Crash Course Philosophy

Introduction

• Host: Hank Green
• Sponsor: Squarespace
• Journey into questioning the world
  • Meaning, beauty, source of evils, nature of reality
  • Personal reflection: why you think, feel, and act a certain way

Distinction from Sciences

• Unlike psychology, biology, and other sciences, this course will explore unexplained aspects of the human condition
• Questions raised by chemicals and personal experiences
  • Do chemicals and upbringing define choices? Are choices truly free?
  • Accountability if choices aren't free?

Philosophy Approach

• Not just describing the world but evaluating it
• Setting assumptions aside, questioning everything

Popular Culture References

• Batman and identity
• The Matrix and Rene Descartes

Purpose of Philosophy

• Philosophy as: a more analytical and scientific approach to understanding the world (500 BCE Greece)
  • Differentiate between science (philos) and storytelling (mythos)
• Philosophy: literally “the love of wisdom”
• Initially, philosophy included topics like math, biology, physics, poetry, political science, and astronomy
• Modern division into sciences and philosophy
  • Science searches for answers; philosophy ponders big questions

Main Branches of Philosophy

Metaphysics

• Explorations about the nature of reality
  • Matter and energy, existence of God, nature of self, soul's immortality

Epistemology

• Study of knowledge
• Questions about truth and perception
  • Is the world how we perceive it? What is true? Ways to determine the truth?

Value Theory

• Ethics and Aesthetics
  • Ethics: Study of how humans should live (values, obligations)
  • Aesthetics: Study of beauty and art
  • Objective beauty vs. subjective attraction

Logic

• Toolbox for answering questions systematically
• Avoiding fallacies to maintain philosophical precision

Philosophy in Daily Life

• Practicing philosophy in decisions and arguments (life choices, values)
• Two-step method:
  1. Understand ideas charitably
  2. Critically evaluate the ideas

Final Notes

• Philosophy is not about learning facts but learning how to think
• Success: Formulate and support arguments, understand philosophical reasoning

Next Steps

• Investigating philosophical reasoning and life’s perplexing questions in future lessons

Credits

• Production: PBS Digital Studios
• Graphics: Thought Cafe

Sponsor

• Squarespace: Create websites, blogs, or online stores with customer support