Introduction to Philosophy

Course Description

PHI2010 – Introduction to Philosophy is a 3-credit-hour survey course that introduces students to the central questions, methods, and major thinkers of the Western philosophical tradition (with selective attention to non-Western traditions where the institution emphasizes a comparative approach). The course covers the principal branches of philosophy — metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, philosophy of mind, philosophy of religion, political philosophy, and logic — through the careful reading of primary texts and the development of analytical and argumentative skills.

Students learn to read philosophical texts critically, identify and evaluate arguments, and write clearly about complex abstract ideas. Coursework typically combines lecture, Socratic discussion, and substantial writing assignments, including analytical essays and argumentative papers.

PHI2010 is a Florida common course offered at approximately 38 Florida institutions and satisfies general-education humanities requirements at most Florida public colleges and universities. It transfers as the equivalent course at all Florida public postsecondary institutions per SCNS articulation policy.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify the major branches of philosophy — metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, logic, aesthetics, political philosophy, philosophy of mind, philosophy of religion — and articulate the central questions of each.
• Read primary philosophical texts from major thinkers of the Western tradition with comprehension and contextual understanding.
• Identify, reconstruct, and evaluate philosophical arguments, distinguishing premises from conclusions and identifying logical structure.
• Apply basic logical concepts, including validity, soundness, deductive vs. inductive reasoning, and common logical fallacies.
• Compare and contrast major ethical theories — virtue ethics, deontology, utilitarianism/consequentialism, social contract theory, ethical relativism.
• Analyze classical epistemological problems, including the sources of knowledge (rationalism vs. empiricism), the problem of skepticism, and the conditions for justified true belief.
• Engage with metaphysical questions, including the nature of reality, free will and determinism, personal identity, and the mind-body problem.
• Examine arguments concerning the existence and nature of God (cosmological, teleological, ontological arguments; the problem of evil).
• Write clear, well-organized philosophical essays that reconstruct, evaluate, and respond to philosophical positions.
• Engage in respectful philosophical dialogue with peers, including the ability to articulate and consider opposing viewpoints charitably.

Optional Outcomes

• Engage with non-Western philosophical traditions (e.g., Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, Hindu philosophy, African philosophy, Latin American philosophy).
• Apply philosophical analysis to contemporary issues such as bioethics, technology ethics, environmental ethics, and social justice.
• Examine philosophy of science topics, including the demarcation problem, scientific explanation, and the realism/anti-realism debate.
• Engage with aesthetic theory (philosophy of art and beauty).
• Analyze existentialist and phenomenological approaches to questions of meaning and human existence.

Major Topics

Required Topics

• What Is Philosophy?: Origins of philosophical inquiry; the methods of philosophy; the value of philosophical study; relationship to science, religion, and the humanities.
• Logic and Argumentation: Validity and soundness; deductive vs. inductive arguments; common logical fallacies (ad hominem, straw man, appeal to authority, false dichotomy, etc.); identifying argument structure.
• Ancient Philosophy: Pre-Socratics; Socrates and the Socratic method (Plato's Apology, Crito); Plato's theory of forms (Republic, allegory of the cave); Aristotle's virtue ethics and metaphysics.
• Medieval Philosophy: Augustine and Aquinas; arguments for the existence of God; faith and reason; the problem of evil.
• Modern Philosophy — Rationalism and Empiricism: Descartes' methodic doubt and the cogito; Locke, Berkeley, and Hume on knowledge and perception; Kant's synthesis.
• Ethics: Virtue ethics (Aristotle); deontology (Kant's categorical imperative); utilitarianism (Bentham, Mill); social contract theory (Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau); ethical relativism vs. moral objectivism.
• Epistemology: Sources of knowledge; the problem of skepticism; justified true belief and the Gettier problem; rationalism vs. empiricism.
• Metaphysics: The nature of reality; the mind-body problem (substance dualism, materialism, functionalism); free will and determinism (libertarianism, hard determinism, compatibilism); personal identity over time.
• Philosophy of Religion: Cosmological, teleological, and ontological arguments for the existence of God; the problem of evil; faith and reason.
• Political Philosophy: The state of nature; political authority and legitimacy; rights and justice; liberty and equality.

Optional Topics

• Non-Western Philosophy: Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, Hindu philosophy, African philosophy, Latin American philosophy.
• Existentialism and Phenomenology: Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Sartre, Camus, de Beauvoir.
• Contemporary Applied Ethics: Bioethics, technology and AI ethics, environmental ethics, business ethics.
• Philosophy of Science: The demarcation problem; theories of scientific explanation; Kuhn and paradigm shifts; realism vs. anti-realism.
• Aesthetics: Theories of beauty; the nature and value of art; aesthetic experience.
• Feminist and Critical Theory Perspectives: Contemporary critical approaches to traditional philosophical questions.

Resources & Tools

• Common Textbooks: Philosophy: The Power of Ideas (Moore/Bruder), Doing Philosophy (Schick/Vaughn), Living Philosophy (Pojman), Twelve Theories of Human Nature (Stevenson et al.), The Philosophy Book (DK)
• Open Educational Resources: Introduction to Philosophy by OpenStax, Introduction to Philosophy: Knowledge and Reality (Rebus Foundation), Lumen Learning, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (iep.utm.edu), Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (plato.stanford.edu)
• Primary Texts: Plato's Apology, Crito, Republic; Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics; Descartes' Meditations; Hume's Enquiry; Kant's Groundwork; Mill's Utilitarianism; selections from contemporary philosophers
• Reference Resources: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (free, peer-reviewed), Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (free, peer-reviewed), PhilPapers
• Multimedia: Crash Course Philosophy (YouTube), Philosophy Bites podcast, BBC's In Our Time, The Partially Examined Life podcast

Career Pathways

Philosophy develops transferable skills — critical thinking, analytical writing, argument analysis, and ethical reasoning — that employers consistently rate as highly valuable. PHI2010 supports preparation for diverse fields:

• Pre-Law: Philosophy majors and minors consistently rank among the highest-scoring undergraduate groups on the LSAT and are well represented in law school admissions.
• Pre-Medicine and Bioethics: Medical schools value the analytical and ethical reasoning developed in philosophy; bioethics is a growing applied field.
• Education and Academia: Foundation for careers in teaching humanities, with continued study leading to graduate work in philosophy or related fields.
• Public Service and Policy Analysis: Government agencies, nonprofits, and policy organizations value the analytical capabilities developed.
• Business and Management: Critical-thinking and ethical-reasoning skills support careers in management consulting, human resources, and corporate ethics/compliance.
• Journalism, Editing, and Writing: Strong analytical writing supports careers in publishing, journalism, and communications.
• Technology Ethics: AI ethics, data ethics, and technology policy are growing fields with academic and industry roles.

While philosophy as a primary major is one path, PHI2010 most often serves as a humanities general-education course taken by students across nearly every major.

Special Information

General Education and Transfer

PHI2010 is a Florida common course number that satisfies general-education humanities requirements at most Florida public colleges and universities. It transfers as the equivalent course at all Florida public postsecondary institutions per SCNS articulation policy. The course is part of the standard humanities options on the A.A. transfer pathway.

Course Approach Variations

Florida institutions vary in their approach to PHI2010:

• Historical/Survey approach: Chronological coverage from ancient to contemporary philosophy; emphasis on major thinkers and their contexts.
• Topical/Problem-based approach: Organized by branch (epistemology, ethics, metaphysics, etc.) with primary readings drawn from across periods.
• Comparative approach: Western and non-Western philosophical traditions in dialogue.
• Applied/Contemporary approach: Heavy emphasis on contemporary issues with classical readings as background.

All approaches typically address the core branches and major thinkers identified in the required topics above; the difference is one of emphasis and organization.

Related Courses

Students interested in further philosophy coursework typically continue with PHI2630 (Contemporary Moral Issues / Ethics), PHI2100 (Reasoning and Critical Thinking / Logic), or PHI2604 (Critical Thinking and Ethics). Some institutions offer specialized courses in philosophy of religion, philosophy of science, or political philosophy as second-tier options.