Philosophy 140 Winter 2010
Intro. to Philosophy: Knowing and Valuing John Dreher
I. Buy these three paperback texts:
- Plato, The Republic, Penguin [This is the edition used in Freshman Studies.]
- Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, 3rd ed., U. Chicago
- Dewey, Human Nature and Conduct, So. Illinois University Press [This is vol.14 of The Middle Works of John Dewey.]
(Note: Be sure to get exactly the editions specified. Buy your texts through Follett’s OR … whatever, but be sure to get EXACTLY the editions specified)
II. Produce clearly written, cogently argued, insightful, and interesting essays: each of the sets of take-home essays will consist of up to 1,200 (very carefully chosen) words.
- issues raised by our study of Plato will be the subject of essays you will deliver to my Main Hall 107 mailbox by 3:00 p.m., Friday, 22 Jan. (25%).
- issues raised by our study of Kuhn will be the subject of essays due in my Main Hall 107 mailbox by 3:00 p.m., Friday, 19 Feb. (25%).
- Dewey will supply most of the stimuli for the essays due in my Main Hall 107 mailbox by 3:00 p.m., Friday, 12 March (25%).
- issues raised by our ongoing study of Kuhn and of Dewey will be the foci of in-class 30-minute open book and open notes “quizzes” on 5 Feb and on 1 March (12½% each).
- (There will be no final exam)
Please understand that any assignment not in the right place by the right time will automatically receive a maximum grade of F(50). Requests for extensions of due dates will be granted only under the most EXTRAordinary circumstances. Your signed Honor Code reaffirmation is required on all written work. Note also that your course grade WILL be lowered five points for each class you miss without a reasonable explanation. Although this penalty will not apply to your first two unexcused absences, please be aware that missing any class carries its own price.
I will do my best to make extensive and helpful diagnostic comments on your written work. Expect to see at least as much devil’s advocacy as you will hear in class. If, after you have read and thought about the comments, you disagree with or wish further clarification of any of them, (and if a 24-hour cooling-off period has elapsed since you got your work back) PLEASE share your concerns with me. I want very much to be fair, and to help you improve your writing, your thinking, and your critical skills.
Besides, I enjoy discussing interesting issues with intelligent students! (There are no non-interesting issues in this course, despite occasional appearances to the contrary.)
III. Here is your reading schedule. It is by design that our discussions will often be slightly behind the reading schedule. Nonetheless, you are expected to keep current with the reading schedule.
I recognize that even very conscientious students will fall behind in their readings now and then. I urge you to fight the temptation to cut a class because you are unprepared, or to come to class unprepared and then try to (groan) bluff! If you are unable to do the reading for a particular class tell me (via a call to 920-832-6681 or in person just before class), and I will not call on you that day. Don’t exercise this option too much!
Jan 4 Course information and introductory lecture/discussion.
6 Plato: Part I
8 I (again)
11 Part V
13 VII
15 VII (again). Instructions for the 22 Jan essays will be distributed.
18 Holiday
20 catch up and review
22 Your essays are due in my MH 107 mailbox by 3:00 p.m.; no class
25 Kuhn, Preface, and I. (This reading of Section I will be painful. The Feb 15 & 17 readings of Section I will be pleasant.)
27 II
29 III
Feb 1 IV
3 V
5 VI. QUIZ! (This quiz will cover the Jan 25-Feb 3 classes, & the Jan 25-Feb 5 readings.)
8 VII, VIII, and IX. Instructions for your 19 Feb essays will be distributed. [You get lots of lead-time on this one because I do not wish to pre-empt your "Reading Period" activities.]
10 X, XI, and XII
12 Reading Period
15 XIII, Postscript, and I (again)
17 XIII, Postscript, and I (again)
19 Your Kuhn essays are due in my Main Hall 107 mailbox by 3:00 p.m.; no class
22 Dewey 1 – 32
24 33 – 62
26 63 – 91
March 1 92 – 118. QUIZ! (This quiz will cover the Feb 22-26 classes, & the Feb 22-March 1 readings.)
3 119 – 153
5 154 – 189. Instructions for your 12 March essays will be distributed.
8 193 – 230
10 Catch-up and review
12 Your Dewey essays are due in my Main Hall 107 mailbox by 3:00 p.m.; no class
IV. Here is my number grade/letter grade conversion scale:
above 91 A above 71 C
90-91 A- 70-71 C-
88-89 B+ 68-69 D+
above 81 B above 61 D
80-81 B- 60-61 D-
78-79 C+ below 60 F
You should know how I arrive at a letter grade, and THEN a number grade. After I have read an essay three times, and completed all my diagnostic comments, I ask “How does this work compare to recent Phil. 140 essays which have been graded at A or B or C or D or F?” After I answer that question, I ask the fine-tuning question “How high (or low) an A or B or C or D or F has this essay earned?” For example, does it barely make a B (82? 83?) or is it a strong B (86? 87?)? I do not believe that a B is a B is a B.
V. Outside-of-class experiences. My office hours are:
MWF 9:10 – 9:40 and 3:10-4:00
I will be happy to make appointments outside of those formal office hours. I especially welcome informal meetings with groups of 2 to 5 students who have been discussing course material together. Feel free to knock on my MH 323 office door, e-mail me or phone me at 920-832-6681 at any time.
I look forward to our work this term. We have a common objective, namely, that you STRENGTHEN your analytic and communication skills as we philosophize!