SPECIAL TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE DESCRIPTION
An in-depth consideration of selected relevant Philosophy topics not covered in regular
course offerings.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
The following are the main objectives of the course:

Cognitive
1. The students will be able to explain the selected philosophical claims and concepts.
2. They will be able to compare the philosophies.
3. They will be able to articulate the implications/applications of the philosophies.

Affective
1. They will value more the study of Philosophy
2. They will be motivated to think more holistically
3. They will be inspired to become more humane and better citizens.

Behavior/Psychomotor
1. They will be able to identify and examine philosophical presuppositions
2. They will be better at clarifying ideas and terms
3. They will do better in philosophical analysis and synthesis

COURSE PROCEDURE/METHODS
This is a seminar-type course. The beginning sessions will be devoted to introductory
materials- employing the lecture and discussion method. The remaining sessions will be used for
instructor-guided student presentations. The student is expected to be well-prepared and creative
in her/his presentations. The presentations will be followed by Q & A.
Concerning late-coming and absences- the student is advised to check the UB student
handbook. As per UB classroom regulations, cellphone use during the class is not allowed.

COURSE TEXTBOOKS
[See some sources for Further Study below]

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
In addition to punctuality, class active participation, satisfactory completion of seat
works, quizzes and exams, the following are the requirements of the course:
1. Reaction Talks. The student is assigned primary and secondary texts to study. Summaries of
these are presented to class- including the student’s reactions. The student articulates clearly and
comprehensively the implications/applications of the texts- implications/applications for
contemporary life, Philippine education and society. Failure to present the talk on the scheduled
date would mean a grade deduction of not less than 8 pts (of the highest possible grade). The
transcript (not a copy-paste of internet articles of any book) is to be submitted to the professor
before the talk.

2. A Publishable Article. The student is to do research on a course-relevant topic of her/his

choice for UB publication: 12-15 pages, double spaced, Times New Roman, font 12, and
properly documented. The articles shall be presented to class for critique and improvement (on
the scheduled date). The improved paper will be submitted to the instructors seven working days
before the final examination day. Papers submitted late will have grade deductions (5 pts. Per
day).

A NOTE ON PLAGIARISM
UB Graduate School plagiarism is a serious violation of Christian integrity and academic
ethics. It is important that when citing another source appropriate acknowledgement is given.
Plagiarism involves using material written by another without proper citation or representing
material written by another as one’s own work. In this course, there are serious penalties for
plagiarism which include failing the written assignment (the minimum penalty), failing the
course, or expulsion from UB. [Adapted from my other (APTS) syllabus]

Course Grading
[Please see the UB student handbook]

Course Outline and Schedule

Session/s [a session is 3 hours]

1 Introduction to the course

2-4 Metaphilosophy
Readings
A. Ayer and F.C. Copleston,’Logical Positivism- A debate”
C. Lewis, : The Proper Method of Philosophy”
G. Moore, “What is Philosophy”
J. Sartre, :Existentialism”
M. Merleau-Ponty, “What is Phenomenology?”
J. Derrida, :Deconstruction and the other”
J.Habernas, “Philosophy as Stand-in and Interpreter”
5-7 Philosophy of Interpretation
Topics for Reaction Talks
F. Scheiermacher’s “grammatical and psychological interpretation”
H. Gadamer’s “fusion of horizons”
P. Ricoeur’s “socio-critical hermeneutics”
S. Fish’s “ Is There a Text in this Class?”
J. Kristeva’s “intertexuality”
A. Plantinga’s “Advice to Christian Philosophers”

8- Midterm Exam [coverage: Metaphilosophy and Philosophy of Interpretation]

9-11 Reality
Texts for reaction Talks
Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”
Yin and Yang
The Theory of Dependent Origination
Kuhn’s The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
Whitehead’s Process and Reality
Levina’s Infinity and Totality
Braudrillard’s “ Simulcra and Simultation”
Heidegger on Technology

12-14 Truth
Texts for Reaction Talks
W. James “Pragmatism’s Conception of Truth”
D. Davidson, “Truth and meaning”
M. Heidegger, “On the essence of Truth”
J. Margolis, “relativism and Cultural relativity”
J. Derrida, “The end of the book and the beginning of the writing”
H. Arendt, “Truth and Politics”
M. Foucault, “The Discourse on Language”
P. Ricoeur, Oneself as Another

15-17 Term Paper presentations and Evaluations

18 Final Exxamination [Coverage: Metaphilosophy, Interpretation, Reality and Truth]

FOR FURTHER STUDY

Books
Devitt, Michael and Richard Hanley. Philosophy of language. MA: Blackwell,2006
Hutchens, B.C. Levinas: A Guide for the Perplexed. NY: Continuum, 2004
Lechte, John and Margoni, Maria. Julia Kristeva. London: Continuum, 2004
May, Todd. The Philosophy of Foucault. UK: Acumen, 2006
Medina, Jose and David Woods, eds. Understanding Derrida. NY: Continuum, 2004
Reynolds, Jack. Undersatanding Existentialism. UK: Acumen, 2006
Shusterman, Richard, ed. The range of Pragmatism and the Limits of Philosophy. USA:
Blackwell, 2005.

Website:
http://www.phenomenologycenter.org/phenom.htm
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/philosophy
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/phenomenology
http://plato.stanford.edu /entries/hermeneutics
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/existeneialism
http://plato.stanfor.edu/entries/truth
http://en.wikipidia.org/wiki/Structuralism
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/foucault
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/baudrillard
http://www.iep.utm.edu/1/Lyotard.htm
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/habermans
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ricoeur/
http://postcolonialweb.org/