I. Course Description.
This course surveys the modern period of Western philosophy beginning in the 1600s with Rene Descartes and ending with Friedrich Nietzsche in the late 19th century. Additional philosophers including Spinoza, Hume, and Kant, among others, are covered.II. Course Materials.
Matson, Wallace. A New History of Philosophy, Vol 2. San Diego: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1987.
Cahn, Steven. Classics Of Western Philosophy, 4th Edition. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1995.
Audio tapes available from instructor.
If you have difficulty with the terminology I would recommend purchasing a philosophy dictionary. You can find them at bookstores around town.
III. Course Requirements.
a. The student is required to meet with the professor six times during the course and at an interval of approximately every two weeks but no longer than every three weeks. Failure to keep to a two to three week schedule will negatively impact your discussion grade. No more than one meeting or assignment may be done within a seven day period. Be careful that you do not run out of time to complete the course since a grade of Incomplete will not be given based on the art of procrastination. During these meetings the student should be prepared to discuss the readings in sufficient detail to demonstrate mastery of the material. During each class you could be asked to discuss what you consider the key concepts or ideals involved in that particular assignment are. You should be prepared to discuss these concepts and to explain why you think they are key concepts and how they fit into the philosopher's theory. I would take detailed notes over what you read and listen to and probably more than one readings or listening will be necessary. Study sheets will be available for some assignments.
b. Directed study courses require more effort on the student's part that do most classroom courses. Although each person's ability varies, you should plan to spend approximately 15 hours of reading, listening, and studying for each meeting in order to be fully prepared for our discussions. In our discussions it is your responsibility to demonstrate the knowledge of the material to the instructor. Each session will run approximately one hour.
c. A take-home exam will be given after the third and sixth assignments. The answers should be in sufficient depth and detail to demonstrate to the instructor that student understands the material. The exam will be due within five days. Late exam could be penalized one letter grade and exams will not be accepted if they are over ten days late. In grading the exam I look for five things: specific illustrative examples from the texts and/or audios, correct use of technical terminology, coherent expression of basic lines of reasoning, explanation of all important claims, and detail sufficient to indicate familiarity with the entire relevant reading. When you quote or paraphrase from our readings, please list the page number. Essays should be typed and double-spaced.
d. Each class you are expected to bring a two to three page overview of the material from the Cahn book for that session. Your overview is not a list of random quotes or paraphrases but an summary in your own words of what you understand the philosoher to be saying. This is essentially a summary of the material for that session. Your summaries should be typed, double-spaced pages.
IV. Academic Integrity.
Students are expected to maintain high standards of academic integrity in all work for this course. Dishonesty in any work will result in a grade of "F" for the course. Plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty that may result in the same penalty. In cases of mitigating circumstances, the instructor may assign a lesser penalty. Once a grade of "F" has been assigned on the basis of academic dishonesty, the student may not withdraw from the course.
V. Special Circumstances
If you have a specific physical or learning disability and require accommodations, please let me know at the end of the first class meeting so that your learning needs may be appropriately met. You will need to provide documentation of your disability to the Learning Assistance Center at St. Edward's University.
VI. Assignments.
Your instructor will distribte an assignment schedule at the first meeting. Please contact him by email or at (512) 448-8706 the first day of semester.VII. Evaluation.
Discussion: 10%
Exams (two) 60% (each counts 30%)
Summary Essays 30% (each counts 05%)
Professor Ursery's Alpha
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