Course Description:

This is a general introductory course designed to familiarize the student with the basics of philosophical inquiry. In this course we will discuss the "big" questions of life while looking at some of the answers the great philosophers of the Western tradition have devised. These discussions will take place in two formats, the Cohort and the General Discussion. Cohort Discussions are small group discussions that take place with minimal teacher interaction: it is here where students can interact with one another in a more informal way just as they might discuss important ideas in a coffeeshop or a dormitory or in the hallway between classes. General Discussions are more formal full-class discussions in which the teacher actively interacts with the students' arguments as would occur in a formal land-based classroom setting.

Examples of the kinds of questions we will discuss are the following: What gives life meaning? How should one live a good life? How do we know what we think we know? Can we know anything? Is it possible to logically prove God's existence? Why should we obey authority? What is the most just way to distribute goods in a society? Is there a separation between the body and mind? In other words, we will be investigating the fundamental questions pertaining to reality, truth, freedom, the nature of humankind, the existence of God and social/political theory.

Course Objectives:

OBJECTIVES:

A. Demonstrate a basic understanding of philosophy.

B. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the various branches of philosophy.

C. Demonstrate a better sense of the questions/problems that have occupied famous philosophers during the last twenty-five centuries.

D. Demonstrate knowledge of the lives and basic ideas of twenty or thirty famous philosophers.

E. Demonstrate an enhanced ability to think critically about these philosophical questions/problems.

F. Demonstrate an enhanced ability to think critically about various other philosophical issues.

G. Demonstrate an enhanced ability to articulate ideas about philosophical issues.

No prerequisites except the ability to read and write at a college level; and to enjoy a sense of curiosity about life. Students who are unfamiliar with the internet and/or computers will want to spend some time before class starts getting to know the basics.

THIS COURSE IS TAUGHT BY MODULE AND MAY NOT BE IN THE SAME FORMAT AS SOME OTHER RODP TEACHING FORMATS PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED. TO BEGIN THE COURSE, STUDENTS GO TO MODULE ONE AND READ EACH PAGE, IN SEQUENCE. THEN, THEY FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY ON EACH PAGE OF THE MODULE SO AS TO BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME. NOTE THAT THE AUDIOS, LINKS AND OTHER IMPORTANT RESOURCES FOR THE COURSE ARE LOCATED ON THE MODULE PAGES AS STUDENTS GO ALONG. DUE DATES ARE REITERATED IN THE CALENDAR AND DUE-DATE CHECKLIST SO AS TO GIVE STUDENTS DUE-DATES AND DEADLINES FOR ALL ASSIGNMENTS.

The word processing requirement for the course is Microsoft Word with the ability to make (and keep track of) corrections. NO OTHER WORD-PROCESSING SOFTWARE IS PERMITTED.

The minimum software requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/students/ hardware_software.htm. Specific software requirements for this course include Windows Media Player. Also: Acrobat Reader , Microsoft Word, and MP3 Player).

[Students might want to print the Syllabus out so they have a convenient hard copy.]

Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook for this course
http://rodp.bkstr.com

[Note that the FIRST CHAPTER ONLY is available on audio online in the first modules so that students can keep up with the class while awaiting late books.]

The Republic of Plato (and Interpretive Essay by Allan Bloom), Basic Books, Originally published in 1968; any edition is fine. We will only be reading Chapter 7; you can find this book Used at Alibris, ISBN 0-465-06934-7

The Phaedo by Plato, Students may read any version of this Platonic dialogue, and can find this book Used at Alibris. This dialogue is also available on site.

All RODP students have access to the virtual library: http://vl.rodp.org

Software Requirements:

To repeat: The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/students/ hardware_software.htm. Specific software requirements for this course include Windows Media Player. Also: Acrobat Reader , Microsoft Word, and MP3 Player). DO NOT SEND THE TEACHER, OR OTHER STUDENTS IN THE COURSE, PROJECT PAPERS IN ANY FORMAT BUT in MICROSOFT WORD format.

COURSE OBJECTIVES ARE MEASURED FOR GRADES BY WEEKLY QUIZZES (20%), DISCUSSIONS (40%), AN EIGHT-PAGE PHILOSOPHY PROJECT (30%), AND A FINAL QUIZ AND DEFENSE OF PAPER (10%) PLEASE NOTE THAT DISCUSSIONS ARE A MAJOR PORTION OF THE GRADE AND DEVOTE TIME ACCORDINGLY.

Assessment:

Tests (20%): All tests are multiple choice and will be open book. No proctors will be necessary. Students should not be misled by the open-book nature of the tests into thinking that they do not have to study to pass. Students can BEST prepare for the tests by taking the practice quizzes.

Discussions (40%): Students need to realize that their participation in discussions have a higher weight than tests.

Project (30%): The project is an eight page paper described in detail under "Assignments" in the Course Menu.

Weekly Quizzes 20%
Discussions 40% (General Discussions 20%; Cohort Discussions 20%)
Philosophy Writing Project 30%
Final Exam and Defense 10%

There is one assignment, an eight-page paper, which students work on for ten weeks. A complete description of the project is inside the course.

General Help for Papers:

IF YOU HAVE LITTLE EXPERIENCE WITH WRITING COLLEGE PAPERS, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR HOME COLLEGE'S WRITING CENTER FOR HELP THE FIRST WEEK OF THE SEMESTER. MANY STUDENTS WHO TAKE THIS ADVICE GET A'S ON THEIR WRITING PROJECT.

Students must communicate with other students AND with the instructor as a learning resource, students must check the course bulletin board frequently for announcements, and students must actively participate in threaded discussion events IN BOTH the general and cohort discussions by the due dates given on the Calendar.

Please note that Discussions close at midnight on Saturday nights. It is a good idea--for the best grades--to post early in the week (Sunday is best), so there is plenty of time to read discussions and make follow-up postings.

Please note that participation is required: students are expected to communicate with other students, are also expected to learn how to navigate in WebCT and keep abreast of course announcements. PLEASE BE SURE AND CHECK THE HOMEPAGE EVERY WEEK!

It is a requirement that students use the assigned college or university e-mail address as opposed to a personal e-mail address (but the professor's outside email address is available for emergencies.)

PLEASE address technical problems immediately by going to http://help.rodp.com or calling the RODP Hotline 1- 866-550-7637.

Always observe course netiquette at all times.

For this class, in General Discussions we will address each other in formal address so as to create the most respectful and civil environment possible for vigorous debate about often sensitive subjects. (Formal address: Professor Smith, Mrs. Jones, Mr. King, Ms. Harris.)  

• Make a list of the students in your cohort in case you want to contact them by email.
• Always include a subject line.
• Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons :') might be helpful in some cases.
• Use standard fonts.
• Do not send large attachments without permission.
• Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
• WHEN IN DISCUSSIONS: IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND PRIVATELY TO A PUBLIC GENERAL OR COHORT DISCUSSION POSTING, YOU MAY DO SO BY SELECTING "REPLY PRIVATELY" and an email will be sent to the recipient with your comments. However, you will get no class "credit" for emails sent, only Discussion postings, so use judiciously. UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED: ALWAYS RESPOND TO DISCUSSIONS BY USING THE "QUOTE" BUTTON!
• ****** Respect the privacy of other class members********

Students with Disabilities:

• Students who have disabilities should contact their teacher for any help they might need.
• The entire site contains an off-white background to better help students with some reading disabilities.
• Audio and video versions of lectures and discussions are available on site.
• Texts of video lectures are available on site.