2020y-apphil1000a-06

AP/PHIL1000 6.0 A: Introduction to Philosophy

Offered by: PHIL


 Session

Fall 2020

 Term

Y

Format

LECT

Instructor

Calendar Description / Prerequisite / Co-Requisite

An introduction to the basic issues and classic writers in the Western philosophical tradition. Areas such as ethics, metaphysics, theory of knowledge and logic will be surveyed by examining the writings of philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Descartes and Hume, as well as more modern writers. Course credit exclusion: GL/PHIL 1410 3.00 (prior to Winter 2014), GL/PHIL 1420 3.00 (prior to Fall 2013), GL/PHIL 1690 6.00.


Course Start Up

Course Websites hosted on York's "eClass" are accessible to students during the first week of the term. It takes two business days from the time of your enrolment to access your course website. Course materials begin to be released on the course website during the first week. To log in to your eClass course visit the York U eClass Portal and login with your Student Passport York Account. If you are creating and participating in Zoom meetings you may also go directly to the York U Zoom Portal.

For further course Start Up details, review the Getting Started webpage.

For IT support, students may contact University Information Technology Client Services via askit@yorku.ca or (416) 736-5800. Please also visit Students Getting Started UIT or the Getting Help - UIT webpages.


    Additional Course Instructor/Contact Details

Professor Brian Huss

huss@yorku.ca

    Expanded Course Description

This course is an introduction to some central issues in Philosophy, including the existence of God, free will, ethical theories, metaethics, topics in political philosophy, the nature of the mind, and topics in philosophy of science.  The course emphasizes the presentation and evaluation of arguments.  The approach is topic-based, and not historical.  (We will not start with ancient philosophy and then make our way through time to present-day philosophy.  Rather, we will look at particular topics; readings might be very old or very contemporary.)

    Additional Requirements
Prerequisite / Co-requisite: None

 

Technical requirements for taking the course: Video lectures will be available on the Moodle site for students to view at their convenience.  Tutorials will take place at their scheduled times via Zoom and are optional, though it is highly recommended that students attend tutorials.  Written assignments (short papers) will be turned in via Moodle and timed quizzes will take place via Moodle’s interface.

 

Here are some useful links for student computing information, resources and help:

Student Guide to Moodle

Zoom@YorkU Best Practices 

Zoom@YorkU User Reference Guide

Computing for Students Website

Student Guide to eLearning at York University

 

To determine Internet connection and speed, there are online tests, such as Speedtest, that can be run.]

 

Times and locations: Please note that this is a course that depends on remote teaching and learning. There will be no in-person interactions or activities on campus.

 

Virtual office hours:  TAs will be available on Zoom during the scheduled tutorial times to answer questions and can also be contacted via email.  The instructor can also be contacted via email.

 

    Required Course Text / Readings

TBA

    Weighting of Course

TBA

    Organization of the Course

TBA

    Course Learning Objectives

TBA

    Relevant Links / Resources