UNIVERSITY OF BOHOL COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

City of Tagbilaran
VISION-MISION: A premiere university enabling a person to live a worthy, fulfilling and abundant life. Her avowed mission is to provide holistic education anchored on the trinity of Virtues: SCHOLARSHIP, CHARACTER and SERVICE PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES: The College of Liberal Arts develops the total person through the integrated approach in humanities, natural and social sciences anchored in the trinity of virtues: Scholarship, Character and Service. As the heart of tertiary curriculum, it specifically endeavors to develop individuals who are: 1. Professionally competent in their chosen field of specialization; 2. Truth-seeking but finely attuned to recent trends in their own sphere of discipline; 3. Open and independent-minded; 4. Values oriented and morally strong and 5. Responsible, useful and service oriented SYLLABUS FOR : PHILOSOPHY 101 COURSE No. : PHILOSOPHY 101 COURSE TITLE : METAPHYSICS Total Number of Hours : 54 Prerequisite Subject : Philosophy 1 (Logic) I. Course Description: Metaphysics introduces the students to weave a philosophical investigation on the basic problems of reality: reality of human beings; reality of nature and the reality of God. This course will explore important 20th-century essays on the most prominent topics of metaphysics. The essays will fall these main categories: Part I Reality and an External World; Part II Space, Time and Causation; Part III Persons, Minds and Free Will; Part IV Universals, Essences, and Natural Kinds; Part V Reality and God. II. GENERAL OJECTIVES: At the end of the course, the students are expected to: A. Know the basic problems of reality about human beings, nature and God; B. Appreciate the value of reality, the meaning of human existence and alls beings in our relation with the Absolute Being. C. Develop the attitude for searching for lifes meaning and purpose. D. Practice reflecting philosophically their personal experiences; 4. Engage in logical investigation over the different problems and claims about reality; 5. Develop their own powers of philosophical analysis and argument through study of metaphysics and the philosophy of mind.

Time Frame

III. Course Outline and Reading Materials Specific Objectives

At the end of the lesson the students are expected to:

Content Coverage 1. General Introduction: Metaphysics and Reality

6hrs

10hrs

1. Explain some notions of metaphysics as it is developed in the history of though; 2. Value human existence as well as the existence of other beings; 3. Practice doing philosophical reflection rooted to the present setting in life. 1. Know the basic claims of each party in the controversial debate of Realism versus Anti-realism as well as the notion of Scientific Realism; 2. Appreciate the value of the nature of reality 3. Critically explain the major positions of each party in the debate. 1. Know the metaphysical nature of Time, Space and Causation 2. Value the unique relation of time, space and causation to human beings and the world. 3. Explain the nature of Time, Space and Causation; 3. Identify the responsibilities of human beings in caring the environment 1. Know the basic arguments in relation to the MindBody problem; 2. Understand the dynamics of human freedom as prerogative to personal beings as well as know the concept of absolute determinism; 2. Value ones intellect, will and freedom which constitute the essence of ones personhood; 3. Explain the nature of Persons, Minds and Free Will. 4. Practice doing philosophically reflection over ones personal experience as a person exercising ones intellect, will and Freedom. 1. Know the nature of Universals, Abstract Entities,

Delivery Modes/ Learning Activities Group sharing Discussion Method

Learning Resources Websites Reality in Focus, 1-16

Assessment Schemes Written quiz

2. Reality and an External World 2.1 Realism versus Anti Realism 2.2 On Scientific Realism

Group Sharing Discussion Film showing Reality in Focus, 17-107 The Super Human Body (DVD)

Written quiz Reaction paper of the movie

10hrs

3.Space, Time, and Causation 3.1. Space and Time 3.2. Causation

Discussion Method Reality in Focus, 109-180

Reflection paper

10hrs

4. Persons, Minds and Free Will 4.1. Persons and Minds 4.2 Persons and Free Will

Discussion method Small group sharing Movie Viewing

Reality in Focus, 181-304 Bugs Life (DVD)

Written Quiz Reflection Papers

10hrs

5. Universals, Essences and Natural Kinds

Discussion method

Reality in Focus,

Written Quiz

10hrs

Essences, and Natural Kinds; 2. Appreciate how human beings change their understanding of the reality of universals, abstract entities, essences and natural kinds in the history of thought. 3. Explain the basic concepts in this chapter as well as the opposing arguments of each party in the debate. 1. Understand human beings search for the ultimate reality; 2. Know the different positions concerning the basic problems of the reality of God: whether or not God exists; 3. Appreciate the probative value of the arguments presented by the different schools of thought concerning the existence of God. 4. Explain the different arguments of theism, atheism and agnosticism.

5.1. Universals and Abstract Entities 5.2. Essences and Natural Kinds

307-390 Oral test

6. Reality and God 7.1 Theism 7.2 Atheism 7.3 Agnosticism

Discussion method Movie viewing Small group sharing

Reality in Focus, 391-445 The God in the Dock (DVD)

Written Quiz Oral test Reflection Papers

IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Home works Reaction Paper/Reflection Paper Group Reporting Project V. EVALUATIVE MEASURES: Office tests Quizzes Seat works Board works Individual/Group reports

VII. BIBLIOGRAPHY A. Primary Text Moser, Paul K. Reality in Focus. New Jersey: Prentice Hall Inc., 1990

B. Secondary Texts (Supplementary Reading Materials per Topic) Part I. Reality and an External World Churchland, Paul. Scientific Realism and the Plasticity of Mind. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1979. Churchland, Paul, and Clifford Hooker, eds. Images of Science. Chicago: Chicago University Press, 1985. Moser Paul. Knowledge and Evidence. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989. Putnam, Hilary. The Many Faces of Realism. La Salle, III.: Open Court, 1987. Vision, Gerald. Modern Anti-Realism and Manufactured Truth. London: Routledge, 1988. Part II Space, Time and Causation Beachamp, T. L. and A. Rosenberg. Hume and the Problem of Causation. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1981. Brand Myles, ed. The Nature of Causation. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1981. Einstien, Albert. Relativity: The Special and General Theory. New York: Crown, 1981. Swinburned, Richard. Space, Time and Causality. Dordrecht: D. Reidel, 1983 Vas Fraassen, Bas. An Introduction to Philosophy of Time and Space, 2nd ed. New York: Columbia University Press, 1985.

Part III Persons, Minds and Free Will Dworkin, Gerald, ed. Determinism, Free Will and Moral Responsibility. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1970. Gilbert Ryle. The Concept of Mind. London: Methuen, 1959. Part IV Universals, Essences, and Natural Kinds Armstrong, D. M. Universals and Scientific Realism. 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1967. Brody, Baruch. Identity and Essence. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1980. Clarke, Norris. Person Being, and Ecology, ed by Rainier Ibana. Quezon City: Office of Research and Publications, Ateneo De Manila University, 1996. Part V Reality and God. Swartz, Norman. Beyond Experience: Metaphysical Theories and Philosophical Constraints. Toronto: Toronto University Press, 1991. Cahn, Steven, and David Shatz, eds. Contemporary Philosphy of Religion. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1982. Morris Thomas, ed. The Concept of God. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987.

Prepared by: Roland L. Aparece, MA PM; MAT PH (December 5, 2012)