PHILOSOPHY CLASS
Mr. Jason Harnish
Social Studies
Course Description:An introduction to philosophy through classical and contemporary readings on topics such as perception, knowledge and skepticism; the relationship between mind and matter; personal identity; time travel; free will, foreknowledge, and determinism; proofs of God’s existence.
Course Objectives: To introduce you to philosophical analysis, argumentation, and some of the central problems of philosophy; to teach you how to reconstruct arguments and evaluate them, and how to write philosophy papers.
Course Materials: Access to the internet, The Big Questions, Handbook for Writers, folder, writing utensils, notebook/journal
Grading Policy: Students will be graded based on attendance, discussion participation, papers and a few quizzes/test. Overall, it is a student’s engagement with the materials that will determine their grade –not “knowing” the information.
Expectations: Students should bring their textbook The Big Questions everyday as well as their writing handbook. Students are expected to participate in discussions throughout the year both through oral & written communication. Sitting in class and paying attention is not going to be enough to succeed in this course. It is imperative that a students intellectually engage the material with their peers through homework, discussion, and formal writing assignemnts.
Units of Study: What follows is a listing of the units and ideas that will be examined. Though there are not always specific readings or assignments, students will be expected to complete reading and writing assignments on a regular basis. All work must be turned in on time for full credit.
Unit 1: Logic & Ethics
Introduction to Logic
- Deductive and Inductive Reasoning
- True vs. Valid Arguments
- Sound vs. Unsound Arguments
- Sufficient vs. Necessary Conditions
Criticizing Arguments
- Logical Fallacies
- Assertion
- Begging the question
- Ad hominem
- Formal vs. Informal Fallacies
- Tautology
- Reductio ad absurdum- As a transition/introduction to paradoxes
Introduction to Ethics
What is the good (life)?
- Virtue ethics
- Hedonism
- Stocism
- Reason, Emotions, and the Constituent Parts of the Mind or Soul
What is the moral life?
- Exodus Chp. 20; Matthew Chps. 5-7
- Apology - Plato
- Kant’s Categorical Imperative
- Utilitarianism vs. Duty-defined morality
Unit 2: The Meaning of Life & The Existence of God
What Is The Meaning of Life?
- Apology - Plato; Phaedo - Plato
- Eudaemonia (Happiness)
- Existentialism
- Free will vs. Determinism
- The Noble Truths
God
- Western Conceptions of God and religion
- Eastern Conceptions of God and religion (Hinduism, Taoism, Shintoism)
- Afterlife
- The Problem of Evil (Theodicy)
Belief vs. Unbelief
- Cosmological Argument
- Argument from Design
- Ontological Argument
- Moral Argument
- Pascal’s Wager
- Rational vs. Irrational Faith
Unit 3: Metaphysics & The Search for Truth
The Birth of Metaphysics - What is real(ity)?
- Pre-Socratic philosophers
- Plato’s Forms
- Aristotle’s Substances
- Eastern Concepts of Reality (Confucianism & Buddhism)
The Nature of the Mind
- The mind/body distinction
- Monism vs. dualism
- The nature of the “self”
- Descartes
Idealism
- Subjective vs. Objective
- German Idealism
- Teleology vs. the absurd
Unit 4: Epistemology & How We Know What We Know
What is truth? How do we know something is true?
- Necessary Truths vs. Empirical Truths
- Rationalism vs. Empiricism
- Presuppositions of Knowledge
- Skepticism & The Nature of Truth
- Subjective Truth & the Problem of Relativism
Unit 5: Political Philosophy & Justice
What is the best regime/Government?
- Rousseau, Locke, Hobbes & the Social Contract
-Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle
What is justice and how is it achieved?
-Ancient World Justice
-Modern World Justice
-Equality, Identity and issues of perfect Justice
Unit 6: Grab Bag
In this unit, you will be given the opportunity to study any topic of your choosing. Mr. Harnish will explain more throughout the year; essentially, this will be your final project for philosophy. It is open-ended. Any topic covered throughout the year and many topics not covered may be chosen as your “Grab Bag” project.