| Title: | Philosophical Arguments |
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| Course Section Number: | PHI-109-01 |
| Department: | Philosophy |
| Description: | Could a computer genuinely think? Are we in a simulation? Is there a God? Are we free to choose how we will act in the world? What do we owe to one another, and to ourselves? Is it really a good idea to think critically, or should we trust what experts tell us? Could a banana duct-taped to a wall really be a work of art? How would you go about answering these questions? Philosophers think through these questions, and many others, by developing and critiquing arguments for possible answers to them. This course will serve as an introduction to philosophy via an in-depth study of philosophical arguments such as these. In the course, you will learn to use argument-mapping software to clearly and precisely articulate the structure of philosophical arguments so that you can understand and evaluate them more effectively. In addition to introducing you to some fascinating philosophical topics, this course will greatly improve your skills in reading and writing texts (including articles and papers for other classes!) that contain arguments. I'd also like to describe what this course will be about by offering a point of caution about it. This course will be difficult. We will work slowly and pay close attention to the details. These are valuable habits that are very hard to practice in today's technological milieu. Be honest with yourself: When's the last time you really gave your full attention to something challenging? We're going to practice focusing on things that are very difficult, and you will get better at it throughout the course. But it will feel very slow, and very laborious at times. I hope you will trust me that the payoff will be worth it. |
| Credits: | 1.00 |
| Start Date: | August 26, 2026 |
| End Date: | December 19, 2026 |
| Meeting Information: |
08/26/2026-12/18/2026 Lecture Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10:00AM - 10:50AM, Room to be Announced
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| Faculty: | Carlson, Matthew |
Course Status
| Section Name/Title | Status | Dept. | Capacity |
Enrolled/ Available/ Waitlist |
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