be added.

 

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Copyright © 2004, Michael Eldridge