PHL-101 Introduction to Philosophy
Philosophy is the art and science of reasoning and the critical exploration of ideas. As a result, philosophy is primarily concerned with various questions which are inspired by reflection about and inquiry into the fundamental nature of things, including individuals' reflection on and about their place in the universe, themselves, and their relations to the members of their community. In this course, students will explore and examine some of the questions, concerns, problems, and intellectual schools or traditions which constitute the nature of philosophy. A number of these matters are explored through many of the various branches of the discipline, such as logic, metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, aesthetics, social and political philosophy, among others. This course carries SUNY General Education Humanities credit.
Course Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to understand, analyze, and interpret philosophical texts critically.
- Students will be able make critical distinctions between various philosophical schools or traditions.
- Students will be able to distinguish the principles of good reasoning as opposed to poor reasoning.
- Students will apply principles of good reasoning to write sound arguments using organized and coherent discourse.
- Students will apply principles of good reasoning to orally articulate positions in an organized and persuasive manner.