The Lebanese International University PHIL 200 Introduction to Philosophy Course Instructor: Abir A. Chaaban Course Schedule: T Th.

12:30-13:45 Section: A Room: 204-E Campus: Nabatiyeh Office Hour: Tuesday 11:00-12:00 Course Objective This course examines assesses and contrasts major philosophical theories and problems. This is an introductory course for students who have no background in philosophy. The course aims to develop students skills in arguing and defending their view bout a specific philosophical problem, understand and discuss philosophical theories and problems. The course will discuss philosophy of religion, the theory of knowledge, logic, political philosophy, philosophy of mind, determinism and the freedom of will and ethics. Learning Outcomes: At the end of this course the student shall be able to: Analyze a theoretical position and argument and present a counter argument. Understand inductive and deductive reasoning. Identify logical fallacies. Compare and contrast philosophical theories and problems within the major fields of philosophy: Philosophy of Religion, Knowledge, Political Philosophy and Ethics. Write a paper on a philosophical problem using reason to defend a thesis. Required Readings Instructor will provide students with a photocopy of the required readings, and where possible the internet link to the reading on line. Using the websites provided in the course schedule below and Internet Sources students should study about philosophers and theories discussed in class. Readings are taken from: Louis P. Pojman. Lewis Vaughn, Philosophy, the Quest for Truth, Seventh Edition, Oxford University Press. Internet Sources Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, http://plato.stanford.edu/ Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy http://www.iep.utm.edu/ Grading scheme: Attendance Participation Created by Abir Chaaban 3/18/2012 6:12 AM

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Midterm Paper Final Exam

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Participation: Each student is expected to prepare at least three points that will start a class discussion on the philosophical problem or theory discussed in class. These points are related to the discussion questions at the beginning of the assigned readings. Paper: The paper tests your ability to present a well reasoned argument in defense of a thesis on given philosophical problem or theory. Further information about this assignment will be provided in class and during office hours as needed. Mid Term and Final Exam: The mid-term test and the final exam will test your knowledge on the material read in the book and your ability to answer two essay questions representing your views on the matter. The Student will take four essay questions home to prepare for the exam which will be based on the readings below. Three questions will appear in the exam where the student will answer two questions out of three. Course Schedule What is Philosophy Required Readings Socrates First published Fri Sep 16, 2005; substantive revision Sat Nov 7, 2009 http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/socrates/ Part I the Quest for Truth Introduction (Pp 1-6) Plato: Socratic Wisdom Reading from the Apology (Pp.6-18) John Lock: Of Enthusiasm and the Quest for Truth Reading from Essay Concerning Human Understanding (Pp18-24) Logic Required Reading(s) Logical Consequence, First published Fri Jan 7, 2005 http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/logical-consequence/ The Quest for Truth Pp. 30-47 A Little Bit of Logic Created by Abir Chaaban 3/18/2012 6:12 AM 2 October 20,25, 27 October, 6, 11, 13, 18

Inductive and Deductive Reasoning Inference to the Best Explanation Fallacies of Reasoning November 1, 3,15, 17

Philosophy of Religion

Is the Belief in God Rationally Justified? Arguments for the Existence of God November 1, 3, 8 Required Reading(s) Cosmological Argument First published Tue Jul 13, 2004; substantive revision Thu Sep 11, 2008, http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/cosmological-argument/ Ontological Arguments First published Thu Feb 8, 1996; substantive revision Fri Jul 15, 2011 http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ontological-arguments/ The Quest for Truth Thomas Aquinas Five Ways (Pp. 52-56) William Lane Craig: The Kalam Cosmological Argument (Pp. 56-74) Paul Edwards: A Critique of the Cosmological Argument (Pp. 74-84) Instructor PowerPoint Presentation Why there is Evil? Required Reading(s) The Problem of Evil First published Mon Sep 16, 2002; substantive revision Fri Aug 21, 2009 http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/evil/ The Quest for Truth Fyodor Dostoevsky: Why there is Evil (Pp 12-119) Is Faith Compatible with Reason Sorn Kirkegaard: Faith and Truth November 17 (The Quest for Truth Pp. 162-167) November 24, 29 November 15

Theories of Knowledge Required Reading(s) Rationalism vs. Empiricism Created by Abir Chaaban 3/18/2012 6:12 AM

First published Thu Aug 19, 2004; substantive revision Wed Aug 6, 2008 http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/rationalism-empiricism/ Skepticism First published Sat Dec 8, 2001; substantive revision Thu Oct 28, 2010 http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/skepticism/ The Quest for Truth: Rene Descartes: Cartesian Doubt and the Search for Foundational Knowledge (Pp. John Lock: The Empiricist Theory of Knowledge Truth, Rationality and Cognitive Relativism Required Reading(s) Truth First published Tue Jun 13, 2006 http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/truth/ The Quest for Truth William James: The Pragmatic Theory of Truth Daniel Dennet: Postmodernism and Truth Bertrand Russell: The Correspondence Theory of Truth November 29, December 1, 6

December 8

Mid-Term
December 13, 15, 18

Philosophy of Mind the Mind-Body Problem Dualism, Functionalism, Materialism

December 13

Required Reading(s) Dualism First published Tue Aug 19, 2003; substantive revision Wed Oct 10, 2007 http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/dualism/ The Quest for Truth Rene Descartes: Dualistic Interaction (Pp. 265-272). Paul Churchland: On Functionalism and Materialism ( 289-305) Who Am I? Do we have Personal Identity? Required Reading(s) The Mind/Brain Identity Theory First published Wed Jan 12, 2000; substantive revision Fri May 18, 2007 http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/mind-identity/ December 15

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John Lock: Our Psycological Properties Define the Self (The Quest for Truth 339343) Is there Life After Death? I am Immortal? December 18 Required Reading(s): Plato: Arguments for the Immortality of theSoul (Pp. 353-358) Instructor Powerpoint Presentation(s) December 22 How to Write Philosophy Paper

January 3

Paper Due
January 3

Freedom of Will and Determinism

Required Rading(s) Free Will First published Mon Jan 7, 2002; substantive revision Fri Oct 29, 2010 http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/freewill/ The Quest for Truth Baron dHolbach: We are Completely Determined (Pp383-389) Corliss Lamont: Freedom of Will and Human Responsibility (Pp. 399-402) Instructor Powerpoint Presentation(s) Ethics Required Reading(s) Instructor Powerpoint Presentation(s) January 5, 10, 12

The Quest for Truth Plato Why Should I be Moral Reading from the Republic (Pp. 461-466) Suggested Reading(s) The Quest for Truth (484-524) Aristotle: The Ethics of Virtue Immanuel Kant: The Moral Law John Stuart Mill: Utilitarianism Jean-Paul Sartre: Existentialist Ethics James Rachels: The Devine Command Theory Political Philosophy January 17,19, 23

Why Should I Obey Government? What is the Justification for Political Authority Required Reading(s) Created by Abir Chaaban 3/18/2012 6:12 AM 5

The Quest for Truth Robert Paul Wolf: In Defense of Anarchism (Pp.529-533) Absolute Power Thomas Hobbes: Reading from the Liviathan (Pp. 53-543) The Democratic Answer John Lock: Reding from the Second Treatiese of Government Pp. 544-550) The Liberal Answer John Stuart Mill: Readng from On Liberty (1859) (P.p 550-556)

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