PHILOSOPHY 120-01
Introductory Philosophy (Course ID # 000131) T H 3:30-4:50 PM
Winona State U. Fall 2009 Minne 102
Instructor: Ed Slowik/325 Minne/Office phone: 457-5663
Office Hours: M 3:30-4:30 PM, and T 6:30-7:30 PM, and by appointment. The best time to talk to me is before or after class, but please feel free to set up an appointment.
Texts:
Required: Introducing Philosophy, R. Solomon, 9th ed. (Oxford)
Optional: How To Think About Weird Things, T. Schick, Jr. & L. Vaughn, 5th ed. (Mayfield)
Course Objectives:
This course will examine basic concepts and problems in philosophy. In particular, we will examine issues in metaphysics, ethics, and the philosophy of religion, mainly through contemporary and classic readings. We will be concerned with such important questions as: What is personal identity?, Can we know the nature of the universe?, Does God exist? We will also examine the alleged difference between science and pseudo-science (e.g., ESP, astrology, etc.) as a means of introducing concepts in critical thinking.
Course Requirements:
The breakdown of the grade is as follows: 2 Midterms, 30% each; Final Exam, 30%; class participation and attendance, 10%.
Midterm dates: T, Sept. 29; and H, Oct. 29.
Both the midterms and final will consist of multiple choice and true/false questions. The final exam will not be comprehensive but only cover material since the last midterm. The tests will mainly cover the notes I give in class, so it is important to show up each day!
As an extra-credit assignment, I will allow students to write a short term paper (5-7 pages, double spaced) to replace one of the tests. Let me know if you would like to work on a term paper, but you can find the assignment listed on the web site, as well as tips for writing a philosophy paper. Student are highly encouraged to turn in rough-drafts of their paper, since they will greatly increase their chances of receiving a good grade. The paper assignment is due on the day of the final exam.
Phil 120 satisfies both the General Education and University Studies requirements in the Humanities category. Students can review the University Studies criteria satisfied by this course either by checking the WSU main web page or by stopping in the Philosophy Department (Minne 329).
Web Page:
As mentioned above, information on the
course will be posted on a web page. The information will pertain to: syllabus,
description of extra-credit paper assignment, and tips for writing a philosophy
paper. The address is: http://course1.winona.edu/eslowik
Schedule:
Basically, the course will cover the Introduction, and chapters ? of Solomon, but the schedule for each class day’s reading is not set. So, it is important to show up for each class to get the exact readings for each upcoming class and week. Below is rough outline of the general readings for each week.
Week 1: Introduction (T), Film (H) (Aug. 25, 27)
Week 2: Logic from Introduction, and begin chap. 2 (Sep. 1, 3)
Week 3: chap. 2 (Sep. 8, 10)
Week 4: chap. 2 (Sep. 15, 17)
Week 5: chap. 2 (Sep. 22, 24)
Week 6: Midterm 1 (T), (Sep. 29, Oct. 1). NO CLASS on H, Oct. 1.
Week 7: chap. 4 & 6 (Oct. 6, 8)
Week 8: chap. 4 & 6 (Oct. 13, 15)
Week 9: chap. 4 & 6 (Oct. 20, 22)
Week 10: Midterm 2 (H) (Oct. 27, 29)
Week 11: chap. 7 (Nov. 3, 5)
Week 12: chap. 7 (Nov. 10, 12)
Week 13: chap. 7 (Nov. 17, 19)
Week 14: NO CLASS on T, Nov. 24.
Week 15: chap. , alternate Finals date (H) (Dec 1, 3)
Final Exam: Tuesday, Dec 8, 3:30-5:30 PM
Philosophy 120/Introductory Philosophy
The papers should be typed, double spaced, and from 5 to 7 pages in length (5 page minimum, but no maximum). The papers are due on the day of the final exam. This paper assignment is only intended for those who want to replace the lowest exam. I highly recommend that you turn in rough-drafts of the paper, so that I can get it back to you with comments (and you can turn in as many rough-drafts as you like).
There are many ways to write a philosophy paper. But, you will need to accomplish the following: (1) Choose a specific philosophical problem or issue; (2) discuss in great detail both sides of the debate (what they believe and why); (3) offer any problems or criticisms that you can think of (or have researched) for both sides of this debate--this is important: you must spend time critically examining both sides of the dispute; (4) you may want to offer your own views (that is, which side you favor), but this is not required; however, make sure you explain why you favor a particular theory or viewpoint, if you do say what you personally believe. People are free to write on most subjects. Yet, I want all students to check their topics with me. Also, I encourage all students to submit rough drafts of their papers for critical comments. Students who work with me on their papers usually receive the best grades.
1) Pick a topic from the book that we are not going to cover and examine both sides of the issue (or as many viewpoints as are represented). That is, you will need to critically examine the issue in detail and offer any problems and counter-replies that you can think of during your discussion.
2) Pick a current philosophical controversy that is of personal interest. You will need to find some articles on the issue (magazines, newspapers, etc.) on which to base your paper. Make sure you check your topic with me. People interested in researching a topic in the pseudo-sciences are encouraged to take this option. Make sure, however, that you find some sources that are skeptical of the pseudo-science, since it always easy to find material that accepts the theory as true.
3) You can pick an issue from the book that we have already discussed in class, but did not have time to cover in depth. However, only pick this option if you have something original to say. I don't want people merely repeating what they have in their notes or what the authors state in the books--I want you to examine aspects of the debate that we haven't discussed, or have barely discussed, and from your personal perspective.
Tips for Writing a Philosophy Paper
The main point of most undergraduate philosophy papers is to present positions backed by reasons and arguments. Even if you are simply giving a philosopher's views on an issue, you need to be able to present the arguments he or she relied on. Indeed, mere opinions, whether your own or those of a well-known philosopher, are worthy of a serious hearing only when backed by reasons.
Thus a philosophy paper is not just a series of opinions spouted by its author, nor a straightforward reporting of events, nor a "book report" or capsule summary of some famous person's views. It involves giving, and weighing, arguments. If this seems intimidating, you should know that there are some easily understood tips and techniques for writing philosophy papers. They do not eliminate the work involved in writing the paper–nothing will do that for you–but they can help you systematically approach your topic. And with enough practice, you will find yourself applying them almost automatically. (Incidentally, the plain fact is that most people who are good at this kind of thing were not born that way, but got that way by practice.)
Getting started.
A common mistake made by undergraduates is choosing a very large topic, one that calls for much more discussion than can be provided in a paper of six, eight, or even twelve pages. In general, it is better to say a lot about a narrow topic, than to say a little about each aspect of a broad topic. (Thus, for example, it is more productive to discuss in detail a single argument for the existence of God, like the Argument from Design, than to run quickly but superficially over the many different arguments for the existence of God.)
Once you have found a suitable topic, formulate to yourself a claim about it that you wish to defend. For example, if your topic is the Argument from Design, then your claim might be that this argument does not succeed in establishing God's existence. Or, if your topic is the distinction between primary and secondary qualities, your claim might be that Locke was right about this distinction, and that Berkeley, who disagreed with Locke, was wrong.
Once you have formulated your claim, try to think of arguments that support it, and also arguments that seem to undercut it. This sounds hard, but recall that, if your topic was discussed in your philosophy class in the first place, then probably there was also some discussion of arguments for it or against it. Moreover, it is perfectly acceptable to use arguments drawn from other philosophers. You must, however, show that you understand these arguments and are not just "parroting" someone, and you must acknowledge your source for the argument. Failure to credit sources properly is plagiarism, and will result in a failing grade for the course.
One of the most impressive things you can do in a paper, besides giving good arguments in support of your claim, is to anticipate objections (the "arguments that seem to undercut it," mentioned above), and to show that they do not succeed. Moreover, it is a grave error to ignore or overlook undercutting arguments that have actually been presented in your class or in assigned readings. If you disagree with them, you should say why; but to simply omit them is to ask for a bad grade.
As for evaluating such supporting and undercutting arguments, that is a skill that cannot be imparted here in a paragraph or two. The way to learn it is to see how others do it (particularly in class, but also in philosophy books and articles), and to try to do it yourself. Some of the appropriate techniques are: (1) to assess whether the argument uses key terms properly; (2) to see whether the argument rests on one or more premises that are questionable; and (3) to see whether the argument, if accepted, leads to consequences which do not square with known facts or credible theories.
Showing understanding.
How do you show that you are not just "parroting" someone? The main way is to put things in your own words. It is all too easy to think that you understand something just because you can regurgitate some buzzwords. Real understanding typically goes hand in hand with formulating things for yourself, in your own words. Several rules of thumb are helpful here. One is to avoid jargon where possible; if you must use it, be sure to give a definition. Jargon, for our purposes, is wording that rarely or never arises in ordinary conversation, or that is being used in some non-ordinary way. Another rule of thumb is to write as if you were explaining something to someone who is intelligent, but is not a specialist in the subject, e.g. a favorite grandparent. Do not, in particular, write with jargon in the hope that your professor will like it better or will understand it better (even if you don't).
Another key technique for achieving, and showing, understanding is to come up with your own examples to illustrate key points. Many philosophical positions, though highly abstract and general, readily lend themselves to concrete illustrations. For example, Hume's ethical claim that no `ought' can be derived from an `is', comes alive when fleshed out as the claim that nowhere among the facts about what happens when I cut off Joe's head is there anything that tells me whether I ought not to cut off his head. (Hume himself knew this, of course; indeed, he gives even more hair-raising examples.)
Note, however, that examples illustrate and hence clarify, but that they do not take the place of arguments. Thus you still need to be able to explain the underlying principles in words–you still need to be able to explain why the example is an example.
Finally, do not leave things unclear or make sloppy statements and then say to the professor, "Aw, c'mon, you know what I meant!" Your professor can't read your mind, and will probably assume from previous experience with other students that you yourself do not know what you mean. The safest course is, naturally enough, to say just what you mean.
Writing with clarity.
It is crucial, not just to have something to say, but to say it effectively. The most effective presentation usually follows the old saying: "Tell 'em what you're gonna tell 'em; tell 'em; then tell 'em what you told 'em." That is, begin with an introductory paragraph in which you say what you take yourself to be doing in the paper; then, after you have presented your case, close with a conclusion which says what you have done. If you do not say up front, in the introduction, what you will be doing in the body of the paper, your reader will probably conclude that you do not know what you are up to in your paper. (This is an all-too-frequent situation, especially for students who put off papers until the last minute.)
This does not mean that you must write your introduction first. On the contrary, it is typically better to launch into writing the body of the paper first, since the writing process often brings insights and changes of opinion that you didn't expect. So it is prudent to wait until you are happy with the body of the paper, and then go back and write an introduction that spells out in a nutshell what you are doing in the body. The same goes for the conclusion, of course.
You may be tempted to avoid "tipping your hand" at the beginning of your paper, so that your reader is led suspensefully and dramatically to the eventual unveiling of your key points. Avoid this temptation. It is much more difficult to pull off than you might imagine, and your reader will appreciate much more the up-front approach, pedestrian as it may seem.
A final point about introductions and conclusions is that they should not include grandiloquent phrases. Avoid saying things like, "Throughout history, people have struggled with the question of what makes an action good," or "Aristotle was the greatest philosopher who ever lived, and his influence is still being felt today." Your reader, far from being impressed, will be thinking, "Cut to the chase." Remember, you're not actually writing for your grandparent; you should merely put things as clearly and simply as if you were.
Structure and grammar.
Proper structure at all levels of your paper will help immensely in getting your points across. Choose words in a way that avoids ambiguity. For example, if you use the word "it", be sure that it is clear to which "it" you are referring. It can help to have a friend read your paper, looking for ambiguities that you might have overlooked. Likewise, you should avoid run-on sentences or incomplete sentences, which can be very confusing to read.