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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.

Credits

3

Lecture Contact Hours

3

Lab Contact Hours

0

Other Contact Hours

0

Department

  • Humanities

Grading Scheme

  • Letter

SUNY Gen Ed Credit

  • Yes

Semesters Course Will Be Offered

  • Fall
  • Spring

Course Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will understand, analyze, and interpret philosophical texts critically.
  2. Students will make critical distinctions between various philosophical schools or traditions.
  3. Students will distinguish the principles of good reasoning as opposed to poor reasoning.
  4. Students will apply principles of good reasoning to write sound arguments using organized and coherent discourse.
  5. Students will apply principles of good reasoning to orally articulate positions in an organized and persuasive manner.
  6. Students will analyze and apply (democratic) principles of informed consent, consideration of multiple perspectives, and reasoned dissent.
View Course Outline

PHL 101: Introduction to Philosophy

Department

Humanities

Course Description

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.

Credit Hours

3

Contact Hours

Lecture3
Lab0
Other0

Grading Scheme

Letter

Semester(s) Course Will Be Offered

Fall, Spring

SUNY General Education Course

  • Humanities

First Year Experience Course

No

Capstone Course

No

Course Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will understand, analyze, and interpret philosophical texts critically.
  2. Students will make critical distinctions between various philosophical schools or traditions.
  3. Students will distinguish the principles of good reasoning as opposed to poor reasoning.
  4. Students will apply principles of good reasoning to write sound arguments using organized and coherent discourse.
  5. Students will apply principles of good reasoning to orally articulate positions in an organized and persuasive manner.
  6. Students will analyze and apply (democratic) principles of informed consent, consideration of multiple perspectives, and reasoned dissent.

Topic Outline

1. What is justice? Does justice require equality?

2. Is equality important? In what way?

3. Who should have power or lead?

4. How can the state be justified? What is the value of liberty?

5. What counts as knowledge?

6. How can we know things? Is "truth" discoverable? Is it important?

7. Is/how is goodness or morality important?

8. What does a good life look like?

9. Is there a god?

10. Is it reasonable to believe without evidence?

11. Does life have meaning?

12. What counts as consciousness/a soul? What is personal identity?

13. What is the relationship between mind and body? How can you know your own mind or the mind of another person?

14. Is there free will?

15. Why do we create aesthetically? What is the nature of beauty? What makes something a work of art?

16. What is race? What is gender?

17. What are the standards of critical reasoning?