Philosophy

1. THE NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY.
What Is Philosophy? The Traditional Divisions of Philosophy. A Philosopher in Action: Socrates. The Value of Philosophy. Chapter Summary. Historical Showcase: The First Philosophers. Reading.
2. HUMAN NATURE.
Why Study Human Nature? What Is Human Nature? The Mind-Body Problem: How Do Mind and Body Relate? Is There an Enduring Self? Are We Independent and Self-Sufficient Individuals? Chapter Summary. Historical Showcase: Plato, Aristotle, and Confucius. Readings.
3. REALITY AND BEING.
What Is Real? Reality: Material or Nonmaterial? Reality in Pragmatism. Reality and Logical Positivism. Antirealism: The Heir of Pragmatism and Idealism. Encountering Reality: Phenomenology and Existentialism. Is Freedom Real? Is Time Real? Chapter Summary. Historical Showcase: Hobbes and Berkeley. Readings.
4. PHILOSOPHY AND GOD.
The Significance of Religion. Does God Exist? Atheism, Agnosticism, and the Problem of Evil. Traditional Religious Belief and Experience. Nontraditional Religious Experience. Chapter Summary. Historical Showcase: Aquinas, Descartes, and Conway. Readings.
5. THE SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE.
Why Is Knowledge a Problem? Is Reason the Source of Our Knowledge? Can the Senses Account for All Our Knowledge? Kant: Does the Knowing Mind Shape the World? Does Science Give Us Knowledge? Chapter Summary. Historical Showcase: Hume. Readings. 6. TRUTH.
Knowledge, Truth, and Justification. What Is Truth? Does Science Give Us Truth? Can Interpretations Be True? Chapter Summary. Historical Showcase: Kant. Readings.
7. ETHICS.
What Is Ethics? Is Ethics Relative? Do Consequences Make an Action Right? Do Rules Define Morality? Is Ethics Based on Character? Can Ethics Resolve Moral Quandaries? Ethics and Moral Responsibility. Chapter Summary. Historical Showcase: Nietzsche and Wollstonecraft. Readings.
8. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY.
What Is Social and Political Philosophy? What Justifies the State? What is Justice? Limits on the State.