Effective: 2023-01-01

Course Description

The course outline below was developed as part of a statewide standardization process.

General Course Purpose

PHI100 introduces a broad spectrum of philosophical problems and perspectives with an emphasis on the systematic questioning of basic assumptions about meaning, knowledge, reality, and values.

Course Objectives

• Interpret philosophical texts,
• Recognize philosophical arguments,
• Identify philosophical theories and locate them in terms of a methodical approach to philosophy, and
• Evaluate intelligently the foundations of Philosophy and the importance of that foundation for our way of life today.
• Critical Thinking
• Apply critical thinking skills to develop and evaluate philosophical questions and arguments.
• Identify unexamined (or under-examined) assumptions in one?s thinking.
• Implement effective and efficient search strategies to locate information that is relevant and appropriate for addressing complex issues.
• Evaluate information sources, arguments, or ideas for credibility and bias within the context of the learning task.
• Interpret information to reach well-reasoned conclusions.
• Combine and use information from multiple relevant perspectives to make sense of complex issues or solve complex problems.
• Communication
• Identify central themes in the history of philosophy and demonstrate understanding of philosophical texts in speaking and in writing.
• Civic Engagement
• Engage in discussion and debate with those who hold differing views and identities and understand the value of debate in sustaining a civil society and democracy
• Reflect on how contemporary thinkers interrupt, engage and further philosophical thought, particularly in feminist and critical philosophical interjections on race.

Major Topics to be Included

• What is philosophy?
• Define philosophy and explain the discipline.
• Distinguish philosophy from other methods such as myth, religion and science.
• Define and distinguish the difference between the branches of philosophy.
• Determine how concepts can be systematically clarified through philosophical analysis.
• Distinguish between rhetoric and reason.
• Examine and explain the key concepts which could include the Platonic dialogues.
• Ethics
• Summarize and analyze some of the views of historically important moral philosophers.
• Analyze and apply concepts and theories of ethics such as metaethics, normative ethical theory, and applied ethics, which could include exploring egoism, altruism, rights, duties, utilitarianism, Kantianism, virtue ethics.
• Apply moral concepts and theories to case studies and contemporary moral issues.
• Describe various logical fallacies and provide examples of them.
• Present effectively in writing a supported argument on a topic of ethical importance.
• Logic
• Define logic and distinguish between logically consistent and inconsistent statements.
• Examine the role of specific definitions in logic and distinguish between sufficient and necessary conditions.
• Distinguish between deductive and inductive arguments
• Analyze and assess the validity and soundness of deductive arguments
• Identify common valid forms of deductive arguments.
• Distinguish between formal and informal fallacies.
• Epistemology
• Distinguish the difference between knowledge and belief. Define knowledge as justified true belief.
• Distinguish the difference between skepticism, rationalism, and empiricism as foundation for justification.
• Discuss famous thinkers and their ideas in Epistemology
• The Mind and Body Problem and Personal Identity
• Distinguish and analyze the main theories such as dualism, idealism, and physicalism/materialism.
• Explain the importance of identity and the problem of illusion.
• Distinguish and examine the major theories of personal identity
• Examine the counter arguments to major theories.
• Free Will and Determinism
• Explore the importance of free will and the role of responsibility in ethics.
• Distinguish and examine the major theories of free will and determinism.
• Identify counter arguments to each theory.
• Philosophy and Theology
• Explore the role of religion in past and contemporary society.
• Distinguish between the different ideas of God or gods.
• Distinguish between the terms theism, atheism, and agnosticism.
• Analyze and assess arguments concerning the existence of God
• Explore the role of faith and reason