The tools and techniques of philosophical reasoning: reading argumentative prose;
analyzing conceptual models; writing critical essays. Problems of knowledge: the criteria
of reliable knowledge; the formulation and justification of beliefs the sources and limits
of knowledge; beliefs about the physical world, the past and future, and other minds.
Critical standards applied to related metaphysical issues: theism, mind and self-identity,
determinism. 

Course Outline of Record

Prerequisites/corequisites/advisories

Advisory: ENGL 88 or ESL 188 or readiness for college-level English

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to: 

• Identify and evaluate major metaphysical theories of sustaining influence.
  
• Identify and evaluate major epistemological theories of sustaining
  influence.
  
• Fluently communicate philosophical arguments, both in writing and in oral
  contexts.
  
• Apply critical reading skills to philosophical writings, including identifying
  presented arguments and assumptions, and preparing to discuss those arguments verbally or in writing.

Class Meetings

There will be Zoom lectures conducted on a regular schedule each week. The times of these will be Tuesday and Thursday from 10-11. All are welcome to join the meetings and a link will be provided in the Module and on the Announcement page for the course. The Zooms will be recorded so they can be viewed at any time. There's no requirement to tune in for the live Zooms, but it can serve as a nice place for student engagement and where questions can be addressed.

Course Web Site

Students will use the Canvas Learning Management system [for assignment instructions, submitting assignments, viewing classmates' work, sharing resources, and viewing grades].  I can help with the course material and with some Canvas issues. But, if you need help uploading an assignment or with the mechanics of Canvas, please use the Student Canvas Guides or live support available through Canvas Chat.

For 24/7 help with Canvas, use Canvas Chat Support.

Textbooks

All readings, required and suggested, will be available on Canvas in the Course Modules

 

Instructor Contact

Stephan Johnson

• Canvas Inbox is preferred.
• Email: sjohnson@ccsf.edu
• CCSF Phone: (415) 239-3085
• Office Hours: T/TH 10-11 on Zoom
• Office Location: 658 Batmale Hall
• I will respond to all course email within 48 hours, Monday-Friday, exclusive of school holidays. Once the course begins, I prefer to get messages through the Canvas "Inbox."

Communication Plan

• I will respond to your messages within 48 hours during the work week (Monday-Friday), excluding holidays, or if you are notified otherwise.
• Your work will be reviewed, and I will comment on it within 96 hours of the due date unless you are informed otherwise. Please note that you will receive private comments on your discussion posts, written assignments, and all exams.
• I will participate in the weekly discussions but will not respond to each individual student. You will receive private comments on your written assignments.
• Office hours are arrangeable via Zoom conference video; just email me to arrange it

Building Community

The heart of this class is your written work, and, to a lesser extent, the discussion forum. Each week you and your classmates will analyze and discuss the issues that come up in the material this week. Each time this class is offered, I am humbled by the thoughtfulness of all of you, your work, and your responses to each other; they inform my understanding of the topics.  I look forward to participating in this course with you.

Instructor Announcements 

The instructor will post announcements on the “Instructor Announcements” page in Canvas throughout the semester. Canvas notifies students according to their preferred Notification Preferences as soon as the instructor creates an Announcement. 

Q&A Discussion

• A “Q&A Discussion” is available on the home page as a quick link. The Q&A Discussion is for you to ask for the assistance of your classmates or the instructor.

Canvas

Students will use the Canvas Learning Management system [for assignment instructions, submitting assignments, viewing classmates' work, sharing resources, and viewing grades].  I can help with the course material and with some Canvas issues. But, if you need help uploading an assignment or with the mechanics of Canvas, please use the Student Canvas Guides or live support available through Canvas Chat.

For 24/7 help with Canvas, use Canvas Chat Support.

Zoom Video Conferencing

I am always available to meet on Zoom for any reason. If you so desire, simply email me through Canvas and we can arrange that.

Required Software

• Adobe Reader (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
• Update your browser (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Important Dates

• Day Class Begins: 1/17/23
• Day Class Ends: 5/24/23
• Last Day to Add without instructor's approval: 2/3/2023
• Last Day to Drop with a refund: 1/27/2023
• Last Day to Drop without a 'W' symbol: 1/3/2023
• Last Day to Opt for Pass/No Pass: 4/20/2023
• Last Day to Drop with a W or apply for leave of absence: 4/20/23
• Final Exam Date: 5/24/2023

Dropping the Class

If you decide to discontinue this course, it is your responsibility to officially drop it to avoid getting no refund (after 10% of course length), a W symbol (after 20%), or a grade (after 60%). Also, the instructor may drop a student if there is no engagement with the course (either by submitting assignments or discussions, or viewing videos), for ONE week.

Pass‐No Pass (P/NP)

You may take this class P/NP. You must decide before the deadline and add the option online with College Scheduler or file the P/NP form with Admissions and Records. With a grade of C or better, you will get P.

You must file for the P/NP option by the date listed above. Once you decide to go for P/NP, you cannot change back to a letter grade. If you are taking this course as part of a certificate program, you can probably still take the class P/NP. Check with a counselor to be sure.

Late Policy

All weekly writing analyses are due at 11:59 p.m. PST on the due date. Late submissions are penalized as a function of how late they are. For instance, if the analysis is .65 days late, it will be penalized .65 points. If it's 2.1 days late, it will be penalized 2.1 points. If an assignment is 5 or more days late, it receives a blanket 5 points off penalty. There will be no late Discussions accepted without prior arrangement.

Methods of Evaluation

For each Unit of the course, there will be posted on Canvas a brief passage from the reading of that Unit that you are to analyze in a brief (no more than 250 word) paper that will be due on Canvas on the date listed in the Unit. The Rubric for these papers will be attached to each assignment. After each Unit assignment is due, I will do a video presentation (which you are welcome to join) discussing the passage and its argument.

What I’m looking for in these analyses is a demonstration that you understand the text, to some reasonable degree of depth. In the first Unit, we’ll go over the format and expectations of this assignment type in more detail, but briefly, what I’m looking for is a demonstration that (a) you understand the thesis of the passage; (b) you are able to surmise the author’s principle reasons or argument for this point; and (c) that you can, concisely, discuss this passage as to the degree of support provided for the main point. 

The grading policy for these analyses will be to score them on a 9 scale. Three points are tied to how well you concisely and accurately state the central point or thesis of the passage. Three points are tied to how well you state the reasons or argument the author provides in support of that central point or thesis. Finally, three points are tied to critically assessing the extent to which the author’s reasons or argument do, in fact, actually support the central point and whether these assumptions are, on their own, plausible. 

Giving out one assignment per week yields 15 assignments for the entire semester. 9 points for each yields 135 points. In computing your grade, I will only count 117 worth of points for this portion of your grade. That is, the maximum you can get, in 15 paper assignments worth 9 points each, is 117 points. This hopefully reduces the stress load on any one paper and also allows you to control your time and effort based on how you accumulate points throughout the semester. But NOTE, don't skip assignments early on thinking you have all the time in the world to make up the points. These will be graded on a four year college or university model of what work in a first course in Philosophy ought to look like. Since everyone gets full four year college or university credit for this course, the standards will be the same as what you'd get there. 

Discussions

Every week you may submit a Discussion post on a topic or item in the reading or video lecture for that week. After that, you are to Reply to another student's Discussion post. Submitting both a post and a Reply generates 1 point. You may only submit one Discussion and Reply per week and the total number of points you can garner from Discussions and Replies is 8 points.

Grading Policy

Visit the “Grades” in Canvas to keep track of your grades.

The total possible points for the course, taking into account the Analyses and the Discussions is 125. The grading scale will be as follows: 

  How do I view my grades, teacher comments, and an assignment rubric as a student?

Grades will be assigned as follows: 

Grading

Letter Grade	Percent
A	92-100%
B	82-89%
C	65-79%
D	50-64%
F or FW	<50%

If taking Pass/No Pass, you need at least 65% of the total class points and complete the midterm exam and the final exam to pass the class.

An “F” grade indicates that a student attended, participated, and completed the course but failed to master the course curriculum.

An “FW” grade indicates the student stopped attending a course after the “last day to withdraw” deadline and subsequently did not submit any work or participate in any exams. Please check with your counselor and financial aid advisor for possible implications of the FW grade on residency and financial aid status.

If you need classroom or testing accommodations because of a disability, have emergency medical information to share with me, or need special arrangements if the building needs to be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible. My office hours are by Zoom video-conferencing.

Students seeking disability-related accommodations are encouraged to register with Disabled Students Programs and Services located in Room 323 of the Rosenberg Library (415) 452-5481. Please see the DSPS website for more information and alternate locations.

Students who register in CCSF classes must abide by the CCSF Student Code of Conduct. Violation of the code is basis for referral to the Student Conduct Coordinator or dismissal from class or the College. See the Office of Student Affairs.

Collaborating on or copying of tests or homework in whole or in part will be considered an act of academic dishonesty and result in a grade of 0 for that test or assignment. I encourage students to share information and ideas, but not their work. See these links on Plagiarism:

Encourage Academic Integrity and Prevent Plagiarism

Citing Information Sources

Student Expectations 

You will succeed in this course if you meet the following expectations:

• Complete the assigned activities. Please let me know as soon as you can concerning difficulties you may have in getting assignments in on time. 
• Complete the discussion posts and replies within the given window of time. Our discussions are much more vibrant when we all participate!
• Think critically about the weekly topics. Is something surprising? Is it new to you? How does it contrast with what you know about XYZ, or how does it compare to ABC? 
• Do your own and your best work. 

Instructor Expectations 

Here is what you can expect of me:

• I will respond to your email or message within 48 hours during the week unless I inform you otherwise.
• I will treat you and your ideas with respect.
• I will grade your course assignments within a week. (If you have posted late work, it may take longer.) Grades on the final project and final exam will be done within a week.
• You will see your grades in the Canvas Gradebook.
• I will work hard to make this a great class.