Western Philosophy

In this course, students make connections among the ideas of different philosophers. Beginning with Socrates, students trace the history of philosophy as a critical engagement with finite, contingent existence. While some say that philosophy is out of touch with the world, from its beginning, philosophical study has sought to combine critical thinking with reflective living. An unexamined life is not worth living. These words of Socrates reinforce the notion that philosophy is not only a way of thinking, but also a way of living that entails the critical examination of ideas and the world in which we live. As students explore the philosophers of the past and present, they will develop a critical attitude towards the world today and relate philosophical insights to the world in which we live.