Philosophy

This course is an introduction to the major areas of philosophical thought including metaphysics, the investigation and analysis of what is real; epistemology; ethics, the investigation into how we can live a “good life”; and esthetics.

The course examines the major “question” or “issues” addressed by religion in general. It then examines major, representative systems of religious belief and practice, as well as their historical and sociological development. These religious systems are analyzed using a “world view outline” which addresses different aspects of religious belief and practice, such as the Absolute, the Human Problem, the Human Solution, Rituals, the Meaning of History, Life After Death, Community and Ethics, and Attitudes Toward Other Religions.

This course examines standards of professional conduct, values identification, moral development, and the process of making moral decisions. Major contemporary ethical issues are examined. The emphasis is on acquiring the skills necessary to be able to guide oneself and others in the process of ethical decision-making.