SYLLABUS: PHIL 205 – Introduction to the History of Philosophy – Fall 2012 INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Boris DeWiel (pr. deWHEEL; please call me Boris or Dr. DeWiel as you prefer) OFFICE: ADMN 3076 E-MAIL:
[email protected] PHONE: (250) 960-5662 OFFICE HOURS: Tues. and Thurs. 13:30-14:20, or email for appointment, or see me after class, or drop by COURSE WEBSITE: http://web.unbc.ca/~dewielb COURSE DESCRIPTION: This is a course in the history of Western philosophy from ancient Greece to medieval Europe. While other civilizations have produced their own philosophies and while the word "philosophy" is sometimes used in nonacademic ways, this course is about the academic discipline of philosophy in the West. You are responsible for reading both books, listening to and discussing the lectures, and most importantly thinking deeply about what you have read and heard. Exams will cover the readings as well as the lectures. REQUIRED TEXTS: Anthony Kenny. Ancient Philosophy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004. ISBN: 0198752725. Anthony Kenny. Medieval Philosophy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005. ISBN: 0198752741. COURSE OUTLINE: 1. The Pre-Socratics 2. Socrates, Plato and Aristotle 3. Epicureanism, Stoicism and Neoplatonism 4. Early Christian philosophy 5. Medieval philosophy ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING: Exams & Assignments
Date
Grade Weighting
First midterm exam
Thursday, Oct. 4
25%
Second midterm exam
Thursday, Nov. 1
30%
Exam week (Dec. 5-15) (for research project option, see below)
45%
Option: final exam or research project (see below)
Research project option: If you choose a research project instead of the final exam, you must first meet with me to have your topic approved. The research project consists of an annotated bibliography (3 books and 7 articles or book chapters) worth 10% of your course grade and a term paper of 2500-3000 words (1012 pages) worth 35%. Deadlines: bibliography Nov. 4; term paper Dec. 2; both by email to
[email protected]. If you miss either deadline, you must write the final exam. You may do both the project and the final exam, in which case you will receive the higher of the two grades.