The University of Western Ontario
Department of Philosophy

Philosophy 020E (040) 
Introduction to Philosophy

Instructor:  Shannon Dea, TC 407
Class Days and Hours: Tues 10:30-12:30 
and Thurs 10:30-11:30 
Location:  TC 202
	Office Hours: Thursday 11:30-12:30, or by appointment
Email: sdea@uwo.ca

Students are responsible for following the Philosophy Department procedures included with this outline. I will post information regarding the dates, times and locations of tests and review sessions on my office door, and on the course website (URL to be announced).

Course Objectives:

Philosophy 020E offers a wide-ranging tour of philosophical questions and some of the answers that have been proposed for them.  Six such questions will be studied throughout the year. 

In 2005-2006 the questions for study will be: Does God exist? What is knowledge and what can be known? Of what does reality consist? In what does moral obligation consist? and What is the best society?  Finally, we will round off the year by considering the shape of philosophy today with our final question:  What is the character of contemporary philosophy? 

Texts:

•	James A. Gould and Robert J. Mulvaney, Eds.  Classic Philosophical Questions, 11th ed.  Upper Saddle River, NJ:  (Pearson) Prentice Hall, 2004.
•	Additional readings to be posted online by the instructor. 

Work required: 

Four short essay assignments (about 5 pages each)					40%
One mid-year test 									15%
Final Written Examination 								35%
Attendance and participation								10%

THIS OUTLINE SUBJECT TO CHANGE, GIVEN SUFFICIENT PRIOR NOTICE.

You are responsible for ensuring that you have successfully completed all course prerequisites and that you have not taken an antirequisite course. Lack of prerequisites may not be used as basis of appeal. If you are not eligible for a course, you may be removed from it at any time, and you will receive no fee adjustment. These decisions cannot be appealed.