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Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL101 | 3 Credits
Introduction to Philosophy is a first step towards understanding the world, knowledge, and existence as a whole. In this course, you will examine the history of Western thought — from Greek philosophy to the present — and dive into different philosophical topics.
Professor: Dr. G
About Introduction to Philosophy
What You’ll Learn
The Introduction to Philosophy online course is critical in helping you step into the field of philosophical inquiry. After defining philosophy and identifying the major fields of philosophical study, our Intro to Philosophy course examines the history of Western thought, from the famous Greek philosophers up to the cutting-edge intellectuals of today.
- Define and explain what philosophy is; describe the major branches of philosophical inquiry and their key questions.
- Engage in the activity of philosophizing; present, analyze, and evaluate philosophical ideas in writing.
- Discuss the main ideas of ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary philosophy.
- Examine the approaches of major philosophers to metaphysical problems.
- Analyze and evaluate the views of major philosophical thinkers on the nature of knowledge.
- Analyze and evaluate the ethical theories of influential philosophers.
- Analyze and evaluate the influential approaches to political philosophy.
- Examine influential arguments regarding the existence of God.
- Examine the major themes and arguments of feminist philosophy.
- Analyze the key tenets of postcolonial thought in Africa, the Americas, and Asia.
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WANT US TO CHECK?Course Details
This course is a critical introduction to the discipline of philosophy. After defining philosophy and identifying the major fields of philosophical study, the course examines the history of Western intellectual thought, from the famous Greek philosophers up to the cutting-edge intellectuals of today. Along the way, the course delves into various thematic topics, including metaphysics, epistemology, free will and determinism, evil and the existence of God, personal identity, ethical values, and political philosophy. The course concludes with an analysis of different perspectives, including feminist philosophy and postcolonial thought.
ACE-Recommended
ACE Code:
OOSL-0060
Flexible Schedule
21-day Average Course Completion
Transferred 4,300 times
$4,800,000 Saved on Tuition
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites to take Introduction to Philosophy.
Course Text
The required eTextbook for this course is included with your course purchase at no additional cost.
- Moore, Brooke Noel and Kenneth Bruder. Philosophy: The Power of Ideas, 11th edition, McGraw-Hill, 2023. ISBN: 9781264296118
Course Checkpoints
Checkpoint 1: Introduction to Philosophy
- Pre-Reading: What Do You Think?
- Chapter 1 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 1
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 2
- Supplemental Videos: Introduction to Philosophy and Philosophical Reasoning (Optional)
- Pathfinder: A Philosophical Toolkit
- Practice Quiz 1
Checkpoint 2: The Pre-Socratics
- Pre-Reading: What Do You Think?
- Chapter 3 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 3
- Supplemental Reading: Presocratic Philosophy (Optional)
- Supplemental Videos: The Pre-Socratics (Optional)
- Practice Quiz 2
Checkpoint 3: Socrates and Plato
- Pre-Reading: What Do You Think?
- Chapter 4 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 4
- Supplemental Videos: Socrates and Plato (Optional)
- Practice Quiz 3
Checkpoint 4: Aristotle
- Chapter 5 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 5
- Supplemental Reading: Aristotle (Optional)
- Supplemental Videos: Aristotle (Optional)
- Practice Quiz 4
Checkpoint 5: Philosophers of the Hellenistic and Christian Eras
- Pre-Reading: What Do You Think?
- Chapter 6 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 6
- Supplemental Videos: Hellenistic and Medieval Philosophy (Optional)
- Pathfinder: Natural Law Theory & U.S. Constitutional Theory
- Practice Quiz 5
Checkpoint 6: The Rise of Modern Metaphysics and Epistemology
- Pre-Reading: What Do You Think?
- Chapter 7 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 7
- Supplemental Videos: Early Modern Metaphysics and Epistemology (Optional)
- Practice Quiz 6
Checkpoint 7: The 18th and 19th Centuries
- Chapter 8 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 8
- Supplemental Videos: The Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries (Optional)
- Practice Quiz 7
Checkpoint 8: The Continental Tradition
- Pre-Reading: What Do You Think?
- Chapter 9 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 9
- Supplemental Videos: The Twentieth Century: The Continental Tradition (Optional)
- Practice Quiz 8
Checkpoint 9: The Pragmatic and Analytic Traditions
- Chapter 10 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 10
- Supplemental Videos: The Twentieth Century: The Pragmatic and Analytic Traditions (Optional)
- Practice Quiz 9
Checkpoint 10: Moral Philosophy
- Pre-Reading: What Do You Think?
- Chapter 11 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 11
- Supplemental Videos: Moral Philosophy (Optional)
- Practice Quiz 10
Checkpoint 11: Political Philosophy
- Pre-Reading: What Do You Think?
- Chapter 12 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 12
- Supplemental Videos: Political Philosophy (Optional)
- Pathfinder: Five Main Ethical Frameworks
- Practice Quiz 11
Checkpoint 12: Philosophy and Belief in God
- Pre-Reading: What Do You Think?
- Chapter 14 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 14
- Supplemental Videos: Philosophy and Belief in God (Optional)
- Practice Quiz 12
Checkpoint 13: Feminist Philosophy
- Chapter 15 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 15
- Supplemental Videos: Feminist Philosophy (Optional)
- Practice Quiz 13
Checkpoint 14: Postcolonial Thought
- Chapter 17 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 17
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 18, pp. 515–523
- Supplemental Reading: Colonialism (Optional)
- Practice Quiz 14
Assignments & Grading
Your score provides a percentage score and letter grade for each course. A passing percentage is 70% or higher.
Assignments for this course include:
- 14 Checkpoints
- 3 Benchmarks
What You’ll Need
- A reliable computer or laptop
- Stable internet connection
- Web browser
- Basic computer skills
- Any required course materials
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Course Professor
Dr. G
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3 credits
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Your Career in Critical Thinking & Culture
Humanities courses explore thought and culture — think everything from literature to history, philosophy to art, and film to cultural studies. These courses help you understand creative and intellectual arts through a fresh lens and foster a deeper appreciation for the richness of human expression and civilization.
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Communications Specialist, UX Researcher, Cultural Heritage Manager, Museum Educator, Human Rights Advocate, International Development Officer, Content Strategist, Ethics Consultant, Grant Writer, Higher Education Administrator
How this course sets you up for success:
Introduction to Philosophy will drive you to examine the history of Western thought and shape your framework of thought. Whether you go on to work in the humanities or another field, these critical thinking skills can open doors to new possibilities.
3 Credits
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