Spring Semester, 2008
Philosophy 110-001--Introduction to Philosophy
T, Th 12:30-1:45 pm

Comer 308

Required Text:  Does the Center Hold?, Palmer

The dates and assignments contained in this syllabus are presented as a guide only.  Actual dates and assignments may vary due to unforeseen occurrences.

Tuesdays and Thursdays: 12:30-1:45
Date  Text Assignment  Web Readings  Homework 
Week 1 
Jan. 7-11
What Are We Doing in This Class? 
 
Week 2 
Jan. 14-18
Truth is Beauty, Beauty is Truth 
Chapter 2, Pages 38-49 
Plato's Meno 
Plato's Republic
 
Week 3 
Jan. 21-25
Chapter 2, Pages 49-71  Descartes's Discourse on Method 
Descartes's Meditations
No Class This Week
Week 4 
Jan 28-Feb 1  
What You See is What You Get 
Chapter 3, Pages 74-95 
Locke's Essay Paper 1 draft due
Week 5 
Feb. 4-8
Chapter 3, Pages 95-107  Berkeley's Epistemology 
Hume's Essay 
Kant's Critique
Week 6
Feb. 11-15
Who's on First, What's on Second? 
Chapter 4, Pages 110-128 
Mind/Body Resources  
Week 7
Feb 18-22
Chapter 4, Pages 128-148  Mind/Body Show on No Dogs or Philosophers No Class on Thursday

Week 8
Feb 25-2
9

Mt. Olympus, Mt. Moriah  
and Other Godly Places 
Chapter 5, Pages 148-174 
Aquinas's Summa Theologica 
Pascal's Pensees 
Russell's Why I am not a Christian 
 
Handout on the Arguments 
More on Evil
Midterm Week
Week 9
Mar 3-7
Chapter 5, Pages 174-197  Hume's Essay 
James's Varieties of Religious Experience
Paper 2 draft due
Week 10
Mar. 10-14
The Largest Airline in  
the Free World 
Chapter 6, Pages 200-213 
Plato's Phaedo 
Hobbes's Leviathan
 
Week 11
Mar. 17-21
Spring Break Week    
Week 12
Mar. 24-28
Chapter 6, Pages 213-235  Aristotle's On the Soul 
Leibniz's Monadology
 Free Will Handout 
Week 13
Mar 31--Ap 4
Let Them Eat Cake 
Chapter 9, Pages 313-346 
Mill's On Liberty 
Chomsky Links
 
Week 14
Apr. 7-11
Chapter 9, Pages 346-367 

Week 15
Apr. 14-18
But Is It Art? 
Chapter 10, Pages 370-382 
Paper 2 draft due
Week 16
Apr. 21-25
Chapter 10, Pages 382-416   
Week 17
Apr 28-May 2
    Finals Week