Instructor: Keith Buhler
Email: keith.buhler@uky.edu
Office Hours: T, 12-1.
Buy these three books right away. Use these ISBNS only, please. No Kindle unless cost is prohibitive, since paper books are better for taking notes, and make it easier to stay on the same page. New or used is fine. Other handouts provided online.
Handouts:
This course is an exercise in a different way of thinking. We will also learn some historical facts, new vocabulary words, some big names and big philosophical concepts. But our main task is to grow by thinking slowly, carefully, methodically, and deeply.
This course is eclectic in themes. Recurring questions are (1) “Who are you?” (2) “Where does the world come from?” (3) “Why is there evil?” (4) “What is happiness?” Some of these are more abstract, others more practical. All of them are windows into a reality beyond the day-to-day.
There is no textbook; instead, we will consume books, essays, and film including history, Scripture, biography, and fiction. There are no long lectures; we will dialogue together every day. Don’t just sit back waiting to be programmed with knowledge. Rather, begin to discuss these topics in class and out of class. You will be confused. Enjoy the ride. Ask questions. Get frustrated. Doodle. Guess. Take risks.
There are only two tests; more important is that we become competent in skills like reading, dialogging, and writing clearly and logically. The top five most coveted job skills are communication, teamwork, critical thinking, and creativity, and self-discipline. These skills you can improve in philosophy but they are not just useful for philosophy. They will make you better in computer programming or chemistry, better in motherhood or the ministry.
There are no easy answers; instead, we will find hard answers, if we work at it. The ultimate motivation for having the conversation we call philosophy must be that it can make us better. We enter into the Great Conversation with our own, often confused, thoughts. We may learn to love God with our minds. We may become more connected, integrated, thoughtful, reflective human beings. We may become part of the Conversation, and by it be forever changed.
Our goals then are:
This course focuses on an eclectic set of eleven related themes: Truth, Socrates, Causes, Logic, God, Evil, Time, Empiricism, Miracles, Cosmos, and the Tree of Life. Each Unit consists of readings, quizzes, and philosophical dialogue. There are five papers and two quarter tests.
The outline tells you the reading due and the topic for each day. It also provides detailed notes to help you prepare your thoughts. Subject to revisions due to snow days, instructor sickness, academic conferences, etc.
You will be graded equally on each component, plus applicable extra credit.
| Assessment category | Percent of semester grade |
|---|---|
| Reading quizzes | 25% |
| Participation (Talking, writing) | 25% |
| Tests (Q1, Q3) | 25% |
| Disputations | 25% |
| Extra Credit | 5% (max) |
| Letter Grade | Percentage |
|---|---|
| A | 99%-90% |
| B | 89%-80% |
| C | 79% - 70% |
| D | 69% - 60% |
| F | < 59% |
I typically do not round up. So 89.5 is a “B”. Your best bet for getting an ‘A’ is to (a) read carefully every week, (b) attend and participate in class through talking and/or writing, (c) study hard for the tests, and (d) write the Papers according to the given instructions.
The primary work of this class is reading and thinking about these books, essays, and films. It will take about 3 hours per week of reading. And some is very hard, requiring re-reading and time. Read actively, read ahead, and try to understand the book. Primarily, your goal is not just to read but to understand. Reflect on what you’ve read. Bring to class a question from the reading – focus on what confuses you. Reading tips are online.
Short, online reading quizzes are due almost every class day. The quiz covers that day’s reading. It closes when class starts. The quizzes are timed and can only be taken once, so please complete them when you finish your reading. Don’t start them before your reading is done as you will not have enough time to search the reading for answers. You will quickly find that you really must do the reading and do it quite carefully to do well on these quizzes. Please keep up.
We need you here! Attendance is mandatory. Roll will be taken each class by marking a 3x5 card. (Being repeatedly or egregiously late will count as an absence.) You may check your absences at any time by requesting to see your card. I recommend you aim for perfect attendance to maximize your learning. You are paying for this education including this class, so why wouldn’t you make the most of it?
That said, I give everyone up to 3 “Personal absences”. These 3 absences apply for for any reason, including emergencies, family visits, sickness, sports, or sleep. One week is usually sufficient for emergencies, and sometimes you just need a break. But after that, absences require an excuse. After 3 personal absences, any unexcused absences will cost 2% deduction from the semester grade per absence. 6 unexcused absences is a letter grade and 9 will make a passing grade impossible.
1 = -0
2 = -0
3 = -0
4 = -2%
5 = -4%
6 = -10% (a letter grade)
7 = -12%
8 = -14%
9 = -50%
The primary competency of this class is philosophical dialogue. Hence, you must attend and participate. Class time is primarily focused on discussion of the material for which I expect you to be fully engaged.
We do dialogue for five main reasons: (1) You must take responsibility for your own learning. (2) We can actually get to know each other. (3) I learn best in discussion. (4) Most people learn (and retain) best in discussion. (5) Philosophy is intrinsically dialogical.
You are responsible to talk in class. Even if you are confused, tired, or unmotivated, I expect you to make yourself participate and engage. Get out of your comfort zone into your growth zone. Come prepared. Read, take notes, reflect, and come ready to share your viewpoint, defend it, listen to others’ viewpoints, and critique theirs.
To earn participation points, you will voluntarily share your thoughts in discussion at least once per week, and/or respond when called upon. You are not required to write posts on the discussion board online. By default, everyone is an “external processor”. “Internal processors”: Some may wish to opt out of speaking in class and emphasize writing. To earn participation points, you will post class reflections online every week. You may elect to speak in class as well, and may be called upon.
Everyone starts at an 80% (B-) for the participation grade. You will move up or down depending on whether you pay attention and speak at least once per week. (I prohibit the use of electronic devices in class, although laptop users may request permission to sit in the front of class with their computers.)
What are the “ground rules” for discussion? The rules are hard to articulate. I give you a few rules that I have found to help, but the real rules are bigger and deeper. In fact, you can break my little rules and you’re still OK. I can criticize your opinion and you’re still OK. You can criticize my opinions and we’re still OK. You can say something “mean” or politically incorrect and we’re all OK. You can ask people to be nicer, and we’re OK. You can even criticize my teaching, and I’m OK. Trust the process. We’re going to try, together to make something of our discussions.
Other discussion ground rules are posted online.
There are two quarter exams: one at the end of the first quarter, and one at the end of the third quarter. (No midterm or final). These exams will assess your knowledge of historical facts, philosophical definitions, and the ability to synthesize and apply concepts. The Study Guide is posted online.
Every 2-4 weeks, you will write a Philosophical Disputation paper. Each disputation is pass/fail and worth approximately 4% of the semester grade. The instructions are posted online.
Those who opt for extra credit may do so. Instructions are posted online.