Introduction to Philosophy: Virtues, Social Roles, and Cosmic Visions

Through the careful reading of ancient philosophical and religious texts, we will learn how virtues, social roles, and cosmic visions shape how we conceive what it means to live our lives well.  As we go through the course, we will consider the nature and significance of many different VIRTUES, including courage, fairness, honor, loyalty, love of truth, humility, tolerance, gratitude, moderation, love, sympathy, faith, impartiality, apathy, commitment, confidence, confession, trust, skepticism, generosity, etc. We will ask: Why should we care about these traits?  How should we cultivate them?  How do these different virtues fit together and balance one another?  Additionally, we will consider how the specific SOCIAL ROLES people occupy in different times and places shape the virtues they need to cultivate.  Different social roles involve different functions and demand different skills.  Therefore our social roles shape the virtues we need to develop.  Finally, however, we must consider how our COSMIC VISION -- i.e. our vision of the fundamental nature of reality -- helps us to understand, criticize, shape, combine, and transform the social roles we occupy.