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Sculptor: Neil Dawson "Horizons"
What is philosophy?
How are we going to answer this question?
What is philosophy?
How are we going to answer this question?
1. Reading samples of philosophical texts
2. Contrasting philosophy with other areas
3. Doing philosophy
380BC
1077
1274
1641
1955
1970
2008
Aristotle 384 BC
Hume 1776
Kant 1785
Clifford 1877
Dennett 1978
This week
General goals and methods of
philosophy
Why study philosophy?
Course requirements
Objects studied
Methods used
Relations among different disciplines
Priority of some questions
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Conceptual analysis
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Conceptual analysis
Basic goal
Clarify our concepts by defining them in
terms of simpler components
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Normative terms
Examples
Ethical vs. unethical
Rational vs. irrational
Efficient vs. inefficient
Artistically valuable vs. no artistic value
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Theoretical philosophy
Epistemology: What is knowledge? How
do we know?
Ontology: What kinds of things exist (e.g.,
minds, numbers, gods)?
Philosophy of mathematics, science,
mind, language, etc.
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Practical philosophy
Ethics
Political philosophy
Philosophy of religion, art, law, technology,
etc.
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Recap
Philosophical tasks
Analyzing important concepts
Examining basic assumptions
Evaluating sources of beliefs
Understanding questions about values
Exploring connections among different
areas of research
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