Philosophy 251:

Introduction to Philosophy
Dr. Stephen H. Daniel
• Get a syllabus before or after class
• Get a textbook
• Locate your graduate instructor
• Ty Camp: sections 502, 503, 508
• Benjamin Craig: sections 504, 505, 507
• Michael Long: sections 501, 506, 509
 To Do Well in the Course
 Read the textbook before class
 Make an outline that combines notes

from your readings and class notes

 Website: http://philosophy.tamu.edu/

~sdaniel/251sy07c.html
 Visit the instructor and TAs during office
hours or call or email us
 Misconceptions of Philosophy

 Philosophy deals only with abstractions;

it is not concrete or practical
 Philosophy is just a game arguing about
words
 Philosophy is only an expression of
personal opinions
 How Philosophy Differs From
Religion, Science, and Law
• Philosophy challenges believers to explain and
defend claims of religious truth
• Philosophy questions the assumptions and
procedures of science
• Philosophy does not merely accept social
beliefs or laws; it asks how they are justified
 Philosophy: the Pursuit of Wisdom

• Born of wonder:
• Why are we here? Does God exist? Why
is there evil? Do plants have feelings?
What is happiness?
• Aim: to clarify ideas and evaluate the
reasons given to justify beliefs:
• What do you mean? How do you know?
 A Little Logic
 A philosophical argument aims to provide
reasons (premises) that make a conclusion
probable or necessary
 A sound argument is deductive and valid
(the conclusion follows necessarily) and its
premises are true
 Beware of prejudicial reasoning and
criticizing arguments because of who
defends them