Frederick Community College

Introduction to Philosophy (PH101-onl 1)

Summer 2009

Course starts: June 1, 2009

Instructor Information:

Name: Charles Rice; David Wren	Office: online
E-mail: chrice@frederick.edu; david.wren@nwa.com	Phone Number: 410-458-4243 (Rice)
Office Hours: Online and by appointment.

Course Information:

Credits: 3
Prerequisites:  EN50A, EN52	Co-requisites: none

Course Description:

The course provides a general background in Philosophy for students in all programs of study. It introduces traditional and contemporary philosophical issues in ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics.

Core Learning Outcomes: 

Upon completion of this course
I. Students will demonstrate college-level communication skills.
-- by demonstrating the ability to understand and interpret selected sets of
materials various areas of philosophical inquiry: Ethics, Philosophy of Religion, Epistemology, Social Philosophy, Metaphysics. (I.2)
II. Students will demonstrate critical thinking skills.
-- by identifying and describing different methods of philosophical examination. (II.4)
-- by synthesizing different philosophical frames of reference and relating them to everyday
problems in the lives of individuals and society. (II.6)
-- by demonstrating the capacity to argue opposing view points. (II.5)
III. Students will display general knowledge and historical awareness
-- by synthesizing different philosophical frames of reference and relating them to everyday
problems in management, accounting and business. (III.10)
VII. Students will demonstrate an understanding of and be able to interpret social and educational values.
-- by identifying and describing a moral point of view. (VII.22)
X. Students will value the emergence of a multi-cultural society
-- by acknowledge a plurality of cultural and personal values and
-- by demonstrating respect for the right of others to express their viewpoints. (X.30)

Instructional Methods: 

Blackboard Learning System; Textbook Readings, Online Discussion, Written Essays, Video Lessons, Practice Quizzes.

Text(s) for Course: 

Philosophy: A Text with Readings, 10th ed., Manuel Velasquez

The Examined Life: Video Series, 26 half hour episodes (channel 23).

The Videos are available from three sources:
1. from Frederick Cable channel 23; each week Tuesday from 2-4 pm and 10 pm-12 midnight two 30-minute segments will be broadcast totaling 26 episodes; since we use only 22 of them, you tape them all and then use only the ones that are assigned for a particular week; remember that the Broadcast schedule is your taping schedule. The broadcast will start on the first day of class.
2. For those with a Broadband Internet connection the segments are also available 24/7 as Streaming Video for a price of $25 for the semester directly accessible from your computer. Go http://courses.frederick.edu/video to get started and fill out the form. Contact Kim Carr, the Administrator in the Office of Distance Learning kcarr@frederick.edu  for any problems. 2. from the reserve shelf in the library of your Home College.
3. If you are outside the viewing area of channel 23 and you do not have Broadband Internet get the video segments from the reserve shelf in the library of your Home College.

Progress Report:  

Each student will be made aware of his or her progress in the course by the sixth week of classes.

Attendance Policy:  

To complete this course successfully you do NOT have to be online at a particular day or time.  However, the course follows a weekly schedule.  Students are expected contribute to both class discussions and to the “Muddiest Point” on a regular and timely basis. All the work assigned for a particular week must be completed on time.

 Grades:

A = 900-1000 points

B = 800-899 points

C = 700-799 points

D = 600-699 points

F = below 600 points

Evaluation Methods:   

Assignments	Point Value	Percent
4 Tests, 50 pts. each	200	20%
2 Essays, 100 pts. each	200	20%
4 Discussions, 25 pts. each	100	10%
8 Practice Quizzes 8x10 + 20 when all completed	100	10%
Mid Term Exam	150	15%
Final Exam	150	15%
Class Participation (Muddiest Point)	100	10%
Extra Credit	50
If the grade for Test #3 (proctored) varies significantly from the grades for Tests #1 and #2, the instructor reserves the right to retest.

Course Outline:

Week	Textbook 10e	Content
1	Chapter 1	The Nature of Philosophy
2	Chapter 2	What makes us human?
	Chapter 2	Who are we?
		Test #1 (online)
3	Chapter 3	What is real?
		Do we have a free will?
4	Chapter 4	Philosophy and God
		Review, Test #2, Midterm Exam (online)
5	Chapter 5	The Sources of Knowledge
		Does the mind shape the world?
6	Chapter 6	Scientific Method andTruth
7	Chapter 7	Is morality relative?
		Test #3 (Proctored at home college)
		Morality governed by rule or virtue?
8	Chapter 8	Social Philosophy
		Review, Test #4, Final Exam (online)