Metropolitan State College of Denver
PHIL1010-001 - Introduction to Philosophy

1. Catalogue Description:
   PHIL 1010-3. Introduction to Ethics and Society: This course constitutes a survey of the major areas of philosophical inquiry: the enduring questions and alternative answers that continue to be relevant to contemporary living. Problems covered include (1) free will vs. determinism, (2) mind and body, (3) God and religion, (4) knowledge, (5) ethics, and (6) society and politics. Credit will be granted for only one
   
   
2. Course Objectives
   • Introduce the student to the major moral theories that have been advanced in the western philosophical tradition and some of the responses to and critiques of these theories.
   • Familiarize the student with the structure and form of argument by making use of explicit arguments for and against the moral theories considered.
   • Demonstrate to the student methods of critical evaluation of beliefs and (philosophical) claims and have the student employ these methods for him/herself.
   • Develop the student's writing skills in a philosophical setting.
3. Requirements
   
   1. Prerequisites: None
   2. Required Text:
      1. About Philosophy, 10th ed
         Robert Paul Wolff
         W. E. B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies, Univ of Massachusetts, Amherst
         Prentice Hall, 2008.
      2. My lecture notes for About Philosophy, 10th edition
4. University and Instructor Statements
   
   1. The topic of this course will include controversial topics such as morality, arguments for and against the existence of God, etc., subjects about which people often very strong feelings. In order to elucidate the subject matter we will discuss current moral issues, e.g. abortion, racism, and the relationship between morality and religion, and in some cases, the issues and questions raised will almost certainly make some students uncomfortable. It is important that students remember that a person is different from the positions held by that person, and a position held by a person can be attacked, criticized, or found to be inadequate without any of those things being done to the person who holds the position. One must take care when attacking or criticizing a position, not to attack or criticize an individual who holds that position. Likewise, individuals who hold a position that is under attack must remember that this does not necessarily mean that they themselves are under attack.
      Attacks or criticism of individuals will not be tolerated; the positions or ideas of anyone, including the instructor, are however, fair game.
   2. Neither cheating nor plagiarism (which is just a kind of cheating) will be tolerated; any student found to have cheating or committed plagiarism will receive a grade of "F" for this class. Quickly, "plagiarism" means presenting, as one's own, the words, work, or opinions of someone else; the student should consult the Student Handbook.
   3. The University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center is committed to providing reasonable accommodation and access to programs and services to persons with disabilities. Students with disabilities who want academic accommodations must register with Disability Resources and Services (DRS), 177 Arts Building, 303-556-3450, TTY 303-556-4766, FAX 303-556-2074. I will be happy to provide approved accommodations, once you provide me with a copy of DRS’s letter.
   4. In addition to announcements made and written handouts distributed in class, I may need to contact you between classes, which I'll do through individual and group email messages. One of the requirements for this course is that you maintain an email address, check it regularly for messages, be sure it is working, and let me know if you change your email address. You are responsible for any messages, including assignments and schedule changes, I send you.
   5. My commitment is to create a climate for learning characterized by respect for each other and the contributions each person makes to class. I ask that you make a similar commitment. For example, everyone, including me, is expected to turn off beepers and cell phones during class. Adherence to the Student Conduct Code is expected.
   6. Students with the potential of being called to military service and/or training during the course of the semester, you are encouraged to contact your school/college Associate Dean or Advising Office immediately.
   7. This syllabus does not constitute a contract, and what actually happens in the class and material covered in the class may vary from what is listed in this syllabus.
   
   
5. Evaluation and Grading
   A student's transcript generally has only one of five possible letter grades for any given class, "A", "B", "C", "D" or "F", not a numerical score, e.g. "72", which would require a scale for each class to be meaningful.
   
   For this reason I grade using a 5pt rubric:

   A	5pts	student's work demonstrates a thorough grasp of material when s/he uses appropriate methods to arrive at a correct answer
   B	4pts	student's work demonstrates a thorough grasp of material when s/he uses appropriate methods though minor errors regarding material prerequisite for the course, e.g. 2+2=5, prevent the student from arriving at a correct answer
   C	3pts	student's work demonstrates a grasp of material by attempting to apply appropriate methods but s/he fails to arrive at a correct answer due to substantial errors regarding material covered in the course
   D	2pts	student's work fails to demonstrate a grasp of material when s/he attempts to apply appropriate methods but makes no substantive progress to answer
   F	1pts	student's work fails to demonstrate a grasp of material when s/he attempts to apply inappropriate methods
   -	0pts	student makes no meaningful effort whatsoever

   This rubric results the grading scale:	3 Assesment Items will be used in this class and will be weighted in the Final Grade:
   Grade % A 80-100 B 60-79 C 40-59 D 20-39 F 0-19	Assement Item Final Weight "How to Write a Philosophy Paper" Summary 10% - 1/2 Letter Grade Short Paper 10% - 1/2 Letter Grade Long Paper 20% - 1 Letter Grade 4 Exams 60% - 3 Letter Grades

   
   The above Assement Items are described:
   1. "How to Write a Philosophy Paper" Summary
      The student will write a short, 2 page, summary of the Wolff appendix "How to Write a Philosophy Paper" - details about this assignment will be given in class and/or via the course website.
   2. Short Paper
      The student will write a short, 2-3 page paper - details about this assignment will be given in class and/or via the course website.
   3. Long Paper
      The student will write take his Short Paper, correct it based on my comments, and expand it to longer, 4-5 page, paper - details about this assignment will be given in class and/or via the course website.
   4. Exams
      Exams will be no-notes and closed-book.
      Individual exam problems may be worth more or less than 5pts, but will be graded in a way that reflects the rubric given above.
      Make-up Exams will be allowed only when there is a legitimate excuse and the student informs me of the excuse and makes arrangments to make up the exam in a timely fashion.

   Conspicuous by its absence as an Assesment Item is, perhaps, attendance. The student is free to attend or not attend class as s/he sees fit. This is college, not grade-school, and I have no interest in treating the students in this class as though they were still in grade-school. My job is to help the student master the material in this course, and if s/he can do this without my help, more power to him/her.

   There will be opportunities to earn Extra Credit; some such opportunities will be announced, and others will result from students taking initiative and impressing me in unexpected ways.

6. Course Schedule

   Date	Chapter	Sections Covered
   20080811M	What is Philosophy?	1.00-1.02
   20080813W		1.03-1.06
   20080818M	Ethical Theory	5.00-5.03
   20080820W		5.04-5.04
   20080825M	DNC
   20080827W
   20080901M	Labor Day
   20080903W	Ethical Theory	5.05-5.05
   20080908M		5.06-5.07
   20080910W	Exam 1
   20080915M	Theory of Knowledge	2.00-2.02
   20080917W		2.03-2.04
   20080922M		2.05-2.06
   20080924W	Metaphysics and Philosophy of Mind	3.00-3.02
   20080929M		3.03-3.04
   20081001W		3.07-3.07
   20081006M	Exam 2
   20081008W	Philosophy of Science	4.00-4.03
   20081013M		4.04-4.05
   20081015W		4.06-4.06
   20081020M		4.09-4.09
   20081022W	Social and Political Philosophy	6.00-6.02
   20081027M		6.03-6.03
   20081029W		6.04-6.05
   20081103M		6.08-6.08
   20081105W	Exam 3
   20081110M	Philosophy of Art	7.00-7.02
   20081112W		7.03-7.03
   20081117M		7.07-7.07
   20081119W	Philosophy of Religion	8.00-8.03
   20081124M	Fall Break
   20081126W
   20081201M	Philosophy of Religion	8.04-8.06
   20081203W		8.09-8.09
   20081208M	Finals Week - Exam 4
   20081210W