This is an archived course. A more recent version may be available at ocw.mit.edu.

Translations*
Archived Versions

Problems of Philosophy

As taught in: Fall 2005

Philosopher in Meditation, by Rembrandt.
Philosopher in Meditation, oil on wood by Rembrandt, 1632; in the Musee du Louvre, Paris. (Image courtesy of the WebMuseum.)

Instructors:

Prof. Sally Haslanger

MIT Course Number:

24.00

Level:

Undergraduate

Course Features

Course Description

The course has two main goals: First, to give you a sense of what philosophers think about and why. This will be done through consideration of some perennial philosophical problems, e.g., the existence of God, reason and faith, personal identity and immortality, freewill, moral responsibility, and standards for moral conduct. We will draw on readings by important figures in the history of philosophy as well as contemporary authors. The second goal is to develop your philosophical skills, and your critical and argumentative skills more generally.


*Some translations represent previous versions of courses.