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Phil 1001-131 Detailed Syllabus
Syllabus Part 2 of 2: Detailed Course Syllabus
TU 26 Aug: (i) My brain and how I want to help to develop student brains, brain size and other heady brain issues (Brain Anatomy and How the Brain Works and more); (ii) Heraclitus; (iii) Introduction to the course & its syllabus; (iv) Note taking (note sheets); (v) Preview: Plato’s Apology and outlining arguments. For next class: (i) Study Plato’s Apology: Text with audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZhloHrVlZM; Text only: https://classics.mit.edu/Plato/apology.html. For fun: “Craving brains and hangry: Zombie behavior demystified by scientists”
TH 28 Aug: (i) discussion of Apology & Student Notes Sheets; (ii) the value of outlines; (iii) sample quiz. For next class: (i) Read 10 Common Logical Fallacies Everyone Should Know and make up your own list of one example of each of the 10 fallacies; (ii) Plato’s Crito: Text of Crito with audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z10lSBGlP94; Text only: https://ia802207.us.archive.org/8/items/plato_the_crito/plato_the_crito.pdf or https://classics.mit.edu/Plato/crito.htm
TU 2 Sept (i) Discussion of 10 Common Logical Fallacies Everyone Should Know and students’ own list of examples; (ii) Discussion of Plato’s Crito; (iii) outlining the Crito; (iv) complete the Student Note Sheets but this time on the back of the sheet explain what you would do, flee Athens or stay for the punishment. Give at least 3 reasons for your decision. For next class: (i) Read Republic Book 1 and prepare Student Note Sheets; (ii) and optionally watch: Argument by Analogy.
TH 4 Sept (i) Republic Book 1, Student Notes Sheets; (ii) Preview Republic Book 2.
TU 9 Sept (i) Republic Book 2, Student Notes Sheets; (ii) Preview Republic Book 3.
TH 11 Sept (i) Republic Book 3, Student Notes Sheets; (ii) Preview Republic Book 4.
TU 16 Sept (i) Republic Book 4, Student Notes Sheets; (ii) Preview Republic Book 5.
TH 18 Sept (i) Republic Book 5, Student Notes Sheets; (ii) Preview Republic Book 6.
TU 23 Sept (i) Republic Book 6, Student Notes Sheets; (ii) Lecture on Republic Book 6.
TH 25 Sept (i) Republic Book 7, Student Notes Sheets; (ii) Preview Republic Book 8.
TU 30 Sept (i) Quiz 4 on Republic 8; (ii) (ii) Preview Republic Book 9.
TH 2 Oct (i) Republic Book 9, Student Notes Sheets; (ii) Preview Republic Book 10.
TU 7 Oct (i) Republic Book 10, Student Notes Sheets; (ii) Preview on Exam 1
TH 9 Oct (i) Exam 1
TU 14 Oct Exams discussed and returned
TH 16 Oct: Undergrad Fall Break. No class.
TU 21 Oct: Prof. Taylor away. No class. (i) Read Augustine, On Free Choice of the Will book 1 and watch this video lecture by Prof. Greg Sadler. You can access the book as a free download via Marqcat by searching for Augustine: On the Free Choice of the Will, On Grace and Free Choice, and Other Writings, by Peter King. If you have problems, ask for help at the Raynor Library Circulation Desk. (ii) Also watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCGtkDzELAI. For next class: On Free Choice of the Will, book 2, and Student Note Sheets
TH 23 Oct (i) Augustine, On Free Choice of the Will book 2; (ii) Discussion of what free will is in St Augustin; and (iii) an introduction to Deontology and Immanuel Kant For next class: Read the “First Section” of Kant’s Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals. Go to Raynor Library online Marqcat and search for Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals: With an Updated Translation, Introduction, and Notes by Allen W. Wood. Download this book. Read Only The First Section. [Do NOT read the Preface. Only Section 1.] (ii) Watch this helper: Link; (iii) Then watch this video lecture: Link.
TU 28 Oct: Absolute value: (i) Kantian Deontology: Absolute value, Section 1. (ii) Student Notes Sheets due.
TH 30 Oct: (i) Kantian Deontology: Section Two of Kant’s work is tough going and you are welcome to download it and read it, but I will not require it. But I have a 28 minute video on it for you: Link. You should watch it twice because it is hard thinking and you should take notes. We will discuss Kant in class in greater detail.
TU 4 Nov Relative value: (i) J. S. Mill, Utilitarianism, I recommend you read Chapter 1 (Link), but I require you to read Ch. 2 (Link); (ii) also watch these two videos: Taylor (Link) and Crash Course Phil (Link).
TH 6 Nov: Exam 2 (20%) on Augustine, Kant and Mill. Information on the exam forthcoming.
TU 11 Nov: (i) Exam returned; (ii) Introduction to Aristotle.
TH 13 Nov: (i) Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics: Video lecture. This lecture is 49 minutes long. I recommend that you take a break in the middle. That will help you focus better. And I require that you watch it twice and (ii) do your notes sheet on this.
TU 18 Nov: Three Topics: (i) Moral Relativism (video Link 1 and video Link 2) and (ii) Ethical Egoism (video Link). (Hint: Key notions are the kinds of Egoism [Psychological, Ethical, Rational] And the kinds of Moral Relativism [Descriptive, Metaethical, Cultural].)
TH 20 Nov: Thomas Aquinas and Natural Law Ethics
TU 25 Nov: Further discussion of Natural Law Ethics. If you will not be attending class, watch these videos: (i) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_UfYY7aWKo; (ii) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjlmnqcJuO8.
TH 27 Nov: Thanksgiving. No class.
TU 2 Dec: No Morality: Jean-Paul Sartre, “Existentialism is a Humanism” (1946), available at Link. Student Note Sheets due. Preview Singer.
TH 4 Dec: Uncomfortable Morality: Peter Singer, “Famine, Affluence, and Morality,” Philosophy & Public Affairs, Spring, 1972, Vol. 1, No. 3 (Spring, 1972), pp. 229-243. How to get this article: (i) Go to Marqcat and search for the journal “Philosophy & Public Affairs;” (ii) Scroll to the 1970s section and open it; (iii) select the article for download. Student Notes Sheets due.
2 May Final class review and discussion of final exam.
8 Dec: (Monday) 10:30-12:30 in regular classroom.