PHIL 1301:
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Regular and punctual attendance of classes and laboratories is required of all students. When a student has been ill or absent from class for approved extracurricular activities, he or she should be allowed, as far as possible, to make up for the missed work. If a student has not actively participated by the census date, they will be dropped by the instructor for non-attendance. This policy applies to courses that are in-person, online, hybrid, and hyflex.
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When an instructor feels that a student has been absent to such a degree as to invalidate the learning experience, the instructor may recommend to the Vice President of Instruction that the student be withdrawn from the course. Instructors may seek to withdraw students for non-attendance after they have accumulated the following number of absences:
Fall or spring semesters:
3 or more class meeting times per week - 5 absences
2 class meeting times per week - 3 absences
1 class meeting per week - 2 absences
The student is responsible for seeing that he or she has been officially withdrawn from a class. A student who stops attendance in a class without officially withdrawing from that class will be given a failing grade; consequently, the student must follow official withdrawal procedures in the Admissions/Records Office.
Please note: Health Science and Cosmetology courses may require more stringent attendance policies based on their accreditation agencies. Please see the addendum and/or program handbook for further information concerning attendance.
Panola College welcomes pregnant and parenting students as a part of the student body. This institution is committed to providing support and adaptations for a successful educational experience for pregnant and parenting students. Students experiencing a need for accommodations related to pregnancy or parenting will find a Pregnancy and Parenting Accommodations Request form in the Student Handbook or may request the form from the course instructor.
Communication Skills – to include effective development, interpretation, and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication
Personal Responsibility – to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making
Social Responsibility – to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities
After studying all materials and resources presented in the course, the student will be able to:
- Read, analyze, and critique philosophical texts.
- Demonstrate knowledge of key concepts, major arguments, problems, and terminology in philosophy.
- Present logically persuasive arguments both orally and in writing.
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills in evaluation and application of philosophical concepts to various aspects of life.
- Evaluate the personal and social responsibilities of living in a diverse world.
Course Content:
A general description of lecture/discussion topics included in this course are listed in the Learning Objectives section of this syllabus.
Students in all sections of this course will learn the following content:
- "The Philosophical Enterprise"
- "The Mind-Body Problem"
- "Free Will and Determinism"
- "The Problem of Personal Identity"
- "The Problem of Relativism and Morality"
- "The Problem of Evil and the Existence of God"
- “The Problem of Skepticism and Knowledge”
Methods of Instruction/Course Format/Delivery:
This class will convey the course material through lectures, discussions, primary/secondary documents, guest speakers, instructional videos and PowerPoint presentations. Reciprocally, students are expected to take notes, listen proactively, ask questions, conduct service learning, and read the textbook. Instructional methods for this course will vary depending upon the instructor, term, and format (online v. face-to-face).
Grade Scale (based on 1000 total points possible)
A = 900-1000
B = 800-899
C = 700-799
D = 600-699
F = 0-599
Major Assignments/Assessments
Assignments
Assignments
This course will use the following forms assignments to determine a student’s class grade. The assignments will be based on a point value system. The total number of points earned from the assignments will determine the final class grade in according with the grade scale (see grade scale below). Instructors may determine on an individual basis the number of assignments (and point distributions) given in each category depending upon the length of the course.
- Discussion Boards
- Quizzes
- Module Exams
- Group work
- Paper
Assessments
Assessment(s):
- Displaying knowledge of a variety of philosophical problems by writing an essay in which they explain two or more different philosophical positions.
- Applying critical thinking skills by writing an essay in which they explain and assess the strengths and weaknesses of a philosophical position or theory.
- Developing an informed personal reaction to a philosophical issue by writing an essay in which they explain and justify their personal response to a philosophical issue.
Assessment and Assignment Rules
- Academic Freedom and Instructor Discretion: The government department recognizes the necessity of academic freedom. As such, each instructor maintains the right to stipulate rules in addition to this syllabus concerning assignments, make-up work, grading rubrics, classroom recordings, excused absences, extra credit, and any other matters within the individual course offerings. All of the supplemental rules must be made available to the students at the start of the semester or in advance of the completion of individual assignments.
- Academic Freedom and Code of Etiquette: The government department recognizes the right of the instructor and the students to address controversial subjects. This right to academic freedom is recognized as the principle by which truth may be pursued. Consequently, the department firmly upholds the right of instructors to appropriately express in writing, speaking or action their understanding, opinions, and knowledge on controversial subjects. Moreover, no student’s grade shall be diminished because of an appropriately expressed political opinion. However, the freedom of speech does not act as an excuse for inappropriate language or behavior as it is possible to freely discuss controversial issues without being obscene. Obscenity consists of language and behavior that lacks academic value, is repugnant to the standards of the community, and/or contains libel or slander. Moreover, the freedom of speech does not act as an excuse for violating standards of academic honesty or poor performance on assignments. The instructor and the college reserve the right to remove students from the class and hold disciplinary actions in accord with college policy for obscene language or behavior.
- Academic Honesty: The central theme of education is the enlightenment of the mind. This can only be achieved by hard, honest work. Consequently, cheating and plagiarism are strictly prohibited in the course. A student must not receive from or give to any other student information, answers, or help during an exam. A student must not "steal" the answers from an unsuspecting student during an exam. A student must not use any sources for answers during an exam (including, but not limited to notes, books, or electronic devices) without prior authorization from the professor. A student must not obtain exam questions illegally, tamper with the exam questions, nor change the results of an exam after it has been graded. Moreover, students are prohibited from plagiarizing any assignments. Plagiarism consists in the taking of another person's ideas, words, or information and claiming those properties as one's own. Properly quoting and citing borrowed information is NOT plagiarism. However, since academic integrity is based on the originality of a student's work, no student may submit an assignment that contains an excessive amount of properly cited material. The standards and violations of academic honesty shall be further defined by the individual instructor (in accord with college policy). Individual instructors reserve the right to employ any ample means for proving academic dishonesty. Students have the right to contest a plagiarism or cheating claim through the college appeals process.
Texts, Materials, and Supplies:
- Marcos Arandia, Philosophy and the Good Life: A Text for Beginners, 3rd Edition, Kendall Hunt Publishing (2016). ISBN: 9781465297433
Required Readings:
The Textbook
Recommended Readings:
- None
PHIL 1301.401
Introduction to Philosophy
Course Syllabus
Spring 2025
Course Number: PHIL 1301
Course Title: Introduction to Philosophy
Instructor’s Information:
Instructor: Will Geisler, PhD (cand.) Politics, MA Politics, MA Liberal Arts, BA Philosophy
Online Office Hours: 8:00am-9:00pm Daily
Email: wgeisler@panola.edu. (I will return all emails within 48 hours)
Phone Number: 972.983.1816
Class Information:
Course Number: PHIL 1301 (SP25/Online)
Meeting Dates: January 15, 2025 – May 8, 2025
Meeting Times: Online
Meeting Location: Online
Books Required:
No books are required. Primary source readings in Philosophy will be provided in the course.
Course Description: A study of major issues in philosophy and/or the work of major philosophical figures in philosophy. Topics in philosophy may include theories of reality, theories of knowledge, theories of value, and their practical applications.
Course Credit Hours: 3 credit hours. (A)
Prerequisites: Meet TSI college-readiness standard for Reading and Writing; or equivalent.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
- Read, analyze, and critique philosophical texts.
- Demonstrate knowledge of key concepts, major arguments, problems, and terminology in philosophy.
- Present logically persuasive arguments both orally and in writing.
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills in evaluation and application of philosophical concepts to various aspects of life.
- Evaluate the personal and social responsibilities of living in a diverse world.
Grade Scale (based on 1000 total points possible)
A = 900-1000
B = 800-899
C = 700-799
D = 600-699
F = 0-599
Orientation/Start Here
Read the course syllabus
Do the Introductory Discussion Board (25 points).
Do the Plagiarism Tutorial
Do the Orientation Quiz (10 points)
Chapter Work
For each Unit, do the following in the order they appear in the Modules section:
- Read the Chapter
- Watch the Chapter PowerPoint
- Watch the Chapter Video Lecture.
- Do the Chapter Discussion board.
- Study and then take the Chapter Quiz.
- Post and comment about something relating to the author studied in the chapter or philosophy in general. Be sure to write 3-4 sentences explaining your thoughts on the article or video you posted.
- Do the Unit Applied Philosophy Paper.
- Review the Unit Test study questions.
- Watch the Unit Test Review Video.
- Study and then take the Unit Exam.
Chapter Quizzes (225 points)
There are 10 chapter quizzes.
Unit Tests (300 points)
There are three unit tests in this course (the Unit 3 Test is the Final Exam). The time limit for the unit exams is 120 minutes. You make take the Unit Exams only once. Unit Tests must be taken in the testing center at Panola College or with an authorized proctor. Contact me if you plan to use a location other than the testing center at least three days prior to the exam. Before taking the test, make sure you study.
Course Philosophy Paper (100 points)
There is a course philosophy paper in the course. See instructions for this paper on Canvas. Any plagiarism or academic dishonesty on this paper may result in an automatic F for the course.
Discussion Boards (235 points)
There are nine discussion boards. Each chapter discussion board is worth 25 points (10 points for the Concluding Discussion Board). To get the full 25 points, you must write a 250-300 word response to the given prompt (use your word processor to count the number of words and include that at the end of your post). Your response should carefully address all parts of the question in a coherent, organized, and professional manner. You must also respond to someone else's post with a 100-word response (use word court again).
Your responses should be your own words. Do not cut and paste - this is plagiarism. If you do quote the textbook or other sources, be sure to use parenthetical citation or footnotes for proper attribution. If you cut and paste and do not use your own words, you may be cited for plagiarism, reported the College, given a 0 on the assignment, and an F in the course. You may also face possible disciplinary action by the College.
You will primarily be graded on the completeness of your posts. Make sure you read the comments made on your posts.
Late Work Policy
Ample time has been allotted to complete all assignments. All assignments are expected on or before the deadline indicated in the syllabus. Any student that needs to submit a late assignment should contact me in advance of the deadline for approval (which may or may not be granted) and to make alternative arrangements or the assignment may receive a reduced grade or a 0 at the discretion of the instructor.
Grading Time: Work done in this course will generally be graded with a week of being turned in by the student.
Census Date: The census date for this course is listed in the academic calendar on the College website. Students who have not completed an assignment by this date will be reported to the College and to financial aid as non-attending and may be dropped from the course.
Withdrawal Policy: The last day to withdraw from this course with a W is on the College website. It is the student’s responsibility to drop the course; I cannot do it for you. Students who fail to drop the course and remain on the roll after the drop date will receive a grade based on the work they did for the class. That grade is usually an F.
Scholastic Dishonesty
Every member of the College community is expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. The College may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts, or omissions related to applications for enrollment, credit or class work, research, the award of a degree, and/or submitting work that is not one’s own. All work submitted for credit is expected to be the student’s own work.
Scholastic dishonesty shall involve, but is not limited to, one or more of the following acts: plagiarism, cheating, collusion, use of annotated texts or teacher’s editions, use of information about exams posted on the Internet or in any electronic medium, and/or falsifying academic records. Students are expected to record honestly and accurately the results of all their research. Falsification of research results includes misrepresentations, distortions, or omissions in data or reports on research. While specific examples are listed below, this is not an exhaustive list and scholastic dishonesty may encompass other conduct, including any conduct through electronic or computerized means:
Plagiarism is the use of an author’s words or ideas as if they were one’s own without giving credit to the source, including, but not limited to, failure to acknowledge a direct quotation. In the preparation of all papers and other written work, students must distinguish their own ideas and knowledge from information derived from other sources. The term “sources” includes not only published primary and secondary materials, but also information and opinions gained directly from other people. Whenever ideas or facts are derived from a source, the student must indicate the source.
Cheating is the willful giving or receiving of information in an unauthorized manner during an examination or to complete an assignment; collaborating with another student during an examination without authority; using, buying, selling, soliciting, stealing, or otherwise obtaining course assignments and/or examination questions in advance; unauthorized copying of computer or Internet files; using someone else’s work for assignments as if it were one’s own. Student may submit or resubmit an assignment (in whole or in part) for more than one (1) class or institution without permission from the professor(s); or any other dishonest means of attempting to fulfill the requirements of a course.
Collusion is intentionally or unintentionally aiding or attempting to aid another in an act of scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to, failing to secure academic work; providing a paper or project to another student; providing an inappropriate level of assistance or unauthorized collaboration; communicating answers to a classmate about an examination or any other course assignment; removing tests or answer sheets from a test site; and allowing a classmate to copy answers.
Students found responsible for scholastic dishonesty offenses may receive an authorized disciplinary penalty or penalties from the College. The student may also receive an academic penalty in the course where the scholastic dishonesty took place. The faculty member will determine the appropriate academic penalty. Any student who has been found to have been academically dishonest due to plagiarism, cheating, or collusion on an assignment may receive a grade of zero for the assignment and may be given an F for the course.
Course Schedule
All tasks for each chapter should be completed by the chapter deadline. All chapter deadlines are 11:59pm on the date indicated. All other tasks should be completed by the due date indicated.
Orientation
Read all items
Do Plagiarism Tutorial (due 1-15)
Join the Facebook Group (due 1-15)
Introductory Discussion Forum (due 1-15)
Orientation Quiz (due 1-15)
Unit 1
Read Chapter 1 "Plato’s Allegory of the Cave"
Watch Chapter PowerPoint
Watch Chapter Video Lecture
Chapter 1 Discussion Forum (due 1-20)
Chapter 1 Quiz (due 1-25)
Read Chapter 2 "Plato’s Euthyphro"
Watch Chapter PowerPoint
Watch Chapter Video Lecture
Chapter 2 Discussion Forum (due1-31)
Chapter 2 Quiz (due 2-4)
Read Chapter 3 "Plato’s Apology"
Watch Chapter PowerPoint
Watch Chapter Video Lecture
Chapter 3 Discussion Forum (due 2-10)
Chapter 3 Quiz (due 2-15)
Unit 1 Test (must take in testing center) (Due 2-16)
Unit 2
Read Chapter 4 "Epicurus"
Watch Chapter PowerPoint
Watch Chapter Video Lecture
Chapter 4 Discussion Forum (due 2-21)
Chapter 4 Quiz (due 2-26)
Read Chapter 5 "Thomas Aquinas"
Watch Chapter PowerPoint
Watch Chapter Video Lecture
Chapter 5 Discussion Forum (due 3-3)
Chapter 5 Quiz (due 3-8)
Read Chapter 6 "Thomas Hobbes"
Watch Chapter PowerPoint
Watch Chapter Video Lecture
Chapter 6 Discussion Forum (due 3-14)
Chapter 6 Quiz (due 3-18)
Unit 2 Test (must take in testing center) (due 3-20)
Unit 3
Read Chapter 7 "Nietzsche"
Watch Chapter PowerPoint
Watch Chapter Video Lecture
Chapter 7 Discussion Forum (due 3-25)
Chapter 7 Quiz (due 3-30)
Read Chapter 8 "Jose Ortega Y Gasset"
Watch Chapter PowerPoint
Watch Chapter Video Lecture
Chapter 8 Discussion Forum (4-4)
Chapter 8 Quiz (due 4-8)
Read Chapter 9 "Jean-Paul Sartre"
Watch Chapter PowerPoint
Watch Chapter Video Lecture
Chapter 9 Discussion Forum (due 4-13)
Chapter 9 Quiz (due 4-18)
Course Philosophy Paper (due 4-30)
Watch Unit Test Study Review
Final Exam (Unit 3 Test) (due 5-4)
Concluding Discussion Forum (due 5-5)
The professor reserves the right to change or amend this syllabus.
- Courses conducted via video conferencing may be recorded and shared for instructional purposes by the instructor.
- For current texts and materials, use the following link to access bookstore listings: https://www.panolacollegestore.com.
- For testing services, use the following link: https://www.panola.edu/student-services/studentsupport/academic-testing-center.
- If any student in this class has special classroom or testing needs because of a physical learning or emotional condition, please contact the ADA Student Coordinator in Support Services located in the Charles C. Matthews Student Center or go to https://www.panola.edu/studentservices/student-support/disability-support-services for more information.
- Withdrawing from a course is the student’s responsibility. Students who do not attend class and who do not withdraw will receive the grade earned for the course.
- Student Handbook: https://www.panola.edu/ (located on at the bottom under student)