In life we are faced with a number of questions. From “Where should we go on Saturday night?” to “What is the meaning of it all?” the way we approach these questions differs in varying degrees.
Throughout childhood, we are often the ones questioning everything we encounter. The question “why?” reverberates in the ears of mothers everywhere. As we grow older, our inquisitive nature often subsides and the pendulum swings the other way. As high school students – you begin to hear the question “Where do you plan on going to college?” more frequently then you are asked what you would like for dinner.
The focus shifts slightly when you enter college. Soon, “What’s your major?” will morph into “What are you going to do with that?”
As an English and Philosophy major, I am well versed in this topic of conversation. I always knew I wanted to teach English – but philosophy was something I wanted to do for myself. It was a bit more difficult having to explain to my relatives that Thanksgiving that “I just wanted to figure out how to think.”
Often times we take for granted how we know certain things, or why we take certain stances on the “big” issues – (back to those questions we are all faced with). This is where you come in. This course is all about you – your ideas, what you think about the big issues and how you can intellectually grow from an encounter with the people in this book and their take on those big questions.
If we are going to study philosophy, we need other people to test our ideas and assertions, to tell us when we are right, to tell us when we are wrong, and to ask us questions that make us reconsider an issue in ways we had not considered.
I should warn you – there are no definitive answers in philosophy. If there were, it would be called science or math. Loosely phrased, Bertrand Russell said that philosophy is what remains of human curiosity that hasn’t been “called” by one of the other subjects.
The first philosophers were what we would call scientists – or more specifically, chemists. Other sciences and disciplines such as physics, psychology and history began with philosophical inquiry as well. You will be tackling some of the same philosophical questions that have intrigued people for thousands of years.
This does not mean that you will simply show up and receive an A. Philosophy is an incredibly demanding subject, but that is part of the allure. The readings can sometimes be difficult and the writing assignments will challenge you. This may be one of the toughest courses you have ever taken - - but that’s because it’s worth it. We will be discussing topics that people have spent their entire lives on!
You should know that nobody can be taught philosophy – but you can be taught to think philosophically. That will be that aim of our course. Philosophy will not help you become a better person, in any moral sense. There are many, many awful rotten people who love reading philosophy and there are many genuinely good people who have never read anything at all. Philosophy will help you come up with reason arguments, and it will show you that there is value in talking about things that you find important. It is said that “the true measure of philosophy is the effects on the lives of the people who study it.”
I know that I need your questions and comments as much as you will need mine. By no means do I presume to have the final word on philosophy. Even Socrates, the first major figure in Western philosophy, claimed that the only reason he was so wise was because he didn’t know anything at all. I expect you to stop me when you are confused and challenge me when you think I am just plain wrong. We can, of course, do this in a civilized (and even fun) way.
Philosophy – and wisdom – must begin with questions, and I want to start on the same note. This is going to be a lot of work, and a lot of fun. So let’s begin: Any questions?
