one more winter fee

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SYLLABUS: Philosophy 1 – Knowledge and Reality, Online Course (sections 1479, 1481) 3 credits

Instructor: Dr. Sage Bennet

College: Santa Monica College

Semester: Winter 2020

Office Hours: Online: Wed. 4 –5 p.m. (Pacific Time)

Email: [email protected] (once course starts use Inbox feature on Canvas to communicate with the professor)

Phone: Philosophy and Social Sciences Department - 310-434-4940

Faculty website (click the link)

Required Text

Moore, Brooke Noel, and Bruder, Kenneth, PHILOSOPHY: The Power of Ideas. 10th Ed., McGraw Hill, 2019. ISBN-10:1259320529; ISBN-13: 978-125932052; Ebook purchase and rental at Amazon and VitalSource.com. Suggested Reading Blackburn, Simon: The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, 2nd Ed., Oxford University Press, 2006. ISBN 0-19-861014-9. Ebook purchase and rental at Amazon and VitalSource.com. Course Description Welcome to the adventure of studying philosophy, the love of wisdom. This course is designed to introduce you to some of the major figures and philosophical issues in the history of philosophy. This course introduces students to the analysis of various metaphysical and epistemological questions and problems in philosophy, typically including the nature and limits of knowledge, the existence of God, the Mind-Body Problem, the Freedom vs. Determination debate, and the Absolutism vs. Relativism debate. Related topics may also be included.

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Course Objectives Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Identify and explain various metaphysical and epistemological questions, problems, and arguments.

2. Discuss, critically evaluate and debate the merits of various philosophical positions. 3. Define philosophical vocabulary, including “perception,” “belief,” “Knowledge,” etc. 4. Compare and contrast philosophical positions based on the distinction between reality

and appearance. 5. Analyze philosophical problems from various methodological standpoints. 6. Construct and critique a philosophical argument.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Exhibit strong academic behaviors including regular attendance, timeliness, participation in class activities, and adherence to the College Honor Code.

2. Demonstrate through written work knowledge of the course content: various metaphysical and epistemological questions and problems in philosophy including the nature and limits of knowledge, the existence of God, the Mind-Body Problem, the Freedom vs. Determinism and the Absolutism vs. Relativism debates, and related topics in ethics.

3. Be proficient in the research, analytical, and communication skills necessary to present in writing, compelling and original arguments that critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of positions/theories relative to a specific problem/issue in metaphysics or epistemology (and/or ethics) with particular attention to the underlying philosophical assumptions contained therein.

Students with Disabilities I encourage students requesting disability-related accommodations to contact Disabled Student Services as soon as possible. I will work with you and the Center for Students with Disabilities to provide appropriate and reasonable accommodations. An early notification of your request for test-taking and/or other accommodations is necessary to ensure that your disability related needs are addressed appropriately; testing accommodations cannot be applied retroactively. The DSP&S office phone numbers are (310) 434-4265 and (310) 434- 4273 (TDD).

Methods of Presentation

 Lecture notes in Modules  Videos assigned in discussions  Weekly threaded discussions  Asking and answering questions (Socratic method)  Interactive peer-to-peer responses to discussions and assignments  Online PowerPoint or PDF files  Field Trip Assignment (students complete these alone or with others they choose)

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Methods of Evaluation Class participation in online discussion threads, assignments and tests will be graded according to the rubrics provided in Canvas.

Required Activity Number of

Assignment Total Points

Possible

Saying Hi in Week 1 (5 points) 1 @ 5 points 5

Assignment 1: Philosophy & the Arts (25 pts)

Assignment 2: Field Trip (25 pts)

Assignment 3: Current Events Cafe and Rummie (25 pts)

3 @ 25 points 75

Weekly Discussion A and Discussion B (Weeks 1 – 6) 6 @ 20 points 120

Midterm 1 @ 100 points 100

Final Exam 1 @ 100 points 100

TOTAL 400

Grading Scale

Grade Category

Points Percentage Level of Achievement

A 360 -400 90 - 100% Excellent mastery of course requirements

B 320- 359 80 – 89% Above average. Consistent progress; meets all course requirements

C 280 - 319 70 - 79% Average. Meets basic course requirements

D 240 - 279 60 - 69% Below average; partial fulfillment of requirements; minimal effort and progress

F Under 240 Below 60% Fails to meet minimum course standards

Missed Work Students are encouraged to post discussions, complete tests and assignments by the deadlines, and post early to account for unanticipated barriers to timeliness. For emergency exceptions, please contact the instructor as soon as possible. Acceptance of late assignments for partial credit will be decided on a case-by-case basis. There will be no penalty for late work due to a documented religious holiday, when a prior arrangement has been made with the instructor.

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Extra Credit Policy There is no extra credit available for this class. However, there are many assignments for this class providing opportunities for you to do well in the course.

Attendance, Drops and Withdrawals Policy It is your responsibility as a student to withdraw from class if you do not intend to complete it. Students should not expect faculty to initiate withdrawal procedures for them. If you wish to drop this class, you may do so through Corsair Connect. Students may process a drop for themselves through 75% of the class, which is through the 12th week in a regular semester. Data regarding the withdrawal parameters for each class are provided within each student’s individual Corsair Connect account.

Substantial Participation A student taking an on-line class is expected to participate fully in the class the first week, and regularly participate throughout the term by logging into the course frequently (at least 3-5 times a week). Your role is to read the assigned chapters according to the assigned dates on the syllabus and participate thoughtfully and respectfully in class discussions, assignments, and tests. The content of this course will probably require you to re-read certain chapters in order to grasp the concepts covered. Students are encouraged to ask questions. The only wrong question is an unasked question. Each student’s thoughtful participation creates a rich learning environment and, therefore, each student has a responsibility to read required assignments, think about the material, and write posts that reflect mastery of the material and the ability to think critically. Otherwise, the student may be dropped by the instructor as stated in AR4321 (withdrawal from class).

Incompletes A grade of “Incomplete” may only be granted at the very end of the term, when 90% of the course work has been satisfactorily completed by the student, but an unforeseen event or illness prevents the student from completing the coursework. “Incomplete” grade situations are extremely rare, and are entirely at the discretion of the instructor, within the parameters set above.

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Suggestions for Success  Get interested in the topics and keep relating the material to your own life. Stay awake and

aware.

 Make use of the online office hours.

 Review your notes frequently.

 Log into the course daily.

 Be aware of due dates and post early.

 You might want to form a study group. Some students thrive when they learn together.

 Cultivate a lifestyle balance to enjoy life with work, sleep, eating well, and having social time with friends. Meditation and mindfulness practice can be very helpful.

 Practice time management skills.

 Student Services: Students should make use of a full array of student services such as Veteran's Services, Black Collegians Program, Latino Center/Adelante, International Student Center, Dream Program, The Center for Wellness and Well Being (Psychological Services) and other student services.

Academic Honesty All students are expected to do their own work and, when collaborating with others, to contribute to the final product. All forms of cheating and plagiarism are absolutely forbidden and can result in a failing grade for that particular assignment or test, and/or for the course. The following are all violations of academic honesty:

 Copying answers from another student

 Turning in assignments which are not the student’s own work

 Using words or even ideas which are not the student’s own without properly acknowledging the source (this is plagiarism)

 Using tools or assistance without prior permission from the instructor while taking exams.

The SMC Honor statement, signed by each student upon enrollment, reads: “In the pursuit of the high ideals and rigorous standards of academic life, I commit myself to respect and uphold the Santa Monica College Honor Code, Code of Academic Conduct, and Student Conduct Code. I will conduct myself honorably as a responsible member of the SMC community in all endeavors I pursue.” It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with The Code of Academic Conduct, which is printed in the General Catalog and available online.

Classroom conduct Here is a link to the Student Code of Conduct.

Please conduct yourself as you would in a business environment: post assignments and complete tests on time. When responding to a classmate, respect others’ ideas even if different from your own, use respectful language, and practice personal integrity. Discussing private issues with the instructor should be reserved for emails through Inbox and online office hours.

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Title IX Title IX (of the 1972 Education Amendments) protects students and staff alike from discrimination based on sex, including Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault, which are forms of Sexual Misconduct. Under Title IX, all people in the educational environment must be treated equitably, regardless of sex, sexual orientation or expression, and/or transgender identity. If you have experienced or learned of a possible violation of Title IX and/or would like to know about options, resources (including confidential services), the law, or District policy, please do not hesitate to contact a Title IX Coordinator.

Emergency Preparedness The safety of students at SMC is a priority. Please note that emergency procedures are posted in every classroom and procedures for various emergencies are delineated on the SMC website.

Please take the time to familiarize yourself with these procedures today, when knowledge of what to do can be the most effective.

Course Calendar / Schedule

 Required reading assignments are in bold type in the table on the next page:

 TESTS AND ASSIGNMENTS ARE IN ALL CAPS.

 Reading assignments are due in the weeks they are listed.

 All discussions, tests, and assignments are due Sunday night at 11:59 pm.

 Post early.

 Each week you will have discussion questions based on the required reading. You will have choices to answer questions in Group A and in Group B.

 Answer questions in both Groups A and B. (The only exception is Week 1 where you will have an extra question entitled “Saying Hi.”)

 You also need to respond to a classmate from each group for full credit.

 You will receive rubrics for discussions and assignments to assist you in doing well.

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Week Dates Question Topic Reading ASSIGNMENT /

TEST

1 Jan 6- Jan 12

What is philosophy? What is an argument?F allacies? What is the examined life?

Branches of Philosophy; Fallacies Metaphysics and Epistemology, and their relationship to other areas of philosophy Basic Arguments of Philosophy; Socrates

 Chapter 1 Dark Blue Velvet (1-14)

 Chapter 3 Socrates (29-32) Plato’s Apology (41-43)

2

Jan

13–

Jan 19

What is reality? What is illusion? What is happiness?

Plato and Aristotle

 Chapter 3 Socrates (32-41)

 Chapter 10 Moral Philosophy (212 - 219)

 Chapter 4 Aristotle (55- 63)

3

Jan

20–

Jan 26

What is pleasure? What is freedom? What things are in our in and beyond our power?

Philosophers of

Hellenism,

Epicurus,

Epictetus (and the

Stoics), Plotinus;

Hypatia, The

Skeptics

 Chapter 10 Moral Philosophy (219 - 220)

 Epicurus to Menoceus (go to link in module),

 Epictetus (and the Stoics) (220- 223)(Moore) Ch. 5 Philosophers of the Hellenistic and Christian Eras (65-88

ASSIGNMENT 1:

PHILOSOPHY AND THE

ARTS ASSIGNMENT

MIDTERM

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Week Dates Question Topic Reading ASSIGNMENT /

TEST

4

Jan

27-

Feb 2

What are the epistemolog- ical implications of Continental Rationalism and British Empiricism?

The Continental

Rationalists;

The British

Empiricists;

Immanuel Kant

 Chapter 6 The Rise of Modern Metaphysics and Epistemology (89- 116);

 Chapter 7 The Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries (120-129)

 Chapter 10 Moral Philosophy (234-236)

ASSIGNMENT 2: FIELD TRIP ASSIGNMENT

5 Feb 3-

Feb 9

What is important about truth? What makes life meaningful?

Forerunners and Leaders of Existentialism: Kierkegaard, Kafka, Nietzsche, Camus, Sartre, de Beauvoir

 Chapter 8 The Continental Tradition (139- 162) (Moore);

 Chapter 10 Moral Philosophy (240- 241)

 Nietzsche article (go to link in module)

ASSIGNMENT 3: CURRENT EVENTS AND

RUMMIE

6

Feb 10

–Feb

13

What is Feminist Philosophy? What is Post- colonialism?

Philosophy and Feminism; Feminism and Contemporary Issues; Postcolonial Thinkers

 Chapter 14 Feminist Philosophy (362 - 407);

 Chapter 16 Post- colonial Thought (456 - 475)

Feb

12–

Feb 13

Final Exam 

FINAL EXAM DATES Feb

12-13

Changes in the Syllabus Some elements of the syllabus may be changed at the instructor’s discretion. The changes will be communicated via Canvas announcement and official email. Students will be given at least 48 hours’ notice of changes whenever possible.

Instructor Errors

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Please let me know, promptly and courteously, if I have made a mistake in class, or if I have made a mistake in grading or in posting your grade to Canvas. I appreciate the feedback, because I want to correct errors as soon as possible.

Questions about the Syllabus If there is any aspect of this syllabus which you do not understand, or to which you take exception, please let me know within the first week of class. Your continued attendance in this course constitutes an acknowledgement and acceptance of the requirements delineated in this syllabus.

Required Materials and Supplies  access to a computer

 reliable internet connection

Recommended Skills and Computer Technology Requirements  Ability to use Canvas. (Canvas is best viewed at a minimum resolution of 800x600. If you

want to view Canvas on a device with a smaller screen, we recommend using the Canvas mobile app)

 Ability to use PowerPoint

 Supported Browsers: o Canvas supports the current and first previous major releases of the following

browsers: Chrome 74 and 75 o Firefox 67 and 68 (Extended Releases are not supported) o Internet Explorer 11 (Windows only—functionally supported; may exhibit slight visual

differences from other browsers, but these differences do not restrict product functionality. As of August 3, 2019, Internet Explorer 11 was no longer supported as a Canvas browser.)

o Edge 44 (Windows only) o Safari 11 and 12 (Macintosh only)

You should always use the most current version of your preferred browser. Your browser will notify you if there is a new version available.

 Operating Systems: o Windows 7 and newer o Mac OSX 10.6 and newer o Linux – chromeOS o Mobile Operating System Native App Support. (As of January 5, 2019, Android apps

require version 5.0 or later and iOS apps require version 11 or later.) All Android and iOS both support the two most recent versions of their respective operating systems.

 Computer Speed and Processor o Use a computer 5 years old or newer when possible o 1GB of RAM o 2GHz processor

 Internet Speed o Along with compatibility and web standards, Canvas has been carefully crafted to

accommodate low bandwidth environments.

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o Minimum of 512kbps

 Screen Readers

Macintosh: VoiceOver (latest version for Safari) PC: JAWS (latest version for Firefox) PC: NVDA (latest version for Firefox) There is no screen reader support for Canvas in Chrome

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Important Dates Actions Date

Last Day to Withdraw to Receive a Refund Jan 9, 2020

Last Day to Withdraw to Avoid a "W" Jan 12, 2020

Class Census Day Jan 13, 2020

Last Day to Request Pass/No Pass Grade Jan 17, 2020 Last Day to Withdraw to Guarantee a “W" Feb 3, 2020

Times When the System is Down The system sometimes has scheduled down times. Keep alert for postings on these times.

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENTS

Assignment 1: Philosophy and the Arts (Remember to reserve your film or literary work by going to the assignment discussion thread and putting in the subject line, e.g., “I Reserve “The Matrix”) The class is enriched if there are no duplicate films chosen. Many philosophers have chosen to express philosophy in the form of dialogues, plays, novel, and other literary forms. Film makers have often chosen philosophical themes as the focus of their messages on film. This section of the course allows us to see the relationship between philosophy and the arts.

Here are some steps to guide you:

1. Choose a film, dialogue, play, or novel and write a short paper (500-750 words) about your experiences. Watch or read a piece of literature during this semester, which you have not seen or read before. Summarize the main points of this experience.

2. Think of the film or literature to a branch of philosophy (e.g., ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, aesthetics, logic, social and political philosophy) or the ideas of a philosopher (in the western or eastern tradition including the feminist philosophers and the postcolonial thinkers covered in this course). You may draw from your knowledge of the philosophy from this course or other online or other research.

3. Draw some conclusions about the philosophical material you've experienced by showing how this may have contributed to your own development or understanding of a philosophical theme, debated issue (e.g., determinism vs. free will), or social/political contemporary issue. (Refer to Encyclopedia of Philosophy and the required text for

more information on philosophical themes)

4. In a separate post, respond to a classmate with a thoughtful, substantive response regarding the application of philosophical points and/or contemporary issues.

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In sum: your final post (the Philosophy and the Arts discussion thread) should have these four points covered and marked clearly.

1. Summary of experience (Name the film, novel, etc. and describe the main points in one developed paragraph)

2. Relation to philosophical theme or issue

3. Conclusion about personal development and/or philosophical issue

4. Respond to a classmate. Remember, your posts on these assignments enrich our course. We all learn from your explorations. Thank you in advance! I have added links below for you to view film and literature lists. You may also include a film or literary expression that is not on the list. Philosophy and Film List Philosophy and Religion in Film Best Philosophical Literature List

Assignment 2: Field Trip A field trip is made by students to experience something first hand. For this class you may choose:

 your own field trip to explore a service in a particular tradition other that your own,

 to visit a museum exhibit that reflects the art of a particular tradition

 To attend a gathering of one of the traditions, e.g., yoga, nature journey, chanting, meditation, Shabbat service, Catholic Mass

You are not limited to this list. Some possibilities in the L.A. area include: Agape International Spiritual Center Quaker Meeting House Annenberg Photography Museum Siddha Yoga Meditation Center Goddess Temple of Orange County St. Sophia Cathedral Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine Hsi Lai Buddhist Temple Norton Simon Museum The Museum of Tolerance The Bhagavad Gita Museum

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After your visit, go to the discussion thread and post 500-750 words about your experience of your field trip including the following:

Point 1: Description of your field trip visit and why you choose it Point 2: How the field trip related to the content of philosophy of religion Point 3: The impact of your visit on you personally or how it relates to a contemporary issue Point 4: In a separate post, reply to a classmate’s post with a thoughtful, substantive reply.

Enter your assignment by posting on this discussion "Reply."

Assignment 3: Current Events and Rummie Being aware of the current events around the world and thinking critically about them is one of the responsibilities of being a global citizen. “To be a global citizen one is knowledgeable of peoples, customs and cultures in regions of the world beyond one’s own; understanding the interdependence that holds both promise and peril for the future of the global community, and is committed to combining one’s learning with a dedication to foster a livable, sustainable world.” Global Citizenship as defined by the Global Council, April 2016. For this assignment you are to review the current events in the world today and link them to what we are studying in this class. You can review current events in news sources such as CNN, The Los Angeles Times, BBC, or other reliable news sources. You are to relate the current event to our course, upload a link to the article or video you are writing about, choose a “rummie”—a philosophical word that you then ruminate about and respond to a classmate.

Summary of Points to Include

1. Summarize the main ideas of the current event. You can get current events from newsworthy internet sources such as CNN, Los Angeles Times or other sources that you deem reliable sources of news.

2. Relate the summary of the current event to our philosophy course.

3. Upload a link to the article or video of your current event.

4. Choose a “rummie” —a philosophical word related to the current event.

5. Delve into it, ruminate, relate it to contemporary issues or your own life.

6. In a separate post respond to a classmate in a thoughtful and substantive reply. Example:

1. Christians Countering Anti-Muslim Rhetoric. This is a news item about an evangelical Christian pastor, Rev. Josh Graves, in Memphis, TN, who believes it is part of his religious beliefs to counter anti-Muslim sentiments by creating a sense of community with local Muslims who practice Islam. He partnered with other Christians to create dinners where Christians and Muslims would gather around dinner tables and get to know each other, Building relationships became a strategy to combat prejudice, and it worked.

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2. This article and video from Religion and Ethics Newsweekly is related to our class because it shows the value of interfaith dialogue and exploration of multiple views about religion to create a better world. Many of the philosophers we study in this class offer an emphasis on ethics. Socrates inspired people through his actions to examine their lives and be true to themselves just as the Christians in the article found a way to heal anti-Muslim sentiments. Kant’s ethical stance of using a categorical imperative to guide ethical action can also be seen in the article. We can easily see that treating people in a community with compassion and respect would be a good ethical action that should be applied universally.

3. ChristiansCounterAnti-MuslimRhetoric

4. The Rummie I choose is Commitment

5. Commitment can be defined as "a promise to be loyal to someone or something." In this case I was impressed Rev. Josh Graves' commitment to the teachings of Jesus and Christianity, which inspired him to practice his beliefs and create peace in his community by bringing Christians and Muslims together. The rummie "Commitment" inspires me to explore the areas in which I choose to commit myself such as women’s rights and compassion toward immigrants. This rumination also makes me think about ways in which I demonstrate my commitment toward these issues. If my commitment is not followed by actions can I really say I have a commitment to these issues?

6. Reply to a Classmate’s Post: Amber, I appreciated the article you chose on the treatment of migrants at the Mexican border. The subject of immigration is complex and the themes relating to Aristotle’s ethics seem particularly relevant. Where is the evidence of virtue in our society? I thought your choice of the rummie “compassion” was appropriate and inspiring to ruminate upon. Thanks for your post!