PHIL 102 - Philosophy of the Liberal Arts

3 Credit(s)

Gen Ed: PI & FC credit.
This course examines arguments for and against the traditional humanities disciplines. Defenders of the humanities argue that studying philosophy, art, literature, culture and history can improve student’s abilities to think critically about moral issues, interact fruitfully with people from other cultures, fulfill their obligations as citizens and live meaningful and fulfilling lives. In this class we will critically examine these claims. Understanding these arguments will require careful engagement with a number of fundamental philosophical questions regarding the nature of morality, the relationship between values and culture, the possibility of objective judgments in aesthetics and ethics, and the standards by which to judge whether one’s life is or is not meaningful. We will explore these questions through careful reading of classic and contemporary philosophical work.