Bulletin description: This course studies basic topics of philosophy, such as the nature of mind, criteria of knowledge, justification of ethical values, and the existence of God.
This course satisfies the pathways flexible core at Baruch, the learning goals for the pathways can be found here. It is also part of the base curriculum in Philosophy at Baruch, the learning goals for the Philosophy Department can be found here.
In this course students will learn to:
- Identify, understand, and express key philosophical positions in a variety of philosophical genres (including epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and political philosophy)
- Identify and understand key philosophical positions of several intellectual eras and philosophical traditions
- Understand and critically evaluate (both orally and in writing) philosophical arguments
- Articulate one’s own stance on philosophical problems and defend one’s stance by analyzing relevant philosophical arguments
- Apply philosophical concepts and modes of reasoning to contemporary issues
- Reflect critically and empathetically on one’s own and others’ rationality, freedom, identity and moral, political, and epistemic agency
Bulletin description: This course examines the principles of clear and accurate thought, including sound and valid arguments and methods of scientific reasoning in moral and political argument.
This course satisfies the pathways flexible core at Baruch, the learning goals for the pathways can be found here. It is also part of the base curriculum in Philosophy at Baruch, the learning goals for the Philosophy Department can be found here.
At the end of this course student will be able to:
- Describe the notions of validity and soundness
- Distinguish valid from invalid arguments
- Distinguish inductive from deductive arguments
- Perform proofs in propositional logic
- Understand the basics of first order logic
- Translate natural language sentences into formal logic
- Construct truth tables
- Demonstrate natural deduction methods of proof
- Apply logical reasoning to ethical issues and cases
Bulletin description: This course is a study of the major ethical theories, such as utilitarianism and intuitionism, and of specific moral problems, such as abortion, suicide, euthanasia, war crimes, and genocide.
This course satisfies the pathways flexible core at Baruch, the learning goals for the pathways can be found here. It is also part of the base curriculum in Philosophy at Baruch, the learning goals for the Philosophy Department can be found here.
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand and articulate various theories concerning the nature and status of morality, including the truth or falsity of moral propositions.
- Understand and articulate the basic arguments underlying normative ethical theories and theories of justice
- Both generate and criticize the arguments and underlying reasons for and against each of the theories above within the context of ethical reasoning and deliberation, including issues in applied ethics and contemporary social debates
