Cincinnati Christian University
Foster School of Biblical Studies, Arts & Sciences
PHIL 210 – Introduction to Philosophy (3 Semester Hours)
Clifton Bailey Fall Semester 2013
Email: Thursdays 3:20pm – 6:00pm
Phone: 513-680-8153
Course Syllabus
DESCRIPTION: An introduction to the topics of truth, knowledge, reality and ethics, aimed at providing a foundation in philosophy for the study of Christian apologetics and theology.
RATIONALE: To understand the philosophical premises that structure modern thought, society and religion, students must be made aware of the differing programs of thought that compete for primacy within today’s marketplace of ideas.
OBJECTIVES: The student will…
· Be able to recognize, critique and explain the various philosophers and schools of philosophy within their respective historical contexts.
· Understand the various divergences, interplays and relationships between Christian theology and western philosophy.
· Develop the ability to critique various schools of thought from a Christian viewpoint.
· Develop analytical reading, writing, and listening skills.
· Understand the philosophical and theological origins, strengths and potential weaknesses of various arguments within Christian apologetics.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Attendance – Absences are strongly discouraged. Excessive absences will result in the lowering of the student’s grade and the need to take the final exam.
2. Take notes on all class lectures and participate in classroom discussions and activities.
3. End of Class Journal Entries – at the end of each class, the student will have ten minutes to reflect on the material covered that day in the lectures. These are to be personal analyses. What did you like and why? What did you disagree with and why? In what ways are you skeptical? Can you take something covered in class and build upon it – take it to the next level? What are the implications of some of the material covered in class? After the ten minutes expires, students will be called out randomly to share what they wrote. There are 15 classes and 15 Journal Entries. Each will be worth 1% of the final grade, 15% collectively.
4. Book Reflection Journals – At the beginning of each class the student has ten to twelve minutes to write a journal reflection covering the reading assigned for that week. The student will write on three things. First, during the week, the student will have composed a philosophical question concerning the reading. The student is to write one paragraph that answers that question (the professor will be filtering these questions and will replace or refine a question if he deems it appropriate). Next, the student will write a one paragraph summary of the reading that attempts to cover the essence of the content. Finally, the student is to write one paragraph of personal response to the reading. What are your thoughts? What did you agree or disagree with? What struck you about the material? The student is encouraged to take study notes, however, in this exercise the notes will not be allowed to assist the student. The Book Reflection Journals are 5 points apiece and there is one for every class after the first. These will be graded upon the following standards:
Accuracy of Information – 2 points
Cogency of Response – 1 point
Strength of Question – 2 points
Creativity of Response – 1 point
5. Final Examination – The Final Exam will be the last day of class and will be comprehensive. The class prior to the Final Exam will be partially devoted to reviewing for the exam and explaining what to expect. All students that are present every class from beginning to end will be exempt from the Final Exam and be provided a take-home exam in its place.
GRADING PROCEDURE: Letter grades will be determined in accordance with the percentages
listed in the college catalog. Individual grades will be based on the following criteria:
a. End of Class Journal Entries 15%
b. Book Reflection Journals 70%
f. Final Examination 15%
CLASS GUIDELINES:
1. Arrive in class prior to the start of class and be prepared for class work (have paper, pens, etc.).
2. It is your responsibility to mark the attendance sheet. If you do not sign it on the day of the class, you will be marked absent (do not come to me the next day and tell me you were present but have been marked absent).
3. Students who leave class early (without permission from the professor) will be marked absent.
4. Be attentive in class. Sleeping, talking, and/or disturbances of any kind will not be tolerated (you will be marked absent for the day). Excessive inappropriate activities will result in the lowering of your grade or failure in the class.
5. Using computers (or other electronic devices) in class for anything other than taking notes will result in an unexcused absence.
6. Do not leave trash, papers, or debris in this classroom (keep the classroom clean!).
7. Turn in all papers on the assigned dates. No late work will be accepted. In emergency situations, the professor may grant a one-week extension, but only upon student request. No assignments will be accepted after the extension.
8. Turn off all cell phones before the start of class.
9. Contact the professor if you have problems, need additional clarification of information, require help with the course requirements, or seek some other form of assistance. Contact information is on the top of this syllabus.
Reading and Course Schedule*
- August -
29) – Content: Go over Syllabus; Introduction to Philosophy
Reading: None
- September -
5) – Content: Vocabulary, The Pre-Socratics, The Elementalists, Ontology
Reading: Plato - Euthyphro
12) – Content: Ontology; (Heraclitus & Parminides), Introduction to Socrates & Plato
Reading: Plato - Apology
19) – Content:Lecture and Discussion on The Republic
Reading: Plato - Phaedo
26) – Content: Metaphysics; Seneca and the Stoics, Epicurus & the Epicureans
Reading: Tolstoy Ch. 1-5
- October -
10) – Content: Plotinus & Neo-Platonism, Paul, Jesus & Christianity
Reading: Tolstoy Ch.. 6-10
17) – Content: Theology in the Medieval Period; Augustine, Boethius, Pseudo-Dionysus, Meister Eckhart, Aquinas, Via Moderna V. Via Antiqua
Reading: Tolstoy Ch. 11-16
24) – Content: Introduction to the Renaissance; Pico della Mirandola, the Reformation, Copernican Principle, Galileo, Intro to Descartes
Reading: Nietzsche Ch. 1-5
31) – Content: Epistemology; Descartes & Rationalism, Locke & Empiricism
Reading:Nietzsche Ch. 6-10
- November -
7) – Content: Epistemology to Political Philosophy; Locke & Jefferson (Locke & Campbell) Rousseau & Naturalism, Hobbes & Monarchy, Hegel & Idealism, Marx & Communism, Adam Smith & Capitalism
Reading: Nietzsche Ch. 11-15
14) – Content: Epistemology to Ethics; Kant and Encroachment/Antinomies, Kant and Deontology, Wittgenstein & Logical Positivism, Atheism
Reading: Nietzsche Ch. 16-20
21) – Content: Existentialism - Tolstoy, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Wittgenstein, Barth, Buber
Reading: Pirsig Ch. 1-5
28) - (Thanksgiving Break)
- December -
5) – Content: Postmodernism – Kuhn & Science, Lindbeck & Post-Liberalism, Milbank & Radical Orthodoxy, Derrida & Post-Structuralism
Reading: Pirsig Ch. 6-10
12) - Content: Final Lecture and Exam Review
Reading: Pirsig Ch. 11-15
19) - Final Examination
*The Professor reserves the right to make any changes to the Course Schedule that he deems necessary.
“Only God is wise… the wisdom of men is little or nothing.” – Socrates
“For the wisdom of this world is folly with God.” – Paul