University of the Philippines-Diliman

College of Social Sciences and Philosophy

Department of Philosophy
Midyear Term, 2016
Course Syllabus for:
PHILOSOPHY 10: APPROACHES TO PHILOSOPHY
Schedule:
Philo 10 X2

MTWThF: 9-11am

PH 317

Philo 10 X4

MTWThF: 1-3pm

PH 319

Instructor: Marielle Kristina M. Sundiang

I.

Course Description

This course is an overview of major philosophical traditions introduced through discussions on the History of Western
Philosophy.
II. Course Objectives

By the end of the semester the student is expected to have a thorough understanding on how philosophical ideas have
shaped Western history and thinking, and likewise, how Western culture and traditions have influenced philosophical
investigation.
III. Course Materials*

All classroom discussions will come from:

Russell, B. (1945) A History of Western Philosophy and its Connection with Political and Social Circumstances
from the Earliest Times to the Present Day. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster Inc. (I chose this book because it
is one of the leading texts used in studying the history of Philosophy. Russell provides an interesting and highly
engaging take on the subject matter that I find students without prior background in philosophy would easily
understand and appreciate.)

Other helpful references:

Kenny, A. (2006) An Illustrated Brief History of Western Philosophy. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing, Inc.
(This book is an excellent accompaniment to Russell because it is a contemporary commentary of the classic. I find
Kenny fills in historical gaps and personal biases Russell fails to take into account in his work that will aid the student
in forming a more objective view of the subject matter.)
*All readings are available in PDF format which can be downloaded from my blog, theprofessionalthinker.tumblr.com.
IV. Course Outline*
A) Ancient Philosophy
Culture
1. The Pre-Socratics
f) Plotinus
a) The Rise of Greek Civilization
B) Catholic/Medieval Philosophy
b) The Milesian School
1. The Fathers
c) Pythagoras
a) The Religious Development of the
d) Heraclitus
Jews
e) Parmenides
b) Christianity During the First Four
f) Empedocles
Centuries
g) Athens in Relation to Culture
c) Three Doctors of the Church
h) Anaxagoras
d) Saint Augustines Philosophy and
i) The Atomists
Theology
j) Protagoras
e) The Fifth and Sixth Centuries
2. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle
f) Saint Benedict and Gregory the Great
a) Socrates
2. The Schoolmen
b) The Influence of Sparta
a) The Papacy in the Dark Ages
c) The Sources of Plato's Opinions
b) John the Scot
d) Aristotle's Physics
c) Ecclesiastical Reform in the Eleventh
e) Early Greek Mathematics and
Century
Astronomy
d) Mohammedan Culture and Philosophy
3. Ancient Philosophy after Aristotle
e) The Twelfth Century
a) The Hellenistic World
f) The Thirteenth Century
b) Cynics and Skeptics
g) Saint Thomas Aquinas
c) The Epicureans
h) Franciscan Schoolmen
d) Stoicism
i) The Eclipse of the Papacy
e) The Roman Empire in Relation to
C) Modern Philosophy

1.

From the Renaissance to Hume

k) Leibniz
a) General Characteristics
l) Philosophical Liberalism
b) The Italian Renaissance
m) Locke's Theory of Knowledge
c) Machiavelli
n) Locke's Political Philosophy
d) Erasmus and More
o) Schopenhauer
e) The Reformation and Counterp) Nietzsche
Reformation
q) The Utilitarians
f) The Rise of Science
r) Karl Marx
g) Francis Bacon
s) Bergson
h) Hobbes's Leviathan
t) William James
i) Descartes
u) John Dewey
j) Spinoza
v) The Philosophy of Logical Analysis
*Students will be notified of any changes in the course outline in the event that classes are disrupted or suspended.
V. Course Requirements

Since this is primarily a reading class our meetings will consist of several lectures with discussions in between. The twohour class will be divided into four 30-minute segments devoted to one chapter of the book. Each segment will have with a
15-20 min. lecture followed by a 10-15 min. discussion. Since all meetings will require each students active participation,
recitation and attendance will comprise a portion of the students final grade.

Apart from this, the students final grade will be dependent on three writing exams that would cover each of the three
books in Russell's work namely Ancient Philosophy, Catholic or Medieval Philosophy, and Modern Philosophy.
VI. Grading System
Recitation and Attendance
10%
Level of Learning
Grade
Point Eq.
Writing Exam 1
30%
Excellent
97-100
1.00
Writing Exam 2
30%
Very Good
93-96
1.25
89-92
1.50
Writing Exam 3
30%
Good
85-88
1.75
Total:
100%
81-84
2.00
Satisfactory
77-80
2.25
73-76
2.50
Fair
69-72
2.75
Passed
65-68
3.00
Conditional
61-64
4.00
Failed
60 and below
5.00
VII. Additional Guidelines

At the start of the semester, I will select a class beadle who will assist in disseminating information, announcements, and
other class related matters throughout the semester. The class beadle will also be in charge of taking the attendance each
meeting and collecting all requirements.

Because readings are in PDF format, gadgets and electronic devices are allowed in class for classroom matters only. I
will strictly implement this rule and if one is caught using their gadgets for other purposes, I will prohibit the use of any
device in my class and all students will have to print or photocopy their readings beforehand. Likewise, any form of class
disruption will not be tolerated. In the event that one is caught concerned with other matters not related to the class, he or
she will be asked to leave and will be marked absent in that particular day.

Because attendance and class participation is part of your overall grade, I will strictly implement the university policy
regarding the maximum number of absences allowed within a semester. (Six absences otherwise the student will be
dropped from the class.)

I do not give additional work or extra credit in order to compensate for missed requirements or low marks. In the event that
an exam was missed due to unforeseen circumstances, the student must provide a letter signed by his or her parent or
guardian together with a medical certificate issued by the University of the Philippines Health Services (UPHS) in order to
take the special exams.

Students are welcome to sit in any of my classes. However, this will not count as a makeup class for any absences incurred
by the student in the class he or she is enrolled in. Make up classes will be scheduled by the instructor in the event that
classes have been cancelled. However, review classes will be offered depending on the demand and availability of the
schedule.
VIII.
Consultation Hours

I am free for consultations Mondays to Fridays from 8:00-9:00 a.m. and 11:00-12:00 nn. at PAV 1 1314-1316

Questions and concerns can also be sent via email to: mmsundiang@upd.edu.ph

Updates regarding classroom discussions, reminders, and requirements will also be posted on my blog,
theprofessionalthinker.tumblr.com. Feel free to ask questions or share relevant insights and interesting philosophyrelated content with me here.