Philosophy: Think clearly about hard questions

Philosophy is the discipline of asking precisely and refusing to let definitions hide confusion.

Precision is the method

Philosophy’s contribution is clarity: define terms, expose hidden assumptions, follow arguments to their conclusions. A confused question cannot have a right answer.

Big questions, sharp tools

Epistemology asks how we know, metaphysics what exists, ethics how to live. None is answerable by anecdote; all reward tight argument.

What this course teaches

Nine units cover what philosophy is, the early thinkers across traditions, epistemology, metaphysics, the mind, ethics, applied ethics, political philosophy, and meaning.

Flashcard

K = JTB

Knowledge as justified true belief

The classical account: knowledge requires truth, belief and justification, with Gettier problems probing its edge.

Check your understanding

The Gettier problems are famous because they show that: