Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2025 - PHIL 300 D100

Introduction to Philosophy (3)

Class Number: 6352

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Apr 11, 2025
    Fri, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    At least 60 units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An introductory course specifically intended for students in other departments who have at least 60 units. This course is more advanced than 100 and 200 division courses and is of interest to students not only in the humanities, but also in the natural and social sciences. This course does not count towards the upper division requirements for a student pursuing a minor, major, or honours program in philosophy. Students with credit for PHIL 100 or PHIL 100W may not take this course for further credit. Breadth-Humanities.

COURSE DETAILS:

  • Do we live in a computer simulation? If we do, is that terrible or meh?
  • Are there parallel universes? If there are, do they have “other yous” in them?
  • Is humanity doomed? Do we owe it to people who might live a billion years in the future to not go extinct?
  • What are scientific theories for? What are thought experiments?
  • How is your mind related to your brain? To your phone? To the neural implant you’ll have in a few years?
  • What are the minds of animals like and how could we ever know? And by the way is it cool if we eat them?
  • Is morality all subjective or is there more to it? What’s the point of punishment?
  • Could AI ever produce great art or will it all be slop? Will robots ever have moral rights?

This course is an introduction to philosophy through a wide selection of lively topics covering the ultimate nature of reality, problems of knowledge, and moral puzzles and dilemmas. All of our readings (and podcasts and videos) will be contemporary. We will not study The Works of the Great Dead Philosophers, though we will encounter some important ideas and thinkers from the past. We’ll engage directly with the problems, concepts, arguments, and theories through their most accessible recent presentations.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:


PHIL 300 may be applied towards the Breadth-Humanities Requirement.

If you are a Philosophy Major or Minor: PHIL 300 will not count towards your upper division requirements. For everyone else: PHIL 300 will count as an upper division elective.
If you have taken PHIL 100 or 100W in the past, PHIL 300 will count as a repeat. 

Grading

  • Exam 1 32%
  • Exam 2 33%
  • Short Paper 30%
  • Participation 5%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

PDFs and links supplied.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

Thinking of a Philosophy Major or Minor? The Concentration in Law and Philosophy? The Certificate in Ethics? The Philosophy and Methodology of Science Certificate?
Contact the PHIL Advisor at philcomm@sfu.ca   More details on our website: SFU Philosophy

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.