Syllabus

UNE Summer Session

PHI 276: The Good Life (Summer 2026)

Credits - 3

Description

What is it to have a good life? What kind of life do you want for yourself or those whom you care about? What is it to be a good person? What is happiness and how can we obtain it? These are questions that any reflective human being should find compelling. Philosophers in the Ancient and Medieval periods offered insightful and important answers to these questions that are still relevant today. In this course, we’ll carefully read texts from these philosophers, discuss them, and reflect on what we can learn from them.

Materials

  • Plato. (2002). Five dialogues: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo (G. M. A. Grube, Trans.; J. M. Cooper, Ed.; 2nd ed.). Hackett Publishing.
  • Aristotle. (2004). Nicomachean ethics (R. Crisp, Trans., Rev. ed.). Cambridge University Press.

All other required course materials are included in Brightspace. 

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Core Curriculum Attributes

This course counts as both a Human Traditions course (in the old core curriculum) and a Human Health course (in the new core curriculum).

Human Traditions Learning Outcomes

After completing Human Traditions courses, students will be able to:

  1. Identify ideas within the context of the humanities as related to broad historical, intellectual and cultural patterns.
  2. Compare and contrast global traditions and their relevance to contemporary beliefs, practices and issues.
  3. Describe the chronology of important events and traditions as they relate to the making of modern cultures in an interconnected world.

Human Health Learning Outcome 

After completing this Human Health course, students will be able to:

  1. Develop an informed, ethical foundation for assessing how personal actions impact the health of individuals, communities and the natural environment.

Additional Learning Outcomes for This Course

After completing this course, students will also be able to:

  1. Actively read and engage with philosophical texts from the Ancient and Medieval periods and demonstrate basic comprehension of those texts on homework assignments.
  2. Formulate and express philosophical questions, ideas, and arguments in class discussion forums; and practice reading and responding to your peers’ questions, ideas, and arguments.
  3. Demonstrate, in paper assignments, an accurate understanding of philosophical ideas about virtue, well-being, and other philosophical concepts covered in the texts and in class discussions.
  4. Demonstrate the ability to reflect and explain how ideas from the course apply to your own life and actions in personal impact paper assignments.
  5. Identify and assess the relation and relevance of the ancient and medieval philosophical questions and theories we explore in the course to personal, social, and cultural issues of our time in class discussion or paper assignments.

Assignments

Reading

There will be several chapters, excerpts, or papers to read each week. 

Reading Comprehension Quizzes

There will be a reading comprehension quiz to be completed by the end of Friday of each week.

Discussion Questions

Based on the reading, you will have discussion questions to answer each week. Your answers must be posted on the discussion board by the end of Friday each week. 

Discussion Commentary

You will be required to read the answers to the discussion questions posted by your classmates and leave thoughtful commentary on at least two of your peers’ posts by the end of Sunday of each week.

Reflection Videos

Every two weeks, by the end of the day on Sunday, you will be required to post a five-minute video in which you take a philosophical idea from the course, explain that idea, and then explain how that idea either (a) changed your mind in some important way in how you think about what it is to have a good life, or (b) is consistent with something you already thought about having a good life but deepened your understanding of that aspect having a good life in some important way, or (c) caused you to see new aspects of what it is good life that you hadn’t thought about before but seem important. 

In your videos, you will be required to speak naturally, not read. You can have a list of words or bullet point phrases that you glance at occasionally in your video, but anything more than that will not receive a passing grade.

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

AssignmentsPercentage of Grade
Reading Comprehension Quizzes15%
Weekly Discussion Posts and Responses40%
Reflection Videos45%

Grade Scale

Grade Points Grade Point Average (GPA)
A 93 – 100% 4.00
A- 90 – 92.9% 3.75
B+ 87 – 89.9% 3.50
B 83 – 86.9% 3.00
B- 80 – 82.9% 2.75
C+ 77 – 79.9% 2.50
C 73 – 76.9% 2.00
C- 70 – 72.9% 1.75
D 60 – 69.9% 1.00
F 00 – 59.9% 0.00

Schedule

Course weeks run from 12:00 AM ET on Monday through 11:59 PM ET on Sunday, with the exception of Week 6, which ends on Friday at 11:59 PM ET.

ALL TIMES ARE IN THE EASTERN STANDARD TIME ZONE, NO EXCEPTIONS.

Course Schedule

Week 1: May 18 – May 24
Week 2: May 25 – May 31
Week 3: Jun 1 – Jun 7
Week 4: Jun 8 – Jun 14
Week 5: Jun 15 – Jun 21
Week 6: Jun 22 – Jun 26

Week  Assignments Due Dates
1

Week 1 Reading Comprehension Quiz

Week 1 Discussion: Introductions

Week 1 Discussion Post and Responses

Week 1 Reading Comprehension Quiz due Friday, by 11:59 PM ET

Week 1 Discussions (Initial Posts) due Friday, by 11:59 PM ET

Week 1 Discussions (Response Posts) due Sunday, by 11:59 PM ET

2

Week 2 Reading Comprehension Quiz

Week 2 Discussion Post and Responses

Week 2 Reflection Video

 

Week 2 Reading Comprehension Quiz due Friday, by 11:59 PM ET

Week 2 Discussions (Initial Posts) due Friday, by 11:59 PM ET

Week 2 Discussions (Response Posts) due Sunday, by 11:59 PM ET

Week 2 Reflection Video due Sunday, by 11:59 PM ET

3

Week 3 Reading Comprehension Quiz

Week 3 Discussion Post and Responses

 

Week 3 Reading Comprehension Quiz due Friday, by 11:59 PM ET

Week 3 Discussions (Initial Posts) due Friday, by 11:59 PM ET

Week 3 Discussions (Response Posts) due Sunday, by 11:59 PM ET

4

Week 4 Reading Comprehension Quiz

Week 4 Discussion Post and Responses

Week 4 Reflection Video

 

Week 4 Reading Comprehension Quiz due Friday, by 11:59 PM ET

Week 4 Discussions (Initial Posts) due Friday, by 11:59 PM ET

Week 4 Discussions (Response Posts) due Sunday, by 11:59 PM ET

Week 4 Reflection Video due Sunday, by 11:59 PM ET

5

Week 5 Reading Comprehension Quiz

Week 5 Discussion Post and Responses

 

Week 5 Reading Comprehension Quiz due Friday, by 11:59 PM ET

Week 5 Discussions (Initial Posts) due Friday, by 11:59 PM ET

Week 5 Discussions (Response Posts) due Sunday, by 11:59 PM ET

6

Week 6 Reading Comprehension Quiz

Week 6 Discussion Post and Responses

Week 6 Reflection Video

Week 6 Reading Comprehension Quiz due Thursday, by 11:59 PM ET

Week 6 Discussions (Initial Posts) due Thursday, by 11:59 PM ET

Week 6 Discussions (Response Posts) due Friday, by 11:59 PM ET

Week 6 Reflection Video due Friday, by 11:59 PM ET

 

Student Resources

Summer Session Online Student Support

Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies. If you are a current UNE undergraduate taking online Summer Session courses, please continue to work with your Advisor and include them on your outreaches.

Questions? Email: summersessiononline@une.edu.

UNE Libraries

  • Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Brightspace.
  • Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.

Further Assistance and Accommodations

Your student support specialist monitors course progression and provides assistance or guidance when needed. They can assist questions regarding ordering course materials, University policies, billing, navigating the course in Brightspace, and more.

To request an accommodation a student needs to go through the process with our UNE office. If the student has a current/already established accommodation in place with UNE it is the responsibility of the student to notify the program at summersessiononline@une.edu to ensure it is applied properly.

If you need to inquire about a possible accommodation, please reach out to the Student Access Center by calling 207-221-4418 or send an email to pcstudentaccess@une.edu.

If you are a current UNE undergrad, please continue to work with your coordinator at bcstudentaccess@une.edu and ensure any accommodations you have in place - are put in place for your online Summer Session course(s).

Online Peer Support

Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.

Information Technology Services (ITS)

Students should notify their Student Support Specialist and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.

ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673.

Instructor and Support Contact Information

Check Brightspace for specific instructor and support specialist contact information.

Policies

Summer Session & Academic Engagement Policy

Online students are required to submit a graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm EDT of the first week of the term. If a student does not submit a posting to the graded assignment/discussion by 11:59 pm EDT on Sunday of the first week, the student will be automatically dropped from the course for non-participation.

Proctored Examinations

Your course may have proctored exams. For all proctored exams, an external camera is required. Please see the course for the exact exam requirements, test-taker guidance, proctoring format, and allowances (such as calculators or whiteboards, as indicated in the course). https://success.une.edu/science-prerequisites/honorlock/ 

Information about exam attempts can be found in your course.

Course Length

A schedule of lectures and assignments is included in this syllabus.

Courses in the program are equivalent to one-semester courses designed to be completed in 6 or 12 weeks.

  1. Enrollment in the course begins the day your section opens which is listed in the Academic Calendar. Students in online Summer Session courses will have early access the Saturday prior to the course start date to review course content as needed.
  2. Course due dates, start and end dates are in respect to Eastern Time.

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Programs: Technical Requirements.

Withdrawal and Refund Policies

Please review the policies in your confirmation email. Contact summersessiononline@une.edu with any questions.

Grade Policy

Students are expected to attempt and complete all graded assignments and proctored exams by the end date of the course.

Late Policy

Unless stated otherwise by your faculty: Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days, the assignment will not be accepted. Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3-point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded. Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.

Transcripts

Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, only the student may request official transcripts. This may be done online by going to the University of New England Registrar website and following the directions on the page.

Academic Integrity

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the College. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.

Using Generative AI When Completing Coursework

Generative AI (GenAI) applications (like ChatGPT) have proven to be powerful and effective tools, and students are encouraged to become familiar with and use them. However, as with any tool, students must use GenAI in ways that support learning, not replace it. Learning to use AI responsibly and ethically is an important skill in today’s society.

In their courses, students are not allowed to use advanced automated tools, such as generative AI tools, on assignments unless explicitly directed to do so. Each student is expected to complete each assignment, including labs and quizzes as applicable, without substantive assistance from others, including automated tools.

Using AI-content generators to complete assignments without proper attribution violates academic integrity. By submitting assignments in UNE courses, you pledge to affirm that they are your own work and you attribute use of any and all tools and sources.

Unauthorized Use

Unauthorized use of AI is treated as a violation of academic integrity.

Citing AI Use

If permitted, students should indicate and cite any use of AI tools. 

Instructor Responsibility

Instructors should clearly reiterate, using UNE AI Use Policy, how students can use AI tools in their courses, and communicate this policy to students at the beginning of the semester.

Student Responsibility

Students must follow the academic integrity policy of the University of New England.