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Fall 2025 Course Syllabus
Course: PHIL-1301 (Section: 1D, CRN: 92837) Introduction to Philosophy |
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| Instructor Information | |||||||||
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| Instructor | Julian Bruno | ||||||||
| brunoj@lamarpa.edu | |||||||||
| Phone | (409) 984-6330 | ||||||||
| Office | Educational 1 - Room: 131 | ||||||||
| Office Hours | Being an Adjunct Instructor, I do not have an assigned office. So, if any meeting is to happen it would have to be arranged, possibly in the Library or in the Education I building. | ||||||||
| Additional Contact Information | |||||||||
| Course Information | |||||||||
| 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. | ||||||||
| Required Textbooks |
Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.
9780872206335 Five Dialogues: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo by Plato / Grube, G. M. (Translator) / Cooper, John M. (Ed.)
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| Additional Materials/Resources | Various Handouts on subject topics will also be distributed during the semester. | ||||||||
| Corequisites/Prerequisites | None | ||||||||
| Learning Outcomes |
Objectives: After successfully completing this overview students should be able to: - describe/differentiate the ages of philosophy and how they are often divided. - explain what is the definition of Philosophy. Objectives: After successfully completing this module students should be able to: - list/label the various symbols associated with the imagery of Wisdom being personified as either Sophia or the Logos. These are both Greek words. Sophia is the feminine depiction, while Logos is the masculine form of Wisdom. - describe/interpret what the various symbols/symbology associated with the imagery of Wisdom being personified, such as an owl, laurel crown, spear, a globe, etc. Objectives After successfully completing this module, students will/should be able to: - differentiate between you as a Soul, your belongings as virtues, and your belongings' belongings as the virtues that give the soul authority to rule over its body and other people. - relate as to how and what one can do to Know Thyself and to Self-Cultivate themselves. - Identify/describe what is Primary in Philosophy? Is it Matter or is it Consciousness? - summarize Plato's Divided Line - the analogy between what the physical light provides in contrast to the Intellectual light. Objectives After successfully completing this module, students will/should be able to: - name/list/identify the 6 Branches of Philosophy. - differentiate and distinguish the 6 Branches of Philosophy: Metaphysics, Epistemology, Ethics, Aesthetics, Logic, Political Philosophy - explain what the meaning of Plato's Cave is. Objectives After successfully completing this module, students will/should be able to: - relate/describe/discuss Socrates Divine Mission of Philosophical Midwifery, - Read/recite/explain Socrates way of being and attitude about facing death, and what he thought of death. - Describe Socrates "inner voice". - Read/recite/explain about the reasons for Socrates judicial death as the Apology professes to be a record of. - Discuss Socrates idea of the immortality of the Soul. - Discuss/recite/explain the 4 Cardinal Virtues of Plato's teachings. Objectives: After successfully completing this module, students should be able to: - discover and identify the development of their own authentic Self. -discuss/differentiate/give examples of the vast array of psychological terms dealing with the reflexive prefix Self-. - realize/articulate that your true Self is a God-image. - relate/ discuss How it is that we Participate in this creation. Objectives: After successful completion of this module, students will/should be able to: - Evaluate/assess/critique the lyrics of a favorite song compared to the teachings of Socrates, Plato, an other teachings presented in class. Objectives: After successfully completing this module, students will/should be able to: - name/list/identify the 16 Main Philosophical Methods - discuss/differentiate/compare the various Philosophical Methods - compare/select/indicate which school in Philosophy (or which philosopher) takes up which position upon studying their teachings. Objectives After successfully completing this module, students will/should be able to: - name/list/identify the 16 Main Philosophical Categories - discuss/differentiate/compare the various Philosophical Categories Objectives: After successful completion of this module, students will/should be able to compare/select/indicate which school in Philosophy (or which philosopher) takes up which position upon studying their teachings. Objectives: - define various philosophical terms - apply new philosophical words learned into your daily vocabulary. |
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| Core Objectives |
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| Lecture Topics Outline |
Lecture: overview of Syllabus and Student Introductions to fill out and turn in, Learning Retention Rates (Show Pyramid).Program Student Learning Outcomes – the 4. Lecture: Compilations of Philosophy: How to Sort It? Defining your own Age. Being/Becoming an Historical Human Figure. - Sharing my Master’s degree in Consciousness Studies course content Lecture: Making a Collage for your Philosophy Notebook Cover: Theme: The Personification of Wisdom as a Woman Showing categories of various Imagery Lecture - The Primary Question: What is Primary? Consciousness or Matter 2nd Power Point Presentation: (Chapter 4) – Some of it - Know Thyself - Psyche (Soul)– the paper I've written up. - The Psyche: As the Witness and Sacramental Container. Only the Psyche is Universally Present in all philosophical experiences (even for all the materialists or empiricists).] -Lecture and Presentation: The Main Branches of Philosophy: Chapter 1 & Power Point Presentation: - 6 Branches. Lecture: Socrates as the Hero of Philosophy Socrates as a Philosophical Midwife, his Divine Mission, and the Immortality of the Soul Lecture – Associated with the Activities of this material on the Self. Lecture: "What are you Listening to? Review what we have gone over, and then apply to this assignment. Lecture Philosophical Methods (16)– Power Point Presentation, Chapter 2 Lecture: Philosophical Categories – 16 Categories Power Point Presentation - Chapter 3 Lecture: Charting the Multi-Millennial Philosophical debate, Rationalism vs. Empiricism. The Primacy of Theory vs The Primacy of Data. |
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| Major Assignments Schedule |
Activities:
Student Introductions to fill out and turn in.
Activity – First Power Point Presentation– Definition of Philosophy. ______ Activities: - Making a Collage for Your Philosophical Notebook Cover Theme: The Personification of Wisdom as a Woman Engage in internet web searches for the imagery of, what does the Personification of Wisdom as a Woman look like as Sophia? Or Wisdom as the Logos (masculine). ______ Activities: - Power Point Presentation: What is Primary? Consciousness or Matter - “After Skool” Video– Carl Jung: How to Find Your Soul - My article: Know Thyself! - Psyche - Watch and read items referenced in the Lecture. - View Graphs of Plato’s Divided Line and excerpts from Plato’s Republic Book VI Test or Essay Writing on What Did you Find Most Valuable in this module material? ______ Activities - Power Point Presentation - 6 branches of philosophy. - Metaphysics – show four different writings that are metaphysical/metaphorical - Epistemology – Plato's Theaetetus, Overview
- Article from Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Plato on Knowledge in the Theaetetus
-My article – Philosophy's Epistemology - What is Knowledge? - "After Skool" – The Profound meaning of Plato's Allegory of the Cave - Excerpts from Plato’s Republic Book VII on the Allegory of the Cave Test or Essay Writing on What Did you Find Most Valuable in this module material? __________ Activities – Readings from Plato that speak of: The Divine Mission of Socrates: Philosophical Midwifery - Reading excerpts of Plato's Apology: The divine mission of Socrates. For centuries this writing had defined what the philosophical life is all about. - My "dialogue" with Socrates: major excerpts of his quotes from Apology and Phaedo - Reading of overview biography of the Teachings of Socrates. (Peter Kreeft). - Video scene from Pinocchio – Jiminy Cricket as the "still small voice" of conscience. - My "dialogue" with Alcibiades. With Excerpts from Plato's Alcibiades - ("Because of it's emphasis on Self-knowledge as the necessary foundation of any other worthwhile knowledge, Alcibiades held pride of place of place in later antiquity as the ideal work with which to begin the study of Platonic philosophy" (Cooper, p. 557) Test or Essay Writing on What Did you Find Most Valuable in this module material? ________ Activities: - Reading of Chapter on: The Self. What is the Self? From Philosophy: An Introduction to the Art of Wondering, 11th Edition, by James L. Christian. - Excepts from my Book: The Self, the Christ… Jung's Analytical Psychology, The Self - Chapter 1 - Reading of the multitude definitions of the word self, and of terms that begin with the reflexive prefix, self-. An impressive list/array of psychological terms. - My "dialogue" with Plato. With passages from Plato's Timaeus. - "After Skool" Video – The False Idea of Who You Are. (Overcoming the ego). - "After Skool" - The Prison of Narcissism - Transcending Ego Test or Essay Writing on What Did you Find Most Valuable in this module material? _________ Activities: - Essay writing Assignment - "What are you Listening to? Comparing a favorite song to Platonic and Socratic Philosophical Teachings discussed in class _______ Activities - Watch Presentation on Philosophical Methods (16). Chapter 2 of book. Reading: from The Age of Analysis: The Pragmatists. C.S. Peirce, William James, John Dewey. The Americans Make a Showing on the Philosophical Stage. Test or Essay Writing on What Did you Find Most Valuable in this module material? _________ Activities - Watch Presentation on Philosophical Categories. Chapter 3 Philosophical Categories – From Chaos to Order - In the Understanding of Being Test or Essay Writing on What Did you Find Most Valuable in this module material? _______ Activities: - Readings on Charting the Multi-Millennial Philosophical debate, Rationalism vs. Empiricism. The Primacy of Theory vs The Primacy of Data. Plato vs. Aristotle. - Readings on overview/biography of Aristotle's teachings. Excerpts from his De Anima or On the Soul, Politics, and his Nicomachean Ethics. - Continuing the dualistic debate by considering/reading John Locke vs. Gottfried Leibniz take on this contrast. Final Exam |
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| Final Exam Date | December 11, 2025 - 8:10 AM Through December 11, 2025 - 9:25 AM | ||||||||
| Grading Scale | 90 - 100=A 80 - 89=B 70 - 79=C 60 - 69=D Below 59 = F | ||||||||
| Determination of Final Grade |
Final Grade will be based on the adding up of all the scores compared to the total amount possible. | ||||||||
| Course Policies | |||||||||
| Instructor Policies |
The pages that follow are an introduction to this class, and how the semester will function. Read this carefully, - Please allow 24-hours for a response when you contact me. I am usually faster than that, but it is best if you realize that I cannot always be available. And, you can expect less consistent email communication during the weekend. On the weekend it may be 48 hours. I will try my best to check my email during the weekend, but I may not always be. As far as getting back grades on your assignments – all submitted assignments will be graded and returned no later than two weeks after submission. - This is an In-Person Class. Attendance is required. - This course is divided into Modules. Each module has multiple parts and anything due on a date will be due at the end of the day indicated at 11:59 pm. Any discrepancies will defer to this due date time structure. There are things that can alter that structure occasionally, for example weather events. - If you expect an “A” in this course: You can expect to write approximately 2-3 pages (double-spaced) per week for the class – or have some other near-equivalent level of work that will be required. Participation in class discussions will part of your overall grade. Sending questions and comments to my email for answering will contribute to your grade, and these too can be used for following day class discussion time. - LATE WORK POLICY. I will frequently give students extra time to complete assignments if they contact me ahead of time and give me a sufficiently rational explanation for why they need it. In other words, I DO ACCEPT LATE WORK if you asked me well before the assignment was due whether I can give it to you. On the other hand, if you only contact me AFTER an assignment is due, and ask to turn it in late, I will either not accept it, or heavily penalize it, at my discretion. I can be very generous if you contact me ahead of time, but not after. - PLAGIARISM POLICY. [There is an official plagiarism policy written into the normal Syllabus Template, I believe, but you may want to including something more here. I usually put in a very high “potential” penalty so that your hands are not tied if they do plagiarize. In other words, sentences like “Any academic dishonesty may result in penalties on the assignment, failure for the class, and even suspension or expulsion from the university.” There is no way that a student would be expelled for one instance of Plagiarism, but again what you’re doing here is not setting limits for yourself. Students today are presented with the metaphorical "double edge sword" or "a blessing and a curse" of Artificial Intelligence. Artificial Intelligence can sure assist you in saving an immense amount of time, especially if one is operating under time constraints. But maybe you have read about AI negatively affecting our cognitive capacities, so there is the adage of being aware of ill gotten gains. The point is, when doing research and you ask or prompt AI to get an answer on something, you do need to quote your sources, just like you'd have to do if you were quoting some resource to avoid plagiarizing. - Number 1 Rule of this Course: do NOT panic!! There is very little that cannot be solved through a simple email exchange. Email if you have an issue, then wait for me to respond. But, again, there is no need to panic about anything in this course. Just do the work and submit your assignments. If you experience problems, email me about them and wait for a response. - Here is How People Pass or Fail This Class Students don’t fail this class because they can’t handle it intellectually. No, you can handle it. There’s a lot of material in here that “really makes you think,” but you don’t have to get everything in here in order to get an “A.” Most of the work you’ll be turning in is not you “getting the right answer” it is often instead “you giving me your opinion about this particular topic.” If you do the reading (and watching) of things, if you turn in all your papers with the appropriate guidelines fulfilled (page length, etc.) and if you participate in the Discussion Boards regularly (several times each week…), you will get an “A.” It’s really, really easy. It is time-consuming occasionally, yes, but NOT HARD. And that’s what I see when I see people failing. Here is how it happens. They start off big! – Yeah, Philosophy! – And they turn in the first two assignments, but after about 2-3 weeks, they just stop turning in assignments. So just be sure to turn in all of the assignments When you come to me later in the semester and ask if you can make up all that work you missed, the answer is going to be no. It’s not fair to the other students who do work on time. |
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| Attendance Policy | Class attendance is required. | ||||||||
| Additional Information | |||||||||
| Institutional Policies | |||||||||
| MyLSCPA | Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA. | ||||||||
| Academic Honesty | Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty. | ||||||||
| ADA Considerations | The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Services Coordinator, Room 117, in the Student Sucess Center. The phone number is (409) 984-6241. | ||||||||
| COVID 19 Information | The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition directly to their local health department. Students should also contact their course faculty to report their quarantine status. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings when directly exposed to COVID 19 in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website. | ||||||||
| Facility Policies | No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited. | ||||||||
| HB 2504 | This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504. | ||||||||
| Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect | As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual. | ||||||||
| Title IX and Sexual Misconduct | LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website. | ||||||||
| Clery Act Crime Reporting |
For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website. |
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| Grievance / Complaint / Concern | If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair. | ||||||||
| Department Information |
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