Los Angeles Valley College, Spring 2005 K.L. Ross, DrKelley at AOL.com Philosophy 1 & 1H, Introduction to Philosophy Office: Campus Center 224 MW 8:00-9:25 (8174 & H 8175), Phone: (818) 947-2467 F 8:00-11:10 (0518), CC 205 https://www.friesian.com/valley/ SYLLABUS TEXTS: Five Dialogues, by Plato The Bhagavad Gita, Penguin Edition The Tao Te Ching, by Lao Tzu, Penguin Edition Zen in the Art of Archery, by Eugen Herrigel Handouts for this class can be purchased in booklets at the Campus Bookstore, or they can be examined and downloaded from the World Wide Web, with some web links and extra graphics, at: http://www.friesian.org/valley/ CONTENTS: This course is intended to familiarize students with the origins and some of the basic perspectives and continuing issues and questions found in Western philosophy and in the philosophical traditions of India and China. Emphasis is placed on how each of these traditions is an example of philosophy and how each deals with fundamental questions of being and value. Background lectures will be followed by the close examination of selected texts. Unit 1: Pre-Philosophic thought; the beginning of Greek philosophy--the Presocratics: day classes tentative quiz March 9 Unit 2: Greek philosophy--Socrates and Plato: day classes tentative midterm April 13 Unit 3: The transition from ancient to modern philosophy, and the origin of modern science and philosophy, focusing on René Descartes. The material of this unit will be covered by handouts and tested on the final Unit 4: Indian Philosophy, focusing on the Bhagavad Gita: day classes tentative quiz May 18 Unit 5: Chinese philosophy and Zen Buddhism, focusing on the Tao Te Ching and Zen in the Art of Archery. Final: MW class, Wednesday, June 1, 8 AM; F class, Friday, June 3, 8:00 AM ATTENDANCE: This is primarily a lecture class: tardiness and absences thus will result in missing material that cannot be found in the texts or in other sources. The texts are primary sources which are not self-explanatory; and you will not find what I say in encyclopaedia articles or in most other books. Believe me, you will not do well in the class unless you are present for the lectures or arrange to obtain lecture notes, and it is your responsibility to arrange with others to obtain the materials for classes that you miss. You may tape record lectures. Attendance is no longer taken for each class meeting. No student will be excluded for non-attendance after the first three weeks. Do not report absences to me. It is your own responsibility to drop the class if you wish to do so (final drop date: May 6th). Anyone on the roster at the end of the semester who has not been present for the tests will receive an F. It is your responsibility to obtain from other students any material or assignments you miss when absent. If you miss any examinations, including the due date for take home exams, and you return within the period when a makeup is allowed, you must be prepared to take the test, or hand in any materials, promptly at the beginning of the class on the day you return. Holidays this semester are Lincoln's Birthday & Presidents' Day, February 18 & 21; Spring Break, March 21-25; Cesar Chavez Day, March 31; and Memorial Day, May 30. The last day of classes is Friday, May 27th. Note well: Anyone who persistently disrupts my class by talking, arriving late, repeatedly leaving & returning, or through any other distracting or inconsiderate behavior may be instructed to leave the class. If you do not want to be here, don't come in the first place. OFFICE HOURS: My office hours are MWF 7:30-8:00 & 11:10-11:45 AM, TuWTh 6:30-6:45 PM, and by appointment in CC 224. The phone number is (818) 947-2467. This is a direct line, and no one else will answer the phone. You should call during office hours. If you call at other times, you can leave messages on voicemail. You do not need to report absences, or your reasons for them, by voicemail. Do not leave messages for me to call you, without the times you can be reached at your number. I will not return calls if all you want is to be brought up to date for classes you have missed. Just return to class. Any inquiries by e-mail can be answered within a couple of days: DrKelley at AOL.com. Identify the class in the subject line of the e-mail. TESTS: There will be one midterm exam, two quizzes, and a final. The major exams will include multiple choice, short answer identifications, and essay questions. The two quizzes will be all multiple choice. The final will be comprehensive. The Honors class will also have a term paper required--see separate handout. Make-up tests and quizzes will only be given until the exams are handed back. If you miss a test, you must take the make-up the day that you return. Do not ask to make up a test weeks after it has been given. If you miss the final and cannot take it at another time I have scheduled, you cannot make it up during the current semester and will be credited with an F unless you request an Incomplete--which you may do simply by leaving a message for me before I turn in the grades. Point values are assigned to grades as follows: F=0, D=3, C=6, B=9, & A=12. Minuses subtract one point, and pluses add one. A C+ is thus worth 7. The midterm grade will be multiplied by two and the grade of the final exam by four for the course grade = {[(Quiz I) + (Quiz II) + 2x(Midterm) + 4x(Final)]/8}. Missed tests or quizzes will count as F's unless made up. For the purpose of the following rule, the grades of the two quizzes will be combined: If that grade or the Midterm grade are more than one letter grade lower than the other, or than the Final, they will be replaced with the highest grade with the penalty of one letter grade. For instance, an A+ (13) on the final means that a Midterm grade, or a combined quiz grade, lower than a B+ (10) is replaced with a B+. If the course grade is as much as 10 (B+), without rounding, an A will be awarded. If a 7 (C+), a B; a 4 (D+), a C; and a 1 (F+), a D. In all the work you do in my classes, you are not expected to agree with me on any issue; but you are expected to know what has been presented in the course, in the lectures, books, and handouts (unless I instruct you otherwise), and to present reasons or arguments for any views you wish to advocate. Outside materials or opinions are welcome so long as they are not a substitute for awareness or discussion of the materials of the course. I must warn students from India especially, that although you may feel that you know all about the The Bhagavad Gita from a religious point of view, it is possible that you do not know all about Indian philosophy and the philosophical origin or analysis of the Gita. That is what you are responsible for in this course. This is not a class in religion or the history of religion, despite some overlap in different areas. You are expected to do your own work, so do not prepare common essays with your study partners. You must state things in your own words and in your own way. On a test, if I read an essay that I have already read, I will grade it down, regardless of how the original essay may be have been graded. Also, while you may quote from the handouts in your essays, it is not acceptable to write an essay that simply reproduces the handouts or uses long passages without quotation marks or attribution. I reserve the right to exclude or fail anyone who turns in work that they have not done themselves, who plagiarizes, or who cheats in any other way.