Introduction to Philosophy - PHL 1030
Section 1 - Spring 2007
MWF 11:15 - 12:10, Kaplan 3
Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, NY

DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES
This course provides an introduction to the discipline of philosophy. Traditionally, philosophy has been conceived as being composed of four areas - logic, metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. In this course we will examine some topics related to the initial three areas. In the areas of metaphysics we will examine the issues of free will and the nature of the mind. In the area of epistemology we will examine the different conceptions of what constitutes a true statement. In the area of ethics, we will examine some of the main ethical theories people use for judging whether actions are morally correct.

The objectives of the course are:

1. identify the basic terms and concepts associated with the issues and theories discussed
2. present the positions and arguments offered to support the positions on the issues discussed
3. critique the arguments supporting the positions on the issues presented, and
4. explain how the issues relate to current topics and popular culture.

TEXT
The text for this class is From Socrates to Cinema: An Introduction to Philosophy by Jeffrey R. Di Leo. Boston: McGraw-Hill. 2006 ISBN 0072969067. For additional information on the text, click the word TEXT above.

Additional selections will also be provided.

ASSIGNMENTS AND FINAL GRADES
The assignments for this course are composed of two take home essays, two examinations, and a series of in-class and out-of-class assignments.

Each of the two take home essays will be worth 25% of your final grade. You will have the option of rewriting the first of these. The two in-class examinations each will be worth 20% of your final grade.

There will be 10 short assignments evenly divided between in-class and out-of-class assignments. The in-class assignments must be completed during the class period they are assigned; these cannot be made up if you miss class. The format for these assignments can be anything from a short writing assignment, a group activity, short answers or a quiz. Each will be worth 1% of your final grade.

Final grades will be determined using the following scale:

POLICIES

1. Complete work on time: your are expected to be an active participant in class and this requires having your work done before class starts. If you come to class unprepared, I may ask ask you to leave.
2. Late work is penalized: any assignment late by one class period is marked down by 5%; 10% if it is later than that. If you know you must miss a class for a scheduled event (religious holiday, athletics, etc.), please let me know in advance so we can make arrangements for making up the work. It is also your responsibility to be sure that I get the work you submit. If you turn something in other then during class, you must check to be sure that I did get it.
3. End of the semester and late work: Aany work submitted on the last day of class will be subject to 20% penalty. Furthermore, any work submitted at any time after the last student has completed the final during the regularly scheduled session of the last section of this class will not be counted.
4. PLAGIARISM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. READ, KNOW AND LIVE THIS. Plagiarism is any use of information, idea, or words of another person or source that is not document. I make every effort to return work within one week of the due date (failure of my doing so results in additional credit to you equivalent to the late penalties noted above), however, in cases where I suspect plagiarism I reserve the right to change your grade after this I have returned your work if I find evidence of plagiarism. You may wish to work with other people, but the work you turn in must be your own work. Instances of plagiarism can range from failure to document sources (an offense that will result in a 10% deduction of the possible points of the assignment from you grade) to verbatium copying selections from another source and (an offense that will result in receiving a 0 on the assignment and will result in the lowering of your final grade by at least one full letter grade). In cases where two classmates copy work together, I will grade the best paper and split the grade between the two offenders unless one admits to the plagiarism. If you plagiarize in any form a second time in this class, you fail.
5. Tolerance: You must show consideration and tolerance to others. If you are not being considerate or tolerant, you will be asked to leave the classroom.
6. Cell phones: If you have one and bring it to class make sure either that you turn it off or set the ringer to vibrate. If your cell phone goes off during class, I will take it and personally turn it off.the first time. The second time, I will ask for it whenever you enter the classroom and turn it off and return it at the end of each class period.
7. iPods and other electronic devices: If I see headphones on or in your ears, I will take them. You can keep the iPod, mp3 player, etc., but if you want to listen to it you will need new headphones.

COURSE SCHEDULE
This is the schedule as I initially perceive it. I may make changes in the schedule to reflect the rate of progress we make, but I will announce any changes to the schedule in class and update the schedule on the web site.