PHIL 230.001 – Experience and Reality

Instructor: James Brantner. This course meets MTWRF 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in CW 103.

Metaphysics is primarily interested in questions about the nature of reality. Metaphysical questions require no special expertise to discuss, and you may have previously engaged in metaphysical discussions even if you have not taken a philosophy course. This summer, we will focus in particular on four metaphysical topics—personal identity, possibility, free will, and time—but in doing so, we will also deal with important questions in philosophy of language and ethics. This is a sophomore level class and will be designed both for people who have never taken a philosophy class and for people who are curious about the philosophy major and want to get a taste of something beyond the first introductory courses. Thus, we will tackle some difficult readings—the same sorts that may be part of an upper-level course—but we will do so starting from scratch, not assuming prior background in philosophy.