Introduction to Philosophy

Academic year 2011-12

Date last modified

23-4-2012 1:29

Period

Period 2

Startdate:

31-Oct-11

Enddate:

23-Dec-11

Code

HUM1007

ECTS credits

5.0

Organisational unit

University College Maastricht

Coordinator

J. Spruyt

Description

One of the greatest and most influential Ancient philosophers, Aristotle of Stageira (384-322 BC) once remarked, “Wonder is the beginning of philosophy”. What he was referring to is our habit of asking fundamental questions about our every-day life, such as, “Suppose I am certain that I am right about something, what is that certainty based upon?”; “Suppose I am engaged in a discussion with someone (for example about some controversial matter), what can objectively guarantee the stringency of my argument?” Thinking about and discussing such questions will force us to reconsider the things we have always taken for granted. And ultimately they will lead us to more fundamental questions about the proper nature of Truth and Knowledge as such. Assignments include the following: the nature of philosophical enquiry, problems of knowledge and truth (including the understanding and evaluation of arguments), ethics.

Goals

The aim of this course is to teach students how to “think philosophically”.

Instruction language

Prerequisites

Recommended literature

• Blackburn, S. (1999). Think. A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy. Oxford: Oxford University Press. • Blackburn, S. (2001). Being Good. Oxford: Oxford University Press. • Horner, C., & Westacott, E. (2000). Thinking through Philosophy. An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Teaching methods

PBL

Assessment methods

FINAL PAPER
ATTENDANCE
WRITTEN EXAM

Key words