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This course is an introduction to philosophy for first year college students. It is required by Marquette University because this is the perfect time in your life for developing reasoning skills and to reflect seriously on the nature of reasoning and morality. The tools I will use to teach are the course syllabus, assigned texts, and skills I have developed over many years of teaching at MU. But teaching is a two-way street. It is an activity on my part but the activity is actualized in you.
On this sheet I need you to tell me about you and your interests and aspirations. Each of you has inborn curiosity and a desire to learn to fulfill yourself. The more you share with me, the better I can help you in this class and in your own personal search for meaning and fulfillment in your college studies and experiences. I ask you to provide your responses to the following questions for me to begin the process of understanding you.
Confidentiality: Your response to items 9 & 10 are wholly confidential. I will share it with no one. The same is true of item 4.
1. Last Name, First Name, preferred nickname if any
2. What is your age?
3. Where are you from?
4. Provide one fun fact about yourself.
5. Program or Major(s) at MU or Undecided
6. Since I was 15 I’ve been interested in philosophy before I knew what it was. In college I wanted to study psychology but the course was too popular so freshmen were not permitted to enroll until second year. Instead I took a philosophy course and discovered that is what I wanted. What ideas or events have influenced your thought about your choice or ideas of a major?
7. What is your favorite or best movie choice and what is your least favorite or worst movie choice?
8. What 1 or 2 movies do you think I should watch?
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Back of sheet: confidential information
9. Is there anything you want to share with me, confidential or otherwise?
10. So you have this thing called “a life.” On the back of the sheet of paper take some time to tell me about yourself and also about what you want to do with your remaining 60-80 years. Don’t think deeply and reflectively. We can do that later in the course. Just provide your immediately felt response. Write at least 4-5 sentences.