|
|
|
|
COCC Credit Course Descriptions
COURSE OUTCOMES
Prof. Camille Atkinson ♦ Deschutes
12 ♦ 383.7701 x2176 ♦ ceatkinson@cocc.edu ♦
After successfully completing this course, the student should be able to:
A) Demonstrate a basic understanding of the fundamental questions or issues that are characteristic of epistemology. For example, what is knowing and what are its limits? What kinds of objects/things are knowable? How does knowledge differ from belief, opinion, feeling, etc.? In what respects is knowing uniquely human? What role does "emotion" have (if any) in knowing or understanding? The student will demonstrate an ability to respond to such questions in oral discussion and in writing. Lastly, one should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the ways in which epistemology is situated within a larger philosophical tradition which includes topics in metaphysics and ethics.
B) Explain different philosophical positions or theories that are common to the Western tradition and articulate one's own points-of-view in a clear and consistent manner.
C) Utilize basic tools of philosophic inquiry and argument. This includes: 1) communicating an understanding of traditional epistemological positions as well as theories regarding what is or is not "knowable," even if such are contrary to one's own views or seem to belong to another place and time; 2) practicing critical thinking and reasoning skills by analyzing and evaluating the strengths as well as weaknesses of other points-of-view; and, 3) developing and refining one's own arguments or positions on basic topics of epistemology.
D) Interpret primary source material to show how historical texts may be applied to contemporary debates or dilemmas. This can be achieved by reading and re-reading short excerpts of original writings and sharing one's own questions and insights in class discussions. Also, finding examples from one's own experience that are relevant to the original readings will foster these interpretive skills.
E) Write more effectively and efficiently. This is achieved by completing all of the assigned essays while maintaining standards of clarity, accuracy, thoroughness, specificity and relevance, as well as offering some critical comments.
Updated 2/2/06
COURSE OUTCOMES
Prof. Camille Atkinson ♦ Deschutes 12 ♦ 383.7701 x2176 ♦ ceatkinson@cocc.edu ♦
After successfully completing this course, the student should be able to:
A) Demonstrate a basic understanding of the fundamental questions or problems that are characteristic of moral and ethical thought. For example: What is the difference between morality and legality, or between justice and laws of state? What constitutes a good life? What is happiness? What is virtue? Are human beings naturally moral, or is morality distinct from nature or "natural law"? Is ethical judgment based on reason, emotion, both or neither? What is the relationship (if any) between rights and responsibilities, or between self-interest and duty? To what extent is aesthetics a part of ethics, or are they unrelated? The student will demonstrate an ability to respond to such questions in oral discussion and in writing. Lastly, one should also be able to demonstrate an understanding of the ways in which ethics is situated within a larger philosophical tradition which deals with issues in metaphysics as well as epistemology.
B) Explain different philosophical positions or theories that are common to the Western tradition and articulate one's own points-of-view in a clear and consistent manner.
C) Utilize basic tools of philosophic inquiry and argument. This includes: 1) communicating an understanding of traditional moral or ethical theories that may be contrary to one's own or which seem to belong to another place and time; 2) practicing critical thinking and reasoning skills by analyzing and evaluating the strengths as well as weaknesses of other points-of-view; and 3) developing and refining one's own arguments or positions on basic topics of morality.
D) Interpret primary source material to show how historical texts may be applied to contemporary debates or dilemmas. This can be achieved by reading and re-reading short excerpts of original writings and sharing one's own questions and insights in class discussions. Also, finding examples from one's own experience that are relevant to the original readings will foster these interpretive skills.
E) Write more effectively and efficiently. This is achieved by completing all of the assigned essays while maintaining standards of clarity, accuracy, thoroughness, specificity and relevance, as well as offering some critical comments.
Updated 2/2/06
COURSE OUTCOMES
Prof. Camille Atkinson ♦ Deschutes 12 ♦ 383.7701 x2176 ♦ ceatkinson@cocc.edu ♦
After successfully completing this course, the student should be able to:
A) Demonstrate the ability to use the specific tools of critical thinking and logic in order to answer the following questions: What is the difference between truth and validity? Which forms of deduction are valid and which are invalid? What are the most common syllogisms and which informal fallacies are most prevalent? How does philosophic inquiry and argument differ from scientific investigation, mathematical proofs or empirical evidence? And, what are some of the limits of logic in particular or language in general? The student will demonstrate an ability to respond to such questions by completing the assigned exercises and writing assignments.
B) Identify premises and conclusions in both formal as well as informal proofs, and demonstrate an awareness of the limits of deductive forms as well as linguistic ambiguities. This can be done by critically reading and analyzing short essays, editorials or articles, and by continuing to distinguish between an argument's form or structure and its content.
C) Recognize the defining constituents of an argument (as opposed to a question, command, etc.) and define or evaluate basic types. For example, how and when are arguments by analogy effective and what are their limits? Also, what are the different kinds of "causal analyses" and how are they used in various contexts?
D) Argue more coherently and cogently, and write more effectively and efficiently. This can be achieved by: 1) completing assigned exercises (which involve constructing arguments of one's own, evaluating the claims of others, drawing and analyzing Venn diagrams, finding examples of fallacious forms of reasoning, etc.); and, 2) writing a term paper which will require one to research an area of controversy (from a list of proposed topics) and present both sides of the debate in addition to defending a position of one's own.
E) Improve critical thinking, reading and writing skills. In particular, the aim here is to distinguish between different kinds of informal fallacies, to recognize the basic psychological impediments to good reasoning, to identify and clarify ambiguities in language, and to show how tools of logic may be applied to issues in science, morality, politics or everyday life.
Updated 2/2/06
Humanities
Dept Home | Courses & Disciplines
URL of this webpage:
http://web.cocc.edu/humanities/courses/philosophy.htm
Last updated: 02 February 2006
Maintained by Cora Agatucci
