PHIL 1021 - Introduction to Western Philosophy

Credits: 3
Hours/Week: Lecture None Lab None
Course Description: For over 2500 years philosophy has been concerned with an understanding of one’s self, one’s world, one’s relationship with others, and one’s place in the world. Philosophy integrates the findings of other disciplines and examines them in broader philosophical perspectives. 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, ethics and the historical development of the discipline of philosophy.
MnTC Goals
6 Humanities/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. Historical context for the development of the primary ideas within metaphysics, epistemology and ethics
3. Philosophical Argumentation
4. Metaphysics
5. Epistemology
6. Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy

1. Read primary and secondary philosophical authors for comprehension.
2. Analyze primary and secondary philosophical authors.
3. Articulate a philosophical argument.
4. Express coherent philosophical positions.

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.

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