Knowledge and Reality

Course Overview

What is knowledge? What can be known? Is there a God? Do I have free will? This elective gives students broad exposure to two major philosophical subjects: epistemology and metaphysics. The epistemology half of the course focuses on Cartesian skepticism, the view that knowledge of the external world is impossible. The metaphysics half of the course focuses on (i) classic arguments for the existence of God, as well as their most common replies; and (ii) whether human beings possess freedom of the will. The course draws from historical and contemporary texts on these questions and overlaps to a significant degree with a typical undergraduate introductory philosophy course. As such, its focus is logical argumentation. Students will develop their ability to think logically and critically, improve the clarity and precision of their writing, and contemplate some of the deepest questions of human existence.