Greetings and welcome. My name is Chris Dylan Tennberg and I’ll be your instructor for the course. I’ve been teaching university level courses in philosophy and religion for almost 20 years at such institutions as San Diego State University, the University of California, Santa Barbara, Westmont College, Allan Hancock College, Auburn University Montgomery, Santa Monica College and the University of Hawaii. It’s a pleasure to be with you this semester and I’m really looking forward to interacting with you and the course material.
Philosophy is a really fun class and I’m confident that you’ll enjoy exploring the issues/questions/ideas that we’ll be considering! In this course, you will be introduced to the nature of philosophical inquiry by considering some of the most fundamental questions that can be asked about the nature of reality, human beings and our knowledge of both: Does god exist? Do humans beings have free will? What’s the essence of personal identity? What does it mean to have knowledge? Can we know anything at all? Do human beings have an obligation to act morally? What makes a particular action moral or immoral? And what is the meaning of life? The material covered in the course will include a variety of selections from both current and historically important thinkers on the issues.
Ok, here are just a few preliminary remarks about getting started with the course.
First, since this course is “fully online”, we will be conducting all of our course related business online (e.g. the posting of announcements, the distribution of course materials, the posting of assignments, quizzes, exams, etc.). More specifically, we will be using the official Laulima course site, my own teaching website, Zoom and email to facilitate the entire course. As such, your interaction with Laulima and email should be very regular.
Course Materials (Readings, Audio and Video) will be available to you at my teaching website: https://www.teachphilosophyonline.com/introduction-to-philosophy
Course Activities (Exercise Assignments, Quizzes and Exams) will be available to you at the official PHIL 100 Laulima Course Page: https://laulima.hawaii.edu/portal/site/KAU.44324.202230/
Second, all that you’ll need to do to get started with the course is read the Official Course Syllabus: https://www.teachphilosophyonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Tennberg-PHIL100-Syllabus-Spring-2022-CRN-44324.pdf Everything that you need to know in order to get started with the course is spelled out carefully in the syllabus. The syllabus highlights the objectives and learning outcomes of the course, elucidates the course requirements and criteria of evaluation that will be used to determine student grades, and finally provides a tentative course outline/schedule.
Third, once you’ve had a chance to look over the course syllabus and really absorb its contents, please navigate your way to my teaching website located at: https://www.teachphilosophyonline.com/introduction-to-philosophy
Once you make it to the site just click (and enter) the Topic 1 content area entitled “Philosophy and Philosophical Inquiry”. In the Topic 1 content area you will find: (1) a brief overview of the topic; (2) links to all of the required course materials that we will be considering for that topic; (3) links to the required course activities that you’ll be completing for that topic. Generally speaking, the routine will be pretty much the same for each topical section of the course: First, consider the course materials provided and then complete the course activities listed.
Finally, although we will not be using Zoom as regularly as some other courses. I would like to schedule some Zoom class sessions throughout the term. I will be putting together a Zoom schedule soon and will email that schedule out to each of you once it is ready.
Well, I guess that’s it for now. Please don’t hesitate to contact me via email if you have any questions or concerns about the course… that’s what I’m here for! It’s a fun one and I look forward to interacting with you throughout the term.
Best, Chris