Phil 100: Introduction to Philosophy
Fall term 2026
This course provides an introduction to a range of topics in philosophy, mostly through the lens of the Western, analytic tradition. We will read writings by some major historical figures (including Aristotle, Descartes, Hume, and Kant) as well as by some recent philosophers who have been particularly influential. Questions that we will grapple with include: What is it to think, and can computers think? In what sense do we really exist? What is it to be an ethical person, and how do we organize society in an ethical way?
Schedule of readings
INTRODUCTION: WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?
Thurs 1st October [no reading]
MODULE 1: THEORETICAL PHILOSOPHY
Tues 6th October — Aristotle, “On interpretation” (c. 350 BCE), §§1-9
Additional resources: "Square of Opposition" (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy) and Using Venn diagrams to understand syllogisms.
Thurs 8th October — Frege (1882), “On the scientific justification of a conceptual notation”
Additional resources: Sentences with one quantifier and A quick introduction to logic (youtube).
Tues 13th October — Turing (1950), “Computing machinery and intelligence”
Thurs 15th October — Searle (1980), “The Chinese Room” (excerpt from Minds, Brains, and Programs)
Tues 20th October — Somers (2025), “The case that AI is thinking” (The New Yorker, 3rd November 2025)
Thurs 22nd October — Descartes (1641), Meditations on First Philosophy, meditations 1 and 2
Tues 27th October — Hume (1739), A Treatise of Human Nature, Book 1, Part 4, §6 “Of personal identity”
Thurs 29th October — Parfit (1984), Reasons and Persons, Part 3, §10 “What we believe ourselves to be”
Tues 3rd November — **Review**
Thurs 5th November — **Midterm**
MODULE 2: PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY
Tues 10th November — Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics (c. 350 BCE), Book II, §§1-4
Thurs 12th November — Kant (1785), Grounding of the Metaphysics of Morals, §1
Tues 17th November — Langton (1992), “Duty and Desolation”
Thurs 19th November — ** No class **
Tues 24th November — Singer (1972), “Famine, affluence, and morality”
Thurs 26th November — ** Thanksgiving **
Tues 1st December — Rawls (1999), A Theory of Justice, Part I, §24
Thurs 3rd December — Garfield (2015), Engaging Buddhism, §9, sections 1-4
Tues 8th December -- **Review**
Thurs 10th December — ** Final **
Thurs 1st October [no reading]
MODULE 1: THEORETICAL PHILOSOPHY
Tues 6th October — Aristotle, “On interpretation” (c. 350 BCE), §§1-9
Additional resources: "Square of Opposition" (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy) and Using Venn diagrams to understand syllogisms.
Thurs 8th October — Frege (1882), “On the scientific justification of a conceptual notation”
Additional resources: Sentences with one quantifier and A quick introduction to logic (youtube).
Tues 13th October — Turing (1950), “Computing machinery and intelligence”
Thurs 15th October — Searle (1980), “The Chinese Room” (excerpt from Minds, Brains, and Programs)
Tues 20th October — Somers (2025), “The case that AI is thinking” (The New Yorker, 3rd November 2025)
Thurs 22nd October — Descartes (1641), Meditations on First Philosophy, meditations 1 and 2
Tues 27th October — Hume (1739), A Treatise of Human Nature, Book 1, Part 4, §6 “Of personal identity”
Thurs 29th October — Parfit (1984), Reasons and Persons, Part 3, §10 “What we believe ourselves to be”
Tues 3rd November — **Review**
Thurs 5th November — **Midterm**
MODULE 2: PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY
Tues 10th November — Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics (c. 350 BCE), Book II, §§1-4
Thurs 12th November — Kant (1785), Grounding of the Metaphysics of Morals, §1
Tues 17th November — Langton (1992), “Duty and Desolation”
Thurs 19th November — ** No class **
Tues 24th November — Singer (1972), “Famine, affluence, and morality”
Thurs 26th November — ** Thanksgiving **
Tues 1st December — Rawls (1999), A Theory of Justice, Part I, §24
Thurs 3rd December — Garfield (2015), Engaging Buddhism, §9, sections 1-4
Tues 8th December -- **Review**
Thurs 10th December — ** Final **