Introduction to Philosophy
EXAMPLE FILM PROJECTS
Course Description
Philosophy uses human reason to consider the important questions that surround us in life. Philosophers want to know interesting things, such as if gods really exist, how people should behave, and if we humans are really free. This course is designed to encourage the student to form and express intelligent opinions, a very valuable life and career skill. Likewise, our lectures and discussions will give you a good background into how Western people think about the world and themselves.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students should be able to describe a number of fundamental Western thinkers and their ideas. Course participants also will have cultivated a basic ability to consider things from a philosophical perspective.
Course Topics
· What is Philosophy? What are its branches?
· How do I cultivate a philosophical mind?
· What did ancient Greek Philosophers teach? Why are they so important in the West?
· What is the true nature of reality?
· Am I really free?
Course Schedule
WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?
Tuesday, Sept. 15th
The Impulse to Philosophize
Thursday, Sept. 17th
Intro. to Philosophy
READING: From Introducing Philosophy pp. 10.4-23.2
WRITING: come up with a cool translation of your name
Tuesday, Sept. 22nd
The Main Branches of Philosophy
READING: “A Visual Introduction to Philosophy” p. 99-108
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANCIENT GREECE AND ETHICS
*** Please Note. Linked material from Philip Pecorino is from Introduction to Philosophy an Online Textbook
http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/SocialSciences/ppecorino/INTRO_TEXT/default.htm
Thursday, Sept. 24th
Ancient Greece: Incubator of Philosophy
READING>>> Pecorino: “The Greeks: An Overview”; “Greek Culture”; “Greek Theatre”; and “The Sophists”
Tuesday, Sept. 29th
READING>>> Pecorino: “The Pre-Socratics” and “Socrates Lifetime”
Thursday, Oct. 1st
READING>>> Pecorino>>> “Socrates’ Trial”; “Socrates in Prison”; and
(Handout)>>>”Apology” p.32-38
WRITING: Complete the exercises within the “Apology” text
long reading assignment; give yourself enough time
Tuesday, Oct. 6th
Socrates Legacy and his Student Plato
READING>>>Pecorino: “Socrates’ Legacy” and “Plato’s Dialogues”
Plato and his Republic
READING>>>Pecorino: “Plato’s Republic”
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
METAPHYSIS: THE NATURE OF REALITY
Thursday, Oct. 8th
Plato’s Allegory of the Cave
READING (Handout)>>> Biffle: “The Allegory of the Cave” pp. 83-94
WRITING: Complete exercises in the text and the “Platonic Test”
Tuesday, Oct. 13th
Aristotle, Empiricism, and Metaphysics
READING (Handout): “Truth Resides in the World Around Us” p. 56-63
Thursday, Oct. 15th
Contemplating the Eternal from a Buddhist Perspective
Reading (Handout): From Dōgen’s “Genjokoan”
Tuesday, Oct. 20th
Descartes and the Search for Metaphysical Certitude
READING (Handout): “I Think, therefore I am.” p. 116-123
Thursday, Oct. 22nd
-Review Day for the Mid-term Examination
Tuesday, Oct. 27th
-Mid-Term Examination
Thursday, Oct. 29th
Film>>> “The Matrix”
Tuesday, Nov. 3rd
Film>>> “The Matrix” Continued.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HUMAN FREEDOM
Thursday, Nov. 5th
Introduction: Fatalism, Karma, and Predestination
READING: Handout
Tuesday, Nov. 10th
Radical Freedom: Existentialism and Libertarianism
READING: Pecorino: “Freedom and Determinism: Overview”; “Freedom I”; “Freedom II”;“Freedom III” Libertarianism”; and “Radical Freedom and Existentialism”
Thursday, Nov. 12th
Determinism and Compatibilism
READING: Pecorino “Determinism”; “Compatibilism”; and Conclusion
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHILOSOPHICAL ISSUES
Tuesday, Nov. 17th
Is it all relative?
READING: From The Big Questions p. 104-114
Discussion Leaders: _______________________________________________________
Thursday, Nov. 19th
Do we need God(s)?
READING: From The Big Questions p. 159-168
Discussion Leaders: _______________________________________________________
Tuesday, Nov. 24th
What are my rights?
READING: From The Big Questions p.177-185
Discussion Leaders: _______________________________________________________
Thursday, Nov. 26th
Film Project Work Session
Complete the project-related preparation assignments.
Tuesday, Dec. 1st
Do animals have rights?
READING: “Do animals have rights? “ From Readings on Ultimate Questions p. 450-460
Discussion Leaders: _______________________________________________________
Thursday, Dec. 3rd
Film Project Work Session
Complete the project-related preparation assignments.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CREATIVE PROJECT PRESENTATIONS
Tuesday, Dec. 8th All projects dues @ 10:45
Thursday, Dec. 10th
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHILOSOPHICAL ISSUES cont.
Tuesday, Dec. 15th
Is death to be feared?
READING: From The Big Questions p. 186-195
Discussion Leaders: _______________________________________________________
Thursday, Dec. 17th
What is beauty?
READING: From The Big Questions p. 150-158
Discussion Leaders: _______________________________________________________
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, Dec. 22nd
Film: “Thank You for Smoking”
Thursday, Dec. 24
Review Day for the Final Examination
FINAL EXAM>>> Date to be announced
Course Description
Philosophy uses human reason to consider the important questions that surround us in life. Philosophers want to know interesting things, such as if gods really exist, how people should behave, and if we humans are really free. This course is designed to encourage the student to form and express intelligent opinions, a very valuable life and career skill. Likewise, our lectures and discussions will give you a good background into how Western people think about the world and themselves.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students should be able to describe a number of fundamental Western thinkers and their ideas. Course participants also will have cultivated a basic ability to consider things from a philosophical perspective.
Course Topics
· What is Philosophy? What are its branches?
· How do I cultivate a philosophical mind?
· What did ancient Greek Philosophers teach? Why are they so important in the West?
· What is the true nature of reality?
· Am I really free?
Course Schedule
WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?
Tuesday, Sept. 15th
The Impulse to Philosophize
Thursday, Sept. 17th
Intro. to Philosophy
READING: From Introducing Philosophy pp. 10.4-23.2
WRITING: come up with a cool translation of your name
Tuesday, Sept. 22nd
The Main Branches of Philosophy
READING: “A Visual Introduction to Philosophy” p. 99-108
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANCIENT GREECE AND ETHICS
*** Please Note. Linked material from Philip Pecorino is from Introduction to Philosophy an Online Textbook
http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/SocialSciences/ppecorino/INTRO_TEXT/default.htm
Thursday, Sept. 24th
Ancient Greece: Incubator of Philosophy
READING>>> Pecorino: “The Greeks: An Overview”; “Greek Culture”; “Greek Theatre”; and “The Sophists”
Tuesday, Sept. 29th
READING>>> Pecorino: “The Pre-Socratics” and “Socrates Lifetime”
Thursday, Oct. 1st
READING>>> Pecorino>>> “Socrates’ Trial”; “Socrates in Prison”; and
(Handout)>>>”Apology” p.32-38
WRITING: Complete the exercises within the “Apology” text
long reading assignment; give yourself enough time
Tuesday, Oct. 6th
Socrates Legacy and his Student Plato
READING>>>Pecorino: “Socrates’ Legacy” and “Plato’s Dialogues”
Plato and his Republic
READING>>>Pecorino: “Plato’s Republic”
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
METAPHYSIS: THE NATURE OF REALITY
Thursday, Oct. 8th
Plato’s Allegory of the Cave
READING (Handout)>>> Biffle: “The Allegory of the Cave” pp. 83-94
WRITING: Complete exercises in the text and the “Platonic Test”
Tuesday, Oct. 13th
Aristotle, Empiricism, and Metaphysics
READING (Handout): “Truth Resides in the World Around Us” p. 56-63
Thursday, Oct. 15th
Contemplating the Eternal from a Buddhist Perspective
Reading (Handout): From Dōgen’s “Genjokoan”
Tuesday, Oct. 20th
Descartes and the Search for Metaphysical Certitude
READING (Handout): “I Think, therefore I am.” p. 116-123
Thursday, Oct. 22nd
-Review Day for the Mid-term Examination
Tuesday, Oct. 27th
-Mid-Term Examination
Thursday, Oct. 29th
Film>>> “The Matrix”
Tuesday, Nov. 3rd
Film>>> “The Matrix” Continued.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HUMAN FREEDOM
Thursday, Nov. 5th
Introduction: Fatalism, Karma, and Predestination
READING: Handout
Tuesday, Nov. 10th
Radical Freedom: Existentialism and Libertarianism
READING: Pecorino: “Freedom and Determinism: Overview”; “Freedom I”; “Freedom II”;“Freedom III” Libertarianism”; and “Radical Freedom and Existentialism”
Thursday, Nov. 12th
Determinism and Compatibilism
READING: Pecorino “Determinism”; “Compatibilism”; and Conclusion
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHILOSOPHICAL ISSUES
Tuesday, Nov. 17th
Is it all relative?
READING: From The Big Questions p. 104-114
Discussion Leaders: _______________________________________________________
Thursday, Nov. 19th
Do we need God(s)?
READING: From The Big Questions p. 159-168
Discussion Leaders: _______________________________________________________
Tuesday, Nov. 24th
What are my rights?
READING: From The Big Questions p.177-185
Discussion Leaders: _______________________________________________________
Thursday, Nov. 26th
Film Project Work Session
Complete the project-related preparation assignments.
Tuesday, Dec. 1st
Do animals have rights?
READING: “Do animals have rights? “ From Readings on Ultimate Questions p. 450-460
Discussion Leaders: _______________________________________________________
Thursday, Dec. 3rd
Film Project Work Session
Complete the project-related preparation assignments.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CREATIVE PROJECT PRESENTATIONS
Tuesday, Dec. 8th All projects dues @ 10:45
Thursday, Dec. 10th
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHILOSOPHICAL ISSUES cont.
Tuesday, Dec. 15th
Is death to be feared?
READING: From The Big Questions p. 186-195
Discussion Leaders: _______________________________________________________
Thursday, Dec. 17th
What is beauty?
READING: From The Big Questions p. 150-158
Discussion Leaders: _______________________________________________________
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, Dec. 22nd
Film: “Thank You for Smoking”
Thursday, Dec. 24
Review Day for the Final Examination
FINAL EXAM>>> Date to be announced
