161-105 Fundamental Questions in Philosophy

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Subject Description

An introduction to the some of the fundamental questions of philosophy, based upon one of the most influential philosophical works ever written - the Meditations of Rene Descartes. Could the world be an illusion - say, a dream? Does God exist? Am I more than a mere body? Can these questions be settled by reason? By studying Descartes' thought on questions such as these, students should attain a recognition of the distinctive nature of philosophical thinking and of the relevance of such thinking to other disciplines, and achieve a sound basis for further work in philosophy.

Assessment

Two essays, one of 500 words and one of 1500 words, regular attendance and participation in tutorials, and a 2-hour end-of-semester examination.

Prescribed Texts

Additional teaching material will be made available in booklet form from the Philosophy Department.

• Rene Descartes (trans. John Cottingham), Meditations on First Philosophy. Cambridge Univ Press, 1986.