HISTORY OF WESTERN THOUGHT I
IDS 320

Spring 2008

Alexandra Shuford, Ph.D.
alexshuford@.gmail.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION - This course covers some of the historical perspectives on the contributions that great works of literature and thought have made to our understanding of the world and the place of humankind in it. Great works from ancient and classical Greece and Rome, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and Reformation, the modern and contemporary world.

COURSE OBJECTIVES -  Students will become acquainted with a number of important texts, ideas, figures and events that have shaped the evolution of Western Thought.  Although not exhaustive in scope, the course encourages students to explore and critically interrogate some of the cornerstones of prototypical Western approaches to human nature, the soul, reality, and our role in the universe.  While the assigned readings are primarily philosophical in nature, a multi-disciplinary approach is taken to better understand how our most fundamental ideas are imprinted upon a diverse range of cultural expressions.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS -   Readings are to be completed on a weekly basis as indicated on the syllabus.  Be sure to give yourself enough time to read and digest the material - anticipate re-reading some of the text selections to gain full understanding.   

Required Texts:  There are several copies of following book available at the Linfield College Bookstore or you may order the text through an on-line vendor (Amazon, Powells etc.) 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to to get the accompanying CD as there will be readings assigned from it.  Also, please be sure to get the 9th edition.  (The 10th is much more expensive!)  If  there is a delay in receiving your text, you may have to play "catch-up " for the first short readings but you should still keep up with the posted lectures.

• Philosophy: A Text with Readings. 9th Edition. 2005. Manuel Velasquez, edit.,  CA:  Thomson Wadsworth. ISBN 0534626130  

Please note: Included with this textbook is a CD with philosophy readings. You will need to complete them as indicated by (CD)  in the reading schedule

COURSE GRADES

Graded Assignments:                                                           

Quizzes (6 x 5%) ………………………...30%
Mid-term Exam....................……...….......30%
Discussion Participation  .........………......10%                        
Comprehensive Final Exam..............…….30%

 

Scale Used to Compute Final Grades

A	94-100	C	73-75
A-	90-93	C-	70-72
B+	86-89	D+	66-69
B	83-85	D	63-65
B-	80-82	D-	60-62
C+	76-79	F	59 <

 

NOTE: Late work is subject to grade penalty.

Discussion Participation:

The on-line lectures and assigned readings are designed to stimulate your thinking, to reveal patterns and complexities, not to provide you with “the answers.”  The discussion component of this class provides a place for you to make connections, ask questions, offer ideas, and think through some of the ideas explored. These discussions are an opportunity to work on developing and clearly explicating themes covered in the course.  Thoughtfully doing this work will aid you in deeper understanding of the material. 

Discussion postings must be substantive, engaged, respectful, and show comprehension of the readings assigned. Depending on the size of the class, students will be expected to participate in discussion a requisite number of times throughout the course (mostly likely every other week).  In developing your discussion posting, remember to explain why you think what you do not just stating that you agree with an idea or that you think an idea is wrong. For each discussion, I will ask a ‘tip-off’ question to help get the conversation going.

Quizzes: There will be six short (5 questions) open book/note quizzes given throughout the semester (approximately every other week).  These quizzes will test your familiarity with the concepts presented in lecture and in the course text. (More info tba)

Midterm and Final:

The midterm will be a take-home essay exam over material covered in the first part of the semester.  Students must complete essays that respond to two or three questions given out in class one week in advance. Essays should be approximately 4-5 typed pages total.

The final exam will be take-home essay exam due at the start of the last course meeting (5/21). One week prior to the due date, students will be given a list of questions and will be asked to write on two of them. Essays should be 7-8 typed pages total. 

Do not simply summarize the readings and lectures.  You are expected to make clear connections between the ideas presented in readings and lectures. Thus, a substantial portion of the essays must involve an accurate discussion of those aspects of the readings and lectures relevant to the question at hand.

Grades will be based on how accurately you answer the question, explain your reasoning and this includes substantive use of readings and lectures as well as the degree to which you've elaborated upon and supported your theses. As in discussion, it will be important to explain why you think what you do --- don't just say that you agree with an idea or that you think an idea is wrong without providing well-considered support/evidence. Your grade is based on how well you've developed and supported reasons for your answer. More information will be announce re: submission of exam.

COURSE POLICIES 

Academic Integrity: All work for this course must be your own and must be produced exclusively for this class. Academic dishonesty (i.e., cheating, plagiarism) will not be tolerated.  Any student found to be engaging in either of these activities at any point in the course will receive in a failing grade for the assignment and/or entire course and may be subject to further college sanctions.

Incompletes: A grade of Incomplete (I) is given only in emergency situations.  The student must request an Incomplete in writing and must obtain my permission.  All uncompleted work must be completed within time limits I set.  If you simply don't turn in the final assignments or the final exam, your grade will be calculated with the missed portion counting for 0 points.

Students with Disabilities: Students with documented disabilities who may need accommodations, who have any emergency medical information the instructor should know of, or who need special arrangements should notify the instructor as early as possible (no later than the first week of the term).

TOPICS & READING SCHEDULE