An Introduction to Philosophy

(Optional material is marked with an asterisk.)

 

Getting Started

 

A Quick Overview

 

·         What is Philosophy?

·         Why do Philosophy?

·         Study Tips

 

A Short Course in Logic

 

·         Introduction

 

Lesson 1

·         Example 1

Summary

·         Example 2

Summary

 

Lesson 2

·         Example 3

Summary

·         Example 4

Summary

·         Example 5

Summary

 

Interlude

·         Zeno’s Paradox

 

Lesson 3

·         Example 6

Summary

·         Parts Practice

·         Example 7

Summary

·         Example 8

Summary

 

Review

·         Summary

·         More Practice*

 

Reading and Writing Philosophy *

 

·         Reading Philosophy

·         Plato’s Apology

·         Writing Philosophy

·         Paper Topic

 

Epistemology

 

Introduction to Epistemology

 

·         Reading Questions

·         Epistemology

·         Foundationalism

 

Descartes

 

·         Reading Questions

·         Introduction

·         Meditations

·         Summary

 

Locke

 

·         Reading Questions

·         Introduction

·         An Essay

·         Summary

 

Truth or Utility *

 

·         Truth or Utility

 

 

 

Metaphysics

 

Introduction to

Metaphysics

 

·         Reading Questions

·         Metaphysics and Philosophy of Religion

 

Cosmological Argument

 

·         Reading Questions

·         Cosmological Argument

·         Aquinas, Summa Theologica

·         Summary

 

Problem of Evil

 

·         Reading Questions

·         Problem of Evil

·         Defenses

·         Test

·         Lesson

·         Punishment

·         Virtue

·         Free Will

·         Contrast

·         The Stone

·         Virtue II

·         Free Will II

·         Contrast II

·         General

·         Summary

 

Pascal’s Wager

 

·         Reading Questions

·         Introduction

·         The Wager

·         Summary

 

Truth or Utility *

 

·         Truth or Utility

 

 

Value Theory

 

Introduction to

Value Theory

 

·         Reading Questions

·         Value Theory and Ethics

 

Relativism

 

·         Reading Questions

·         Relativism

 

Consequentialism

 

·         Utilitarianism

 

I) Quantity vs. Quality

 

Bentham

·         Reading Questions

·         Excerpts

 

Mill

·         Reading Questions

·         Excerpts

 

Summary

·         Summary

 

II) Act vs. Rule

 

Some Objections to Utilitarianism

·         Reading Questions

·         Objections

 

Act vs. Rule Utilitarianism

·         Reading Questions

·         Act vs. Rule

·         Objections Reconsidered

·         Summary

 

Deontology

 

·         Reading Questions

·         Deontology

·         Kant

·         Section 1

·         Section 2

·         Section 3

·         Section 4

·         Section 5

·         Section 6

·         Section 7

·         Section 8

·         Section 9

·         Section 10

·         Section 11

·         Section 12

·         Summary

 

Truth or Utility *

 

·         Truth or Utility

 

 

Clifford vs. James *

 

Clifford

 

·         Reading Questions

·         The Ethics of Belief

 

James

 

·         Reading Questions

·         The Will to Believe

 

Truth or Utility

 

·         Clifford and James

 

 

Worldviews *

 

·         Worldviews

·         Wordviews and Philosophy

·         Your Worldview