COURSE DESCRIPTION : This course will be an historical survey of philosophy in the West. We shall begin with the birth of philosophy and trace its development through the Middle Ages. The major figures we shall discuss include: Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Anselm, and Aquinas. This course is the first semester of a two-semester Honors Philosophy offering.  The second course, covering the early modern period through the contemporary period, will be offered in the spring semester.

OBJECTIVES : In exploring the work of major philosophers we shall address such basic philosophical questions as: What can I know? What should I do? What is real? Do human beings have free will? Can the existence of God be proven? What is evil? How can we deal with pain and difficulty in life? Students will learn to argue for their positions on these issues by criticizing and responding to the philosophers. We shall develop critical thinking skills and apply them in reading, discussing, and writing about philosophy.

REQUIRED TEXTS :

Philosophic Classics 6th Edition: From Plato to Derrida, Forrest E. Baird ed.

On the Meaning of Life, John Cottingham.

RECOMMENDED TEXT:

Introducing Philosophy through Pop Culture: From Socrates to South Park, Hume to House, Irwin and Johnson eds.

GRADES will be determined as follows:

95-100 A
90-94 A-
85-89 B+
80-84 B
78-79 B-
75-77 C+
70-74 C
65-69 C-
60-64 D
59 and below F

3 Exams 75% (25% each, dates to be announced) Exams are composed of questions of various types: true or false, multiple choice, identify the quotation, short essay, and argumentative essay. Exams are difficult; you must read the questions carefully and answer them fully. The third exam will be given during the week of final exams, but it will not be cumulative.

Short Term Paper 5%What do you think is the meaning of life? Why? What reasons do you have for your position? Students will receive a handout, giving detailed expectations and requirements. Due date September 17.
                                                      
Long term paper 10%
The assignment is to read On the Meaning of Life, by John Cottingham and write a critical and argumentative paper. Students will receive a handout, giving detailed expectations and requirements. Term papers will be approximately 6 pages in length and are due December 3. Make an appointment for a conference with the instructor during scheduled office hours by November 12. Please bring an outline of your paper to the appointment. During the conference you should be prepared to discuss your ideas for the paper with the instructor. 10% of your grade on the paper will be based on the conference discussion and outline.

Quizzes 5% There will be unannounced quizzes to check whether you have done the reading. There may also be some announced quizzes that will assess your comprehension of class material. No makeups.

Attendance and Participation 5% The instructor will take attendance at the beginning of each class. If you arrive late it is your responsibility to notify the instructor after class that you are in attendance. Habitual tardiness, however, will not be tolerated. More than four absences will result in no credit for attendance. You are expected to speak at least once in every class meeting. Active participation requires that you read the assigned material before class.

Readings and Topics:
At the beginning of each class meeting the instructor will announce the assigned reading for the next class meeting. We will follow the list of readings in order, and generally take one line per class meeting. You must read to participate actively in class and to answer the “identify the quotation” questions on the exams.

 

I. In The Beginning

A. What is Philosophy? handouts.
B. “The Chewbacca Defense: A South Park Logic Lesson,” 14-24.
C. “Wikiality, Truthiness, and Gut Thinking: Doing Philosophy Colbert-Style,” 25-36.
D. The Presocratic Philosophers, no reading.

II. The Trial and Death of Socrates

A. Apology, 21-26.
B. Apology, 27-37; “Flatulence and Philosophy: A Lot of Hot Air or the Corruption of the Youth?” 5-13.
C. Republic Bk. VII (The Allegory of the Cave), 119-124.
D. Phaedo, 47-58.

III. Plato on Justice and Virtue

A. Republic Bk. II (Justice, the Ring of Gyges, and the Structure of the State) 66-77; “Plato on Gyges’ Ring of Invisibility: The Power of Heroes and the Value of Virtue,” 141-150.
B. Republic Bk. III (The Noble Lie) 78-82.
C. Republic Bk. IV (The Structure of the Soul) 82-97.

Exam I

IV. Aristotle: The Final Cause and Virtue

A. The Four Causes and the rejection of Plato's theory of Forms, 125-127.
B. WHAT IS VIRTUE? Nichomachean Ethics Bk. I, 164-177; “The Virtues of Humor: What The Office Can Teach Us About Aristotle’s Ethics,” 151-162.
C. HOW DO WE BECOME VIRTUOUS? Ethics Bk. II, 178-187.

V. How to Live

A. The Skeptics, Outlines of Pyrrhonism, 253-257.
B. Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus, 232-235; Principal Doctrines 236-238.
C. Epictetus, Encheiridion, 241-251.

Exam 2

VI. Faith, Reason, and the Problem of Evil

A. Augustine, The City of God Bk. XII  291-299 (the problem of evil); “Cartmanland and the Problem of Evil,” 111-118.
B. Augustine, handouts (universals, knowledge, and time).
C. Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy 302-305; “Destiny in the Wizarding World,” 89-98.

VII. The Existence of God, Human Nature, and Natural Law

A. Anselm, Proslogion (The Ontological Argument for the Existence of God) 308-310.
B. Gaunilo and Anselm Debate 310-313.
C. Aquinas, Summa Theologica (The Existence of God) 331-335; “Aquinas and Rose on Faith and Reason,” 119-127; “‘I Am an Instrument of God’: Religious Belief, Atheism, and Meaning,” 128-138.
D. Summa Theologica (Soul and body) 336-342.
E. Summa Theologica (Happiness) 342-347.
F. Summa Theologica (Natural Law, Human Law, and Just War) 347-357.

EXAM 3

 

HOW TO DO WELL IN THIS CLASS

1. Read the assigned readings before coming to class. To the best of your ability, answer the reading questions that go along with the assigned pages.
2. Read the assigned reading again after the material has been covered in class.
3. Type up your notes after each class meeting.
4. Review your notes from the previous class meeting before coming to each class.
5. Ask and answer questions in class to check your understanding and to clarify what you don’t understand. The class is a community—be a part of it.
6. Take quizzes seriously but don’t stress over them. Quizzes are an excellent way to periodically check your understanding and boost your grade.
7. Keep up with each class meeting so that studying for exams is no big deal.
8. Use exam review sessions wisely. Review your notes prior to the session and come with questions.
9. Get started early on your term papers.
10. Follow the long term paper outline carefully.
11. Go to the Writing Center if you have problems with organizing your paper and writing clearly.
12. Have at least one person in your class read your term paper. Does it make sense to him or her?
13. See the professor to discuss your term paper ideas. If you write the paper early see the professor with a rough draft, but be prepared to do some work in revising it. Don’t expect the professor to fix everything that is wrong with your rough draft. You can’t bring a broken down Chevy to a mechanic and expect a brand new Porsche when you return.
14. Read your paper out loud before turning it in. How does it sound?

 

A MODEST PROPOSAL FOR STUDENTS

IN THE CLASSROOM

1. Come on time. You disturb the professor, the students, and the flow of the class when you walk in late.

2. Come to class prepared. Do the assigned reading.

3. Enthusiasm is contagious. Profs respond and teach better to an alert, attentive, and interested class in just the way a band puts on a better show for an enthusiastic crowd.

4. Be involved in class. Participate in class discussions and ask questions. If you have nothing to say, then show that you are interested and engaged by making eye contact with the professor. You would find it pretty boring if the prof never made eye contact with the class. In the same way, the prof will find you pretty boring, and assume you are not interested, if you never look up.

5. The “too cool for school” posture is unacceptable and offensive. Never slouch, chat, glare at the clock, or yawn.  The professor is not your adversary.  Work with him, not against him. You would not appreciate such posture or attitude if you were speaking at the front of the class. Think about it.

6. Respect your classmates, and learn their names for class discussions. Never refer to “the fat guy in the Nike hat.” It’s not nice.

7. When a fellow student speaks it is not an opportunity to “tune out,” take a break, or start a conversation. Respecting your classmates includes listening to their questions and comments.

8. Never study for another exam or do work for another class. If you’re too busy to be in class, then don’t come. But, by the way, you’re never that busy.

9. Never close your books or rustle your papers to signal the end of class. This is like looking at your watch when someone is talking to you—pretty rude. The prof knows what time it is, and will let you know when the class is over.

10. Try not to look at the time during class. Time flies when you’re not thinking about it.

11. Do not walk out of class unless it is truly necessary. Do not walk out of class during an exam without asking permission, and do not even think of taking your phone to the bathroom during an exam.

12. Do not look at your phone during class, and do not send text messages during class. It’s Rude. Pay attention. If your phone rings, you will be instructed to put it on vibrate and shove it up your @$$.

13. Listen as if the professor were speaking to you alone. Don’t divide the responsibility for understanding among all the students in the class. Ultimately you alone are responsible for your understanding of the material.

(Originally published in abridged form by William Irwin, The Teaching Professor 13 (1999), p. 8.)

 

OFFICE HOURS, ETC.

1. Make use of office hours, and don’t hesitate to make an appointment if the designated times conflict with your schedule. If you make an appointment, keep it. No one likes to be stood up.

2. Keep in mind that profs do not just “kill time” in their offices between classes. Profs put a great deal of time into preparing for class and also pursue an active scholarly research agenda. Profs are there for students first and foremost, but respect their time and interests.

3. When addressing the instructor don’t just start talking. Whether by e-mail, phone, or in person, call your prof by name: Dr. Doolittle, Professor Plum, Mr. Clean, Ms. Demeanor, Ms. Information, whatever.

4. Don’t wait until it’s “too late” to seek help. If you’re having trouble let the prof know and show that you are concerned.

5. Come to office hours with definite questions, concerns, or problems in mind. Don’t wait until you arrive to think about what you need help with.

6. Never ask “Did I miss anything important in class the other day?” Of course you did.

7. Don’t ask for extra credit. This is not your seventh grade science class; you cannot earn extra credit by making a volcano for the science fair. Just work extra hard on the remaining assignments.

8. When leaving voice mail  for your prof, make it brief and to the point—no long excuse stories or graphic details about projectile vomiting and other maladies. And leave your phone number; the prof doesn’t have it otherwise. Better yet, just e-mail me!

9. Unless the prof instructs you otherwise, do not call to tell him/her that you will be missing class. You are an adult. If you were not in class, the prof assumes you had a good reason. 

10. Bad planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on the prof’s part.  Laziness is not a learning disability; procrastination is not a sport.

 

PAPERS AND EXAMS

1. Hand in papers on time, and do not ask for extensions, except under the most extraordinary circumstances.

2. Do not miss scheduled exams or quizzes except under the most extraordinary circumstances. Do not expect a make up or any special accommodations if you do miss.

3. Cheating on exams and quizzes is frowned upon. Do not check your phone during an exam.

4. Don’t answer exam and quiz questions like you would in responding to a text message. Instead, answer in full sentences developed into coherent paragraphs.

5. Philosophy is about giving arguments to support or defend your position. This also involves criticizing the beliefs and positions of others—it is not impolite to do so.

6. Some terms and definitions. KNOWLEDGE is defined as true, justified belief. There is no such thing as “false knowledge.” For a belief to be JUSTIFIED there must be strong evidence for it. If a belief is not justified in this sense it is just an OPINION. A belief is TRUE if it corresponds to the way things really are. Truth is objective, not subjective. There is no such thing as “true to me.” There is truth, and that is all. People may believe different things to be true, but that doesn’t mean different things are true.

7. Bad Words and phrases in Philosophy include, but are not limited to: “opinion,” “basically,” “personally,” “to me,” “for me,” and “feel.”

8. Good Words and Phrases in Philosophy include, but are not limited to: “My position is,” ‘My argument is,” “My criticism of the opposing side is,” “I believe,” and “I think.” In writing, vary your sentence structure. For example, do not begin several sentences in a row “He says …” Avoid phrases like “goes on to say.”

9. Warning: Do not plagiarize in any way. Plagiarism is obvious. If you were smart enough to plagiarize and get away with it you would not need to plagiarize in the first place!

10. This is NOT KINDERGARTEN. Special plastic covers and red ribbons on term papers are not necessary, and indeed are not appreciated. No cover pages, title pages, or other excess baggage. Thank you.

11. Staple your term paper once in the upper left corner. Never ask the prof for a stapler—he is not your secretary or supply store.

12. Use a title for your paper different from the name of the book you are examining.

13. Titles of movies, TV shows, and books should be in italics. Titles of articles should be enclosed in quotation marks.

14. Label the sections of your long term paper so that it is completely clear what parts of your paper correspond to the parts of the paper specified in the  handout/outline.

15. Include a Works Cited section if you cite from any book (including the one assigned), article, website, etc.

16. Do not ask if your paper is graded the day after you handed it in. You had a reasonable amount of time to write it, now give the prof a reasonable amount of time to grade it.

17. Contrary to popular opinion, grading is not easy and profs do not take sadistic pleasure in it. It is the worst part of the job, and profs strive to be as fair as possible.

 

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR PROF

1. Do expect courtesy, concern, interest, and promptness.

2. Do not expect special treatment or accommodations.

 

WHY MAJOR or Minor IN PHILoSOPHY?

The best reason to major in philosophy is that you find the subject interesting and exciting. Philosophy IS the road less traveled, and it can make all the difference. Besides, what if the hokey pokey isn’t what it’s all about?

 

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A PHILOSOPHY DEGREE?

ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING!

 Is Philosophy practical?

YES! And it is an ideal major for smart, motivated people who have a vision of what they want to do in life. The philosophy major provides a true education, rather than mere training. Most on-campus interviewers are interested in interviewing “all majors.” This is because most employers seek smart people who are able to think critically and respond positively to changes and problems. More so than perhaps any other major, philosophy teaches skills and abilities that are practical and applicable to any career. These never go out of style:

• The ability to think logically.
• The ability to analyze and solve problems.
• The ability to assess the pros and cons of proposed solutions.
• The ability to write and speak clearly.
• The ability to persuade.
• The ability to conduct thorough research.
• The ability to ask the right questions.
• The ability to think creatively and imaginatively.

 

What careers do philosophy majors typically pursue?

Most majors offer only a few career possibilities, but with a philosophy major the possibilities are endless. The list of careers and career areas typically pursued by philosophy majors includes, but is not limited to: law, medicine, education, F.B.I., government, publishing, writing, research, consulting, social and community services, business, and computer programming.

 

How do philosophy majors score on standardized tests?

In short, philosophy majors score among the very best.

• If you want to go to Law School, you should know that nationally the mean score on the LSAT(Law School Admissions Test) for philosophy majors is higher than that for both political science and pre-law majors.
  

• If you want to go to graduate school in any field, you should know that nationally philosophy majors go on to advanced degrees in philosophy as well as nearly every other area of study. On the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) philosophy majors have the highest mean verbal score of all majors, the second highest mean analytic score of all majors, and the highest mean quantitative score of all humanities and social science majors.

• If you want to pursue an MBA, you should know that nationally philosophy majors have a higher mean GMAT score than business majors.

• If you want to pursue a career in medicine, you should know that many medical schools look very favorably on a philosophy major as long as the requisite science courses are taken as well. Philosophy majors actually have a significantly higher medical school acceptance rate than biology or chemistry majors.

 

What if I'm interested in philosophy but want to major in something else?

You should know that philosophy works very well as a double major or minor with any other area of study. The study of philosophy can provide you with highly valuable insight into the nature of literature and the humanities, psychology and the social sciences, chemistry and the natural sciences, and economics and business. You can earn a minor in philosophy by taking just four courses beyond the Core requirements.

 

I've never heard of anyone majoring in philosophy.

Yes you have! Here are just a few of the philosophy majors you may certainly have heard of:

Government, Politics, and Law: Thomas Jefferson (U.S. President), David Souter and Stephen Breyer (Supreme Court Justices), William Bennett (Secretary of Education and best-selling author), Patrick Buchanan (presidential candidate and political columnist), Jerry Brown (governor of California and presidential candidate), Raisa Gorbachev (former first lady of the Soviet Union), Fred Thompson (former Senator and presidential candidate).

Business: Larry Sanger (co-founder of Wikipedia), Peter Thiel (founder of PayPal), J. Paul Getty, Carl Icahn (CEO, TWA Airlines), Gerald Levin (CEO, Time Warner, Inc.), George Soros (financier), Lachlan Murdoch (son of Rupert Murdoch, media magnate), Carly Fiorina (CEO Hewlett-Packard), Robert Greenhill (President of Morgan Stanley).

Religion: Pope John Paul II, Martin Luther King, Jr., Madelyn Murray O’Hair (famous atheist).

Contemporary Writers: T. S. Eliot, Christopher Hitchens, Mary Higgins Clark, James Michener, Iris Murdoch, Alexander Solzhenitsin, Umberto Eco, M. Scott Peck, Ken Follett, Susan Sontag, Sam Harris, David Foster Wallace, Ayn Rand, Elie Wiesel, and Yann Martel.

Performers and Broadcasters: Juan Williams, Harrison Ford, Susan Sarandon, Woody Allen, Richard Gere, Steve Martin, George Carlin, Jay Leno, Dennis Miller, Kim Thayill (Soundgarden), Stone Phillips, John Chancellor, Alex Trebek, Gene Siskel, Willard Scott, Jimmy Kimmel, Ricky Gervais (creator of The Office), Wes Anderson, Ethan Coen.

Sports: Bruce Lee, Phil Jackson, Michael McKaskey (Owner, Chicago Bears), Aaron Talylor (OT, Notre Dame and the Green Bay Packers). 

 

Words of Wisdom from King's Alumni

The Philosophy Major is one of the best- kept secrets at King's. Here's what some of our recent graduates have to say.

"As an Elementary Education major I was often asked why I chose to pick up philosophy as my minor. Philosophy has helped me understand the many viewpoints of my students, how to converse with others to get my ideas across in a meaningful way, and how to make well-thought decisions quickly. Any person from any major can gain new skills through the study of philosophy—I would highly recommend it." Erica Pandolfo '13

“I chose Philosophy as my first major because I wanted to learn how to think, and now I've learned that and far more. Other majors teach students how to become bankers or historians. Philosophy has taught me how to be a human being. It taught me to evaluate choices and think ethically. I know I can succeed in graduate school, in the workplace, or anywhere else I end up in life, all due to my education in philosophy.” Cory Ruda ‘13

“I wanted to go to law school and was afraid that not being a political science major would be a detriment to me when I took the LSAT. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Several of the readings and logic puzzles on the LSAT I had encountered before in my philosophy classes, and thus the LSAT ended up being easier for me with my philosophical background. I will begin law school, on a full scholarship, in August and I already feel prepared thanks to the King’s College Philosophy Department.” Elizabeth Wendolowski '11

“Philosophy is an excellent major and reaches well beyond schoolwork and the classroom. If people are able to understand why they hold their beliefs and are able to provide good reasons for holding beliefs, they are more likely to benefit society and less likely to harm themselves and others.” Justin Vacula '11

“A major in philosophy at King’s College is perfect on its own or combined with another major. I chose to pursue philosophy as a second major, and I was amply rewarded on many different levels. The careful guidance of the philosophy professors at King’s has proved invaluable to me, and I strongly urge any student to pursue a degree in philosophy at King’s College. You won’t regret it.” Matt Deegan '10

“Most college majors either give you the knowledge to do a single job or a credential and some facts you'll probably never use. The philosophy program at Kings teaches you skills that you'll actually benefit from in your everyday life: how to think and ask questions. You can get by listening to your gut and common wisdom, but if you can make informed decisions on your own then you have a chance to actually influence where it is you're going. I had quite a bit of fun and can't help but think that I'm a better person for it.” Jeremy Hauze ‘09

“I was able to land a job with the FBI—no small accomplishment—proving that yes, you can do something with a degree in Philosophy. In short, Philosophy can make you—and the world around you—a whole lot more interesting. So what are you waiting for? Philosophy: Because it's major.” A. S. '08 (full name withheld for national security purposes)