JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY
Introduction to Philosophy
PHI 101
Spring 2020
905-955
Wilson 1001
1010-1100
Duke 2036
Dr. Edward Perry Neel, Adjunct Instructor
Cleveland 320 Office Hours M-W-F 11-12
PHI 101
3 credits
An introduction to the basic problems and concepts of philosophy – the nature of man and the self, ethics, theories of knowledge, philosophy of religion, etc. as revealed in the writings of major philosophers.
Objectives:
1. The student will be able to distinguish the various categories of philosophical inquiry, such as epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, philosophy of religion, and social & political philosophy.
2. The student will develop an understanding of basic philosophical theories regarding each of the areas of inquiry.
3. The student will be able to associate various theories with the philosophers responsible for their development.
4. The student will have a historical overview of the development of western philosophy from the time of Socrates to the twentieth century.
5. The student will be able to define significant philosophical terminology.
[email protected]
www.skeptichume.weebly.com
Attendance is expected. I do not distinguish excused and unexcused absences. So use your absences judiciously. No late tests. If you must miss a class due to university commitments, see me before your absence. At my discretion, I may issue an essay assignment to make up for a missed test.
THE CLASSROOM IS A CELL-FREE ZONE. Absolutely no cellphones. NO CELL PHONES, FOOD, OR GUM. NO LAPTOPS. Electronics are extremely distracting to you and your neighbors in class. So don't use them!
(“I don’t have pet peeves, I have deep psychological hatreds.” George Carlin)
We look very closely at all of our readings. Therefore, you must bring the current reading assignment to class.
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS/TEXT:
THE PHILOSOPHICAL JOURNEY, William Lawhead. (Various editions available, but the most recent is the best. Older editions have different page numbers and some material will be changed.)
Adam Smith, handout.
THE STRANGER, Albert Camus.
Evaluation:
There will be six objective multiple choice tests. Your lowest grade will be dropped. The final exam is a cumulative multiple choice test give at the class's examination scheduled time.
600 points. 90%+ A 80%+ B 70%+ C 60%+ D
Schedule:
Week 1 M-Introduction to the course
W- Socrates
F- Socrates
Week 2 M- Epistemology (Theories of Knowledge)
(Different editions of Lawhead have different chapter numbers. Consult yours for the location.)
W- continued
F- "
Week 3 M- "
W- "
F- Test on Socrates and Epistemology
Week 4 M- Metaphysics (Theories of Reality)
W- continued
F- "
Week 5 M- "
W- "
F- Test on Metaphysics
Week 6 M(Philosophy of Religion)
W- continued
F- "
Week 7 M- "
W- "
F- Test on God
Week 8 M- Ethics (Theories of Morality and the Good Life)
W- continued
F- "
Week 9 M- "
W- "
F- Test on Ethics
Week 10 M- Social Justice (Theories on Society and Government)
W- continued
F- "
Week11 M- "
W- "
F- Adam Smith (handout)
Week 12 M- Test on Social Justice and Adam Smith
W- The Meaning of Life
F- continued
Week 13 M- Camus
W- continued
F- continued
Week 14 M- "
W- Test on Camus
F- Review
Exam Week
This schedule is a merely a structure and guideline. Often times we fall behind. But everything is done in the same order. You are expected to keep up with the assignments and read in advance of class and come prepared. Bring the current reading assignment to class.
Contact Information
Dr. Perry Neel
[email protected] (preferred)
540-448-0538
"'So Merlyn sent you to me' said the badger, 'To finish your education. Well, I can only teach you two things. To dig, and love your home. These are the true end of philosophy.'" The Badger from "The Sword in the Stone," THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING, T.H. White.
Honor Code: This class adheres to the Honor Code and policies of this University.
Add/Drop: In accordance with the dates posted by the University Registrar
Weather: Class is canceled if the University is closed, or if I email you otherwise.
Religious Accommodations will be made for the observance of holidays. Please contact the instructor prior to the holidays so that arrangements can be made.
PHI 101 is a General Education Cluster Two Course.
Cluster Two: Arts and Humanities
Cluster Two shows students what it means to live lives enriched by reflection, imagination and creativity. It does so by offering each individual a multidisciplinary experience within the arts and humanities, those areas of endeavor that humans have long valued for their intrinsic worth and that invite a deeper appreciation of the human experience. The broadly stated goals for Cluster Two are:
To introduce students to cultural, historical, aesthetic and theoretical expressions of and questions about human experience.
To expose students to multiple academic disciplines in the arts and humanities and their methods and unique perspectives.
To inspire a deeper awareness of how the interplay between culture and expression affects both collective and individual identities.
To foster appreciation of the aesthetic and formal qualities of literary, visual and performing arts.
To engage students in thinking critically and communicating clearly about enduring questions concerning human life, culture and history.
Cluster Two Structure
Students complete nine credits by choosing one course from each of three groups: Human Questions and Contexts; Visual and Performing Arts; and Literature.
Group One: Human Questions and Contexts
Students will take one course from the list below. GAMST 200 takes an interdisciplinary approach to questions about American identity and shows how they reflect a complex interplay of cultural, historical, religious and ideological perspectives. The GANTH and GHIST courses introduce students to the great cultures of the world by surveying the common patterns of experience that characterized Western, Middle Eastern, Asian, African, Meso- and South American societies in the past. The GHUM courses are interdisciplinary, in-depth explorations of specific topics, cultures, periods or themes. The GPHIL and GREL courses explore the great inquiries into human existence and the ways different cultures across different time periods constructed their responses to questions concerning humans' existence and their relationship to nature, ultimate reality and the universe. Thus all of the courses in Group One emphasize central questions about the human condition and ways of studying values and beliefs as they are shaped by class, gender, race, historical events, philosophy and religion.
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Introduction to Philosophy
PHI 101
Spring 2020
905-955
Wilson 1001
1010-1100
Duke 2036
Dr. Edward Perry Neel, Adjunct Instructor
Cleveland 320 Office Hours M-W-F 11-12
PHI 101
3 credits
An introduction to the basic problems and concepts of philosophy – the nature of man and the self, ethics, theories of knowledge, philosophy of religion, etc. as revealed in the writings of major philosophers.
Objectives:
1. The student will be able to distinguish the various categories of philosophical inquiry, such as epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, philosophy of religion, and social & political philosophy.
2. The student will develop an understanding of basic philosophical theories regarding each of the areas of inquiry.
3. The student will be able to associate various theories with the philosophers responsible for their development.
4. The student will have a historical overview of the development of western philosophy from the time of Socrates to the twentieth century.
5. The student will be able to define significant philosophical terminology.
[email protected]
www.skeptichume.weebly.com
Attendance is expected. I do not distinguish excused and unexcused absences. So use your absences judiciously. No late tests. If you must miss a class due to university commitments, see me before your absence. At my discretion, I may issue an essay assignment to make up for a missed test.
THE CLASSROOM IS A CELL-FREE ZONE. Absolutely no cellphones. NO CELL PHONES, FOOD, OR GUM. NO LAPTOPS. Electronics are extremely distracting to you and your neighbors in class. So don't use them!
(“I don’t have pet peeves, I have deep psychological hatreds.” George Carlin)
We look very closely at all of our readings. Therefore, you must bring the current reading assignment to class.
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS/TEXT:
THE PHILOSOPHICAL JOURNEY, William Lawhead. (Various editions available, but the most recent is the best. Older editions have different page numbers and some material will be changed.)
Adam Smith, handout.
THE STRANGER, Albert Camus.
Evaluation:
There will be six objective multiple choice tests. Your lowest grade will be dropped. The final exam is a cumulative multiple choice test give at the class's examination scheduled time.
600 points. 90%+ A 80%+ B 70%+ C 60%+ D
Schedule:
Week 1 M-Introduction to the course
W- Socrates
F- Socrates
Week 2 M- Epistemology (Theories of Knowledge)
(Different editions of Lawhead have different chapter numbers. Consult yours for the location.)
W- continued
F- "
Week 3 M- "
W- "
F- Test on Socrates and Epistemology
Week 4 M- Metaphysics (Theories of Reality)
W- continued
F- "
Week 5 M- "
W- "
F- Test on Metaphysics
Week 6 M(Philosophy of Religion)
W- continued
F- "
Week 7 M- "
W- "
F- Test on God
Week 8 M- Ethics (Theories of Morality and the Good Life)
W- continued
F- "
Week 9 M- "
W- "
F- Test on Ethics
Week 10 M- Social Justice (Theories on Society and Government)
W- continued
F- "
Week11 M- "
W- "
F- Adam Smith (handout)
Week 12 M- Test on Social Justice and Adam Smith
W- The Meaning of Life
F- continued
Week 13 M- Camus
W- continued
F- continued
Week 14 M- "
W- Test on Camus
F- Review
Exam Week
This schedule is a merely a structure and guideline. Often times we fall behind. But everything is done in the same order. You are expected to keep up with the assignments and read in advance of class and come prepared. Bring the current reading assignment to class.
Contact Information
Dr. Perry Neel
[email protected] (preferred)
540-448-0538
"'So Merlyn sent you to me' said the badger, 'To finish your education. Well, I can only teach you two things. To dig, and love your home. These are the true end of philosophy.'" The Badger from "The Sword in the Stone," THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING, T.H. White.
Honor Code: This class adheres to the Honor Code and policies of this University.
Add/Drop: In accordance with the dates posted by the University Registrar
Weather: Class is canceled if the University is closed, or if I email you otherwise.
Religious Accommodations will be made for the observance of holidays. Please contact the instructor prior to the holidays so that arrangements can be made.
PHI 101 is a General Education Cluster Two Course.
Cluster Two: Arts and Humanities
Cluster Two shows students what it means to live lives enriched by reflection, imagination and creativity. It does so by offering each individual a multidisciplinary experience within the arts and humanities, those areas of endeavor that humans have long valued for their intrinsic worth and that invite a deeper appreciation of the human experience. The broadly stated goals for Cluster Two are:
To introduce students to cultural, historical, aesthetic and theoretical expressions of and questions about human experience.
To expose students to multiple academic disciplines in the arts and humanities and their methods and unique perspectives.
To inspire a deeper awareness of how the interplay between culture and expression affects both collective and individual identities.
To foster appreciation of the aesthetic and formal qualities of literary, visual and performing arts.
To engage students in thinking critically and communicating clearly about enduring questions concerning human life, culture and history.
Cluster Two Structure
Students complete nine credits by choosing one course from each of three groups: Human Questions and Contexts; Visual and Performing Arts; and Literature.
Group One: Human Questions and Contexts
Students will take one course from the list below. GAMST 200 takes an interdisciplinary approach to questions about American identity and shows how they reflect a complex interplay of cultural, historical, religious and ideological perspectives. The GANTH and GHIST courses introduce students to the great cultures of the world by surveying the common patterns of experience that characterized Western, Middle Eastern, Asian, African, Meso- and South American societies in the past. The GHUM courses are interdisciplinary, in-depth explorations of specific topics, cultures, periods or themes. The GPHIL and GREL courses explore the great inquiries into human existence and the ways different cultures across different time periods constructed their responses to questions concerning humans' existence and their relationship to nature, ultimate reality and the universe. Thus all of the courses in Group One emphasize central questions about the human condition and ways of studying values and beliefs as they are shaped by class, gender, race, historical events, philosophy and religion.
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