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 – 30%
• One essay  – 30%
• One final exam – 40%

• Class Location: HC 1530
• Class Time:  Thursday 5:30 – 8:20
• Office Hours:  Thursday 4:30 – 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 Certificate in Liberal Arts.