PHIL 001A. Introduction to Philosophy: Knowledge and Agency

What ought I to do? What are the demands of morality? What is their basis (if there is one)? Can values conflict and if yes, what can we do about that? What is freedom of the will and do we enjoy it? What can we know? Nothing? What is knowledge anyway? How can we understand consciousness? Can some machines think? Can the mind be outside the head? How can we or anything remain the same through change? Is there a self? Why is there something rather than nothing? Is death bad? Can life be meaningful or is it absurd? These are fundamental philosophical questions. We will deal with them by reading and discussing some classical but mostly contemporary philosophical texts.
Humanities.
Writing course.
1 credit.
Spring 2026. Baumann.
Catalog chapter: Philosophy
Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/philosophy

Access the class schedule to search for sections.