Philosophy 101F

Syllabus

Instructor: Daniel Estrada

Office: 400E Greg Hall

Hours: W 1-4pm & by appt.

Email: djestrada@gmail.com

Course website: http://phil101.eripsa.org

Course Description:

This course will survey a variety of important issues in the history of philosophy, including the nature of thought and consciousness, the relationship between mind and body, and the possibility of artificial intelligence. In the second half of the course, we will use this philosophical background to approach the difficult contemporary question of technology. This course satisfies the general education requirements for Historical and Philosophical Perspectives.

Course Materials (Required):

Meditations on First Philosophy by Rene Descartes

Natural Born Cyborgs by Andy Clark

On the Internet by Hubert Dreyfus

Shaping Things by Bruce Sterling

Course Packet available at Notes and Quotes (502 E. John Street, Champaign)

Course Requirements:

Participation on the course website is mandatory. Due dates are given in the schedule.

Each student is responsible for making a minimum of FOUR ORIGINAL TOPICS on the course website, and for contributing a total of FORTY REPLIES on other students’ topics over the semester. Although due dates are given, students are encouraged to use the website well in advance of the due dates.

Topics: Each thread should be a 400-700 word (1-2 page) discussion on some topic relevant to the class discussion or materials. You may summarize the reading in your own words, discuss your own view on an issue, put forward arguments for or against a position, and/or raise a question about the material, lecture, or class discussion. In all cases, the post should be no less than a page in length, and should tie directly into material discussed in class (hint: quotations are good!) Instructions for how to post a topic are on the course website.

Replying: Each student is also responsible for replying to other posts. To get credit, a reply must be between 60-120 words (roughly, a paragraph). You can voice agreement through further clarification or textual support, or disagreement through productive argumentation or counterexamples. You can also elaborate on an argument given in the original post. Saying “I agree with this post” isn’t enough; you must give reasons why and support your position.

Using the course website is a way for students to engage in the course material through peer interaction, discussion, and debate beyond the severe time restrictions of the classroom environment. Therefore, your grade will reflect how seriously you are engaged in online discussions and debates.

Papers: Students are responsible for two papers during the semester. These papers will serve as your midterm and final. Papers should be typed, double spaced, and in a standard font.

All papers must be submitted through TurnItIn before handing in a paper copy. I will not accept papers that have not previously been submitted as files to Turnitin. Go to www.turnitin.com to register with the Phil 101F course.

Class ID:  2142969 

Password: ThinkHard

Turnitin will provide an "originality report" comparing your paper to on-line sources as well as papers from the past that it has stored in its databases. In the case that you forget to cite a passage, it should alert you to the passage that you should make sure you quote and reference. Most papers should consist of 5-15% quoted and/or referenced material and 85-95% original material. 

Midterm: One 5-7 page paper. Topics will be handed out 2 weeks before the due date.

Final: One 7-10 page paper. Topics will be handed out 2 weeks before the due date.

Participation: 10% of the grade will be given based on attendance in class and participation both in class and online. Students are required to leave a comment each week on a thread left by the instructor on that week’s readings and lecture. Failure to leave this weekly comment will result in a lowered participation grade. Extra credit may be given for those who go well beyond the course requirements.

Class Policy

Late work: Assignments for the course website will not be accepted late. You have plenty of time to write your posts and comments, so there is absolutely no excuse for late work. Also, do not attempt to alter the timestamp on posts or comments, the RSS feed will tell me when they were posted.

Papers will be deducted 5% for each day late unless a valid excuse can be produced. Electronic submissions will not be accepted unless preapproved.

Plagiarism: The University of Illinois has a strict code for academic integrity set out in "Article 1, Part 4" of the University Student Code. According to the code, using material from an uncited source as if it were your own is an academic violation and not to be tolerated. (It is tantamount to a theft of ideas.) Ignorance about the code will not serve as an excuse for infractions. Plagiarizers are treated as violators of the code of academic integrity; their work is sent to the Dean's Office where it is kept on record, and repeat offenders are usually suspended or even asked to leave the university. For precise details about what "plagiarism" means and how it is dealt with, please consult the following web address: http://www.admin.uiuc.edu/policy/code/article_1/a1_1-402.html. If, for some reason, you cannot use the internet, you may ask me for a paper copy of Article 1, Part 4.

If you are caught plagiarizing, you may fail the course and/or be subject to disciplinary action (i.e. suspension or expulsion) from the department and the Dean’s office. If you have any questions, now or throughout the semester about what constitutes plagiarism, please feel free to see me during office hours to discuss your concerns.

Grade breakdown:

Course Website: 400

Topics: 50 pts x 4

Two before midterm

Two after midterm

Replies: 5 pts x 40

Twenty before midterm

Twenty after midterm

Papers: 500

Midterm: 200 pts

Final: 300 pts

Participation: 100

Reading and Lecture comments

Total: 1000

Grading will be on a straight scale. Percentages are as follows:

A+: 97-100 B+: 87-89 C+: 77-79 D+: 67-69 F: Below 60

A: 94-96 B: 84-86 C: 74-76 D: 64-66

A-: 90-93 B-: 80-83 C-: 70-73 D-: 60-63

Tentative Schedule:

The following is a breakdown of readings by week, along with assignment due dates.

Week	Topics and Reading	Assignments
1/15 – 1/17	Introduction. Syllabus. Plato.
1/22 – 1/24	Aristotle. Descartes, Meditations
1/29 – 1/31	Descartes, Meditations	Topic 1 Due (1/31)
2/5 – 2/7	Descartes, Meditations
2/12 – 2/14	Cognitive Science, AI, Turing.
2/19 – 2/21	Searle. Class Debate.	Topic 2 Due (2/21)
2/26 – 2/28	Midterm Review. Unit 1 wrap up. Class Discussion.	Midterm paper topics handed out (2/28) 20 Replies Due (2/28)
3/4 – 3/6	Kline. Aristotle. Marx.
3/11 – 3/13	Gehlen	Midterm Due (3/13)
3/18 – 3/20	SPRING BREAK
3/25 – 3/27	Heidegger	Topic 3 Due (3/29)
4/1 – 4/3	Clark, Natural Born Cyborgs
4/8 – 4/10	Dreyfus, On the Internet
4/15 – 4/17	Unit 2 wrap up. Class Debate. Class discussion. Final review.	Final paper topics handed out (4/15) Topics 4 Due (4/17)
4/22 – 4/24	Sterling, Shaping Things	20 Comments Due (4/24)
4/29	Course wrap up.
5/2		Final Paper Due