Spring 2011 Philosophy of Human Nature Lecture Notes
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Contents
January 11, 2011
- Course Goals
- Roll Call
- Schedule, Grading Schemes, Wiki, Study Questions
- Philosophy
What is Philosophy?
- Philosophy is a discipline of inquiry directed toward a wide range of basic questions about the nature of the universe and our experience in it. It involves a turn toward "basic questions". It also involves meta-level cognition.
- Philosophy uses general tools of reasoning and knowledge to answer basic questions and to develop theories about the nature of reality, both as a whole and in parts.
- Philosophy is an activity that involves the use of thought, experience, and judgement to order one's life and thinking about the universe.
Philosophical Methods
- Go to Philosophical Methods
What is Real? (1st Exercise)
- In small groups, generate a list of criteria or a definition for calling something "real". Then try to figure out if you can find reasons for preferring one set of criteria or definition over another.