PHIL 112.001 – Making Sense of Ourselves

Instructor: Jessi Addison. This course meets MWF 9:05 – 9:55 a.m. HM 452.

This course is an introduction to some of the main philosophical questions about ourselves. What, if anything, sets humans apart from other animals or life-forms? What does it mean to belong to a race, ethnic group, or gender? What is the best way for us to live? Are we the very same people we were as children, and should we fear death? Do we have free will? And so on. As part of the course, students will complete short writing assignments throughout the term that refine their abilities to break down and analyze complex arguments, state their reasoning clearly and briefly, and organize their thoughts into structured arguments of their own.