Introduction to Philosophy PHIL Fall 2017, T/R 11:00 am 12:15 pm. Instructor: Anthony Vincent Fernandez

Transcription

1 Introduction to Philosophy PHIL Fall 2017, T/R 11:00 am 12:15 pm Instructor: Anthony Vincent Fernandez Office Phone: University Office Hours: T/R 1:15 pm 3:45 pm, Bowman Hall, 320-H Course Information Required Texts Descartes, René. Discourse on Method and Meditations on First Philosophy, trans. Donald A. Cress. 4th revised edition. Hackett, ISBN: Beauvoir, Simone de. The Second Sex, trans. Constance Borde and Sheila Malovany- Chevallier. Vintage Books, ISBN: Fanon, Frantz. Black Skin, White Masks, trans. Richard Philcox. Grove Press, ISBN: Course Description Philosophers are typically concerned with reason and the intellect. However, in order to properly understand the mind, one also needs to properly understand the body. This course explores conceptions of the body in Ancient, Early Modern, and Twentieth- Century Philosophy. The first part of the course covers Ancient Greek conceptions of the nature of the soul and its relation to the body in Plato s Phaedo and The Republic, and Aristotle s De Anima. The second part covers René Descartes mind-body dualism in Meditations on First Philosophy, and his correspondence with Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia. The third part turns to philosophies of particular bodies, including the philosophy of feminine and gendered embodiment in the work of Simone de Beauvoir and Iris Marion Young, and the philosophy of black and racialized embodiment in the work of Frantz Fanon, Lewis Gordon, and George Yancy. Course Learning Outcomes and Expectations There are two kinds of learning outcomes and expectations for this course: (1) knowledge and (2) skills. By the end of the course, students should display a basic understanding of major themes in Ancient, Early Modern, and Twentieth-Century philosophy, with a strong understanding of historical conceptions of human embodiment including the relation between the mind and the body, the role of the body in experience and 1

2 perception, and the place of embodiment in twentieth-century conceptions of gender and race. Students should also develop strong skills in academic research and writing, including how to read, understand, and summarize philosophical texts; conduct extensive research and obtain both digital and in-print resources; and formulate and defend a clear philosophical thesis. Course Fulfilment of University Requirements Kent Core-Humanities: This course may be used to satisfy a Kent Core requirement. The Kent Core as a whole is intended to broaden intellectual perspectives, foster ethical and humanitarian values, and prepare students for responsible citizenship and productive careers. Diversity Global: This course may be used to satisfy the University Diversity requirement. Diversity courses provide opportunities for students to learn about such matters as the history, culture, values and notable achievements of people other than those of their own national origin, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, gender, physical and mental ability, and social class. Diversity courses also provide opportunities to examine problems and issues that may arise from differences, and opportunities to learn how to deal constructively with them. Course Prerequisites None Add, Drop, and Withdraw Dates The last date to add is 09/03/17 The last date to drop is 09/10/17 The last date to withdraw is 11/05/17 University policy requires all students to be officially registered in each class they are attending. Students who are not officially registered for a course by published deadlines should not be attending classes and will not receive credit or a grade for the course. Each student must confirm enrollment by checking his/her class schedule (using Student Tools in FlashLine) prior to the deadline indicated. Registration errors must be corrected prior to the deadline. Assignments Grade Distribution Participation 20% Reading Responses 15% Exegetical Essay 20% Style Essay 15% Research Essay Proposal 5% Research Essay 25% 2

3 Total 100% Participation (20%) You must read the assigned text before each class meeting and prepare for discussion. Regular participation is defined as weekly contributions to class discussion (e.g., by asking or answering questions, offering clarifications, or engaging in constructive debate). Reading Responses (15%) A brief (1 paragraph) reading response must be submitted each week (you may select which day s reading you will write your response for). The response is due by midnight the day before class, but earlier submissions are appreciated. In addition, you may submit additional reading responses each week if you find them helpful. However, you must submit at least one response in each week of the semester. Individual responses do not receive letter grades they are simply marked complete/incomplete. The overall reading response grade is determined by the number of responses you submit (one response per week will receive full credit). Reading responses achieve two aims. First, they allow you to engage with the reading prior to lecture and discussion. This provides you with the opportunity to articulate your own interpretation, express any difficulties you encountered in understanding the reading, or draw links with other course readings or personal experience. Second, they allow me to assess your individual take on the readings, as well as the class s overall comprehension. Reading responses are due the day before our meeting (rather than during the meeting) because I use these responses to tailor the content and methods of lectures and discussions to your individual and collective needs. In many cases, I will also reply to your responses with individual feedback prior to the class meeting, providing a medium for us to discuss particular issues you had with the reading in more detail. Exegetical Essay (20%) The first essay will be assigned on Thursday, September 21 st. I will post a series of essay questions online. You will select one essay question and write a brief, 1,000-word answer. Essays must be brought to class on Tuesday, Oct. 3 rd, to participate in a guided peerreview session. After the peer-review session you will have an additional week to submit your final draft. This essay is not a research project. It is an exercise in interpreting and articulating a historical text in your own words. I recommend that you do not conduct outside research. However, if you do use any outside sources, they must be properly cited. Style Essay (15%) The second essay will be assigned when you have selected your final paper topic and constructed an annotated bibliography. The purpose of this assignment is to prepare you to write high quality academic research papers. You will select one piece of secondary literature to use for your research essay one that you believe is excellently written and write a 1,000-word paper about what makes it excellent. You might discuss word choice; sentence, paragraph, and section structure; rhetorical devices; quality of research and referencing methods; clarity; rigor; and so on. We all have a sense of whether a piece of 3

4 writing is strong or weak, but we often have trouble articulating just what it is that gives the work its distinctive style and quality. By analyzing the style of a piece of secondary literature, you will learn how to write high quality academic papers. The second essay will not have a revision stage. However, I will provide feedback on this essay before you submit your research essay. Research Essay (5% Proposal, 25% Essay) The research essay will be due by Friday, December 15 th, and is expected to be a highquality piece of scholarship that displays (1) your understanding of the course material, (2) your ability to conduct independent research, and (3) your ability to write in an effective academic style (focusing primarily on clarity of expression). I will supply a list of possible topics for your research essay. You will select one topic and prepare a proposal with annotated bibliography to be submitted on Tuesday, November 7 th. The proposal should be words, and must include a thesis statement and a brief outline of how you intend to defend and support your thesis. The annotated bibliography must include at least four journal articles or book chapters that you have obtained through independent research. Your annotations should include a brief summary of the article and an explanation of what role the article will play in your paper (e.g., support for your interpretation of a primary text, or example of a position you will argue against). Full details for the research essay will be provided during the in-class research and plagiarism workshop. The research essay will be 2,000 words. Course and University Policies Attendance You are expected to read the assigned texts before the class meeting, prepare for discussion, and attend class regularly. Attendance will be taken throughout the semester, and low attendance will have a negative impact on your participation grade. After one unexcused absence, each additional unexcused absence will result in a deduction of two points off your participation grade, to a maximum of 20 points deducted (the full participation grade). If you have a legitimate reason for missing class, you must inform me and supply documentation within one week of returning to class. Otherwise, the absences will be considered unexcused. For more information on university attendance policies, including legitimate reasons for absence, please see Extra Credit Extra credit may be assigned at my discretion. If extra credit is assigned it will be offered to the entire class. Extra credit will not be offered on an individual basis. 4

5 Technology I discourage the use of phones, tablets, laptops, or similar devices in the classroom. There is considerable evidence that typing your notes rather than writing them by hand reduces both comprehension and retention. However, I understand that you may have invested heavily in the use of note taking programs that you find beneficial. In light of this, you may use tablets or laptops in class, but the use of these devices for non-class related activities will not be allowed. The use of phones is never allowed in class. Cheating and Plagiarism University policy deals with the problem of academic dishonesty, cheating, and plagiarism. None of these will be tolerated in this class. The sanctions provided in this policy will be used to deal with any violations. If you have any questions, please read the policy at and/or ask. A workshop on research and plagiarism will be conducted prior to the submission of the final research paper. Students with Disabilities University policy requires that students with disabilities be provided reasonable accommodations to ensure their equal access to course content. If you have a documented disability and require accommodations, please contact the instructor at the beginning of the semester to make arrangements for necessary classroom adjustments. Please note, you must first verify your eligibility for these through Student Accessibility Services (contact or visit for more information on registration procedures). 5

6 Schedule of Readings Items marked with (B) are on Blackboard Tuesday, August 29 th Ancient Philosophy Thursday, August 31 st Tuesday, Sept. 5 th Thursday, Sept. 7 th Tuesday, Sept. 12 th Thursday, Sept. 14 th Tuesday, Sept. 19 th Thursday, Sept. 21 st Tuesday, Sept. 26 th Thursday, Sept. 28 th Tuesday, Oct. 3 rd Introductions, Syllabus Overview Plato Pre-Socratics (No Reading) Plato Phaedo, start 72d (B) Plato Phaedo, 72e 95a (B) Plato Phaedo, 95a end (B) Plato The Republic, Book IV, 435a 445e (B) Plato The Republic, Book VII, 514a 534e (B) Plato The Republic, Book X (B) o Exegetical Essay Questions Posted Aristotle De Anima, Book I, Ch. 1 3 (B) Aristotle De Anima, Book II, Chs. 1 6 (B) Exegetical Essay Peer Review Workshop o Must Bring Essay Draft to Class Early Modern Philosophy Thursday, Oct. 5 th René Descartes Meditation One: Concerning Those Things That Can Be Called Into Doubt Tuesday, Oct. 10 th Thursday, Oct. 12 th Tuesday, Oct. 17 th Thursday, Oct. 19 th René Descartes Meditation Two: Concerning the Nature of the Human Mind: That It Is Better Known than the Body o Exegetical Essay Final Version Due René Descartes Meditation Three: Concerning God, That He Exists René Descartes Meditation Four: Concerning the True and the False René Descartes Meditation Five: Concerning the Essence of Material Things, and Again Concerning God, That He Exists 6

7 Tuesday, Oct. 24 th Thursday, Oct. 26 th Tuesday, Oct. 31 st René Descartes Meditation Six: Concerning the Existence of Material Things, and the Real Distinction Between Mind and Body Correspondence between Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia and René Descartes concerning the relation of the soul and the body (B) In-Class Research and Plagiarism Workshop o Research Essay Topics Posted Twentieth-Century Philosophy Thursday, Oct. 2 nd Simone de Beauvoir The Second Sex, Introduction Tuesday, Nov. 7 th Thursday, Nov. 9 th Tuesday, Nov. 14 th Thursday, Nov. 16 th Simone de Beauvoir The Second Sex, Vol. II, Pt. 1, Childhood (Selections) o Research Essay Proposals Due Simone de Beauvoir The Second Sex, Vol. II, Pt. 1, Sexual Initiation (Selections) Iris Marion Young Throwing Like a Girl: A Phenomenology of Feminine Body Comportment, Motility, and Spatiality (B) Iris Marion Young Pregnant Embodiment: Subjectivity and Alienation (B) o Style Essay Due Tuesday, Nov. 21 st Frantz Fanon Black Skin, White Masks, Introduction and Ch. 1: The Black Man and Language Thursday, Nov. 23 rd Tuesday, Nov. 28 th Thursday, Nov. 30 th Tuesday, Dec. 5 th Thursday, Dec. 7 th Friday, Dec. 15 th Thanksgiving No Class Frantz Fanon Black Skin, White Masks, Ch. 5: The Lived Experience of the Black Man Frantz Fanon Black Skin, White Masks, Ch. 7: The Black Man and Recognition George Yancy White Gazes: What it Feels like to be an Essence (B) Lewis Gordon Sex, Race, and Matrices of Desire in an Antiblack World (B) Final Meeting (12:45 pm 3:00 pm), Reflections on the Course o Research Essay Due 7