Course Title

Course No.
School Year and Semester
Faculty
Course Pre-Requisites

Course Description

Program Specialization
Outcomes

Week Number

S1
FLA
S2

PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS
TCG-SS03
None
The goal of this course is to help the student to think clearly, logically, critically and creatively essentially the activity of a
rational being. As such, this is intended to be an introduction to logic and critical thinking. The course will thus cover the
various arguments that one can make in showing how to separate the strong from the weak those that should be accepted
from those that should not be. The focus, however, will be on practical application of argument evaluation and formulation
techniques in attempts to provide solutions to the following perennial questions: What is the nature of being? Why am I?
What am I? What is knowledge? What is the truth? What is good? What is moral?
Intellectual competencies such as critical, analytical and creative thinking and multiple forms of expression
An ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing using both English and Filipino
An ability to engage in lifelong learning and understanding of the need to keep current of the developments in the specific
field of practice
Course Content
Course Learning Outcomes
1. Demonstrate familiarity
with the central themes in
philosophy and its problems.
2. Appreciate the value of
philosophy in the construction
of social reality.
3. Manifest a good level of
philosophical thinking towards
life's challenges and
concepts.
4. Equip/employ critical
thinking skills in decisionmaking and problem solving.

Content

Instructional Delivery

Assessment

A. An Overview of
Philosophy
Metaphysics, Epistemology,
Ethics, Aesthetics, Politics,
Logic
Ancient, Medieval, Modern,
and Contemporary Era

Course Overview/ Discussion

of the Syllabus
Film Viewing: Agora
What is Philosophy? What

Discussion, Contract,
Establishing the Rubrics
Forum Discussion
Lecture, Graphic Organizers

Quizzes, Recitation

S1

FLA

S2

are the branches of

Philosophy? What is the
timeline of Philosophy?
B. Logic
Syllogisms, AEIO, Square of
Opposition, Venn Diagram,
Common Formal Fallacies
Propositions, Conjunction,
Disjunction, Conditionals,
Material Equivalence,
Negation, Binary Logic Truth
Table, Rules of Inference
What are the basic concepts
of Aristotelian Logic? What
are syllogisms? What are the
four types of categorical
propositions? What is the
square of opposition and how
does it work? How do we
represent propositions
through Venn Diagrams?
What are the common formal
fallacies?
Film Viewing: Oxford Murders
What is a proposition in
modern logic? What is a
negation, conjunction,
disjunction, material
implication, and material
equivalence? How is the
binary truth table drawn?
What are the rules of
inference?
C. Argumentation

Seatworks, Boardworks

Quizzes, Worksheets,
Boardworks

Forum Discussion

Board Exercises, ProblemSolving

Quizzes, Worksheets,
Boardworks

S1

FLA

S2

s1

Arguments, Conditionals,
Causal Statements, Facts,
Opinions, Scope, Degree of
Commitment, Deduction and
Induction, Informal Fallacies,
Challenge of Argument
How do we distinguish
arguments from other
statements? What composes
and determines an argument?
What are the types of
reasoning?
eLearning: Online and Digital
Articles on Argumentation
What are the common
informal fallacies? How does
one participate in the
challenge of argument?
D. Metaphysics
Pre-Socratics, Platonic
Dualism, Leibniz, Spinoza,
Hegel, Searle, Chalmers
E. Epistemology
Sophists, Socrates,
Descartes, Berkely, Locke,
Kant, Hume
Who were the pre-socratics
and what was their concern?
What is Platonic dualism?
What are the metaphysics of
Leibniz, Spinoza, and Hegel?
What are the contributions of
Searle, and Chalmers on
contemporary metaphysics?

Lecture, Graphic Organizers,

ABC Summary,

Exam, Recitation

Forum Discussion

Mini-Debates

Exam, Recitation

Lecture, Buzz Group

Exam, Recitation, Rubrics for

Basic Position Paper

FLA

s2

s1

FLA

Writing Activity: Basic Position

Paper Draft/Preparation
Who were the sophists? What
is Socrates' view on truth and
the method to attain it? How
and why did Descartes arrive
on the Cogito? What are the
epistemological contributions
of Berkeley and Locke? What
are Kant's synthetic, analytic
judgments, noumenon and
phenomenon? How did Hume
attack causality?
F. Political Philosophy Government
Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau,
Aristotle, Plato, Machiavelli,
Mill
G. Political Philosophy Economics, Justice
Smith, Marx, Neurath,
Feinberg, Rawls
What was the Social Contract
as discussed by Hobbbes,
Locke and Rousseau? What
is Plato's objection and
alternative to Democracy?
What is Aristotle's discussion
of the best type of
government? How did
Machiavelli argue for a tyrant
as the best type of leader?
How did Mill discuss liberty?
Basic Position Paper Online

Paper Review

Lecture, Recitation

Exam, Recitation, Rubrics for

Basic Position Paper

Lecture, Compare and

Contrast

Exam, Recitation, Rubrics for

Basic Position Paper

Feedback

s2

s1

FLA
s2

Posting
What are the philosophical
contributions of Smith, Marx,
and Neurath on economics?
What are the philosophical
contributions of Feinberg,
Rawls, and Nozick on justice?
H. Philosophy of Religion
Anselm, Augustine, Aquinas,
The Problem of Evil
I. Eastern Philosophy
Hindu, Buddhist, Confucian,
Taoist
What are the philosophical
contributions of Anselm,
Augustine, and Aquinas on
religion? What is a
fundamentalist, atheist,
polytheist, henotheist,
pantheist, panentheist, and
an agnostic? What is the
problem of evil from
Epicurus?
Writing Activity: Basic Critical
Paper Draft/Preparation
What is Taoist, Hindu and
Buddhist Metaphysics? What
is Confucian ethics?
J. Philosophy of Art and
Literature
Plato-Aristotle, NussbaumPosner, The Paradox of
Fiction, Aesthetic Formalism,
Aesthetic Attitude

Lecture, Problem-Solving
Activity, Drill and Practice

Exam, Recitation, Rubrics for

Basic Position Paper

Lecture, Controversial Issues

Exam, Recitation, Rubrics for

Basic Critical Paper

Paper Review
Lecture, Cooperative
Learning

Exam, Recitation, Rubrics for

Basic Critical Paper

s1

FLA

s2

s1

FLA
s2

What are the opposing

perspectives of Plato and
Aristotle, Nussbaum and
Posner on art? What is the
paradox of fiction? What is
aesthetic formalism and its
criticisms? What is Aesthetic
Attitude?
Basic Critical Paper Online
Posting
MIDTERM EXAM/ OUTPUT
A paper-pen exam or an
output is expected as
assesment that will compose
the midterm grade. The
exam/ouput must cover all
topics from A-J.A midterm
exam is strongly suggested.
K. Philosophy of Science
Logical Positivism, Kuhn,
Feminist Methodology
L. Philosophy of Mind
Turing, Functionalism,
Skinner, Searle
What is the relevance of
logical positivism in scientific
progress? How did Kuhn
discuss paradigm shifts?
What are the feminist
critiques on science?
Text Review: Philosophical
Position Papers
How did Turing conceptualize
AI? What are the

Lecture, Colloquia (students

who are artistically inclined
will be made as resource
persons to demonstrate how
the topics manifest)

Exam, Recitation, Rubrics for

Basic Critical Paper

Feedback

Midterm Exam

Lecture, Controversial Issues

Position Paper: Draft and

Outline Preparation
Lecture, Problem-based
Learning (How is the mind

Exam, Recitation, Rubrics for

Philosophical Position Paper

Exam, Recitation, Rubrics for

Philosophical Position Paper

s1

FLA
s2

philosophical implications of
functionalism and
behaviorism? How did Searle
discuss his chinese room
argument and biological
naturalism?
M. Philosophy of Language
Reference, Sense, Russell,
Wittgenstein, Moore, Austin
N. Existentialism
Kierkegaard, Nietzsche,
Heidegger, Sartre, Camus,
Beauvoir, Buber, Levinas,
Jaspers
What is the referential theory
of meaning? How did Frege
discuss 'sense'? What are the
philosophical concepts of
Russell, Moore and Austin on
language? What is
Wittgenstein's beetle? What is
the picture theory of
propositions and the use
theory of meaning? What is a
language game? What are
family resemblances?
Text Review: Philosophical
Critical Papers
What is existentialism? What
are Kierkegaard's three
stages, kinght of faith and
individuality? How did
Nietzsche discuss the Death
of God, Ressentiment,

connected to the body?)

Graphics Organizer, Lecture

Critical Paper: Draft and

Outline Preparation
Lecture, Culture Jamming

Exam, Recitation, Rubrics for

Philosophical Critical Paper

Exam, Recitation, Rubrics for

Philosophical Critical Paper

10

s1

FLA
s2

Master-Slave Morality and the

Ubermensch? How did
Heidegger discuss Dasein,
being-towards-death and
existential anxiety? What did
Camus have to say about the
meaning of life and what we
must do about it? What is
Sartre's radical freedom, hell
is the other, and bad faith?
O. Postmodern Philosophy
Lyotard, Foucault, Derrida,
Baudrillard, Irigaray
P. Filipino Philosophy
Timbreza, Gripaldo, Quito,
Constantino
What characterizes
Postmodern Philosophy?
How did Lyotard discuss
knowledge? What are
Foucault's views on power?
What is deconstruction? What
is simulacra and hyperreality? How did Irigaray
pronounce postmodernism in
a feminist perspective?
Position Paper: Research/
Writing/ Consultation
What is Filipino philosophy
from a cultural and traditional
approach? What was Quito's
role in Philosophy in the
Philippines? What was
Constantino's philosophical

Lecture, Group Discussion

Exam, Recitation, Rubrics for

Debate and Symposium

Feedback
Lecture, Problem-based
Learning (The students will be
given the problem of the lack
of a Filipino Philosophy and
will be asked to provide
solutions and criteria)

Exam, Recitation, Rubrics for

Debate and Symposium

11

s1
FLA
s2
12

s1

FLA

contribution in history and

nationalism?
Special Topic/s:
The professor may choose to
discuss a previous topic with
more depth or a new relevant
topic that includes but is not
limited to: Feminist
Philosophy, Critical Theories,
Hermeneutics, Process
Philosophy, Philosophy of
Education, Philosophy of the
Unconscious, Deontologism,
Utilitarianism, Egoism, etc.
Special Topics/Paper Writing
Consultation
Critical Paper: Research/
Writing/ Consultation
FINAL EXAMS
FINAL ACTIVITIES

DEBATE

Online Publication and

Reading of Critical Papers

Feedback
Feedback

The students will be grouped

and asked to exhibit their
critical thinking skills and
content knowledge through a
short debate.
The students will publish/ post
online their Critical Papers

Course References
Stumpf, Samuel Enoch, and James Fieser. Socrates to Sartre and Beyond: A History of Philosophy. New York: McGraw-Hill,
2008.
Copi, Irving, Cohen, Carl, and McMahon, Kenneth.
Introduction to Logic 14th Edition. Pearson, 2010.
Govier, Trudy. A Practical Study of Argument. Wadsworth,
Cengage Learning, 2010.

Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. http://www.iep.utm.edu/

(accessed May 28, 2015)
Standford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
http://plato.stanford.edu/ (accessed May 28, 2015)
Additional/ Supplementary Materials
Gaarder, Jostein, and Paulette Mller. Sophie's World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy.
New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2007.
Farr, David, Gisli Orn Gararsson, and Franz Kafka. Metamorphosis. London: Oberon Books,
2006.
PERFORMANCE
EVIDENCES OF
PERFORMANCE
COURSE COUTCOMES
INDICATORS
PERFORMANCE
STANDARD
Effectively enumerate and
define different philosophical
Demonstrate familiarity with
Oral/ Practical Exam: passing
concepts
the central themes in
Oral, Midterm, Final Exams
is 50%; Midterm and Final
Able to identify differences
philosophy and its problems.
Exam: 75%
and similarities between
philosophical theories
Appreciate the value of
Clearly identify the
Mini-Symposium: The student
Rubrics
philosophy in the construction philosophical foundation of
will write and present a critical
of social reality.
academic studies, significant
essay for the review of his
events, institutions and
peers and professor. The
personalities.
student will choose a
Perform a critique on studies,
philosophical perspective
culture and institutions based
relevant to the student's
on philosophical analysis.
academic interest/s. The
critical essay must answer
guide questions assigned by
the professor. The presentor/s
must respond effectively to
queries and
counterarguments. This is a
collaborative output with
(possibly) English,
Communication, Humanities,

Manifest a good level of

philosophical thinking towards
life's challenges and
concepts.

Equip/employ critical thinking

skills in decision-making and
problem solving.

Comprehensively associate
recent and relevant events to
philosophical themes.
Identify life concerns as
solvable through
philosophical analysis.

Construct sound and valid

arguments.
Precisely identify fallacies and
cognitive biases in articles,
books and commentaries.

and Values subjects.

Debate: The students will
participate in a debate which
topic is from a list of
controversies enumerated by
the professor. This is a
collaborative output with
(possibly) English,
Communication, Humanities,
and Values subjects.
Position Paper: The student
will write a position paper
which topic is from a list of
dilemma enumerated by the
professor. This is a
collaborative output with
(possibly) English,
Communication, Humanities,
and Values subjects.

Rubrics

Rubrics

Course Requirements
Oral Exam

70%, shall compose the

Midterm Grade

Midterm Exam

30%, shall compose the

Midterm Grade
20%
20%

Midterm Grade
Final Exam

"Oral/ Practical Exam: An

exam that requires a student
to focus, evaluate, analyse
and respond efficiently and
directly to questions that are
from simple to moderately
abstract. The students will be
given two minutes to answer
three questions about the
topic."
Scope: Topics A - J

Scope: Topics A - P

Mini-Symposium
Position Paper
Debate
Journal on Behavioral Aspect
of CT
Final Grade Total

20%
20%
20%
Requirement Only, Not
Graded
100%

The Student will keep a journal that identifies his/her strengths

and weaknesses in terms of Critical Thinking

Course Policies
University policy on attendance and student conduct apply. Late submission and make-up exams are approved only for
excused absences. Cheating in any form, including plagiarism, in course requirements will merit the lowest failing grade on that
requirement and the case shall be sent to and reviewed by the proper offices.
Consultation Period
By appointment: Please contact me thru palces.krm@pnu.edu.ph or call the FBeSS Department.