Introduction to Philosophy

Free speech is not simply an aspect of the educational enterprise tobe weighed against other desirable ends. It is the very precondition of the academic enterprise itself.
Complete AAUP Free Speech statemen

Free speech is not simply an aspect of the educational enterprise tobe weighed against other desirable ends. It is the very precondition of the academic enterprise itself. Complete AAUP Free Speech statemen

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Information about
Phi 100:Introduction to Philosophy
on this web page is intended only for sections of "Intro" taught by Dr. Armstrong.
Other sections of "Intro" taught by other instructors
may have different emphases and/or different resources.

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to some of the many aspects of Philosophy. One interesting way in which this can be done is by showing how various long-standing philosophical issues relate to controversial contemporary moral/social issues.

Since so much of the 'moral thinking' of so many people is directly or indirectly related to a belief in God, the course will include a look at some philosophical examinations of the belief in God-- an examination of some of the 'proofs' for the existence of God and some of the 'proofs' for the non-existence of God. This 'look' at the question of the existence of God will include a look at the relationship that (some think) exists between God and morality.

The course will also include an introductory examination of morality and of some of the efforts to provide foundations for moral views. Efforts to show that there really isn't anything but personal preference underlying what is commonly called morality will also be examined.

The course also may take as part of its focus the nature of persons-- what they are and what makes them different from computers and/or from the non-human inhabitants of Earth. Questions here include "Can computers think, can they love?"; "If they can't think/love now will they someday be able to do so?"; "Can there be beings that are, in any significant sense, superior to human beings (a question that, of course, presupposes an answer to 'What is a signifcant sense of 'superior'?)"; "When did I come into existence as a person, as a being with the right to life that I now have?"

Links

1. The Philosophy Discussion Board

2. Some Logic

Miscellaneous Essays

M1. I had an Abortion when I was Six Months Pregnant

M2. from On Liberty, by John Stuart Mill

M3. C. S. Lewis's Mere Chistianity

M4. Appendix to The Abolition of Man, 'Illustrations of the Tao', by C. S. Lewis

M5. Study questions for Chapters 1-5 of Mere Christianity, by C. S. Lewis

M6. Mere Assertions', by Dan Barker

Ethics

E1. Relativism (and Objectivism/Absolutism) explained in terms of religion

E 2. Relativism, Subjectivism, Objectivism defined