A goal of this class is to learn how to critically analyze philosophical arguments. This involves being able to provide clear, concise, and comprehensive accounts of the philosophical issue being addressed by an argument, the philosophical position being supported by the argument, and the philosophical reasoning used to justify the position. A clear, concise, and comprehensive philosophical analysis helps one know how to criticize a philosophical argument, how to assess its strengths and weaknesses.

To achieve this goal our class discussions will focus on key Discussion Questions designed to help one learn how to give clear, concise, and comprehensive accounts of philosophical issues, positions, and arguments, and incorporate these analyses into one's criticism's of philosophical argument.

Each week will have one or two Discussion Questions. Our class's online schedule will remind you of each week's Discussion Question(s). Your class notes should document anything that helps you answer each week's Discussion Question(s). Each exam's essay question(s) will be selected from these Discussion Questions. Being able to answer them well will improve your ability to critically analyze the key philosophical arguments we'll be discussing during our class meetings.

Here is the complete list of Discussion Questions:

1) What is the nature of philosophical questions?

2) What is the nature of Philosophy?

3) According to Nagel, what is the Egocentric Predicament?

4) What, according to Nagel, is the Problem of Other Minds? What is Nagel's response to the Problem of Other Minds?

5) What is the philosophical question about the relationship between the mind and the brain? What are the various positions taken in response to the Mind/Body problem?

6) How is Nagel's epistemological skepticism a result of his metaphysical dualism?

7) According to Churchland, what has been neuroscience's impact on the philosophy of mind?

8) What, according to Nagel, is the philosophical question about free will? What are the various positions taken in response to the issue?

9) What, according to Nagel, are the moral implications of determinism?

10) Explain Churchland's neurobiological concept of self-control.

11) According to Nagel, the basis of morality is a belief that good and harm to particular people (or animals) is good or bad not just from their point of view, but from a more general point of view." What does he mean by this? How is this, according to Nagel, a matter of consistency?

12) According to Churchland, how do attachment and trust anchor morality?

13) What is Nagel's account of death?

14) Noting that, "eventually the solar system will cool or the universe will wind down or collapse, and all trace of your efforts will vanish," Nagel suggests this poses a problem; for it would seem to suggest that "nothing really matters," that one's life is meaningless. Please explain this problem, the three ways Nagel proposes one can address this problem, and Nagel's reply to each.

15) What is the problem Thomas Nagel identifies when addressing the meaning of life? According to this reading, how do Daniel Dennett, Patricia Churchland, and The Dalai Lama provide an alternative to Nagel's account?