Index cards:turn them in AFTER class

What does “philosophy” mean?

What branch of philosophy has priority over others?

How will philosophy be valuable in my life?

What is philosophy?

6 Main branches of philosophy

Value of philosophy

Philosophy jobs

What is philosophy

“Love of wisdom”

a source of new scientific hypotheses autonomous from science conceptual analysis The origin of science ideology critique living the examined life the establishment or eradication of

metaphysics the examination of the limits of reason nonsense

What philosophy is to me.

Inquiry into EVERYTHING. Birth of Science. Asks hard questions. Asks “meta” questions. Critiques fundamental

principles/methods in all disciplines (including itself)

Study of knowledge

Ann Jenson 2011

Ann Jenson 2011

Influence of philosophical doctrines on politics

Plato, Machiavelli, Montaigne, Tocqueville, Spinoza, Hobbes.

John Locke’s (1632-1704) influence on Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, John Adams.

John Locke: British Empiricist wrote on philosophy of mind, moral theory, and the rights of an individual: freedom of consciousness, freedom of religion, separation of church and state, etc.

Questions to think about in this class:

Does any one of the branches of philosophy have priority over others?

Does any one of the branches of philosophy have priority over others?

Metaphysics?› It tells you what the basic constituents of

reality› It tells you what it is that you can know

about.

Epistemology?› If there is a fundamental reality out there,

we might not know about it.› What’s the point in theorizing about the

world if we have no theory of how we can know about it?

› Epistemology gives us criteria to tell us whether our beliefs (about things) are justified.

Does any one of the branches of philosophy have priority over others?

Does any one of the branches of philosophy have priority over others?

Ethics?

Political Philosophy?

Logic?

Some myths about philosophy classes:

Myth 1: Nobody ever fails a philosophy class. False: If you don’t do the work and do poorly on the tests and assignments, you could fail the class.

Some myths about philosophy classes:

Myth 2: Everybody gets A’s in philosophy classes.

False: Working hard, reading carefully, and coming to class with comments and questions are prerequisites for getting an A.

Myth 3: Philosophy is about opinions and all opinions are equally valid. Therefore, if I share my opinions, I will do well in the class.

False: Philosophy courses are content based.

Scientistsand philosophers

Scientistsand philosophers

Russell: The value of philosophy.

--The value of philosophy is to be found among the goods of the mind.

-- it enlarges our thoughts and free them from the tyranny of custom.

Value of philosophy

-- provides escape of the constraint of our simple assumptions and narrow point of view.

-- Contemplation allows for more possibilities in thought and action.

-- examining one’s views strengthens one’s position.

Philosophy Jobs. Ethical Review Boards: Any

publically funded hospital hires professional philosophers.

Businesses hire philosophers. I.e. Norway Oil.

Activists get involved in committees to oversee proper treatment of animals, children, environment, etc. I.e. Utah Primates Group.

Political philosophers/ ethicists hired by government.

Philosophical counseling. Life coaches. “Plato, not Prozac.”

Philosophers have very subtle distinctions between their ideas.

It is important to express your ideas CLEARLY to capture these subtle distinctions.

Read slowly, and re-read articles. Identify thesis statements, premises, and

conclusions. Outline arguments. Summarize arguments in your own words,

using your own examples.