COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE CALENDAR
Fall 2006

CL/DATE

TOPIC

PREP WORK FOR CLASS

1. Aug 21

First class day

------------------------------------

2. Aug 23

What is philosophy? Why do people do philosophy? How is it done?

[Arthur, Chs 1-6 (Esp 2 & 5)

[Argument Exercise

3. Aug 25

Plato and the Philosophical Life: The Classical View of Philosophy. Video: What is Philosophy?

Allegory of the Cave (online)

4. Aug 28

Socratic Dialectic in Action

“Euthyphro” in The Trial and Death of Socrates (pgs 1-17)

5. Aug 30

Plato on the Nature of Wisdom

First Paper Assigned

“Apology” in The Trial and Death of Socrates (pgs 19-41)

6. Sept 1

Philosophy and the Community

“Apology.” “The Philosopher King”—online.

Sept 4

Labor Day—No Class: Finish Summer in style!

7. Sept 6

The Community and the Philosopher

“Crito” in The Trial and Death of Socrates (pgs 43-54)

8. Sept 8

The Philosopher in Action: The Search for Wisdom

“Phaedo” in The Trial and Death of Socrates (pgs 55-115; especially 55-70)

9. Sept 11

The Philosopher in Action: The Search for Wisdom. Arguments for the soul’s existence.

“Phaedo” (pgs 55-115; especially 70-89); Begin review/study for test

10. Sept 13

[Philosopher in Action: The Search for Wisdom / Review for test. [First Paper Due

“Phaedo” (pgs 55-115)

11. Sept 15

Epicurean Wisdom

Epicurus: Letter to Menoeceus

12. Sept 18

13. Sept 20

14. Sept 22

Test #1

Study for Test

15. Sept 25

Epicurean Wisdom

Epicurus: Letter to Menoeceus

16. Sept 27

Stoic Wisdom

Epictetus: The Handbook

17. Sept 29

Stoic Living

Epictetus: Selections from the Discourses

18. Oct 2

Christianity and the Classical View of Philosophy: Thomas Aquinas. Faith and Reason.
Second Paper Assigned

Summa Contra Gentiles (SCG), Chs 1-9, pgs 59-78

19. Oct 4

Faith and Reason

SCG, Chs 1-9, pgs 59-78

20. Oct 6

Faith and Reason in Action: Natural Theology—Proving God’s Existence
SCG, Ch 12&13 pgs 83-96

Oct 9-13

***Midsemester Break***

21. Oct 16

The Christian Saint: The Requirements and possibility for attaining happiness

Treatise on Happiness, Q1, pgs 3-14.

22. Oct 18

St Thomas on the Good Life

Treatise on Happiness, Q2-3, pgs 15-40

23. Oct 20

Human happiness and its limitations.

Treatise on Happiness, Q4-5, pgs 41-67

24. Oct 23

Human knowledge of morality: conscience and moral law: the boundaries of the good life/ the plan of God.
Second Paper Due

Treatise on Law, Q90-94, pgs 1-43

25. Oct 25

Saints and Philosophers / Review for test

Treatise on Law, Q95, pgs 44-51; Q100, pgs 70-87. Begin review for test

26. Oct 27

Test #2

Study for Test

27. Oct 30

Debate #1

Teams assigned after first class meeting.

28. Nov 1

Modern philosophy

Enlightenment: Rene Descartes project of Methodic Doubt

Discourse on Method Ch 1-3 (online)
Meditations, Meditation One (online)
On Descartes, Chs 1-5 (pgs 1-38)

29. Nov 3

The Cogito—I think therefore I am

On Descartes, Chs 4-6 (pgs 26-42)

30. Nov 6

Proving the existence of God and the rest of the world.

On Descartes, Chs 7-12 (pgs 43-84, but concentrate on Ch 7)

31. Nov 8

John Stuart Mill and the Cartesian Community

Utilitarianism (available on-line); On Liberty Chs 1 (pgs 1-14)

32. Nov 10

Liberal Democracy and Freedom of Speech.

On Liberty, Ch 2, (pgs 15-52)

James, Pragmatism. Lecture 1 “Present Dilemma in Philosophy.” (pgs 1-16)

33. Nov 13

Mill’s Creative Genius as a model for philosophical inquiry…

Post-Enlightenment Philosophy. Introduction; James’ view of the Nature of Philosophy.

On Liberty, Chs 3 & 4 (pgs 53-91) On Liberty, Chs 3 & 4 (pgs 53-91)

James, Pragmatism. Lecture II, “What Pragmatism Means,” Lecture III “Some Metaphysical Problems Pragmatically Considered.” (pgs 17-48)

34. Nov 15

Pragmatism: A philosophy of Action

James, Pragmatism. Lecture VI, “Pragmatism’s Conception of Truth,” (pgs 63-75.)

35. Nov 17

Debate #2

Teams assigned after first class meeting.

36. Nov 20

Test #3

Study for Test #3

Nov 22-24

****Thanksgiving break****

37. Nov 27

Pragmatism in Action: Life as Heroic Struggle

“The Moral Philosopher and the Moral Life.” Article on Reserve in the Library

38. Nov 29

Neitzsche: The suspicious nihilist.

Truth and the true Nature of Philosophy

Beyond Good and Evil (BGE), Preface, Parts I & II. pgs 13-55

39. Dec 1

The Free Spirit and Philosophy as a catalyst for Social Change

Fourth Paper Due

BGE, Parts II (pgs 13-55), VII (pgs 147-169) and IX (pgs 192-221)

40. Dec 4

Debate #3

Teams assigned after first class meeting.

41. Dec 6

BGE, Part III, pgs 56-71; Part V, pgs 90-109

42. Dec 8

(Last Class Session) Debate #4

BGE, Epode

Dec 12

Final Exam for Section A (2:00 Class) 8:00-9:45 (Tues)

Dec 13

Final Exam for Section B (3:00 Class) 3:00-4:45 (Weds)

CL/DATE	TOPIC	PREP WORK FOR CLASS
1. Aug 21	First class day	------------------------------------
2. Aug 23	What is philosophy? Why do people do philosophy? How is it done?	[Arthur, Chs 1-6 (Esp 2 & 5) [Argument Exercise
3. Aug 25	Plato and the Philosophical Life: The Classical View of Philosophy. Video: What is Philosophy?	Allegory of the Cave (online)
4. Aug 28	Socratic Dialectic in Action	“Euthyphro” in The Trial and Death of Socrates (pgs 1-17)
5. Aug 30	Plato on the Nature of Wisdom First Paper Assigned	“Apology” in The Trial and Death of Socrates (pgs 19-41)
6. Sept 1	Philosophy and the Community	“Apology.” “The Philosopher King”—online.
Sept 4	Labor Day—No Class: Finish Summer in style!
7. Sept 6	The Community and the Philosopher	“Crito” in The Trial and Death of Socrates (pgs 43-54)
8. Sept 8	The Philosopher in Action: The Search for Wisdom	“Phaedo” in The Trial and Death of Socrates (pgs 55-115; especially 55-70)
9. Sept 11	The Philosopher in Action: The Search for Wisdom. Arguments for the soul’s existence.	“Phaedo” (pgs 55-115; especially 70-89); Begin review/study for test
10. Sept 13	[Philosopher in Action: The Search for Wisdom / Review for test. [First Paper Due	“Phaedo” (pgs 55-115)
11. Sept 15	Epicurean Wisdom	Epicurus: Letter to Menoeceus
12. Sept 18
13. Sept 20
14. Sept 22	Test #1	Study for Test
15. Sept 25	Epicurean Wisdom	Epicurus: Letter to Menoeceus
16. Sept 27	Stoic Wisdom	Epictetus: The Handbook
17. Sept 29	Stoic Living	Epictetus: Selections from the Discourses
18. Oct 2	Christianity and the Classical View of Philosophy: Thomas Aquinas. Faith and Reason. *Second Paper Assigned*	Summa Contra Gentiles (SCG), Chs 1-9, pgs 59-78
19. Oct 4	Faith and Reason	SCG, Chs 1-9, pgs 59-78
20. Oct 6	Faith and Reason in Action: Natural Theology—Proving God’s Existence	SCG, Ch 12&13 pgs 83-96
Oct 9-13	*Midsemester Break*
21. Oct 16	The Christian Saint: The Requirements and possibility for attaining happiness	Treatise on Happiness, Q1, pgs 3-14.
22. Oct 18	St Thomas on the Good Life	Treatise on Happiness, Q2-3, pgs 15-40
23. Oct 20	Human happiness and its limitations.	Treatise on Happiness, Q4-5, pgs 41-67
24. Oct 23	Human knowledge of morality: conscience and moral law: the boundaries of the good life/ the plan of God. Second Paper Due	Treatise on Law, Q90-94, pgs 1-43
25. Oct 25	Saints and Philosophers / Review for test	Treatise on Law, Q95, pgs 44-51; Q100, pgs 70-87. Begin review for test
26. Oct 27	Test #2	Study for Test
27. Oct 30	Debate #1	Teams assigned after first class meeting.
28. Nov 1	Modern philosophy Enlightenment: Rene Descartes project of Methodic Doubt	Discourse on Method Ch 1-3 (online) Meditations, Meditation One (online) On Descartes, Chs 1-5 (pgs 1-38)
29. Nov 3	The Cogito—I think therefore I am	On Descartes, Chs 4-6 (pgs 26-42)
30. Nov 6	Proving the existence of God and the rest of the world.	On Descartes, Chs 7-12 (pgs 43-84, but concentrate on Ch 7)
31. Nov 8	John Stuart Mill and the Cartesian Community	Utilitarianism (available on-line); On Liberty Chs 1 (pgs 1-14)
32. Nov 10	Liberal Democracy and Freedom of Speech.	On Liberty, Ch 2, (pgs 15-52) James, Pragmatism. Lecture 1 “Present Dilemma in Philosophy.” (pgs 1-16)
33. Nov 13	Mill’s Creative Genius as a model for philosophical inquiry… Post-Enlightenment Philosophy. Introduction; James’ view of the Nature of Philosophy.	On Liberty, Chs 3 & 4 (pgs 53-91) On Liberty, Chs 3 & 4 (pgs 53-91) James, Pragmatism. Lecture II, “What Pragmatism Means,” Lecture III “Some Metaphysical Problems Pragmatically Considered.” (pgs 17-48)
34. Nov 15	Pragmatism: A philosophy of Action	James, Pragmatism. Lecture VI, “Pragmatism’s Conception of Truth,” (pgs 63-75.)
35. Nov 17	Debate #2	Teams assigned after first class meeting.
36. Nov 20	Test #3	Study for Test #3
Nov 22-24	**Thanksgiving break**
37. Nov 27	Pragmatism in Action: Life as Heroic Struggle	“The Moral Philosopher and the Moral Life.” Article on Reserve in the Library
38. Nov 29	Neitzsche: The suspicious nihilist. Truth and the true Nature of Philosophy	Beyond Good and Evil (BGE), Preface, Parts I & II. pgs 13-55
39. Dec 1	The Free Spirit and Philosophy as a catalyst for Social Change *Fourth Paper Due*	BGE, Parts II (pgs 13-55), VII (pgs 147-169) and IX (pgs 192-221)
40. Dec 4	Debate #3	Teams assigned after first class meeting.
41. Dec 6	BGE, Part III, pgs 56-71; Part V, pgs 90-109
42. Dec 8	(Last Class Session) Debate #4	BGE, Epode
Dec 12	Final Exam for Section A (2:00 Class) 8:00-9:45 (Tues)
Dec 13	Final Exam for Section B (3:00 Class) 3:00-4:45 (Weds)