Philosophy 107 F11: Schedule and Syllabus

Philosophy 107: Reflections on Human Nature

Fall 2011

CRN 95862 MW 5-6:20 PM Location: H-104

 

Instructor Information  

Dr. Ian M. Duckles
Email: imduckles@gmail.com
Office Hours: By Appointment

Course Objectives: This course explores the issues and problems exemplified in process of meaningful philosophical activity relating to the topic of human nature. Studies in this course survey representative theories and philosophical reflections relating to the notions of human nature, the individual person, and human characteristics in general. Material for this survey may be drawn from classical and contemporary thinkers; scientific and religious orientations. Students are encouraged to engage in independent research, analysis and formulation.

Texts: This course has one required and one recommended text. The required text is:

The Study of Human Nature: A Reader 2nd Edition. Edited by Leslie Stevenson. Oxford University Press, 2000.

 The recommended text is:

Ten Theories of Human Nature 5th Edition. Leslie Stevenson and David L. Haberman. Oxford University Press, 2009.

Assignments: Your grade in the course will be based on your performance on four types of assignments:

  1. Weekly Quizzes: Almost every Monday there will be a quiz at the beginning of class on the material we covered the previous week. These quizzes will collectively be worth 20% of your grade. These quizzes cannot be made-up if missed.
  2. Class Participation: This is worth 10% of your grade and is based on attendance and participation in class activities. Student who are very tardy or who leave early will be considered absent.
  3. Exams: There will be three exams. The first two exams  are worth 15% each. The final exam on the last day of class is worth 20%.
  4. Essay: This is worth 20% of your grade and is due on the last day of class. In addition to the final draft, there are a number of pre-writing assignments. These will be ungraded, but failure to complete them will result in an F on the essay. More details on this assignment will be announced in class.

Grade Scale:

        ≥ 90 = A
        ≥ 80 = B
        ≥ 70 = C
        ≥ 60 = D
        < 60 = F

Academic Integrity and Conduct: Miramar College students are bound by the Student Code of Conduct, Policy 3100.  In this course, cheating, plagiarism, disruptions of instructional activity, fraud and/or lying will result in, at a minimum, a grade of “F” for the assignment/test with no make up permitted.  Any of these infractions may result in an “F” for the course as well and formal disciplinary action by the Dean of Student Affairs as described in the code (as published in the catalog or online).

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities who may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and DSPS. DSPS can be found at http://www.sdmiramar.edu/stu_svcs/dsps/index.asp or they can be contacted by phone at 619-388-7312.

Schedule

All readings can be found in The Study of Human Nature: A Reader 2nd Edition. Edited by Leslie Stevenson. Oxford University Press, 2000. Page numbers refer to this edition. Reading assignments are subject to change and are expected to be completed for the day on which they are assigned.

Week 1

Monday, August 22: Introduction
Wednesday, August 22: The Old Testament, pp. 1-8.

Week 2

August 29: Hinduism, pp. 9-21.
August 31: Confucianism, pp. 22-33.

Week 3

September 5: NO CLASS
September 7: Plato, pp. 34-55.

Week 4

September 12: Extra Day
September 14: Extra Day

Week 5

September 19: Watch Film in class, The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)
September 21: Discuss Film

Week 6

September 26: Review
September 28: Midterm 1

Week 7

October 3: Descartes, pp. 84-97.
October 5: Descartes Continued.

Week 8

October 10: Hobbes, pp. 90-97.
October 12: Extra Day

Week 9

October 17:Hume, pp. 98-108.
October 19: Darwin, pp. 162-168

Week 10

October 24: Marx, pp. 139-152.
October 26: Marx Continued

Week 11

October 31: Sartre, pp. 185-206.
November 2: Sartre Continued

Week 12

November 7: Watch Film in Class: Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai (1999)
November 9: Discuss Film

Week 13

November 14: Review for Exam
November 16: Second Midterm

Week 14: NO CLASS, ENJOY THANKSGIVING

Week 15

November 28: Watch Film in Class: eXistenZ (1999)
November 30: Watch Film in Class: eXistenZ (1999) Please read through the following two articles for our discussion: Download  Download

Week 16

December 5: Continue and Discuss Film
December 7: In-class peer editing

Week 17

December 12: Final Review
December 14: Final Draft of Essay Due; Final Exam

TEN TIPS FOR SUCCESS IN THIS COURSE (Thanks to Professor June Yang):

  1. Be optimistic about your ability to learn from the textbook, the instructor, and each other.
  2. Do all homework. It will be collected every time, and spot-checked.
  3. Do all assigned reading.
  4. If you find you fall behind in your understanding, contact the instructor.
  5. Be prepared to spend at least two hours per hour spent in class in order to master this material. If you do not, you probably will not receive a grade of C or better.
  6. Have confidence in your ability to do the work.
  7. Use all resources at your disposal.
  8. Remember that you are gifted with more education and intelligence than many persons on this planet. If you try, you are sure to get it, or at least most of it!
  9. Remember that we are all here to learn.
  10. Remember that you are being trained, or acquiring a skill. Studying, like anything else, is a craft, i.e. an activity. No one is born a good student; we must all transform ourselves into excellent students.
Comments