Welcome to PHH 2060: Introduction to Classical Philosophy!

Catalog Description: Prerequisite: ENC 1101 with a minimum grade of "C. (Meets Area II Humanities requirement.)
This 3-hour credit course is an introduction to the aims and methods of philosophy through a survey of Western thought from the ancient through the medieval world. The course deals with major philosophical problems as treated in the works of such philosophers as Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, and Aquinas This course is a Gordon Rule Writing course where students will produce extensive college level writing and requires completion with a minimum grade of “C.”

Student Learning Objectives:  By examining the thought of the first philosophers of Western civilization, students will learn what it means to think philosophically about the boundary questions of life and, upon completion of the course, will have demonstrated by objective tests, essays, and a research paper the ability:  

1. to demonstrate their acquired critical thinking skills through class discussion and on five examinations and a 5-page research paper. 

2. to answer the question “What is philosophy?” by accurately describing the three basic areas of philosophic inquiry. 

3. to identify and explain the origins of philosophy in Ionia. 

4. to compare the rise and philosophical focus of the Sophists with the first philosophers. 

5. to illustrate the essentialist anti-Sophistic movement led by Socrates. 

6. to appraise the philosophical achievements of Plato and Aristotle. 

7. to describe and evaluate the new direction taken by the Hellenistic philosophers. 

8. to contrast the Medieval Christian philosophers Augustine and Aquinas with the Greco-Roman pagans.

Text: Ancient Philosophy by Don E. Marietta Jr. , 1998, M.E. Sharpe, Inc., ISBN: 0-7656-0216-4.  

Classroom: 104, Social Sciences Building.

Grade: The final grade for the course will be determined by the average of the following: the three highest of the four major exams, a paper, and the final exam. There are no make-up exams.  The grading scale will be A (90-100), B (80-89), C (70-79), D (60-69), F (59 and below).

Attendance:  Regular class attendance and participation are significant factors that help to promote success in college.  It is your responsibility to acquire any missed class information from another student.  Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class session.  Students are required to be in class at the beginning of each class period.  If a student arrives late, it is their responsibility to inform the instructor after class that they arrived.  Failure to do so may result in the student being marked absent.

Withdrawals. Two withdrawals are permitted per credit course.  Students are also allowed to repeat courses where “D” and “F” grades were earned in order to improve their grades.  Students are limited to two (2) repeat attempts per course.  The last grade earned (not the highest grade) is counted as the final grade.  On the third attempt, students must pay fees at 100 percent of the full costs of instruction (equivalent to out-of-state tuition) and will receive a grade for the course.  Please be concerned about withdrawals. When admitting students into certain programs, universities may calculate withdrawals as grades.
    Students wishing to withdraw must complete a withdrawal form and submit the form to the Office of Enrollment Services before the scheduled withdrawal deadline as published in the college catalog.  Student withdrawals initiated prior to the scheduled withdrawal deadline will be recorded as a grade of “W”.  The withdrawal deadline for an off-term (i.e. summer semester) or condensed term (8-week course) is one week after midterm.

For this course, the faculty member will not process any withdrawals prior to or after the student withdrawal deadline.

E-mail: Use the ANGEL internal email for your class.  To make sure your email is not deleted as junk mail, include the class and period in the subject line of your email and your name in your message. Your emails will be answered within 48 hours (excluding weekends).

Office Hours:  SS107, MW 8:00-9:30 AM; M-R 2:00-3:00 PM; F 8:00AM-Noon.

For access to and interaction with any division chair or faculty member, if you live outside the local calling area, you may dial 1-800-311-3685. The World Wide Web address of the college is: http://www.gulfcoast.edu.  The extension for the division secretary is 3825 and for the division chair is 3826.

QEP Vision Statement We believe that teaching Critical Academic Literacy (CAL) strategies will improve student learning. Students will construct knowledge as they develop their analysis, synthesis, and evaluation skills. CAL strategies must be taught explicitly through direct classroom instruction and be reinforced through consistent practice.

DISABILITY STATEMENT: Any student who feels she or he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Disability Support Services at 850-872-3834 or in the Student Union East room 59. The Office of Disability Support Services will coordinate reasonable accommodations for all students with documented disabilities.

CELL PHONE POLICY:  CELL PHONES ARE NOT PERMITTED. TURN THEM OFF, MUTE THEM, AND DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ANSWER THEM. ANYONE CAUGHT USING A CELL PHONE DURING AN EXAM WILL RECEIVE A FAILING GRADE FOR THAT EXAM. You will NOT listen to music, send text messages, or surf the web during class. Doing so is disruptive and will result in your removal from the classroom and possible withdrawal from the class. Laptops are permitted only for taking notes on the lecture, and will be checked periodically. Absolutely NO “smokeless tobacco!”

About your Instructor

Back to Top

Send comments and questions to Dr. Richard Baldwin, Gulf Coast State College.
This page last updated 11/21/11