Selected problems of philosophy and some alternative solutions. Readings from contemporary and historical philosophers. Seniors admitted only by permission of instructor.
| Distribution Area | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Arts and Humanities | 1 course |
Fall Semester information
Erik Wielenberg101A: Intro to Philosophy: Big Questions
This course introduces students to some of the central topics and methods of philosophy. The course will focus on these questions: What should we do about injustice? How does knowledge work? Do we have non-physical minds or souls? Does God exist? The readings for the course are drawn from a bewildering variety of classic and contemporary sources. Requirements include tests, papers, and several unannounced quizzes.
Joseph Porter
101B: Intro to Philosophy
Do the ends justify the means? Does God exist? What is it like to be a bat? In this course, we will explore these and other fundamental philosophical questions. No prior experience with philosophy is expected or required.
Jennifer Everett
101C: Intro to Philosophy: Get it, Girl
This course aims to introduce the field of philosophy in a way that's explicitly attuned to voices that have been missing or marginalized in the Western canon. All students who are curious about philosophy are welcome, regardless of how you identify with respect to race, gender, culture, religion, etc. You must be willing to study challenging texts - including but not limited to works considered part of the Western canon - and to think hard, discuss collegially, and write extensively about the difficult questions they raise concerning knowledge, reality, ethics, and society. The relevance of social identities, structures, and power relations to such questions will be a consistent theme.