PHILOS 101 - Introduction to Philosophy - Andrew Jones-Cathcart

Course:	Introduction to Philosophy
Professor:	Andrew Jones-Cathcart
Email:	andrew.jones-cathcart@canyons.edu
Format:	Online
Course Length:	5 Week

Introduction

This course will introduce you to philosophical reasoning and the kinds of problems that have fascinated philosophers for well over 2500 years. These problems can be grasped most easily in the form of different questions which philosophers ask about the world and try to answer in a rational manner. Examples of these sorts of questions include:

What is the nature of reality? What makes something real? How can I know that what seems to me is not an illusion?
Do I have free will? Am I responsible for my decisions, or is my conduct predestined or programmed like a robot or a computer?
What is truth? How do I know that something is true? Is anything; ever absolutely true (or false), or is truth a social construction, i.e. something created by our social circumstances?
What is the relation between the mind and the body? Is there a "soul"? Does "soul" exist after the body perishes? How do I know that other minds or people exist
Am I the same person I was ten years ago or the same person I will be ten years from now? What makes me a person (or a self) in the first place?
Is anything ever right or wrong absolutely? Is it ever right (or wrong)to judge other people's choices? What makes an action good or bad in a moral sense? Can we ever know that an action is morally good or bad?
What is the relation between religious faith and reason? Is there a god? Is it possible to prove that God exists? If an all powerful, all good God does exist, then why is there evil and suffering in the world?
Does life have a meaning, or is it a meaningless absurdity?

These questions have proved to be difficult to resolve to any satisfactory degree in other disciplines, such as the natural sciences, mathematics, and social sciences, which you may have studied already or will study in the future. Nevertheless, these are the sorts of questions which human begins have always asked out of a sense of philosophic wonder or curiosity, and as long as human beings exist, there will be a need to go on looking for answers to questions such as these.

Philosophy is the rational search for a resolution to these questions, and in this class we shall look at a number of philosophical readings which attempt to resolve some of them. In particular, we shall concentrate on three major areas of philosophy: epistemology (which asks what knowledge is and how we know anything at all), metaphysics (which asks about the nature of reality), and ethics (which asks about the nature of morality).

The readings will be drawn from a variety of contemporary as well as historical sources. Although the bulk of the readings are from the Western philosophical canon, whenever possible, we shall point out similarities and differences between Western and Eastern traditions. Thinkers and historical periods in philosophy typically explored in this course include: ancient philosophy (Socrates and Plato), mediaeval philosophy (Anselm and Thomas Aquinas), modern philosophy (Descartes, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Paley, Holbach, Kant), late modern/nineteenth-century philosophy (Mill, Kierkegaard, and Nietzsche), and twentieth- century/contemporary philosophy (James, Stace, Russell, Taylor, Benedict, Rachels, Lamont, Moreland, Churchland, and Searle).

Course Description

Evaluate (using rational argument) competing philosophical views in order to synthesize and justify their own philosophical viewpoints in relation to the philosophical questions that are being investigated.

What to Expect in this Course

Overall Student Learning Outcome

Types of Assessments

It is likely that our grading structure will be something like the following:

Tests (total = 350 points)
- Test 1 (100 points)
- Midterm (100 points)
- Final (150 points)

The final is cumulative. (Note that all material on exams must be in your own words. No copying or pasting from sources.)

Paper(s): 100 points total

We will either have two short papers or one longer paper during the semester. Total value in either case will be 100 points.

Class Discussions, Class Participation -- 50 points.

There will be five discussions this semester, each of which will be valued at 10 points.

Textbook Information

This is a ZTC (zero-textbook-cost) course. All our readings will be on-line and free.

Other Relevant Course Information

For the complete syllabus, please refer to the syllabus file in Canvas after the start of the semester.

Additional Resources

Canvas

This course can be accessed on the first day of class via Canvas at https://coc.instructure.com. Log into Canvas using your CanyonsID single sign-on:

CanyonsID Username is your COC student email address (Ex: username@my.canyons.edu)
CanyonsID Password is your COC student email password

Please visit the Get to Know Your Online Classroom page for help logging into Canvas and for tips on using Canvas and Zoom. Canvas Chat Support is also available 24/7 for any Canvas related issues.

Online Education

Check out the Online Education website for more information on a variety of topics that can help you be a successful online student such as: exam proctoring, learning styles, computer skills, and tips for student success. If this is your first online course, feel free to take our online learning readiness assessment to assess your skills.

The Learning Center (TLC)

The TLC provides FREE online tutoring resources to COC students!

Academic Accommodation Center (AAC)

College of the Canyons AAC provides educational services and access for eligible students with documented disabilities who intend to pursue coursework at COC. A variety of programs and services are available which afford eligible students with disabilities the opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of the college programs and activities through appropriate and reasonable accommodations. For more information on their services visit the Academic Accomodation Center website.

Online Counseling

The Counseling Department offers appointments online. You can schedule an appointment by visiting the Online Counseling website. Counselors can help you map out a plan to reach your educational goals as well as advise you on course selection and registration.

Management of Stress and Mental Health

Often the pressure on our students is very strong, involving academic commitments, relationships, outside jobs and family pressure to name a few. The staff and faculty of College of the Canyons are here to see you succeed academically and care about your emotional and physical health. You can learn more about the broad range of confidential student services, including counseling and mental health services available on campus by visiting the Student Health & Wellness Center in the Student Services Building (across from the bookstore). The phone number is 661-362-3259 that you can call 24/7. You can also e mail for an appointment at StudentHealthCenter@canyons.edu. At the Canyon Country Campus the Health Center will be in the new Student Services Building.

Also, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number is now 988. All students at COC are encouraged to enter that phone number in their cells. You can call it when you, or someone you know, is having thoughts of suicide or is in severe distress.

You can also now use the Crisis Text Line: Just text "Courage" to 741741. Someone will get back to you immediately. Its free, 24/7, and confidential.

Veterans Resource Center

The College of the Canyons Veterans Resource Center is a department within the Student Services Division at the college, created to help veterans and veteran dependents with applying to College of the Canyons, enrolling in classes, and requesting VA Education or Vocational Benefits. For more information please visit the Veterans Resource Center website, email veterans@canyons.edu or phone (661) 362-3469.

Library

The Library provides live online and in-person research help, access to a full range of e-resources and physical materials that support the curriculum, individual and group study areas, and much more!

Last updated: 10/25/2021 Sub#: 956