1. WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN COMMON… HZB 3M: PHILOSOPHY A QUICK INTRO

2. WITH THESE PEOPLE? They studied Philosophy!

3. WHAT’S YOUR STARTING POINT? What do you think philosophy is all about? What makes philosophy different from other courses? What do we mean when we say things like: “I’m being philosophical about _____________________ (my life, this situation…)

4. WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY? The use of reason and argument to search for truth and knowledge about reality. Philos = “love” Sophia = “Wisdom” Literally, the “love of wisdom”

5. THE STARTING POINT OF PHILOSOPHY Awe Wonder A question A puzzle A riddle

6. BEGINNING WITH WONDER… Philosophers use thoughtful reflection to investigate: The meaning of life What decisions should we make How should we live our lives

7. AS WELL AS ON OTHER TOPICS LIKE… Education Family Business Work Play Sports Medicine Health Aging Happiness Friendship Law Ethics Punishment Rewards Social class Euthanasia Abortion …

8. WESTERN PHILOSOPHY Began about 5 th C. B.C.E. in Athens Key questions: Ethics, social organization, sciences, nature of universe Physics, chemistry, biology “natural philosophy”

9. READ “SOCRATES” PAGES 6 AND 7 Why did Socrates choose to die when he could have escaped? What would you have done? Why?

10. PHILOSOPHERS Study questions not easily answered by other methods Continue studying areas where thoughtful reasoning and argument are important Study: The nature of the universe & the place of humans in it Humans as members of society What can we know and understand, and why Issues where observation alone can’t help

11. BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHY Logic Metaphysics Ethics Epistemology Social & Political Philosophy Aesthetics Philosophy of ______________