PHIL 101.001 – Introduction to Philosophy: Central Problems, Great Minds, Big Ideas

Instructor: Zach Ferguson. This course meets MWF 9:05 – 9:55 a.m. in MU 104.

This class is an introduction to big philosophical questions about existence, morality, knowledge, and meaning, but with a big twist: We will be exclusively reading texts and authors from Latin America. The clash of conquistadors with pre-Columbian peoples, the wars of independence, and the unique mestizo heritage of the region provide a rich context to frame traditional philosophical questions in a new light. The class will therefore also be of interest to students with some philosophy background who are interested in an introduction to Latin American philosophy. We will cover many exciting topics, including (i) Aztec metaphysical theories about the fundamental nature of existence, (ii) political treatises on rights and sovereignty written by those actively engaged in revolutions, (iii) reflections on virtue and value, (iv) theories of human nature, and (v) contemporary discussions of race and identity. Since many of the authors we will read were well versed in European philosophy, we will also indirectly engage with some major thinkers of the western canon, whose ideas inspired thinkers across Latin America.