COURSE SYLLABUS—SAMPLE
PHL180 History of Philosophy—Online
Indiana Wesleyan University
2016 Summer Session 2
7.5.16-8.5.16
Scott R. Burson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Philosophical Theology
Indiana Wesleyan University
Course Description
A study of philosophy within the major western historical periods with primary consideration being given to outstanding thinkers and trends of thought such as Rationalism, Empiricism, Idealism, Realism, Existentialism and Naturalism. Key issues such as Skepticism, Faith and Reason, Science and Religion, Free Will and Determinism, the Problem of Evil, the Problem of Exclusivity, Arguments for God, and the Modern to Postmodern Shift will be explored.
Course Outcomes: By the end of the course, you should:
1. be able to describe the basic categories, periods, names, theories and issues of western
philosophy.
2. be able to identify and explain the primary theistic and atheistic philosophical arguments.
3. be able to spot philosophical assumptions embedded in various expressions of
contemporary culture.
Required Textbooks
Schenck, Kenneth. A Christian Philosophical Journey. Marion, Ind.: Triangle Publishing, 2014.
Sire, James. The Universe Next Door. 5th ed. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2009.
Course Requirements
1. Reading: A Christian Philosophical Journey and The Universe Next Door should be read in their entirety. Reading assignments can be found at the beginning of each workshop.
2. Workshops: Full participation in all workshop assignments is expected.
3. Online Quizzes and Final Exam: Students will take five quizzes and a comprehensive final exam.
Assessments
Students will be evaluated according to several assessment methods (see below). The introduction page to each workshop provides an outline of all of the assessments that will be used for that particular workshop. Due dates are provided for each assignment to spread out the assignments over the course of the workshop. Students should attempt to stick to these due dates in order to keep a proper pacing throughout the course. Discussion board posts are firmly due on the date listed in the workshop outline. Since discussion board posts entail interaction with classmates and the professor, these assignments must be completed in a timely fashion. While journal responses (and extended journal responses) have an assigned date you will have until the final day of that particular workshop to submit your work.
1. Quizzes (4 x 20 points; 1 x 15 points) = 95 points
2. Final Exam = 150 points
3. Discussion Board Posts (14 x 20 points) = 280 points
4. Journal Responses (13 x 25 points) = 325 points
5. Extended Journal Response (3 x 50 points) = 150 points
6. Total = 1,000 points
Grade Scale
930-1000 ...... A
900-929 ...... A-
870-899 ...... B+
830-869 ...... B
800-829 ...... B-
770-799 ...... C+
730-769………...C
700-729………...C-
670-699………...D+
600-669………...D
599 below………F
Late Policy
Assignments should be submitted by 5 p.m. (student local time) on the due date. Late submissions will be marked down two points for each day that the assignment is late.
Workshops
Workshop One (7.5.16-7.9.16)
This initial workshop will introduce you to the nature of philosophy and explore whether or not philosophy is a Christian pursuit. All people are philosophers, because we all deal with philosophical questions. Not everyone will become a professional philosopher, but we all wrestle with the questions of philosophy and seek to think clearly. So the question is not whether or not we will do philosophy, but rather will we do philosophy well? Learning how to think clearly by analyzing, assessing, and presenting reasoned arguments is a valuable skill that will serve you well as a student and in your future career.
Workshop One Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this workshop you should be able to:
1. Identify the major eras and thinkers in the history of western philosophy.
2. Explain what it means to be a philosopher, as well as the benefit of philosophical thinking.
3. Articulate how philosophy stands at the core of the other subjects you are studying in college.
4. Identify the three major branches of philosophy.
5. Recognize the similarities and differences between Christian and Islamic Theism.
6. Identify the main philosophical teaching of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.
7. Recognize the arguments different Christian writers have made concerning the value of
philosophy.
8. Articulate the basic worldview questions as presented inThe Universe Next Door.
9. Explain how I Peter 3:15-16 supports a holistic approach to Christian apologetics.
Workshop One Resources
· Kenneth Schenck,A Christian Philosophical Journey(Marion, Ind.: Triangle, 2014), Chapters 1 and 2
· James W. Sire,The Universe Next Door(5th ed.; Downers Grove, Ill.: IVP, 2009), Chapters 1, 2 and 10
· Video: "Workshop One Instructor Greeting"
· Video: "History of Western Philosophy 1"
· Video: "History of Western Philosophy 2"
· Video: "Why Philosophy?"
· Video: "Pat Robertson and Haiti"
· Video: "Gary Cass on Islam"
· Video: "Brian McLaren on Christian-Islamic Relations"
· Video: "The Dark Knight and the Leap of Faith"
· Powerpoint/Video: "Holistic Apologetics"
· Powerpoint/Video: "Faith-Reason Continuum"
Workshop One Outline
Title / Type / Due Dates / Time / Points1.1 / Chs 1 and 2 inCPJ; Chs 1, 2 and 10 inUND; and "Instructor Greeting" video. / "Instructor Greeting" video and reading / Tuesday, 7.5.16 / 2.5 hours / 0
1.2 / A Brief History of Western Philosophy / Video Lecture /
Tuesday, 7.5.16 / 0.5 hour / 0
1.3 / Why Philosophy? / Discussion Board / Tuesday, 7.5.16 / 1.0 hour / 20
1.4 / Questions of Philosophy / Journal Response / Wednesday, 7.6.16 / 1.5 hour / 25
1.5 / Good and Bad Apologetics / Journal Response / Thursday, 7.7.16 / 1.0 hour / 25
1.6 / Christian and Islamic Theism / Discussion Board / Friday, 7.8.16 / 1.0 hour / 20
1.7 / Faith and Reason / Journal Response / Saturday, 7.9.16 / 1.5 hours / 25
1.8 / Quiz 1 / Online Quiz / Saturday, 7.9.16 / 0.5 hours / 20
Totals / 9.5 hours* / 135
*These timings are based on estimations of average times to complete each assignment. Actual assignment completion times will vary.
Workshop Two(7.9.16-7.13.16)
The second workshop will introduce you to the philosophy of knowledge or, more technically, epistemology. No matter what academic major you are currently pursuing, learning how to think clearly is an important skill. It is likewise a critical skill in our personal lives. Just think how impressed your roommate will be when you tell him during a disagreement that he is committing the informal fallacy of equivocation! Consequently, the study of knowledge is a highly practical matter. This workshop also will consider three tests for determining truth in any given situation. The three tests for truth are correspondence, coherence, and pragmatic in nature. You will also learn about the primary epistemological schools of thought: Rationalism and Empiricism, along with Immanuel Kant's attempt to find a balance between these two extreme positions.
Workshop Two Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this workshop you should be able to:
1. Distinguish the main differences between deductive and inductive reasoning.
2. Recognize the informal fallacies discussed in this workshop.
3. Identify the primary parts of a syllogism.
4. Recognize the key events and contributions of Aristotle.
5. Describe the correspondence, coherence, and pragmatic tests for truth.
6. Articulate the roles that the Bible, reason, tradition, and experience can play in the pursuit
of truth.
7. Recognize the key differences between rationalism and empiricism.
8. Identify important rationalists and empiricists.
9. Identify Immanuel Kant's attempted solution to bridge the rationalist-empiricist divide.
10. Explain how a holistic approach to Christian apologetics includes engagement of the mind.
Workshop Two Resources
· Kenneth Schenck,A Christian Philosophical Journey(Marion, Ind.: Triangle, 2014), Chapters 3 and 4
· Video: "Workshop Two Instructor Greeting"
· Video: "Five Fallacies"
· Video: "Seinfeld: JTB 1"
· Video: "Seinfeld: JTB 2"
· Powerpoint/Video: "Justified True Belief"
Workshop Two Outline
2.1 / Chs 3 and 4 inCPJ;"21 Lessons," pp. 250-53; and "Instructor Greeting" video / "Instructor Greeting" video and reading / Saturday, 7.9.16 / 1.5 hours / 0
2.2 / Thinking in Two Directions / Discussion Board /
Sunday, 7.10.16 / 1 hour / 20
2.3 / Fallacies / Journal Response / Sunday, 7.10.16 / 1.5 hours / 25
2.4 / Testing Truth / Journal Response / Monday, 7.11.16 / 1.5 hours / 25
2.5 / Justified True
Belief / Journal Response / Tuesday, 7.12.16 / 2 hours / 25
2.6 / The Bible and Truth /
Discussion Board / Wednesday, 7.13.16 / 1 hour / 20
2.7 / Quiz 2 / Online Quiz / Wednesday, 7.13.16 / 0.5 hours / 15
Totals / 9 hours* / 130
Workshop Three (7.14.16-7.18.16)
The first half of workshop three will explore the primary arguments that philosophers have used and continue to use when offering evidence and proof of God's existence. These arguments come in a variety of shapes and forms. The second half of this workshop will look at one of the stiffest challenges to belief in God, namely, the problem of evil. Atheists often question how an all-powerful, perfectly good God could allow evil to exist in the world. But atheists are not the only people vexed by this problem. People of all faiths, including Christians, recognize the force of this problem not only intellectually, but existentially, as well. This workshop will seek to consider some of the more promising attempts to engage this challenging problem.
Workshop Three Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this workshop you should be able to:
1. Explain the main strengths and weaknesses of external arguments for God.
2. Explain the main strengths and weaknesses of internal arguments for God.
3. Explain the main strengths and weaknesses of historical arguments for God.
4. Explain the main strengths and weaknesses of pragmatic arguments for God.
5. Discuss the value of cumulative case reasoning.
6. Identify proper and improper uses of Pascal's Wager.
7. Note the different categories of pain, suffering, and evil that exist in the world.
8. Explain the primary strengths and weaknesses of the primary theodicies.
9. Discuss the connection between theological assumptions and the problem of evil.
10. Identify the primary contours of St. Augustine's theological and philosophical teaching.
Workshop Three Resources
· Kenneth Schenck,A Christian Philosophical Journey(Marion, Ind.: Triangle, 2014), Chapters 5 and 6
· Video: "Mr. Deity and Evil"
· Video: "Workshop Three Instructor Greeting"
· Video: "The Blasphemy Challenge"
· Video: "Hitchens Speech"
· Video: "Craig vs. Hitchens"
· Video: "Christopher Hitchens Makes a Shocking Confession"
· Video: "Thomas Morris-Pascal's Wager"
· Video: "Lucy's Trilemma"
· Video: "Free Will Theodicy"
· Powerpoint/Video: "The Trilemma"
Workshop Three Outline
3.1 / Chs 5 and 6 inCPJand "Instructor Greeting" video. / "Instructor Greeting" video and reading / Thursday, 7.14.16 / 1.5 hours / 0
3.2 / The New Atheism / Discussion Board /
Friday, 7.15.16 / 2.0 hours / 20
3.3 / The Trilemma / Powerpoint/Video / Saturday, 7.16.16 / 0.5 hour / 0
3.4 / Arguments for God / Journal Response / Saturday, 7.16.16 / 3.0 hours / 25
3.5 / Tornadoes and the Finger of God / Discussion Board / Sunday, 7.17.16 / 1.0 hour / 20
3.6 / Free Will Defense / Journal Response / Sunday, 7.17.16 / 1.5 hours / 25
3.7 / Counseling a Friend / Journal Response / Monday, 7.18.16 / 1.0 hours / 25
3.8 / Quiz 3 / Online Quiz / Monday, 7.18.16 / 0.5 hours / 20
Totals / 11.0 hours* / 135
Workshop Four(7.19.16-7.23.16)
In the fourth workshop, you will explore the nature of reality and the philosophy of science. In philosophical terms, this workshop will engage two aspects of metaphysics: first, ontology, which is the nature of existence, and second, cosmology, which is the nature of the universe. Francis Schaeffer, one of the leading Christian apologists of the 20th century, called these two domains "the universe and its form" (cosmology) and "the mannishness of man" (ontology). Not surprisingly, there are many different metaphysical theories. In this workshop, we will consider questions like: Is the world made of one substance (monism) or are there two kinds of reality (dualism)? If the world is monistic in nature is the basic substance material or immaterial? Can everything be explained in naturalistic terms or is there a supernatural dimension to reality, as well? Does God exist, and, if so, what are the divine attributes? Is reality something that humans construct or is reality out there objectively existing and waiting to be discovered? What is the relationship between objectivity and subjectivity in the scientific process? Do Christians have to choose between the Bible on the one hand and evolution on the other? These are just a few of the questions we will explore in this workshop.
Workshop Four Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this workshop you should be able to:
1. Identify prominent materialists and non-materialists in the history of philosophy.
2.Explain the primary contours of Plato's philosophical teaching.
3. Associate the primary Pre-Socratic or natural philosophers with their contribution
to philosophy.
4. Identify the contours of the deistic, naturalistic and pantheistic visions of reality.
5. Compare and contrast Christian Theism and Naturalism.
6. Distinguish between Scottish Commonsense Realism, Pragmatic Realism, and
Critical Realism.
7. Articulate the different viewpoints that Christians hold on the theories of evolution,
intelligent design, and creationism.
8. Identify the main features and proponents of the scientific method.
9. Define the classical attributes of God.
10. Explain how paradigm shifts advance scientific insight.
Workshop Four Resources
· Kenneth Schenck,A Christian Philosophical Journey(Marion, Ind.: Triangle, 2014), Chapters 7 and 8
· James W. Sire,The Universe Next Door(5th ed.; Downers Grove, Ill.: IVP, 2009), Chapters 3 and 4
· Video: "Workshop Four Instructor Greeting"
· Video: "The Matrix"
· Video: "Inception Trailer"
· Video: "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed"
· Video: "The Evolution of Friends"
Workshop Four Outline