PALM
BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Philosophy 1010 INTRODUCTION TO
PHILOSOPHY
Tuesday/Thursday-
Sec. 001 - Ref. No. 037747
[
Dr. Richard T. Nolan
3.00 Sem. hrs. credit
Room SS216
Catalog Description: Explores the nature of philosophy, methods
and major problems from pre-Socratic era to present. Ideas and their
relationship to science, art, religion, and sociopolitical development are
examined. Requires a
grade of “C” or better for AA transfer credit. No prerequisites.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. to
identify fundamental issues and options in selected areas of philosophy;
2. to
equip each student with sufficient clarity that (s)he may eventually form
thoughtful interpretations for personal and/or professional use.
RESOURCES:
1. Titus, Smith and
Nolan, Living Issues In Philosophy, 9th ed., 1995
[One copy of the
textbook is on reserve in the library for use within the library
.]
2. handouts
in this syllabus packet and possibly additional materials distributed in class
3. information
and interpretations from the instructor and students
4.
www.philosophy-religion.org (All handouts are also available on this website.)
(Computers and
computer assistance are provided in College facilities.)
5. video
tapes shown during classes (not available at other times)
METHODS OF CLASSROOM
INSTRUCTION:
Among the teaching
methods will be lectures, video presentations, and discussions.
COMMUNICATIONS:
Dr. Nolan may be
telephoned (24 hrs. a day seven days a week) at (West Palm Beach) 561-837-3543,
a VoiceMail service (not in his home) monitored by
his secretary. He will respond to your
call when he can, usually within two or three days. Do not expect a return call on the same day that
the message is recorded. Each caller
should record a brief message stating clearly his/her name and phone number,
the hours the caller may be reached, and the reason for the call. Dr. Nolan may be emailed anytime at
canonn@adelphia.net. [Note spelling of canonn.] VoiceMail and email are the only two ways available for
reasonably fast communication; he has no office or phone at the College.
It is highly
recommended that each student obtain the telephone number(s) of one or two
classmates, in case of a planned or unexpected absence. Such a contact will answer the absentee's
question "Did I miss anything important?"
His secretary will not
notify him about messages asking him to repeat syllabus information or to
report what took place in class.
INDIVIDUAL
CONFERENCES:
Dr. Nolan is
available (by appointment) for individual conferences after his classes
and at other mutually convenient times.
Such conferences are for the purpose of clarifying an issue in the
reading or a class, not for on-going tutoring.
GORDON RULE:
This is NOT a Gordon
Rule course and will not transfer as such.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Assignments and class
topics appear below. It is possible that
changes will be announced as the course progresses and/or that additional
handouts will be distributed; it is each student's responsibility to be aware
of modifications by checking with colleagues, NOT the instructor.
TESTS/FINAL EXAM,
EXAM GUIDES, JOURNAL, AND GRADES:
TESTS/FINAL
EXAM: Two tests and a comprehensive final
examination will be in a challenging, College Board quality, multiple-choice
style designed to examine each student's understanding of information from
classes and assigned readings. Classes,
readings, any written work, and the tests/final exam require college level
comprehension of standard, American English; dictionaries may not be used
during the tests or the final exam.
Students must take their own #2 pencils to the tests and final exam; the
instructor will have none with him.
Unless documented medical or employee reasons require it, tests and the
final exam will not be given earlier or later than scheduled. With a written excuse from a physician
or employers, tests may be made up by appointment with Dr. Nolan in class
sessions during the last week of the semester.
Make-up of the final exam (with the same documentation) will be
scheduled at the convenience of the instructor and student. Unexcused absences
from tests or final exam are automatically graded “F.”
Caution: An inquiring mind
and an ability to discuss issues philosophically do not automatically lead to
solid achievement in this course. One
must study the assigned material and perform satisfactorily on the tests and
final exam. See sample test items on
page 7.
EXAM GUIDES: Guides
are found within this packet on pages 25, 26, and 27. Students missing other announced guides must
consult with other students, not the instructor.
COURSE GRADES: The
chart on page 8 of this packet indicates the method of determining the course
grade. Grades are never available
by telephone; such requests are always ignored! [More on page
7A.]
Factors outside the
course have no bearing on grades or other course issues. For example, that an individual is an
"A" student in other courses is irrelevant; that an individual has
demanding personal, campus or professional obligations is beside the point;
that an individual needs a
particular grade for transfer, for tuition reimbursement, or to avoid a low
cumulative average is immaterial and inappropriate to mention; that an
individual needs to leave classes early is extraneous. Registration and class attendance alone do
not automatically entitle a student to any particular course grade;
registration and attendance merely provide the opportunity to earn the grade judged
appropriate by the instructor.
ACADEMIC FREEDOM:
An essential
ingredient in college-level education is academic freedom for faculty members
and students; this includes the obligation of the instructor and students to
raise (respectfully) academically critical and analytical questions about
various philosophic and religious traditions.
Additionally, please
note that there is no such thing as a "stupid" question or comment,
when offered in honest inquiry and a courteous manner.
INSTRUCTOR'S
RESPONSIBILITY:
The instructor
accepts the responsibility for all decisions related to the syllabus, the
coordination of the course and the supervision of class sessions. Although suggestions are always welcome,
course content, requirements, procedures, and grades are not routinely
negotiable. Flexibility on content will
be evident, if a topic requires additional or less time. The instructor may modify the content of this
syllabus at any time.
Visiting lecturers
are invited only at the instructor’s discretion; normally they must possess
traditional academic credentials.
STUDENT
RESPONSIBILITY:
It is each student’s
responsibility to abide by all of the College’s regulations, procedures, etc.
as provided in the current catalog and Student
Handbook. This syllabus does not
contain all such information.
The instructor cannot
possibly provide all the varied topics and methods of teaching/learning
preferred by all students in the course.
That each student's readiness for learning can be accommodated is
wishful thinking; the course cannot be tailored specifically to each student's
personal or academic needs (except for students with a learning disability
certified in writing by the College’s
In the classroom
civility is the norm; rudeness (including repeated interruptions) or
belligerence will not be tolerated; combative or authoritarian personalities
will not be permitted to act out in this setting. If a student persists in behaving
unacceptably, according to the instructor’s judgment, a report will be made to
the College administration and/or Security, or in extreme circumstances the
Please consult the Student Handbook (available from the
Student Services office) for regulations and policies pertaining to student
conduct.
Students who decide that they cannot comply with the procedures noted
in this syllabus should withdraw at their earliest convenience.
ATTENDANCE:
If
absent, students must obtain class materials (unexpected handouts, notes, etc.)
from obliging classmates. The
instructor will not develop alternative tracks within the course, except for
students certified by the College as learning disabled. Videos shown in classes belong to the
instructor and may not be borrowed. Classes may be audio recorded by students
for their own or for absentees' use.
Students arriving
late for the term and/or for any classes are responsible for whatever has taken
place prior to their arrival; fellow students, not the instructor, should be
consulted about the missed portion of classes.
Students with
prolonged illnesses and absences (longer than two consecutive weeks) are
encouraged to withdraw from the course, because tutoring is not available.
Weather Issues: If the region is
stormy or if there are severe storm warnings, please follow the College’s
procedures for determining whether classes will be held, or telephone the
instructor’s VoiceMail two hours before class. If he cannot safely drive to PBCC, the
outgoing message will make that specific announcement.
ACADEMIC INFORMATION:
Please consult the
current College catalog and other publications for further information,
including the calendar, grading system, academic dishonesty policy, attendance,
etc. The instructor intends to abide by
these policies. If a College policy
conflicts with anything in this syllabus, it should be brought to the
instructor’s attention, and the College’s policy will prevail.
The last day to drop
courses with a full refund is Jan. 11th..
Please consult the College Calendar online or in the Catalog for other
important dates.
The Chair of the
Social Science Department is Dr. Richard E. Yinger
(439-8259). His email is: yingerr@pbcc.cc.fl.us/, and his office is in SS 207.
CELLULAR
PHONES/PAGERS:
Please leave the
classroom to respond to the signals of cellular phones or pagers.
A PROFESSIONAL
INTRODUCTION:
The instructor is a
graduate of Trinity College [CT] and earned a Master of Divinity degree at
Hartford Seminary, an interdenominational graduate school of theological
studies. An M.A. from Yale University
and Ph.D. from New York University followed.
Post-doctoral studies were completed at Yale, Harvard, the University of
Connecticut, and elsewhere.
Editor of The Diaconate Now
(1968), the instructor is a co-author of the 7th (1979), Indonesian (1984), 8th
(1986) and 9th (1995) editions of Living
Issues In Philosophy and of Living
Issues in Ethics (1982; 2000; Chinese edition 1988).
In July of 1992 Dr.
Nolan early-retired from 23 years of full-time service in the community college
system of the State of Connecticut and 8 years of prior teaching in independent
elementary-junior high, secondary, and collegiate institutions. He has served as an adjunct/visiting
professor on about 18 college and university faculties in Connecticut, New
York, and Florida.
The instructor's
mailing address is PBCC,
PLEASE NOTE THAT DR.
NOLAN WILL NOT BE TEACHING ANYWHERE AFTER MAY, 2002. STUDENTS NOT COMPLETING
THEIR WORK ON TIME MAY FIND THEMSELVES UNABLE TO
ARRANGE MAKE UP WORK FOR THIS COURSE.
CLASS TOPICS AND
ASSIGNMENTS:
Abbreviations Used:
C - class topic(s)
A - assigned reading
T - the textbook (Living
Issues In Philosophy)
V - video
w - website
www.philosophy-religion.org See “All
Handouts.”
(h) - handout in this
packet
NOTE: Materials not listed below as assignments
might be added as the term progresses.
T 1/8
C. Orientation to
the Course
Philosophy on the
Internet
A. An Overview of
Philosophy (h) pp. 10 ff.
Th 1/10
C. The Task of
Philosophy
A. T - Ch. 1 "The Task of
Philosophy"
T 1/15
C. The Task of Philosophy (continued)
A. T - Ch. 1 "The Task of Philosophy"
Th 1/17
C. Human Nature
A. T - Ch. 2 "Human Nature: What Is
It?"
optional - http://keirsey.com
Whealon, “Creationism Fuss”
(h) p. 14
T 1/22
C. The Self
Mind Talk: The Brain’s New Story - V (Part 1, 30
min.) [1999]
A. T - Ch. 3 "The Self"
Th 1/24
C. The Mind
Mind Talk: The Brain’s New Story - V (Part 2, 30
min.) [1999]
A. T - Ch. 4 "The Mind"
T 1/29
C. The
Greeks: The Minds of Men - V (Part 1, 30 min.)
Who Am I? (Part 1)
A. T - Chs. 3 and
4 (re-read)
outline of video (h) p. 15
optional -
Th 1/31
C. The
Greeks: The Minds of Men - V (Part 2, 30 min.)
Who Am I? (Part 2)
A. T - Chs. 3 and
4 (re-read)
T 2/5
C. The Freedom to Choose
A. T - Ch. 5 - "The Freedom to
Choose"
Th 2/7
C. The Meaning of Values
Review for Test 1
(See Exam Guides (h) p. 25.)
A. T - Ch. 6 - "The Meaning of
Values"
Muehl, “Opinion: The View
from
T 2/12
C. Test 1 [#2 pencil] on Chapters 1 - 6
A. Review for Test 1
Th 2/14
C. Grades for Test 1 Distributed; only
opportunity to study Test 1's questions & correct answers and compare with
your own.
Ethics and Morality
A. T - Ch. 7 "Ethics and
Morality"
Section
IV of “An Overview of Philosophy” (packet, pp. 12ff.]
“Answers to Your
Questions About Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality,”
American
Psychological
Association; available at http://www.philosophy- religion.org
(go to “All
Handouts” subsite
for the report.)
optional – “Homosexuality and
the Bible” by biblical scholar Dr. Walter Wink:
http://www.philosophy-religion.org
(See “All Handouts” subsite.)
T 2/19
A.
Applied Ethics: Biomedical Ethics
A. T - Ch. 8 "Individual and Social
Morality" (begin)
optional -
Th 2/21
C. Applied Ethics: Sexual Ethics (personal
histories not suitable for classroom discussion)
A. T - Ch. 8 "Individual and Social
Morality" (complete)
Outline
of lecture on human sexuality (h) p. 17
optional -
T 2/26
C. Applied Ethics: Business Ethics
Epistemology:
The Sources of Knowledge (Part 1)
The Brain: Perception - V (Part 1 - 30 min.)
A. T - Ch. 9 "The Sources of
Knowledge" (begin)
brief notes “Perception Video” (h) p. 9
Th 2/28
C. Epistemology:
The Sources of Knowledge (Part 2)
The Brain: Perception - V (Part 2 -
30 min.)
A. T - Ch. 9
"The Sources of Knowledge" (complete)
SPRING
RECESS - March 4 - 8
T 3/12
C. Epistemology:
The Nature and Tests of Knowledge
Metaphysics
A. T
- Ch. 10 "The Nature and Tests of Knowledge"
“Idealism: A World of Mind” (h) p. 18
Th 3/14
C. Science and Philosophy
Review for Test 2 (See Exam Guides (h) p. 26.)
A. T - Ch. 11 "Science and
Philosophy" (211-226, 240-241)
Kline, “Mathematics: The Loss of Certainty” (h)
pp. 19-19A
Silk, “ECONOMIC SCENE: The Search for Reality”
(h) p.20
Thomas, “On Science and Uncertainty” (h) pp.
21-22
T 3/19
C. Test
2 [# 2 pencil] on Chapters 7 - 11
A. Review
WARNING! The class
sessions for the rest of the course will include material not found in the
textbook! Students absent from these
classes will not be well prepared for portions of the Final Examination.
Th 3/21
C. Grades for Test 2 Distributed; only
opportunity to study Test 2's questions & correct answers
The Nature of Religion
A. T - Ch. 17 "The Nature of
Religion" (359-361)
T 3/26
C. The Nature of Religion
A. T
- Ch. 17 (361-366)
Th 3/28
C. Judaism
A. T - Ch. 17 (366)
T 4/2
C. Christianity
A. T
- Ch. 17 (366-369)
Th 4/4
C. Islam
Current Religious Issues
A. T - Ch. 17 (369-377)
T 4/9
C. Philosophy of Religion: God (part 1)
A. T -
Th 4/11
C. Philosophy of Religion: God (part 2)
Life After Death
A. T -
T 4/16
C.
Asian Thought: 330 Million Gods
[Hinduism V - part 1]
A.
video outline (h) p. 23
Th 4/18
C. Asian Thought: 330 Million Gods [Hinduism V - part 2]
A. T - Ch. 19 "Asian Thought"
T 4/23
C. Concluding
Comments
A. T -
Concluding Reflection
Wesilus, “I’d Prefer Not
To”(h) p. 24
Th 4/25
C. Review for
Final Exam
A. Review
Guides (h) p. 27.
T 4/30
C. Review;
Make-Up tests
A.
Review
The FINAL EXAM is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7 from
SAMPLE
TEST ITEMS
Understanding the meaning of a philosophic term:
1. Logic is:
a. the method
by which absolute truth about an issue is determined.
b. an area
within axiology.
c. a branch of philosophy that deals with
the nature and problems of clear and accurate thinking and argument.
d. all of the
above
Understanding the implications of a previously unseen paragraph for its
philosophic content:
2. "People, whether primitive or
highly civilized, have conceptions of themselves and the universe in which they
live and work or idle. Their world views may be dimly formed, barely
recognized, even somewhat surreptitiously held. But a world-view is in the mind
of every man and woman. Individuals may
deny that they have a world view. They may say that they have no interest in
the world. They may insist that they are
independent, free swinging, hedonist or ascetic, choosing their own ways of
life of their own will; but the denial is itself a world-view ‑ something
on the basis of which independence is asserted, whether they are aware of it
or not." Consistent with this statement is/are:
a. Human beings cannot entirely escape
philosophy.
b. The average citizen has a philosophy.
c. To condemn philosophy is to
philosophize.
d. all of the
above
e. none of
the above
Understanding a school of thought via a paragraph or sentence:
3. "_______, then, as presented in
what precedes is a perfectly tenable conception of the relation between some
mental events and some brain events, lowing as it does also that some brain
events have bodily causes, and that some mental events directly cause some
other mental events. It conceives minds
as consisting, like material
substances, of sets of
systematically interrelated dispositions, i.e., of capacities, abilities,
powers, and susceptibilities, each of which can be analyzed as a causal
connection, more or less enduring, between any event of some particular
kind..."
a. Interactionism c. Behaviorism
b. Parallelism d. Freudian psychology
e. none of
these