Course Syllabus
Introduction to Philosophy
N.B. First, my weekly extra help session is after school each Wednesday.
Welcome to our Philosophy Canvas page! Here you will find unit syllabi, assignments, and resources for the Intro to Philosophy course. I hope you find this a rewarding way to invest your time and effort this semester.
Assignments and supportive materials are listed on the page for each unit. When due, they will referenced on the calendar by unit and assignment number, followed by a shortened title. For example, "I.,2, Aristotle," would refer to unit 1, assignment 2, on the subject of Aristotle.
- Mr. Burns
My Schedule: Burns Schedule 23-24 8-30.pdf
Social Studies Lab: Social Studies Lab S1
Tech Department's Student Guide to Canvas:
Course Description
Introduction to Philosophy is an honors-level course which asks the student to reflect on his/her intellectual experience and to consider the nature of knowledge and the purpose, methodology, and dilemmas involved in the various areas of study. Major themes include logic and rationalism; the senses and empiricism; ethics and freedom; and the relationship between intuition, science and faith. Writings will include selections from Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, Descartes, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Kant, Arendt, Sartre, Nietzsche, Rand, and Sagan, among others.
This course is writing- and discussion- intensive and requires students to critique several philosophical essays and other scholarly works. Students are expected to demonstrate a high degree of mastery of these readings in seminar-style discussions. Consistent, active participation is critical to success in this course.
Most of the materials for this class are offered in digital format. Syllabi, readings, slides, etc., are available on my Canvas site.
Grading Policy and Course Expectations
Major Assignments (2-3 per term): 50%
Minor Assignments (5 or more per term): 50%
Minor assignments are often short, written responses. Short papers are not to exceed one, single-spaced, typewritten page. They are focused upon a narrow theme or question, often reflections upon reading assignments. A typical short paper may require you to summarize a source’s perspective on a question, then give your reaction to it. Do you agree? Why or why not? Do you have lingering questions or concerns? These papers will be used often as catalysts to our daily discussions. As such, they will not be accepted after these discussions have occurred. You are guaranteed to have at least eight short paper opportunities per term, of which you are required to complete FIVE each term. A minimum of two of these papers must be completed by the middle of each term. In the event that you choose to complete a fifth short paper, it will be averaged with the required four.
Major projects, by contrast, are opportunities to demonstrate what you have learned by the end of units. For example, you may be asked to explore a major theme or problem and lead a graded discussion on the application of various models to address it. Alternatively, major papers are generally 2-4, single-spaced, typewritten pages. These papers should represent your application of philosophical methods or systems to various situations. Major projects and papers differ from short papers in that they are generally summative; they should demonstrate considerable reflection on themes across the entire unit.
Participation is a particularly significant part of this course. Student contributions drive our class meetings and will be the primary determinant in how worthwhile an experience this course becomes. However, you may have noticed that our grading system does not factor participation as its own category in term grades. Instead, I have adjusted for this as follows: Students who lead particular discussions and demonstrate mastery or model engagement can earn credit for that topic without having to submit the written response. The reason for this adjustment is so that the graded coursework can prioritize a student’s strength or preference for verbal or written demonstration of mastery.
Course Summary:
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