Instructor: Ronald C. Pine, PhD
office: Bldg 7, Rm 625
phone: 845-9163 (& voice mail)
email: pine@hcc.hawaii.edu
web: http://home.honolulu.hawaii.edu/~pine/
- 1 hour in class = 2 hours outside class
- English 22 or placement in English 100.
- Word processing and Internet Skills.
- Discovering Philosophy, by Thomas I. White
- Great
philosophical issues, theories,
and
controversies.
- An introductory course addressing the relevance of
philosophical
perspectives
and issues for living in the modern world. Traditional philosophers and
philosophical fields will be covered with a constant emphasis on the
application
of concepts and controversies for making decisions in one's life.
- Traditional fields covered include: value clarification,
ethics and
theories of the good life, political philosophy, epistemology, and
philosophy
of religion and metaphysics. Both Western and Eastern philosophical
perspectives
will be covered.
- Each student will be asked to participate critically in evaluating various philosophical perspectives through written exams and assignments.
- an understanding the relevance of philosophical discussion
for one's
daily
and
major life decisions;
- an understanding of the basic fields of philosophy and the
philosophy of
major
philosophical
figures;
- clarification of one's values and philosophical
perspectives, and
the
practice
of ethical deliberation.
- Introduction -- applied philosophy, some examples.
- Meaning in life, theories of happiness, and the Good Life.
- What should we do? Ethics and political philosophy.
- What can we know? Epistemology and theories of evidence.
- What is the nature of reality? Metaphysics and philosophy of religion.
- Final Exam -- 100 pts..
- 10 quizzes, 20 pts. each.
- Class Participation via Internet Bulletin Board -- 100 pts.
The final grade will be based on class participation and a percentage of the total points as follows:
90-100%---A
80-89%----B
66-79%----C
55-65%----D
-54%----F, N or Inc.
Please note that the "N"and "Inc." grades are given only for special circumstances.
Final Note:
The course goals are perhaps best represented by the following quote from the 18th century philosopher-physicist Immanuel Kant.
What can I know?What should I do?
For what may I hope?
What does it mean to be human?