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Dowling College     Winter 2001
PHL 001: Western Philosophy 1


Dr. Christian Perring
E-mail: cperring@go.com
Office Room: 330A RC
Home page: www.dowling.edu/faculty/cperring
Office Phone: 244-3349 
Office Hours: TWR 9:30-10:30 AM
CRN: 24796
4 days per week, 1:00-3:20 PM
Room RC 319
Books
PHILOSOPHY: The Power of Ideas, Fourth Edition (PPI) [Required]
Brooke Moore and Kenneth Bruder, Mayfield, 1999


ISBN 1-55934-988-3 

(Note that the Study Guide and CD are available when purchased through college book store) 
Any Bible.  (Optional) 

I recommend using a study bible and finding a translation that you find approachable. 

I will be using the NIV Study Bible, Zondervan Publishing House, 1995

Course Description: This course is an interdisciplinary study of the growth of Western culture through the study of philosophical and other texts. It covers the period from the earliest recorded history through Hebrew, Greek and Roman thought, the rise of Christianity, and the Renaissance. Readings will be from the Old and New Testaments, the Pre-Socratics, Plato, Aristotle, and Aquinas.

Teaching Goals: My goals are for you to learn about a number of different views of the world, and for you to see how it is possible to compare and evaluate these views. You shall learn some facts about the ideas of different thinkers, but more importantly you shall understand these ideas and shall be able to explain them clearly in both speech and writing. My tasks in teaching are to help you learn and to evaluate your progress as fairly as possible. You will find many of the texts challenging, and you will need to read them thoughtfully several times in order to understand them. If you feel in need of help with the course work, I encourage you to form study groups with your classmates or to come to me during my office hours. If during the semester you experience any difficulty in keeping up with the workload and getting assignments done on time, you should let me know as soon as you can, so we can work round the problem. Please never feel reluctant to come to me to discuss issues: remember the ultimate goal of this course is that you benefit from taking it.

Guidelines on writing papers, taking tests, grading and other policies


Grading:

Attendance
10% (2% off for each class missed without excuse)
Participation
10%
Short writing assignments (2) 5% each
Tests (2)
15% each 
Presentation (10 minutes)
10%
Paper (5-6 pages)
30%

Retake/resit/make-up policy: you may do make-up work on a single piece of work done before January 22.There is a 10% deduction on the grade for that work.
 
 

Schedule (Note that dates are approximate!)
Day
Topic
Reading
Work
Jan 2
Introduction
Ch. 1
  
3
The Greek Epics
The Pre-Socratics
Ch. 2
  
4
Socrates
Ch. 3: section on Socrates
  
5
Plato
Selection 3.1: Plato, Republic
 First writing assigment given
8
 
Selection 3.2: Plato, Meno
 
9
Ch. 3: section on Plato
Selection 3.1: Plato, Republic
Available Online
 Second writing assigment given
10
 Ethics
PPI: Ch. 9: sections on early Greeks, Epicureanism and Stoicism.
PPI: Selection 9.1: Georgias 
Available Online
 
Paper Topics Given
11
Epicureanism and Stoicism
Selection 9.2: Epicurus, "Epicurus to Menoeceus"
 Review
16
 
Selection 9.3: Epictetus, "The Enchiridion"
 Test 1
17
 The Old Testament 
Genesis, Chapters 1-23 
Exodus, Chapters 19-24, 32
Presentation
18
 The New Testament Matthew, Chapters 5-7, 18-20, 24 
Presentation
19
Religion and Philosophy
Ch. 4: The Philosophers of the Hellenistic and Christian Eras
Selection 4.1: St. Augustine, Confessions
Ch. 9: Section on Christianizing Ethics 
Selection 12.2: St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica
 Presentation
22
Hinduism and Buddhism
Chapter 14: Sections on Hinduism and Buddhism
 Presentation
23
 
Selection 14.1: Confucius, Analects
Presentation
24
    
Presentation
Review
Paper Due
25 Test 2
Previous Versions of this Class