PHIL 3 - Issues in Philosophy, Psychology, and Religion
Fall 2002 -- Section #1589
Monday 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.* M219
Instructor: Brian W. Carver
E-mail: bwcarver at earthlink dot net
Course Web-site: http://home.earthlink.net/~bwcarver/
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Robert D. Nye, Three Psychologies: Perspectives from Freud, Skinner, and Rogers. Sixth Ed. (1999)ISBN: 053436845X
This book is available new for $27.95 from bn.com.
Plato, Five Dialogues. Translated by G. M. A.Grube . Hackett Pub. (1981) ISBN: 0915145227
This book is available new for $6.95 from bn.com.
Plato, Excerpts from Theaetetus and The Republic. On Reserve at the LBCC Library.
Philosophy of Religion Packet. On Reserve at the LBCC Library.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
(1) Participation (25%): Attendance will be taken each class meeting.
(2) Exam #1 on Philosophy of Religion (25%): Monday, October 7.
(3) Exam #2 on Psychology (25%): Monday, November 4.
(4) Exam #3 on Plato (25%): Monday, December 16 (Final Exam Period).
Exams will be based on the readings and lectures and will typically consist of 50 multiple-choice questions. True/False, Short Answer, Fill-in-the-blank, Matching, and Essay questions may also appear. My multiple-choice tests are challenging. Hence, if the class average on an exam is under 75%, I will curve the grades up to make the class average 75%. I do not curve downwards.
Make-up Exams: Make-up exams generally will not be given. If you know you must be absent on one of the scheduled exam dates you should make arrangements with me well in advance.
Attendance: Attendance is expected. Quality class participation and an excellent attendance record may be used to resolve borderline cases. In accordance with College policy, a student that misses three classes in a row or that misses four classes total shall be automatically dropped.
Drop Policy: The college has determined that the last day to drop without a "W" is August 31, 2002 and the last day to drop is November 22, 2002. If space permits, I will add students during the first two weeks.
Academic Honesty: I assume you are familiar with the College's policies on Academic Honesty. I consider it my responsibility in cases of academic dishonesty to respond with the most severe penalty.
Students with disabilities: Students with disabilities who may need accommodations for any sort of disability are invited to make an appointment to see me.
Changes to this Syllabus: It is my intention to follow this syllabus as closely as possible. If a change is necessary, this will be discussed in class. For this reason, if you are absent, it is your responsibility to contact me or a fellow student to stay abreast of the class/exam schedule.
Transfer Status: Transferable to UC/CSU, see counselor for limitations.
*Note regarding evening classes: Student Aid escorts are available to students. Students should call the College Police to arrange for an escort to meet them on campus. Phone (562) 938-4910 for LAC.
Course Description (from the College Catalog): Using a point/counterpoint debate format, a teaching team composed of a philosopher and a psychologist compare and integrate insights from three disciplines-- philosophy, psychology and religion. A critical investigation and debate of theoretical positions, such as Platonic idealism, Christian theology, Freudian analysis, Skinnerian behaviorism, existentialism and other major intellectual viewpoints. Not open for credit to students registered in or with credit in PSYCH3 or HUMAN3.
Course Goals: This course is no longer team-taught in a debate format. Otherwise, we will try to be true to the description, that is, we will seek to compare and integrate insights from philosophy, psychology and religion. As a result, we will look at authors that represent the following theoretical positions: Socratic virtue, Platonic idealism, Christian theology, Freudian analysis, Skinnerian behaviorism, and Rogerian humanism. Students will, for the most part, be introduced to these ideas through reading of primary texts and in-class lectures and discussions. Students will illustrate their understanding of the material through in-class discussions and exams.
Introduction
8/19 M: Introduction, Reading Philosophy
8/26 M: No Class
9/02 M: Labor Day - College Closed
Philosophy of Religion
The Cosmological Argument
09/09 M: 6:00 - 7:15 Thomas Aquinas, The Five Ways
7:30 - 8:45 William Rowe,An Examination of the Cosmological Argument
The Teleological Argument
09/16 M: 6:00 - 7:15 William Paley, The Watch and the Watchmaker
7:30 - 8:45 David Hume, A Critique of the Teleological Argument
The Ontological Argument & Faith and Reason
09/23 M: 6:00 - 7:15 Saint Anselm, The Ontological Argument
7:30 - 8:45 Blaise Pascal - Yes, Faith is a Logical Bet
The Problem of Evil
09/30 M: 6:00 - 7:15 J.L. Mackie - Evil and Omnipotence
7:30 - 8:45 John Hick -There is a Reason Why God Allows Evil
10/07 M: Exam #1
Psychology
10/14 M: 6:00 - 8:45 Robert D. Nye, Three PsychologiesChapter 1 &Chapter 2 – Freud(and the Freud portions of Chapter 5).
10/21 M: 6:00 - 8:45 Nye, Chapter 3 – Skinner (and the Skinner portions of Chapter 5).
10/28 M: 6:00 - 8:45 Nye, Chapter 4 – Rogers (and the Rogers portions of Chapter 5).
11/04 M: Exam #2
11/11 M: Veterans Day – College Closed
Plato
11/18 M: 6:00 - 7:15 Plato, Euthyphro
7:30 - 8:45 Plato, The Apology
11/25 M: 6:00 - 7:15 Plato, Crito
7:30 - 8:45 Plato, Phaedo
12/02 M: 6:00 - 7:15 Plato, Meno
7:30 - 8:45 Plato, Theaetetus(excerpts)
12/09 M: 6:00 - 8:45 Plato, Republic(excerpts)
12/16 M: (Final Exam Period) Exam #3