PHIL 101

PHIL 101: Introduction to Philosophy: Values and Society
Instructor: Jack Zupko

Course Description
This course will introduce you to Philosophy by studying and discussing what great philosophers have said about the good life and the ideal society.  Beginning with Plato, we will consider such questions as: What is the best life for us?  How do we know what is good?  Should we seek pleasure above truth?  Is it better to be actually trustworthy, or merely to have the reputation for it?  Are people basically good, or evil?  What obligations do we have to each other?  How should society be organized? Should the government try to reduce inequality and help its citizens become better persons?  

There are no prerequisites for the course – just an open, inquiring mind and a willingness to discuss these important questions with others.

Course Objectives and Expected Learning Outcomes 

You will gain knowledge of some of the key texts and foundational ethical questions of western civilization, deepening your understanding of today’s moral issues.  You will sharpen your argumentative skills as you engage with authors such as Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Immanuel Kant, John Stuart Mill, and Simone de Beauvoir, discussing their ideas with your instructor, TAs, and peers.  Finally, you will learn how to read, analyze, and critique a philosophical text through the writing assignments and take-home exams.

At the end of this course, you should be able to:

  1. Read and comprehend classical or contemporary philosophical texts in ethics and political philosophy.
  2. Define and explain key concepts in ethics and political philosophy, such as goodness, virtue, natural law, duty, imperative, utility, maxim, natural right, hedonism, relativism, ideology, alienation, and oppression.
  3. Identify and explain key features of ethical and political theories such as virtue ethics, social contract theory, deontology, utilitarianism, Marxism, and feminism.
  4. Examine, compare, and critically evaluate ethical and political theories such as virtue ethics, social contract theory, deontology, utilitarianism, Marxism, and feminism 
  5. Write a well-organized and well-reasoned argumentative paper, which includes a clear thesis statement, an argument supporting the thesis statement, an objection, and a response to the objection.
  6. Defend a position orally and in writing using philosophical reasons and arguments, and avoiding fallacies such as begging the question, equivocation, appeal to emotion, ad hominem, strawman, and false dilemma. 

Course Format

Under normal circumstances, this course would consist of two large lecture classes with the instructor on Mondays and Wednesdays, followed by smaller group discussions with your teaching assistant on Fridays.  But these are not normal circumstances.  Instead, you will be asked to view a lecture by the instructor each week, pre-recorded in 10-15 minute segments, in preparation for a ‘live’ discussion class with your teaching assistant on Fridays. Some Friday discussion sections will take place in person on campus, others will be held remotely on Zoom. Check beartracks when you enroll for details. The instructor will also hold regular weekly office hours that you can visit in person.

Textbooks

There are no assigned textbooks for the course and no class materials to buy.   Readings for each week are available in the public domain and will be linked to the course syllabus. 

Course Requirements

Your grade for the course will be based on two short papers (25% each), a final take-home examination (30%), reading questions (10%), and participation (10%).