PHIL 101

Self, World, & God

Distance Education

Dr. Jeff Johnson

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What follows is so self-evident to me that I have never stated explicitly in words.  But there seems to be a persistent misunderstanding, so here goes.  There are video-lectures that go with this course.  Viewing them is essential to doing well in the course.  They are a formal requirement.  Just as though you could hardly expect to do well in a course you never attended, trying to take this course without watching the video-lectures is just as foolhardy.

The video-lectures are only available by rental through the Eastern Oregon University Bookstore.  This means that even if you use other resources to find the assigned texts for the course, you will still need to contact the Bookstore to get the video-lectures.  Here is a link to the Bookstore:

http://www.eoubookstore.com/

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The three exams for this course are all on-line.  They are timed (two hours), but completely open-book, open-note, and do not require a proctor.  The exams will be available in Blackboard in the "Assignments" folder.  Very important!  The exams may only be opened ONE TIME during the two-hour block you intend to take the exam.

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This quarter in Self, World, & God, we will be addressing some of the most basic and important questions in the history of western philosophical thinking.  What is knowledge?  Is it possible?  Is there evidence for or against the existence of God?  What is the relationship between humans and the rest of the biological world?  What is the relationship between mind and body?

We will be carefully reading three excellent texts, all of which are available on-line:

• Meditations by Rene Descartes

• Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion by David Hume

• On-line readings on mind

In addition, we will be watching some excellent Hollywood movies that nicely raise relevant philosophical questions.  You will be expected to view at least six of the following films.  DDE students should plan to rent these films

• The Matrix

• Regarding Henry

• Awakenings

• A Brief History of Time

• Inherit the Wind

• A Midnight Clear

• Schindler's List

• The Sixth Sense

• Nell

• A.I.

• Minority Report

The movie prompts are in the "Assignments" folder in Blackboard

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UWR Writing Intensive Outcomes:

• Students will produce at least 3,000 words (including drafts, in-class writing, informal papers, and polished papers); 1,000 words of this total should be in polished papers which students have revised after receiving feedback and criticism.

• Students will be introduced to the discourse forms appropriate to the discipline the course represents.

• Students will write at least one paper integrating information from at least one source, employing the appropriate documentation style for the discipline represented by the course.

• Students will draft, revise, and edit their formal written work.
  Students will seek assistance from a Writing Tutor in the Writing Lab when needed and when referred by the instructor.

Additional Outcomes:

• Understand the philosophical and scientific controversies concerning evidence evaluation, Descartes' Meditations, Hume's Dailogues, natural selection, and philosophical psychology.

• Read philosophical texts critically and with understanding.

• Critically view cinema dealing with philosophical issues.

• Write effectively about philosophical and scientific controversies.

• Write effectively about philosophical issues in contemporary cinema

Means of Assessment and Grading:

• Three, open-book, non-proctored, timed, on-line essay examinations.  (20% each) (outcomes 1,2, and 4)

• A 1000 to 1500 words analytical paper on assigned topic -- 30% of course grade. (outcomes 1, 2, and 4)

• A portofolio of five short (300 to 400 words) on assigned movies -- 10% of course grade. (outcomes 3 and 5)

• Please note: a grade of at least C- is required in order for this course to count toward the University Writing Requirement 

The analytical paper assignment is in the "Assignments" folder in Blackboard.

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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.

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DDE CALENDAR

The calendar lists lecture and reading topics, links to on-line

readings, links to PowerPoint slides, and movies, as well as

occasional note to look for documents in the Course Documents folder.