Introduction to Philosophy Philosophy 100

Professor David A. Salomon, Black Hills State University, Fall 2000

Office: Jonas 103A
Office Hours: MWF 2-2:50, T 11-12, and by appointment
Office Phone: 642-6249
E-mail: davidsalomon@bhsu.edu

This course is designed to give you an overview of the history of western philosophical thought. Although we may occasionally allude to eastern philosophy, our focus is western philosophy as it developed from the Greeks through the early Christians, into the Middle Ages, and, finally, in the contemporary world. As such, the course is a vigorous baptism in philosophical ideas and will require students to engage themselves both in the reading and in class discussion. Our credo is: philosophy is about ideas and expressing opinions and defending them.

Over the course of the semester we will consider some of the major questions in philosophy:
1) What is "the good life"?
2) What is happiness, and how can we achieve it?
3) What are the basic concepts of good and evil, and how are they present in the world?
4) What is the soul?
5) What is beauty?
6) Can there be an absolute right?

We will progress chronologically through the rich history of philosophical thought. We will, when at all possible, look at complete texts. Philosophy is a discipline best studied when we look at the whole pie; one slice is not a good indicator.

Course Requirements:

Class Participation
Two short (4-6 page) papers; topics to be discussed
One longer (8-11 page) paper using at least three secondary sources; topic to be discussed
Midterm Examination
Final Examination

Attendance: Students are expected to attend class regularly. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class meeting. If you miss more than six class meetings, you will fail the course. Lateness will have a similar effect. If you are sick or have an emergency which forces you to miss more than two consecutive classes, call the Office of Student Affairs and let them know. This way, they will contact all of your instructors, and you might not be held accountable for those absences. Don't disappear for two weeks and then reappear, expecting everything to be all right.

N.B. Papers must be handed in on time. Papers handed in late will receive a one grade deduction for each class/meeting it is late.

Texts (when possible, texts have been placed on reserve in the library, and editions have been selected with cost in mind):

Philosophic Classics: From Plato to Derrida. Third Edition. Forrest E. Baird and Walter Kaufmann. Prentice-Hall.
Samuel Beckett, Waiting for Godot. Grove.
John Searle, Mind, Language, and Society: Philosophy in the Real World. Basic.

Special Accommodation: Reasonable accommodations, as arranged with the disabilities coordinator, will be provided for students with documented disabilities. Please contact the BHSU Disabilities Services Coordinator at 642-6099.

Getting in touch: You can always reach me by e-mail. I check it several times a day. My e-mail address is davidsalomon@bhsu.edu.

The World Wide Web (WWW) address for this class is http://www.bhsu.edu/dsalomon/phil100/fall2000/home.html At this site you will find helpful links for materials we will cover in the course, as well as a copy of this syllabus. It will be updated occasionally.

Grading Guidelines: If you are enrolled in the course to get a grade, drop now. College is about more than grades. Unfortunately, grades are a necessary evil. Your work will be graded on a scale from A to F with pluses minuses. Although BHSU does not use pluses and minuses in semester grades, I believe they are helpful in evaluation throughout the semester. If, at the end of the semester, your grade is teetering between two grades, attendance and class participation become important factors.

A range: The work is extraordinary. It has said something different or is conceived in an interesting and unusual way. If written, the paper is virtually free of errors in writing or fact. Conventionally, an "A" means the work is perfect.

B range: The work is above average. It presents the material more than competently and, if written, is well-written and well-organized.

C range: The work is average. If written, it might have some problems in writing or conception. Organizational problems may also be present as may some misunderstandings of the texts or topics.

D range: The work is below average. If written, it probably has serious problems in writing and organization. It might show severe misunderstandings of the texts or topics.

F: The work is failing. If written, it probably has severe problems in writing and shows little or no understanding of the texts or topics. Note: a grade of F is an earned grade and will not be awarded if work is not submitted or completed (that type of performance "earns" a 0).