PHIL 203

Critical Thinking

Fall Quarter 2006

Dr. Jeff Johnson

Grade Projection 11/29/06

PHIL 203 is a course on evidence evaluation.  We will be exploring the practical and theoretical applications of a particular model of good evidence -- inference to the best explanation, in practical, scientific, literary, and even theological contexts.  I intend the skills developed in this course to be of value, not only in other Philosophy courses, but in your general academic and professional lives, as well.

The primary text for this course will be a book manuscript that I have recently revised during my sabbatical.  Inferring and Explaining is ultimately designed for use in my course PHIL 101 -- Self, World, & God, but we will take this opportunity to fine-tune the manuscript, and explore some issues in much greater depth than will be possible when the book is used for only one section in the more general into course.  We will also be viewing a remarkable PPS documentary, Evolution, and Mel Gibson's Hollywood version of Hamlet.  Finally well be reading and discussing a few of my professional articles and conference papers dealing with philosophical theology.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The current fad of articulating what are called learning outcomes is nothing more than a formal way of notifying you what I intend this course to accomplish.  I am now convinced that it is very useful to do this.  In the first place, it forces me to clearly conceive the course I intend to teach.  In addition, it allows you to see at the beginning what the course is about, and where it is headed.  As we get into the material the learning outcomes can serve as trail markers as we work our way through this very complicated material.  So in that spirit, here is a list of the concepts and topics with which you should gain some sophisticated understanding by successfully completing this course.

MEANS OF ASSESSMENT

I need to assess your mastery of the material presented in this course for two reasons.  I, of course, need to assign you a grade that reflects the quality of your mastery of this material, the clarity of your thought, as well as your talent at this sort of abstract thinking.  Quite apart from all of this, I need to assess the course itself; has it succeed?  Have I successfully guided you through this difficult and challenging material?  Since Philosophy is very much a written discipline, I will assess your mastery, as well as my pedagogic success, through written prose.  Specifically, you will be assessed through the following:

• Four Blackboard quizzes (10% course grade each)

• Three formal papers (20% course grade each)

ACADEMIC HONESTY

I am including below Eastern's Academic Honesty Code.  It is vitally important that you carefully read it, and that you understand that it is my intention to follow this code to the letter.  I really can't think of a better way to ruin your experience with this course, than to disregard this code.  Obviously, if you have any questions, I can't urge you too strongly to ask me.

ACADEMIC HONESTY CODE

All members of the Eastern Oregon University academic community are responsible for compliance with its Academic Honesty Code. Students are required to report violations to the respective faculty member of a course. Provisions of the Academic Honesty Code are:

1. Collaboration while taking any quizzes, in-class examinations, or take home examinations without the instructor's written approval is forbidden. The faculty member is responsible for defining limits for other collaborative learning activities for each course.
2. Plagiarism or representation of the work of others as one's own is forbidden. The faculty member will make clear the format for properly citing sources of information not original by the student.
3. Explicit approval by all instructors is required if the same work is to be submitted to more than one course, even if is not within the same term.

Violations of the Academic Honesty Code may result in both academic and behavioral penalties including possible suspension or expulsion from the University.

An automatic grade of zero for any work which is a violation of the Academic Honesty Code will be assigned by the instructor. The instructor may also assign a grade of F for the course after discussion with the respective School Dean. Students may appeal the course grade to the respective School Dean, who is the final level of appeal on the matter of course grade penalties for academic dishonesty.

The faculty member is also required to file a disciplinary complaint to the Vice President for Student Affairs about any student believed to have violated the Academic Honesty Code. If deemed appropriate, hearing procedures will be implemented by a University Hearing Officer as outlined in the Code of Student Conduct. Possible sanctions considered by the Student Conduct Committee include probation, suspension, and expulsion.

TENTATIVE CALENDAR