PHI 100: Introduction to Philosophy Course Syllabus
e-mail: [email protected]
Course Description
An introduction to philosophical studies with emphasis on issues of knowledge, reality, and meaning related to human existence.
Required Text
Ed Miller Questions That Matter ISBN# 0072406348
It is important that you do the assigned reading from the textbook. This is an important resources for your learning in this course. You may find the textbook difficult to understand and you may find the need to use a dictionary (or the glossary in the back of the book) from time to time. However, this is a college class and a college level textbook. It is expected that you are prepared for college level reading!
Suggested Text
The lectures for this course are now available in book form if you would like to purchase them. This is not a required book for the course as the lectures will be made available online. However, if you prefer them in book form you may order them from Amazon.com by clicking on the this link: Philosophical Lectures.
Learning Outcomes:
At the completion of this course the student will be able:
The Certainty Badge
The "Do it Yourself Deity" Badge
The Knowledge Badge
The Knowledge and Reality Badge
The Morality Play Badge
The Philosophical Health Check Badge
The "This I Believe" Badge]
The Argument Clinic Badge
The Inverted Spectrum Badge
The Justification Badge
The Logic Badge
The Personbood Badge
The Philosophical Perspective Badge
The Problem of Evil Badge
The Synthetic a Priori Badge
The Turing Test Badge]
The Deontology Badge
The Feel Eternal Badge
The "I" Badge
The Life Beyond Logic Badge
The Power of Ideas Badge
The Reality Scavenger Hunt Badge
The "Take a Picture" Badge
The Utilitarianism Badge]
General Education Competencies (addressed in this course):
I. Communicate Effectively
1. Read and listen with comprehension.
2. Speak and write clearly using standard English.
3. Interact cooperatively with others using both verbal and non-verbal means.
4. Demonstrate information processing through basic computer skills.
II. Think Critically
1. Make connections in learning across the disciplines and draw logical conclusions.
2. Demonstrate problem solving through interpreting, analyzing, summarizing, and/or integrating a variety of
materials.
III. Learn Independently
1. Use appropriate search strategies and resources to find, evaluate, and use information.
2. Make choices based upon awareness of ethics and differing perspectives/ideas.
3. Apply learning in academic, personal, and public situations.
4. Think creatively to develop new ideas, processes, or products.
IV. Examine Relationships in Diverse and Complex Environments
1. Recognize the relationship of the individual to human heritage and culture.
2. Demonstrate an awareness of the relationship of the individual to the biological and physical
environment.
3. Develop an awareness of self as an individual member of a multicultural global community.
Course Requirements:
The grade in this course is based on your earning badges. There are 24 badges each of which is a "micro-assignment" which requires you to apply some philosophical ideas that we cover in the course. You may choose which badges you wish to earn from the 12 lesson badges and 12 other badges which are available. There are NO badges that are required in order to complete the course. The grading scale for the course is as follows:
A=18 or more badges
B=16-17 badges
C=14-15 badges
D=12-13 badges
E=less than 12 badges
You have 120 days (from the day you enroll in this course) to earn your badges and complete this course.
Academic Integrity
Plagiarism is using someone else's words or ideas in your written work without citing the source. ANYTIME you use information, ideas, or words from any book, magazine article, website, or any other source, you MUST fully and accurately cite the source by author name, title, publication date and page number (s). As a general rule, whenever you use more than three words from a source, you should put quotation marks around those words and cite the source as detailed above. This applies to textbooks and my lecture notes as well. Failure to comply with this policy will result in a ZERO grade on the plagiarized assignment and your name will be forwarded to your academic dean for possible further action. This applies to all assignments in this course; papers and exams. All assignments must be IN YOUR OWN WORDS. Any student who plagiarizes an assignment automatically gives up their right to withdraw from the class with my permission.
COURSE POLICIES: ENGAGEMENT University-level courses differ from high school courses in many ways, but perhaps the most significant difference is their focus. In a high school course, the focus was mostly on the teacher, who prepared and delivered a structured lesson plan according to good principles of pedagogy. In a university, the focus in the courses is not so much on the teacher, but on the student. Learning is an activity, and cannot take place in passivity. You may be physically present in a college course, but unless you are engaged in the conscious activity of learning, you are wasting your time and money. In an online university-level course such as this one, the focus is all the more on you, the learner.
Your textbook is an essential tool in this process. You must acquire a textbook and discipline yourself to read the assigned. You will find many unfamiliar terms in your textbook. There is an excellent glossary at the end of the book, but you should always read a college textbook with a dictionary at your side. If you click on the link to the textbook, you will be directed to Amazon.com. You can buy used copies of the fifth edition of the text at considerable savings to you.
I expect you to read the assigned chapters and pages of the textbook within the appropriate time frames. The same goes for the linked documents on my website for this course.
You will be provided with PowerPoint presentations and Podcasts. These are designed to enhance your learning experience. I encourage you to utilize these valuable resources as often as you are able.
RESOURCES AND LINKS
Your local campus has a contact person to assist you with accessibility issues for this online course. Similarly, there is an office charged with facilitating your learning experience by improving your reading and writing skills. I encourage you to visit the Virtual Library at http://www.kyvl.org. Here, you may find guidance regarding academic integrity and locating sources for your paper.
Here are some useful links:
Student Tutorial and Orientation: http://www.kctcs.edu/distancelearning/tutorials.htm
KYVU Call Center and Technical Help Desk: http://www.kyvu.org/contact_us.asp Use this if you have login or technical issues.
Bookstore: http://www.kctcs.edu/distancelearning/bookstore.htm KCTCS colleges are operated by Barnes and Noble and will have online ordering capability.
Student Login Instructions: http://www.kctcs.edu/distancelearning/orientation6.htm Login instructions are emailed through student KCTCS email accounts.
Student Email Account information: http://www.kctcs.edu/student/email.html
Online Program Advising Guides: http://www.kctcs.edu/distancelearning/programchecklist.htm
College Contacts: http://www.kctcs.edu/distancelearning/collegeContacts.htm (Please email [email protected] if updates are needed for your college.)
Student Code of Conduct: http://www.kctcs.edu/student/studentcodeofconduct.pdf. Above all, please refer to 2.3.1, where you will find the institutional position on academic integrity and dishonesty.
KCTCS Disability Services: Link to Disability Service Coordinators: http://www.kctcs.edu/edp/services/dsc.html.
Engaging Differences website: http://www.kctcs.edu/edp/index.html provides useful information for faculty and students.
Students with disabilities who require accommodations (academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids or services) for this course must contact the Access*Ability Resource Center on the appropriate campus as soon as possible. Please DO NOT request accommodations directly from the professor or instructor.
In order to be considered for disability-related accommodations in a KYVU class, you must first be registered to receive disability services at yourhome campus.
Downtown, Technical, and Carrollton Campuses of JCTC
Terri Martin – Disability Resource Manager
Downtown Campus VTI – 111
(502) 213-2375
[email protected]
Southwest and Shelby Campuses of JCTC
Nancy Birkla – Disability Resource Manager
JCTC Southwest Student Community Building – Room 103
(502) 213-7120
[email protected]
Students in need of accommodations related to a hearing loss should register with the Deaf Services office. Services include interpreting, notetaking, provision of ALD devices.
Contact: Martha Hinton (Interpreter)
[email protected]
(502) 213-4218
Protocol for Student Complaints: Any complaints should first be addressed to me as the instructor. If I am not able to resolve them your next recourse is as follows:
Jo Zausch: Humanities department head ([email protected])
Donna Elkins: Academic Dean SW ([email protected])
Non-Discrimination Statement: Jefferson Community and Technical College is an Equal Opportunity institution committed to the policy of providing educational opportunities to all qualified students regardless of economic or social status, beliefs, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or physical or mental disability.
The KCTCS Student Code of Conduct explains the rights and responsibilities of both students and faculty and covers such matters as classroom and campus conduct, students' academic rights, and procedures for dealing with academic dishonesty. It can be found athttp://www.kctcs.edu/student/code.htm.
You have probably chosen this online course for its convenience. I encourage you to view this experience as an investment of your time and money that will have a profitable return to you as long as you remain engaged, as long as you give it the priority it deserves. You might want to keep in mind the old proverb:
Tell me, and I forget; show me, and I remember; but involve me, and I understand.
Course Description
An introduction to philosophical studies with emphasis on issues of knowledge, reality, and meaning related to human existence.
Required Text
Ed Miller Questions That Matter ISBN# 0072406348
It is important that you do the assigned reading from the textbook. This is an important resources for your learning in this course. You may find the textbook difficult to understand and you may find the need to use a dictionary (or the glossary in the back of the book) from time to time. However, this is a college class and a college level textbook. It is expected that you are prepared for college level reading!
Suggested Text
The lectures for this course are now available in book form if you would like to purchase them. This is not a required book for the course as the lectures will be made available online. However, if you prefer them in book form you may order them from Amazon.com by clicking on the this link: Philosophical Lectures.
Learning Outcomes:
At the completion of this course the student will be able:
- Formulate a consistent personal philosophical outlook (Bloom Level V).
The Certainty Badge
The "Do it Yourself Deity" Badge
The Knowledge Badge
The Knowledge and Reality Badge
The Morality Play Badge
The Philosophical Health Check Badge
The "This I Believe" Badge]
- Justify philosophical positions by appealing to reason and evidence (Bloom Level VI).
The Argument Clinic Badge
The Inverted Spectrum Badge
The Justification Badge
The Logic Badge
The Personbood Badge
The Philosophical Perspective Badge
The Problem of Evil Badge
The Synthetic a Priori Badge
The Turing Test Badge]
- Apply philosophcial concepts to everyday life (Bloom Level III).
The Deontology Badge
The Feel Eternal Badge
The "I" Badge
The Life Beyond Logic Badge
The Power of Ideas Badge
The Reality Scavenger Hunt Badge
The "Take a Picture" Badge
The Utilitarianism Badge]
General Education Competencies (addressed in this course):
I. Communicate Effectively
1. Read and listen with comprehension.
2. Speak and write clearly using standard English.
3. Interact cooperatively with others using both verbal and non-verbal means.
4. Demonstrate information processing through basic computer skills.
II. Think Critically
1. Make connections in learning across the disciplines and draw logical conclusions.
2. Demonstrate problem solving through interpreting, analyzing, summarizing, and/or integrating a variety of
materials.
III. Learn Independently
1. Use appropriate search strategies and resources to find, evaluate, and use information.
2. Make choices based upon awareness of ethics and differing perspectives/ideas.
3. Apply learning in academic, personal, and public situations.
4. Think creatively to develop new ideas, processes, or products.
IV. Examine Relationships in Diverse and Complex Environments
1. Recognize the relationship of the individual to human heritage and culture.
2. Demonstrate an awareness of the relationship of the individual to the biological and physical
environment.
3. Develop an awareness of self as an individual member of a multicultural global community.
Course Requirements:
The grade in this course is based on your earning badges. There are 24 badges each of which is a "micro-assignment" which requires you to apply some philosophical ideas that we cover in the course. You may choose which badges you wish to earn from the 12 lesson badges and 12 other badges which are available. There are NO badges that are required in order to complete the course. The grading scale for the course is as follows:
A=18 or more badges
B=16-17 badges
C=14-15 badges
D=12-13 badges
E=less than 12 badges
You have 120 days (from the day you enroll in this course) to earn your badges and complete this course.
Academic Integrity
Plagiarism is using someone else's words or ideas in your written work without citing the source. ANYTIME you use information, ideas, or words from any book, magazine article, website, or any other source, you MUST fully and accurately cite the source by author name, title, publication date and page number (s). As a general rule, whenever you use more than three words from a source, you should put quotation marks around those words and cite the source as detailed above. This applies to textbooks and my lecture notes as well. Failure to comply with this policy will result in a ZERO grade on the plagiarized assignment and your name will be forwarded to your academic dean for possible further action. This applies to all assignments in this course; papers and exams. All assignments must be IN YOUR OWN WORDS. Any student who plagiarizes an assignment automatically gives up their right to withdraw from the class with my permission.
COURSE POLICIES: ENGAGEMENT University-level courses differ from high school courses in many ways, but perhaps the most significant difference is their focus. In a high school course, the focus was mostly on the teacher, who prepared and delivered a structured lesson plan according to good principles of pedagogy. In a university, the focus in the courses is not so much on the teacher, but on the student. Learning is an activity, and cannot take place in passivity. You may be physically present in a college course, but unless you are engaged in the conscious activity of learning, you are wasting your time and money. In an online university-level course such as this one, the focus is all the more on you, the learner.
Your textbook is an essential tool in this process. You must acquire a textbook and discipline yourself to read the assigned. You will find many unfamiliar terms in your textbook. There is an excellent glossary at the end of the book, but you should always read a college textbook with a dictionary at your side. If you click on the link to the textbook, you will be directed to Amazon.com. You can buy used copies of the fifth edition of the text at considerable savings to you.
I expect you to read the assigned chapters and pages of the textbook within the appropriate time frames. The same goes for the linked documents on my website for this course.
You will be provided with PowerPoint presentations and Podcasts. These are designed to enhance your learning experience. I encourage you to utilize these valuable resources as often as you are able.
RESOURCES AND LINKS
Your local campus has a contact person to assist you with accessibility issues for this online course. Similarly, there is an office charged with facilitating your learning experience by improving your reading and writing skills. I encourage you to visit the Virtual Library at http://www.kyvl.org. Here, you may find guidance regarding academic integrity and locating sources for your paper.
Here are some useful links:
Student Tutorial and Orientation: http://www.kctcs.edu/distancelearning/tutorials.htm
KYVU Call Center and Technical Help Desk: http://www.kyvu.org/contact_us.asp Use this if you have login or technical issues.
Bookstore: http://www.kctcs.edu/distancelearning/bookstore.htm KCTCS colleges are operated by Barnes and Noble and will have online ordering capability.
Student Login Instructions: http://www.kctcs.edu/distancelearning/orientation6.htm Login instructions are emailed through student KCTCS email accounts.
Student Email Account information: http://www.kctcs.edu/student/email.html
Online Program Advising Guides: http://www.kctcs.edu/distancelearning/programchecklist.htm
College Contacts: http://www.kctcs.edu/distancelearning/collegeContacts.htm (Please email [email protected] if updates are needed for your college.)
Student Code of Conduct: http://www.kctcs.edu/student/studentcodeofconduct.pdf. Above all, please refer to 2.3.1, where you will find the institutional position on academic integrity and dishonesty.
KCTCS Disability Services: Link to Disability Service Coordinators: http://www.kctcs.edu/edp/services/dsc.html.
Engaging Differences website: http://www.kctcs.edu/edp/index.html provides useful information for faculty and students.
Students with disabilities who require accommodations (academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids or services) for this course must contact the Access*Ability Resource Center on the appropriate campus as soon as possible. Please DO NOT request accommodations directly from the professor or instructor.
In order to be considered for disability-related accommodations in a KYVU class, you must first be registered to receive disability services at yourhome campus.
Downtown, Technical, and Carrollton Campuses of JCTC
Terri Martin – Disability Resource Manager
Downtown Campus VTI – 111
(502) 213-2375
[email protected]
Southwest and Shelby Campuses of JCTC
Nancy Birkla – Disability Resource Manager
JCTC Southwest Student Community Building – Room 103
(502) 213-7120
[email protected]
Students in need of accommodations related to a hearing loss should register with the Deaf Services office. Services include interpreting, notetaking, provision of ALD devices.
Contact: Martha Hinton (Interpreter)
[email protected]
(502) 213-4218
Protocol for Student Complaints: Any complaints should first be addressed to me as the instructor. If I am not able to resolve them your next recourse is as follows:
Jo Zausch: Humanities department head ([email protected])
Donna Elkins: Academic Dean SW ([email protected])
Non-Discrimination Statement: Jefferson Community and Technical College is an Equal Opportunity institution committed to the policy of providing educational opportunities to all qualified students regardless of economic or social status, beliefs, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or physical or mental disability.
The KCTCS Student Code of Conduct explains the rights and responsibilities of both students and faculty and covers such matters as classroom and campus conduct, students' academic rights, and procedures for dealing with academic dishonesty. It can be found athttp://www.kctcs.edu/student/code.htm.
You have probably chosen this online course for its convenience. I encourage you to view this experience as an investment of your time and money that will have a profitable return to you as long as you remain engaged, as long as you give it the priority it deserves. You might want to keep in mind the old proverb:
Tell me, and I forget; show me, and I remember; but involve me, and I understand.