PL 101: Introduction to Philosophy (Fall 2016) Ancient and Modern Platonisms Professor: Thornton Lockwood Office Hours: Mondays 3:00-5:00 (and by apt.) Office Location: CAS 3, Room 108 Office Phone: (203) 582-3345
Class Time and Room: MWF 2-2:50, Echlin Center, Room 201 Email:
[email protected]
Course description Philosophy in the western world is deeply indebted to the writings of Plato (428-348 BCE), an Athenian philosopher who wrote dialogues which depict his teacher Socrates (470-399 BCE). “Platonism” is the name of a philosophy inspired by Plato’s writings, one which elevates the knowledge which reason provides over all other forms of knowledge (for instance, those based on experience or what the senses can know). “Platonism” has influenced western philosophers at different points in time in very different ways. Although we will examine the writings of Plato in the first third of the course, we will also study two other “Platonic” philosophers in the remainder of the course: Thomas More (1478-1535), an English philosopher who lived and wrote during the Renaissance, and Rebecca Newberger Goldstein (b. 1950), a contemporary American philosopher and novelist. We will use the theme of “Platonism” to explore both historically and from a contemporary perspective some of the most basic problems in contemporary philosophy, for instance what is the nature of knowledge (epistemology), the nature of the cosmos (metaphysics), and the nature of human relationships (ethics). Learning objectives1 Philosophy is at the heart of a liberal arts education and its learning objectives are central to any university education. The essential learning objectives for this course include: Knowledge and literacy: Develop mastery of philosophical concepts and ideas from different philosophers writing in different times and places Critical and creative thinking: Examination of philosophical problems as challenges for solutions, using logical and critical reasoning skills Effective communication: Develop the ability to write, speak, read, and listen Inquiry and analysis: Recognize and use different methods of inquiry in different fields Social and emotional intelligence: Develop the ability to pursue and achieve goals in interactions with others and in groups Intercultural citizenship and responsibility: Recognize diversities, inequalities, and power relationships between different individuals, communities, and cultures Student evaluation The formula for your final grade is: Class participation/preparation (including informal writing and presentation): Writing assignments (four 2-3 pp. formal papers): Reflective essay on general education requirements (due on 12/9/16) Midterm exam (on Friday, 10/14/16): Cumulative final exam (in-class exam on Monday, 12/12/16):
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15% 40% 5% 15% 25%
See further https://myq.quinnipiac.edu/LearningParadigm/Pages/Essential-Learning-Outcomes.aspx
2 PL 101 Syllabus: Fall 2016 Prof. Lockwood Classroom expectations Every class session will include textual analysis and discussion. Course books readings are a required part of the class; for every class you must bring the assigned text. Students who repeatedly fail to bring the required reading to class will be marked absent for that class. Students should prepare all class readings for the day on which they are assigned. You should spend at least 60 minutes preparing for each class, reviewing class notes, and reading and annotating texts. In general, the use of laptops, tablets, and other electronic devises is prohibited during class. Smart and stupid phones must be turned off throughout the class. Any student observed using a phone in class (texting, etc.) will be marked absent for that class. Paper extensions will be considered only if you consult with me at least 3 days ahead of the due date. Interacting with the professor and other students in class are integral parts of the course that directly contribute to the course’s learning outcomes. Class attendance is mandatory. You are allowed three absences during the semester; for each absence thereafter, your participation grade will be lowered a mark (e.g., from a B to a B-). Class starts promptly on the hour. If you are more than 5 minutes late for class you will be marked absent. Your final grade may be adjusted upward if you show a steady pattern of improvement over the course of the semester. Any form of academic dishonesty, plagiarism, or recycling of your own work from another class will result in a failing grade for the assignment and disciplinary measures by the university. The university’s academic integrity policy is on-line: https://myq.quinnipiac.edu/Academics/Academic%20Integrity/Pages/default.aspx. Students should read it before handing in your first assignment. I encourage students registered in the course to discuss their learning styles and comprehension requirements with me. Disabled students are strongly encouraged to avail themselves of the services provided by the Learning Commons. For more information, contact John Jarvis, Coordinator of Learning Service (x5390 or
[email protected]). Required texts Two of the texts we will study are in translation. It is imperative that you obtain a copy of the specific translations that we are using in class so that we can literally be on the same page. Plato, Republic. Trans. C.D.C. Reeve. Hackett Publishing, 2004. ISBN: 0-97220-736-6. T. More, Utopia. Revised edition. Ed. G. Logan and R. Adams. Cambridge University Press, 2002. ISBN: 978-0-521-52540-4. R. N. Goldstein, Plato at the Googleplex. Why Philosophy Won’t Go Away. Pantheon, 2014. ISBN 978-0-307-45672-4. Class participation, preparation, and informal writing Class will include regular student participation and discussion. Students should be prepared to discuss or write about the day’s reading assignment for every class. Every Monday students will undertake informal writing exercises in class on the day’s reading assignment. In general, all
3 PL 101 Syllabus: Fall 2016 Prof. Lockwood students start with a participation/preparation grade of C. Regular and insightful discussion and informal writing will raise one’s grade to an A; regular silence and informal writing that shows little familiarity with the reading will lower one’s grade. Oral presentations Each student will be responsible for making a class presentation (in a group) during the course of the semester. Presentations will take place during Friday’s class. When it is your turn to make a class presentation, you will need to coordinate with your partners, provide a brief overview of the day’s reading, and then provide two or three questions about the day’s reading. I will provide a more detailed rubric explaining my expectations for the exercise. Reflective essay on general education The last day of classes students will submit a 200-400 word essay on how this course, which satisfies QU University Curriculum requirements, contributes to a student’s general education. A more detailed paper rubric will be circulated two weeks in advance of the due date. The essay is a formal piece of writing that will be graded and, as per the policy of the Department of Philosophy and Political Science, make up 5% of a student’s overall grade in the course. Writing assignments During the course of the semester students will write four short essays (approximately 2-3 pages each). There will be five due dates for papers: every student must hand in a paper for the first due date, although deciding upon when to submit your other three papers is up to the student. Students have the option of writing a fifth paper for extra credit, in which case I will drop the lowest grade of your five papers. In general, papers will be graded on the basis of three criteria: How well have you understood and responded to the philosophical problem or text you are writing about? How well have you incorporated textual material or examples to support your point? How well have you organized and expressed your points grammatically? The grading rubric below specifies my expectations. Please note that copy-editing and revision are integral parts of the writing process. Papers that exhibit substantial grammatical errors (for instance, four or more errors in a paragraph) will be returned to the student with a grade of Incomplete. Students who receive an Incomplete will have one week to revise it; after one week, the grade for the paper will automatically change from an Incomplete to a D. Paper Grading Rubric A (A, A-) level grade: Accurate understanding of the philosophical problem and command of relevant terminology. Specific, thoughtful, and relevant illustrations/examples. Coherent and thorough—near flawless—presentation. Flawless grammatical prose. B (B+, B, B-) level grade:
4 PL 101 Syllabus: Fall 2016 Prof. Lockwood
Relatively accurate but somewhat uncertain understanding of a philosophical problem. Specific yet somewhat irrelevant or otherwise weak illustrations/examples. Coherent but not thorough presentation (i.e. did not completely answer the question). Several grammatical errors.
C (C+, C, C-) level grade and below (D): Shaky or incorrect understanding of the philosophical problem. Vague, overly generalized and/or otherwise weak/ irrelevant examples. Or no examples given. Incoherent or disorganized presentation. Persistent grammatical errors. F level grade: Completely mistaken understanding of the philosophical problem Irrelevance or absence of supporting examples. No substantial effort to answer the question. Evidence of academic dishonesty. Extremely poor grammar.
Reading and Discussion Schedule Part I: Plato and the nature of justice as a virtue Mon: 8/29 Wed: 8/31 Fri: 9/2
Wed: 9/7 Fri: 9/9 Mon: 9/12 Wed: 9/14 Fri: 9/16
Discussion Topic: Class expectations and an introduction to Plato Reading Assignment: Plato, Republic I (pp. 1-3) Discussion Topic: Defining justice Reading Assignment: Plato, Republic I (pp. 3-13) Discussion Topic: The challenge of Thrasymachus Reading Assignment: Plato, Republic I (pp. 13-35) Last Day of Drop/Add Mon, 9/5: Labor Day, No class meeting Discussion Topic: Thrasymachus’ definition revisited and the city/soul analogy Reading Assignment: Plato, Republic II (pp. 36-51) WRITING ASSIGNMENT #1 DUE Discussion Topic: The feverish city, the nature of the gods, and the nature of death Reading Assignment: Plato, Republic II-III (pp. 51-73) Discussion Topic: Musical and gymnastic education Reading Assignment: Plato, Republic III (pp. 73-88) Discussion Topic: Harmonized education and the myth of the metals Reading Assignment: Republic III-IV (pp. 88-111) Discussion Topic: Virtues in the city and soul Reading Assignment: Plato, Republic IV (pp. 112-135)
5 PL 101 Syllabus: Fall 2016 Prof. Lockwood Mon: 9/19 Wed: 9/21 Fri: 9/23 Mon: 9/26 Wed: 9/28 Fri: 9/30 Mon: 10/3 Wed: 10/5 Fri: 10/7 Mon: 10/10
Discussion Topic: Gender equality amongst political inequality Reading Assignment: Republic V (pp. 136-146) Discussion Topic: The critique of the family Reading Assignment: Republic V (pp. 147-158) Discussion Topic: Philosopher kings Reading Assignment: Republic V-VI (pp. 164-183) Discussion Topic: The predicament of philosophy and the Idea of the Good Reading Assignment: Republic VI (pp. 183-205) WRITING ASSIGNMENT #2 DUE Discussion Topic: The images of the line and the cave Reading Assignment: Republic VI-VII (pp. 205-216) Discussion Topic: The education of the guardians Reading Assignment: Republic VII (pp. 216-237) Discussion Topic: Critique of constitutions Reading Assignment: Republic VIII (pp. 238-258) Discussion Topic: Tyranny, the tyrant, and the best life Reading Assignment: Republic VIII-IX (pp. 259-275) Discussion Topic: Happiness in the best city and best life Reading Assignment: Republic IX (pp. 275-281, 292-296) Discussion Topic: The Myth of Er Reading Assignment: Republic X (pp. 317-326) Wed, 10/12: Yom Kippur, No class meeting WRITING ASSIGNMENT #3 DUE IN MY OFFICE OR BY EMAIL BY 5:00 PM Fri, 10/14: Midterm exam
Part II: Thomas More and the Utopian State Mon: 10/17 Wed: 10/19 Fri: 10/21 Mon: 10/24 Wed: 10/26 Fri: 10/28 Mon: 10/31
Discussion Topic: Utopia as a literary device Reading Assignment: Utopia (pp. 3-7, 108-118) Discussion Topic: Raphael Hythloday’s discovery Reading Assignment: Utopia (Bk. I, pp. 8-22) Discussion Topic: Criticism of More’s England Reading Assignment: Utopia (Bk. I, pp. 22-40) Discussion Topic: Politics and economics on the island of Utopia Reading Assignment: Utopia (Bk. II, pp. 41-53) Discussion Topic: Customs of the Utopians Reading Assignment: Utopia (Bk. II, pp. 53-65) Discussion Topic: Moral philosophy of the Utopians Reading Assignment: Utopia (Bk. II, pp. 65-77) Discussion Topic: Slavery and military practice Reading Assignment: Utopia (Bk. II, pp. 77-92)
6 PL 101 Syllabus: Fall 2016 Prof. Lockwood Wed: 11/2 Fri: 11/4
Discussion Topic: Religion of the Utopians Reading Assignment: Utopia (Bk. II, pp. 93-100) Discussion Topic: Religion of the Utopians Reading Assignment: Utopia (Bk. II, pp. 100-107) LAST DAY TO DROP CLASS WITH A W
Part III: Plato in the modern world Mon: 11/7 Wed: 11/9 Fri: 11/11 Mon: 11/14 Wed: 11/16 Fri: 11/18 Mon: 11/28 Wed: 11/30 Fri: 12/2 Mon: 12/5 Wed: 12/7 Fri: 12/9
Discussion Topic: The difference between information and knowledge Reading Assignment: Goldstein, “Plato at the Googleplex” (pp. 59-91) DUE DATE FOR PAPER #4 Discussion Topic: The difference between information and knowledge Reading Assignment: Goldstein, “Plato at the Googleplex” (pp. 92-120) No class meeting: Professor away at conference Surrogate Topic: Goldstein herself at Googleplex Viewing Assignment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJf7pihmgPI Discussion Topic: Political community today and in ancient Athens Reading Assignment: Goldstein, “Plato at the 92nd Street Y” (pp. 165-185) PODCAST WRITING ASSIGNMENT DUE Discussion Topic: Political community today and in ancient Athens Reading Assignment: Goldstein, “Plato at the 92nd Street Y” (pp. 186-206) Discussion Topic: Political community today and in ancient Athens Reading Assignment: Goldstein, “Plato at the 92nd Street Y” (pp. 206-221) November 21-25: No class meetings, Thanksgiving break Discussion Topic: Platonic love in the modern world Reading Assignment: Goldstein, “xxxPlato” (pp. 261-280) Discussion Topic: Plato in the School of Communications Reading Assignment: Goldstein, “Plato on Cable News” (pp. 335-349) Discussion Topic: Plato in the School of Communications Reading Assignment: Goldstein, “Plato on Cable News” (pp. 349-360) Discussion Topic: Platonic ideas? Cartesian Minds? Reading Assignment: Goldstein, “Plato in the Magnet” (pp. 397-411) Discussion Topic: Platonic ideas? Cartesian Minds? Reading Assignment: Goldstein, “Plato in the Magnet” (pp. 411-422) Discussion Topic: Final thoughts on Plato through the ages Reading Assignment: Final exam review sheet REFLECTIVE ESSAY ON GENERAL EDUCATION DUE MONDAY, DECEMBER 12 AT 1:00-3:00 PM: FINAL EXAM TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13 AT 9:00 AM: DUE DATE FOR PAPER #5
