Phi/105 Introduction To Philosophy Answers

|[pic] |Syllabus |
| |College of Humanities |
| |PHI/105 Version 4 |
| |Introduction to Philosophy |

Copyright © 2009, 2006 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.

Course Description

In this course, philosophical thinking and reasoning
are introduced through the evaluation of the historical development, key contributors, and principle issues of philosophy. Topical areas include both Western and Eastern philosophy, moral and political philosophy, religious philosophy, and feminism.

Policies

Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents:

• University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. • Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum.

University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality.

Course Materials

Moore, B. N. & Bruder, K. (2008). Philosophy: The power of ideas (7th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

All electronic materials are available on the student website.

|Week One: Metaphysics and Epistemology |
| |Details |Due |Points |
|Objectives |Identify the role of argument and logic in various divisions of philosophy. | | |
| |Identify the philosophical views of Pre-Socratic philosophers. | | |
| |Compare the philosophical views of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. | | |
|Course Preparation |Read the course description and objectives. | | |
| |Read the instructor’s biography and post your own. | | |
|Reading |Read Appendix A. | | |
|Reading |Read Ch. 1 of Philosophy. | | |
|Reading |Read Ch. 2 of Philosophy. | | |
|Reading |Read Ch. 3 of Philosophy. | | |
|Reading |Read Ch. 4 of Philosophy. | | |
|Reading |Read Ch. 5 of Philosophy. | | |
|CheckPoint |Review the Argument section on p. 9 of Philosophy. | |25 |
|Argument and Logic | | | |
| |Choose one of the following text excerpts: | | |
| | | | |
| |Ch. 2, p. 28: On Rabbits and Motion | | |
| |Ch. 2, p. 33: Free Will Versus Determinism | | |
| |Ch.
4, p. 72: Aristotle and Plato on Forms | | |
| |Ch. 5, p. 83: Augustine on God and Time | | |
| | | | |
| |Write a 350- to 700-word response describing the use of argument and logic in the excerpt that| | |
| |you chose. Complete the following in your response: | | |
| | | | |
| |Summarize the excerpt. | | |
| |Address how argument and logic are used in the readings. | |
|
| |Describe the strengths or weaknesses you found. | | |
|CheckPoint |Answer the following questions in a 200- to 300-word response: | |25 |
|Pre-Socratic Philosophers | | | |
| |Which of the Pre-Socratic philosophers had the most compelling ideas? | | |
| |Briefly summarize the philosopher’s idea or ideas. | | |
| |Why do you find these ideas compelling? | | |
| |Include a practical example of one of the philosopher’s ideas in your response. | | |
|Individual |Create a 5-slide PowerPoint® presentation that compares the philosophical views of three | |80 |
|Philosophical Views |philosophers. Your facilitator assigns the comparative issues. | | |
|Comparison | | | |
| |Include the following in your slides: | | |
| | | | |
| |Title slide | | |
| |Key ideas of Aristotle | | |
| |Key ideas of Plato | | |
| |Key ideas of Socrates | | |
| |Conclusion | | |

|Week Two: 17th–19th Centuries |
| |Details |Due |Points |
|Objectives | | | |
| |Identify the key belief systems of Renaissance philosophers. | | |
| |Identify the historical developments of philosophy from the 17th to the 19th century. | | |
|Reading |Read Ch. 6 of Philosophy. | | |
|Reading |Read Ch. 7 of Philosophy. | | |
|Participation |Participate in class discussion. | |15 |
|Discussion Questions |Respond to weekly discussion questions. | |15 |
|CheckPoint |Review Appendix A, which outlines the details of your final project. | |25 |
|Final Project Topic |Choose a topic from the bulleted list found in Appendix A for your final project PowerPoint® | | |
| |presentation. | | |
| |Write a 350- to 700-word response to the question you have chosen. Take notes while | | |
| |participating in class discussions and reading about your topic. Use these notes to complete | | |
| |the Week Four CheckPoint | | |

|Week Three: 20th–21st Centuries |
| |Details |Due |Points |
|Objectives | | | |
| |Explain American and European philosophical views. | | |
|Reading |Read Ch. 8 of Philosophy. | | |
|Reading |Read Ch.
9 of Philosophy. | | |
|CheckPoint |Answer the following questions in a total of 200 to 300 words: How are pragmatism and analytic| |25 |
|Pragmatism and Analytic |philosophy uniquely American movements? What ideas make them different from the way Europeans | | |
|Philosophy |of the same period were thinking? | | |
|Individual |Write a persuasive, formal letter to a specific European philosopher. In the letter, argue | |100 |
|Letter to a European |that this philosopher is incorrect in his or her view about a particular issue. | | |
|Philosopher | | | |
| |Provide support from your readings, examples from your experience, and your own analysis to | |
|
| |prove the philosopher wrong. | | |
| | | | |
| |Post your letter as an attachment. | | |

|Week Four: Moral and Political Philosophy |
| |Details |Due |Points |
|Objectives | | | |
| |Identify the connection between moral choices and politics. | | |
|Reading |Read Ch. 11 of Philosophy. | | |
|Participation |Participate in class discussion. | |15 |
|Discussion Questions |Respond to weekly discussion questions. | |15 |
|CheckPoint |Complete the Final Project Preview worksheet in Appendix B using the notes you have taken from| |25 |
|Final Project Preview |class discussion and assigned readings concerning your topic. In Appendix B, mention any | | |
|Worksheet |questions or concerns you have about your topic so your instructor may address them. | | |
| | | | |
| |Continue to take notes and develop your philosophy throughout the course. Review Appendix A | | |
| |for details concerning the final project. | | |

|Week Five: Traditional and Modern Ethics |
| |Details |Due |Points |
|Objectives | | | |
| |Differentiate between traditional and modern ethics. | | |
|CheckPoint |Choose one of the viewpoints on moral character, discussed in Week Four, which you and your | |25 |
|Moral Character Viewpoints|classmates agreed and one viewpoint in which you and your discussion group disagreed. | | |
| | | | |
| |Explain the rationale for the viewpoint that was agreed on by you and your discussion group. | | |
| | | | |
| |Examine the issue in which you and your assigned discussion group disagreed and discuss | | |
| |whether your viewpoints and those in opposition to your view followed traditional or modern | | |
| |ethical thinking. | | |
| | | | |
| |Post your 200- to 300-word assignment as an attachment. | | |
|Individual |Read the scenarios in Appendix C and follow the directions. | |100 |
|Ethical Decisions Scenario| | | |
|Analysis |Answer the questions and explain whether your answers fit with traditional or modern ethical | | |
| |thinking. After you have finished responding to the scenarios, discuss whether you generally | | |
| |make ethical decisions using a traditional or a modern ethical model. | | |
| | | | |
| |Provide an example using an experience you have had in your daily life. | | |

|Week Six: Western Religious Philosophy |
| |Details |Due |Points |
|Objectives | | | |
| |Describe the principle issues of religious philosophy. | | |
| |Describe Christianity's effect on metaphysical philosophy. | | |
|Reading |Read Ch. 13 of Philosophy. | | |
|Reading |Read Ch. 15 of Philosophy. | | |
|Participation |Participate in class discussion. | |15 |
|Discussion Questions |Respond to weekly discussion questions. | |15 |
|CheckPoint |Write a 200- to 300-word critique of the article Who is Holy? located in the Electronic | |25 |
|Religious Philosophy |Reserve Readings as it relates to religious philosophy. | | |
|Article Critique | | | |
| |Answer the following questions: | | |
| | | | |
| |Do you believe a person's religious views should effect their treatment of others? Explain | | |
| |your answer. | | |
| |In your opinion, does the humble generosity described in column 2 exist in today's world? If | | |
| |so, where? Is it a valued trait? | | |
| |How would you rewrite the biblical story with a modern setting and modern characters and still| | |
| |illustrate the same point? What characters would you use to replace the poor widow and the | | |
| |scribe? What setting and set of circumstances would best illustrate your point? Explain your | | |
| |choices. | | |

|Week Seven: Eastern Religious Philosophy |
| |Details |Due |Points |
|Objectives | | | |
| |Identify the principle issues of Eastern religious philosophy. | | |
| |Compare Western and Eastern religious philosophies. | | |
|CheckPoint |Write a 350- to 700-word response to the following: | |25 |
|Eastern Religious | | | |
|Philosopher Quotations |Using the list of philosophers provided by your facilitator, select a quotation that best | | |
| |represents each of the philosophers. | | |
| |Explain why this quotation is an accurate representation of the philosophers’ ideas, | | |
| |historical significance, and key contributions. | | |
| |Include at least one reference other than the text. | | |
|Individual |Write a 700- to-1,050-word persuasive paper discussing how one Eastern philosopher and one | |100 |
|Eastern and Western |Western philosopher make the most compelling cases for his or her ideas. | | |
|Philosophers Comparison | | | |
|Paper |Use your text to support your persuasive argument. | | |
| | | | |
| |Discuss how these philosophers are similar and different. | | |
| | | | |
| |Explain why you are more prone to agree with either Eastern or Western thinking. | | |

|Week Eight: Other Voices |
| |Details |Due |Points |
|Objectives | | | |
| |Discuss the cause of the transition of thought from first-wave to second-wave feminism. | | |
| |Explain the effect colonization had on philosophical ideas in Africa, the Americas, and Asia. | | |
|Reading |Read Ch14 of Philosophy. | | |
|Reading |Read Ch. 16 of Philosophy. | | |
|Participation |Participate in class discussion. | |15 |
|Discussion Questions |Respond to weekly discussion questions. | |15 |
|CheckPoint |Post a detailed outline and speaker’s notes for your final project. | |25 |
|Final Project Outline and |Refer to Appendix A for details concerning the final project. | | |
|Speaker’s Notes | | | |

|Week Nine: Making Connections |
| |Details |Due |Points |
|Objectives | | | |
| |Evaluate principle philosophical issues. | | |
|Capstone CheckPoint |Write a 350- to 700-word response to the following question: How has your view concerning the | |25 |
|Refining Personal |topic you covered in your final project changed throughout this course? | | |
|Philosophies Through | | | |
|Education | | | |
|Final Project |Create an 11- to 14-slide PowerPoint® presentation answering one of the topics found in | |250 |
|Personal Philosophy |Appendix A, as well as 3 to 4 principle issues related to your chosen topic. Refer to Appendix| | |
|PowerPoint® Presentation |A for details of the assignment. | | |

Optional Discussion Questions

Week Two Discussion Questions

• In 1818 the German philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer stated, "Thus the world must be recognized, from one aspect at least, as akin to a dream, indeed as capable of being put in the same class with a dream." His idea reflects the 19th century question about the nature of experience. In comparing the views of David Hume, Immanuel Kant, Georg Hegel, and Arthur Schopenhauer, which view of experience seems closest to how you view the world? Briefly explain this philosopher's view as it compares to your view.

• Of the three early metaphysical ideas, which seems most logical to you? Briefly define the view you selected and explain how your reading and experience supports it. Note that there is a list of three metaphysical views in Ch. 6 of Philosophy.

Week Four Discussion Questions

• Your instructor will divide the class into two discussion groups. Answer the following questions in your group: What is the connection between habit and moral character? Do you think a bad habit is indicative of bad moral character or are habits, by definition, more objective in their scope?

• What is the connection between moral character and political activism? Do you think there should be a link between good moral character and political activity?

Week Six Discussion Questions

• What are key differences between the ontological, teleological, and cosmological arguments? Identify the philosopher who you think best supports his or her argument. Explain your answer briefly.

• Can religious decisions be made without faith? Explain your answer. In doing so, you may wish to provide your definition of faith as it relates to our discussion this week.

Week Eight Discussion Questions

• What role does justice play in post-colonial philosophy? Why was an education in philosophy important for post-colonial thinkers? How did financial considerations and the international market affect the precolonial, colonial, and postcolonial world's experiences with justice and injustice?

• How did Mary Wollstonecraft affect first-wave feminism? How did Simone de Beauvoir's writing shape the second wave? How did the events of the first and second wave affect each other?

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