PHI 100: I NTRODUCTION TO P HILOSOPHY Professor Paul Harris Hours of Teaching: Pennock’s Bridge: Tuesdays & Thursdays 4.40 to 6.05 pm; Downingtown campus: Wednesdays 6.30 to 9.25

W HAT ARE WE D OING ? Lecture 1: Introduction to Course

W HAT IS P HILOSOPHY ?  What is philosophy?  Who does philosophy?  Why should we do philosophy?  How do we do philosophy? In today’s class we will be asking the following questions:

W HAT IS P HILOSOPHY ?

If you could change three things in the world, what would they be, and why would you change them? Ask yourself the following ‘philosophical’ question: What makes this question philosophical?

W HAT IS P HILOSOPHY ? Philosophy involves the activity of asking questions Philosophy asks questions about itself (Meta-Philosophy) Philosophers seek to build theories and explanations Philosophy involves questioning assumptions In addition to your own answers, preliminary answers might include?

W HAT IS P HILOSOPHY ? Some attempts at defining philosophy: “Philosophy,” Retrieved 8/20/09, from AskOxford.com, Website: the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence. 2 the theories of a particular philosopher. 3 a theory or attitude that guides one’s behaviour. 4 the study of the theoretical basis of a branch of knowledge or experience. — ORIGIN Greek philosophia ‘love of wisdom’.

W HAT IS P HILOSOPHY ? Some attempts at defining philosophy: [Philosophy is] the rational inquiry into the structure of any thought system, its presuppositions, concepts, and the status of its claims William H. Capitan, Philosophy of Religion: An Introduction (New York: Pegasus 1972), p.1.

W HAT IS P HILOSOPHY ? Some attempts at defining philosophy: Philosophy is a ‘free inquiry’ into the limits of human knowledge and into the most general categories applicable to experience and reality. Stuart Hampshire, The Age of Reason (New York: New American Library, 1961), p.12.

W HAT IS P HILOSOPHY ? Some attempts at defining philosophy: [Philosophy is] an attempt to see how things in the broadest possible sense of the term, hang together, in the broadest possible sense of the term. Wilfrid Sellars, Quoted in Richard Rorty, “The Fate of Philosophy,” New Republic (Oct. 18, 1982), p28

W HAT IS P HILOSOPHY ? Some attempts at defining philosophy: [Philosophy is the] ongoing critical activity of developing theories to describe, explain or account for certain aspects of human experience. Craig Channell, “The Advocacy Method: A reply,” Teaching Philosophy, Vol. 1., No. 1. (Summer, 1975), p. 41.

W HAT IS P HILOSOPHY ? Some attempts at defining philosophy: Philosophy is to be studied not for the sake of any definite answers to its questions, since no definite answers can, as a rule, be known to be true, but rather for the sake of the questions themselves;… Bertrand Russell

W HAT IS P HILOSOPHY ? Some attempts at defining philosophy: because these questions enlarge our conception of what is possible, enrich our intellectual imagination and diminish the dogmatic assurance which closes the mind against speculation;… Bertrand Russell cont.

W HAT IS P HILOSOPHY ? Some attempts at defining philosophy: but above all because, through the greatness of the universe which philosophy contemplates. The mind is also rendered great, and becomes capable of that union with the universe which constitutes its highest good. Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosophy New York: Oxford University Press, 1975), p.161

W HAT IS P HILOSOPHY ? Some Preliminary Answers: Philosophy involves the activity of asking questions Philosophy asks questions about itself (Meta-Philosophy) Philosophers seek to build theories and explanations Philosophy involves questioning assumptions Philosophy is NOT a science Philosophers Primarily deal with Open Concepts Some More Answers:

Negative Role of PhilosophyPositive Role of Philosophy Asking questionsCreating theories Questioning assumptionsArguing for one theory over another Critically examining answersTrying to come up with your own answers Looking for weaknesses in someone’s argument or answer Defending your own thesis against criticisms Refuting an answerProposing Alternatives Philosophy’s Two Sides W HAT IS P HILOSOPHY ?

W HO D OES P HILOSOPHY ?

What time is it? What is time? Why does this itch? How much does this cost? What is the circumference of the Earth? Why should I wake up in the morning? Why do people start wars? How long does it take to get from London to Philadelphia? Spot the Philosophical Questions

W HO D OES P HILOSOPHY ? Why should I go to college? Should I tell a friend the truth if it will hurt their feelings? Am I awake, or am I really dreaming? Why should I support Obama’s health reforms? Is time travel really possible? How can I be happy? Is it right to download music or films from the internet? Should players be banned for using performance enhancing drugs? Does God exist? Some philosophical questions you might ask:

W HO D OES P HILOSOPHY ? Does it involve moral dilemmas or difficult choices? Are there consequences when someone does the wrong thing? Does it pose ‘deep’ or probing questions? Does it explore particular philosophical themes, such as love or what it is to be human? Is there a distinction between good and bad characters? Does it question or push the boundaries of science or reality? Is your favourite book, TV show or film philosophical?

Who Does Philosophy? Not Just Academics/Professors/people wearing togas that stare at clouds Anyone that asks a philosophical question! We are all capable of being philosophers, it just depends on the questions we ask and how we look at them. W HO D OES P HILOSOPHY ?

W HY D O P HILOSOPHY ?

Why Do Philosophy? Perhaps it is in our nature to ask philosophical questions. Some philosophical questions are important. Some questions are wholly philosophical and there is no other way of looking at them or avoiding them. Philosophy can be a powerful tool and can help us learn valuable skills.

H OW D O W E D O P HILOSOPHY ?

Arguments Philosophy involves formulating and defending Arguments You must be critical Try to see the argument from both sides (for and against) Anticipate criticisms, counter-arguments and questions Provide reasons and examples Show your reasoning Summarize and Conclude But! Not all philosophical arguments are found in exams or essays!!

Dear Phyllis, I am writing in regards to your letter published in the Chronicle on the 17 th of this month. In your letter you maintain that the recent introduction of the Casino into our esteemed town has resulted in a lessening of moral values, an increase in gambling addiction and a general rise in immorality. Yet you base your argument more on hear- say than matters of fact. My opinion on the matter is that the Casino has actually increased the quality and esteem of our town by bringing in tourists, money for town development as well as jobs for unemployed members of our town. This can be clearly seen in the drastic increase of income for the town since the Casino first opened. I for one believe that the Casino is a good thing and its presence here can only be for the better. Yours sincerely Delores van Cartier

Lucas Cranach the Elder 1472 – 1553 Adam and Eve (1526)

C ONCLUSION

Philosophy involves the activity of asking questions Philosophy asks questions about itself (Meta-Philosophy) Philosophers seek to build theories and explanations Philosophy is NOT a science Philosophers Primarily deal with Open Concepts Philosophy involves making arguments Logic and reasoning are important tools that philosophers use Some More Answers: Yet More Answers!

Discussion Questions 1 1.Go back to the assumptions you wrote down at the beginning of the class. Answer the following questions: a)Have any of your prior assumptions been dismissed? b)Have any of your prior assumptions been made stronger? c)Do you have any new assumptions? 2.Defend one of these views: a)“Philosophy” can be defined. b)“Philosophy” cannot be defined. Q UESTIONS

Discussion Questions 2 1.What philosophical questions are most important to you? 2.Can you give any examples of how you have used philosophy in your own life? 3.If you could change three things in the world, what would they be? 4.Could we do without philosophy? 5.Can you name any television shows or films that are philosophical? Q UESTIONS