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Philosophy

Philosophy at AC focuses on helping you learn how to think and communicate in a serious in disciplined way about things that matter, regardless of your ultimate career and life path.

Course Decriptions

Select a course below to see full descriptions. (#) Indicates amount of credits per course

An introduction to some of the central problems of philosophy, specifically in the study of metaphysics (the nature of reality) and epistemology (the nature of knowledge and justification). These fields are approached by addressing particular issues, such as skepticism, personal identity, the nature of the mind and its relation to the body, and free will and determinism.

Prerequisite(s):

ENGL 099

Transfer to:

UBC PHIL 101 (3); ALEX PHIL 100 (3) & ALEX PHIL 110 (3) = UBC PHIL 100 (6), SFU PHIL 100 (3), B-Hum, UVIC PHIL 1XX (1.5); ALEX PHIL 100 (3) & ALEX PHIL 110 (3) = UVIC PHIL 100 (3), UNBC PHIL 1XX (3), TRU PHIL 1100 (3)

An introduction to the central problems of ethics such as the nature of right and wrong, the objectivity or subjectivity of moral judgments, the relativity or absolutism of values, the nature of human freedom and responsibility. The course also considers general moral views such as utilitarianism, theories or rights and specific obligations, and the ethics of virtue. These theories are applied to particular moral problems such as abortion, punishment, distributive justice, freedom of speech, and racial and sexual equality.

Prerequisite(s):

ENGL 099

Transfer to:

UBC PHIL 102 (3); ALEX PHIL 100 (3) & ALEX PHIL 110 (3) = UBC PHIL 100 (6), SFU PHIL 120 (3), UVIC ALEX PHIL 100 (3) & ALEX PHIL 110 (3) = UVIC PHIL 100 (3), UNBC PHIL 1XX (3), TRU PHIL 1XXX (3); TRU PHIL 1021 (3) OL

This course is a survey of skills for good reasoning, including argument analysis, basic logic and probability, and scientific methodology. It covers a wide range of real and imaginary examples from everyday life and from science. The overall purpose of the course is to equip students to think critically about evidence. Evidence given in support of a conclusion is an argument, so the course focuses on the reconstruction and evaluation of different kinds of arguments. It also covers hypothesis testing, and the design and interpretation of experiments.

Prerequisite(s):

ENGL 098

Transfer to:

UBC PHIL 120 (3), SFU PHIL 105 (3), Q/B-Soc/Sci, UVIC PHIL 201 (1.5), UNBC PHIL 200 (3), TRU PHIL 1110 (3),

*This English requirement for this course will increase to ENGL 099, effective Fall 2024

An examination of central problems of metaphysics such as space and time, universals and particulars, substance, identity and individuation and personal identity.

Prerequisite(s):

ENGL 099, One of: PHIL 100, PHIL 110, or PHIL 120 (B-)

Transfer to:

UBC PHIL 2nd (3), SFU PHIL 203 (3), UVIC PHIL 252 (1.5), UNBC PHIL 2XX (3), TRU PHIL 2150 (3)

*This English requirement for this course will increase to ENGL 100, effective Fall 2024

This course will examine what it means to be a global citizen from the perspective of individual (consumer), corporate (organizational), and government moral responsibilities. Students will explore contemporary global ethics issues through readings in classic and contemporary texts, considering a broad range of topics such as environmental ethics, human rights, first-world vs. third-world relations, war, terrorism, humanitarian aid, social media and information technologies, and other timely topics, as they arise.

Prerequisite(s):

ENGL 099, PHIL 110

Transfer to:

UBC PHIL 235 (3), SFU PHIL 121 (3), UVIC PHIL 2XX (1.5), UNBC PHIL 2XX (3), TRU PHIL 2210 (3)

*This English requirement for this course will increase to ENGL 100, effective Fall 2024

Faculty

Learning Methods

Students learn through multi-media, practical exercises and lectures, developing their critical thinking skills through in-class debates, small discussions and philosophical essays.

Career Outlook

Philosophy grads’ ability to analyze, evaluate, construct, and articulate reasoning opens careers ranging from law to teaching, to business, to non-profit organizations and government.

Resources

The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (SEP) is written, edited, and reviewed by leaders in various branches of philosophy.

All its articles meet North American academic standards and the body of work is constantly growing. Every entry contains a link to its complete archival history with information on how to cite that entry.

You can find out information about any philosophical topic as well as many famous philosophers on this site.

plato.stanford.edu

The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy provides free, open access to detailed, scholarly information on key topics and philosophers in all areas of philosophy.

The staff of 30 editors and approximately 300 authors hold doctorate degrees and are professors at colleges and universities around the world, most notably from English-speaking countries.

iep.utm.edu

Early Modern Texts provides versions of some classics of early modern philosophy, and a few from the 19th century, prepared with a view to making them easier to read while leaving intact the main arguments, doctrines, and lines of thought.

earlymoderntexts.com

Think philosophy and philosophers are dry and boring? Think again! Enjoy these ironic and humorous comics about life, the universe, and the general weirdness that is human existence.

existentialcomics.com

News and views about philosophy, the academic profession, academic freedom, intellectual culture…and a bit of poetry.

leiterreports.typepad.com

News for and about the Philosophy profession.

dailynous.com

Alexander College acknowledges that the land on which we usually gather is the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work in this territory.

Alexander College acknowledges that the land on which we usually gather is the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work in this territory.