Summer 2021 - PHIL 100W D100

Knowledge and Reality (3)

Class Number: 3966

Delivery Method: Remote

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 12 – Aug 9, 2021: Tue, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Aug 19, 2021
    Thu, 7:00–10:00 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An introduction to some of the central problems of philosophy. Topics to be discussed include the different theories of reality; the nature and sources of knowledge, truth, evidence, and reason; the justification of belief and knowledge about the universe. These topics and problems will be considered as they arise in the context of issues such as: relativism versus absolutism; the existence of God; personal identity; the nature of the mind and its relation to the body; free will and determinism; the possibility of moral knowledge. Open to all students. Students with credit for PHIL 100 may not take this course for further credit. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.

COURSE DETAILS:

There are many ways of introducing philosophy.  One of the clichés about the field is that it seeks to find the meaning of life.  Well, it turns out that, along with a lot of other questions philosophers have asked and attempted to answer, they do actually contemplate this global sort of worry. There is a good reason, then, to introduce philosophy by asking about life’s meaning.   In this course, we will look at some of the answers western philosophy has given to the question “What is the meaning or purpose of our existence?”, starting with paradigms set out in classical Greece and by some of the traditions of Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) and proceeding to several modern answers suggested in the 19th and 20th centuries.  We will also look at some closely related “smaller” issues, such as the existence of God, the nature of happiness, the role of death in our lives, and what constitutes a person.  The goal is to learn something about philosophy and how it is done, while contemplating some issues near and dear to every thinking person’s being.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

PHIL 100W may be applied towards the Writing Requirement, and the Breadth-Humanities Requirement.
Videos: Why Study Philosophy? and Meet Our Professors!

Grading

  • Participation, based on tutorial attendance and 7-10 low-stakes writing assignments 15%
  • First paper with revision 20%
  • Second paper with revision 30%
  • Final exam 35%

NOTES:

Course delivery: remote, synchronous. Online presence is required during scheduled lecture time.

Tutorial delivery: remote, synchronous.  Online presence is required during scheduled tutorial time. 

Final exam: remote, synchronous. Online presence is required during scheduled exam time.

REQUIREMENTS:

Written work for this course will be submitted via Turnitin, a third party service licensed for use by SFU. Turnitin is used for originality checking to help detect plagiarism. Students will be required to create an account with Turnitin, and to submit their work via that account, on the terms stipulated in the agreement between the student and Turnitin. This agreement includes the retention of your submitted work as part of the Turnitin database. Any student with a concern about using the Turnitin service may opt to use an anonymous identity in their interactions with Turnitin. Students who do not intend to use Turnitin in the standard manner must notify the instructor at least two weeks in advance of any submission deadline. In particular, it is the responsibility of any student using the anonymous option (i.e. false name and temporary e-mail address created for the purpose) to inform the instructor such that the instructor can match up the anonymous identity with the student.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Students must have access to internet and a computer/other device that permits streaming video, word processing and teleconferencing with Zoom.

Camera is not required for lectures, but is required for tutorials.

REQUIRED READING:

All readings and other materials will be made available on Canvas


Department Undergraduate Notes:

Thinking of a Philosophy Major or Minor? The Concentration in Law and Philosophy? The Certificate in Ethics? The Philosophy and Methodology of Science Certificate?
Contact the PHIL Advisor at philmgr@sfu.ca   More details on our website: SFU Philosophy

New elective grade policy : P/CR/NC, pilot project for Spring/Summer/Fall 2021. List of exclusions for the new policy. Specifically for Philosophy: 

  • Students can use a P or CR to satisfy any requirement for a major, joint major, or minor in Philosophy (with the exception of Honours tutorials).
  • Students can use a P or CR to satisfy any prerequisite requirement for any PHIL course.
  • Students can use a P (but not a CR) to satisfy any requirement for the Ethics Certificate, or the Philosophy and Methodology of Science Certificate.
  • Philosophy Majors and Honours students can use a P (but not a CR) to satisfy any WQB requirement.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN SUMMER 2021

Teaching at SFU in summer 2021 will be conducted primarily through remote methods, but we will continue to have in-person experiential activities for a selection of courses.  Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).