The first meeting basically lets the students and teacher meet each other. We'll talk about the goals for the course and do some preliminary investigations into the subject of philosophy.
We'll read two major pieces: Plato's "Myth of the Cave" and the "First Discourse of the Buddha" in class and discuss them. We will also read some biographical material about both Plato and the Buddha.
[Assignment 1] Write and submit a one-page paper answering one of the following questions:
[Questions 1] Bring two questions we can discuss in class.
Class plan:What is Philosophy? How does Kessler view it? How do you view it? Be prepared with some comments about the discipline and your understanding of it before and after reading Kessler.
[Questions 2] Bring two questions we can discuss in class.
Class plan:The beginning of thinking about Ethics. How should I live? We often think about ethics in terms of "how do I want other people to behave toward me", but this section is a little more personal.
[Questions 3] Bring two questions we can discuss in class.
Class plan:A discussion of some of the major ethical theories in the Western world, plus an investigation of Confucianism.
[Questions 4] Bring two questions we can discuss in class.
Class plan:Epistemology: what can we know, how much proof do we need before we can confidently say we know sometime? We will look at some major ideas about the subject, including Descartes' famous "I think, therefore I am" meditation.
[Questions 5] Bring two questions we can discuss in class.
Class plan:Some classic ideas on "what is Real?" including Plato, Berkeley and the Tao.
[Questions 6] Bring two questions we can discuss in class.
Class plan:What am I? Who am I? Do I exist? Some readings including a classic reading from Descartes in which he decides he does and a Buddhist consideration that concludes we do not.
[Questions 7] Bring two questions we can discuss in class.
Class plan:More readings on the self. First, a pair of readings on the subject of Identity: is it something I have or is it a social contruct? Then, some readings on the free will debate.
[Questions 8] Bring two questions we can discuss in class.
Class plan:Considerations of the idea of Justice: what is it? What might a just system look like?
[Questions 9] Bring two questions we can discuss in class.
Class plan:Considerations of the idea of Justice: what is it? What might a just system look like?
[Assignment 10] Write a page of your comments on and reaction to one of the following:
[Questions 10] Bring two questions we can discuss in class.
Class plan:The concept of God is often used as a starting point for discussions of ethics, cosmology, and other branches of philosophy. The concept of a supreme or absolute being or power is present in most cultures. These readings consider some arguments about the existence and nature of God. We'll discuss the three major proofs for the existence of God: the Ontological, the Teleological, and the Cosmological Arguments.
Once we've decided whether or not God exists(!), we'll discuss God's nature a bit.
[Assignment 11] Write a page on your reaction to the book. In it answer one of the following questions:
[Questions 11] Bring two questions we can discuss in class.
Class plan:Quinn interprets human history in a way you might find very different and challenging. Read the first 11 chapters, take a break and write some notes, then read the rest.
Final examination, cumulative.
Final student presentations.
Final student presentations.