Course Description, Objectives, Prerequisites & Requirements
Course Description

Surveys Western thought from the Ancient Greek Philosophers to the Renaissance. Attempts to familiarize students with famous thinkers, their thoughts and influence on Western culture. Emphasizes philosophical methods as demonstrated in the thinkers studied

Phil 2510 is coded to satisfy the University's General Education Goal for historical Consciousness. As such it aims in part to assist students to develop skills of "recognition of causes, relationships, and sequences within seemingly random social and historical events." Members of the class will be asked to particpate in an evaluation of the appropriateness of the General Education coding for this course.

Course Objectives

Course Objectives: 1) to introduce the nature and methods of Western philosophy; 2) to introduce the thought and interests of ancient and medieval thinkers. Greater emphasis on ancient period. Focus will be on the systematic tendency in philosophy, the interconnectedness of a philosopher's views on a wide range of topics. Some attention to social and historical contexts of thought.

Prerequisites

No prior study of philosophy assumed.

Requirements
Students are expected to attend class sessions and contribute to discussions both in-class and by e-mail. All quizzes and exams will be written in class from questions distributed (and electronically posted) in advance. Grades will be assigned according to the following system of weightings:

Quizzes (10% each) 20%
Mid-Term Exam 30%
Final Exam 40%
Class Participation 10%



Revised August 24, 1996

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