Philosophy

Syllabus

Introduction to Philosophy, PHIL 1301-15549

Instructor: Dr. Robert Tierney
Fall (SS) 2018, Web-Enhanced (3 Credit Hours)
Learning Web Page:
http://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/robert.tierney
HCC – Southeast College
Email: Robert.Tierney@hccs.edu
Felix Fraga Academic Campus, Room 354
--Use email to contact instructor
M, W 2:00PM – 3:50 PM
Phone: (409) 420-9030

Office hours: By Appointment

Course Description:
This course is a study of the major issues in philosophy and/or the work of major philosophical
figures in philosophy. Topics in philosophy may include theories of reality, theories of
knowledge, theories of value, and their practical applications (Texas ACGM). It provides a
theoretically diverse introduction to the study of ideas, including arguments and investigations
about abstract and real phenomena, particularly in the areas of knowledge, ethics, and religion
(HCC Course Catalogue). This course stresses the HCC Core Objectives of Critical Thinking,
Communication Skills, Personal Responsibility, and Social Responsibility.

PREREQUISITE(S):

 ENGL 1301 or higher

HCC CORE CURRICULUM:

This course satisfies the Philosophy, Language, and Culture component area or the
Component Area Option in the HCC Core Curriculum. If you are not sure that you need this
course to graduate, please consult with your advisor.

Course Goals:
 To gain a basic understanding of some of the main traditions of philosophical thought in
Western philosophy in terms of their key concepts, the theories in which they are
embedded, and the evidence and arguments used to support them.

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  To assess the aforementioned theories critically, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses
both absolutely and relative to one another.
 To carry out the aforementioned tasks in the informative and guiding context of historical
developments in society, politics, science, and the history of ideas.
 To understand the extent to which these theories are still with us in Western and global
culture, to work to understand how they are still a social force in contemporary society and
to work toward assessing the extent to which they should be—either in original or modified
form.
 To understand how these theoretical and conceptual frameworks are applicable in
contemporary intellectual, cultural, and political life.

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Read, analyze, and critique philosophical texts.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of key concepts, major arguments, problems, and terminology
in philosophy.
3. Present logically persuasive arguments both orally and in writing.
4. Demonstrate critical thinking skills in evaluation and application of philosophical
concepts to various aspects of life.
5. Evaluate the personal and social responsibilities of living in a diverse world.

Learning Objectives:
 For students to work to his or her highest potential in achieving the Course Goals set forth
above.
 For students to learn to be able to give a close, careful, and insightful reading of difficult
philosophical texts.
 For students to gain a practical understanding of some basic standards of inference and
explanation.
 For students to be able to critically assess arguments and theories in philosophical texts.
 For students to be able to understand philosophical theories and concepts in historical
context.
 For students to be able to have a comparative understanding of philosophical concepts and
theories.
 For students to be able to express all of the foregoing (within reasonable limits) in oral
communication.
 For students to be able to express all of the foregoing in clear, crisp, precise, and rigorous
written prose.

Adopted Texts: NONE

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Reading Provided by Instructor
The instructor will provide readings or links to readings for material in this course.

Notice about Online Learning Management Software:

This is a web-enhanced lecture course that uses Eagle Online 2. The Eagle Online login page
is: https://eo2.hccs.edu/login/index.php

Your Eagle Online username is the same as your HCC Eagle ID (or User ID) which is used for
Online Registration (for example: W0034567). Your password is the same password you use to
log in to PeopleSoft, HCC Webmail, and Active Directory (computer terminal login). For any
questions about your Eagle ID or password, please go check online here.

IMPORTANT: Eagle Online works best with the latest version of Mozilla Firefox. Download it
free, here. (Please check your Operating System to see if you have Firefox in your applications.)

Course Calendar: See Attachment

Grading Components and Weights:

Assessment:
(1) Tests and Exams: There will be four tests and a Final Exam in this course. Each of these
will be worth 100 points. They will be primarily short essay or short answer questions.
However, some tests may contain multiple-choice questions, true/false questions, or
other types of questions. The instructor might assign one or more of these quizzes on a
take-home basis. Unless the class is specifically instructed otherwise in a given instance,
all in-class quizzes are closed book and closed notes.

Drop-and-Double Rule: A student’s lowest-scoring test (but not the Final Exam) will be dropped
from the student’s grade calculation for the course. A student’s highest test grades (or Final
Exam grade if it is the highest grade), will then replace the dropped grade such that the
highest-scoring test (or the Final), will be counted twice in calculating the student’s grade for
the semester.

(2) In-Class Extra Credit: It is possible (but by no means guaranteed) that there will be one
or more in-class exercises for extra credit. Any such exercise would be worth a small
number of points, would likely be based largely on participation rather than
performance, and could only be submitted by those present in class on the day the
exercise is presented. It is unlikely that any such exercises would be announced in
advance. They are one of the incentives to attend and participate in class.

(3) Participation: After a student’s grade is calculated on a percentage basis on the basis of
the foregoing factors, participation may count for up to plus or minus 2% of the
student’s final grade. In practical terms, this factor is used to raise, rather than to lower,
a student’s grade; but it may be used to lower a grade some extreme circumstances. It
is only the exceptional student who receives a full +2% for participation. Items
considered in assessing this factor could include, but may not be limited to, the
following:

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 (a) Whether the student timely completed all assessments and any other course
participation materials;

(b) Whether the student made a serious, diligent effort to perform well on all
assessments and the Final Exam;

(c) Whether the student showed improvement over the course of the semester;

(d) Whether the student attended to course announcements and other changes and
updates so as to diligently and effectively participate in the course.

(e) Whether, when the student sought assistance (or otherwise participated in the
course) so as to timely address any difficulty the student may be having with the
course (after having first timely and diligently applied himself or herself to the
course material);

Note that factor (e) has the following collective import: It’s good to ask for help from the
instructor and from other students and to provide assistance to fellow students—provided you
are diligently applying yourself to the course materials. If you are applying yourself to the work,
then you should never hesitate to ask questions, even if you think it seems silly or are not quite
sure how to frame the question precisely. Often, other students have the same question, but
are too timid to ask. Even more often, other students don’t realize that they should have the
same question that you have. In other words, they may have the same gap or uncertainty in
their understanding as you do, but simply are not aware of it. If you don’t ask the question, a
student in the latter position might not even realize they have a problem until they are working
on a quiz and it is too late to ask. Hence, you never know who you might be helping besides
yourself if you ask a question.

Grading Policy:
In accordance with what was said above, the student’s grade for the course will be calculated
by the following procedure.

1) Apply the Drop-and-Double Rule

2) Add up the five scores obtained after applying the Drop-and-Double Rule
3) Add in-class extra-credit points, if any, to the foregoing total
4) Divide the resulting sum by 5 (thus giving a percentage grade for the course)
5) Consider whether the number obtained in the preceding step should be modified on the
basis of class participation and modify, or don’t modify, grade accordingly. This is the
student’s grade for the course.

Percentage grades are translated into letter grades as follows:

A = 90% to 100% 4 points per semester hour

B = 80% to 89.9% 3 points per semester hour

C = 70% to 79.9% 2 points per semester hour

D = 60% to 69.9% 1 point per semester hour

F = 0% to 59.9% 0 points per semester hour

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FX (Failure due to non-attendance) 0 points per semester hour

IP (In Progress) 0 points per semester hour

W (Withdrawn) 0 points per semester hour

I (Incomplete) 0 points per semester hour

AUD (Audit) 0 points per semester hour

IP (In Progress) is given only in certain developmental courses. The student must re-enroll to
receive credit. COM (Completed) is given in non-credit and continuing education courses.

FINAL GRADE OF FX: Students who stop attending class and do not withdraw themselves prior
to the withdrawal deadline may either be dropped by their professor for excessive absences or
be assigned the final grade of "FX" at the end of the semester. Students who stop attending
classes will receive a grade of "FX", compared to an earned grade of "F" which is due to poor
performance. Logging into a DE course without active participation is seen as non-attending.
Please note that HCC will not disperse financial aid funding for students who have never
attended class.

Students who receive financial aid but fail to attend class will be reported to the Department of
Education and may have to pay back their aid. A grade of "FX" is treated exactly the same as a
grade of "F" in terms of GPA, probation, suspension, and satisfactory academic progress.

To compute grade point average (GPA), divide the total grade points by the total number of
semester hours attempted. The grades "IP," "COM" and "I" do not affect GPA.

Late Policy:

For a take-home portion of a test, if there are any, there will be 5% deducted if handed in
after, but within 24 hours of, the deadline. Anything latter than that will not be accepted. The
Final Exam must be submitted on time. Late Final Exams will not be accepted.

!! Philosophy Tutoring is available at http://hccs.askonline.net/ Please use it if you need it !!

Academic Dishonesty:

Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. A student who is academically dishonest is claiming
an advantage not available to other students. The instructor is responsible for measuring each
student’s individual achievements and also for ensuring that all students compete on a level
playing field. Thus, in our system, the instructor has teaching, grading, and enforcing roles.
You are expected to be familiar with HCC’s policy on Academic Dishonesty located
at http://www.hccs.edu/about-hcc/procedures/student-rights-policies--procedures/student-
procedures/

Pleading ignorance of the rules, including improper documentation (MLA, APA, etc.…) is no
justification for academic dishonesty.

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Students who plagiarize, collude, or cheat may not have an opportunity to resubmit their work
and they may receive a grade of 0 for the first assignment, an F in the course for a second
assignment, and a report in our Maxient system which could lead to dismissal from the college.

For purposes of this course, cheating includes, but is not limited to:
 Submitting material that is not one's own.
 Using information or devices that are not allowed by the faculty member.
 Obtaining and/or using unauthorized material.
 Fabricating information.
 Violating procedures prescribed to protect the integrity of a test, or other evaluation
exercise.
 Collaborating with others on assignments without the faculty member's consent.
 Cooperating with or helping another student to cheat.
 Having another person take an examination in the student's place.
 Altering exam answers and requesting that the exam be re-graded.
 Communicating with any person during an exam, other than the faculty member or
exam proctor.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

 Directly quoting the words of others without using quotation marks or indented format
to identify them.
 Using sources of information (published or unpublished) without identifying them.
 Paraphrasing materials or ideas of others without identifying the sources.

Make-up Policy:

If a student is permitted to make-up a missed in-class Test, such Test must be completed on
the next class period immediately succeeding the class period at which the Test was originally
administered. Such permission is to be given or withheld by the instructor within his sole
discretion. Lack of adequate documentation in support of a reasonable excuse will significantly
reduce the probability that such permission will be granted. The adequacy of such excuse and
documentation is to be determined in the sole discretion of the instructor.
If a student misses a class, it is solely the student’s responsibility to find out what he or she
missed.

Use of Cameras or Recording Devices:

Use of recording devices, including camera phones and tape recorders, is prohibited in
classrooms, laboratories, faculty offices, and other locations where instruction, tutoring, or
testing occurs. Students with disabilities who need to use a recording device as a reasonable
accommodation should contact the Office for Students with Disabilities for information
regarding reasonable accommodations.

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Attendance and Withdrawal Policy:

HCC Students are expected to attend class regularly. A daily record of absences will be
maintained throughout the semester. NOTE: It is the responsibility of the student to drop, or
officially withdraw from this course. Your instructor will withdraw a student if and only if
provided a written request from that student. Additionally, system-wide rules affect
withdrawals:

(1) Students who repeat a course for a third, or more times, may face a significant
tuition/fee increase at HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities.

(2) The Texas Legislature passed a law limiting new students (those starting college in Fall
2007) to no more than six total course withdrawals throughout their academic career in
obtaining a baccalaureate degree. There may be future penalties imposed.

(3) No student may withdraw from a course following the set "last date to withdraw." After
that date and time, a student can only be given a grade earned, or an "I" for
incomplete. Incompletes must be made up by the end of the following long semester,
after which they will automatically change to a grade of "F". Students receiving an “I”
for a course are ineligible for graduation until the “I’ has been removed from a student’s
transcript.

Students with Disabilities:

The HCC Accessibility website is located at the following url:

http://www.hccs.edu/district/departments/accessibility/. You will find information about the
types of assistance offered to students with special instructional needs on that web page. You
will also find contact information for your college’s ADA compliance and accessibility office.

For questions, please contact Donna Price at 713.718.5165 or the ADA counselor at your college
campus. You can find a list of counselors here.

Title IX Discrimination:

Houston Community College is committed to cultivating an environment free from inappropriate

conduct of a sexual or gender-based nature including sex discrimination, sexual assault, sexual
harassment, and sexual violence. Sex discrimination includes all forms of sexual and gender-
based misconduct and violates an individual’s fundamental rights and personal dignity. Title IX
prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex including pregnancy and parental status-in
educational programs and activities. If you require an accommodation due to pregnancy please
contact an Abilities Services Counselor. The Director of EEO/Compliance is designated as the
Title IX and Section 504 Coordinator. All inquiries concerning HCC policies, compliance with
applicable laws, statutes, and regulations (such as Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504), and
complaints may be directed to:

David Cross - Director EEO/Compliance - Office of Institutional Equity & Diversity

3100 Main - Houston, TX 77266-7517 or Institutional.Equity@hccs.edu (713) 718-8271

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Open/Campus Carry of Handguns:

At HCC the safety of our students, staff, and faculty is our first priority. As of August 1, 2017,
Houston Community College is subject to the Campus Carry Law (SB11 2015). For more
information, visit the HCC Campus Carry web page at
http://www.hccs.edu/district/departments/police/campus-carry/

Student Support:
Any student who faces challenges securing their food or housing and believes this may affect
their performance in the course is urged to contact the Dean of Students for support.
Furthermore, please notify the professor if you are comfortable in doing so. This will enable us
to provide any resources that HCC may possess.

EGLS3 – Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System:

At Houston Community College, professors believe that thoughtful student feedback is

necessary to improve teaching and learning. During a designated time near the end of the term,
you will be asked to answer a short online survey of research-based questions related to
instruction. The anonymous results of the survey will be made available to your professors and
department chairs for continual improvement of instruction. Look for the survey as part of the
Houston Community College Student System online near the end of the term.

At HCC the safety of our students, staff, and faculty is our first priority. As of August 1, 2017,
Houston Community College is subject to the Campus Carry Law (SB11 2015). For more
information, visit the HCC Campus Carry web page at:
http://www.hccs.edu/district/departments/police/campus-carry/

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 Tentative Course Schedule

 This Tentative Course Schedule may be modified during the semester.

 The instructor will provide reading materials or links to reading materials.
 Course materials are to be read before the date indicated.

Day Subject Matter Reading Assessment

1. Sept. 24  Class Introduction  NONE
2. Sept. 26  Argument Analysis  David Kelley, The Art of Reasoning, Chapter 3: “Propositions.”
3. Oct. 1  SAME AS PREVIOUS  SAME AS PREVIOUS
4. Oct. 3  SAME AS PREVIOUS  David Kelley, The Art of Reasoning, Chapter 4: “Argument Analysis.”
5. Oct. 8  SAME AS PREVIOUS  SAME AS PREVIOUS
6. Oct. 10  SAME AS PREVIOUS  SAME AS PREVIOUS
7. Oct. 15  The Platonic conception of the soul  Plato, Phaedo: translator’s introduction; pp.57a – 68b. Test #1
8. Oct. 17  The Platonic conception of the soul,  Plato, Meno: translator’s introduction; pp. 77a – 79a; pp. 80d – 86c.
reason, and motivation  Plato, Phaedo: pp. 72e – 77b.
9. Oct. 22  SAME AS PREVIOUS  SAME AS PREVIOUS
10. Oct. 24  The Method of Doubt  Descartes, Meditations: Meditation One & Meditation Two.
 The Cartesian conception of the soul,
reason, and motivation
11. Oct. 29  The Cartesian conception of the soul,  Descartes, Meditations: Meditation Four. Test #2
reason, and motivation
12. Oct. 31  SAME AS PREVIOUS  Descartes, Meditations: Meditation Six.
13. Nov. 5  Empiricism, the Theory of Ideas, and  Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature: Book I: “Of the Understanding”, Part I: “Of Test #3
reason Ideas; Their Origin, Composition, Abstraction, Connection, &c.”
14. Nov. 7  Hume’s critique of the concept of a self  Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature: Book I: “Of the Understanding”, Part IV:
or soul “Of the Skeptical and Other Systems of Philosophy”; Section IV: “Of the
 Modern Philosophy.”
15. Nov. 12  SAME AS PREVIOUS  Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature: Book I: “Of the Understanding”, Part IV:
 Buddhist’s conceptions of self “Of the Skeptical and Other Systems of Philosophy”; Section VI: “Of Personal
Identity.”
 Parfit (ed.), “The Buddha’s View.”
16. Nov. 14  James critique of some aspects of the  James, Psychology—The Briefer Course: Chapter 3: “The Self.”
Theory of Ideas and his views
concerning, and defense of, the self and
the soul
17. Nov. 19  SAME AS PREVIOUS  SAME AS PREVIOUS Test #4
18. Nov. 21  Brain Bisection and the Possible  Nagel, “Brain Bisection and the Unity of Consciousness.”
Disunity of Self
19. Nov. 26  Hume’s conception of the self, reason,  Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature: Book II: “Of the Passions”, Part III: “Of the
and motivation Will and Direct Passions”; Section III: “Of the Influencing Motives of the Will.”
20. Nov. 28  The necessary unity of the self for  Korsgaard, “Personal Identity and the Unit of Agency” (excerpt).
practical reasoning and action
21. Dec. 3  A more robust unity of the self based  Taylor, “Responsibility for Self”.
on the practical necessities of “thick”
moral evaluations
22. Dec. 5  A sense in which corporations might be  Pettit, “Responsibility Incorporated”.
rational agents
Dec. 12 Final Exam