Description and Objectives

This course will present to students the highlights of western philosophical thought extending from the pre-Socratics in the 7-6th century B.C., through contemporary philosophers of the 21st century.

The goal of the course will be to offer students a thematic presentation of western philosophical ideas, with an emphasis upon how the themes seem to re-present themselves throughout history.

Textbooks

• Multiple handouts/timelines sourced from texts & websites

Course Requirements

 

1. Quizzes (60% of the total/quarter): these will occur each Thursday (the day before, if ‘floater’ hits the course).
   1. If a student happens to miss the regularly scheduled quiz on Thursday for a legitimate health, personal, or familial reason, that particular quiz must be made up beforethe following Thursday (i.e. within 7 days).If the student does not take the initiative via email to establish a time/day so as to make-up with the quiz within that time, the score reverts to a “0”.
2. Tests (40% of the total/quarter): there will be two (2) tests each quarter.

One extra-credit assignment is offered toward the conclusion of each quarter.

Successful Students

The hallmark of any academically successful student is diligence.  In our circumstances, it is a “forward leaning” disposition towards academic work – its care and completion.

The acquisition of this virtue should be highly sought-after for its applicability not only to academic studies, but a host of non-academic contexts throughout one’s life.

Students can even have little interest in a given subject — even philosophy — but still exhibit a diligence toward assignments or in tackling course difficulties, and yet remain academically successful within the course.

Additional Resources

https://plato.stanford.edu