Intro to philosophy homework

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Philosophy of life? – will send instructions 

COURSE SYLLABUS

August 2021 | Upper Iowa University Page 1 of 12

PHIL 150: Introduction to Philosophy
Session 1: August 30, 2021 – October 21, 2021

Online: Online classroom located at uiulearn.uiu.edu

Instructor Information
Instructor Name: Lisa Gerber, Ph.D.

UIU Faculty Email: [email protected]

Telephone Number: (505) 507-1760 Mountain Time Zone

Availability: Please feel free to call me anytime between 8am and 8pm. I do not have virtual

office hours, but I am happy to talk over the phone or over Zoom. Please call me if you need

immediate assistance. You can also leave a message or set up an appointment via email.

Course Description
Semester Credits: 3

Catalog Course Description: A survey of the significant theories and theorists that have

shaped the way human beings perceive their relationship to, and place in, the universe large.

This course examines the classic questions of human existence: who are we, where did we

come from, and what is our destiny. Competing philosophical viewpoints will be represented.

Ultimately, students will be encouraged to develop or explain critically their own positions

regarding these fundamental problems. Meets the humanities requirement.

Prerequisites: None

Credit Hour Policy:

As a requirement of HLC Accreditation, all UIU courses, regardless of meeting schedule or

instructional mode, follow the Federal Credit Hour Definition. As such, each credit hour earned

at UIU is equivalent to a minimum of 45 hours of student engagement.

For more information on how specific instructional modes meet this requirement, please see

UIU’s Policy Guidelines for Instructional Time Expectations: UIU Policies.

Course Materials
It is the student’s responsibility to make sure the student has access to all required course

materials by the start of the session.

August 2021 | Upper Iowa University Page 2 of 12

Required Textbooks

Mitchell, Helen Buss, Roots of Wisdom. 8th ed., Cengage Learning, ISBN-10: 1-337-55980-6
ISBN-13: 978-1-337-55980-5
Required Resources none

Recommended Resources: none

Ordering Textbooks

Purchase your textbook through the online university bookstore, MBS Direct, or by phone at

(800) 325-3252.

Course Objectives
1. Recognize what makes a conclusion valid or an inductively strong argument; an action

moral or immoral; a statement believed to be true
2. Explain the various schools of philosophical and moral thought; the history of their

development and the rationale for acceptance and their practice by society
3. Develop a foundation for valid conclusions about perception and belief
4. Describe what it means to be moral
5. Explain the process of coming to know that which is called reality

General Education Assessment
Upper Iowa University General Education program is guided by the Peacock Pillars and

promotes foundational learning in multiple disciplines. The four Peacock Pillars (demonstrate

technological literacy, exercise critical thinking across disciplines, communicate effectively, and

engage as members of a diverse community) are student learning outcomes achieved by all

Upper Iowa University graduates, and represent critical skills necessary for meaningful

participation in society. The Pillars assessed by this course are indicated below:

Demonstrate technological literacy

Exercise critical thinking across disciplines

Communicate effectively

Engage as members of a diverse community

GenEd Task Statement – Arts and Humanities (Task 3)

Recognize, identify and accurately describe the underlying assumptions and beliefs inherent in
defined philosophical or religious traditions.

Read a text about a particular philosophical or religious thinker or issue. Incorporating other
sources, write a 2‐ to 3‐ page (i.e., 650‐1,000‐word) response paper to it, indicating an
understanding of the thinker or issue in question, and placing the ideas in their intellectual
context.

August 2021 | Upper Iowa University Page 3 of 12

This essay assignment must be submitted to the GenEd Arts and Humanities (Task 3)
assignment submission folder. This is for assessment purposes only. There is another week 5
assignment tab where you submit your week 5 essay assignment for grading. This is due on
Sunday of Week 5.

Course Requirements and Grading Criteria
Discussion and Participation

Discussions are critical in an online course for student-student and student-instructor
interaction for active learning. Discussions provide an active learning environment for you and
your peers to master the content in this course. Online course attendance is also tracked
through discussion postings. If you do not post in the weekly discussions you will be
considered inactive in the course and will be removed. Be sure to post to each week’s
discussion and to your peers to stay active in the course.

There are two parts for a discussion: the initial response to the discussion question (starting a
new thread) and participation in the discussion threads (replying to classmates’ threads).

The minimum requirement for participation is 4 days out of each 7-day online academic week.
Participation does not include your Initial Response. It means to actively engage by
substantively contributing or responding to your peers’ discussion posts in all weekly
discussion threads. Substantive means comments that demonstrate comprehension and
involve dialogue which extends the depth and/or breadth of discussions. ‘I agree’ or ‘disagree’
alone or similar statements will not be considered as a substantive response.

You are required to post eight times in response to your classmates. In these responses, you
should thoughtfully and actively engage in the conversation. You can include points from the
reading, examples from your personal experience, contemporary issues, or any other material
that is relevant to the discussion.

Each week there are 3 discussion questions for you to answer. Your initial response to
the discussion question is due by Day 3. Your responses and discussion with your
classmates should occur on Days 3-7. The discussion is worth 25 points per week.

Quizzes

In weeks one through seven, there is a 10-question multiple-choice quiz on the reading from
the textbook Roots of Wisdom. There is a one-hour time limit on the quizzes. The quizzes are
designed to give you feedback about your comprehension of the material in the assigned
chapter. Each weekly quiz is worth 10 points.

Assignments

The assignments for this course consist of two individual essay assignments, eight weekly
summaries, one group discussion essay assignment, one outline for the final project, and one
final project essay assignment.

• Individual Essay Assignments

August 2021 | Upper Iowa University Page 4 of 12

These are two individual analytic essays where you explicate the author’s position and then
develop your own analysis. There are two individual essays and are due in weeks 2 and 5.
There is an assignment description in the weekly work under ‘essay’. Your essays should be
uploaded to the assignment area by the end of Day 7 (Sunday, 11:59pm, CT). These papers
are worth 120 points each.

• Weekly Summary Assignments

The weekly summary will allow you to reflect on what you have learned during the week. Each
summary should include the summary of your learning and a reflection on how this learning
has impacted your thinking and practice.

In the assignment area, you will submit a weekly summary of what you have learned during the
class that week. The summary should be in paragraph format and should be approximately
350-700 words. The weekly summary is due by Day 7 (Sunday, 11:59pm, CT) each week.
Weekly summaries are worth 10 points each. In writing the summaries, please focus on the
following areas:

• Summary of Learning – Explain the content of what you learned this week.

• Personal Learning – Include reflection on what has impacted your thinking and
practice. This can include an application to your personal life as well as your career
and professional goals.

• Group Assignment

We have one group assignment in this course; this is due in week 3. In a philosophy course, it
is important to analyze an issue with your peers. Group discussions and assignments are a
great way to do this.

Group papers should represent a collaborative effort of all group members in all aspects of the
report. It should not be a compilation of different pieces written by different persons and put
together to make the report. Each person in the group is responsible for whatever is in the
report. For that reason, all group members usually receive the same grade for a report. I
expect all group members to carry their fair share of the work, but it is up to the group to
determine what a fair share is. Should it become evident to me that a person has not met the
fair share expectation, I reserve the right to reflect that in that person’s grade on the
assignment.

The group assignments are submitted in the assignment area. The group assignment is worth
100 points.

• Final Assessment

There will be a final paper on your philosophy of life. This project gets to the heart of the idea
that philosophy is a way of life, rather than an abstract discipline. For the final project, you will
write a 4 to 6 page essay that incorporates the following three essential elements in a
philosophy of life: your conception of self, your moral convictions, and the aspects of life that
you think are essential in living a full and happy life. In each section, you will explain a relevant
philosophical theory as well as develop your own position on each section. You will notice that
this paper builds on material we study in class. This will allow you to work on this final essay as

August 2021 | Upper Iowa University Page 5 of 12

we progress through the course. For example, we are covering identity in week 3 and ethics in
week 6.

o In Week 6, you will submit a comprehensive outline for your final assessment. I
will give you feedback on how to develop your final paper.

o Finally, in Week 8, you will submit your final essay. Please note that the course
ends on the Thursday of Week 8, so your final essay is due on Thursday.

Here is an outline that can guide the construction of your final essay.

I. Introduction – write one paragraph that orients your reader to the overall theme of
your essay.

II. Section on Human Nature

a. In this section, explain what constitutes your personal identity and what
constitutes the nature of a human being.

b. Show how this conception relates to at least one philosophical theory we have
studied.

c. Show how your identity and conception of human nature ties in with your
philosophy of life.

III. Section on Ethics and Value

a. In this section, you will explain some of your deepest held moral convictions.

b. Show how this conception relates to at least one philosophical theory we have
studied.

c. Show how these deeply held convictions tie in with your philosophy of life.

IV. Section on a Meaningful Life

a. In this section, you will explain what you think is essential to living a full and
happy life and why.

b. Reflect on the ways in which philosophical reflection relates to developing a
theory of what constitutes a meaningful life.

c. How is this meaning developed in your daily life?

V. Concluding Paragraph

GenEd Task Assignment – Week 5 Essay Assignment

• Papers should be about 3-4 pages (1000-1250 words).
• Grammar and spelling count for 10% of the value of the grade given
• Upload your paper as an attachment in the assignment section as a word document

(doc or docx).
• You will also upload this essay into the Gen Ed Assessment folder.

August 2021 | Upper Iowa University Page 6 of 12

• Due – Day 7 – Sunday

In this essay, you will analyze one question from our text in For Further Thought section from
Chapter 10 Ethics: You can choose from the following questions: 9, 11, 13, or 18. These
questions are on page 461 of our text. In analyzing the dilemma, you will explain and apply two
of the ethical theories we have studied. Finally, you will state and defend your own position on
the question. You can also write on an ethical dilemma of your own choice. If you would like
this option, please send your proposed topic to me beforehand.

Below is an outline of the components of your analysis.

1. Explain the details of the question and state why it is important to do an ethical analysis
of this question. The introduction will be one paragraph.

2. Explain the two ethical theories that you will use to analyze this question. This can
include the theories of utilitarianism, deontology, virtue theory, natural law theory,
Buddhist ethics, or African ethics. This explanation of the theories will be one-third of
the essay.

3. Explain what choice you think is best and why. In developing the analysis, you will need
to apply the two ethical theories that you explained above. If one theory does to
adequately address the question, you will explain why. This application of the theories
and analysis will be two-thirds of the essay.

Write a short conclusion in which you reflect on what insight you draw from this question and

the ways in which the theories can be applied. This conclusion will be around two paragraphs.

Course Policies

Grading Criteria

Assignment Points Summary

Graded Course Assignments Points

Initial Response to Discussion Question and Participation in

Discussion (25 points per week)

200

Weekly Summary (10 points per week) 80

Quizzes (7 at 10 points each) 70

Group Project (1 at 100 points each) 100

Essay Assignments (2 at 120 points each) 240

Outline for Final Assessment Essay 50

Final Assessment Essay 260

Total 1000

Grading Scale

August 2021 | Upper Iowa University Page 7 of 12

Letter
Grade

Percent Points

A 93-

100%

930 –

1000

A- 90-92% 900 – 929

B+ 87-89% 870 – 899

B 83-86% 830 – 869

B- 80-82% 800 – 829

C+ 77-79% 770 – 799

C 73-76% 730 – 769

C- 70-72% 700 – 729

D+ 67-69% 670 – 699

D 63-66% 630 – 669

D- 60-62% 600 – 629

F 0-59% 0 – 599

Grades and Feedback

All graded work available must be posted in the uiuLearn Gradebook by Sunday at 11:59pm

(CT) one week prior to the course drop date, as well as posted by Sunday at 11:59 pm prior to

the final week.

Turnitin

Turnitin is a tool for both teachers and students to ensure academic integrity by checking the
originality of submitted papers to avoid issues of plagiarism and academic dishonesty.
Students should be aware that Turnitin scans submitted work and compares it to ALL other
sources on file.

Incompletes

Occasionally it becomes necessary for an instructor to award a student a grade of incomplete

(“I”). An incomplete grade is exceptional and given only to students whose complete

coursework has been qualitatively satisfactory but who have been unable to complete all

course requirements because of documented cases of injury, illness, death in family, personal

crisis, military deployments, or other circumstances beyond their control. This grade should not

be awarded in cases where the student “fell behind” due to absences without explanation,

other class commitments, and/or work obligations.

August 2021 | Upper Iowa University Page 8 of 12

Course Schedule
Weeks 1-7 are Monday through Sunday; Week 8 is Monday-Thursday.

Week Topics of
Study

Activities Assessments Due Days

Week
1

Introduction

What is
philosophy?

Course Syllabus

Read Roots of
Wisdom: Chapter 1:
Why Philosophy

Additional Reading
as a PDF in the
Week 1 Content Area

• Carr “Is Google
Making us Stupid”

• Heidegger,
“Memorial
Address”

Post your Student
Introduction

By
Wednesday

Post Initial
Response for
Discussion Question

By
Wednesday

Participate in
Discussion

Wed –
Sunday

Complete Weekly
Summary

By Sunday

Complete W1 Quiz By Sunday

Week
2

Reality Read Roots of
Wisdom: Chapter 2:
Reality and Being

Watch Video: David
Eagleman “What is
Reality” (PBS)

Additional readings in
Week 2 Content
area:

• Plato, “Allegory of
the Cave”

Post Initial
Response for
Discussion Question

By
Wednesday

Participate in
Discussion

Wed –
Sunday

Complete Weekly
Summary

By Sunday

Complete W2 Quiz By Sunday

Submit Essay
Assignment

By Sunday

Week
3

Self Read Roots of
Wisdom: Chapter 3:
Human Nature

Additional reading
and video in Week 3
Content area:

• Rothman, “As
Real as it
Gets”

Post Initial
Response for
Discussion Question

By
Wednesday

Participate in
Discussion

Wed –
Sunday

Complete Weekly
Summary

By Sunday

Complete W3 Quiz By Sunday

Submit Group
Project

By Sunday

August 2021 | Upper Iowa University Page 9 of 12

Week Topics of
Study

Activities Assessments Due Days

• Christian,
“Mind vs.
Machine”

Week
4

Aesthetics Read Roots of
Wisdom: Chapter 7:
Aesthetic Experience

Post Initial
Response for
Discussion Question

By
Wednesday

Participate in
Discussion

Wed –
Sunday

Complete Weekly
Summary

By Sunday

Complete W4 Quiz By Sunday

Week
5

Ethics Read Roots of
Wisdom: Chapter 10:
Ethics

Additional material in
Week 4 Content
area:

• Listen to
RadioLab: “I
need a Hero”

• Read David
Eagleman,
“The Brain on
Trial”

Post Initial
Response for
Discussion Question

By
Wednesday

Participate in
Discussion

Wed –
Sunday

Complete Weekly
Summary

By Sunday

Complete W5 Quiz

________________

Submit Essay
Assignment

Submit week 5
essay to GenEd Arts
and Humanities
(Task 3) for UIU
assessment

By Sunday

__________

By Sunday

Week
6

Political
Philosophy

Read Roots of
Wisdom: Chapter 8:
Political Philosophy

Post Initial
Response for
Discussion

________________

Participate in
Discussion

By
Wednesday

__________

Wed –
Sunday

August 2021 | Upper Iowa University Page 10 of 12

Week Topics of
Study

Activities Assessments Due Days

Complete W6 Quiz By Sunday

Complete Weekly
Summary

By Sunday

Submit Outline for
Final Paper

By Sunday

Week
7

Social
Philosophy

Read Roots of
Wisdom: Chapter 9:
Social Philosophy

Post Initial
Response for
Discussion Question

By
Wednesday

Participate in
Discussion

Wed –
Sunday

Complete Weekly
Summary

By Sunday

Complete W7 Quiz By Sunday

Week
8

A Meaningful
Life

Read Material in
Week 8 Content
area:

• Thoreau,
“Where I Lived
and What I
Lived For”

Post Initial
Response for
Discussion Question

By
Wednesday

Participate in
Discussion

Wed –
Thursday

Complete Weekly
Summary

By Thursday

Submit Final
Assessment Essay
Assignment

By Thursday

Course Expectations

Email

Upper Iowa University employees and students are issued a UIU email account

([email protected]). University email communications will only be sent to UIU email address.

Faculty and staff are not obligated to respond to students using non-UIU email accounts.

Technology Requirements

Students and faculty should have access to a reliable up-to-date computer, updated virus
protection, and an Internet connection to access course materials and complete course
activities.

August 2021 | Upper Iowa University Page 11 of 12

Late Work

You are expected to submit your work on time. If you are faced with a difficulty please contact
me to make arrangements.

Professional Writing and Speaking Guidelines

Communications in class and online should follow the Student Conduct and Discipline,

Respect for the University Environment, and Code of Student Responsibility in the Student

Handbook. Respect the opinions of others using appropriate language and communications.

University Policies
University Policies are listed in detail within the course content on uiuLearn. Students are

responsible for reviewing and understanding the applicable policies.

Academic Accommodations

It is the policy of Upper Iowa University to ensure equal access to educational and co-

curricular activities to students with disabilities as mandated by the Americans with Disabilities

Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A student

seeking accommodations should contact the Director of Student Accessibility Services as early

in the session as possible. In order to receive accommodations, students are required to

disclose their disability to the Director by completing an application for services that can be

found on the Student Accessibility Webpage. The Application Packet for New Students can be

found here: https://uiu.edu/experience/student-accessibility-services/ In addition to the

application packet, the student is required to submit supporting documentation. Submit these

to the Student Accessibility Services Office either in person or by email/Fax. A brief interview,

in-person, by phone or virtually, with the Director will confirm or deny the accommodations

requested. The Student Accessibility Services Office will email accommodation letters to the

appropriate professor, the student, and the student’s advisor. Additionally, students should

work cooperatively with their instructors throughout the session to make sure that their

accommodations are appropriate and effective.

Contact the Director at (563) 425-5949, [email protected] or stop by the office on the 2nd

floor of the Student Center, Office of Student Life, Room 229.

Emergency Directives: (Fire, Natural Disaster, Threat on campus, etc.)

In accordance with Upper Iowa University’s emergency management plan, any student that

requires assistance in the event of an emergency (Fire, natural disaster, threat on campus) is

responsible for notifying their instructor of the need for assistance. (Evacuation, and/or indoor

safety protocols) This information will be held confidential and only needed in the unlikely

event that there is an emergency.

August 2021 | Upper Iowa University Page 12 of 12

Copyright Statement
In recognition of the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code), Upper

Iowa University reminds both faculty members and learners that a willful infringement of the

law may result in disciplinary action. The University library has available materials discussing

the “fair use” concept, along with criteria and guidelines for reproduction and use of

copyrighted materials.

This syllabus is subject to change.

© 2021, Upper Iowa University

  • PHIL 150: Introduction to Philosophy
    • Session 1: August 30, 2021 – October 21, 2021
  • Instructor Information
    • Instructor Name: Lisa Gerber, Ph.D.
    • UIU Faculty Email: [email protected]
    • Telephone Number: (505) 507-1760 Mountain Time Zone
    • Availability: Please feel free to call me anytime between 8am and 8pm. I do not have virtual office hours, but I am happy to talk over the phone or over Zoom. Please call me if you need immediate assistance. You can also leave a message or set up an a…
  • Course Description
    • Semester Credits: 3
    • Catalog Course Description: A survey of the significant theories and theorists that have shaped the way human beings perceive their relationship to, and place in, the universe large. This course examines the classic questions of human existence: who a…
    • Prerequisites: None
    • Credit Hour Policy:
  • Course Materials
    • Required Textbooks
    • Required Resources none
    • Recommended Resources: none
    • Ordering Textbooks
  • Course Objectives
  • General Education Assessment
  • Course Requirements and Grading Criteria
    • Discussion and Participation
      • Quizzes
      • Assignments
      •  Final Assessment
    • Write a short conclusion in which you reflect on what insight you draw from this question and the ways in which the theories can be applied. This conclusion will be around two paragraphs. Course Policies
    • Grading Criteria
      • Assignment Points Summary
    • Grading Scale
    • Grades and Feedback
    • All graded work available must be posted in the uiuLearn Gradebook by Sunday at 11:59pm (CT) one week prior to the course drop date, as well as posted by Sunday at 11:59 pm prior to the final week.
    • Turnitin
    • Incompletes
  • Course Schedule
  • Course Expectations
    • Email
    • Technology Requirements
    • Late Work
    • Professional Writing and Speaking Guidelines
  • University Policies
    • Academic Accommodations
    • It is the policy of Upper Iowa University to ensure equal access to educational and co-curricular activities to students with disabilities as mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation …
    • Contact the Director at (563) 425-5949, [email protected] or stop by the office on the 2nd floor of the Student Center, Office of Student Life, Room 229.
    • Emergency Directives: (Fire, Natural Disaster, Threat on campus, etc.)
    • In accordance with Upper Iowa University’s emergency management plan, any student that requires assistance in the event of an emergency (Fire, natural disaster, threat on campus) is responsible for notifying their instructor of the need for assistance…
  • Copyright Statement
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