PHL 203 - Theories of Reality

THEORIES OF REALITY
PHL 203 - Winter 2016
Classroom Section: TR 1:00 - 2:50 PM - Building 2/Room 214 (CRN 31151)
Cable Television/Online Streaming/YouTube (CRN 32187)
Cottage Grove: TR 1:00 - 2:50 PM - CG 140 (CRN 31252)
Prof. Borrowdale

There are three sections of this class. The "Studio Classroom" section (CRN 31151) is like any other classroom section except that class sessions are broadcast and recorded. Students in the "Cable Television/Online Streaming" section (CRN 32187) watch the class live on cable television or record it to watch at a later time, or access the video on YouTube posted online by later in the day. Students registered in Cottage Grove (CRN 31252) watch the class live from the Cottage Grove Center (Room CG140) and participate via 2-way video conferencing. Class notes and handouts are available to all sections via Moodle.

DROP POLICY: All students must post to the Personal Introductions forum in the Moodle class by THURSDAY 3pm of the first week to avoid being dropped. To to this, log into the class at classes.lanecc.edu. Classroom section students must also attend at least one classroom session or they may be dropped. For help logging in contact the Student Help Desk (SHeD) online or at 463-3333. Logging in to the course counts as first week attendance for the purpose of instructor-initiated drops. However, please check your myLane schedule to make sure you are not registered in any unwanted classes, as there is no guarantee any instructor will drop you for non-attendance. You will be charged for any class you do not drop by Sunday, January 10, 11:59pm. To drop a class, go to mylane.lanecc.edu and click the myEnrollment tab, then Add/Drop Classes. You should also check your schedule the second week to make sure you have not been dropped from any of your classes. Being able to log into the course in Moodle does not mean you are still officially registered; check your myLane student schedule to see the classes in which you are officially enrolled. The last day to drop without a refund (or change your grading option to pass/no pass or letter grade) is Friday, February 26 at 5pm (the end of the 8th week). If you do not drop by this deadline, you will receive a grade. For students who forget to drop and do not complete the course, this grade will be an F..

MOODLE MESSAGING	Preferred form of communication. Please use this method for any time-senstive issues. To send me a message, click on my name anywhere in Moodle and click the Send message button at the bottom of my profile. If you click the Add Contact button in the messages tab, you can easily send me messages by clicking the word Messages in the Message block in the upper left of the main course page. When I respond, you will see an indicator in the Messages block. To use Moodle messaging, make sure your web browser's pop-up blocker is off or is set to allow lanecc.edu. The SHeD can help you with this. If you leave the Messages pop-up window open, it will automatically check for new messages every minute; otherwise, you will only see new messages when you click on something in the course or log in to the course again. You can also set your profile to receive email notifications of new Moodle messages, which is recommended if you do not log in to Moodle every day. You will get the most rapid response using this method of communication. You will receive a response within 24 hrs or less between the first day of classes and the day the Final Exam closes. Please do not reply to a Moodle message email notification via email. Log into Moodle and reply there to preserve the message history and ensure a prompt reply.
EMAIL	borrowdalej@lanecc.edu Second preferred form of contact, after Moodle instant messaging, described above; please use descriptive subject lines (e.g. "Extention request for Second Midterm Exam") and include your class (e.g. PHL 203, or "Theories of Reality" and whether classroom or online) and full name in your email. Note that emails with no subject or subject lines like "Test" "Hey" or "Hi there!" will probably be filtered out by the Digitar spam filter and may never be read. Use Moodle messaging, NOT EMAIL, for time-sensitive issues. Please do not reply to a Moodle message email notification by email. Log into Moodle and reply there to preserve the message history and ensure a prompt reply.
PHONE	463-5434. Least preferred form of contact. On voicemail messages please give your name and call-back number clearly and slowly so I can write them down correctly. Phone messages are answered last, after I've answered all incoming Moodle instant messages and email and are generally not checked evenings, Fridays, weekends, or holidays.
OFFICE	CEN 410 J (Enter through Hallway B, next to the interior North stairs, across from the restrooms)
OFFICE HOURS	M 3:30-4:30, Tu 3-4, Wed 1-2, Th 12-1 in CEN 410J; F 11-12 Moodle Messaging Only
SUBJECT MATTER	Theories of Reality (metaphysics) attempt to discover and describe the underlying nature of existence. Possible topics include the nature of the self, the relationship between matter and consciousness, free will, the existence of God, death, and the meaning of life. These topics may be approached from the perspective of both Eastern and Western philosophy.
TEXT	Borrowdale, Theories of Reality: An Introduction to Metaphysics, Fifth Edition (available at the LCC Titan Bookstore)

REQUIREMENTS

FIRST MIDTERM EXAM	Begins: Thursday, January 21 at 3:00pm Ends: Thursday, January 28 at 7pm	30% of grade
SECOND MIDTERM EXAM	Begins: Tuesday, February 16 at 3:00pm Ends: Tuesday, February 23 at 7pm	35% of grade
FINAL EXAM	Begins: Thursday, March 10 at 3pm Ends: Thursday, March 17 at 5pm	35% of grade

COURSE OBJECTIVES: The objectives are this course are for students to (1) come to a clearer understanding of metaphysical issues through the study of classical and contemporary theories (2) acquire some factual knowledge about the history of philosophy and important philosophical thinkers (3) come to their own conclusions about which theories are best or most likely to be true, even if those conclusions are of a tentative nature (4) acquire critical and analytical reasoning skills along the way (5) bring their conclusions about ultimate reality to bear on their other beliefs, values, goals and way of life.

ATTENDANCE POLICY FOR CLASSROOM STUDENTS (CRN 31151): It will be very difficult to succeed in this class without regular attendance. Some material may appear on the exams which is not covered in the text, and students with sporadic attendance almost always do poorly on exams. After the first week, do not burden the instructor with messages about absences of one or two class days due to illness or other contingencies. With over 150 students per term and the rate of absenteeism being what it is, such "courtesy" calls or emails are a nuisance. On the other hand, if you must be absent for more than a week due to serious illness, military service, business travel, family emergency, and so on, don't hesitate to contact me if you must take an exam at a later date or require other help. If you don't require special accommodation, please simply download the podcast and check for any new announcements or handouts on Moodle.

If you are sick, please stay home and rest. Coming to class sick will prolong your own illness and infect others. Also, please refrain from visiting my office if you still have flu or cold symptoms; it is a small, confined space and I do not want to contract your illness. You can reach me by phone during office hours if you need to speak with me or send a Moodle message or email.

VIEWING/LISTENING TO THE CLASS VIA CABLE OR LIVE STREAM OR IP VIDEO CONFERENCING: If you are enrolled in the Cable Television/Online Streaming section (CRN 32187) or the Cottage Grove section (CRN 31252) you may watch the class live at home or at the Cottage Grove Center via interactive IP video conferencing or record it yourself for later viewing. The class is broadcast live TR 1:00 - 2:50pm on Comcast Ch. 23 and streamed live on the internet at http://www.lanecc.edu/it/media/live-classroom-streaming Video of class sessions is also available on YouTube later that day in the "Video Archives of Classes" forum. Unfortunately, you cannot view the class on a satellite dish service. Regular viewing is essential to succeeding in this class. Some material may appear on the exams which is not covered in the text, and lecture and class discussion will clarify what you read. If you record the class to watch at a later time or watch the YouTube recording, it is expected that watch or listen to each broadcast before the next one airs. You are also encouraged to take notes when watching or listening, as with any other class.

If there are problems with the picture or sound during the broadcast, please call Lane-TV at (541) 463-5319 so they can address any technical issue which may be occurring.

PARTICIPATION: Cable-TV/Streaming students may email liveclass@lanecc.edu with brief comments or questions during the broadcast. Please only use this email during class time; otherwise, use the contact information above. Students in the Studio Classroom section should feel free to ask questions, raise objections or otherwise comment during class.

COMPUTER USE: This course requires you to use (but not necessarily own) a computer. Testing, distribution and archiving of notes and handouts, outside-of-class communication and reporting and calculation of grades are all done via Moodle. Campus labs are staffed with people who can help you if you are new to computers or have difficulty using them. Visit the Student Help Desk (SHeD) website at https://www.lanecc.edu/atc/student-help-desk, call them at 463-3333 or visit them in Building 2, Room 121/122. Campus computer labs and hours may be found at https://www.lanecc.edu/cit/computer-lab. Please make sure your current email address is in your myLane account and Moodle profile.

EXAMS: You will have a window of several days during which you must take each exam in the Instructional Testing Services in CEN 311 on the Main Campus or at the Cottage Grove Center or with an approved proctor. You will need a photo I.D. and to know your L Number and myLane PIN to log into the test. The exam format will be multiple choice and true/false questions. During the exam you may use a 3 x 5 card note card (both sides) or a piece of paper measured with a ruler and cut to the same size. The final will not be comprehensive. Opening and closing times of exams are in the syllabus and may also be seen by clicking on the exam name in the main course view as soon as the date is set. Lab hours for the Instructional Testing Services are posted at https://www.lanecc.edu/learningcommons/its. You must arrive one hour before closing. See http://www.lanecc.edu/laneonline/test-proctoring for details on proctoring if you are taking the course from out of the greater Eugene area. If you need help locating a proctor, try The National College Testing Association at http://www.ncta-testing.org/cctc/. A per test fee is usually required, though fees will vary by institution. Note: LCC Testing labs will be closed Monday, January 18 (Martin Luther King Day) and Monday, February 15th (Presidents' Day).

MAKE-UP EXAM POLICY: Since you will have at least four or five days to take the exam, you will be expected to meet the deadline. You must contact the instructor before the deadline via Moodle messaging or email to request an extension without penalty.

The Final Exam must be completed by THURSDAY 5PM during Final Exam Week. MAKE UPS ARE NOT POSSIBLE for purposes of Winter Term grades! I will begin determining course grades as soon as the is lab closes at 5pm. I will not be available during Spring Break. If you have a legitimate excuse for missing the Final, see me Spring Term about a make-up and grade change.

PENALTIES FOR CHEATING: Students caught cheating will be given an F in the course.

GRADING: At the end of the term, the class will be graded on the following absolute scale. Extra credit work does not count towards the A+.

A+ 97% -100%	A 93% - 96%	A- 90% - 92%
B+ 87% - 89%	B 83% - 86%	B- 80% - 82%
C+ 77% - 79%	C 73% - 76%	C- 70% - 72%
D+ 67% - 69%	D 63% - 66%	D- 60% - 62%
	F 0% - 59%

AVAILABILITY OF THE INSTRUCTOR: I am available by Moodle messaging, email, phone, or in-person office visits. If you are having difficulties with the class, please contact me as soon as possible; I am here to help. If you performed poorly on your first exam, please come by office hours or make an appointment to see me to see what we can do to improve your next exam score. I am also available to discuss any issue in the class which has piqued your intellectual curiosity, or which you find interesting or important, outside of the realm of assignments and testing.

DISABILITY SERVICES: If you need support or assistance because of a disability, you may be eligible for academic accommodations through Disability Service. For more information see Lane's On-Line Resource Page for students with disabilities at https://www.lanecc.edu/disability.

COURSE OUTLINE

WEEK 1: What is Reality? What is Truth? What is Philosophy? (Ch. 1)

WEEK 2: The Mind-Body Problem (Ch. 2)

WEEK 3: The Mind-Body Problem/Personal Identity (Ch. 2 & 3)

WEEK 4: Life After Death (Ch. 4) - Cryonics and NDEs

WEEK 5: Life After Death (Ch. 4) - Reincarnation

WEEK 6: Free Will (Ch. 5)

WEEK 7: Free Will (Ch. 5)/The Existence of God (Ch. 6)

WEEK 8: Does God Exist? (Ch. 6)

WEEK 9: Does God Exist? (Ch. 6)
The Teleological Argument
The Problem of Evil

WEEK 10: The Meaning of Life (Ch. 7), Review