Note: The following assignment schedule is subject to revision and is intended to be a general guide to the assignments this semester. The assignment written on the blackboard at the beginning of each class takes precedence over this schedule. As the semester progresses, for the most recent version of our class schedule, check http://philosophy.lander.edu/intro/assignment.html. If an update is available, the version number will be a number higher than Version 1.0. In the ``Date" column, the number after M, W, or F is the number of the class, counting from the beginning of the semester.
| Date | Class Topic | Assignment |
| 08.20 | Welcome to the Course | Study Syllabus |
| W 1 | Purpose of the Course | Obtain textbook |
| What is Philosophy? | Check out Philosophy Web | |
| 08.22 | Assessment Pre-Survey | Syllabus: Begin Quiz 1: Web Practice Sheet |
| F 2 | ||
| 08.25 | What is Philosophy? | Study Syllabus |
| M 3 | Sign up for philhelp | |
| Post message mwforum | ||
| 08.27 | Some Main Questions of Philosophy | Study Plato: 12-28 |
| W 4 | ||
| 08.29 | Thought Experiments | Questions 12:1-6 |
| F 5 | ||
| 09.01 | The Nature of Philosophy | Study Plato: 28-32 |
| M 6 | Help on Web Practice Sheet | |
| 09.03 | The Trial of Socrates, Part I | Questions 12: 7-10 |
| W 7 | Quiz 1: Web Practice Sheet Due | |
| 09.05 | The Trial of Socrates, Part II | Web Quiz: Socratic Paradox |
| F 8 |
| Date | Class Topic | Assignment |
| 09.08 | The Trial of Socrates, Part III | Quiz 2: Socratic Paradox |
| M 9 | ||
| 09.10 | The Value of Philosophy | Study Russell 35-40 |
| W 10 | Quiz 2: Socratic Paradox | Web Quiz: Science and Philosophy |
| 09.12 | The Philosophic and the Practical Mind | Questions 36: 1-8 |
| F 11 | Quiz 3: Science and Philosophy | |
| 09.15 | Faith Provides Life's Meaning | Study Tolstoy: 589-609 |
| M 12 | Quiz 3: Science and Philosophy | Questions 590: 1-5 |
| 09.17 | Only I Can Find Meaning to My Life | Study Camus: 600-609 |
| W 13 | ||
| 09.19 | Camus: The Absurd | Questions 601: 1-8 |
| F 14 | ||
| 09.22 | The Elements of Existentialism | Web: Test 1 |
| M 15 | Review for Test 1: Philosophy and the Meaning of Life | Syllabus: Test 1 Review Sheet |
| 09.24 | Review for Test 1: Philosophy and the Meaning of Life | Chat, 9.25 8-9 PM |
| W 16 | ||
| 09.26 | Test 1: Philosophy and the Meaning of Life | Web: Define a posteriori and a priori |
| F 17 | ||
| 09.29 | Facts and Ideas | Study Anselm: 235-239 |
| M 18 | a priori and a posteriori Arguments | Questions 236: 1-4 |
| Syllabus: Quiz 4: a priori and a posteriori Exercise Sheet | ||
| 10.01 | The Ontological Argument | Quiz 5: The Ontological Argument |
| W 19 | Quiz 4: a priori and a posteriori Exercise Sheet Due | Aquinas: 242-245 |
| Questions 243:1-3 | ||
| 10.03 | Cosmological Arguments, Part I | Study Aquinas: 242-245, review |
| F 20 |
| Date | Class Topic | Assignment |
| 10.06 | Fall Break | |
| M | ||
| 10.08 | Quiz 5: The Ontological Argument | Construct Aquinas' Five Ways |
| W 21 | Cosmological Arguments, Part I | Study Paley: 248-252 |
| Questions 249:1-3 | ||
| 10.10 | Cosmological Arguments, Part II | Study Pascal: 254-258 |
| F 22 | Questions 255: 1-6 | |
| Quiz 6: Aquinas' Five Ways | ||
| 10.13 | The Teleological Argument | Study Hick 274-281 |
| M 23 | Questions 275: 1-6 | |
| 10.15 | Pascal's Wager | Quiz 7: Pascal's Wager |
| W 24 | Quiz 6: Aquinas' Five Ways | |
| 10.17 | The Problem of Evil, Part I | Web: Test 2 |
| F 25 | Quiz 7: Pascal's Wager | Seek Paper Topic |
| Quiz 8: The Problem of Evil | ||
| 10.20 | The Problem of Evil, Part II | Syllabus: Test 2 Review Sheet |
| M 26 | Quiz 8: The Problem of Evil | |
| 10.22 | Review for Test 2 | Chat 10.23, 8-9 PM |
| W 27 | ||
| 10.24 | Test 2: The Philosophy of Religion | Define ``determinism" |
| F 28 | Begin Writing Paper | |
| 10.27 | The Varieties of Determinism | Study James 293-301 |
| M 29 | Questions 293: 1-7 | |
| 10.29 | Genuine Options | Quiz 9: Varieties of Determinism |
| W 30 | ||
| 11.31 | Human Beings Are Free | Study Stace 311-321 |
| F 31 | Quiz 9: Varieties of Determinism | Questions 311-2: 1-7 |
| 11.03 | More on Determinism | Catch up on mwforum |
| M 32 | Work on Paper or Translation | Catch up on philhelp |
| 11.05 | Ethics Are Not Relative | Study Plato: 323-325 |
| W 33 | Questions 324: 1-3 | |
| 11.07 | Are Human Beings Selfish?, Part I | Study Rachels: 327-336 |
| F 34 | ||
| 11.10 | Are Human Beings Selfish?, Part II | Questions 327-328: 1-6 |
| M 35 | Quiz 10: The Refutation of Psychological Egoism |
| Date | Class Topic | Assignment |
| 11.12 | Due Date: Paper or Translation on mwformu Papers | Study Sartre 380-388 |
| W 36 | Questions 380: 1-7 | |
| Quiz 10: The Refutation of Psychological Egoism | ||
| 11.14 | Existentialism | Review Sartre |
| F 37 | ||
| 11.17 | Sartre and Authenticity | Begin Ethics Review |
| M 38 | ||
| 11.19 | Existential Ethics | Review Ethics Questions |
| W 39 | Comment on Paper(s) | |
| 11.21 | Review Philosophical Ethics | Chat 11.23, 8-9 PM |
| F 40 | Review for Test 3 | Syllabus: Test 3 Review Sheet |
| Assessment Post-Survey | Web: Test 3 Review | |
| 11.24 | Test 3: Ethics and Philosophical | Review for Final Tests |
| M 41 | ||
| 11.27 | Thanksgiving Holidays | |
| 11.28 | ||
| W/F | ||
| 12.01 | Discuss Test 3: Philosophical Ethics | Review for Comprehensive Final |
| M 42 | Review Concepts for Tests 1-3 | |
| 12.08 | Final Examination | 8:00-10:00 AM |
| M | MWF 10:00-10:50 Section 05 | |
| 12.10 | Final Examination | 8:00-10:00 AM |
| W | MWF 8:00-10:00 Section 01 |