PHIL 300 Introduction to Philosophy
Fall Semester 2011 Evening | Harbour Centre
INSTRUCTOR Dr Kirstie Laird
REQUIRED TEXT
- Philosophical Problems: An Annotated Anthology, second edition, Laurence Bonjour and Ann Baker, 2007, Pearson Education
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course aims to acquaint you with some central philosophical problems through reading a range of classical and contemporary texts, and developing the skills to analyze them in class discussions and in writing. We shall begin with a brief enquiry into the general nature of philosophy and philosophical thinking, and then address the following questions:
- Can we know that there is a world external to our thoughts, and if so how much can we know about it?
- How is the mind related to the body? Could thought and consciousness be described entirely in physical terms?
- What is a person? Do persons have free will?
- Is it possible to provide a proof for the existence of God? Can the notion of a benign God be reconciled with the actuality of evil?
- What makes an action morally right or morally wrong?
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
- One mid-term test 鈥� 30%
- One essay 鈥� 30%
- One final exam 鈥� 40%
- Class Location: HC 1530
- Class Time: Thursday 5:30 鈥� 8:20
- Office Hours: Thursday 4:30 鈥� 5:30 Rm: tba
- E-mail: klaird@sfu.ca
NOTE: Prerequisites: at least 60 units. Normally, students with credit for PHIL 100 may not take this course for further credit. This course does not count towards the upper division requirements for a student pursuing a minor, major, or honors program in philosophy. Breadth-Humanities. May be applied to the