Discipline: Philosophy Degree Credit  [X]
Non Credit  [ ]
Nondegree Credit  [ ]
Comm Service  [ ]
 

Riverside Community College District
Integrated Course Outline of Record

Philosophy 10


COURSE DESCRIPTION
10 Introduction to Philosophy Units: 3.00
 
Prerequisite: None.
 
A survey and exploration of significant questions in the Western philosophical tradition. Questions are drawn from the various branches of philosophy: metaphysics, theory of knowledge, ethics, aesthetics, political philosophy and/or philosophy of religion. Students may not receive credit for both PHI 10 and PHI 10H. 54 hours lecture.
 
SHORT DESCRIPTION FOR CLASS SCHEDULE
Introduction to the major questions of Western philosophy and their answers.
 
ADVISORY ENTRY SKILLS
None.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
 Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

1.   Recognize and evaluate fundamental questions within the Western
      philosophical tradition and classify them within their appropriate
      subfields.

2.   Examine, formulate, and compose philosophical questions that 
      address fundamental problems in the tradition and in everyday 
      life.

3.   Identify, restate, and explain philosophers’ answers to 
      fundamental questions, along with their supporting arguments.

4.   Compare, contrast and assess these arguments within the context 
      of the texts and traditions that inform them.

5.   Plan, organize, and write an argumentative essay that defends a
      position on a philosophical question or problem.

6.   Apply philosophical thinking to other facets of life and/or fields of
      study.
 
COURSE CONTENT
  TOPICS
 
  1. Survey of alternative definitions and goals of philosophy. Survey of main of philosophy. The nature of arguments and resasoning.
  2. A minimum of three of the following additional topics are to be covered. 
    1. Epistemology (Theory of knowledge): empiricism, rationalism, skepticism. The difference between belief and knowledge, criteria of rational justification.
    2. Metaphysics: existence, categories, substance, properties. 
    3. The mind/body problem: substance dualism, property dualism, the identity theory, functionalism, the nature of consciousness
    4. Ethics: consequentialist, utilitarian, ethics of care, and virtue ethics.
    5. Political Philosophy: the justification for government, the relationship between the individual and the state, property, natural law, rights.
    6. Philosophy of Religion: the existence of God, the nature of religion
    7. Philosophy of Science: nature of scientific knowledge, demarcation of science, confirmation.
    8. Aesthetics: what is it that makes something art? the role of art in human life; the nature or beauty.
 
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
 Methods of instruction used to achieve student learning outcomes may include, but are not limited to:

  • Presenting class lectures,/discussions/demonstrations in order to familiarize students with the Western philosophical tradition, contrast different ideas and traditions, model philosophical analysis, reasoning, and organization of ideas.
  • Facilitating small group activities in order to provide an opportunity to work with others to come to an understanding of how philosophical questions arise and the sorts of answers that can be given to them.
  • Developing and assigning class exercises that require analysis and understanding of the texts and the traditions that give rise to them.
  • Showing videos/films/audio tapes in order to focus discussion of abstract philosophical ideas on concrete situations to explore the implications of particular philosophical positions.
  • Conducting individual conferences in order to assist in the organization of essays and the analysis of arguments.
  • Developing and assigning web-based/web-enhanced/online/distance learning tasks/activities such as further reading, investigation of philosophy websites to deepen understanding of the contexts and traditions in which philosophical discussion is conducted.
  • Inviting guest lecturers to class in order to present contrasting traditions and approaches to philosophical questions.
 
METHODS OF EVALUATION
 Students will be evaluated for progress in and/or mastery of learning outcomes by methods of evaluation which may include, but are not limited to:

  • Oral reports/presentations designed to assess students’ ability to understand, analyze, and evaluate answers philosophers have given to philosophical questions.
  • Quizzes and examinations designed to evaluate ability to identify key philosophical ideas, terms and traditions, compare and contrast philosophical positions, explain and evaluate different answers, and the arguments given in support of those answers to philosophical questions.
  • Written assignments designed to provide the opportunity to analyze texts, explain implications of ideas, critically assess philosophical positions, and provide support for the claims made in these assignments.
  • Group and individual projects designed to show evidence that students are able to solve problems and work with others to come to an understanding of the different philosophical traditions and answers that can be given to philosophical questions.
ASSIGNMENTS

Required Reading Assignments


Required Writing Assignments


Other Outside-of-Class Assignments
 
COURSE MATERIALS
 All materials used in this course will be periodically reviewed to ensure that they are appropriate for college level instruction. Possible texts include:

  • Davis, Thomas A.. Philosophy: An Introduction through Original Fiction. any: McGraw Hill, 2004.
  • Bedau, Hugo. Thinking and Writing about Philosophy. any: Bedford/St. Martin’s Press, 2002.
  • Bowie, G. Lee, Meredith W. Michaels, and Robert C. Solomon. Twenty Questions: An Introduction to Philosophy. any: Wadsworth Publishing, 2003.
  • Feinberg, Joel. Reason and Responsibility: Readings in Some Basic Problems of Philosophy. any: Wadsworth, 2001.
  • Hume,David. An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding. any: Oxford University Press, 1999.
  • Kant, Immanuel. Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals. any: Cambridge University Press, 1998.
  • Moore, Brooke Noel and Ken Bruder . Philosophy: The Power of Ideas. any: McGraw- Hill, 2002.
  • Nietzsche, Frederich. On the Genealogy of Morals. any: Dover, 2003.
  • Plato. The Great Dialogues of Plato. any: Signet Classics, 1999.
  • Rousseau, Jean Jacques. The Social Contract. any: Penguin Classics, 1968.
  • Solomon, Robert. Introducing Philosophy: A Text with Integrated Readings. any: Oxford University Press, 2004.
  • Velasquez, Manuel. Philosophy: A Text with Readings. any: Wadsworth, 2004.
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