HomeMy WebLinkAboutPHR-101BCC Syllabus Template May 20, 2024, Revised for PHR 101 January 2025
Bergen Community College
Division of Humanities
Department of Philosophy and Religion
Course Master Syllabus
PHR 101 Introduction to Philosophy
Basic Information About Course and Instructor
Semester and year:
Section Number:
Meeting Times:
Locations:
Instructor Name:
Office Location:
Phone:
Office Hours:
Email Address:
Departmental Secretary: Shailly Mahajan, A-328A, 201-879-3606
Course Description
PHR-101 Introduction to Philosophy is a study of the basic problems and methods of
philosophical inquiry, concentrating on the work of such major thinkers as Plato, Aristotle,
Augustine, Aquinas, Descartes, Hume, Kant, Hegel, Marx, Kierkegaard, and Sartre. Topics
of discussion include the nature of philosophy; the nature and limits of human knowledge;
the nature and existence of God; the scope and limits of human freedom; the differences
between right and wrong conduct; the nature of the good life; and the meaning and value of
human existence.
Credits: 3 (3 lectures)
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
General Education Humanities Course
Student Learning Outcomes
As a result of meeting the requirements in this course, students will be able to:
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BCC Syllabus Template May 20, 2024, Revised for PHR 101 January 2025
Student Learning Outcome: Means of Assessment:
1. Read, interpret, summarize and paraphrase
philosophical texts on the nature of reality,
knowledge, and the good.
Examinations or Quizzes
Critical Summary Essay
Argument Analysis Essay
Argument Regimentation/Reconstruction Projects
2. Compare, contrast and evaluate different
historical and contemporary philosophical
thinkers on specific philosophical issues.
Examinations
Quizzes
Compare and Contrast Essays
Case Analysis Projects
3. Research, evaluate, and effectively organize
information on philosophical issues, positions and
arguments.
Research essay utilizing the philosopher ’s index or
other scholarly search engines and peer vetted or
peer reviewed sources
4. Reflect on, and write about, their own values and
beliefs as they relate to philosophical texts and
arguments.
Reflection Essays
Philosophy in the Wild Project
5. Explain the weakness in, and the objections to,
their own positions on philosophical issues, and
recognize the strengths of competing positions.
In-Class Debate
Guided In-Class Discussions
Argument Analysis Essays
6. Listen to others on controversial philosophical
issues and participate actively and constructively
in discussion of these issues.
In-Class Debate
Guided In-Class Discussions
Essential Learning Outcomes
EL1 EL 2 EL 3 EL 4 EL 5 EL 6 EL 7 EL 8 EL 9 EL10 EL 11
SLO 1 X X X
SLO 2 X X X
SLO 3 X X
SLO 4 X X
SLO 5 X X
SLO 6 X X
EL1-Effective Speaking
EL2-Effective Writing
EL3-Mathematical Reasoning
EL4-Scientific Reasoning
EL5-Technological Competency
EL6-Information Literacy
EL7-Social-Behavioral Analysis
EL8-Historical Analysis
EL9-Humanistic Analysis
EL10-Intercultural Awareness
EL11-Moral Literacy
*In accordance with the Standards for General Education Courses at Bergen Community College (2013), all Gen
Ed courses are required to address EL1, EL2, EL6, and EL11 (when appropriate), in addition to the ELO that
corresponds to its area of study (EL 3-5 and 7-9).
Signature Assignment:
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BCC Syllabus Template May 20, 2024, Revised for PHR 101 January 2025
The following assignment should be taught at least once in all sections.
Critical Summary Essay
The critical summary is a substantial and focused 3-page essay, written in MLA style, about a
specific philosophical argument in an assigned reading. The first two parts of this project are
analysis and the third part is evaluation:
1. Identify and “unpack” some specific supported claim made in the text—this is the
conclusion of some argument in the reading. Students should briefly explain its
meaning through key terms or useful background information, and its importance by
how it relates to the rest of the text, or this course, or the philosophical subject matter
generally. They must correctly quote and cite the text, but quotations should not be
more than 20% of the text.
2. Explain the support for the conclusion—the premises of the argument. These could
be examples or analogies, common knowledge or special assumptions, definitions, rules
of science or logic, even ethical principles or moral theories—anything the author relies
on in supporting their claim. (Usually, the author is explicit about this, but sometimes
arguments contain important unstated assumptions). Quotes are required in this part of
the essay; however, quotes should not be more than 20% of the text, you do have to
write on your own here.
3. Evaluate the argument. Students should explain why we ought to accept or reject the
argument. Students might explain why this is a good philosophical argument, why any
reader ought to be convinced by it. They might also defend the argument against a
potential objection If the student thinks we should reject it, they need to explain what’s
wrong with the argument (which cannot be that you just disagree with the conclusion);
i.e., they need to explain why any reader ought to reject the argument. Quotes are not
required here. This is where the student’s ideas belong.
Course Content:
The course is intended to introduce students to some important thinkers from the history of
philosophy and to the basic problems and methods of philosophy. Therefore, the course
includes the following mandatory components:
1. An at least minimal review of philosophy’s major periods, e.g., ancient, medieval,
modern, contemporary, etc.
2. An at least minimal review of the location of philosophical figures, e.g., Chinese,
Greek, European, etc.
3. Considerable review of the topics, problems and methods of philosophy.
Students are required to work on the texts of at least one philosopher from each of the
following two groups:
1. Ancient Greek or Roman philosophy.
2. Modern European philosophy.
Furthermore, not more than one major work in ethics (e.g., the Nicomachean Ethics) should be
included in PHR 101 Introduction to Philosophy, since the course should not overlap
substantially with PHR 110 Introduction to Ethics or PHR 102 Contemporary Moral Issues.
Issues in general normative ethics and metaethics are considered in depth in PHR-110; and
major contemporary controversies in applied ethics are covered in PHR-102. The primary
emphasis in PHR-101 should be on issues in metaphysics and epistemology. Inclusion of issues
and/or works in aesthetics and social and political philosophy is also permissible, but
discussions of value theory should comprise no more than 20% of the course. PHR 101
Introduction to Philosophy may contain philosophers from any part of the world, but should
not overly-emphasize Asian philosophy, as that would overlap too much with PHR 106 Asian
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BCC Syllabus Template May 20, 2024, Revised for PHR 101 January 2025
Philosophy.
In addition to the foregoing mandatory components, the course may include the study of
contemporary writings on major philosophical problems. The course may be presented as
either an historically-ordered or topically-ordered study of the writings of major philosophers,
or as a study of the ways in which ancient, modern, and contemporary philosophers have
approached the major problems of philosophy.
Course Texts or Other Study Materials:
Students in PHR 101 Introduction to Philosophy must read mostly primary texts, not textbooks
that describe philosophical positions (though such can be used in addition to primary texts).
There are many excellent textbook anthologies of primary readings. Instructors may also
choose Open Educational Resources (OER) for their courses, to keep student costs minimal.
However, instructors should be selective about OER readings, which can sometimes contain
dated or inferior translations or excerpts. The following textbooks come recommended by the
department of philosophy and religion:
● Gideon Rosen, et al., editors. The Norton Introduction to Philosophy. W.W. Norton,
2018.
● Steven M. Cahn editor. Exploring Philosophy. Oxford University Press, 8th edition
2023.
● George Cronk, Tobyn De Marco, Peter Dlugos, and Paul Eckstein, editors. Readings in
Philosophy: Eastern & Western Sources. Plymouth, MI: Hayden-McNeil Publishing,
Inc., 2nd edition, 2004
● Andrew Bailey, editor. The Broadview Introduction to Philosophy. Broadview Press,
2019.
Research, Writing, and/or Examination Requirement(s):
As a ‘General Education Humanities' course, PHR 101 requires students to complete a variety
of critical thinking, writing and speaking assignments. It also may require students to employ
techniques of scholarly research in some assignments, which may include class discussions and
debates requiring the application of critical thinking skills, short in-class essays, out-of-class
writing projects (journals, research papers, argument-analysis papers, book reviews, etc.), tests
and examinations containing essay components, and so forth. Instructors will respond to, or
comment on, student writing in detail.
Grading Policy:
A student’s final grade for the course is based primarily on performance on the required work
for the course (writing assignments, examinations, class presentations, etc.) and on overall
mastery of the material covered in the course. A student’s class participation may also be
evaluated, and the grade may be used as a factor in determining the student’s final grade for the
course; but a class participation grade will count for no more than twenty percent (20%) of the
final grade. A student's research and writing work will count at least fifty percent (50%) of the
final grade.
Philosophy and Religion Departmental Attendance Policy:
All students are expected to attend on time every scheduled meeting of each course in which
they are registered. Attendance, lateness policies and sanctions are to be determined by the
instructor for each section of each course. These will be established in writing on the
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BCC Syllabus Template May 20, 2024, Revised for PHR 101 January 2025
individual course outline. Attendance will be kept by the instructor for administrative and
counseling purposes. A reasonable makeup policy is left to the instructor's discretion, but
good excuses, serious and documented, should be accepted. Make-ups for examinations
should be allowed by the instructor if, in the instructor ’s judgment, the student has presented
a good excuse for missing the work. Instructors may penalize work which is late; however,
the instructor ’s policies for make-ups and late work must be clearly specified on the student
guide.
Statement on the BCC Philosophy Club:
The Philosophy Club has functioned continuously since the late 1980’s. It usually meets on
Tuesdays during the Activities Period, 12:30-1:25 PM, but sometimes also on different days
and at different times. Students are encouraged to join the club. For further information,
contact the Office of Student Life, who can provide contacts for the current club executive
board and faculty advisor.
Other College, Divisional, and/or Departmental Policy Statements:
Statement on plagiarism and/or academic dishonesty:
Academic Matters - Bergen Community College - Acalog ACMS™
Statement on the appropriate use of AI (see the following link for guidance):
AI-Guidance-Resource-Page.pdf (bergen.edu)
ADA statement:
Disability Services (Office of Specialized Services) | Bergen Community College
Sexual Harassment statement:
HR-003-001.2018-Policy-Prohibiting-Sexual-Harassment.pdf (bergen.edu)
Statement on acceptable use of BCC technology:
Acceptable-Use-Policy.pdf (bergen.edu)
Recommended Syllabus Statements from the Office of Specialized Services:
Syllabus Statements | Bergen Community College
Statement on the purpose and value of faculty office hours.
Accessibility Statement
Bergen Community College is committed to ensuring the full participation of all students in its
programs. If you have a documented disability (or think you may have a disability) and, as a result,
need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this class, complete course requirements, or benefit
from the College’s programs or services, contact the Office of Special Services (OSS) as soon as
possible at 201-612-5270 or www.bergen.edu/oss. To receive any academic accommodation, you must
be appropriately registered with OSS. The OSS works with students confidentially and does not
disclose any disability-related information without their permission. The OSS serves as a clearinghouse
on disability issues and works in partnership with faculty and all other student service offices.
Student Support Services
Bergen Community College provides exemplary support to its students and offers a broad variety of
opportunities and services. A comprehensive array of student support services including advising,
tutoring, academic coaching, and more are available online at https://bergen.edu/currentstudents/.
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BCC Syllabus Template May 20, 2024, Revised for PHR 101 January 2025
Sidney Silverman Library Online Resources: Guides BY SUBJECT - LibGuides at Bergen Community College General Search and Databases: Library | Bergen Community College
Sample Course Schedule:
This version of PHR 101 is topical and organized into distinct learning modules. The structure
of modules is an opening discussion with a reflective in-class essay, followed by readings in
philosophy, an in-class debate and then an exam, considered summative for the module. The
final module is the critical summary project.
Week Topic/Activity/Assignments
1-4 Module 1: Defining Knowledge
Required Reading:
Plato “The Myth of the Cave” from Republic VII
Plato Meno
Gettier “Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?
Timothy Williamson “Knowledge and Belief”
Assessments:
In-class reflective writing: Does Knowledge Require Justification?
Canvas quiz on each assigned reading
Stand Where you Stand (class debate)
Exam 1, multiple choice and short essays
5-9 Module 2: The Philosophy of Mind
Required Reading:
Descartes “Meditation I” from The Meditations
Descartes “Meditations II and VI” from The Meditations
Elisabeth of Bohemia “Letter to Descartes”
Antoine Arnauld from “Letters and Correspondences to R. Descartes”
Gilbert Ryle “Descartes’ Myth” from The Concept of Mind
JJC Smart “Sensations and Brain Processes”
John Searle “Can Computers think?”
Assessments:
In-class reflective writing: Am I mind with a body or a body with a mind?
Canvas quiz on each assigned reading
Stand Where you Stand (class debate)
Exam 2, multiple choice and short essays
10-14 Module 3: Free Will
Required Reading:
Galen Strawson “Free Will”
Roderick Chisholm “Human Freedom and the Self”
Harry Frankfurt “Freedom of the Will and the COncept of a Person”
Susan Wolf “Sanity and the Metaphysics of Responsibility”
Assessments:
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BCC Syllabus Template May 20, 2024, Revised for PHR 101 January 2025
In-class reflective writing: Does Knowledge Require Justification?
Canvas quiz on each assigned reading
Stand Where you Stand (class debate)
Exam 3, multiple choice and short essays
15 Module 4: Critical Summary
Required Reading:
None, students should pick a text to work on, providing this to instructors.
Peer review in class
Assessments:
Critical Summary Project (out of class writing)
*All readings are from Rosen, The Norton Introduction to Philosophy
Note to Students: This course outline and calendar is tentative and subject to change,
depending upon the progress of the class.
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