Informal logic and common fallacies will be examined. An introductory inquiry into the nature of philosophy, examining various branches of the discipline, including epistemology, aesthetics, metaphysics, ethics and philosophy of mind. Attention is given to both classic and contemporary philosophers. This course considers issues of identity, community and society through the study of philosophy. We focus especially on ethics, epistemology and metaphysics.
Students read classic and contemporary works and write critically about the ideas presented.
The course addresses skills of analytic reading, precise writing, textual criticism, and abstract reasoning. An introduction to symbolic languages used in the study of philosophy. Focuses primarily on formal deductive logic, but gives some attention to practical reasoning and informal fallacies. Offered every other year. An exploration of western moral philosophy, focusing on issues of moral duty, rights and the nature of the good.