Course title: Introduction to Philosophy (PHIL 101)

Instructor: Gerald Carl D. Cielo, Adjunct Professor

Office hours: Virtual (Weekdays esp. during class hours, expected response 12-36 hours); by appointment
Contact details: [email protected]; @Gerald Carl Cielo (MS Teams chat)

COURSE INFORMATION
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course introduces students to the tradition of philosophy through the examination of key topics (knowledge, freedom, the natural
and social world, man, and God) derived from its main branches. Furthermore, it also includes a practical aspect which teaches students
how to read philosophical texts and to write critically and argumentatively. Hence, this course aims at a holistic approach that unites the
rigor and discipline of theory and the development of skills and techniques required for philosophical practice.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:
• Demonstrate knowledge of the elementary ideas and concepts of the philosophical tradition
• Demonstrate the relevance of understanding of the rich history of philosophical theory and practice
• Demonstrate mastery over the general areas and topics of philosophizing, i.e., knowledge, freedom, nature, society, man, and
God
• Apply skills and techniques in reading and writing philosophy
• Synthesize their knowledge of philosophical ideas, concepts and principles in relation to relevant contemporary issues and
problems

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Grading System
The grading system prescribed by the institution will be as follows:
• Class Standing (70%)
o Short reflections (15%)
o Quizzes (15%)
o Group work/presentations/breakout room discussions (20%)
o Class participation (10%)
o Attendance (10%; subject to rules as per Student Handbook)
• Major Requirements (30%)
o Midterm exam
o Final exam/Film review

Furthermore, the division of requirements under the class standing will depend on the prerogative of the professor.

Attendance
Attendance will be a part of the class standing. It will be taken note of through MS Teams records of attendance meetings. However, if
the student exceeds the limit of absences (20% of the class hours for the course), s/he will be marked as D or Dropped and is no longer
allowed to continue the course (refer to section 7.9 of Student Handbook rev. 2019).

Activities/Rubrics
The activities are divided into theoretical and practical classifications. Theoretical activities involve the assessment of the students’
mastery over concepts, ideas and theories. Practical activities involve practical demonstration and application of the students’ knowledge
of concepts, ideas and theories in a particular situation/case.

Hence, the activities for the course are the ff.:

• Theoretical
▪ Essays/Reflections
▪ Quizzes
▪ Exams
▪ Film reviews
• Practical
▪ Class participation
▪ Academic reports/presentations
▪ Group work/breakout room discussions

As for the rubric, it is also differentiated depending on the nature of the activity/classification (see next page for the sample).
• Theoretical activities/exams – are objective in nature (which has an exact answer); though there are some instances that it
includes an evaluative aspect.
• Practical activities – are also objective in nature, though they also include an evaluative aspect and a measure of a learner’s
individuality.

Plagiarism
As for plagiarism, it is strictly prohibited. Do not attempt any form of plagiarism, either copying from the internet or from others’ works,
paraphrasing, or generating essays through AI. If there is a hint of plagiarism (or AI generation), any trace that is beyond the 10-20%
threshold will be graded with a failing grade.

Peer Evaluations
You are given peer evaluation forms to evaluate yourself and your group members.* This is to give due credit to individual effort and to
ensure the integrity of participation. Here are the criteria for grading (5 – highest; 1 – lowest):
 • The member has the initiative to participate in the group.
• The member follows the order and flow of the group.
• The member communicates well and shares his/her ideas with the whole group.
• The member accepts constructive criticism from other members.
• The member submits quality work.
*A form will be sent after presentations to be filled-out.

ADDENDUM: GENERAL RULES

Synchronous/asynchronous classes
• All sync classes are announced in advance. You will be duly notified regarding schedule changes if there are any (via Teams).
• The minimum number of classes (orientation not included) will be a total of six to nine meetings.
• The lecture class will either be a live presentation or a pre-recorded presentation. Regardless of the manner, all online MOL
students are required to attend unless stated otherwise. Tardiness and absences are noted.
• Proper decorum is expected. Conferencing etiquette must be practiced.
▪ PUNCTUALITY – Online MOL students are expected to attend classes as scheduled and on time. Class automatically
begins 10-15 mins after the set schedule. 30 mins late is already considered absent. 3 instances of tardiness are
equivalent to an absence. (Attendance is required as per VPAA memo no. 5, series of 2022; see also Student handbook
revised 2019)
▪ LEARNING SPACE – Find a suitable space conducive for sync learning sessions.
▪ USE OF CAMERA & MICROPHONE – Open your cameras. Mute microphone when unnecessary. Class photo every
end of the meeting.
▪ RECORDING OF CLASSES – Automatically every lecture will be recorded for everyone to access asynchronously.
• Async schedules are for reading given materials and answering/doing activities. Quizzes/exams if there are to be, will be
announced in advance.
• No re-uploading of class materials elsewhere, especially lecture handouts and recorded lectures. You have no right over
materials unless for learning purposes only.

Learning Management System

• The LMS that will be utilized for classes is MS Teams.
• Our team contains the following channels:
▪ General Channel – announcements, class materials (via Files tab), schedule changes
▪ Activities and Exams channel – assignments, quizzes, activities, and exams
▪ Lectures – Online synchronous meetings
• Request to access team will only be allowed if the requestee:
▪ A bonafide enrollee of the course.
▪ Late requests to access must first inform the class representative then will be relayed to me.
▪ Note: Correspondence students are allowed to access the team for the sake of being aware of notices and
announcements.

Deadlines and Submissions

• Online MOL students are expected to submit requirements on time. Exceptions are to be made based on sufficient reason.
• Overdue submissions will be deducted based on the number of days starting from the due date. The rubric for grading activities
includes ADHERENCE to submission guidelines.
• Correspondence MOL students are not expected to follow strict deadlines. They will follow a different setup.

Excuses and Exemptions

• One can only be excused to sync classes/submissions if there is sufficient reason. Those are: severe intermittent internet
connectivity/power outage, calamities and weather disturbances, sickness/hospitalization/under medication/physically or
mentally fatigued (with proof), death within the family, etc.
• There should be a valid certificate or letter accompanying the excuse. Otherwise, there will be no exemption.

Consultation Hours
• Online consultation hours will be available during Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and Saturdays (depending on
availability). Consultation beyond those said hours will be entertained the next possible consultation period. Expect replies in
12-36 hours when messaging outside the online consultation periods.
• When messaging, please let yourself be known. State your name, course, year and section and your business concisely to
avoid confusion.
• My institutional email and MS Teams account is open for communication ([email protected]). I will not reply via Messenger
and other means.
 RUBRICS for ESSAYS, REFLECTIONS, THOUGHT PIECES, ACADEMIC REPORTS and GROUP WORK (for Output)
CRITERION EXCELLENT VERY SATISFACTORY SATISFACTORY FAIRLY SATISFACTORY POOR

The application of
concepts is appropriate The application of concepts The application of concepts The application of concepts The application of concepts
and exemplifies insight. is appropriate and illustrates is appropriate but is occasionally appropriate. is often inappropriate.
It demonstrates some depth. It exhibits superficial. It exhibits It sometimes exhibits It seldom exhibits a
conceptual awareness conceptual awareness and conceptual awareness and conceptual awareness of conceptual awareness of
and understanding by satisfactory understanding adequate understanding by the subject matter. the subject matter.
CONTENT
explaining in detail by often explaining describing connections to It also displays some It also displays a limited
(30%)
connections to the subject connections to the subject the subject matter. understanding of concepts understanding of concepts
matter. matter. It also attempts to relate by describing basic and is only able to make
It consistently applies It relates concepts to other concepts to concepts but is connections to the subject basic connections to the
relates concepts concepts and is usually not always successful. matter. subject matter with
effectively to other successful. guidance.
concepts and is
consistently successful.
It selects and uses a wide
It selects and uses a range It is able to select and use
range of relevant It is often able to select and
of relevant information. mostly relevant information. It is able to select and use
information. The work use relevant information.
The work exhibits a The work does not some relevant information.
exhibits a high level of The work exhibits adequate
satisfactory level of critical necessarily exhibit the It exhibits minimal analytical
ARGUMENTATION critical analysis. evidence of analysis. The
analysis. required depth in analysis. skills.
(25%) The arguments, decisions, arguments, decisions, and
The arguments, decisions, It makes some relevant The arguments, decisions,
and judgments are fully judgments are supported
and judgments are well arguments, decisions, and or judgments are seldom
supported and well and balanced but
supported and balanced. judgments though these are relevant or may be absent.
balanced. superficial.
usually unproven.
It has a very good
A range of terminology is The use of terms is usually
command of a wide range The use of terms is often
used accurately and accurate and usually The use of terms is often
of terminology and is accurate and appropriate.
appropriately. appropriate though some incorrect or inconsistent.
consistent in using it Facts and examples given
A range of relevant facts errors remain. The facts and The facts and examples are
appropriately. It has a are often relevant and often
and examples are used to examples given are mostly either absent, irrelevant, or
wide range of relevant demonstrate understanding.
ORGANIZATION AND demonstrate understanding. relevant and usually do not wholly demonstrate
facts and examples are It often provides accurate
CONVENTION It provides accurate and demonstrate understanding. understanding. It provides
consistently used to descriptions; explanations
(25%) detailed descriptions; It provides basic descriptions that are
demonstrate are often adequate but not
explanations are well descriptions that may need inaccurate or lack detail. It
understanding. very well developed. It cites
developed. It cites credible more detail; explanations does not cite resources and
The descriptions are several resources and
resources and employs the are usually adequate but lacks any citation
consistently accurate and employs the citation
citation convention with occasionally superficial. It convention.
detailed, and explanations convention with errors.
minimal errors. cites few resources and
are very well developed. It
 cites credible resources does not strictly employ the
and employs the citation citation convention.
convention with no errors.

The language is clear,

The language is clear,
varied, precise and The language is generally The language is only
varied and precise. It has no
concise. It has no clear and coherent. It only sometimes clear and The language is rarely clear
significant lapses in
significant lapses in has a few significant lapses coherent. It also has some or coherent. It has many
GRAMMAR/ grammar, spelling and
grammar, spelling and in grammar, spelling and degree of accuracy in lapses in grammar, spelling
SYNTAX sentence construction. It is
sentence construction. It sentence construction. It grammar, spelling and and sentence construction.
(10%) effective and appropriately
is precise in the use of shows some care shown in sentence construction. Its Its vocabulary is rarely
varied use of vocabulary,
wide vocabulary and the choice of vocabulary, vocabulary is sometimes accurate or appropriate.
idiom and style.
varied idiom and style. idiom and style. appropriate.

The work is submitted after

The work is submitted after The work is submitted after
The work is submitted after the deadline and is late for
ADHERENCE The work is submitted on the deadline and is late for the deadline and is late for
the deadline though is not more than four to six days
(10%) or before the deadline. more than a day (2-3 days more than a two to three
late for more than a day. and onwards (7 days
late). days (4-6 days).
onwards).
Course Outline and Schedule:

Method of
Week Topic Activities Readings/Materials
Instruction/Learning
1 COURSE ORIENTATION
Introduction to Philosophy
• Philosophy and philosophizing
2 Lecture/Dialogue Reflection Paper
• Branches of philosophy
• Short history of philosophy
Knowledge (What does it mean to know?)
• Can we really know something? Plato, Meno
3-4 Lecture/Dialogue
• Truth Plato, Republic
• The burden of Knowledge
Freedom (What does it mean to be free?)
• Is there free will? Quiz Augustine, The City of God
5-6 Lecture/Dialogue
• Freedom: Pro and contra Sartre, Being and Nothingness
• The burden of Freedom
Reading and Writing Philosophy M. Adler’s & C. van Doren’s How to Read a
7-8 • How to read philosophically Lecture Book
• “Writing” philosophy papers A Brief Guide to Writing the Philosophy Paper
9 MIDTERMS (Summative test)
World I (Natural world)
• Myths and cosmologies about
Plato, Republic
the formation of the world
10-11 Lecture/Dialogue Reflection paper Aristotle, Categories
• What is Nature?
Pope Francis, Laudato Si
• Ecology and the care for the
environment
World II (Socio-historico-cultural world)
• Society Spinoza, Ethics
12-13 Lecture/Dialogue
• History Rousseau, The Social Contract
• Culture
Quiz
Man (What does it mean to be human?)
Plato, Phaedo
• Soul
14-15 Lecture/Dialogue Aristotle, De Anima
• Mind and Body
Spinoza, Ethics
• Self and non-Self
God
Anselm, Proslogion
• Dis/proving God
16-17 Lecture/Dialogue Reflection Paper Aquinas, Summa Theologiae
• Views on God
Pascal, Pensees
• Value of Religion
18 FINALS (Oral Exam)
References
Books
Adler, Mortimer J., and Charles van Doren. How to Read a Book. New York: Simon and Schuster, Inc., 1972.
Cottingham, John. Western Philosophy: An Anthology. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackburn Publishing, 2008.
Francis. Laudato si’. Encyclical letter. Vatican City: Vatican Press, 2015. Accessed 1 January 2021. http://www.vatican.va/content/dam/francesco/pdf/encyclicals/
documents/papafrancesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si_en.pdf.
Rippon, Simon. “A Brief Guide to Writing the Philosophy Paper - Harvard University.” Harvard University. Harvard University, n.d. Accessed October 5, 2023.
https://philosophy.fas.harvard.edu/files/phildept/files/brief_guide_to_writing_philosophy_paper.pdf.