This lecture considers the vexed question of what is philosophy and some of the most common answers to this question.

Copyright 2013 Jack Reynolds / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.

This lecture considers the vexed question of what is philosophy and some of the most common answers to this question. Copyright 2013 Jack Reynolds / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.

What is Philosophy? (handout)

In this subject we examine some of the central problems that have captivated philosophers throughout millennia, as well as those that scientific advances and cultural changes have only recently brought to our attention. These might include: where did the universe come from? Might a machine think? Is time travel possible? Is it morally acceptable to eat meat, or to design children genetically? Does the world suggest the existence of a designer, a God? Students will focus on examining the merits of the various arguments on these issues, dealing with each philosophical problem for a week. Students will be introduced to most of the major philosophical areas, including epistemology (what can we know?), metaphysics (what is the nature of reality?), ethics, personal identity, and philosophy of mind.

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What is Philosophy? (handout)

What is Philosophy? (handout)

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