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Course Objectives

This course satisfies the Core 4PH (philosophy) requirement, whose goals for the student are:

1. to discuss the approaches that philosophers take to fundamental human questions, and

2. to acquire the vocabulary and skills necessary to engage in philosophical inquiry, especially through developing your ability to understand and evaluate arguments.

These goals are furthered by (a) your careful reading of the texts, (b) classroom and small group discussion, and (c) writing and responding to Discussion Forum posts on a number of central topics in philosophy. The goals are further elaborated, in the context of this course, under the “Course Objectives” (below).

Philosophy is a discipline in the humanities.  As such it is interested in goals rather distinct from those of the natural and social sciences, although philosophy also pays close attention to the findings of these other areas of inquiry. 

Philosophy is concerned less with the accumulation of facts, than with the education of the individual.  My primary goal — and the goal of the humanities in general — is to help each individual increase their level of self-understanding.  This is not a small matter, being central to the flourishing of any human existence.

So here’s the deal:

After a semester of hard work, deep confusion, and more hard work, you should be able to:

(1) demonstrate a basic understanding of the areas of Western philosophy and some of its perennial concerns;

(2) demonstrate a basic command of logical reasoning and conceptual analysis;

(3) critically evaluate arguments and beliefs — in particular, you should be able to think more critically about your own assumptions and beliefs;

(4) discuss with more depth, and with greater appreciation of different perspectives, some of the most pressing questions confronting each of us as human beings, such as:

Is there an objective difference between right and wrong, and true and false?  If there is, can we come to know it?

How might we best get on with each other?  Are there better and worse ways for organizing our communal existence?

Can we prove or disprove the existence of God?  Is knowledge of the divine possible?

What is it to be human?

After this semester, most of you will never again be asked to explain Descartes’s argument against skepticism or Kant’s moral theory, but each of you will be required to live your life — and this you can do either intelligently or not, either well or not.  You can aim to live a life filled with wonder and beauty, and seeking truth — or not.  What shape such a life takes is up to you, of course, but philosophy can provide you with some useful tools for shaping it.

You will be asked in this course to learn and understand various concepts and theories and arguments.  In doing this, you will also develop your ability to think critically and creatively about the world around you, and about the role you see yourself playing in it.

More detailed learning objectives are listed under each day on the schedule.