12/18/2024 5:46:04 PM	PHIL 6 Course Outline as of Summer 2022	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  PHIL 6	Title:  INTRO TO PHILOSOPHY
Full Title:  Introduction to Philosophy
Last Reviewed:1/28/2019

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		6 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

An inquiry into truth and value through studies of the philosophers. Stresses philosophical issues, themes, and problems, as well as methods of philosophical inquiry.  Examines how philosophy has tried to answer the perennial questions about reality, truth, and value.  Explores philosophy's role in personal and social life.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

An inquiry into truth and value through studies of the philosophers. Stresses philosophical issues, themes, and problems, as well as methods of philosophical inquiry.  Examines how philosophy has tried to answer the perennial questions about reality, truth, and value.  Explores philosophy's role in personal and social life.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
Area:	E	Humanities
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	C2	Humanities		Fall 1981
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	3B	Humanities		Fall 1981
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
C-ID:
CID Descriptor: PHIL 100	Introduction to Philosophy	SRJC Equivalent Course(s): PHIL6

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.  Recognize characteristic philosophical issues.

2.  Identify and critically evaluate representative philosophical positions.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Differentiate between philosophy and other disciplines, e.g., physics, literature.

2. Differentiate fields of philosophy, e.g., aesthetics,epistemology, metaphysics, political

    philosophy, philosophy of religion, philosophy of mind,

3. Examine key topics and questions within the above fields: God and religion, the nature of

    truth, philosophy of mind, free will and determinism, and morality.

4. Summarize, analyze, and evaluate key arguments addressing the above topics.

5. Provide philosophical interpretation of primary texts.

6. Analyze and evaluate contemporary applications of the above arguments.

Topics and Scope

I.  Philosophical Methods

    A. Logic

    B. Rationalism

    C. Empiricism

II.  The Nature of Philosophical Issues

    A. Overview of key philosophical fields and topics

    B. Relationship between philosophical issues and worldviews

III.  God and Religion

    A. Existence and nature of God

    B. Relationship between religion and science

    C. Relationship between religion and morality

IV.  The Nature of Reality

    A. Relationship between being and becoming

    B. Relationship between mind and matter

V.  The Nature of Truth

    A. Relationship between opinion and truth

    B. Relationship between truth and knowledge

    C. Coherence

    D. Correspondence

    E. Pragmatic theories

VI.  Personal Identity

    A. Relationship between self and body

    B. Relationship between self and thought

    C. Relationship between self and consciousness

    D. Relationship between self and society

    E. Arguments justifying the claim there is no self

VII.  Free Will

    A. Nature of free will

    B. Determinism

    C. Relationship between will and the good life

    D. Relationship between free will and existential issues

VIII.  Morality

    A. Nature of the good life

    B. Relationship between religion and morality

    C. Subjectivism

    D. Relativism

    E. Hedonism

    F. Egoism

    G. Altruism

    H. Duty-based morality

     I. Consequentialism

     J. Virtue ethics

IX.  Justice

    A. Liberty

    B. Equality

         1. Civil rights

         2. Natural rights

         3. Human rights

         4. Retributive justice

         5. Distributive justice

Assignments:

1. Regular reading assignments from course texts and supplementary  material.  Number of

    pages vary, depending upon difficulty of topic, concepts, and arguments.  Typical

    reading assignment is 15-25 pgs

2. Regular reader response activities or assignments

3. Quizzes which cover the assigned readings

4. At least two midterms that require essays responding to material covered in class and texts

5. A  final examination that requires essays responding to material covered in class and texts

6. Term paper about research on an issue raised in class and defense of a particular position on

    that issue.  Length will vary, depending upon difficulty of topic,  concepts, and arguments.

    Typical papers 1250 to 2500 words

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 30 - 60%
Written homework, term paper
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 40 - 60%
Exams will include multiple choice and essay
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 20%
Attendance and participation; reader response activities

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

The Big Questions. 10th ed. Solomon, Robert and Higgins, Kathleen. Cengage Learning. 2018

 

Archetypes of Wisdom. 9th ed. Soccio, Douglas. Cengage Learning. 2015

 

Introduction to Philosophy. 7th ed.  Perry, John and Bratman, Michael and Fischer, John. Oxford University Press. 2015

 

The Philosopher's Way. 5th ed. Caffee, John. Pearson. 2015

 

Meditations on First Philosophy. Descrates, Rene. Oxford University Press. 2008 (classic)

 

What Does it All Mean? Nagel,Thomas. Oxford University Press. 2004 (classic)

 

Last Days of Socrates. Plato. Penquin Classics. 2003 (classic)

Print PDF