INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY (PHIL 201)

Reading and Assignment Schedule

Required Texts

• Naragon, “A Book is a Machine to Help One Think”: An Introduction to Philosophy (Fall 2016) PDFs: [Intro: §§1-3] [Logic: §§4-7] [Socrates & Plato: §§8-11] [What Can I Know?: §§13-20] [What Am I?: §§24-27] [Is There a God?: §§31-39] [Ethics Introduction: §§40-44] [Aristotle-Mill-Kant: §§45-47]

• Plato, Five Dialogues, 2nd ed. (Hackett)

• René Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy (Hackett)

Most of the assigned readings are found immediately following the relevant chapter in the textbook (Naragon, “A Book is a Machine” ...). Readings marked as “Naragon, §§” refer to sections in the textbook. Additional readings, videos, audio files, and films listed under “Other Resources” are for interested students wanting to explore a topic further and/or who would like to write an “Extra Credit Journal” [see].

The films listed under “Other Resources” usually include a link to a trailer, so that you can acquire some sense of the film before watching it (the extra credit journal is to be over the film, of course, and not the trailer).

Please note: These reading materials are not like the Sunday cartoons or some easy-reading blogsite. You will need to read and re-read this material, taking notes to help you follow the line of thought. This is not the sort of class where you can do well on the exams by cramming; there’s much more going on here than simple memorization. Look at the items under “What you need to know how to do” for that day, read the materials closely, then re-examine that list of what you are supposed to know how to do, and re-read the material, if necessary. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to understand the readings!

Philosophy Study Table

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TBA, tutor

Assignments

Due dates for the Discussion Forum postings and comments are listed below; the topics are described on the “Writing” page [see]. You may submit these materials as early as you like; the deadline for Discussion Forum postings and comments is always midnight of the day for which they are listed.

Extra credit journals [see] are always due seven days after the day for which they are listed (under “Other Resources”) — except for the last week of the semester: all work needs to be submitted by Thursday, December 5. All of these are to be submitted through the appropriate drop box in Canvas. Late work can still be submitted, but it will be penalized. I encourage you to submit work early, when you can.

Philosophy at the Movies!

If you enjoy watching films that make you think (or that help you think, if you’re already there...), then you may want to explore those listed below in the “Other Resources” sections. All or most of these are available for writing an extra credit essay. I’m always looking for new titles, so please share your suggestions of films I should add.

Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives (or learning competencies) are listed with the materials given for each class day (click on the [show] links). These objectives are normally prefaced with some verb: identify, describe, distinguish, diagram, define, use, construct, explain, evaluate, compare, discuss. You may click on these terms for a brief description and example of what I have in mind.

Thu, Aug 29

(1) What is Philosophy? [show]

DF #1 is due Friday at midnight (see Canvas) [rubric]

What Should I Believe?

Tue, Sep 3

(2) Analyzing Arguments [show]

Tuesday Essay (due before class) [rubric]

Comments on DF #1 are due at midnight (see Canvas) [rubric]

Thu, Sep 5

(3) Extended (everyday) Arguments [show]

Tue, Sep 10

(4) Deductive Logic [show]

Tuesday Essay (due before class) [rubric]

Thu, Sep 12

(5) Inductive Logic [show]

Tue, Sep 17

(6) The Ethics of Belief [show]

Tuesday Essay (due before class) [rubric]

Thu, Sep 19

(7) Plato’s Apology: The Role of the Philosopher [show]

Discussion Forum #2 is due Friday at midnight (see Canvas) [rubric]

Tue, Sep 24

(8) Plato’s Meno: The Benefits of Philosophy [show]

Tuesday Essay (due before class) [rubric]

Comments on DF #2 are due at midnight (see Canvas) [rubric]

Thu Sep 26

(9) Plato’s Euthyphro: The Nature of Definitions [show]

Mon, Sep 30, 8:00-9:30 p.m.

Review Session for Exam #1 [ACEN 238]

Tue, Oct 1

— Exam #1 —

What Should I Do?

Thu, Oct 3

(10) Why Be Moral? [show]

Tue, Oct 8

—— Fall Break ——

Thu, Oct 10

(11) From Moral Intuition to Moral Theory [show]

Tue, Oct 15

(12) Ethical Subjectivism [show]

Tuesday Essay (due before class) [rubric]

Thu, Oct 17

(13) Aristotle’s Virtue Ethic [show]

Discussion Forum #3 is due Friday at midnight (see Canvas) [rubric]

Tue, Oct 22

(14) Mill’s Utilitarianism [show]

Tuesday Essay (due before class) [rubric]

Comments on DF #3 are due at midnight (see Canvas) [rubric]

Thu, Oct 24

(15) Kant’s Deontologism [show]

What Am I?

Tue, Oct 29

(16) Minds, Brains, and Selves [show]

Tuesday Essay (due before class) [rubric]

Thu, Oct 31

(17) Minds and Machines [show]

Mon, Nov 4, 8:00-9:30 p.m.

Review Session for Exam #2 [ACEN 238] [study guide]

Tue, Nov 5

— Exam #2 —

What Can I Know?

Thu, Nov 7

(18) Doubting our Beliefs [show]

Tue, Nov 12

— No Class —

Thu, Nov 14

(19) Cartesian Dualism [show]

Tue, Nov 19

(20) Locke’s Empiricism [show]

Tuesday Essay (due before class) [rubric]

Is There a God?

Thu, Nov 21

(21) Believing and Disbelieving in God [show]

Tue, Nov 26

(22) Faith and Reason [show]

Discussion Forum #4 is due Friday (November 29) at midnight (see Canvas) [rubric]

Tuesday Essay (due before class) [rubric]

—— Thanksgiving Break ——

Tue, Dec 3

(23) The Argument from Design [show]

Comments on DF #4 are due at midnight (see Canvas) [rubric]

Thu, Dec 5

(24) The Problem of Evil [show]

Finals Week

Wed, Dec 11, 8:00-9:30 p.m.

Review Session for Exam #3 [ACEN 238] [study guide]

Thu, Dec 12, 8:00-9:50 a.m.

— Exam #3 —

Manchester University // Registrar // Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies // Last updated: 2 Oct 2019