General Introduction

 This is a course in Philosophical thought.  As you know, there are at least five major areas of philosophical inquiry.  These include ethics, physics, meta-physics, aesthetics, and politics.  In a philosophical context, ethics would be considered to be the study of ideal behavior.  Politics would represent the study of ideal social structure.  Aesthetics would represent the study of ideal beauty.  I am sure that you can see that the discussion, related research, and topics of inquiry can take off in many different directions.

 The purpose of the following assignments is to provide a  Study Guide for the student to follow throughout the six  weeks.  The topics, and related exercises, have been chosen to highlight particular concepts, theories, philosophies, and beliefs.  It is hoped that, upon completion of this course, the student will have mastered the six goals and objectives as stated in the syllabus.

Assignment # 1:
Reading Assignment:  Locate two web sites dealing with Socrates or the Socratic Dialogue.

Writing Assignment:  Prepare a 3-4 page paper reviewing the web sites.  The ideal paper will be 3-4 pages long, typed, double-spaced, with a 1" margin top, bottom, left, and right.  The ideal paper will have 2 additional outside references located in the bibliography.  The first two pages should discuss the chosen topic in some detail.  The second two pages should include the personal opinion of the student.  What do you like about the topic?  What makes sense?  What does not make sense?  What do you think is missing?   What do you think is most applicable? 

Assignment # 2: 
Reading Assignment:  Locate two web sites dealing with Ethics.

Writing Assignment:    Prepare a 3-4 page paper reviewing the website.  Follow the instructions found in assignment one.

Assignment # 3: 
Reading Assignment:  Locate two web sites dealing with "The Egocentric Predicament."

Writing Assignment:  Prepare a 3-4 page paper discussing the Egocentric Predicament.  Compare and contrast the egocentric condition with the aristocentric and the ethnocentric condition.   Discuss why these conditions are relevant in the critical thinking process.

Assignment # 4: 
Reading Assignment:  Locate two websites dealing with "The Philosophy of Time."  It is highly recommended that one of the websites include the topic of "St. Augustine and Time."

Writing Assignment:  Prepare a 3-4 page paper comparing and contrasting different notions of time, and the relationship with mortality.

Assignment # 5:
Reading Assignment:  Locate two websites dealing with the philosopher "Rene Descartes."

Writing Assignment:   Prepare a 3-4 page paper discussing the idea of: "Cogito, Ergo Sum."

Assignment # 6:
Reading Assignment:  Visit the website www.mises.org.  In addition, find a related website on the topic of "Ideal Social Organization."

Writing Assignment:  Evaluate both web sites by comparing and contrasting different or similar notions of ideal social organization.  Two suggested topics to locate would be web sites related to Thomas Hobbes (Leviathan) and/or Plato (The Republic.)

Assignment # 7:
Reading Assignment:  Locate two web sites dealing with the philosophy of Joseph Campbell.

Writing Assignment:  Please write a 2-3 page summary of your thoughts, opinions, and philosophies concerning the ideas brought forth in the thinking of Campbell. 

Assignment # 8:
Reading Assignment:  Choose any issue that you found particularly interesting in the assignments.

Writing Assignment:  Your final project for this course is a reflective paper on one or more of the major topics which we have covered.  The ideal paper will be 15-20 pages in length, with a minimum of 7 outside references.  The purpose of the paper is two-fold.  First, the exercise will give you the opportunity to research several related web sites, periodicals, and/or other sources to further your base of information.  Second, the paper will allow you to take these sources and develop them, along with much of your own opinion, into a personal statement of your position.

I am certainly available, on a weekly basis, to help you understand the assignments, clarify information, and generally be a helpful facilitator.  Please do not hesitate to email at any time, and if a phone call is needed,  simply let me know.   I hope that you enjoy the course.