An introduction to Philosophical traditions from around the world, with emphasis on how a Philosophical tradition may be a good way of living your life on a day to day basis. We’ll discuss Aristotelianism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Stoicism as competing proposals for what is true about and what is good for, and how you live your life. Students are encouraged to cultivate specific intellectual virtues such as curiosity, carefulness, autonomy, humility, and open-mindedness. In all discussions, we are truth-seeking and promoting what is good. By the end of the course, students will argue for which is the best philosophical way of life. This course is designed according to the Philosophy As a Way of Life pedagogy, whose key principles are (i) the pursuit of a good life, (ii) engaging diverse content and peers, (iii) student-led dialogue, and (iv) immersive assignments. After learning about a philosophical way of life, students will live that way of life by doing some daily exercises (for one week) that are based on that philosophical way of life. This twofold approach of study and practice will help students to make informed judgments about which philosophical way of life best gets at what is true about human life and good for human life. The course concludes with a GREAT DEBATE in which most students try to persuade other students (the “judges”) by reasoned argument about which philosophical way of life is best. Throughout the course, students will be introduced to some concepts from Logic, Epistemology, and Metaphysics to help them more fully engage with these competing philosophical proposals for how you should live your life.
PRT 140: Philosophy as a Way of Life
Class Program