Module #1 What is Philosophy? An introduction to the nature and scope of philosophy, including its definition, history, and relevance to everyday life.
Module #2 The Branches of Philosophy An overview of the main branches of philosophy, including metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, logic, and aesthetics.
Module #3 Socrates and the Origins of Western Philosophy An introduction to the life and teachings of Socrates, including his method of questioning and his influence on Western philosophy.
Module #4 Ancient Greek Philosophy:Pre-Socratics An exploration of the philosophies of the Pre-Socratics, including Thales, Anaximander, and Heraclitus.
Module #5 Ancient Greek Philosophy:Plato An examination of Platos philosophy, including his theory of forms and his views on knowledge, reality, and politics.
Module #6 Ancient Greek Philosophy:Aristotle An analysis of Aristotles philosophy, including his concepts of causality, telos, and the four causes.
Module #7 The Medieval Period:Augustine and Aquinas An exploration of the philosophies of St. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas, including their views on faith, reason, and the nature of God.
Module #8 Rene Descartes and the Emergence of Modern Philosophy An examination of Descartes philosophy, including his method of doubt and his concept of the mind-body problem.
Module #9 The 17th and 18th Centuries:Rationalism and Empiricism An analysis of the philosophies of rationalists (e.g. Leibniz, Spinoza) and empiricists (e.g. Locke, Berkeley, Hume).
Module #10 Immanuel Kant and the Critique of Pure Reason An examination of Kants philosophy, including his critique of metaphysics and his concept of the categorical imperative.
Module #11 19th and 20th Century Philosophy:German Idealism and Existentialism An exploration of the philosophies of Hegel, Nietzsche, and existentialists such as Kierkegaard and Sartre.
Module #12 Philosophy of Mind:Dualism, Materialism, and Functionalism An analysis of different theories of the mind, including dualism, materialism, and functionalism.
Module #13 Epistemology:Knowledge and Skepticism An examination of the nature of knowledge, including the problems of skepticism and the role of perception and reason.
Module #14 Ethics:Morality and Moral Theories An exploration of moral theories, including consequentialism, deontology, virtue ethics, and moral relativism.
Module #15 Political Philosophy:The Nature of Justice and the State An analysis of different theories of justice and the role of the state, including libertarianism, utilitarianism, and social contract theory.
Module #16 Philosophy of Science:The Nature of Reality and the Scientific Method An examination of the nature of reality, including the debate between realism and anti-realism, and an analysis of the scientific method.
Module #17 Philosophy of Language:Meaning and Reference An exploration of the nature of language, including the debate between analytic and Continental philosophy.
Module #18 Aesthetics:Beauty, Taste, and Art An analysis of the nature of beauty, taste, and art, including the debate between subjective and objective theories.
Module #19 Philosophy and the Human Condition:Love, Death, and Meaning An exploration of the human condition, including the nature of love, death, and the search for meaning.
Module #20 Feminist Philosophy:Gender, Power, and Identity An examination of feminist philosophy, including the critique of patriarchy and the construction of gender and identity.
Module #21 Philosophy and Technology:The Impact of Technology on Society An analysis of the impact of technology on society, including the debate between techno-optimism and techno-pessimism.
Module #22 Philosophy and Race:Identity, Justice, and Power An exploration of the relationship between philosophy and race, including the critique of racism and the construction of racial identity.
Module #23 Philosophy and Culture:The Relation Between Philosophy and Culture An examination of the relationship between philosophy and culture, including the debate between universalism and cultural relativism.
Module #24 Philosophy and the Future:Possible Futures and Emerging Technologies An analysis of possible futures, including the implications of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and biotechnology.
Module #25 Course Wrap-Up & Conclusion Planning next steps in Introduction to Philosophy career
