CTH: 009 COURSE GUIDE

COURSE
GUIDE

CTH 009
INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY

Course Code CTH 009

Course Title Introduction to Philosopy

Course Developer Rev. Fr. Dr. Augustine Essien, mps

Course Writers Rev. Fr. Dr. Augustine Essien, mps

Course Editor Dr. O. A. Adewale

Benson Idahosa University
Benin City
Edo State

Course Co-ordinator Revd. Dr. Jacob A. Owolabi

National Open University of Nigeria
Nigeria.

NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA

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CTH: 009 COURSE GUIDE

National Open University of Nigeria

Headquarters
14/16 Ahmadu Bello Way
Victoria Island
Lagos

Abuja Annex
245 Samuel Adesujo Ademulegun Street
Central Business District
Opposite Arewa Suites
Abuja

e-mail: centralinfo@nou.edu.ng
URL: www.nou.edu.ng

National Open University of Nigeria 2006

First Printed 2006

ISBN: 978-058-494-3

All Rights Reserved

Printed by ……………..
For
National Open University of Nigeria

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CTH: 009 COURSE GUIDE

CONTENTS PAGE

Introduction ………………………….......………………. 1

What you will learn in this course ……………………… 1

Course Aims ……………………………………………. 1
Course Objectives ……………………………………… 1
Working through this Course (Course Requirement) …… 2
Study Unit ………………………………………………. 2-3
Textbooks ……………………………………………….. 3
Assignment File ………………………………………… 3
Assessment ……………………………………………… 3
Course Marking Scheme ………………………………… 4
Course Overview ………………………………………… 4-5
How to get the most from this course …………………… 5-6
Tutors and Tutorials ……………………………………… 6

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Introduction

This is a foundational course for any student who is interested in

philosophical studies, but also for students in higher institutions of
learning.

The Course exposes the student to the meaning, nature and the discipline
of Philosophy. It will help the student to be more reflective on the
ordinary reality, which manifests itself in an extraordinary way. The
Course helps the student to ask meaningful and soul-Searching
questions about the world around him. The course will examine the
major areas of Philosophy which include: Logic, Ethics, Metaphysics,
Epistemology, Aesthetics, etc. It will lead the student to examine some
of the major themes and problems of philosophy.

What you will learn in this course

Introduction to Philosophy is a general Course that opens the student to

the wide array of ideas in the history of thought. During this Course you
will come to know what Philosophy is all about, its development and its
methods. You will know what it is that interests philosophy, that is, its
object of concern. But above all, you will learn to look at reality with a
more critical mind.

Course Aims

The aims of this Course are to expose you to look at reality more
objectively, to ask questions, and to judge reality based on that
objectivity.

Course Objectives

In addition to the general aims of the Course above, each Unit of the
Course has its specific objectives. And these will be given at the
beginning of each Unit. You are therefore, encouraged to read through
these objectives at the beginning of the Unit and at the end of it so as to
judge whether the set objectives have been achieved. The following
shall be considered as the main and general objectives of the Course:

a. Various notions, definitions, branches, methods and nature of

Philosophy;

b. Themes and Problems in Philosophy;

c. Major epochs, their representatives and relevance of Philosophy.

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CTH: 009 COURSE GUIDE

Working through this Course (Course Requirements)

For this Course to be completed, you must study each unit carefully.
There are self-assessment exercises in each unit which you are required
to do. Assignments have to be submitted to the appropriate quarters for
corrections. This will be followed by the final examination. The
following are the contents of the Course Pack:

a. Course Materials
b. Course Guide
c. Study Unit
d. Textbooks
e. Assignment File
f. Presentation

The Text materials are provided by the National Open University of

Nigeria (NOUN). In addition, your tutor will be of help to you should
you encounter problems in getting the Text materials.

Study Units

There are sixteen Study Units in this Corpus:

1. Various Notions and Definitions of Philosophy

2. Origin and Development of Philosophy
3. The Different Branches of Philosophy
4. Methods of Philosophy
5. Philosophy and Other Sciences
6. Problems or the Concerns of Philosophy
7. Themes of Philosophy
8. Mind and Body Problems
9. Change, Movement and Time
10. Existence of God and related Issues
11. Ancient Philosophy
12. Medieval Philosophy
13. Modern Philosophy
14. Contemporary Philosophy

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15. African Philosophy

16. Relevance of Philosophy

Each of these Units contains self-assessment test questions on the

material you have studied. They are for your own good, because they
assist you to assess your progress in the Course in general, and to see
whether you meet up with the set objectives of the Unit in particular.

Textbooks Recommended

Maritain, Jacques. An Introduction to Philosophy. London: Sheed and

Ward, 1979.

Wallace, William A. The Elements of Philosophy. New York: Alba

House, 1974.

John-Terry, Chris. For the Love of Wisdom: An Explanation of the

Meaning and Purpose of Philosophy. New York: Alba House,
1994.

Assignment File

Your Assignment File will be mailed to you. The File will contain the
details of what you are expected to do for submission to your tutor for
marking. Your scores in the Assignments form part of your final mark
for the Course. The Assignments will cover all the Units.

Assessment

The assessment comprises two parts: In the first place, your

assignments, that is, the tutor marked assignments and secondly, the
written examination. The Assignment will take into consideration the
materials provided for the Course not excluding your extended reading
and other experiences gained there from. This will be submitted to your
tutor within the stipulated dateline for marking. The Assignments attract
30% of your total score. The Final Examination will count for the
remaining 70%.

Final Examination

The Final Examination will attract 70% of the total mark. The
Examination Questions will cover all materials treated in the Course
including your assignments and self-assessment test questions and will
last for (3) Three Hours of writing time. You will have enough time for
revision between the last Unit and the Examination date.

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Course Marking Scheme

The following table shows the breakdown of the actual marking scheme
for the Course

Table 1: Course Marking Scheme

Assessment Marks
Assignment 1-4 Four assignments, best three marks of
the four count at 30% of course marks.

Final examination 70% of overall course marks

Total 100% of Course marks

Course Overview

The following table is the summary of the Units, the number of weeks
needed to complete them and the assignments that accompany them.

Table 2: Course organizer

No. of
Unit Title of Work weeks Assessment

Course Guide
Notions and Definitions of
1 1 Assignment 1
philosophy
Origin and Development of
2 1 Assignment 2
Philosophy
3 Branches of Philosophy 1 Assignment 3
4 Methods of Philosophy 1 Assignment 4
5 Philosophy and Other Sciences 1 Assignment 5
6 Problems of Philosophy 1 Assignment 6
7 Themes in Philosophy 1 Assignment 7
8 Mind and Body Problems 1 Assignment 8
9 Change, Movement and Time 1 Assignment 9
Existence of God and Related
10 1 Assignment 10
Issues
11 Ancient Philosophy 1 Assignment 11
12 Medieval Philosophy 1 Assignment 12
13 Modern Philosophy 1 Assignment 13
14 Contemporary Philosophy 1 Assignment 14

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15 African Philosophy 1 Assignment 15

16 Relevance of Philosophy 1 Assignment 16
Revision 1
Examination 1
Total 17

How to get the most from this course

The Distance Learning Programme is to provide an opportunity for

people who, due to various circumstances of life could not avail or are
not able to avail themselves the privilege of the regular university
programme. It offers you the advantages of studying at your own
convenient time and place and at their own pace. The lectures are
carefully arranged in Units. Each Unit is equivalent to a lecture period
so that instead of listening to a lecturer, you are reading the lecture. Each
Unit contains some self- assessment exercises and assignment as would
be given by a lecturer in an ordinary lecture hall.

Each Unit follows a common pattern. It begins with an introduction of

the subject matter of the Unit, connecting it with the previous Unit and
leading to the sole aim of the course as a whole. This is followed by the
set objectives of the Unit. The objectives help you to know what you are
expected to learn by the end of the Unit. It is advisable, therefore, to
read and understand the objectives at the beginning and at the end of the
Unit. This will help to judge your progress in the course. The main
corpus of the Unit is the lecture proper with relevant suggestion of
materials for your further reading. This is followed by conclusion and
summary.

The following are some tips that may help you in your studies. Should
you encounter any difficulty, do not hesitate to contact your tutor.

a. Read the Course Guide carefully;

b. Organize yourself and your time properly so as to create a specific

time and place under normal circumstances for your studies;

c. Try to know exactly when the semester begins and when and where
you are to meet for your tutorials;

d. Under normal circumstances, try your very best to keep to your

scheduled time for studies. And do not lack behind in your studies
and exercises or assignments. Should there be any eventuality,
inform your tutor in time;

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e. Try to avail yourself the relevant or set textbooks for each Unit. It is
most advisable to have the required texts handy as you study each
Unit;

f. The tutor marked assignments are not only for the purpose of
examinations. They will help you to deepen your knowledge of the
course you are doing. Therefore, take your time to do and submit the
assignments promptly. When your assignment is returned, pay close
attention to the comments made by your tutor;

g. Do not jump to the Unit ahead without reading the previous Unit.
Take each Unit step-by-step in the order in which they are given;

h. Make sure that you keep to your schedule with the Units so that you
will have well-enough time to review and prepare for the final
examinations.

Tutors and Tutorials

There are 8 hours of tutorials provided to support this Course. The

dates, times and locations of these tutorials will be made available to
you, together with the name, telephone number and the address of your
tutor. Each assignment will be marked by your tutor. Pay close attention
to the comments your tutor might make on your assignments as these
will help in your progress. Make sure that assignments reach your tutor
on or before the due date. Your tutorials are important; therefore try not
to skip any.

It is an opportunity to meet your tutor and your fellow students. It is also

an opportunity to get the help of your tutor and discuss any difficulties
encountered on your reading.

We wish success in your programme.