Philosophy begins in a sense of wonder, a wonder about the very world itself and our own conspicuous existence in it. This class is an introduction to the field of inquiry that arises out of this sense of wonder, and it is an invitation to the student to convert that sense of wonder into specific questions and ways of addressing those questions.
The questions we will consider focus on the possibility of truth and value, the existence of God, ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, Logic and aesthetics, and theory of mind. Questions like: How is knowledge possible and what justifies our beliefs? Is there a God? Do we have free will? What is the nature of mind and how does it differ from matter? How should we treat one another, what is of value, and how should we live our lives? The ways of addressing these questions will be through reading original works of philosophy, discussing openly and impartially these works with one another, critically examining the ideas presented, and developing our own thoughts about the issues under discussion
- Module Team: Eugenie MUTETERI