introduction to philosophy dr. benjamin smith · 2018. 6. 15. · introduction to philosophy...

Introduction to

Philosophy

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Dr. Benjamin Smith

Introduction to Philosophy

Introduction to Philosophy: The Unexamined Life is not Worth Living


Syllabus & Objectives

Socrates: the Unexamined Life is Not Worth Living

Aristotle and the Desire to Understand

Thomas Aquinas: the Office of the Wise Man

Becoming a Philosopher in the Modern World

Modern Errors I: Relativism and Postmodernism

Modern Errors II: Scientism

Truth and Reality

The Four Causes

The Immortal Soul

The Existence of God

Natural Law

The Ultimate End

The following lectures will be provided in this course:

Define the meaning and importance of philosophy

Identify key figures in the development of classical philosophy

Define and demonstrate the foundational ideas of classical philosophy

Critically engage with the most fundamental philosophical errors of the

modern world.

In this course, students will be introduced to the foundational ideas of

perennial philosophy as well as its historical origins. Students in this course

will be equipped to:

Introduction to Philosophy

Recommended Readings


Recommended Readings

Textbooks for the Course (references to these texts will be given by the

author's name)

Feser, Ed. Aquinas: A Beginner's Guide. Oxford: Oneworld Publications, 2009.

John Paul II, Fides Et Ratio. Available online:

http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-

ii_enc_14091998_fides-et-ratio.html (# followed by a number indicates the

paragraph number)

Sullivan, Daniel. An Introduction to Philosophy: Perennial Principles of the

Classical Realist Tradition. Bruce Publishing Company, 1957. Reprint, TAN

Books, 1992, 2009.

Abbreviations: "pp" stands for pages; "c." stands for chapter.

A note about the readings: the readings are good preparation for the lectures

as well food for further thought. However the lectures will largely follow a

systematic rather than textural development.

http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_14091998_fides-et-ratio.html

Socrates: The Unexamined Life is Not Worth Living

What is philosophy? What is wisdom? Why is it important?

Who was Socrates and why is he still important today?

Whether philosophy is really avoidable?


Socrates: The Unexamined Life is Not Worth Living


Notes:

Suggested readings:

Sullivan, chapter 4 and 5

Additional readings: Norman Melchert, The Great Conversation: A

Historical Introduction to Philosophy, 4th ed. (Boston: McGraw Hill,

2002), chapters 2-3.


Whether the human person naturally desires to understand?

What is learning?

Why is Aristotle relevant today?




Notes:

Suggested reading: Sullivan, c. 7

Additional reading: Aristotle, Metaphysics, trans. H. Lawson-

Tancred (London: Penguin Books) Book Alpha, chapters 1-2.


How does our understanding of wisdom and philosophy change inthe light of revelation?

What is the relationship of faith and reason?

What should the wise man do and achieve?




Notes:

Suggested reading: Feser, c. 1.

Additional reading: Thomas Aquinas, Summa Contra Gentiles,

trans. A. Pegis (University of Notre Dame Press, 1991) Book I,

chapter 1. Online version:

http://dhspriory.org/thomas/ContraGentiles.htm

http://dhspriory.org/thomas/ContraGentiles.htm

Becoming a Philosopher in the 21st Century

Whether philosophy is still valuable for modern Christians?

What is a simple and clear way for doing philosophy in the modernworld?

What are the benefits of doing philosophy?


Loving Wisdom in the 21st Century


Notes:

Suggested reading: John Paul II, Fides et Ratio (Vatican, 1998),

Chapters 1-4. Online text: http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-

ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_14091998_fides-et-

ratio.html



What is postmodernism? What is relativism?

Why are these doctrines so pernicious? How do they corrupt our culture?

How do you refute postmodernism and relativism?




Notes:

Suggested readings: John Paul II, Fides et Ratio (Vatican, 1998) #

80-91. Online text: http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-


ratio.html.



Whether science is the only reliable method for learning the truth?

What is science and how should it be evaluated philosophically?

What are some of the problems that result from scientism?




Notes:

Suggested readings: John Paul II, Fides et Ratio (Vatican, 1998) #

44-48, 88. Online text: http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-


ratio.html


Truth and Reality

As Pontius Pilate famously said, "What is Truth?"

How do we discover the truth?

Why is truth so important?


Truth and Reality


Notes:

Suggested reading: Sullivan, c. 11.

The Four Causes: Explaining why things are the way they are

What are the four causes? Why are they important?

How do the four causes help us to refute materialism?

Why do the four causes provide the basis for classical ethics?



Notes:

Suggested reading: Feser, pp. 8-55.

Additional reading: Feser, The Last Superstition, pp. 52-73.

The Four Causes: Explaining why things are the way they are

The Immortal Soul: The Dignity of the Human Person

Whether the human being has a soul?

What are some of the primary philosophical errors about the soul?

Whether the human soul is immortal?


The Immortal Soul: The Dignity of the Human Person


Notes:


The Existence of God: The First Cause

Whether it is really possible to demonstrate the existence of God?

Whether atheism and agnosticism are irrational?

What does the existence of God tell us about reality and human existence?


The Existence of God: The First Cause


Notes:

Suggested reading: Feser, c. 3.

Additional reading: Feser, The Last Superstition, pp. 90-119.

Natural Law

Whether there is a natural law?

What is the natural law?

Why is it important?


Natural Law


Notes:

Suggested reading: Sullivan, c. 18; Feser, pp. 183-192.

Additional reading: C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York:

Harper Collins, 1952), Book 1.

The Ultimate End, Leisure, and Contemplation

Whether all we do is for an ultimate end?

Whether every man has an ultimate end?

What is the ultimate end?


The Ultimate End, Leisure, and Contemplation


Notes:


Additional reading: Josef Pieper, Happiness and Contemplation,

trans. R. and C. Winston, 1958 (Reprint, South Bend, 1998), c. 1-

2, 6-10.

introduction to philosophy dr. benjamin smith · 2018. 6. 15. · introduction to philosophy...

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