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PHILOSOPHY: WORLD PHILOSOPHIES Section One, Winter Semester, 2004 JOHN ABBOTT COLLEGE Department of Humanities, Philosophy, and Religion Course Outline “The unexamined life is not worth living,” an opening presentation by granpawayne. Library resources Web Links Assignments Schedule of Classes A. GENERAL INFORMATION
B. INTRODUCTION (PROGRAM RELATED INFORMATION) (Instructor's Perspective) Philosophy is the love of wisdom. It is the pursuit of understanding. It arises out of consciousness, self-consciousness, memory and imagination. It is generated by curiosity, wonder, and inquisitiveness about the universe and about our place in it. It is the search to know what is, what could be, and what should be done. Although this course is an initiation to the discipline of philosophy, in an extended sense, it is an initiation to all of the sciences and is acknowledged as such in the awarding of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to those in each of the sciences who have proven themselves capable of formulating, understanding, and answering fundamental questions no matter what the discipline. (PROGRAM RELATED INFORMATION) This course is a part of the specific education of the Social Science Program 300.A0. The objectives it seeks to achieve and the standards it applies in assessment are from among those objectives and standards specific to the program and common to all students. Generally it has the responsibility to impart to the successful student the ability to identify the contribution of knowledge related to Social Science disciplines to the understanding of the human phenomena. Specifically this course introduces students to the field of study of Social Science through the discipline of Philosophy. C. COURSE OBJECTIVES The successful students will be able to: 1. Use the basic vocabulary of the discipline of philosophy. 2. Read and understand a text. 3. Develop critical thinking. 4. Formulate philosophical questions appropriate to each of the areas of the discipline. 5. Make evidence-based arguments. 6. Situate the philosophies of the world in their socio-historical context. 7. Situate issues of philosophy in a global context. 8. Access library resources that are related to philosophy 9. Assess the reliability, validity, and value of various information sources. 10. Communicate effectively in essay form. (see Assignments below) D. COURSE CONTENT COURSE SCHEDULE NOTE: (All Groups) These reading are REQUIRED for all groups. (Group 1, Group 2, etc.) These reading are REQUIRED for the group indicated. Nevertheless these readings are SUGGESTED for all groups. The groups will be assigned randomly during the first class session. Class#1: JAN-19 Intro One: Course Outline explained. Reading groups assigned. Class#2: JAN-21 Intro Two: Questions concerning course outline. Orientation for the course: Philosophy: Metaphysics, Epistemology, and Axiology. The Three R's: Reading, 'Riting, and 'Rithmetic. Class#3: JAN-26 Reading assignment due: (All Groups) Chapter 1 Intro: Why Philosophy? p3. (Group 1) Plato: Book VII, "Republic," 1.1 p5. (Group 2) Aristophanes: "Clouds," 1.2 p8. (Group 3) Innocent Onyewuenyi: "Is There an African Philosophy?" 1.3 p12. (Group 4) Rigoberta Menchu: "I, Rigoberta Menchu: An Indian Woman in Guatemala," 1.4 p19. (Group 5) Lao Tzu: "The Tao Te Ching," 1.5 p25. Workshop and report: comprehension, focal question, and preliminary analysis. Class#4: JAN-28 Writing assignment due: Chapter 1 Why Philosophy? Workshop and report: presentation of analysis and relativization. Class#5: FEB-02 Reading assignment due: Introduction PART I: Metaphysics p1. (All Groups) Lecture and discussion: Metaphysical questions. Class#6: FEB-04 Reading assignment due: (All Groups) Chapter 2 Intro: Reality and Being p29. (Group 1) Lewis Carroll: "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," 2.4 p44. (Group 2) Lancinay Keita: "The African Philosophical Tradition," 2.3 p38. (Group 3) Thomas Hobbes: "The Leviathan," 2.1 p31. (Group 4) Buddhist Scriptures: "Lives of the Buddha," 2.5 p49. (Group 5) Edwin Abbot: "Flatland," 2.2 p33. Workshop and report: comprehension, focal question, and preliminary analysis. Class#7: FEB-09 Writing assignment due: Chapter 2 Reality and Being Workshop and report: presentation of analysis and relativization. Class#8: FEB-11 Reading assignment due: (All Groups) Chapter 3 Intro: Human Nature p57. (Group 1) Ifeanyi Menkiti: "Person and Community in Traditional African Thought," 3.4 p78. (Group 2) James P. Hogan: "Code of the Lifemaker," 3.5 p86. (Group 3) Elizabeth V. Spelman: "Aristotle and the Politicization of the Soul," 3.3 p68. (Group 4) "The Bible": Chapters 1 and 2 of "Genesis," 3.2 p64. (Group 5) Jean Paul Sartre: "Existentialism as a Humanism," 3.1 p59. Workshop and report: comprehension, focal question, and preliminary analysis. Class#9: FEB-16 Writing assignment due: Chapter 3 Human Nature Workshop and report: presentation of analysis and relativization. Class#10: FEB-18 Reading assignment due: (All Groups) Chapter 4 Intro Philosophy and God p97. (Group 1) al-Ghazali: "The Incoherence of the Philosophers," 4.3 p107. (Group 2) Hermann Hesse: "Siddhartha," 4.5 p120. (Group 3) Augustine of Hippo: "The City of God," 4.1 p99. (Group 4) Benjamin Ewaku Oguah: "African and Western Philosophy: A Comparative Study," 4.2 p101. (Group 5) Charlotte Perkins Gilman: "Herland," 4.4 p114. Workshop and report: comprehension, focal question, and preliminary analysis. Class#11: FEB-23 Writing assignment due: Chapter 4 Philosophy and God. Workshop and report: presentation of analysis and relativization. Class#12: FEB-25 Reading assignment due: (All Groups) Introduction to Part II; Epistemology p127. Lecture and discussion: Epistemology; Who's to say, who's to say, who's to say??? Class#13: MAR-08 Writing assignment due: "Metaphysics," an analytical essay, the summative evaluation for Part I, Metaphysics. Lecture and discussion: Orientation for Part II, Epistemology. Class#14: MAR-10 Reading assignment due: (All Groups) Chapter 5 Intro: Knowledge and the Mind p129. (Group 1) Alison M. Jaggar: "Love and Knowledge: Emotion in Feminist Epistemology," 5.2 p137. (Group 2) Sor Juana Ines de La Cruz: "La Respuesta (The Response)," 5.3 p156. (Group 3) Shunryu Suzuki: "Beyond Consciousness," 5.5 p166. (Group 4) Moses Maimonides: "The Guide of the Perplexed," 5.4 p158. (Group 5) Rene Descartes: "Discourse on Method," 5.1 p131. Workshop and report: comprehension, focal question, and preliminary analysis. Class#15: MAR-15 Writing assignment due: Chapter 5 Knowledge and the Mind Workshop and report: presentation of analysis and relativization. Class#16: MAR-22 Reading assignment due: (All Groups) Chapter 6 Intro: The Search for Truth p175. (Group 1) David Hume: "Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion," 6.1 p177. (Group 2) N. Scott Momaday: "On Indian White Relations: A Point of View," 6.3 p189. (Group 3) S. A. Mwanahewa: "African Logical Heritage and Contemporary Life," 6.4 p194. (Group 4) Hildegard of Bingen: "Letters to Bernard of Clairvaux and the Mainz Prelates," 6.5 p199. (Group 5) Robert Persig: "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance," 6.2 p184. Workshop and report: comprehension, focal question, analysis, and evaluation. Class#17: MAR-24 Writing assignment due: Chapter 6 The Search for Truth Workshop and report: presentation of analysis and evaluation. Class#18: MAR-29 Reading assignment due: (All Groups) Chapter 7 Intro Aesthetic Experience p207. (Group 1) Eugen Herrigel: "Zen in the Art of Archery," 7.3 p212. (Group 2) Chinua Achebe: "Arrow of God," 7.4 p218. (Group 3) Susanne K. Langer: "The Cultural Importance of Art," 7.5 p223. (Group 4) Plato: Book X, "Republic," p209. 7.1 (Group 5) Aristotle: "Poetics," [6,8,9,14] 7.2 p211. Workshop and report: comprehension, focal question, analysis, and evaluation. Class#19: MAR-31 Writing assignment due: Chapter 7 Aesthetic Experience Workshop and report: presentation of analysis and evaluation. Class#20: APR-05 Lecture: Reading assignment due: (All Groups) Introduction to Part III Axioiogy p231. Lecture and discussion: Orientation for Part III Axiology. Class#21: APR-07 Writing assignment due: "Epistemology, a critical essay, the summative evaluation for Part II, Epistemology. Lecture & discussion: Introduction to political, social, and ethical philosophy. Class#22: APR-12 Reading assignment due: (Al Groups) Chapter 8 Intro Political Philosophy p233. (Group 1) Bart Kosko: "The Fuzzy Social Contract," 8.3 p243. (Group 2) John Locke: "Treatise of Civil Government," 8.1 p235 (Group 3) Nicholas D. Kristof: "The End of the Golden Road," 8.5 p253. (Group 4) Malcolm X: "The Speeches of Malcolm X at Harvard," 8.4 p247. (Group 5) Elizabeth Cady Stanton: "Declaration of Sentiments, Seneca Falls," 8.2 p239. Workshop and report: comprehension, focal question, analysis, and evaluation. Class#23: APR-14 Writing assignment due: Chapter 8 Political Philosophy Workshop and report: presentation of analysis and evaluation. Class#24: APR-19 Reading assignment due: (All Groups) Chapter 9 Intro Social Philosophy p262. (Group 1) Mary Wollstonecraft: "A Vindication of the Rights of Women," 9.3 p275. (Group 2) Audre Lorde: "Age, Race, Class, and Sex: Women Redefining the Difference," 9.4 p281. (Group 3) Orson Scott Card: "Ender's Game," 9.5 p287. (Group 4) John Stuart Mill: "Utilitarianism," 9.1 p264. (Group 5) Ignacio Ellacuria, S.J.: "Human Rights in a Divided Society," 9.2 p269. Workshop and report: comprehension, focal question, analysis, and evaluation. Class#25: APR-21 Writing assignment due: Chapter 9 Social Philosophy Workshop and report: presentation of analysis and evaluation. Class#26: APR-26 Reading assignment due: (All Groups) Chapter 10 Intro Ethics p297. (Group 1) Kwasi Wiredu: "The Moral Foundations of an African Culture," 10.4 p313. (Group 2) Benjamin Hoff: "The Te of Piglet," 10.5 p324. (Group 3) Immanuel Kant: "Foundations for the Metaphysics of Morals," 10.1 p299. (Group 4) Rita Manning: "Speaking from the Heart," 10.3 p307. (Group 5) Gloria Anzaldua: "Borderlands/La Frontera," 10.2 p302. Workshop and report: comprehension, focal question, analysis, and evaluation. Class#27: APR-28 Writing assignment due: Chapter 10 Ethics. Workshop and report: presentation of analysis and evaluation. Class#28: MAY-03 Concluding Roundtable. Class#29: MAY-05 Writing assignment due: "Axiology" a research paper, the summative evaluation for Part III Axiology. Class#30: MAY-10 MONDAY but a WEDNESDAY CLASS SCHEDULE [which has no effect on this section] Final Class: Teacher evaluation questionnaire. Verification of mark recorder. Final grades. E. REQUIRED TEXT Helen Buss Mitchell. Readings from the Roots of Wisdom. Toronto: Nelson Thomson Learning, 2002. Cost: List $ 41.95. F. BIBLIOGRAPHY Not Applicable. G. TEACHING METHODS This course will make use of lectures, roundtables, workshops, seminars, discussions, and presentations, all in a basically informal atmosphere. H. DEPARTMENTAL ATTENDANCE POLICY Since attendance is an integral part of understanding and obtaining competencies in Humanities, Philosophy, and Religion courses, students who miss more than 20% of class time can fail unless there are legitimate reasons. However, motivated absences are not a substitute for assignments or assessment activities that have been missed. All such work must be made up in order to complete the objectives of the course and to participate in the appropriate assessments. I. EVALUATION PLAN ALL ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE AT THE START OF CLASS ON THE DAY UPON WHICH THEY ARE DUE. A STUDENT WHO DOES NOT MEET THE DEADLINE FOR AN ASSIGNMENT MAY SUBMIT THE ASSIGNMENT FOR CONSIDERATION PROVIDED IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY A COVER LETTER CONTAINING (A) COMPLETE ID INFORMATION (B) AN EXPLANATION OF THE REASON FOR BEING UNABLE TO MEET THE DEADLINE AND (C) A FORMAL REQUEST THAT THE ASSIGNMENT BE CONSIDERED FOR "MAKE UP" CREDIT. Assignment format: The assignments may be hand written, if legible, 8 1/2" x 11" paper, one side only, stapled upper left, double spaced. Do not use a cover page but make sure that the first page includes an ID section containing: a) student's name b) course title and section, c) instructor's name, d) assignment title, e) original due date. If the above format is not followed professionally the assignment will not be accepted for assessment. For details on "Objectives" see section "C. COURSE OBJECTIVES" above. Five (5) analytical summaries, 5 x 2% = 10% Objectives: 1, 2, 4. One each, minimunm 100 words, for readings 1 through 5. These summaries will first present the question being explored and will then present the student's analysis of the text, summarizing the author's response to the question. During the workshop at which these analytical summaries are reviewed the student will add their own auto-evaluation of their assignment based on the experience of the read-around. The auto-evaluation is included in the assessment but it is not included in the 100 word minimum.
Five (5) critical summaries, 5 x 3% = 15% Objectives: 1, 2, 3. One each, minimum 200 words, for readings 6 through 10. These summaries will first present the question being explored, then they will present the student's analysis of the text, summarizing the author's response to the question, and finally the student will present their own evaluation of the author's response to the question. During the workshop at which these critical summaries are reviewed the student will add their own auto-evaluation of their assignment based on the experience of the read-around. The auto-evaluation is included in the assessment but it is not included in the 200 word minimum.
One (1) analytical essay, "Metaphysics" 25% Due date: Class#13: MAR-08. From Part I of the text select a metaphysical question; present the question thoroughly, then present your analysis of the response given to that question by any one of the authors covered in Part I. Indicate the influence of the sociohistorical context on the author's perspective. (minimum 500 words) (Objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10.) One (1) critical essay, "Epistemology" 25% Due date: Class#21: APR-07. From Part II of the text, select an epistemological question; present the question thoroughly situating it in a global context, then present your criticism of the response given to that question by any one of the authors covered in Part II. Your criticism must be supported by evidence based argumentation. (minimum 500 words) (Objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10.) One (1) research paper, "Axiology" 25% Due date: Class#29: MAY-05. (A) From Part III of the text, present an axiological question related to political, social, or ethical responsibility, (B) present the response to that question from an author not used in the course text and then (C) compare and contrast that author's position with the position of one of the authors from the text. N.B. The essay MUST follow the sequence indicated. Make sure standard rules of style are followed, e.g. in line parenthetical references are to be linked to a list of the works cited containing complete bibliographic information (minimum 1000 words) (Objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10.) J. COURSE COSTS Approximately $42.00 K. COLLEGE POLICY ON CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM The College's policy on cheating and plagiarism, as set forth in the Institutional Policy on the Evaluation of Student Achievement (IPESA), will be strictly adhered to. John Abbott College, Policy N0. 7. Resolution Number 283-07, October 30, 2001. Institutional Policy on the Evaluation of Student Achievement (IPESA) Chapter 22. Cheating & Plagiarism. This document is available online at: http://www.johnabbott.qc.ca/webpages/departments/human_resources/IPESA_P7.pdf | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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