Philosophy

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[edit] Introduction to Philosophy

"There are two powers in the world, the sword and the mind. In the long run, the sword is always beaten by the mind." - Napolean

[edit] What is Philosophy?

Philosophy means "the love of wisdom." It was invented by the Greeks, the term comes from their words philean (to love) and sophia (knowledge, wisdom). They considered anyone who pursued knowledge, especially in a particular area, a philosopher. In the time of the ancient Greeks, everything that counted as knowledge was considered philosophy; in fact, many of the subjects we study today were once encompassed by philosophy: Sociology, mathematics, psychology, biology, history, political science, and more. That's why the highest degree you can earn in any subject is called a doctorate of philosophy; a PhD. Though philosophy is now considered a separate branch of study, it still informs these other fields.

So what do contemporary philosophers do? They systematically investigate some of our most enduring questions:

  • Is is possible to know anything with absolute certainty?
  • What is the meaning of life?
  • What is truth? What is knowledge?
  • To what extent do we have moral obligations to others?
  • Do humans have natural rights?
  • What is time?

[edit] Main Branches of Philosophy

  • Metaphysics: investigates the nature of existence
  • Epistemology: investigates the nature of knowledge
  • Logic: investigates correct reasoning
  • Aesthetics: investigates art, and value judgments about art
  • Moral Philosophy: investigates moral judgments (includes social & political philosophy)


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[edit] Why Study Philosophy?

The American Philosophical Association has identified four important skills that we acquire by studying philosophy:

  1. General problem solving
  2. Communication skills
  3. Persuasive powers
  4. Writing skills

[edit] The Philosopher's Toolkit

The main tools of the Philosopher's trade are:

  • Arguments (the philosophical kind): Attempts to support views with reasons
  • The Socratic Method: a method of philosophical analysis as practiced by Socrates
  • Thought Experiments: a hypothetical situation used to extract a lesson
  • Fallacies: mistakes in reasoning

[edit] Philosophy at FCCJ

[edit] Philosophy Courses @ FCCJ

PHI 2010 Introduction to Philosophy — 3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite: Satisfactory score on reading and writing placement tests. This course consists of an introduction to philosophical theories, issues and methods of analysis. Students will examine some of the perennial problems of philosophy and the types of answers that have been suggested by philosophers. Three contact hours. A.A.

Rationale: In common with the arts and religion, philosophy is a human endeavor to determine the nature of man, mankind's role in the world, the structures of reality, a person's proper relation to others, and a person's ultimate destiny. Additionally, the belief systems generated by philosophers have at times pervasively influenced the social instructions and the self-images of generations. A familiarity with these processes is an important ingredient in a general education. (from the PHI 2010 FCCJ Course Outline: http://www1.fccj.edu/curriculum/credit/)

PHI 2600 Moral and Political Philosophy — 3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite: Satisfactory score on reading and writing placement tests. This course is a survey of the efforts made by philosophers to comprehend that portion of experience that is concerned with human values and obligations. The course consists primarily of the analysis of selected writings in which philosophers attempt to do such things as characterize the most satisfactory life, specify the basis of moral responsibility, determine the test ability of moral judgments and assess the proper relation between the individual and the state. This course includes reading and writing competencies. Three contact hours. A.A.

PHI 1603 Introduction to Applied Ethics — 3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ENC 1101. This course is an introduction to practical overview of key issues, questions, and concepts in applied ethics. Special emphases are placed on the historical development of ethical thinking, a variety of ethical approaches and on multicultural aspects of ethics. Students will also examine a variety of personal, social, and professional ethical issues and problems and learn methods of resolving them through the use of critical thinking skills, sound ethical reasoning and legal and professional codes. Students are provided an active learning experience, increased student interaction and opportunities for independent research into ethical issues of personal interest. Three contact hours. A.S., A.A.S.

[edit] Philosophy Classes @ FCCJ

For a listing of current open philosophy classes, perform an open class keyword search, then type in "humanities".

[edit] Philosophy Teachers @ FCCJ

  • Carter, Stephen
  • Colavito, Carl
  • Bowen, David
  • Brom, Joseph
  • Edwards, Anne
  • Fitch, Michael
  • Fortier, Philip
  • Grego, Richard
  • Pierce, Karla

[edit] Additional Resources

  • Readings in Modern Philosophy - Free access to various modern texts
  • Early Modern Texts - "...versions of some classics of early modern philosophy, and a few from the 19th century, prepared with a view to making them easier to read while leaving intact the main arguments, doctrines, and lines of thought"

[edit] References

  • FCCJ Course Outlines - Documents that outline the rationale, intent, and basic topics of each FCCJ credit course
  • Thinking Critically about Ethical Issues, by Vincent Ryan Ruggiero
  • Problems from Philosophy, by James Rachels and Stuart Rachels
  • Everyday Morality, by Mike Martin
  • Philosophy, a text with readings, by Manuel Velasquez
  • The Philosophical Journey, an interactive approach, by William F. Lawhead
  • Philosophy, the Power of Ideas, by Brooke Noel Moore and Kenneth Bruder
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