Introduction to Philosophy

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Read, analyze, and critique philosophical texts

• Demonstrate knowledge of major arguments, problems, and terminology in philosophy

•Articulate key conceptual distinctions in philosophy

•Present logically persuasive arguments in writing

•Demonstrate an ability to discuss and reflect upon the application of the course material to various aspects of life

•Evaluate the personal and social responsibilities of living in a diverse world.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

A study of major issues in philosophy and/or the work of major philosophical figures in philosophy. Topics in philosophy may include theories of reality, theories of knowledge, theories of value, and their practical applications. Students and student teams critically examine and report on philosophical texts.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS AND/OR MATERIALS:

Looking at Philosophy: The Unbearable Heaviness of Philosophy Made Lighter, Donald Palmer, McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 6th Edition, (2010) ISBN 13 978-0-07-340748-8

Website publications as assigned: affect-reason-utility.com/1301/welcome.html

OPTIONAL TEXTBOOK AND/OR MATERIALS:

Website publications as assigned

EVALUATION:

Three exams will be administered during the semester and an individual project will be submitted at the end of the course.

The format of each examination will consist in multiple choice and essay style questions. Exam content will include material covered in class and assigned readings. The final exam is comprehensive requiring both objective and subjective assessment?

LETTER GRADE ASSIGNMENT:

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Attendance to all classes is expected. Should you anticipate an absence, please notify the instructor in advance. An excessive number of absences will prohibit the successful completion of this course. If you should miss a class, it is the student’s responsibility to obtain lecture notes and assignments from a classmate.

ASSIGNMENTS:

All assignments are to be completed and submitted to the instructor on the scheduled due date. Late assignments will be accepted on prior approval for good reason at instructor’s sole discretion.

MAKE-UP EXAMS:

Students should contact the instructor prior to missing a scheduled examination, in-person and by e-mail. At instructor’s sole discretion, an opportunity to take an alternative examination will be offered to those who make prior contact with the instructor and offer a rationally acceptable reason. All make-up exams will be administered in the LSC-Tomball Assessment Center.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY:

Withdrawal from the course after the official day of record (see current catalog) will result in a final grade of “W” on the student transcript and no credit will be awarded. Prior to the official day of record, it is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a request for withdrawal from any course.

If you are considered a first-time college student, a new law was passed in Fall 2007 that limits to six the number of courses you may drop (withdraw with a grade of "W") while enrolled at any Texas public institution of higher education. A first time college student is a student not currently enrolled in high school and who has never taken a college or university course anywhere at any time.

If you consider dropping this course during the semester, you might want to go to advising prior to dropping and get information about the Six-Drop Rule.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

The Lone Star College System upholds the core values of learning: honesty, respect, fairness, and accountability. We promote the importance of personal and academic honesty. We embrace the belief that all learners – students, faculty, staff and administrators – will act with integrity and honesty and must produce their own work and give appropriate credit to the work of others. No fabrication of sources, cheating, or unauthorized collaboration is permitted on any work submitted within the District.

Consequences for academic dishonesty to be determined by the professor, or the professor and Academic Dean, or the professor and Chief Student Services Officer can include but are not limited to: 1.) having additional class requirements imposed, 2.) receiving a grade of zero or “F” for an exam or assignment, 3.) receiving a grade of “F” for the course,

4.) being withdrawn from the course or program, 5.) being expelled from the college district.

Professors should clearly explain how the student’s actions violated the academic integrity policy, how a grade was calculated, and the actions taken.

SOFTWARE PIRACY:

Law strictly prohibits unauthorized copying of software purchased by LSC-Tomball for use in laboratories. The LSC-Tomball administration will take appropriate disciplinary action against anyone violating copyright laws.

COMPUTER VIRUS PROTECTION:

Computer viruses are, unfortunately, a fact of life. Using the diskettes on more than one computer creates the possibility of infecting computers and diskettes with a computer virus. This exposes the computers of the college, your personal computer, and any others you may be using to potentially damaging viruses. The college has aggressive anti-virus procedures in place to protect its computers, but cannot guarantee that a virus might not temporarily infect one of its machines. It is your responsibility to protect all computers under your control and use and ensure that each diskette you use, whenever or wherever you use it, has been scanned with anti-virus software. Since new viruses arise continually, your anti-virus software must be kept current. And, since no anti-virus software will find every virus, keeping copies of data (backups) is extremely important.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT:

Lone Star College System is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in education and employment. The system does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, disability, age, veteran status,

nationality, sexual orientation, or ethnicity in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, employment policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other system or college administered programs and activities.

SCANS MATRIX:

The U.S. Department of Education Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) has researched and listed the skills and competencies that make up the know-how employees will need for workplace success. You can view the SCANS skills that are included in the course objectives at the Lone Star College System web site at:

http://www.lonestar.edu and follow links.

THE LSC-TOMBALL LIBRARY HOURS AND PHONE:

The phone number is 832-559-4211.

Monday – Thursday:8:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Friday:8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Saturday:10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

THE LSC-TOMBALL ASSESSMENT CENTER:

The phone number is 281-357-3698

Monday – Thursday:8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Friday:8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Saturday:9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

THE LSC-University Park ASSESSMENT CENTER is located in B.13 240, next door to the library:

The phone number is 281-401-5314 please call for hours or operation.

ADA STATEMENT:

The Lone Star College System is dedicated to provide the least restrictive learning environment for all students. The college district promotes equity in academic access through the implementation of reasonable accommodations as required by the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title V, Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) which will enable students with disabilities to participate in and benefit from all post-secondary educational activities.

If you require reasonable accommodations because of a physical, mental, or learning disability, please notify the instructor of this course as soon as possible and preferably before the end of the first two weeks of class to arrange for reasonable accommodations.

GUARANTEED GRADUATE POLICY:

Lone Star College System guarantees that graduates of its Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or Associate of Applied Science and all Certificate programs, providing under certain circumstances, additional education and training tuition free to students lacking appropriate mastery of specified competencies. For additional information, refer to the Lone Star College System catalog.

ADVISING ON THIS PROGRAM OR OTHER AREAS AT LSC-TOMBALL:

Department Chairs

• Behavioral Science, Debra Parish: Debra.Parish@lonestar.edu, 281-351-3341
• Business, Joe Cahill: Joseph.M.Cahill@lonestar.edu, 281-357-3617
• Social Science, Dr. Annie Benifield: Annie.J.Benifield@lonestar.edu, 281-357-3761

Program Coordinators

• Arts, Gary Cooper: Charles.Cooper@lonestar.edu, 281-401-1890
• Drama, Sherri White: Sherri.R.White@lonestar.edu, 281-357-3654
• Music, Dr. Lisa Morales: Lisa.Morales@lonestar.edu, 281-401-1845

Division Dean, Jill Riethmayer: Jill.Riethmayer@lonestar.edu, 281-351-3342

There is also information at: http://www.lonestar.edu

The list is approximate only and will be revised as needed.