PHIL 1021 - Introduction to Western Philosophy

Credits: 3
Hours/Week: Lecture 3 Lab 0
Internship hours per week 0
Course Description: What is knowledge? What counts as a rational reason for believing something? Are humans simply physical beings or do we have an immaterial soul?  Are we ever truly free to act, and what should we do?  Does God exist?  For over 2500 years philosophy has been concerned with these kinds of questions and understanding ourselves and our world.  Students will be introduced to the concerns and questions of philosophy through a variety of readings, both historical and contemporary and mainly from a Western perspective. The areas of philosophy that this course may cover:  general introduction to philosophy, philosophical argumentation, epistemology, metaphysics and ethics.
MnTC Goals
Goal 6: Humanities and the Fine Arts

Prerequisite(s): Course placement into college-level English and Reading OR completion of ENGL 0950  with a grade of C or higher OR completion of RDNG 0940  with a grade of C or higher and qualifying English Placement Exam OR completion of RDNG 0950  with a grade of C or higher and ENGL 0090  with a grade of C or higher OR completion of ESOL 0051  with a grade of C or higher and ESOL 0052  with a grade of C or higher.
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: None

Major Content

1. General Introduction to Philosophy
2. Philosophical Argumentation and Philosophical Method

And at least two of the following:

1. Metaphysics
2. Epistemology
3. Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy
4. Philosophy of Mind
5. Philosophy of Religion
6. Aesthetics
7. Continental Philosophy (Phenomenology, Existentialism, Hermeneutics, Structuralism)
8. Recent developments (feminism, neuro-philosophy, experimental philosophy, race theory, etc.)

 
Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. explain key philosophical concepts from primary and secondary sources.
2. analyze philosophical arguments from primary and secondary authors. 
3. articulate a philosophical argument.
4. express their own coherent philosophical beliefs and positions.

 
Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC): Goals and Competencies Goal 6: Humanities and the Fine Arts
Competency Goals (MnTC Goals 1-6)
06. 01. Demonstrate awareness of the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities.

06. 02. Understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within an historical and social context.

06. 03. Respond critically to works in the arts and humanities.

06. 05. Articulate an informed personal reaction to works in the arts and humanities.
Practicum hours per week: 0

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