The Department provides several avenues into philosophical study. Satisfactory completion of either any section of Philosophy 1, Introduction to Philosophy, Philosophy 9, Philosophy of Science, or Logic, Philosophy 12 are prerequisites for taking any further course in philosophy. All sections of Introduction to Philosophy are primary distribution courses in the Humanities. Introduction to Philosophy.
Philosophy addresses fundamental questions that arise in various practices and inquiries.
Each section addresses a few of these questions to introduce a range of sharply contrasting positions. Readings are typically drawn from the works of both traditional and contemporary thinkers with distinctive, carefully argued, and influential views regarding knowledge, morality, mind, and meaning. Close attention is paid to formulating questions precisely and to the technique of analyzing arguments, through careful consideration of texts. Primary distribution course in the Humanities. Though there will be some attention paid to contemporary thinkers, the focus of this course will be traditional views of substantive ethics.