PHILOSOPHY OF SELF 1800 MWF 11-11:50am ENV 110

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PHILOSOPHY OF SELF 1800 MWF 11-11:50am ENV 110 Instructor: Dr. Samantha Langsdale Office: ENV 320C Office Hours: M/W 2pm 4pm Email: samantha.langsdale@unt.

1 PHILOSOPHY OF SELF 1800 MWF 11-11:50am ENV 110 Instructor: Dr. Samantha Langsdale Office: ENV 320C Office Hours: M/W 2pm 4pm Course Description/Objectives: This course is an examination of the nature of the self through readings and discussions of classical and contemporary sources. We will explore the relationships between mind and body, individual and society, consciousness and identity, across a range of historical, cultural, and disciplinary perspectives. Course Materials: Required Texts: Philosophy of Self: souls, selves, persons and human nature Recommended Texts: The Rowman and Littlefield Guide to Writing with Sources, 4 th edition, by James P. Davis [ ] The instructor may provide all other reading materials for this course. These readings, as well as other pertinent and helpful information, can be found on Blackboard. If you have any issues retrieving the readings, please let the instructor know. Assessment: Students grades will be determined by a combination of regular reading quizzes, attendance record, three exams, and one research paper. Attendance (10%) Your regular attendance is mandatory and will be worth ten percent of your total grade. Please see Attendance Policy below for more details. Podcasts (15%) At the beginning of the semester, you will be assigned to a group that you will work with to produce a ten minute podcast on a particular philosophy of self. Your group will be assigned a specific philosopher and be given a due date for submitting your podcast. Every person in the group must speak on the recording, and all must contribute to the planning and production of the podcast. You should practice prior to recording because, in order to receive full credit for the assignment, you need

2 to record ten minutes of good, solid philosophical discussion. This assignment is worth 15% of your overall grade. You will be assessed on the overall quality of your production, on the quality of your discussion, and on your ability to work together. Reaction Papers (15%) Five times throughout the course of the semester, you will write words in response to the topic for any given week. This is meant to be your own personal thoughts and reflections so it may be written in the first person and contain your opinions but, you must ALSO include at least one textual reference complete with page numbers. This is still a class assignment so you need to keep in mind that it should be neatly presented and written with a sense professionalism. These papers must be ed to your instructor NO LATER than 5pm Sunday. The five papers together constitute 15% of your overall grade. Exams (45%) Exam #1 (15%) will be held at the beginning of 5 and will cover the material up to that point. The second exam will cover the assigned content and readings from weeks 5-9 of the term and is worth 15% of your final grade. The final exam (15%) will cover the assigned content and readings from weeks of the term and may include questions regarding material covered throughout the course. All exams will consist of several short-answer questions and one long essay question. Exams 1&2 will be taken within the normal class period, Exam 3 during Finals. See the Class Schedule below for dates. Research Paper (15%) Students will be provided with several possible essay questions and will choose ONE on which to write a 4-5 page paper ( words) informed by academic research. The paper must have a clear thesis statement, good organization, appropriate formatting, correct use of academic sources/accurate citations, and a bibliography. You will be required to submit a proposed title and short description of your topic in class on Nov. 2 nd. The paper must be submitted to TurnItIn on Blackboard by NO LATER THAN 11:59pm Friday, Dec. 2 nd. Grading Policy: This course is graded according to the requirements specified and weighted below. A = 90%+ B = 80-89% C = 70-79% D = 60-69% F = 0-59% Attendance Policy: You are required to regularly attend lectures. However, you are allowed THREE unexcused absences for whatever life throws your way (illness, broken alarm,

3 hangover, existential crises, etc.). After those three absences, every subsequent absence will result in the loss of ten points from an overall total of 100 (i.e. one absence after the initial three drops you from 100 to 90; two additional absences drops you from 100 to 80). If you are required to miss class due to a UNT function, or because of a religious holiday, please notify me IN ADVANCE. If you miss class, YOU AND YOU ALONE, are responsible for finding out what you missed. ADA Statement: The University of North Texas is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation; reference Public Law The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. With the passage of new federal legislation entitled Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, there is renewed focus on providing this population with the same opportunities enjoyed by all citizens. The Office of Disability Accommodation is located in Suite 321 of the University Union Building and can be reached at (940) and TTY (940) or through the Website at If you require any special accommodation, please contact me so that we can work together to ensure your success in this class. Academic Integrity: Academic integrity emanates from a culture that embraces the core values of trust and honesty necessary for full learning to occur. As a student-centered public research university, the University of North Texas promotes the integrity of the learning process by establishing and enforcing academic standards. Academic dishonesty breaches the mutual trust necessary in an academic environment and undermines all scholarship. For a full look at the UNT Policy for Academic Integrity, see Academic_Integrity.pdf If you are caught cheating on a quiz or test, you will receive an F for that assignment. Similarly, if you plagiarize your paper, you will receive an F. This may result in your failing the class. Classroom Policies & Student Conduct: Students must be respectful of the Instructor, the TA, and their fellow students. Any behavior which is deemed racist, sexist, ableist or bigoted will not be tolerated. For more on appropriate conduct, see In order to reduce disruptions to the class, NO CELL PHONES, LAPTOPS OR TABLETS ARE PERMITTED! Let me say that again: NO PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY

4 WILL BE PERMITTED IN THE CLASSROOM. If you require a device because of particular learning needs, you must speak with me and provide appropriate documentation. Late/Missed Assignments: If you are unable to attend class during the exams, you must notify me ASAP in order to arrange a re-take. You will not be allowed to retake quizzes or exams for reasons other than illness, UNT functions, or religious holidays. If you submit your essay after the deadline, you will lose a letter grade for every school day that passes (i.e. if you do not submit the essay until Monday, Dec. 5, the best you can hope to achieve is a B. If it is submitted on Tuesday 12/6, the best you may receive is a C). Add/Drop Schedule for Fall 2016: Class Schedule: Topic Reading 1 Introduction Aug. 29 Aug. 31 Sept. 2 2 Sept. 5 Sept. 7 Sept. 9 3 Sept. 12 Sept. 14 Sept. 16 Course Description/Syllabus Introduction & Overview Group assignments & plumbing Ancient Views: Plato No Class Plato s Cave In the face of death Ancient Views: Aristotle Aristotle Soul as Self? Soul as Self? The Syllabus (no jokes) Mary Midgley, Philosophical Plumbing in Philosophy of Self (PS) 8-21 Plato, The Allegory of the Cave in PS Plato Phaedo in PS Aristotle, On the Soul Bk I in PS Aristotle, On the Soul Bk III in PS 57-73

5 4 Sept. 19 Sept. 21 Sept. 23 Ancient Views: Hinduism & Buddhism The Upanishads The Upanishads Mahayana Buddhism The Upanishads in PS The Perfection of Wisdom in PS Sept. 26 Sept. 28 Sept Oct. 3 Oct. 5 Oct. 7 7 Oct. 10 Oct. 12 Oct Oct. 17 Oct. 19 Oct. 21 Medieval Views EXAM #1 on Ancient Views Augustine & the will Aquinas & human nature Modern Views: Descartes Descartes thinks...and thinks......and thinks some more. Modern Views: Hobbes, Locke, Hume Hobbes is grumpy Locke on Identity Hume & human nature Social Views: Smith & Marx Smith on labor Marx the communist Marx on labor Don t freak out Augustine, The Freedom of the Will in PS Aquinas, Summa Theologica in PS Descartes, Meditation I in PS Descartes, Meditation II in PS Descartes, Meditation VI in PS Hobbes, The Social Contract in PS Locke, Of Identity and Diversity in PS Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature in PS Wealth of Nations in PS Preface to Communist Manifesto in PS Marx, Alienated Labor in PS

6 9 Oct. 24 Oct. 26 Oct Oct. 31 Nov. 2 Nov Nov. 7 Nov. 9 Nov Nov. 14 Nov. 16 Nov Nov. 21 Existentialism Nietzsche beyond binaries Nietzsche beyond binaries Sartre & the humanism of nothingness Exam & Psychoanalysis EXAM #2 Modern, Social & Existentialist Views Freud Jung Feminism Gender Inequality Androcentrism & Misogyny The Godmother: Simone De Beauvoir Race Analyzing Race Black Souls bell hooks & dreaming Cyborg Selves & Posthumanism Posthumanism Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil in PS Sartre, Existentialism is a Humanism in PS Trick or treat >:D Paper Title/Topic Due at beginning of Class, Civilization and It s Discontents in PS The Personal and Collective Unconscious in PS Gender Inequality in PS 411 The Problem that has No Name in PS The Making of a Woman in PS 456 Reading on Blackboard DuBois, The Souls of Black Folk in PS Dreaming Ourselves in PS Reading on Blackboard

7 Nov. 23 Nov Nov. 28 Nov. 30 Dec Dec. 5 Dec. 7 Dec Cyborgs & Monsters No class (Thanksgiving) The Salt of the Earth Film Film Film & Discussion Wrap-Up So what is a self? Exam Review No Classes: Reading Day Donna Haraway Cyborg Manifesto on Blackboard You have an essay to write, remember? ESSAY DUE BY 11:59PM 12/2/16 REVIEW!! REVIEW!! Dec. 12 Final Exam on s Monday Dec :30am 12:30pm

Introduction to World Philosophy Syllabus Fall 2013 PHIL 2010 CRN: 89658

Introduction to World Philosophy Syllabus Fall 2013 PHIL 2010 CRN: 89658 Classroom: 117 Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact the Disability Services Coordinator,