introduction to philsophy

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The Lebanese International University

PHIL 200 Introduction to Philosophy

Course Instructor: Abir A. Chaaban

Course Schedule: T Th.12:30-13:45

Section: ARoom: 204-E

Campus: Nabatiyeh

Office Hour: Tuesday 11:00-12:00

Course Objective

This course examines assesses and contrasts major philosophical theories and problems.This is an introductory course for students who have no background in philosophy. The

course aims to develop students’ skills in ar guing and defending their view bout a

specific philosophical problem, understand and discuss philosophical theories and

problems. The course will discuss philosophy of religion, the theory of knowledge, logic,

political philosophy, philosophy of mind, determinism and the freedom of will and ethics.

Learning Outcomes:At the end of this course the student shall be able to:

Analyze a theoretical position and argument and present a counter argument.

Understand inductive and deductive reasoning.

Identify logical fallacies.

Compare and contrast philosophical theories and problems within the major fieldsof philosophy: Philosophy of Religion, Knowledge, Political Philosophy andEthics.

Write a paper on a philosophical problem using reason to defend a thesis.

Required ReadingsInstructor will provide students with a photocopy of the required readings, and where

possible the internet link to the reading on line.

Using the websites provided in the course schedule below and “ Internet Sources”students should study about philosophers and theories discussed in class.

Readings are taken from:Louis P. Pojman. Lewis Vaughn, Philosophy, the Quest for Truth, Seventh Edition,

Oxford University Press.

Internet SourcesStanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, http://plato.stanford.edu/

Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy http://www.iep.utm.edu/

Grading scheme:

Attendance 10%

Participation 20%

http://plato.stanford.edu/



http://www.iep.utm.edu/








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Midterm 20%

Paper 20%

Final Exam 30%

Participation: Each student is expected to prepare at least three points that will start a

class discussion on the philosophical problem or theory discussed in class. These pointsare related to the discussion questions at the beginning of the assigned readings.

Paper: The paper tests your ability to present a well reasoned argument in defense of athesis on given philosophical problem or theory. Further information about this

assignment will be provided in class and during office hours as needed.

Mid Term and Final Exam: The mid-term test and the final exam will test your

knowledge on the material read in the book and your ability to answer two essay

questions representing your views on the matter.

The Student will take four essay questions home to prepare for the exam which will bebased on the readings below. Three questions will appear in the exam where the student

will answer two questions out of three.

Course Schedule

What is Philosophy October, 6, 11, 13, 18

Required Readings

SocratesFirst published Fri Sep 16, 2005; substantive revision Sat Nov 7, 2009

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/socrates/

Part I the Quest for Truth

Introduction (Pp 1-6)

Plato: Socratic Wisdom Reading from the Apology (Pp.6-18)John Lock: Of Enthusiasm and the Quest for Truth Reading from Essay Concerning

Human Understanding (Pp18-24)

Logic October 20,25, 27

Required Reading(s)

Logical Consequence,First published Fri Jan 7, 2005

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/logical-consequence/

The Quest for Truth Pp. 30-47

A Little Bit of Logic










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Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Inference to the Best Explanation

Fallacies of Reasoning

Philosophy of Religion November 1, 3,15, 17

Is the Belief in God Rationally Justified? Arguments for the Existence of God

November 1, 3, 8

Required Reading(s)

Cosmological Argument

First published Tue Jul 13, 2004; substantive revision Thu Sep 11, 2008,http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/cosmological-argument/

Ontological ArgumentsFirst published Thu Feb 8, 1996; substantive revision Fri Jul 15, 2011http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ontological-arguments/

The Quest for TruthThomas Aquinas Five Ways (Pp. 52-56)

William Lane Craig: The Kalam Cosmological Argument (Pp. 56-74)

Paul Edwards: A Critique of the Cosmological Argument (Pp. 74-84)

Instructor PowerPoint Presentation

Why there is Evil? November 15

Required Reading(s)

The Problem of EvilFirst published Mon Sep 16, 2002; substantive revision Fri Aug 21, 2009

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/evil/

The Quest for TruthFyodor Dostoevsky: Why there is Evil (Pp 12-119)

Is Faith Compatible with Reason November 17

Sorn Kirkegaard: Faith and Truth (The Quest for Truth Pp. 162-167)

Theories of Knowledge November 24, 29

Required Reading(s)

Rationalism vs. Empiricism

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/cosmological-argument/


http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ontological-arguments/










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First published Thu Aug 19, 2004; substantive revision Wed Aug 6, 2008

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/rationalism-empiricism/

SkepticismFirst published Sat Dec 8, 2001; substantive revision Thu Oct 28, 2010

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/skepticism/

The Quest for Truth:Rene Descartes: Cartesian Doubt and the Search for Foundational Knowledge (Pp.

John Lock: The Empiricist Theory of Knowledge

Truth, Rationality and Cognitive Relativism November 29, December 1, 6

Required Reading(s)

Truth

First published Tue Jun 13, 2006

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/truth/

The Quest for Truth

William James: The Pragmatic Theory of Truth

Daniel Dennet: Postmodernism and Truth

Bertrand Russell: The Correspondence Theory of Truth

December 8 Mid-Term

Philosophy of Mind the Mind-Body Problem December 13, 15, 18

Dualism, Functionalism, Materialism December 13

Required Reading(s)

Dualism

First published Tue Aug 19, 2003; substantive revision Wed Oct 10, 2007

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/dualism/

The Quest for Truth

Rene Descartes: Dualistic Interaction (Pp. 265-272).

Paul Churchland: On Functionalism and Materialism ( 289-305)

Who Am I? Do we have Personal Identity? December 15

Required Reading(s)

The Mind/Brain Identity Theory

First published Wed Jan 12, 2000; substantive revision Fri May 18, 2007

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/mind-identity/



















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John Lock: Our Psycological Properties Define the Self (The Quest for Truth 339-

343)

Is there Life After Death? I am Immortal? December 18

Required Reading(s):

Plato: Arguments for the Immortality of theSoul (Pp. 353-358)

Instructor Powerpoint Presentation(s)

December 22 How to Write Philosophy Paper

January 3 Paper Due

Freedom of Will and Determinism January 3

Required Rading(s)

Free Will

First published Mon Jan 7, 2002; substantive revision Fri Oct 29, 2010

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/freewill/

The Quest for Truth

Baron d’Holbach: We are Completely Determined (Pp383-389)

Corliss Lamont: Freedom of Will and Human Responsibility (Pp. 399-402)


Ethics January 5, 10, 12 Required Reading(s)


The Quest for TruthPlato Why Should I be Moral Reading from the Republic (Pp. 461-466)

Suggested Reading(s)The Quest for Truth (484-524)

Aristotle: The Ethics of Virtue

Immanuel Kant: The Moral Law

John Stuart Mill: UtilitarianismJean-Paul Sartre: Existentialist Ethics

James Rachels: The Devine Command Theory

Political Philosophy January 17,19, 23

Why Should I Obey Government? What is the Justification for Political Authority

Required Reading(s)






















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The Quest for TruthRobert Paul Wolf: In Defense of Anarchism (Pp.529-533)

Absolute Power

Thomas Hobbes: Reading from the Liviathan (Pp. 53-543)

The Democratic Answer John Lock: Reding from the Second Treatiese of Government Pp. 544-550)

The Liberal Answer

John Stuart Mill: Readng from On Liberty (1859) (P.p 550-556)

introduction to philsophy

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