This course is a historical introduction to basic philosophical problems and methods. It considers central questions in ethics, religion, politics, knowledge, and metaphysics, e.g., are humans selfish by nature? Is moral decision-making rational? Does God exist? What is the meaning of life? What are the principles of correct reasoning? Is knowledge the same thing as perception? Is the real world different from the world as it appears to us? What are space and time? Do we have free will, or are our choices completely deteremined by forces outside of us? Philosophers discussed may in clude: Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Descartes, Hume, and Kant. Note: PHIL-1301(6) and either PHIL-1001(6) or PHIL-1002(6) may be taken for degree credit. Restrictions: Students may not hold credit for this course and PHIL-1003 | PHIL-1002.
