Philosophy and Literature 1 (Truth & Beauty)

The first trimester of Philosophy and Literature will focus on the nature of truth. We will, in the trimester’s first half, study short passages from three of the world’s greatest philosophers (Plato, Descartes, and William James) and read poetry and fiction that deals with the questions they raise about the nature of truth. One element of the course will be actual formal debates. In the second half of the term, we will focus on beauty and art, applying the thoughts of Dewey, Tolstoy, and Santayana to everything from literature to paintings and sculpture to rap music.