Instructor: Keith Buhler
Email: keith.buhler@uky.edu (asbury email also forwards here)
Asbury Office Hours: Thursday, 12-1, Library
Buy the exact editions in the links only, please, because I assign page numbers from these editions. Get physical books, not e-books, unless the cost is prohibitive. New or used are both OK. You may purchase from any online retailer or physical bookstore, but the links provided are from Amazon (I participate in their affiliate program). Other handouts are provided for free online.
This course is an exercise in a different way of thinking: philosophical thinking. Strictly speaking, this is not an “introduction” to philosophical thinking – because everybody already thinks this way sometimes. Rather, we will exercise it more. We will practice thinking philosophically. The method is to read and discuss philosophical writings and movies. In order to think philosophically, we will practice read, discuss, and write about these texts.
Our topics will be eclectic: origins, myth, Socrates, happiness, evil, the soul, God, and human nature. Some of these questions are more abstract, some are more practical – all of them are windows into a reality beyond the day-to-day.
There are no long lectures; every class period will consist of dialog together. Philosophical thinking cannot be programed into you; you must take responsibility for dialogging in class and out of class.
There are answers. Philosophy is not just about questions. But there are no easy answers. You will be confused, at points. And the answers we will find will only come after hard work. So enjoy the ride. Ask questions. Get frustrated. Doodle. Guess. Take risks.
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.
The course is broken into 6 Units of 2-3 weeks each: Origins, Socrates, Forms, Logic, God, and Human Nature. Each unit consists of four components. (1) Reading and daily quizzes, (2) Discussion in class, (3) Writing. Therefore, the best way to earn an ‘A’ is to read carefully, participate, and write.
You will be graded primarily on reading, participation, and papers, plus applicable extra credit.
| Assessment category | % |
|---|---|
| Readings (weekly quizzes) | 25% |
| Participation | 25% |
| Disputation Papers | 50% |
| Extra Credit | 0-5% max |
The course outline tells you the reading and topic for each day. The outline is subject to minor changes for weather, sicknesses, travel, etc. The online version is always up to date.
Jan-10 T Syllabus Day (Jan 10 AU, Jan 23 FPA)
Jan-12 R JP Moreland, “Love your God with all your mind”
Jan-17 T Sophie’s World, “Garden of Eden, Top Hat, The Myths”
Jan-19 R Genesis (Chps. 1-3); Sophie’s World, “Natural Philosophers, Democritus, and Fate”
Jan-24 T Sophie’s World, “Socrates, Athens, Plato”; Plato, Euthyphro
Jan-26 R Euthyphro Discussion; Kreeft, Philosophy 101, (Chapter II, pp. 87-114) “Philosophy Exemplified”
(Unit Paper 1 due Tuesday at midnight)
Jan-31 T Plato, Apology - Is Socrates guilty? What is he being accused of?
Feb-2 R Apology Discussion
Feb-7 T Kreeft, Philosophy 101 (13-49) - Why is philosophy misunderstood?
Feb-9 R Kreeft, Philosophy 101 (50-86) - Why is philosophy happy and death-defying?
Feb-14 T Plato, Phaedo (116-143) - Was Socrates true to his principles, even in death?
Feb-16 R Plato, Phaedo II (116-143) The soul is immortal because opposites come from opposites, and because we remember Equality itself.
Unit Paper 2, Due Tuesday at Midnight
Feb-21 T Plato, Phaedo (143-199) The soul is immortal if it is philosophical because it is more like the Forms than it is like material things.
Feb-23 R Phaedo Discussion, Kreeft Philosophy 101 (131-148)
Feb-28 T Peter Kreeft, “Forms” handout
Mar-2 R Forms Discussion (Optional: Read Sophie’s World “Major’s Cabin”, “Aristotle,” “Hellenism”, “Postcards”)
Unit Paper 3, Due Tuesday by Midnight
Mar-7 T Kreeft, Socratic Logic, Introduction, sections 1, 4, and 5; and Chapter I, “Understanding” (Midterm Grades Due)
Mar-9 R Kreeft, Socratic Logic III, “Material Fallacies”
Mar 13-20 Spring Break
Mar 13-20 Spring Break
Mar-21 T Kreeft, Socratic Logic, V, “Judgment”, Section 1 and 2 “Judgments, Propositions, and Sentences” and “What is truth?”
Mar-23 R Kreeft, Socratic Logic VIII, “Reasoning”; Willard, “Jesus the Logician”
Unit Paper 4, Due Tuesday by Midnight
Mar-28 T Confessions 1 - Augustine and longing for God’s presence. Sophie’s World “Two Cultures”
Mar-30 R Confessions, 2-3 - Why did Augustine steal the pears? How bad was this sin?
Apr-4 T Confessions, 7 - Does evil exist?
Apr-6 R Aquinas, “Five Ways of Proving God’s Existence”; *Sophie’s World “The Middle Ages”
Apr-11 T Dawkins, “Why there is no god” Apr-13 R Harris, “There is no god and you know it”; Kreeft “Problem of Evil”
Unit Paper 5, Due Tuesday by Midnight
Apr-18 T Read Dargis, “In Defense of Slow Movies”, Watch 2001: A Space Odyssey film - Hal as Friend, Enemy, and Stepping Stone
Apr-20 R Dave as the New Adam
Apr-25 T Wall-E as E.T., Hal 9000, and Adam, “Coming Down” to Earth
Apr-27 R The Gospel of John
May-3, 8:00am T Tree of Life as Evolution and Genesis
| Letter Grade | Percentage |
|---|---|
| A | 99%-90% |
| B | 89%-80% |
| C | 79% - 70% |
| D | 69% - 60% |
| F | < 59% |
Read ahead. There is a lot of reading but read carefully and slowly as need be; you will get faster, but start slow and careful. Try to read and understand the book or essay. Ask yourself: What is the main thesis? Is it true? Take notes. Talk with each other before class. Ask yourselves and each other: What is the main point? What confused me? Come to class with objections, questions, and arguments. More are tips available online.
Short reading quizzes assess that you read the day’s text. These are easy points, so be diligent in doing every quiz.
Attendance is mandatory; we need you here! 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 in person. I do not email attendance information. Aim for perfect attendance to maximize your learning.
That said, I give 2 personal absences as freebies. These 2 personal absences may be used without penalty for for any reason, including family visits, sickness, sports, or sleep. For other reasons, you need an excuse. The 3rd unexcused absence will cost a 2% deduction from the semester grade. This continues per absence. 6 unexcused absences is a letter grade and 9 will make a passing grade impossible.
The primary competency of this class is philosophical dialog. 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.
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.) Other discussion ground rules are posted online.
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.
We dialog so much because: (1) You must take responsibility for your own learning. (2) We can actually get to know each other. (3) Most people learn (and retain) best in discussion. (4) Philosophy is dialogical.
You may be assigned a group “critical reading” assignment. Your group must meet ahead of time to read and discuss the assignment more thoroughly than your normal reading. You will then summarize the reading, analyze it, and present your own opinions. One or all of you will present your summary to the class. Instructions are posted online.
Every student will write several Unit Papers. These Unit Papers help you synthesize your own views after doing the readings and listening to lectures and participating in the discussions. Be careful to cite your sources correctly, because I do not tolerate plagiarism. Papers may receive a letter grade or may be graded pass/fail -- so follow the instructions closely. The instructions are posted online.
Those who opt for extra credit may do so. You may do extra reading, extra writing, extra class preparation, for up to 5% of the semester grade. The normal amount of extra credit awarded is 2%. The only way to earn all 5% is to do multiple types of extra credit and do them well. Full instructions are posted online.
In general, I do not accept late work. Plan ahead and do work early before vacations, sports trips, or busy times. Do the quizzes ahead of time to avoid technical difficulties. Valid excuses for turning in papers late include medical or family emergencies, or abnormal technical failures. That said, due dates are not eternal laws; I willing to negotiate within reason. If you are very stressed, or if I have not graded everything yet, we can talk about moving a due date. Just ask.