Syllabus

 

I.                   Philosophy 332

II.                Philsosphy Program   School of Arts and Humanities

III.             Instructer:  Gary L. Angel

IV.             Office:  Britt 211

V.                Phone: 4343        

VI.             Hours:  MWF 2:45-5:15

VII.          Class meeting Time: TR 11:00

VIII.       Text:

               The Philosophy of Jean-Paul Sartre, edited by Robert Denoon Cumming

                      Heidegger, Martin. "What is Metaphysics?" edited by David Farrell Krell. http:// www. msu.org/ e&r/content_e&r/ texts/ heidegger/

                heidegger_wm2.html

IX.             Catalogue Description:

             Examines the thoughts of 20th century existential philosophers and the phenomenological method which many of these thinkers find indispensable to philosophical inquiry. The course also involves discussions of the significance of existential thinking and phenomenological methods for other disciplines, e.g., psychology and theology. Thinkers to be studied may include Husserl, Heidegger, Sartre, and Merleau-Ponty. Prerequisite: one course in philosophy. Three hours, three credits.

X.                Purpose:

      This course is the fourth course in the history of philosophy sequence in the philosophy program.  It covers an extremely important movement of the twentieth century.

XI.             Instructional Methodology:

                   This class will be conducted in a seminar setting with extensive reading, participation in class discussions, and oral presentations.  Students will also be expected to do some

      research both in the library and online.

XII.          College-wide Outcomes:

                    Students will demonstrate an integrated knowledge in the liberal arts

       Students will think critically and solve problems through analysis, evaluation,  andinference.

 

                    Students will communicate with unity of purpose and coherent organization consistent with standard rules and recognized conventions using appropriate methodologies

                    Students will demonstrate a depth of knowledge, capability and ethical reasoning in a chosen field.

XIII.       Program Outcomes

            Philosophy graduates will have a basic knowledge of the philosophical standpoints of the major thinkers in the history of philosophy including the following: Socrates, Plato, Augustine, Anselm, Aquinas, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Kant, Hegel, Marx, Kierkegaard, and Nietzshe.

            Philosophy graduates will have a basic understanding of the essential positions, movements, and schools of thought in the history of philosophy including the following: realism, idealism, materialism, dualism, rationalism, empiricism, Marxism, analytical philosophy, phenomenology, and existential philosophy.

 

           Philosophy graduates will have a basic knowledge of the fundamental problems of metaphysics, and their potential solutions, including the following:  the ultimate nature of reality, the existence of God, the problem of universals, the nature of human existence, the mind/body problem, the freedom of the will, and death and immortality.

                      

 Course Goals:

 

1.      Students will learn what constitutes phenomenology as a philosophical method. (Exam)

2.      Students will learn the basic elements of the philosophy of Edmund Husserl, the father of contemporary phenomenology. (Textual Explications and Exam)

1.      Students will learn, in depth, the philosophy of Jean-Paul Sartre. (Textual Explications and Exams)

2.      Students will learn “What Is Metaphysics?” by Martin Heidegger. (Exam)

I.                   Course Requirements:

 

a.                   Attendance

 

                                                              i.      Students who miss class should have their heads examined.  It is virtually impossible to pass, much less do well, if classes are missed.  However, in spite of this, responsibility for class attendance belongs exclusively to students; hence, class attendance, as such, will not be required.  Yet, students should be advised that a choice to miss class is tantamount to a choice to fail the class.

                                                            ii.      Examinations, quizzes, and oral presentations are not optional.  Students must take them or give them when they are scheduled unless the professor is contacted in advance, by e-mail, alerting him to the reason for missing the assignment.  Students should understand that only good reasons will be accepted, and that most reasons students offer for missing are not good ones.  Make-up assignments will be given only if appropriate and only if these conditions are met.  If students miss pop-quizzes, there will be no make-ups.

                                                          iii.      Illness is always a good reason for missing class, as well as tests.  Moreover, in a time of a potential pandemic, students with potentially contagious illnesses must not attend class.  If students come to class sneezing, coughing, snotting, or showing any signs of fever, they will have to leave.

 

b.      Assignments

 

                                                              i.      Attendance is expected at every class, and students are required to participate in class discussion.  Participation should demonstrate that the assigned readings have been read, and will be graded in terms of quality as well as quantity.  Participation will make up 20% of the final grade.

                                                            ii.      Students will present textual explications of the daily assignments.  These must be thorough, and indicate real effort to assimilate the material.  Simple repetitions of the readings are unacceptable, and receive grades of F.  When giving these presentations students may make reference to prepared outlines and written manuscripts, but not to the actual physical text except to offer a direct quotation.  These explications will make up 25% of the final grade.

                                                          iii.      There will be periodic cumulative quizzes the average of which will constitute 5% of the final grade.

                                                          iv.      There will be a cumulative mid-term examination which will constitute 20% of the final grade.

                                                            v.      There will be a cumulative final examination which will constitute 30% of the final grade.

 

c.       Co-requirements

 

                                                              i.      Entering the room late is disruptive and rude.  Do not be late to class.  If students are late, they might not be allowed to enter class.

                                                            ii.      Cell phones are also disruptive and will be seen as mechanisms for cheating.  Active texting or receiving text messages in class is prohibited.  Cell phones must be turned off and all headsets must be removed.  If students do not comply, they will have to leave class.

                                                          iii.      Proper classroom attire is essential to a learning environment.  Do not wear underwear as outerwear, and do not wear pajamas to class.  If students do not comply, they will have to leave class.

                                                          iv.      It is horribly rude to leave the room during class.  Students may not leave to go to the rest room, to drink, or to engage in any other non-emergent activity.  If students become aware of emergencies, they may leave without asking permission.  

 

II.                Grading Scale: 

A = 90-100

B = 80-89

C =- 70-79

D = 60-69

F = Below 60

III.             Academic Integrity: 

             In all instances, policies identified in the Ferrum College Catalog and the Ferrum College Student and Faculty Handbooks regarding the Honor System shall be followed.

             Students are expected to display academic integrity at all times and in all circumstances.

IV.                Disability Services:

                   As directed by Ferrum College’s policy, any student with a disability who qualifies for and seeks academic accommodations (such as testing or other services) must work

       through the Office for Academic Disability Services.  The office is located the Academic Resources Center 110 and the Director may be reached at 365-4262 or

       nbeach@ferrum.edu . Please remember that accommodations cannot be granted retroactively; they must be requested in a timely manner before the accommodation is needed.