FAQs for PHIL101 (Professor Margolis) —updated April 2024
Q: What is the method of delivery?
This course employs a hybrid method of delivery in which prerecorded videos are substituted for one of the scheduled class meetings and then we meet in person (or if needed, via Zoom) for the other day(s). The synchronous meetings will be flexible and eclectic—a mix of Q&A, small group discussion, large group discussion, workshops, as well as lectures that expand on the material in the videos.
Q: Should I take section 001 or 005?
The main difference between these is that 005 always meets as one large class, whereas 001 has a regular Friday discussion session that is capped at 20-25 students so that you can have the benefits of a small class experience in context of the course. If you sign up for 001, make sure you sign up for one of the designated discussion sessions: L01-L05.
Q: Which days are in person?
Details will be provided on Canvas. However, for the Mon/Wed/Fri section (001), approximately two thirds of the course is in person (with in person meetings usually on Wednesday and Friday). For the Tue/Thur section (004), approximately one half of the course is in person (with in person meetings usually on Thursday).
Q: Do I need to attend the synchronous in person meetings?
Yes. You should not sign up for this course if you are unable to attend the synchronous meetings.
Q: Are the synchronous meetings recorded?
No. These aren't recorded because they involve a considerable amount of class discussion—they aren't just lectures—and students who participate in these discussions may not want to be recorded.
Q: What are the course objectives?
This course has four major objectives: (1) to help you begin to think philosophically, (2) to improve your critical thinking skills, (3) to develop your ability to express and work with complex ideas both orally and in writing, and (4) to provide you with a general introduction to philosophy by exposing you to a number of representative philosophical arguments and theories.
Q: Is this course suitable for students who have no background in philosophy?
Yes. It is intended for students with no background in philosophy, particularly first- and second-year students.
Q: What if I took a philosophy course in high school? Should I still take this course?
Yes. Chances are you will find that your experience in high school isn't a substitute for a good college-level introduction to philosophy.
Q: What topics are covered?
Does God exist? Are people purely material beings? Do we have free will?
Q: What textbook does the course use?
The readings will include a variety of free articles, reprinted chapters, and book excerpts (plus the occasional video or podcast). All of these will be made available online.
Q: Will you provide a survey of the history of philosophy?
No. Although some other instructors of PHIL101 teach the history of philosophy, I don't. My version of the course focuses on a small number of representative philosophical problems and some important ways of thinking about them. The reading list does include a few historical texts, but most of the readings are by contemporary philosophers.
Q: How are PHIL101 and PHIL102 related?
These are independent courses. You needn't take them in order, and there is no expectation that you will take both.
Q: What are the course assignments?
These will probably include a final exam, one or more video projects, and a short term paper (approximately 1200 words).
Q: What is the structure of the final exam?
One possibility is a variation on a traditional written exam, the other is an oral exam. The written exam: You will be asked to write two essays, each of which will require you to work with some of the major arguments and theories from one of units in the course (e.g., a question that asks you to explain one of the arguments for the existence of God in unit 1, or that asks you to compare and contrast two different competing views of free will in unit 3). You will have approximately one hour per essay. The oral exam: You will be given a number of questions before the exam period and asked to produce a short video in which you answer a small number of these looking directly into the camera, explaining the relevant philosophical concepts, theories, and arguments in your own words. For the final exam, whichever format is used, what I will be looking for is mastery of material in question (e.g., for the video version of the exam, what matters is how well you explain things, not whether it has the look of a high quality YouTube video).
Q: What is the paper assignment like?
This won't be a "book report" in that you won't just be summarizing the texts in question or providing a purely personal reaction. The goal will be for you to critically discuss the assigned texts in which you formulate a specific thesis in reaction to these texts and then develop a line of argument that supports your thesis. Papers will be marked for clarity, accuracy regarding the relevant philosophical material, and quality of argumentation.
Q: What are the video projects like?
These will ask you to explain your line of argument in your term paper or explain some of the core philosophical ideas that come up in the course. The goal in either case is to explain these things in your own words in a way that can be understood and appreciated by someone who isn't familiar with the material you are covering.
This course employs a hybrid method of delivery in which prerecorded videos are substituted for one of the scheduled class meetings and then we meet in person (or if needed, via Zoom) for the other day(s). The synchronous meetings will be flexible and eclectic—a mix of Q&A, small group discussion, large group discussion, workshops, as well as lectures that expand on the material in the videos.
Q: Should I take section 001 or 005?
The main difference between these is that 005 always meets as one large class, whereas 001 has a regular Friday discussion session that is capped at 20-25 students so that you can have the benefits of a small class experience in context of the course. If you sign up for 001, make sure you sign up for one of the designated discussion sessions: L01-L05.
Q: Which days are in person?
Details will be provided on Canvas. However, for the Mon/Wed/Fri section (001), approximately two thirds of the course is in person (with in person meetings usually on Wednesday and Friday). For the Tue/Thur section (004), approximately one half of the course is in person (with in person meetings usually on Thursday).
Q: Do I need to attend the synchronous in person meetings?
Yes. You should not sign up for this course if you are unable to attend the synchronous meetings.
Q: Are the synchronous meetings recorded?
No. These aren't recorded because they involve a considerable amount of class discussion—they aren't just lectures—and students who participate in these discussions may not want to be recorded.
Q: What are the course objectives?
This course has four major objectives: (1) to help you begin to think philosophically, (2) to improve your critical thinking skills, (3) to develop your ability to express and work with complex ideas both orally and in writing, and (4) to provide you with a general introduction to philosophy by exposing you to a number of representative philosophical arguments and theories.
Q: Is this course suitable for students who have no background in philosophy?
Yes. It is intended for students with no background in philosophy, particularly first- and second-year students.
Q: What if I took a philosophy course in high school? Should I still take this course?
Yes. Chances are you will find that your experience in high school isn't a substitute for a good college-level introduction to philosophy.
Q: What topics are covered?
Does God exist? Are people purely material beings? Do we have free will?
Q: What textbook does the course use?
The readings will include a variety of free articles, reprinted chapters, and book excerpts (plus the occasional video or podcast). All of these will be made available online.
Q: Will you provide a survey of the history of philosophy?
No. Although some other instructors of PHIL101 teach the history of philosophy, I don't. My version of the course focuses on a small number of representative philosophical problems and some important ways of thinking about them. The reading list does include a few historical texts, but most of the readings are by contemporary philosophers.
Q: How are PHIL101 and PHIL102 related?
These are independent courses. You needn't take them in order, and there is no expectation that you will take both.
Q: What are the course assignments?
These will probably include a final exam, one or more video projects, and a short term paper (approximately 1200 words).
Q: What is the structure of the final exam?
One possibility is a variation on a traditional written exam, the other is an oral exam. The written exam: You will be asked to write two essays, each of which will require you to work with some of the major arguments and theories from one of units in the course (e.g., a question that asks you to explain one of the arguments for the existence of God in unit 1, or that asks you to compare and contrast two different competing views of free will in unit 3). You will have approximately one hour per essay. The oral exam: You will be given a number of questions before the exam period and asked to produce a short video in which you answer a small number of these looking directly into the camera, explaining the relevant philosophical concepts, theories, and arguments in your own words. For the final exam, whichever format is used, what I will be looking for is mastery of material in question (e.g., for the video version of the exam, what matters is how well you explain things, not whether it has the look of a high quality YouTube video).
Q: What is the paper assignment like?
This won't be a "book report" in that you won't just be summarizing the texts in question or providing a purely personal reaction. The goal will be for you to critically discuss the assigned texts in which you formulate a specific thesis in reaction to these texts and then develop a line of argument that supports your thesis. Papers will be marked for clarity, accuracy regarding the relevant philosophical material, and quality of argumentation.
Q: What are the video projects like?
These will ask you to explain your line of argument in your term paper or explain some of the core philosophical ideas that come up in the course. The goal in either case is to explain these things in your own words in a way that can be understood and appreciated by someone who isn't familiar with the material you are covering.