Philosophy

Philosophy (PHIL) is a CAA course which involves looking at Western philosophy. It is offered at San Rafael (First Session only), Bristol, Santa Cruz (Second Session only) and Haverford (Both Sessions).

Course Description

From the CTY Summer Catalog:

This course is a survey of several major areas of Western analytic philosophy: metaphysics and epistemology, ethics, philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, philosophy of religion, and philosophy of science. Students explore such concepts as the nature of the world and how we have access to knowledge of the world; moral behavior and the nature of good and evil; the relationship between minds and bodies; the relationship between our thoughts and the external world; arguments for and against the existence of God; and how to use logical analysis and empirical observation to evaluate arguments.

For each topic, students consider positions of historical thinkers such as Plato, Descartes, and Hume, as well as those of more contemporary philosophers such as John Rawls and Hilary Putnam. Students reflect upon philosophical issues through debate, discussion, and formal critical essays in order to develop the analytical skills necessary for effectively evaluating arguments and thinking independently.