61010101 Philosophy A

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2024Year School/Graduate School Liberal Arts Education Program

Lecture Code 61010101 Subject Classification Area Courses

Subject Name Philosophy A

Subject Name
（Katakana）

Subject Name in
English Philosophy A

Instructor SHIMAMURA SHUHEI

Instructor
(Katakana) シマムラ　シュウヘイ

Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 1st-Year,  First Semester,  1Term

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (1T) Mon1-4：IAS K202

Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details) 　

Lecture

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 　 Language of Instruction E : English

Course Level 1 : Undergraduate Introductory

Course Area（Area） 23 : Arts and Humanities

Course Area（Discipline） 01 : Philosophy

Eligible Students

Keywords Logical thinking, Qualia, Meaning, JTB Model of Knowledge, Skepticism, Free Will, Personal Identity.

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status within
Liberal Arts Education Area Courses（Courses in Arts and Humanities/Social Sciences)　Category：Philosophy / Ethics / Religion / Arts
Expected Outcome 1. Learn the basics of logical thinking and become proficient in applying it.
2. Understand several representative problems in contemporary Anglo-American philosophy (analytic philosophy) and become capable of explaining them.

Class Objectives
/Class Outline The learning objectives of this course consist of two pillars. The first pillar is to acquire the skill of thinking philosophically. Philosophy covers a wide range of topics, some of which overlap with religion, while others overlap with science. When compared to other fields, a significant characteristic of philosophy is the emphasis on "thinking as slowly as possible" when delving into issues. This entails critically examining things that are commonly taken for granted using one's own rational capacity. Philosophy has been practicing this approach for a long time, resulting in the accumulation of various techniques for it.
The second pillar of this course is to engage with specific philosophical problems and to undergo training in philosophical thinking. What truly exists in this world? Is absolute certainty possible? What is the meaning of life? These questions provide excellent material for honing philosophical thinking. By using the thoughts of past philosophers as clues and applying the techniques learned in the first pillar, let's try to express our own thoughts on these important but difficult questions.

Class Schedule Lesson 1: Course Objectives and Course Map
Lesson 2: Philosophy and Logical Thinking
I. Ontology: What Exists?
Lesson 3: Philosophical Techniques ①: The Structure of Arguments
Lesson 4: Philosophical Arguments ①: Do Only Physical Things Exist in this World?
               The Zombie Argument and the Knowledge Argument
Lesson 5: Philosophical Arguments ②: What is the Meaning of Words?
Lesson 6: Philosophical Questions ①: What Exists?
II. Epistemology: Questioning Common Sense
Lesson 7: Philosophical Techniques ②: How to Evaluate Arguments and Implicit Assumptions
Lesson 8: Philosophical Arguments ③: Epistemology and Philosophical Skepticism
Lesson 9: Philosophical Arguments ④: Are Yesterday's Self and Today's Self Really the Same?
               Personal Identity
Lesson 10: Philosophical Arguments ⑤: Can Free Will Exist?
                 Determinism and Free Will
Lesson 11: Philosophical Questions ②: Confronting Skepticism
III. Practical Application: Applying Philosophy
Lesson 12: Philosophical Techniques ③: Negation and Conditional Statements
Lesson 13: Philosophical Techniques ④: Arguments Involving Values
Lesson 14: Philosophical Questions ③: On the Meaning of Life
Lesson 15: Writing a Short Essay

Text/Reference
Books,etc. Logical Training, New Edition, by Shigeki Noya, published by Sangyo Tosho, 2006.
Logical Training: 101 Problems, by Shigeki Noya, published by Sangyo Tosho, 2001.
The Power of Ronri, by NHK "The Power of Ronri" Production Team (Author), supervised by Shigeki Noya, published by Mikasashobo, 2015.
Introduction to Philosophy of Mind, by Takeshi Kanasugi, published by Keisoshobo, 2007.
Philosophy of Qualia and Knowledge Argument, by Sho Yamaguchi, published by Shunjusha, 2012.
Philosophy of Language: A Contemporary Introduction, by W.G. Lycan (Author), translated by Toshifumi Araiso and others, published by Keisoshobo, 2005.
Free Will: A Very Short Introduction, by Thomas Pink (Author), translated by Takefumi Toda and others, published by Iwanami Shoten, 2017.
Philosophy of Knowledge, by Kazuhisa Todashiyama, published by Sangyo Tosho, 2002.

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. 　

(More Details) Please bring your laptop.

Learning techniques to be incorporated 　

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review ・Lecture Sessions ("Philosophical Techniques" and "Philosophical Arguments") - 9 sessions in total:
・A handout summarizing the key points of each session will be provided.
・The handout will also include references for the next session, aiding in preparation.
・At the end of each session, a brief quiz will be given to assess understanding of the key points. The following session will include explanations for these tests. If there are any parts of the test explanations that are unclear, please make sure to ask questions on the same day.
・Workshop Sessions ("Philosophical Questions") - 3 sessions in total:
・These sessions put you, the participants, in the spotlight. Using a method called Silent Dialogue (SD), you will engage with various philosophical questions that you have formulated yourselves.
・Please prepare your own philosophical questions in advance for the SD discussions.
・The final short essay allows you to utilize the thoughts generated during the SD discussions as material.

Requirements

Grading Method Quiz (70%), Report (30%)

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message The usefulness of philosophical thinking techniques isn't limited to just pondering philosophical questions. In fact, there are many everyday situations where philosophical thinking can be helpful. When you feel like you're not quite on the same page as your friends during a conversation, sense something amiss while reading articles or books, but can't quite put your finger on it, or when you want to carefully consider and understand each step before making an important decision, philosophical thinking methods come in handy. Let's use this course as an opportunity to peek into the world that opens up when we take a moment to think a little more slowly about things than usual.
Please bring your laptop to class.

Other

Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Academic Year	2024Year	School/Graduate School	Liberal Arts Education Program
Lecture Code	61010101	Subject Classification	Area Courses
Subject Name	Philosophy A
Subject Name （Katakana）
Subject Name in English	Philosophy A
Instructor	SHIMAMURA SHUHEI
Instructor (Katakana)	シマムラ　シュウヘイ
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	1st-Year, First Semester, 1Term
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(1T) Mon1-4：IAS K202
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)
Lecture
Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week		Language of Instruction	E : English
Course Level	1 : Undergraduate Introductory
Course Area（Area）	23 : Arts and Humanities
Course Area（Discipline）	01 : Philosophy
Eligible Students
Keywords	Logical thinking, Qualia, Meaning, JTB Model of Knowledge, Skepticism, Free Will, Personal Identity.
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Liberal Arts Education	Area Courses（Courses in Arts and Humanities/Social Sciences)　Category：Philosophy / Ethics / Religion / Arts
Expected Outcome	1. Learn the basics of logical thinking and become proficient in applying it. 2. Understand several representative problems in contemporary Anglo-American philosophy (analytic philosophy) and become capable of explaining them.
Class Objectives /Class Outline	The learning objectives of this course consist of two pillars. The first pillar is to acquire the skill of thinking philosophically. Philosophy covers a wide range of topics, some of which overlap with religion, while others overlap with science. When compared to other fields, a significant characteristic of philosophy is the emphasis on "thinking as slowly as possible" when delving into issues. This entails critically examining things that are commonly taken for granted using one's own rational capacity. Philosophy has been practicing this approach for a long time, resulting in the accumulation of various techniques for it. The second pillar of this course is to engage with specific philosophical problems and to undergo training in philosophical thinking. What truly exists in this world? Is absolute certainty possible? What is the meaning of life? These questions provide excellent material for honing philosophical thinking. By using the thoughts of past philosophers as clues and applying the techniques learned in the first pillar, let's try to express our own thoughts on these important but difficult questions.
Class Schedule	Lesson 1: Course Objectives and Course Map Lesson 2: Philosophy and Logical Thinking I. Ontology: What Exists? Lesson 3: Philosophical Techniques ①: The Structure of Arguments Lesson 4: Philosophical Arguments ①: Do Only Physical Things Exist in this World? The Zombie Argument and the Knowledge Argument Lesson 5: Philosophical Arguments ②: What is the Meaning of Words? Lesson 6: Philosophical Questions ①: What Exists? II. Epistemology: Questioning Common Sense Lesson 7: Philosophical Techniques ②: How to Evaluate Arguments and Implicit Assumptions Lesson 8: Philosophical Arguments ③: Epistemology and Philosophical Skepticism Lesson 9: Philosophical Arguments ④: Are Yesterday's Self and Today's Self Really the Same? Personal Identity Lesson 10: Philosophical Arguments ⑤: Can Free Will Exist? Determinism and Free Will Lesson 11: Philosophical Questions ②: Confronting Skepticism III. Practical Application: Applying Philosophy Lesson 12: Philosophical Techniques ③: Negation and Conditional Statements Lesson 13: Philosophical Techniques ④: Arguments Involving Values Lesson 14: Philosophical Questions ③: On the Meaning of Life Lesson 15: Writing a Short Essay
Text/Reference Books,etc.	Logical Training, New Edition, by Shigeki Noya, published by Sangyo Tosho, 2006. Logical Training: 101 Problems, by Shigeki Noya, published by Sangyo Tosho, 2001. The Power of Ronri, by NHK "The Power of Ronri" Production Team (Author), supervised by Shigeki Noya, published by Mikasashobo, 2015. Introduction to Philosophy of Mind, by Takeshi Kanasugi, published by Keisoshobo, 2007. Philosophy of Qualia and Knowledge Argument, by Sho Yamaguchi, published by Shunjusha, 2012. Philosophy of Language: A Contemporary Introduction, by W.G. Lycan (Author), translated by Toshifumi Araiso and others, published by Keisoshobo, 2005. Free Will: A Very Short Introduction, by Thomas Pink (Author), translated by Takefumi Toda and others, published by Iwanami Shoten, 2017. Philosophy of Knowledge, by Kazuhisa Todashiyama, published by Sangyo Tosho, 2002.
PC or AV used in Class,etc.
(More Details)	Please bring your laptop.
Learning techniques to be incorporated
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	・Lecture Sessions ("Philosophical Techniques" and "Philosophical Arguments") - 9 sessions in total: ・A handout summarizing the key points of each session will be provided. ・The handout will also include references for the next session, aiding in preparation. ・At the end of each session, a brief quiz will be given to assess understanding of the key points. The following session will include explanations for these tests. If there are any parts of the test explanations that are unclear, please make sure to ask questions on the same day. ・Workshop Sessions ("Philosophical Questions") - 3 sessions in total: ・These sessions put you, the participants, in the spotlight. Using a method called Silent Dialogue (SD), you will engage with various philosophical questions that you have formulated yourselves. ・Please prepare your own philosophical questions in advance for the SD discussions. ・The final short essay allows you to utilize the thoughts generated during the SD discussions as material.
Requirements
Grading Method	Quiz (70%), Report (30%)
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message	The usefulness of philosophical thinking techniques isn't limited to just pondering philosophical questions. In fact, there are many everyday situations where philosophical thinking can be helpful. When you feel like you're not quite on the same page as your friends during a conversation, sense something amiss while reading articles or books, but can't quite put your finger on it, or when you want to carefully consider and understand each step before making an important decision, philosophical thinking methods come in handy. Let's use this course as an opportunity to peek into the world that opens up when we take a moment to think a little more slowly about things than usual. Please bring your laptop to class.
Other
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes. Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Back to syllabus main page