PHIL
111: Introduction to Philosophy
LARKIN:
Spring 2003
________________________________________
DATE: 1-14-03
I.
Objectives
A.
Give
a general sense of what philosophy is.
B.
Lay
out course objectives, procedures, and expectations.
II.
Discussion: What is Philosophy?
III.
Lecture:
A.
The
Love of Wisdom
1.
Greek
Etymology
2.
Love
3.
Wisdom
4.
Wonder
B.
Philosophical
Method
1.
Contrast
with art / religion
2.
The
Cosmos: from mythos to logos
3.
Rational
Pursuit
4.
Misconception
1: Philosophy is subjective.
5.
The
Philosophic Virtue
C.
Philosophical
Subject Matter
1.
Contrast
with science
2.
Fundamental
Understanding
3.
Subjectivity
and Normativity
4.
From
Thales to Socrates
5.
Misconception
2: Philosophy is useless.
6.
Subdivisions
of Philosophy
a.
Logic
b.
Metaphysics
c.
Epistemology
d.
Ethics
IV.
Discussion: Go Over Syllabus
V.
Next
Time
A.
Topic:
Socrates in Action—on the nature of piety.
B.
Reading: Plato, “Euthyphro”
C.
Reading Questions:
1.
Why
are Socrates and Euthyphro at the “Hall of the King”?
2.
What
is Euthyphro’s first attempt to define piety (sec. VI), and why does Socrates
reject it (sec. VII)?
3.
What
is Euthyphro’s second attempt to define piety (end sec. VII), and why does
Socrates reject it (VII)?
4.
What
is Euthyphro’ third attempt to define piety (end sec. XI), and why does
Socrates reject it (sec. XII and beg. sec. XIII)?