INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY I



INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY I

PHIL 1611 3.0

 

 

Instructor: Prof. B. Logan

Office:  C211

Office Hours:  Wednesday, 12.00 pm, please make an appointment

email:  blogan@yorku.ca

website:  yorku.ca/blogan

 

 

 

Four most fundamental questions in philosophy are:  what can I know (metaphysics), how can I know it (epistemology), what ought I to do (ethics), and does God exist (religion)?  In this course, we will focus on the latter two questions. 

 

To begin, we will look at moral theories – theories that offer us a means of making a moral assessment, of deciding what I ought to or should do or whether what others do has moral value.  Some theories determine that an action is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ by objectively applying a rule, while others use more subjective approaches.   We will then examine some traditional proofs for the existence of God – a rationalist proof from Anselm (and Descartes) called the ontological argument, empiricist proofs from Aquinas and Hume, and a proof that does not depend upon an epistemological commitment.  As well we will examine the ‘problem of evil’ and how this impacts upon the proofs.   In addition, we will read Mill’s utilitarian arguments in The Subjection of Women concerning the justification of the social role for women in his time.

 

 

Required texts available in the bookstore:

Mill, Utilitarianism

Kant, Groundwork for the Metaphysic of Morals

Hume, Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals

Mill, Subjection of Women

Material concerning the proofs for the existence of God will be posted on my website later in the term.

 

Recommended text:

Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosophy, link on my website

 

 

Requirements:

Three short (5-6 pages) essays, due dates to be determined.

 

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