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Washtenaw Community College Humanities Department. |
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Philosophy » General Information
Do we possess a Self or Soul? If so, what is its nature? Is the world or universe as it appears, or is reality different than what the senses suggest? Questioning is central to Philosophy. In fact, Aristotle (384-322 BCE), one of the earliest philosophers in the Western tradition, wrote that, "Philosophy begins with wonder." As such, philosophers are often best known not for the answers or solutions they propose, but rather for the questions they ask. This is certainly true of another famous philosopher, David Hume (1711-1776 CE), whose questions concerning the principle form of scientific reasoning—induction—interest philosophers to this day. In philosophy classes one will not only learn to question the basic assumptions concerning fundamental fields of human activity and inquiry—such as ethics, art, science, and education—but one will also explore the answers raised in response to these questions. Of particular interest will be the reasons or arguments marshaled in support of these answers. Philosophers are never satisfied with merely stating a position. They also strive to show their position to be justified or worthy of belief. In studying this process of justification or argumentation, central strategies of reasoning will be explored. Learning these strategies will develop skills critical to thinking. |