MIDLAND LUTHERAN COLLEGE
PHI 200
Philosophy Across the World
Course Syllabus
Spring 2008
Class Meetings: MWF, 9:00-9:50 a.m., Fremont Hall 202
Instructor: Edward Abplanalp
Office Hours: See me to set up an appointment.
Email: philosophered@cox.net
Class Materials: The required text we will use for
this class is the 6th edition of Voices of Wisdom: a
multicultural philosophy reader, by Gary E. Kessler (Belmont, CA: Thomson
Wadsworth, 2007)
Catalogue
Description: This course in world community enables student to
learn the philosophical basis of cultural and political identities and
movements, and helps the students to appreciate the diversity within the
world. The course presents the basic
problems and methods of philosophy together with solution offered by various
philosophical schools. The metaphysical
and social thought of eastern, western and Third World traditions are
studied. The students are exposed to
philosophers such as Plato, Descartes, Locke, Marx, Confucius, Al-Ghazali, and
Maimonides, and gain an awareness of world community through the discovery that
philosophical positions have been the basis for both cooperation and conflict
in the human experience.
Course Learning Objectives - This class is intended to promote an
understanding of some of the major issues in philosophy. In this vein, students
will be exposed to issues from the perspective of traditional Western
Philosophy as well as other standpoints such as: Hinduism, Buddhism,
Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Besides aiming at
helping students understand and think critically about philosophical arguments,
the class aims at facilitating the development of the student’s own
philosophical positions. Upon successful completion of this course, students
should be able to:
I. Define and describe ‘philosophy’.
II. Define, describe and contrast the major philosophical theories of world philosophy. Particular emphasis will placed on the following:
· Arguments for and against God’s existence
· Ethics
· The Problem of Free-Will
· Philosophical Issues surrounding Reincarnation and Karma
· Epistemology
· Political Philosophy
III. Identify how proponents of various theories would respond to specific philosophical problems.
IV. Identify which theories inform various philosophical arguments.
V. Develop skills of careful and disciplined reading, discussion, argumentation, writing, and editing.
VI. Respectively express and discuss differing points of view.
Academic Integrity: I support and enforce the academic integrity policy that has been adopted by the college. A copy of this policy can be found in the Student Handbook. The policy covers cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, plagiarism and related areas. Violations of this policy will result in an F for the course.
Grading Policy: Work submitted late will be graded harder than work submitted on time.
Grades: Grades will be calculated as follows:
Exam #1: 20%
Exam #2: 20%
Exam #3: 20%
Exam #4: 20%
Final Exam: 20%
100-90 A
89-88 B+
87-80 B
79-78 C+
77-70 C
69-68 D+
67-60 D
below 60 F
Exams: Specific information regarding the questions asked on exams will be provided as the time of the exam nears. Materials asked on each exam are discussed thoroughly in class lectures. No make up exams will be given unless prior permission of the instructor has been granted. If an exam has been missed due to an illness, then documentation of the illness must be presented.
Learning Disabilities: Students should self-disclose learning disabilities to Dr. Lori Moseman (Director of Academic Support Services) by the third day of class. Some accommodation for class work may be possible after consultation with Dr. Moseman. Please read the ADA policy in the Student Handbook.
Tentative
Schedule
Wednesday,
January 30th: Introduction to Philosophy
Friday,
February 1st: Introduction to Philosophy
Dharma
Monday,
February 4th: Hindu Thought
Wednesday,
February 6th: Hindu Thought
Friday,
February 8th: Buddhist Thought
Monday,
February 11th: The Buddha and the Middle Way
Wednesday,
February 13th: Hinduism/Buddhism Video
The Free-Will Problem
Friday,
February 15th: The Free-Will Problem
Monday,
February 18th: The Free-Will Problem
Wednesday,
February 20th: The Free-Will Problem
Friday,
February 22nd: Exam #1
The Issue of Knowledge
Monday,
February 25th: Is Certainty Possible?
Wednesday,
February 27th: Is Certainty Possible?
Friday,
February 29th: Empiricism and Limited Skepticism
Monday,
March 3rd: Should We Believe Beyond the Evidence?
Reasoning About God’s
Existence
Wednesday,
March 5th: The Cosmological Argument
Friday,
March 7th: The Design Argument
Monday,
March 10th: The Problem of Evil
Wednesday,
March 12th: Exam #2
Chinese Insight
Friday,
March 14th: Taoist Thought
Spring
Vacation!
Wednesday,
March 26th: Taoist Thought
Friday,
March 28th: Confucian Thought
Monday,
March 31st: Confucian Thought
Wednesday,
April 2nd: Video “Confucianism and Taoism”
Ancient Greek Thought
Friday,
April 4th: Socrates on Living the Examined Life
Monday,
April 7th: Our Obligation to the State
Wednesday,
April 9th: Platonic Dualism
Friday,
April 11th: Aristotle on Happiness and the Life of Moderation
Monday,
April 14th: Aristotle on Happiness and the Life of Moderation
Wednesday,
April 16th: Exam #3
Modern Normative Theory
Friday,
April 18th: Kant and the Categorical Imperative
Monday,
April 21st: Kant and the Categorical Imperative
Wednesday,
April 23rd: Utilitarianism
Friday,
April 25th: Utilitarianism
Other Traditions
Monday,
April 28th: Jewish Thought/ Maimonides
Wednesday,
April 30th: Islamic Thought
Friday,
May 2nd: Sufi Mysticism
Social & Political
Theory
Monday,
May 5th: Islamic Thought
Wednesday,
May 7th: Capitalism and Exploitation
Friday,
May 9th: Justice as Fairness
Monday,
May 12th: Political Liberalism
Wednesday,
May 14th: Exam #4
Tuesday,
May 20th: Final Exam from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.