Philosophy

Introduction to Philosophy traces the history of Western philosophy from its beginnings in ancient Greece to contemporary developments in the modern world. The course treats philosophy as distinct from religion and science, while at the same time shows how all three disciplines interrelate. The course leaves students with a clear notion of philosophy as a unique and critically important discourse.

Philosophy for Modern Times addresses several of the "big questions" that preoccupy philosophical inquiry: the existence of God, the meaning of life, the nature of truth, the limits of knowledge, the nature of ethics, human freedom, and the quest for happiness. Using contemporary methods, the course places such questions within the context of social and political thought.

Science Fiction and Philosophy is for students seeking to open their minds to new possibilities in philosophy. The course uses science fiction as a genre to explore ideas students may never have examined, such as immortality, time travel, artificial intelligence, gods and aliens, paranormal phenomena, and the nature of humans and their minds.