Overall, there will be 10 individual quizzes, group quizzes, and group projects, but I will drop the lowest 2 grades out of the 10. Introductory Philosophy, as its name implies, introduces the student to some of the basic issues in the Western philosophical tradition. Besides learning positions that have been taken on these issues, the student is also taught the methods by which philosophers investigate these problems and concepts. Identify and understand specific elements and assumptions of a particular Humanities discipline. Some of the main areas of study in Introductory Philosophy are listed above, but the main emphasis in the course will be on epistemology, i.e. the theory of knowledge, and metaphysics.
All topics covered are in the Humanities discipline.
Understand how historical context, cultural values, and gender influences perceptions and interpretations. Issues of history, culture, and gender arise in all topics covered in Introductory Philosophy, but, in particular, the theory of knowledge investigates whether our personal beliefs and concepts, as well as our particular culture and group, determine the content of our experiences of the world. This notion is thus investigated in great detail with respect to each topic, although the radical interpretations of this doctrine come in for criticism. Understand the role of critical analysis in interpreting and evaluating expressions of human experience. In common with all philosophy courses, Introductory Philosophy is devoted to the critical analysis of concepts and issues pertaining to all aspects of human experience.