ANGEL: https://angel.msu.edu/frameIndex.htm
Below: Course Description | Grades & Requirements | Calendar
PHL200 INSTRUCTOR: Larry Hauser hauserl@msu.edu Office: 514 S. Kedzie Philosophy Department My classroom is rated R. Discussion may include adult topics and language. |
|
TEXT (required): About Philosophy 9th Edition, Robert Paul Wolff, Prentice Hall
DESCRIPTION: Introduction to the practice, principles, and history of Western Philosophy with contemporary applications. Philosophical issues concerning ethics, society & politics, art, religion, knowledge, science, mind, and nature -- questions about what there is, how we know, and how to live -- will be considered.
ASSIGNMENT |
DUE DATE |
VALUE |
Participation |
e-forums: Saturday noon |
25% of course grade |
Midterm Examination |
Monday, Oct. 17 |
20% of course grade |
Term Paper |
Friday, Dec. 9 |
25% of course grade |
Final Examination |
as scheduled |
30% of course grade |
Academic Honesty: MSU Regulations, Ordinances, & Policies
http://www.msu.edu/unit/ombud/RegsOrdsPolicies.html
Important Note
Elements of this course will require the use of Angel, an online course management system. You will need to access Angel for course information, links to relevant web sites and other course resources, and to participate in the online forums as required.
If you do not have easy Internet access you should not take this course.
APPROXIMATE COURSE CALENDAR Room: 312 EBH (Bessey Hall) |
||||
MONDAY |
TUESDAY |
WEDNESDAY |
THURSDAY |
FRIDAY |
Aug. 30 |
The Study of Human Nature, the Universe, and Their Connection |
Sept. 1 |
Rationality, Universality, Objectivity & The Limits of the Western Tradition |
|
Labor Day |
Sept 6. |
Theory of Knowledge & Descartes' Method of Doubt |
Sept. 8 |
Rationalism and Empiricism |
Kant's Resolution & New Turns in Epistemology |
Sept. 13 |
CA: Virtual Reality |
Sept. 15 |
Metaphysics and Materialism |
Free Will & Determinism |
Sept. 20 |
Mind & Body |
Sept. 22 |
CA: Artificial Intelligence |
Science & Its Methods |
Sept. 27 |
Falsifiability & Scientific Revolutions |
Sept. 29 |
Science as a Social Institution |
CA: Is Science Value-Neutral? |
Oct. 4 |
Religion & Faith |
Oct. 6 |
The Design and Cosmological Arguments |
The Ontological Argument and the Problem of Evil |
Oct. 11 |
CA: Cults: Religion or Fanaticism |
Oct. 13 |
Midterm Review |
Midterm Exam |
Oct. 18 |
Kantian Ethics: Rights, & Duties |
Oct. 20 |
Utilitarianism |
Virtue Ethics & Feminism |
Oct. 25 |
CA: Same-Sex Marriage |
Oct. 27 |
Medical Ethics: Life & Death |
Medical Ethics: Autonomy |
Nov.1 |
CA: Human Cloning |
Nov. 3 |
Mill & Classic Liberalism |
Marxian Critique of Capitalism |
Nov. 8 |
Social Contract Theory |
Nov. 10 |
Pluralism and the Racial Critique |
CA: Affirmative Action |
Nov. 15 |
Plato's Attack on the Poets |
Nov. 17 |
In Defense of Art: Aristotle & Marcuse |
Danto & Artistic Identification |
Nov. 22 |
CA: Pornography, Art, & Censorship |
Thanksgiving |
Nov. 25: No Class |
Logic, Thought, & Writing |
Nov. 29 |
Term Paper Writing Tips & Examples |
Dec. 1 |
Abstracts Due Online |
Discussion: Film |
Dec. 6 |
Discussion: Animal Intelligence |
Dec. 8 |
Final Review |
Finals Week |
FINAL EXAM |
Dec. 14 |
Dec. 15 |
Finals |
LH's Philosophy Resource Page: http://members.aol.com/lshauser/index.html
Companion Website for About Philosophy: http://www.prenhall.com/wolff/