PHILOSOPHY 10 (CRN: 107759)

INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
SUMMER 2021

“The unexamined life is not worth living.”

-Socrates

Instructor – Dr. Jason Chang Course Type – Fully online course

Email – Jason.chang@evc.edu Course Duration – June 14 – July 22
Phone – (650) 248-6177 Units – 3 units

Course Description:
Introductory course for philosophical history and disciplines of metaphysics and epistemology from
Socrates to Wittgenstein. This course will cover a long progression of ideas about being, knowledge,
justice, goodness, existence and language. The history of philosophy through ideas proposed by the
most important philosophers will be presented in thematic development so that students can learn
not only basic concepts and ideas, but cause of the development of philosophical history.

Below are the student learning outcomes for this course:

1. Explain the basic history, philosophers and ideas of western philosophy

2. Compare and contrast between main currents of western philosophical traditions
3. Assess the thinking patterns of major philosophers regarding the basic issues of western
philosophy
4. Articulate the differences between various basic philosophical conceptions and issues
5. Identify the basic movements from ancient mode of thought to modern and contemporary
western philosophy through the most representative philosophers
6. Appreciate and critically evaluate the basic issues and ideas of western metaphysics and
epistemology

Instructor Communication Policy:

Email: Jason.chang@evc.edu
Alternate email: changj@smccd.edu

My preferred method of contact is email. On weekdays (Mon-Fri), I will try to respond to all email
within 48 hours.

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Online office hours: Online office hours will be held using Zoom every Wednesday, 4:00-
4:45pm . Though attending office hours is not a required part of your grade, it is encouraged if you
have questions or wish to discuss ideas related to your DQ responses – or anything else.

Accessing Our Online Classroom:

Your gateway to our course is Canvas.

To access our course,

1) Go to Canvas (https://sjeccd.instructure.com/login/canvas)
2) Log in by using the credentials you use to log into MyWeb.

Having difficulty logging in? Forgot your password? Have questions about Canvas?

• Phone support (408) 270-6411 is available

• Email support at: itss.helpdesk@sjeccd.edu
• The College also offers instructions for logging into Canvas
(https://services.sjeccd.edu/TDClient/1862/Portal/KB/ArticleDet?ID=56237)

Course Activities:
Weekly activities

1. Lecture shorts
Each week’s lecture short videos aim to introduce and help you connect with the concepts,
theories, and arguments from the week. I will always attempt to make these “shorts”
accessible, compelling, and true to their name. However, in an effort to make them even
more so, I welcome feedback from you during the course.
(Due date(s): Not applicable)

2. DQ Responses and Participation (25%)

Philosophy happens when discussing its ideas with others. Each week, you will have the
opportunity to discuss and debate with your peers one to two discussion question(s). The
posted discussion question(s) will provide the basis for your initial response(s); subsequently,
you will post in each forum at least three substantive replies to your peers.
(Due date(s): DQ responses due Wednesdays, Thursdays; Replies due Sundays)

3. Journal Entries (25%)

Philosophy need not be an impractical subject; its concepts, theories, and arguments may
also impact our own views about meaning, existence, and reality. Journal entries offer you
the opportunity to reflect on a given topic related to the major themes from the week.
Journal entries will typically be around 2 pages in length double-spaced. These journals will
be graded in batches after Weeks 3 and 6.
(Due date(s): Sunday)

4. Quizzes (25%)

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 By the end of each week, you will complete a quiz whose questions are based on the lecture
shorts and readings from the week. I do my best to design quiz questions that focus on
major ideas or themes from the week – not obscure minutiae. While taking the quiz, please
feel free to use your notes and/or book. Quizzes are designed as opportunities for you to
assess and solidify your understanding of the content from the week.
(Due date(s): Sunday of each week)

Larger assignments

5. Final Journal Project (25%)

This final journal project gives you the opportunity to reflect on and chart the evolution of
your thinking about one major issue from this course and weave this evolution into your
overall set of beliefs.
(Due date(s): TBA)

Grade Scale:
The following scale will be used to assess student performance: A = 90-100%; B = 89.9-80%; C =
79.9-70; D = 69.9-60; F = below 60%. Decisions regarding letter grade rounding shall be made on a
case by case basis for students who: (1) are within 0.5 percentage points of the next letter grade, (2)
have submitted all assignments and quizzes in the course.

Attendance Expectations:
It is expected that you log in and complete the course activities on a regular basis. The course
activities naturally compel at least two to three logins per week. Students who fail to demonstrate
activity for more than a 10 day period may be dropped for non-attendance. If you anticipate that
you will be unable to log in for an extended period of time, please contact me ahead of time.

Late Work Policy:

Assignments submitted after 11:59pm Pacific on the due date are considered late. Late assignments
submitted within three days after the due date will be accepted but will incur a 25 percent per day
late penalty. (e.g., An assignment due on Wednesday that is submitted on Thursday will incur a 25
percent deduction, submitted on Friday will incur a 50 percent deduction, and so on.) Those
submitted after three days past the original due date will not be accepted for credit.

No credit will be given for late quizzes or late participation.

No credit will be given for late Final Journal Project submissions.

In the event of circumstances (e.g., a medical emergency, a documented disability) that might
warrant an exception to the conditions detailed above, the exception will be granted only under the
condition that the student has proactively contacted me before the relevant due date. I will make a
decision as to whether an exception is warranted based on the content of the student’s explanation
as well as any documentation (e.g., doctor’s note, DRC accommodation letter) provided.

Please note: Under no conditions will exceptions to the conditions detailed above be made
retroactively after the relevant due date has passed.

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Extra Credit:
Extra credit opportunities will be offered to the class at my discretion. Under no condition will an
individual student (or a group of students) be offered an opportunity to increase his or her grade
that has not been also offered to each and every member of the class.

Course Readings:
1. Rachels, James and Stuart Rachels. (2011). Problems from Philosophy. 3rd edition. McGraw-Hill
Publishing. [Amazon link]
2. Canvas web site [Canvas]

Course Outline:
1. Week 1: The Examined Life
2. Week 2: Philosophy of Religion
3. Week 3: Moral Philosophy
4. Week 4: Metaphysics and Epistemology, Part I
5. Week 5: Metaphysics and Epistemology, Part II
6. Week 6: Metaphysics and Epistemology, Part III

Course Assignments:
Most weeks in this course span from Monday through Sunday.

Note that the outline below is tentative. The finalized version of a list of assignments and due dates
for each week can be found in the “Week Summary” made available at the top of each week’s
module.

ASSIGNMENTS

Week 1
Read Syllabus

Post Biography

Complete “Know thyself” survey

Response to DQ1
Participation

Syllabus Quiz
Quiz 1

Journal 1

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Week 2
Response to DQ1
Response to DQ2
Participation

Quiz 2

Journal 2

Week 3
Response to DQ1
Response to DQ2
Participation

Quiz 3

Journal 3

Week 4
Response to DQ1
Response to DQ2
Participation

Quiz 4

Journal 4

Week 5
Response to DQ1
Response to DQ2
Participation

Quiz 5

Journal 5

Week 6
Quiz 6

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Miscellaneous:

Academic integrity:
Academic integrity is essential for an institution of student learning to function properly. Academic
dishonesty – whether in the form of plagiarism, cheating on exams, etc. – undermines the academic
environment that the college aims to foster and, therefore, will not be tolerated. Students who
engage in academic dishonesty will receive a zero on the particular assignment or exam and possibly
fail the course. It is at the instructor’s discretion whether the case will be forward to the Dean.

Withdrawal from the course:

Per the college catalog: “Students are responsible for dropping their classes; classes are not dropped
automatically for non-attendance. A student may drop a class by using MyWeb.sjeccd.edu, or in-
person at the Office of Admissions and Records.”

Special accommodations:
Students in this course who have a documented disability that may impact work in this class and
require special accommodations should make an appointment with the Disabilities Support Program
(room SC-120) and notify me during the first week of class. The DSP can be reached at (408) 270-
6447. Both the DSP and I will implement whatever accommodations needed to provide equal
opportunity to learning and other academic outcomes.