PHILOSOPHY: TEACHING WISDOM - THROUGH EXPERIENCE

Students will prepare and teach a class using information from the Velasquez text, with additional materials and information, in order to inform, pose questions and provoke dialogue regarding issues of Philosophy and their application to present day issues. The pages assigned refer to the 8th Edition, and students will be graded according to the following criterion:

1. A one page handout emailed to me at least one week before you teach the lesson. This handout must include notes and questions you will use to cover the topic. - 20%.

2. Prepared Quiz, & coverage of the main issues within the text. - 20%.

3. Use of at least one outside source to be shared with class. - 20%.

4. The creativity and quality of the teaching methods used: (the use of handouts, activities, group involvement, audio visuals etc.) - 20%.

5. The relevance of the teaching - how this connects with real life, real issues and real questions; (ie, how these teachings APPLY beyond just theory) - 20%.

Each student will have one full class, approximately 60 minutes.

You are free to use this time as you see fit; you will also need to mark your 5 point quiz and the 5 point HOMEWORK assignment for the next day. You are responsible for grading and evaluating all work, including the homework and quiz; these marks will count. You must be prepared and present the day you are to teach. You will need to be flexible and ready. See this as a chance to share ideas, questions, poems, activities, and fun. Try to make it real for the class - and focus on what you think is most important and most relevant. For the most part, Fridays will be used for class activities and there will be no homework assigned. Friday reflections will be due every second week.

TEACHING SCHEDULE &

Homework Questions (Pick 1 or 2 questions)

A: Chapter 1: Traditional Divisions in Philosophy, pp. 11-32:

HW: What is the meaning of Socrate’s maxim: “The unexamined life is not worth living?” What is the nature of ignorance? Are they any areas of life that do not involve philosophical issues?

B: Value of Philosophy, pp. 33-39,

HW: What is the significance of Victor Frankl’s Logotherapy? How are people “self actualized?” Why are some successful people bored? What are different ways to approach reality?

C: Philosophy of Education: Thales, Voltaire & Krishnamurti, pp 42-50:

HW: Why is Thales considered to be one of the first philosophers? What does Voltaire’s story of “The Good Brahman” teach about the nature of ignorance? What is the true function of education?

D: Logic: pp. 51-72,

HW: Why is Logic important? What are the differences between inductive and deductive reasoning? Why must all arguments show that our conclusions follow certain premises? Why are certain arguments valid and others not?

E: Chapter 2: Intro to Human Nature, pp. 76-81 ,

HW: Are there psychological differences between men and women? Is this the result of nature or nurture? Are human beings basically selfish as Freud suggests? What defines us as human beings?

F: Western view of Human Nature, pp. 81-91:

HW: What is the tradional Rationalist view? How does Plato define human nature? Is there evidence for the existence of a human soul? How does St. Augustine define our nature as humans?

G: Challenging Tradition, Existentialism, pp. 91-98:

HW: What do we mean by the Darwinian challenge? What are differences between humans and animals? How do religious and rationalist views foster notions that humans are at odds with nature? What is existentialism? How does Sartre define freedom?

H: Feminism, Mind-Body, Dualism, pp. 99-108:

HW: Are there ways of looking at women that are not sexist? What are the consequences of sexism? What is the dualist view of human nature? How does Descarte define human nature?

I: Materialism, Behaviorism, pp. 108-112:

HW: What is materialism as defined by Hobbes? Why does science have increased importance in modern philosophy? Can behavior be engineered and/or measured experimentally? What are some examples of reductionism?

J: Functionalism, pp. 112-118:

HW: What is functionalism? Could a robot ever have a conscious mind? Do you agree with Alan Turing’s view of human beings as super computers? Do we continue to consciously exist after you die? Why or why not?

K: Enduring Self? pp. 118-130:

HW: Define the notion of the “enduring self”.What is the nature of the true self? Does the view of “no-self” have anything to offer? Contrast the Buddhist and western approach to self?

L: Independence, Individuals, pp. 130-140:

HW: Are we independent beings? How would Hegel explain relationships? Why are relationships important? What does this topic have to do with group responsibility?

M: Plato, Aristotle and Confucius, pp. 144-161 :

HW: Compare Plato’s view of soul to Freud’s view that the human psyche contains 3 parts - the id, ego and superego? Does Aristotle’s view imply only virtuous people can be happy? Compare how Aristotle and Confucious each deal with virtue? What is the meaning of reciprocity as defined by Confucious?

N: Chapter 3: Metaphysics: Reality and Being, pp. 178-189:

HW. What is reality? What is the meaning of materialism? What is the nature of belief in terms of reality? Do you perceive the working of the universe as orderly? What is the nature of human thought and consciousness?

O: Idealism, Objections to Idealism, pp. 190-199:

HW: What is idealism? Is there a universal law at work in the universe? Is relationship among things the only meaningful reality? Is anything understood apart from something else? Does idealism encourage withdrawl from the world?

P: Pragmatism & Positivism, pp. 200-211:

HW: What is pragmatism? What issues does it ignore? What is positivism? According to positivism can something be intellectually meaningless and emotionally meaningful?

Q: Antirealism, pp. 211-218:

HW: Define antirealism. Why do some argue that antirealist do not care about changing or reforming the world? What is Putman’s argument all about?

R: Phenomenology, pp. 218-224:

HW: What is phenomenology? What is the difference between being and “being human”?

S: Existentialism, pp. 224-230:

HW: What is existentialism? What does Sartre mean saying, Existence precedes essence? Does Sartre deny that there is a universal human nature? Why?

T: Freedom & Determinism, pp. 231-240: HW: How does desire effect our freedom? What is determinism? How would Sartre describe addiction?

U: Is Time Real?, pp. 241-247:

HW:Describe the nature and sensation of time? What is the difference between subjective and objective time? How might the flow of time be described as an illusion?

V: Chapter 4: Philosophy & God, pp. 276-282:

HW: What is the difference between religion and theology? What makes a person religious? Could science be considered a religion for some people? Why?

W: Arguments for God's Existence, pp. 283-290 :

HW: Describe Anslem’s ontological argument and Aquinas’s cosmological argument? Do you agree there is a first cause to the universe? Why?

X: Alternatives to Religion, pp. 291-301:

HW: Are atheism or agnosticism rational or virtuous approaches? Explain the quote “If God is good, He is not God; if God is God, He is not good”.

Y: Belief & Mysticism, pp. 302-309:

HW: What does James mean by a “live hypothesis”? What is mysticism? What view of reality and human nature does mysticism require?

Z: Western Theology, pp. 309-318:

HW: What is Tillich’s objection to theism? Describe Keirkegard’s view of religion.

AA: Eastern Perspectives, pp. 318-325:

HW: What might attract western thinkers to Eastern thought. Do you agree with Daly’s criticism that western notions of God are sexist?

BB: Ethics Chapter 7, What is Ethics? pp. 510-519:

HW. Define ethical and cultural relativism. Is the relativist or absolutist more tolerant of those whose moral views differ from the majority? Why?

CC: Egoism, Utilitarianism, pp. 519-530:

HW: Is everyone an ethical egoist? Why? How prevalent is egoism? (Give examples in present day society.)

DD: Natural Law, KANT's Ethics, pp. 531-548:

HW: Define Kant’s view of the categorical imperative. How does Kant’s view differ from utilitarian and egoist ethics?

EE: Buddhist Ethics, pp. 548-554:

HW: Define Buddhist ethics? How does it differ from western approaches? What weakness do you detect in this approach if any?

FF: Character, Virtue, pp. 554-565:

HW. Describe an ethics based on character and virtue. What virtues do you consider most important? Why?

GG: Applying Ethics, pp. 565-575:

HW: Describe and ethical issue you might face and explore how you would respond based on Kant, egoism, natural law, utilitarianism, virtue and Buddhist ethics. Write down the fundamental moral principles you feel that you should live up to.

HH: Moral Responsibility, pp. 576-590:

HW: How does Libertarianism relate to ethics? How does Compatibilism relate to ethics? How does Determinism relate to ethics? Does fatalism apply to ethics? What does Friedrich Nietzche’s philosophy relate to morality?

From this point on, our course will begin to explore the preeminent thinkers of the modern age who apply philosophy to important political and social concerns, the burning issues that we must face if we are to live with wisdom and integrity. Students will be encouraged to pick among these great thinkers and prophets in preparing their ISU, the culminating assignment for the course.