Department of Religions and Cultures and Philosophy
INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
PHILOSOPHY 1115E
FALL-WINTER, 2008-2009
For the human being, an unexamined life is not worth living.
- Socrates (399 B.C.)
Rabbi Zusya said: In the world to come I shall not be asked, "Why were you not Moses?" I shall be asked, "Why were you not Zusya?"
- Rabbinical teaching
As they met on a bridge, three Zen monks asked a monk from another monastery: “How deep is the river of Zen?” “Find out for yourself,” replied the monk, who then threw them into the river.
- Zen Story
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INSTRUCTOR: Prof. W. A. Borody
TIME: Wednesdays, 12:30 – 3:30 PM
ROOM: CAN B201
OFFICE: H309
PHONE: Extension: 4562
EMAIL: wayneb@nipissingu.ca
Introduction
In this course we will discuss some of the main themes in the history of both Western and Eastern philosophy, concluding with a discussion of Transhumanism. First and foremost, the lectures are designed to engage the student in a dialogue with the ideas raised in the books and ancillary reading materials. All written work must follow the MLA standard outlined in A Pocket Style Manual.
Requirements
TERM ONE:
| Mid- Term Test (15%) | Oct. 8, 2008 |
| Essay [8-10 typed pages] (20%) | Nov. 5, 2008 |
| End-of-Term-Test (15%) | Nov. 26, 2008 |
TERM TWO:
| Essay [8-10 typed pages] (20%) | March 4, 2009 |
| Final Exam (30%) | TBA |
Required Books
Euthyphro, Crito and Apology (Plato, Vol. 1, trans. by H. N. Fowler. Loeb Classical Library, 1999. ISBN: 0674990401)
The Social Contract (Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Penguin Books, 2004, ISBN: 9780141018881)
The Analects (Confucius. Penguin Classics, 1998, ISBN 0140443486)
The Bhagavad Gita (Penguin Classics, 2003, ISBN 0140449183)
Last Flesh: Life in the Transhuman Era (Christopher Dewdney. Harper Collins Canada, 1998. ISBN: 0006384722)
[ Recommended: A Pocket Style Manual (Diana Hacker. Bedford Books, 2003. ISBN: 0312406843)