Common Course Outline

Course discipline/number/title PHIL 1114: Introduction to Philosophy

Catalog Description

Credits 3
Hours/Week 3
Prerequisites (Course discipline/number) None
Other requirements None
MnTC Goals (if any) Goal 6/The Humanities, the Arts, Literature, and Philosophy

Course Description

This course introduces students to the main problems and methods of philosophy. Significant areas of focus include ethical and aesthetic values, the nature of reality and knowledge, logic and critical reasoning, and global history of philosophy. Students will come away with an expanded understanding of the human condition and human cultures, especially concerning behavior, ideas, and values expressed in works of philosophy. They will have ample opportunity to practice and improve their abilities to read, write, and reason critically.

Date Last Revised (Month, year)

November, 2022

Outline of Major Content Areas

  1. Value Theory
    1. Core concepts and principles
    2. Types of value
    3. Methods of evaluation
  2. Epistemology and Metaphysics
    1. Core concepts and principles
    2. Standards and limits of knowledge
    3. Ways in which cultural embeddedness affects theories of knowledge and reality
  3. History of Philosophy
  4. Survey of multiple philosophers or schools of philosophical thought
  5. Historical context and/or development of philosophical thought across cultures and time
  6. Logic and Philosophy of Science
  7. Core concepts and principles
  8. Standards of rational thought
  9. Methods of critical thinking

Learning Outcomes (General)

The student will be able to:

  1. Analyze and reflect on abstract philosophical concepts.
  2. Identify the major areas of philosophical inquiry.
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of general forms of justification and ability to evaluate arguments in the public sphere.
  4. Demonstrate an appreciation of multiculturalism and understanding of other worldviews.
  5. Formulate and defend original philosophical positions.

Learning Outcomes (MnTC)

Goal 6/The Humanities, the Arts, Literature, and Philosophy

The student will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate awareness of the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities.
  2. Understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within a historical and social context.
  3. Respond critically to works in the arts and humanities.
Goal 8

The student will be able to:

  1. Describe and analyze political, economic, and cultural elements, which influence relations of states and societies in their historical and contemporary dimensions.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of cultural, social, religious and linguistic differences.
  3. Understand the role of a world citizen and the responsibility world citizen’s share for their common global future.

Methods for Evaluation of Student Learning

Methods may include but are not limited to:

RCTC Core Outcome(s)

This course contributes to meeting the following RCTC Core Outcome(s):

Critical Thinking
Students will think systematically and explore information thoroughly before accepting or formulating a position or conclusion.

Special Information (if any)

None