This Thursday I begin my 13th (or 14th?) year of teaching philosophy at Monroe County Community College. I'll have 90 students in three classes - two Intro to Logic classes, and one Philosophy of Religion class. I love teaching these classes! My enthusiasm for them, and for the students who will be in my class, has not diminished.
Here are the abbreviated syllabi for the courses.
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PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION
Course Description: The study of the philosophy of religion concerns philosophical ideas and concepts that are brought to bear on religious issues. The purposes of this course include:
1) To introduce the student to basic issues in the academic discipline of the philosophy of religion.2) To enable the student first of all to understand these issues and then, secondly, to enable the student to evaluate the issues.
3) To engage the student in dialogue about major issues in the philosophy of religion.
4) Students will have learned some new ways of thinking about some of life’s most important issues.
Required Text: Philosophyof Religion: Selected Readings (4th edition), by Peterson, Hasker, et. al.
Grading Procedure:Grades will be determined using the following guidelines:
Students will be evaluated on the basis of:
v Three 10-minute personal interviews
§ Students will know in advance the questions they may be asked
§ These interviews will be given, approximately:
· Mid-late September
· Late October
· The last week of class
v Class attendance and participation
§ Non-attendance will not be penalized.
§ Students who miss more than one class per grading period may NOT attend the exam review.
§ Perfect attendance can raise a marginal grade. If a student has less than excellent attendance then a marginal grade will not be raised. For example, a student who chooses not to attend all the time and receives two “Bs” and one “C” will receive a “C” in the class. The same student, with perfect attendance, though the three grades average less than a 3.0, may receive a 3.0 (“B”) for the class.
v Understanding:
§ E – 0 points - no understanding of the material
§ D – 1 point - poor understanding of the material
§ C – 2 points - Can give the correct answers
§ B – 3 points - Can give the correct answers with evidence of understanding the material
§ A – 4 points - Gives the correct answers, understand the material, and is able to reflect on the material
Specific Course Rules:
- No use of laptops in class; No cell phones; no texting
Methods of Instruction:
- The material we will look at is difficult to understand for students who have no background in academic philosophy. In the class presentations the material will be explained, and questions and comments will be encouraged.
- The material will be constantly repeated.
- Oral exams best demonstrate the students’ comprehension of the material.
Course Objectives:
This course will:
- Give students an overview of some of the major areas in the philosophy of religion.
- Students will grow in their critical thinking skills.
- Students will have an opportunity to discuss some of life’s most important questions.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will:
- Understand 18-24 arguments related to the philosophy of religion.
- Grow in their ability and confidence to orally present these arguments.
- Grow in critical thinking ability.
- Be given a philosophical template from which to evaluate their own worldviews.
Tentative Assignment Calendar
| Day/Date | Topic | Assignment |
| First third of semester | SECTION 1 – Arguments for the Existence of God
| Assigned readings from the book; from handouts |
| Second third of semester | SECTION 2 – The argument from Evil Against the Existence of God
| Assigned readings: from book; from handouts. |
| Third part of semester | SECTION 3 – Misc. arguments in the philosophy of religion
| From the book; from handouts |
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INTRODUCTION TO LOGIC
Course Description: This course concerns making arguments and evaluating arguments. Logic is the area of philosophy that evaluates arguments. Philosophers are interested in issues concerning meaning and truth. A major way to arrive at truth is by using logic. Persons make arguments to explain or persuade or convince others of the truth of some statement. The philosopher then asks – is the argument “logical?” If the argument is not logical, then it need not be believed.
Grading Procedure:
Grades will be determined using the following guidelines:
· Six in-class exams
· 90-100 = A; 80-89 = B; 70-79 = C; 60-69 = D; below 60 = Fail
· Exam #1 will be on Vaughn Ch. 1 – “The Power of Critical Thinking”
· Exam #2 will be on Vaughn Ch. 2 – “Obstacles to Critical Thinking”
· Exam #3 will be on Vaughn Ch. 3 – “Making Sense of Arguments”
· Exam #4 will be on – Symbolic Logic (We will not use Vaughn here.)
· Exam #5 will be on Vaughn Ch. 4 – “Reasons for Belief and Doubt”
· Exam #6 will be on Vaugn, Ch. 5 - “Faulty Reasoning” (on informal logical fallacies)
· Attendance and participation
· Excellent attendance and participation may raise a borderline grade to the next level.
· Students will not be penalized for non-attendance.
· Students who do not have excellent attendance will not be allowed to make up an exam they have missed. Students who have excellent attendance may be allowed to make up an exam they have missed with the instructor’s permission.
· Perfect attendance can raise a marginal grade. If a student has less than excellent attendance then a marginal grade will not be raised. For example, a student who chooses not to attend all the time and receives two “80s” and one “79” will receive a “C” in the class. The same student, with perfect attendance, though the three grades average less than an 80, may receive an 80 (“B”) for the class.
Specific Course Rules:
- No use of laptops in class
- No cell phones; no texting
Methods of Instruction:
- The textbook will definitely be used
- I will explain – in detail – the relevant sections of the textbook
- Doing the exercises in the textbook will definitely help you learn the material
- Doing the “Integrative Exercises” at the end of each section will help you prepare for the exam.
- I will treat this course as a true “introduction
- Thus I will assume no one knows anything about logic and begin from there
- We will do in-class logic exercises, all of which are relevant to the exams
- I will let you know exactly the kind of questions that will be on the exam.
- I will present periodic logical arguments on what I hope will be interesting and even controversial topics
- In presenting my arguments I will refer to and utilize principles of logic
- I invite disagreement with my arguments
- I will challenge disagreement – hopefully logically so
- And, I will probably be challenged and learn from the process
- The 6 exams are part of the learning experience
- You will know exactly what kind of questions will be on the exams
- This focuses your study so that you study exactly what I want you to learn
- Note: Exam #4 is the most math-oriented section
- A NOTE ON LOGIC: What we will do in preparation for exam #5 strengthens analytic reasoning ability. “Logic” is hard-wired into the human brain. These exercises build and strengthen neural connections that have to do with analytic ability.
Course Objectives:
- Presentation of basic concepts of logical thinking.
- Demonstration, in argumentation using logical thinking, of various arguments.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Students will grow in their critical thinking skills.
- Students will learn to formulate and evaluate arguments as to their reasonableness.
- Students will have an opportunity to use their critical thinking skills to discuss some of life’s most important questions.
