PHL 108 - Being & Knowing

1 course unit

An inquiry into the nature of reality and knowledge. What sort of thing is the universe? Is it composed solely of matter, or does it contain immaterial things like spirits? How can we tell? Is sense experience the only source of knowledge, or are there other ways of knowing? Why are we here? Were we created by God as part of a divine plan, or did we come into being as the result of purely natural processes? Is there a God? If so, what sort of being is he (she) (it)? What kind of creatures are we? Do we have a soul that will survive the death of our bodies, or will we cease to exist when our bodies die? Do we have free will? Are we masters of our destiny, or are our actions caused by forces beyond our control? We will trace the progression of philosophical thinking on these issues from their earliest formulations to the present day. Readings will include selections from both classic and contemporary philosophers.
Meets general academic requirement HU.