Introduction to Philosophy
Overview
Instructor: TBD
Course Code: ITP-101
Semester: Spring 2025
Course Introduction:
Welcome to “Introduction to Philosophy: Exploring Truth, Justice, and the Human Condition”, a foundational course that will introduce you to the rich and diverse field of philosophy. This class is designed to invite you into the timeless questions that have preoccupied human thought: What is the meaning of life? What does it mean to be human? What is justice? How do we know what is true? As we seek answers to these questions, philosophy becomes not only an academic pursuit but a spiritual and ethical journey.
In this course, we will explore the major areas of philosophy—metaphysics, ethics, epistemology, political philosophy, and philosophy of religion—through the lens of faith and reason. Our progressive Catholic seminary setting offers a unique opportunity to integrate these philosophical inquiries with the wisdom of the Catholic tradition, especially as it speaks to issues of justice, human dignity, and the common good.
This course is not simply a survey of philosophical history. We will engage with thinkers from Plato and Aristotle to Aquinas, Descartes, and Kant, but also bring in contemporary voices like Simone Weil, Frantz Fanon, and Judith Butler. From classical Greek philosophy to postmodern thought, our discussions will focus on how philosophy addresses the pressing questions of our time—questions about inequality, ethics in a pluralistic world, and the pursuit of truth in an era of misinformation.
What You’ll Learn
- Gain a foundational understanding of key philosophical concepts and thinkers.
- Develop critical thinking skills to engage with complex ethical, metaphysical, and epistemological issues.
- Analyze the relationship between faith, reason, and philosophy in the Catholic tradition.
- Reflect on how philosophical inquiry can contribute to the Church’s mission of social justice and human dignity.
- Explore how philosophy equips us to respond thoughtfully and compassionately to contemporary moral and existential challenges.
Key Topics:
- What is Philosophy? The Love of Wisdom and the Search for Meaning
- Plato’s Allegory of the Cave: Knowledge, Truth, and Reality
- Aristotle’s Ethics: Virtue, Happiness, and the Good Life
- Augustine and Aquinas: Faith and Reason in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition
- Modern Philosophy: Descartes, Skepticism, and the Rise of Individualism
- Existentialism: Freedom, Responsibility, and the Human Condition
- Feminist and Liberation Philosophies: Voices from the Margins
- The Philosophy of Justice: Rawls, Nussbaum, and Catholic Social Teaching
- Postmodernism and the Crisis of Meaning: Rethinking Truth and Pow
Course Structure:
This course will include lectures, seminar discussions, and critical reflections on key philosophical texts. Weekly readings will consist of classical texts alongside contemporary critiques, allowing us to see the relevance of philosophy in addressing modern-day ethical and social challenges. We will also emphasize the importance of engaging philosophy with an eye toward practical application, asking: How does philosophy help us live more just, ethical, and meaningful lives as Catholics committed to both faith and action?
Assessments will include philosophical essays, class discussions, and a final project where students will apply philosophical reasoning to a contemporary social issue, reflecting on how a progressive Catholic worldview can contribute to solutions grounded in justice, compassion, and truth.
Why This Course Matters:
Philosophy is the art of asking deep questions about ourselves, the world, and God. In a time of moral and existential uncertainty, it is more important than ever to cultivate the critical thinking and spiritual discernment that philosophy offers. This course will help you engage with profound questions of truth, justice, and human dignity, while also preparing you to navigate the ethical complexities of the modern world.
As a student in a progressive Catholic seminary, you are invited to consider how philosophical inquiry can inform your faith journey and your commitment to social justice. Together, we will explore how reason and reflection can deepen our faith and empower us to live in a way that honors both God’s truth and the dignity of every human person.
I am excited to walk this intellectual and spiritual path with you as we discover the wisdom philosophy offers for living a life of faith, justice, and compassion in an ever-changing world.
