Philo 1 Course Guide Ft 2013

COURSE GUIDE FOR PHILOSOPHY 1 University of the Philippines Open University First Term, AY 2013-2014 COURSE CODE AND TITLE PHILO 1

Philosophical Analysis

COURSE DESCRIPTION Application of basic concepts, skills, and principles drawn from the Philosophy of Language, Symbolic Logic, Epistemology, Philosophy of Science, and Ethics Greetings! Welcome to your Philosophy 1 class. I wouldn’t at all be surprised if this is the first time you will be taking a philosophy course in school. Unlike courses in mathematics, English and science, to which you have been exposed to since primary education, very few students get the chance to take a philosophy course in elementary and high schools as philosophy is seldom included in our elementary and high school curricula. Thus, although you may have heard of names of renowned philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle and may have formed impressions on them and on what they do as philosophers, the question as to whether you have created the wrong or the right notions may still be lingering in your head. So, what really is philosophy? What is its value? What are its concerns? Who do we call philosophers? Is this name only reserved for the great minds? What does it mean to philosophize and when do we call a subject or an issue philosophical? Our lesson will begin with topics that are directed towards answering these questions as a way of introducing you to philosophy. You will be familiarized with seven of its divisions (Metaphysics, Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Religion, Epistemology, Philosophy of Art, Socio-Political Philosophy and Ethics) and with selected philosophical issues in order to give you a clearer grasp of the nature and concerns of philosophy. The second part of the course will teach you valuable knowledge, concepts and skills that can be drawn from different areas of philosophy such as philosophy of language, epistemology, logic and ethics. These include the skill to analyze concepts, the ability to determine the truth or falsity of statements, the aptitude to evaluate the validity of arguments and the facility to analyze moral situations using selected ethical theories. All these philosophical concepts and skills are deemed helpful in transforming you into a “critical thinker,” which is the foremost goal of Philosophy 1. COURSE GOALS: Philosophy 1 aspires to familiarize you with the nature and concerns of Page 1 of 13

Course Guide for Philosophy 1 - First Term, AY 2013-2014

Prof. Arlyn V. Pinpin-Macapinlac, FIC

philosophy and to enhance your appreciation for this field of study and for philosophy as a mental activity. It also endeavors to make you realize that you are a thinking being. As such, you have the ability to inquire, to understand, to closely listen and critically examine ideas of others and of yourself and to reason and reflect on various human concerns. The primary goal of the course is to arm you with philosophical skills and tools that can help maximize these mental capacities and transform you into a critical thinker. It seeks to develop your reasoning and analytical skills and your ability to apply these to various problems and issues. These skills are vital not only to your life as a student and as a professional but also to your growth as a person. These skills, when properly cultivated and applied, can help bring you closer to living a more reflective and more meaningful life.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: At the end of the course you should be able to: 1. 2. 3. 4.

articulate the nature and value of philosophy identify divisions of philosophy and their concerns recognize and discuss selected philosophical issues understand, discuss and apply concepts and skills drawn from different areas of philosophy such as philosophy of language, epistemology, logic and ethics to various problems and issues 5. instill in yourself a sense of critical inquiry 6. enhance your appreciation for philosophy as a mental activity COURSE MATERIALS Upon enrolment, you will receive the following materials: 1. this Course Guide 2. the seventh edition of Prof. Andresito E. Acuna’s Philosophical Analysis 3. photocopy of my lecture on “Rationalism and Empiricism” (Note:

Please watch out for additional reading materials that I will upload at our course site)

COURSE OUTLINE PART I: INTRODUCTION A. What is Philosophy B. The Nature of Philosophy Page 2 of 13



C. The Value of Philosophy D. Divisions of Philosophy E. Sample Philosophical Problems PART II: PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS A. PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE/EPISTEMOLOGY 1. ANALYSIS OF CONCEPTS a. Words and Concepts b. Problem of Meaning (1) Referential Theory of Meaning (Bertrand Russell) (2) Use Theory of Meaning (Ludwig Wittgenstein) c. Intension and Extension of Concepts d. Ambiguous and Vague Concepts e. Types of Concepts f. Definitions 2. ANALYSIS OF STATEMENTS a. b. c. d. e. f.

Sentences and Statements Three Laws of Thought Ambiguous and Vague Statements Rationalism and Empiricism Epistemological Types of Knowledge Claims Method of Validation

B. LOGIC 1. Sentences, Representations and Truth Values a. Kinds of Statements b. The Logical Connectives Used c. Classification of Compound Statements d. Representing Statements e. Truth Tables 2. Formal Reasoning a. Basic Structure of Arguments b. Representation of Arguments c. Testing Validity of Arguments Using the Truth Table Method d. Five Basic Deductive Argument Forms (modus ponens, modus tollens, hypothetical syllogism, fallacy of affirming the consequent and fallacy of denying the antecedent) 3. Informal Reasoning a. The Subject Matter of Informal Logic b. Informal Fallacies C. ETHICS

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ANALYSIS OF ETHICAL SYSTEMS 1. The Subject Matter of Ethics 2. Types of Ethical Theory 3. John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarian Ethics 4. Immanuel Kant’s Duty Ethics D. PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS OF SELECTED CONTEMPORARY ISSUES (Group Paper) COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING You will be evaluated based on your performance on the following course requirements: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Midterm (25%) and Final Examinations (25%) Group Philosophical Paper (GPP) Participation in online discussion (DB) Assignment

50 % 20% 15% 15% ____ 100%

As a student of this class, you are expected to: 1. post an answer to the discussion board question about a selected philosophical topic. In the forum, you are not only expected to post an answer to my philosophical question but you must also be ready to respond to the reactions of your classmates as you are also enjoined to react and critically examine the ideas presented by at least one classmate. Thus, you must post at least 3 messages on the topic: (a) your response to my question; (b) your reactions or insights on the presented ideas of at least one classmate; and (c) your response to at least one reaction of your classmate to defend or clarify your point. In case letter c cannot be accomplished because no one reacted on your post, you can add another reaction/insight on the presented ideas of your other classmates to replace letter c. Please take note also that it is alright to change your position or your take on the issue if after a careful scrutiny of your very own thoughts, you find very good reasons to abandon your original position and embrace a new stand. In other words, it is healthy to change your mind provided that you have very good reasons for doing so. Your reason, in case you decide to change your position, must be well-explained. Page 4 of 13



Please be reminded also that since interactions will be done on-line, a reliable internet access is a must. 2. thoroughly read all the assigned readings and handouts. In addition, you are highly encouraged to answer the module exercises in assigned portions of Philosophical Analysis. After completing your answers to the exercises, check them against the provided answer key to monitor how well you grasped the lessons. 3. produce a well-thought of answer to the assignment and turn it in on the announced submission schedule. (**Take note that all the deadlines set are non-negotiable). 4. earn a passing mark (60%) in the midterm and final examinations. Below is the equivalent grade of your raw scores: RAW SCORES 98-100 95-97 90-94 85-89 80-84 75-79 70-74 65-69 60-64 55-59 0-54

EQUIVALENT GRADE 1.0 Excellent 1.25 1.5 Very Good 1.75 2.0 Good 2.25 2.5 Satisfactory 2.75 3.0 Pass 4.0 Conditional 5.0 Fail

5. collaborate with your groupmates on how your group project can demonstrate your (1) good grasp of pertinent philosophical concepts and skills and (2) ability to correctly apply them to the given issue. You must strive to produce a good philosophical paper on the topic that will be assigned to your group. 6. strictly follow the announced submission schedules.

STUDY SCHEDULE

Below is the study plan for the course. Please be guided accordingly.

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TOPICS

STUDY SCHEDULE

READINGS

ACTIVITIES (Deadlines)

PART I: INTRODUCTION A.

What is Philosophy

B.

The Nature of Philosophy

C.

The Value of Philosophy

D.

Divisions of Philosophy

E.

Sample Philosophical Problems

“Philosophy” by Sprague and Taylor “What is Philosophy” part 1 of my Rationalism-Empiricism lecture “The Nature of Philosophy” by Mourant and Freund “The Value of Philosophy” by Bertrand Russell “The Nature of Philosophy” by Mourant and Freund

May 4- May 17 (2 weeks)

DB: May 18 –June 14 (4 weeks) GP: June 15-21

PART II: PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS A. PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE/ EPISTEMOLOGY 1. ANALYSIS OF CONCEPTS a. Words and Concepts

May 18- 31 (2 weeks) - Unit I: Module 1 of Philosophical Analysis, 4th ed (PA) - Unit I: Module 1 of Philosophical Analysis, 7th ed (PA*)

Assignment: June 7- July 5 (4 weeks)

b. Problem of Meaning (1) Referential Theory of Meaning (B.Russell) (2) Use Theory of Meaning (L. Wittgenstein)

c. Intension and Extension of Concepts d. Ambiguous and Vague Concepts e. Types of Concepts f. Definitions (Types of Definition, Rules in Composing Good Definitions) 2. ANALYSIS OF STATEMENTS a. Sentences and Statements b. Three Laws of Thought c. Ambiguous and Vague Statements d. Rationalism and Empiricism e. Epistemological Types of Knowledge Claims f. Method of Validation

-Unit I:Modules2-4of PA -Unit I: Module 3 of PA* -Unit I: Module 2 of PA* - Unit I: Modules 3 & 5 of PA* -Unit I: Module 4 of PA* Unit I: Module 6 & 7 of PA* June 1-June 7 (1 week) - Unit II: Modules 1-5 of PA* - part 2 of my Rationalism and Empiricism lecture

MIDTERM EXAMINATION

TOPICS B. LOGIC 1. SENTENCES, REPRESENTATIONS AND TRUTH VALUES a. Kinds of Statements b. The Logical Connectives Used Page 6 of 13

JUNE 15

STUDY SCHEDULE

READINGS

Midterm Exam: June 15

ACTIVITIES (Deadlines)

June 8-June 28 (3 weeks) - Unit III: Modules 1-3 of PA* - Copi and Cohen’s



c.

Classification of Compound Statements d. Representing Statements e. Truth Tables 2. FORMAL REASONING a. Basic Structure of Arguments b. Representation of Arguments c. Testing Validity of Arguments Using the Truth Table Method d. Five Basic Argument Forms 3. INFORMAL REASONING a. The Subject Matter of Informal Logic b. Informal Fallacies

Introduction to Logic

- Unit III: Modules 4-7 of PA* - Copi and Cohen’s Introduction to Logic

Unit IV: Modules 1-5 of PA* Copi and Cohen’s Introduction to Logic

C. ETHICS ANALYSIS OF ETHICAL SYSTEMS a. b. c. d.

The Subject Matter of Ethics Types of Ethical Theory John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarian Ethics Immanuel Kant’s Duty Ethics

June 29-July 12 (2 weeks) - Unit V: Modules 1-4 of PA* - “What Utilitarianism Is” by John Stuart Mill - “Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals” by Immanuel Kant

D. PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS OF SELECTED CONTEMPORARY ISSUES

July 13- July 26 (2 weeks)

FINAL EXAMINATION

JULY 27

Submission of Group Philosophical Paper: July 20-26 Final Exam: July 27

ACTIVITIES/ASSIGNMENTS Carefully read and follow the general guidelines for your DB Postings (Forum), Assignment, and Group Philosophical Paper (GPP). GPP, Assignment and DB topics/questions will be announced later at our course site. GUIDELINES FOR PARTICIPATING IN ONLINE DISCUSSION (DB) 1. Read the question carefully before posting your answers. 2. Make sure to follow the given instructions. 3. Keep the discussion within the confines of the specified topic. 4. There must only be one thread per question per group. This means that all the members of the group must follow the thread started by their groupmate who first posted an answer to the given question. Take note that I will not read and grade the answers that are posted outside the original thread. 5. Post at least 3 messages: (1) your response to my question; (2) your reactions or insights on the presented ideas of at least one groupmate; and (3) your response to Page 7 of 13



at least one reaction of your groupmate to defend or clarify your point. Reactions (whether it is an expression of approval or disapproval) must be clearly explained and must be well-supported. In case number 3 cannot be accomplished because no one reacted to your post, you can add another reaction/insight on the presented ideas of your other classmates to replace # 3. 6. Take note that there are no right and wrong opinions; there are only more intelligible and well-supported opinions. Always endeavor to present clear and wellsubstantiated ideas. 7. Keep an open mind and a respectful attitude towards the other members of your group. 8. Your active participation in the forum, the clarity of your presented points and the strength of your justifications, as well as the observance of proper decorum, will be the criteria for the determination of your DB grade. 9. Please be reminded also that since interactions will be done online, a reliable internet access is a must. 10. You will be given one more week after the specified period of posting to register your reactions (just your reactions) if you are unable to do so on the date indicated. 11. The indicated schedule for posting will be observed strictly. Take note that answers or reactions beyond this specified period will not merit points. DB : Topic/Question: to be announced later on the course site Period of Posting: May 18- June 14 (4 weeks) Grace Period for Posting Reactions: June 15-21

GUIDELINES FOR ANSWERING ASSIGNMENT 1.

Carefully read and follow the instructions.

2.

Upload your assignment on the Assignment bin that will appear at our course site.

3.

Your assignment must be an MS Word document with file name

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Assignment_yourfullname.doc 4.

Make sure to write the following information on the first page of your answer to your assignment: Complete name of student: Juan dela Cruz Assignment topic: On Philosophical Issue X

5.

Subject: Philosophy 1 Date submitted: July 5, 2013

The following will be the main criteria for the determination of your Assignment grade: Correctness Consistency, coherence and clarity of presented ideas Strength of justifications Depth of reflections/insights

6.

Please watch out for the online announcement of the topic/question for your Assignment.

7.

Strictly follow the submission schedule. The deadline is non-negotiable. Assignment: topic will be announced later at the course site Schedule of Submission: June 7- July 5 (4 weeks)

8.

Take note that the deadline for the submission of Assignment is July 5, 2013, 11:55 pm. This means that the submission bin will close at exactly 11:55 pm of July 5, 2013.

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING YOUR GROUP PHILOSOPHICAL PAPER (GPP) 1. Carefully read and follow the instructions. 2. The topic of your group paper will be announced later. 3. Your group must elect/designate your group leader who will be responsible for mobilizing the members of your group to accomplish your assigned task. Watch out for the forum that I will be creating especially for this purpose. 4. Take note that you are not allowed to utilize the forum at our course site to discuss your group stand and arguments for your group paper. Your exchanges in the forum can also be read by other members of our class who do not belong to your group. Please find other ways how you can accomplish your tasks like creating an e-group for this group project, using ym, skype or whatever it is that you think can help you.

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5. Your group paper should contain the following: On the first page: Subject: Group Name: Group Project:

Philosophy 1 Socrates Group Topic X (to be announced later)

Date Submitted: Group Leader: Group Members:

July 26, 2013 Juan de la Cruz

Note: Write only the names [complete names] of your groupmates who contributed in the writing of your group paper. Students whose names will not appear in the list will automatically get a grade of 5.0 for this requirement. If you contributed, make sure to double-check if your name is in the list before your group paper is submitted to me. The list that appears on the group paper will be incontestable once it is submitted. On the paper proper: I.

Analysis of the Morality of issue X using the basic tenets of Utilitarian and Duty Ethics Your group paper must be able to answer the following guide questions: A. John Stuart Mill on issue X 1. What are the basic tenets of J.S. Mill’s Utilitarian Ethics? Clearly discuss.** 2. How would you apply the basic principles of Utilitarian Ethics to analyze the morality of X? 3. Is X morally justifiable in Utilitarian Ethics? B. Immanuel Kant on issue X 1. What are the basic tenets of Kant’s Duty Ethics?** 2. How would you apply the basic tenets of Kant’s Duty Ethics to analyze the morality of X? 3. Is X morally justifiable in Duty Ethics?

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II.

Insights (Write your group’s insights/reflections/realizations on this group project)

III.

References Make sure to properly document your paper.



(** Please feel free to use other references in addition to Acuna’s Philosophical Analysis to answer items I-A-1 and I-B-1).

6. Once the paper is done, the group leader must upload on or before the deadline the final output of his group on the Group Paper submission bin that will appear on our course site. 7. The soft copy of your group project must be an MS Word document with file name GroupPaper_byyourgroupname.doc 8. The following will be the criteria for grading your group project: a. Organization ( Consistency, coherence and clarity of presented ideas) b. Aptness of ethical principles/concepts applied c. Strength of Arguments d. Depth of philosophical reflections/insights 9. Strictly follow the submission schedule. The deadline is non-negotiable. : GPP: Topic will be announced later at the course site Schedule of Submission: July 20-26, 2013. 10. Please take note that the deadline for the submission of GPP is on July 26, 11:55 pm. This means that the submission bin will close at exactly 11:55 p.m. of July 26. PHILO 1 EXAMINATIONS 1. Examinations will be taken in a face-to-face (proctored) setting at the UPOU Learning Center (LC) or Testing Center. Your LC coordinator will set the time and specific venue of the exam. 2. For students who are based abroad, the arrangements will be made by UPOU’s Virtual Learning Center ([email protected]). 3. The course requires 2 examinations that constitute 50% of your final Philosophy 1 grade. a. MIDTERM EXAM (25%) DATE: June 15, 2013, Saturday VENUE AND TIME: please check these with your respective learning centers COVERAGE: Introduction - Analysis of Statements (a-f)

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TYPE OF EXAM:

To be announced later

b. FINAL EXAM (25%) DATE: July 27, 2013, Saturday VENUE AND TIME: please check these with your respective learning centers COVERAGE: Logic - Ethics TYPE OF EXAM: To be announced later HOUSE RULES 1. Carefully read and strictly follow all the given guidelines/instructions. 2. Make sure that the name that you will use at our course site and in the other course requirements that you will submit is the name you used for registering at UPOU. This corresponds to your MyPortal account name as provided by UPOU’s techsupport team. 3. Upload a “recent photo" of yourself (not a picture of your pet, family, friends, a cartoon character, et cet.) to your profile. 4. You must strictly adhere to the announced submission schedules. Failure to submit a requirement on the indicated date means a 0 or a 5.0 for that missed requirement. This is non-negotiable. 5. In connection with house rule #4, I suggest that you officially drop the course if it is very obvious that your failure to submit requirements as scheduled will only result in obtaining a failing mark in the course. A mark of “DRP” is better than getting a final grade of “5.0.” I suggest the same thing (that you officially drop the course) if you are officially enrolled in this class but for whatever reason decide not to participate in any of our class activities. 6. Observe netiquette in our online discussions. 7. UP students must at all times pursue academic excellence and uphold intellectual integrity. I will not tolerate any form of intellectual dishonesty. I will strictly enforce and uphold the rules of the university regarding this matter. Remember that you can be expelled from the university if you are found guilty of cheating, of claiming the work of someone as your own, or of any other kind of intellectual dishonesty. 8. Regularly check our course site for important announcements. 9. Feel free to contact me via Myportal if you have concerns about the class but give me 2-3 days to respond to your mail. Do not expect me to be on-line 24/7.

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YOUR FIC I am Arlyn V. Pinpin-Macapinlac, an affiliate faculty of the UP Open University since 2009 and a regular faculty member of the Department of Philosophy, University of the Philippines Diliman. I have been teaching philosophy courses since 1993 (in UPLB from June 1993- May 2012; and in UP Diliman from June 2012-present). I earned my BA degree in Communication Arts in UPLB and finished MA Philosophy in UP Diliman. To date, I have already completed my course work in the PhD in Philosophy program of Ateneo de Manila University.

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Philo 1 Course Guide Ft 2013

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