Values and the Human Condition
Philosophy · 3 hrs Lecture
Offered: Fall/Winter Only
No prerequisites listed, you can take this course without prior coursework.
Where PHIL-1002 counts
Counts toward 3 more as one option among several, not as a course you must take:
Read from the departments' own calendar pages, where 71 of 141 programs are only partly machine-readable, so treat these as a minimum rather than the full list. Confirm with an academic advisor.
Description
This course introduces philosophical inquiry by examining how some philosophers in the Western Philosophical tradition understand human nature and the values that provide competing accounts of how to live well. Questions addressed may include: What is it to be human? What is the good life? Are human beings uniquely rational? Are we inherently independent or social? Is human value dependent upon God? Do we have moral and/or political responsibilities? Can we acquire the knowledge we need to achieve the good life? Is there life after death? Philosophers may include: Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Mill, Kant, Kierkegaard, Sartre as well as contemporary philosophers.
Restrictions
Students may not hold credit for this course and PHIL-1001 | PHIL-1003.
Note
PHIL-1301(6) and either PHIL-1001(6) or PHIL-1002(6) may be taken for degree credit.
From the 2026-27 undergraduate calendar. Always verify details on WebAdvisor or with an academic advisor before registering.