PHILOSOPHY 101

GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION

Instructor: Thomas Weston, E-Mail: tweston@mail.sdsu.edu

Web page: http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/phil/101head.htm or http://tomweston.net

Office: AH-4143, Phone: 594-6218

SUBJECT OF COURSE: Philosophy of Values. Course will concentrate on morality and social justice.

OBJECTIVES OF COURSE: (1) To challenge the student to think about what kind of life to live, and what kind of society to live it in. (2) To Introduce the student to philosophic reasoning. (3) to present some of the major alternative views on morality and political theory.

MATERIAL COVERED: You should buy the three paperbacks, and the packet of supplementary reading listed below. These materials concern major moral or political theories, or applications of these theories to concrete examples from American history or contemporary affairs. Examples will concentrate on questions of the moral justification of inequalities within a single country, or those concerning domination or exploitation of one country by another.

BOOKS TO BUY:

1) Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, translated by T. Irwin, Hackett Publisher edition.

2) J. Locke, Second Treatise of Government, Hackett Publisher edition.

3) K. Marx & F. Engels, Communist Manifesto, International Publishers Edition ONLY!

4) Packet of Xerox materials available in Cal Copy (not Aztec Shops) across footbridge, three shops south of Starbucks on College Ave.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: (all must be completed for a passing grade)

1) Midterm Exams: Two one hour exams in essay form, first given 1/3 way thru course, each counts 20%

2) Short Paper: Detailed assignment given at midterm. instructor will provide a list of suggested topics or you may choose your own. Length 1500-2000 words, typing preferred by not required. Due date announced later. Papers will be returned for revision, may be resubmitted for a (possibly) higher grade. Counts 20%.

3) Final Examination: Given at regularly scheduled time, courses counts 35%.

4) Short quizzes: 5 minute quizzes on assigned reading, 10 per term, counts 5%. Cannot be made up.

5) Regular attendance and occasional class participation.