Introduction to the Problems of Philosophy

(2.5,3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

PHIL 10020 Introduction to the Problems of Philosophy at UCD; This course provides an introductory analysis of some of the most exciting age-old problems of philosophy and the solutions offered to them, focusing on the logical structure of arguments. The following are typical among the several topics that will be examined (further details at the start of the module): 1. Scepticism and the possibility of knowledge; 2. Free will and determinism; 3. The human mind and consciousness ; 4. The nature of the self (personal identity); 5. The existence of God; 6. Reasoning and the world. An engaging secondary source overview text is: Simon Blackburn, _Think_ (Oxford Univ. Press, 1999). A good guide for writing essays and learning to think philosophically is the following: Jay F. Rosenberg, _The Practice of Philosophy: A Handbook for Beginners_, 3rd ed. (Prentice-Hall, 1996), in UCD library. Selected primary readings will be made available on Blackboard during the semester. Freemantle, Australia (FA): This course looks at ancient philosophers and their philosophical arguments and interpretations of the world around them. It investigates 5 disciplines of philosophy, and the topics within them. This course will introduce students to the basic method and problems of philosophy through an investigation of the ways in which philosophers throughout history have sought wisdom. The course will focus on the key discipline areas of philosophy such as metaphysics, logic, epistemology, philosophical anthropology, ethics, and aesthetics. Within these discussions, the course will also draw attention to the key problems that have defined the tradition of philosophy. The course will also place some emphasis on the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas in recognition of the prominence of Thomism in the tradition of Catholic philosophy.