Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 College Catalog 
    
2021-2022 College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

PHI 101 - Introduction to Philosophy [SUN# PHI 1101]

3 Credits, 3 Contact Hours
3 lecture periods 0 lab periods

Survey of Western Philosophy. Includes primary source readings in western philosophic areas: logic, epistemology, ethics, social/political philosophy, philosophy of religion, metaphysics, philosophy of science, and aesthetics.

Gen-Ed: Meets AGEC - HUM or SBS; Meets CTE - A&H or SBS.




Course Learning Outcomes
  1. Describe the application of a philosophic method using logic.
  2. Relate an analysis of the concepts of epistemology.
  3. Describe the claims of ethics.
  4. Compare social/political philosophies.
  5. Examine the issues concerning philosophy of religion.
  6. Distinguish metaphysical systems.
  7. Discuss philosophy of science.
  8. Classify aesthetic positions.

Outline:
  1. Logic
    1. Definition of an argument
    2. Definition of an inference
    3. Inductive reasoning/deductive reasoning
    4. Formal fallacies/informal fallacies
  2. Epistemology
    1. Rationalism
    2. Empiricism
    3. Intuitionism
    4. Analytic claims
    5. Synthetic claims
    6. A priori claims
    7. A posteriori claims
  3. Ethics
    1. Nature of normative claims
    2. Prescriptive
    3. Descriptive
    4. Instrumental
    5. Intrinsic
  4. Social/Political Philosophy
    1. Nature and legitimacy of authority
    2. Absolutism
    3. Theocracy
    4. Democracy
    5. Utilitarianism
    6. Fascism
    7. Communism
    8. Anarchism
  5. Philosophy of Religion
    1. Nature and meaning of religion
    2. Meaning of ” God “
    3. Classical arguments for the existence of God
    4. Critiques of the Classical arguments
  6. Metaphysics
    1. Nature of mind and body
    2. Existence of other minds
    3. Nature of reality and ultimate reality
    4. Free will
  7. Philosophy of Science
    1. Scientific method
    2. Aristotle’s philosophy of science
    3. Axioms
    4. Scientific revolution
    5. Causation
  8. Aesthetics
    1. Nature of beauty
      1. Objective
      2. Subjective
    2. Emotionalism vs. functionalism
    3. Theories of art criticism


Effective Term:
Summer 2013