PHI 201 L00.A Introduction to Philosophy (3 credit hours)
Spring 2016
Professor:Dr. Joseph D. Wooddell
Contact:(800) 899-0012 (x1336) (214) 818-1336 (voice mail)
4010 Gaston Ave., Dallas, TX 75246
Office hours:Appointments only. Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs, 3rd floor.
Day/Time:Mondays, 8 – 10:30 a.m. Room:E201
Course description:
Includes a brief survey of the history of philosophy and defends the validity of the logical and epistemological foundations of Christian theology and ethics against critical systems.
Course objectives / Learning Outcomes:
The student who successfully completes this course will demonstrate the ability to:
- Analyze and process the language of philosophical discourse.
- Investigate some of the major historical thinkers in the field of philosophy.
- Examine some of the major principles, ideas, and theories in the field of philosophy
- Link some areas of practical philosophical concern to contemporary life.
- Acquire an enhanced appreciation for the value of philosophy as related to faith.
Course texts:
Cowan, Steven B. and James S. Spiegel. The Love of Wisdom: A Christian Introduction to Philosophy. Nashville: B&H Academic, 2009. ISBN: 0805447709. $34.99.
Lewis, C. S. Mere Christianity. Any version.
Moreland, J. P. Love Your God With All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul, 2d edition, revised and updated. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2012. ISBN: 1617479004. $15.99
Plato’s Apology:
Other articles / sources as assigned.
Course requirements and evaluation procedures:
- Quiz over Cowan and Spiegel reading for each class meeting (average is 25% of final grade). Quiz questions might be any style or format, including but not limited to, multiple choice, fill in the blank, short answer, essay, true/false, matching, listing, etc., and may cover readings and/or notes from other material covered in class.
- Mid-term exam (25% of final grade). Mid-term exam questions might be any style or format, including but not limited to, multiple choice, fill in the blank, short answer, essay, true/false, matching, listing, etc., and may cover readings and/or notes from other material covered in class.
- Final exam (25% of final grade). Final exam questions might be any style or format, including but not limited to, multiple choice, fill in the blank, short answer, essay, true/false, matching, listing, etc., and may cover readings and/or notes from other material covered in class.
- Reading Report. (25% of final grade). Students will sign as to what percentage of the total reading they have done, including the two text books and Plato’s Apology. Students should turn in their reading reports on the last class day, not the final exam day.
Attendance policies:
Absences: Since class participation is vital to learning, absences should be taken only when absolutely necessary. More than three (3) absences for block classes will result in a grade of “F” for the courses. The professor and the Vice President of Academic Affairs must approve all exceptions to this policy. Proportionate absences apply to all other terms (winter and summer terms, etc.). Students are responsible for all absences due to illness or any other reason. Granting of excused absences is permitted at the discretion of the professor.
Tardies: Missing more than fifteen (15) minutes at the beginning or end of a class period is considered one absence. Three instances of tardiness of fifteen minutes or less equals one absence. The tardy student is responsible for notifying the professor of his/her presence in writing at the end of class. Students who wish to depart early should clear it with the professor.
Grading System
The significance of letter grades is as follows:
A97-1004.0 grade points per semester hour
A-93-963.7 grade points per semester hour
B+91-923.3 grade points per semester hour
B 88-903.0 grade points per semester hour
B-86-872.7 grade points per semester hour
C+83-852.3 grade points per semester hour
C 80-822.0 grade points per semester hour
C-78-791.7 grade points per semester hour
D+75-771.3 grade points per semester hour
D 72-741.0 grade point per semester hour
D-70-710.7 grade points per semester hour
F 0-690.0 grade points per semester hour
The following grade symbols are also recognized for transcript evaluation:
AU Audited CourseCRCredit
EXExemptIIncomplete
NCNo CreditPPassed Non-credit Course
RCRepeat CourseSSatisfactory Progress
WWithdrawnWFWithdrawn Failing
WPWithdrawn Passing
Incomplete Grades:
Students requesting a grade of Incomplete (I) must understand that incomplete grades maybe given only upon approval of the faculty member involved. An “I” may be assigned only when a student is currently passing a course and in situations involving extended illness, serious injury, death in the family, or employment or government reassignment, not student neglect.Students are responsible for contacting their professors prior to the end of the semester, plus filing the appropriate completed and approved academic request form with the Registrar’s Office. The “I” must be removed (by completing the remaining course requirements) no later than 60 calendar days after the grade was assigned, or the “I” will become an “F.”
Institutional policies:
Academic Honesty:
Absolute truth is an essential belief and basis of behavior for those who believe in a God who cannot lie and forbids falsehood. Academic honesty is the application of the principle of truth in the classroom setting. Academic honesty includes the basic premise that all work submitted by students must be their own and any ideas derived or copied from elsewhere must be carefully documented.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:
•cheating of any kind,
•submitting, without proper approval, work originally prepared by the student for another course,
•plagiarism, which is the submitting of work prepared by someone else as if it were his own, and
•failing to credit sources properly in written work.
Learning Disabilities:
In order to ensure full class participation, any student with a disabling condition requiring special accommodations (e.g., tape recorders, special adaptive equipment, special note-taking or test-taking needs) is strongly encouraged to contact the instructor at the beginning of the course or if a student has a learning disability, please inform the professor so assistance can be provided.
Auditing and Sit-in Students:
Any student may enroll in a course as an Auditor or Sit-in as long as the class is below capacity. A student’s permanent transcript will reflect which courses have been completed as audits. Sit-in students are not given grades by professors and their transcripts will not reflect enrollment in the course. Taking tests and participation in course activities are afforded to credit students in the syllabus and is at the discretion of the professor.
Library:
Students can access information about Criswell College’s Wallace Library at The Wallace Library manual is available at
Student Life:
Students needing educational support or services should contact the Student Services at 214-818-1332 or .
Video and Other Intellectual Property Rights:
Unless otherwise specifically instructed in writing by the professor, students must neither materially nordigitally reproduce materials from any course offered by Criswell College for or with the significant possibility of distribution.
Course outline:
WeekDate(s)Assignment
1Jan 18MLK Day; no class
2Jan 25Course Introduction
3Feb 1Plato’s Apology
4Feb 8C&S “Introduction”
5Feb 15C&S 1 / M1
6Feb 22C&S 2 / M2
7Feb 29C&S 3 / M3&4
8Mar 7C&S 4 / M5
Mar 14-18Spring Break week; no class
9Mar 21Midterm exam
10Mar 28C&S 5 / M6
11Apr 4C&S 6 / M7
12Apr 11C&S 7 / M8
13Apr 18C&S 8 / M9
14Apr 25C&S 9 / M10
15May 2Lewis
16May 9Final exam
Changes to this document:
The instructor reserves the right to add, delete, or change any information contained in this document (except the course description), when he deems it necessary, with adequate notice given to the student. Students are responsible for any information missed due to absence.
Recommended bibliography:
The Apostle’s Creed
Audi, Robert, editor. The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy. Cambridge: Cambridge, 1995.
The Baptist Faith and Message 2000
The Bible
The Chalcedonion Creed (or TheChalcedonion Definition of Faith)
Copi. Introduction to Logic
Copleston. A History of Philosophy (9 vols.)
Erickson. Christian Theology
Helm. Faith and Reason
Hurley. A Concise Introduction to Logic
Kreeft and Tacelli. Handbook of Christian Apologetics
Lewis. Miracles
Moreland and Craig. Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview
Morris. God and the Philosophers
Nance and Wilson. Introductory Logic and Intermediate Logic
Nash. Life’s Ultimate Questions
Nicholi. The Question of God
The Nicene Creed
Peterson, et al. Philosophy of Religion: Selected Readings
Plantinga. Warranted Christian Belief
Pojman. Ethics: Discovering Right and Wrong
Solomon. Introducing Philosophy: A Text with Readings