Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2025 - PHIL 331 B100

Selected Topics (3)

Skill and Expertise

Class Number: 3315

Delivery Method: Blended

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 12 – Jun 20, 2025: Mon, Thu, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    As stated by department at time of offering.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

May be repeated for credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

Selected Topics: Skill and Expertise

NOTE: This course is offered as intersession and blended, with 4 hours of lecture per week, and 2 hours of asynchronous online work. 

Prerequisites: At least one of Phil 201, 203, 221, or 300 must be completed prior to the start of this course. Students interested in this course who do not meet the prerequisite requirements should contact the instructor to request permission.

This course will explore the nature and importance of skill and expertise. Skill and expertise (playing soccer, playing the violin, racing cars, painting, performing live-saving surgery, informing a country about new public health measures, etc.) have a central role in human life – from helping us build and sustain our societies to providing entertainment and fulfillment. We will explore skill and expertise through three philosophical perspectives: (1) mind and action (e.g., what goes on in peoples’ heads when they do the things they’re good at doing?), (2) ethics and politics (e.g., why should we listen to experts?), and (3) aesthetics (e.g., what makes skill enjoyable to watch?).

Work outside of the meeting times will include reading, watching movies about skill or expertise, watching live or recorded acts of skill and expertise (sports events, artistic performances, press conferences, etc.), and independent work on class projects. (Note: Students can work on projects in small groups of up to 3 if they choose.) Work during the meeting times will include following along with lectures, large-group discussions, and small-group discussions

Grading

  • Weekly participation: Attendance, in-class participation, small group discussion 25%
  • Short at-home assignments: Watching videos, doing readings, writing short responses 25%
  • Class project: Will include several components (including proposal, outline, written component, research component, peer review, and presentation) 50%

NOTES:

This is a blended course. Students will be expected to use the asynchronous hours to watch (and take notes on) live or recorded acts of skill and expertise (sports events, artistic performances, press conferences, etc.).

Academic Integrity:  

Students are required to adhere to the SFU Academic Integrity Policy (available at
https://www.sfu.ca/students/enrolment-services/academic-integrity.html). This is particularly important for
written papers.

Cases of plagiarism will result in an automatic 0 points for the assignment, and an
Academic Dishonesty report will be filed with the University. For especially egregious cases,
students will be recommended for an FD grade (failure due to academic dishonesty) for the
course. A single plagiarized sentence is sufficient to receive 0 points on an assignment. Students
should familiarize themselves with what plagiarism is and how to avoid it
at https://canvas.sfu.ca/courses/15986.
 
And yes, the use of ChatGPT or similar content-generating AIs does constitute plagiarism. If in doubt, please ask! (Even Grammarly now features a Generative-AI component.)

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.

REQUIRED READING:

All readings will be provided to students via Canvas.


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

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 philcomm@sfu.ca   More details on our website: SFU Philosophy

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.