What Is Philosophy?
The twentieth-century philosopher, Martin Heidegger, defined philosophy as an inquiry into the most fundamental questions human beings can ask. Questions such as ‘What is real?', ‘Is there a God?', ‘Is there anything about which we can be certain?' and ‘Is there a right way to live?' are some of the questions that have captivated human beings for thousands of years, and which are as relevant today as they were for the ancients.
Our Courses
This course introduces philosophical ideas and methods concern- ing knowledge, reality, and values. Expected topics will include the sources and limits of knowledge, and the nature of reality. Other topics that may be examined from a philosophical perspective include the nature of the self, truth, religion, science, language, beauty and art, and political theory.
Students develop critical thinking skills necessary for evaluating and formulating argumentative/persuasive essays. Instruction in writing is a central focus of this course.
Students learn how to understand, evaluate, and distinguish argu- ments and explanations by applying accepted standards of good reasoning. Students will learn techniques to recognize deductively valid arguments and avoid fallacies. They will also consider what is required for inductively strong arguments in order to avoid informal fallacies. This may include examples from advertising and political rhetoric.
This course introduces some principles of valid reasoning with emphasis on deductive logic, and includes a study of formal tech- niques of propositional logic. The course may also include a treat- ment of inductive reasoning, language, or fallacies.
Students learn to translate, analyze, and evaluate arguments in modern symbolic logic by employing the principles and methods of propositional and predicate logic.
This course addresses 16th through 18th century philosophy with emphasis on broad epistemological and/or metaphysical developments of empiricism and rationalism in philosophical thought from Descartes to Kant and may include approximate precursors and successors.
This course examines the concept of morality and values, representative historical and contemporary ethical theories, and their applications to moral problems.
Students distinguish between the major philosophies of India, China, and Japan, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Consideration is given to the differences between Eastern and Western thought.
The student learns the significant historical and contemporary philosophical concepts found in religions. The course emphasizes the exposition, discussion, and analysis of the rationality of religious beliefs.
Students are introduced to the meaning of art, the meaning of beauty, truth in art, creativity, and various philosophical theories regarding the nature of art.
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