Course Details

Introduction to Philosophy
Camden County College, Blackwood Campus
Philosophy 101, Fall 2007
Section 01: MWF, 9:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m. in Wilson Hall 201
Section 02: MWF, 11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. in Lincoln Hall 019

Instructor: Sean Landis
Email: slandis@camdencc.edu
Phone: 609-980-8367
Course Website: http://cccphilosophy07.blogspot.com

Required Texts
A Rulebook for Arguments, 3rd Edition, Anthony Weston (RA)
Classics of Western Philosophy, 7th Edition, edited by Steven M. Cahn (CWP)

About the Course
This course is designed to introduce students to philosophy. Throughout the semester, we will explore a handful of classic philosophical questions: What is knowledge? Does God exist? Do humans have free will? What does it mean to say that one thing is morally right and another is morally wrong? In examining these issues, it is my hope that we can also develop the skills of doing philosophy—understanding philosophical arguments, evaluating the quality of such arguments, and developing good arguments of our own on philosophical topics.

Grades
90-100% = A; 80-89% = B; 70-79% = C; 60-69% = D; below 60% = F.

Quiz:10%
Midterm: 20%
Final: 25%
2 Papers: 5% each (10% total)
Journal: 15%
Oral Report: 15%
Attendance/Participation: 5%

Exams: There will be a midterm and a final exam. The midterm tests everything covered during the first half of the course, and will last the full period (50 minutes) on the scheduled day. The final exam is cumulative—that is, it tests everything covered throughout the whole course, not just the second half. The final will last 50 minutes, and will take place on the last day of class.

Quiz: There will be a quiz at the end of arguments section of the course. The quiz will last 20 minutes, and be held at the beginning of class on the scheduled day.

Oral Report: The oral report will be a group project presented in front of the class. Each group of 3-4 students will present a 10- to 15-minute presentation toward the end of the semester.

Papers: There will be 2 papers, the first on epistemology, and the second on ethics.

Journal: Each student will keep a journal during our metaphysics section on free will and the existence of God.

Group Work: There will be a lot of group work throughout the semester in which students get together to analyze short articles from newspapers or magazines on the philosophical issues being discusses in class.

Classroom Policies
Academic Integrity: Cheating and Plagiarism will not be tolerated in the class. Students found guilty of either will definitely fail the exam or assignment—and possibly the entire class. (Come to me if you are unsure what constitutes cheating or plagiarism.)

Excused Absenses: Make-up exams, quizzes, in-class projects, and oral reports will only be rescheduled for any excused absences (excused absences include religious observance, official college business, and illness or injury – with a doctor’s note). An unexcused absence on the day of any assignment or test will result in a zero on that assignment or test.

Important Dates
August 31: Last day to drop a course & receive a 100% refund.
September 17: Last day to drop a course & receive a 50% refund.
September 24: Last day to sign up to audit a course.
December 5: Last day to withdrawal from Fall Classes.