muniz@dadeschools.

net Twitter: @zinum777 (I do not follow students)

Philosophy Honors/Ethics Honors 2017-2018
5-597-9950 Fax: 305-477-6762 Website: www.doralacademyprep.org
TEACHER: Mr. Michael J. Muniz, M.A.
ROOM: 214A
PERIOD: _______
UCTION & OBJECTIVE
EMAIL: mmuniz@doralacademyprep.org
TWITTER: @zinum777 (I do not follow students)
me to AP! YouWare high
EBSITE school seniors about to embark on a life-altering journey.
: www.doralacademyprep.org It is
easure to be your
PHONEguide as I will do my best to prepare you for one of the most
: 305-597-9950
FAX: 305-477-6762
ial tests you will take throughout high school: the AP English Literature &
sition Exam. My job is to also prepare you for college. The vigor that this course will
d from you isINTRODUCTION
very challenging. I guarantee that the result is the success you wanted
& OBJECTIVE
n the level of effort you put into this course.
Welcome to Philosophy Honors! You are high school students who will embark on
DESCRIPTION a most enlightening journey of truth, goodness and beauty. It is with great
pleasure to be your guide as I will do my best to prepare you for one of the most
dangerous
P English Literature experiences
course is designedyou’ve evercollege-level
to teach gone through: answering
writing thethe
through questions
“Who am I? and Why?”. However, my main and ultimate purpose is to prepare
entals of literary and rhetorical theory. It follows the CollegeBoard course description
you for something even more important than that: the remaining years of your
ering to the following: engaging
life. Additionally, students
along in the careful
with academic reading and
preparation, I willcritical analysis
also have of
the grand
ative literature; and deepening
opportunity studenttounderstanding
to introduce of the ways
you the illuminating realm writers
of classicusephilosophical
language
texts that
ide both meaning have changed
and pleasure the
for their world!through
reader Throughout all ofreading
the close this we’llofnot just study
selected
philosophy, but also religion, science, and art.

EST
COURSE DESCRIPTION

English Literature
Honors and Composition test
Philosophy/Ethics is anisannual
a three-hour
course exam
open divided into two
to high school major It is
students.
s: multiple choice and essay.to
an introduction The multiple choice
philosophical section
reflection and usually contains
examination of an average
some central
questions
uestions based on four of human
pieces existence. both
of literature: Throughout this poetry.
prose and course,This
students will consider:
portion is
1) epistemological questions
5% of the test and is only one hour long. concerning the possibility and nature of knowledge
and truth; 2) metaphysical questions concerning the nature of ultimate reality,
the mind-body problem, consciousness, freedom and determinism, personal
ay section consists of three equally weighted essays. The first two questions are based
identity, and the existence of God; and, 3) ethical questions concerning
ose passage and a poetry
morality andpassage.
the goodThe
life.third essay isis an
This course opendiscussion-based
largely essay that relatesand
to awill place
work you select. This section
an emphasis is careful
on the worth 55% of the
reading of test and and
primary is two hours long
secondary (40 critical
sources,
s per essay). and systematic thinking, and the verbal and written expression of ideas.


core a 4 or 5 on the AP you will automatically earn credit for most colleges and
IN-CLASS & AT-HOME LEARNING
ities. Many colleges look favorably on students who have taken the AP test. By
ng for the APStudents
exam you willbeget
must used toat
attentive approaching
all times to your studies posted
the updates with seriousness
on the school
us that college success
website requires. As
designated many
for this teachers
class. would agree:
All documents, think of
handouts, this course as
worksheets,
camp that’ll prepare you for college.
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Philosophy Honors/Ethics Honors 2017-2018

copyrighted materials, etc. will be available through the website for this class. 


Along with quizzes, you will be required to complete an entry in your

philosophical journal as part of your weekly classwork/homework assignments.
The Philosophical Journal is a simple one page entry response to philosophical
questions. They will be checked at random, so always keep them with you and
up to date. 


Occasionally, we will have projects and presentations based on philosophical

icons and ideas.


The kinds of writing in this course are varied, but include writing to understand,
writing to explain, and writing to evaluate. All critical writing asks that you
evaluate the effectiveness of a philosophical idea, but to be an effective
evaluator, one must understand and explain. To be an effective thinker, students
need to build upon their approaches to philosophical concepts. 


Occasionally, we will have debates, dialectics, and Socratic circles. All of these
activities are platforms for guided open-discussion about a particular subject.
Participation is required! Silence in a philosophy classroom will not get you very
far. Also, these forums are design to express your mind and to reflect on what
your peers have to say. Criticism will be expected. However, I will not allow for
disrespecting of others’ opinion and thoughts. This is not about personal attacks
or forcing others to accept your views. We will maintain a cordial environment of
thoughtful expression. If you are disrespectful you will suffer consequences (see
below). If there is an issue with someone, or if there is a topic you feel
uncomfortable discussing PLEASE let me know. I will do my best to address the
issue at hand.


Hopefully, the course will be broken down as follows: Logic & Methodology;
Epistemology; Philosophy of Science; Metaphysics: Identity & Free Will;
Philosophy of Mind; Philosophy of Religion; Ethics & Applied Ethics; Political
Philosophy; and Aesthetics

Students are to adhere to Doral Academy’s Academy Honesty Policy. Any

violation of Academic Integrity will result in severe consequences.

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Philosophy Honors/Ethics Honors 2017-2018

GRADING SCALE

Tests = 40%
Projects/Essays = 30% 

Quizzes = 20%
CW/HW/Participation = 10% 


A = 90 – 100% = 3.5 – 4.0


B = 80 – 89% = 2.5 – 3.49 

C = 70 – 79% = 1.5 – 2.49

D = 60 – 69% = 1.0 – 1.49 

F = 0 – 59% = 0 – .99

Z = 0 = 0 = Signifies incomplete or not turned in 

X = no value = excused from the assignment 


MATERIALS

The following materials are required every class: 


• 1-Inch 3-Ring Binder (for storing plenty of handouts)

• Pen (blue or black ink only) - All In-Class essays must be written in pen.
• Highlighter (for marginal note-taking)
• #2 Pencil (for tests)
• Composition Notebook (aka: Philosophical Journal)
• USB Flash-drive (for storing documents)
• A copy of the primary text we’re currently studying. (See below for further
information on books)

CLASSROOM TEXTBOOKS

There is no official textbook for this class. However, the collected body of
handouts and excerpts from various primary & secondary sources will serve as
your reference texts.

Because this course is designated under the Language Arts department and is
taught by an English teacher, we will be reading one work of fiction each
quarter. These four books are essential for assessing and evaluating the
application of philosophy.

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Philosophy Honors/Ethics Honors 2017-2018

REQUIRED PRIMARY TEXTS

Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder

Candide by Voltaire
The Stranger by Albert Camus
The Best Things in Life by Peter Kreeft

COURSE BREAKDOWN

Unit #1: Logic & Methodology

• The organized body of knowledge, or science, that examines arguments is
called LOGIC. In this unit we will take grasp the fundamentals of reasoning
such that we can formulate arguments of our own while analyzing more
famous arguments in the future. Logic is a language for philosophy.
Therefore, one must constantly practice “speaking” the language in order to
properly engage in philosophy. Topics to be discussed are:
• Arguments & Forms
• Symbolic Translations
• Fallacies
• Truth Tables

UNIT #2: EPISTEMOLOGY

• The theory of knowledge, or epistemology, studies how we come to acquire
knowledge. It attempts to answer the questions “what can we know?” and
“how do we know it?” Topics to be discussed:
• Skepticism
• Certainty
• Justified True Belief
• Empiricism vs. Rationalism

UNIT #3: PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE

• In this unit, we will briefly study what science is, how it works, and the method
through which we gather scientific knowledge. This is closely related to
epistemology as it demands a study of how reliable scientific knowledge is in
the grand scheme of certainty and inductive reasoning. Topics to be
discussed:
• Falsification
• Verification
• Explanation

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Philosophy Honors/Ethics Honors 2017-2018

UNIT #4: METAPHYSICS

• What is there? What is reality? Do we have free will? Is time real? These are
the fundamental questions of metaphysics and as such they are also
necessary to grasp in order to move forward in our philosophical endeavor.
Topics to be discussed:
• Causality
• Determinism Vs. Libertarianism
• Time & Eternity
• Existence Vs. Reality

UNIT #5: PHILOSOPHY OF MIND

• Often included in the study of metaphysics, Philosophy of Mind helps us
understand what it means to be a person. Personhood is often confused with
humanity. Are they the same? Is the mind equal to the brain? and is a person
a person without a mind? T Topics to be discussed:
• Mind/Body Problem
• Cartesian Knowledge
• Essence Vs. Necessity
• Identity

UNIT #6: PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION

• Possibly the most controversial branch of philosophy, philosophy of religion
tackles the question of God. Does God exist? If so, what is His nature? If not,
how do we know…or not know? Topics to be discussed:
• Theology Proper (Nature & Attributes of God)
• A Priori Arguments
• A Posteriori Arguments
• The Problem of Evil
• Miracles
• Religious Experience

UNIT #7: ETHICS

• If philosophy of religion was not controversial enough, then surely ethics will
be better. In this unit we will discuss the nature of morals & morality. What
does it mean to be good? What ought a person do? How ought a person to
live? Would you kill the fat man? (this will be a very exciting moral dilemma)
Topics to be discussed:
• Metaethics
• Normative Ethics
• Applied Ethics

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Philosophy Honors/Ethics Honors 2017-2018

UNIT #8: POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY

• Political discussion is always on the rise. In this unit and sub-branch of Value
Theory, we will open the doors to the role of government (not just in the USA).
What is the role of a government? Do citizens have “rights” or “duties”? What
is justice? Topics to be discussed:
• Justice
• Party Systems
• Role of Government
• Civic Duty

UNIT #9: AESTHETICS

• To all of you who love music, movies, and art, this branch is for you. So, it’s
really for everybody! Art & Beauty are the central concepts that this branch
of philosophy will explore. Does beauty matter? Is there objective beauty?
What is art? Topics to be discussed:
• Art
• Beauty
• Experience & the Sublime
• Philosophy of Film
• Philosophy of Music

Unit #10: Personal Philosophy Project

• Not really a unit of study, but rather a time in which you will explore and share
your personal philosophy after spending a whole schools year discussing
every major branch of philosophy. More details to come

CAVEAT

The instructor reserves the right to make adjustments to the schedule and
assignments in the case of unforeseen circumstances. In addition to this syllabus,
please refer to the Doral Academy Student Course Policies listed on the school
website.

Also…you may connect with me through REMIND. See my course webpage for
more details.

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