1. Plato, THE REPUBLIC (Penguin Classics edition, translated by H.D.P. Lee)
2. Woodhouse, A PREFACE TO PHILOSOPHY
3. Russell, THE PROBLEMS OF PHILOSOPHY

I will provide study guides for each part of the course.

1. Exam #1, Logic. Multiple choice/true-false/short answer (approx. 1/7 of your grade)
2. Paper: Plato 1. (approx. 1/7 of your grade)
3. Paper: Plato 2. (approx. 1/7 of your grade)
4. Take-home, essay exam: Russell (approx. 2/7 of grade)
5. Final exam, comprehensive. Multiple choice/true-false/essay (approx. 2/7 of grade)
   

At my discretion, I may raise your grade for the course because of improvement, regular attendance, quality participation, or outstanding work on a particular assignment. In general, extra credit is not an option.

1. Toolkit -- gain basic logical skills, to facilitate recognizing and evaluating arguments and evidence.
2. Issues -- become familiar with some main problems of Philosophy, regarding knowledge, reality, and values.
3. Literacy -- carefully, creatively, critically read examples of classic and contemporary Philosophy.

• Attendance is required. Undue, unexcused absences can lead to an "F." If you must miss class, please speak to me, preferably in advance, about making up the work you missed.
• If you arrive after I have taken attendance, it is your responsibility to make sure I count you as present.
• Plan to submit work on time. If this is ever impossible, TALK to me about it. Allowances can be made for legitimate reasons, but I reserve the right to penalize for lateness.
• Although substance is more important than style, I reserve the right to require you to redo work that is illegible or otherwise unacceptable in form.
• I may, at my discretion, require an oral exam over some part of the material, for a particular student, if warranted by uneven or anomalous performance.
• If you choose to drop the course, you must do the required paperwork to avoid receiving an "F."
• You must complete all assignments in order to pass the course. If you need to take an "I" for the course, you MUST speak to me BEFORE the end of the semester.
• "Zero Tolerance policy" holds for cheating, including plagiarism, and will entail an automatic "F" for the course.
• If you do not understand any part of these rules, or are unsure of your current status in relation to them, it is YOUR responsibility to ask me for clarification.
• If you have any special needs (LD, health concerns, perosonal obligations, etc.) you should speak to me as soon as possible. I will be happy to make necessary accommodations.
• This syllabus should not be construed as a contract or commitment, and may change without prior notice.

Why study philosophy?

What is an "examined life?"

Why be reasonable?

<Plato, Woodhouse>

How do we distinguish good/bad reasoning?

<Study Guide, Woodhouse>

Skeptical challenges and problems of knowledge.

Some main problems of metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics

<Plato, Russell, Study Guide>

ETHICS AND DIALOGUE

Applying philosophical methods and ideas to conflicts of beliefs and values.

<Plato, Study Guide>