Amy Berg

An introduction to moral and political theorizing, ranging across levels of abstraction from the more concrete (such as: abortion, war, the duty to vote) to the more rarified (such as: justice, goodness, the origins of norms). Previously offered as PHIL 101. Mutually exclusive with PHIL 101, credit cannot be earned for both classes. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for PHIL 160 if student has credit for PHIL 101.

This course covers questions of the meaning of life (whether life has some kind of cosmic purpose or significance) and of meaning in life (whether an individual person’s life can be meaningful and, if so, how). Other topics considered may include historical, religious, and literary perspectives on the meaning of life, as well as and meaning’s relationship to other values, such as well-being and morality.

This is a practicum in pedagogy, which involves working closely with the instructor of a philosophy course to observe as well as assist in teaching. The primary aim is to cultivate and practice teaching skills in a real classroom environment. Repeatable for Credit.