The purpose of this class is to introduce you to some of the major questions that philosophers have discussed throughout history and that are just as controversial and important today as ever before: The existence of God, free will, the relationship between mind and body, personal identity, metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics will all be discussed. You will also learn the basic techniques of reasoning and argumentation that frame philosophical discussions and can be applied to everything in your daily experience. In studying philosophy you will develop a critical perspective that will allow you to judge and compare ideas, and defend and refine your own views. Many of the questions we will be dealing with in this course may challenge some of your most deeply held beliefs. It is not my intention to change any of those beliefs or convince you that any single view is correct. I wish only to familiarize you with the various arguments that have been raised and give you the tools to evaluate them on your own. Your opinions are certainly welcome, but please keep an open mind, and seriously consider all the different views expressed before you assert your own as the truth. Learning about the ideas of others, considering them, and critiquing them will help you to better articulate and support your own. 

Objectives

Become familiar with major philosophical questions and the various positions that attempt to answer them.

Learn to closely read, analyze, and respond to philosophical texts, both traditional and contemporary.

Develop basic reasoning, critical thinking skills and competency in argument.

Gain an appreciation for the rich rewards, both practical and recreational, that are reaped from philosophical study and inquiry.

Textbook

  Philosophy and Contemporary Issues by John R. Burr and Milton Goldinger, Ninth Edition, Pearson Prentice Hall 2004