Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for PHL 201 Winter 2025


Course Number:
PHL 201
Course Title:
Being and Knowing
Credit Hours:
4
Lecture Hours:
40
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Introduces philosophical questions and approaches associated with metaphysics (being) and epistemology (knowing) via the works of important figures in the history of philosophy. Prerequisites: WR 115, RD 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement test scores. Audit available.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

  • Articulate key philosophical arguments in the history of philosophy.
  • Identify the influence of culturally based perspectives, values and beliefs to examine how diverse philosophical perspectives affect human experience.
  • Construct arguments on philosophical issues using critical reasoning to identify and investigate philosophical theses and evaluate information and its sources.
  • Respond to arguments on philosophical issues using critical reasoning to identify and investigate philosophical theses and  evaluate information and its sources.

Integrative Learning

Students completing an associate degree at Portland Community College will be able to reflect on one’s work or competencies to make connections between course content and lived experience.

General education philosophy statement

Philosophy courses ask students to use critical thinking and reasoning skills in multiple ways: to identify the content, structure, and influence of beliefs, to examine how diverse philosophical perspectives affect human experience, and to construct and respond to arguments on a variety of philosophical issues. They encourage students to both create and understand theirs and others’ frameworks of meaning, and to use this new understanding in their own lived experience.

Course Activities and Design

The course will be conducted in both the standard classroom and distance learning settings.  It will involve lectures, discussions, and other assignments such as exams and papers.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

Assessment strategies will include some of the following:

·       Essays in the form of in-class exams, short papers, or term papers.

·       Student presentations.

·       Class and small group discussions.

·       Portfolios.

·       Service learning projects.

·       Attendance.

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

The course will focus on the following topics and issues with

a primary focus on the Western philosophical tradition:

·       Metaphysics.

·       Epistemology.

·       What is a philosophical question?

·       How have some historically significant philosophers (including, but not limited to Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Leibnitz, Spinoza, Hobbes, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Kant, Russell, Wittgenstein) responded to philosophical questions?

·       Epistemological and metaphysical issues that are raised in other areas of philosophy (e. g., ethics, philosophy of religion, aesthetics, philosophy of science, etc.)

            Competencies and Skills: Students will learn to:

·       Comprehend philosophical writings.

·       Paraphrase, illustrate, and explain ideas contained in philosophical writings.

·       Critique and challenge philosophical ideas.

·       Write philosophically coherent arguments.