PHI 211 - Introduction to Philosophy (3 Cr)
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Topic outline
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Professor: Dr. Roy Clouser
Need help: CLI Help Desk (helpdesk@christianleaders.net)
This is the first class of the philosophy track. This track will be ever expanding at Christian Leaders Institute. This track will be perfect for those who want to lay a firm foundation for life, ministry studies and masters level study.
Overview
This class examines big questions philosophers have asked about reality, being, God, cosmology, reason, mind, heart human identity, time, and ethics. The class will explore various answers offered by secular and Christian thinkers in various cultures throughout history.Outcomes
- Identify some areas of perennial inquiry by philosophers, such as ontology (being), epistemology (knowing), logic (valid argumentation, ethics (morality), the universe and time (cosmology).
- Know some major philosophers throughout history and their contribution to philosophy.
- Understand and evaluate some of the most influential claims of various philosophers.
- Discern how concepts and ideas are rooted in different worldviews and cultural assumptions.
- Grasp and articulate distinctively Christian answers to important philosophical questions.
ResourcesThis course includes resources from many books and articles. You will read original authors. All required material is included in the online course. No book purchases are needed.
Assignments
View all online lectures and read all articles in each topic. CLI keeps track of whether you do this. After doing the required activities, take the quiz based on those activities (100% of grade).Quizzes
Quizzes will allow for two attempts. The average of these two attempts will be your final grade for the given quiz.
Important note: Once all course quizzes have been taken AND the final feedback quiz has been completed, you will receive a final grade for the course, which will be recorded on your transcript. If a course allows more than one attempt, but you've completed at least one-attempt on each quiz and submitted the final feedback thus receiving a final grade, you will not be able to update that final grade by attempting a quiz again afterward. Once your final grade is recorded on your transcript, it will not be updated based on additional quiz attempts.
Grading Scale
A 95-100% A- 90-94% B+ 87-89% B 83-86% B- 80-82%
C+ 77-79% C 73-76% C- 70-72% D+ 67-69% D 63-66% D- 60-62% F 0-59%
Your average grade for all assignments in the class must be at least 60%.
Otherwise, you will fail the class and will receive no course credit.Deadline: You have 180 days to finish the course. Complete all assignments before the final deadline, or you will be automatically withdrawn from the course and all coursework will be removed. You will have to start over and retake the class to receive credit.
Note: This course was formerly called Philosophy 101.
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with reality, existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind and language.
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Welcome to the course!
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In this unit, we look at the structure of the philosophical arguments. This is the basis for doing philosophy as a careful thinker.
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In this unit we turn our attention to the ancient Greeks who, one could say, invented the thing we call philosophy.
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In this unit we dip our toes into the waters of Ontology, or the philosophy of being.
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The Question of God
One of the "Big Questions" that philosophy addresses is the existence of God. God, by definition, is not visible nor is God readily apparent to everyone. So does God exist? We take a look at the philosophical arguments in this unit.
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The Question of Epistemology
In this unit we try to gain a little understanding of what it means to say I know this or that.
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What It Means to Be Human
In this unit we delve into the issue of anthropology or the understanding of what it means to be human. In our world today, this question is being more and more debated as we come to grips with our identity. The Christian faith offers a unique understanding of humanity as a creation of God in His own image. We will devote some time to unpacking that idea.
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What is Time?
In this unit we turn our attention to the concept of time. What is time? Is it part of the creation of God or is time something that actually existed before time began? Let's ponder that together in this unit.
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The Philosophy of Soren Kierkegaard
Soren Kierkegaard is known as the Father of the Modern Existential Movement in philosophy. He was a Danish Lutheran Christian whose writings have shaped a great deal of the thought of the last 100 years. -
The Mind, The Heart, and The Soul
In this unit we will listen in on some discussions of what it means to speak of the heart, the soul, and/or the mind from a Christian point of view. -
The Study of Ethics
In this unit we will be introduced to the sometimes very difficult area of Christian Ethics. One finds many voices competing for attention today. We listen to a few of them to get our bearings as Christian thinkers. -
Herman Dooyeweerd
Herman Dooyeweerd was an influential Christian philosopher from the Netherlands. His ideas on a Christian viewpoint for philosophical reflection took a unique turn. His thought is worth listening to and pondering for our own instruction in how to think as a Christian. -
The course has ended. Please make sure:
- All assignments have been completed and submitted for grading.
- All quizzes have been completed.
If your work is incomplete, it is considered a drop, and you will have to take the class again in order to receive credit.
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Our staff will be using this time to review your work. Your grade should appear on your "My Home Page" in the "Course Overview" section. Please contact Helpdesk if you have any questions or did not receive your grade.