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Phil 102: Introduction to Philosophy (Janowski)
This course
introduces students to philosophy through a series of questions.
Among those we may address are the following: Does God exist? What
is the relation between faith and reason? Is religious belief a
condition of a meaningful life? What is the relation between my
mind, my soul, and my body? (Indeed, do I have a mind or a soul at
all?) Could a computer think? What makes a person a person? (Are
some non-humans persons?) How are we to understand human nature? Do
I have obligations to other people? (If so, to whom? And why,
exactly?) How should I live my life? (Just what is a good man
and a good citizen?)
Philosophy is not a
spectator sport. You will be expected to actively engage
questions of this sort in the course. Be prepared, in other words,
to do philosophy—to think critically about your beliefs, even
your most cherished beliefs. (This is challenging, hard work! But
the fact that you can do it distinguishes you from a rock or a boot;
it also s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-s your brain and deepens your understanding
about life’s basic questions.)
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