Prologue
This Introduction to Philosophy: An Anthology is a collection of essential readings from a wide variety of contemporary writers and philosophers designed to help students unfamiliar with philosophy understand that they know more than they think. Where you were born, the environment you are raised in, the work you do, the languages you speak, and the beliefs you hold shape your view of the world. The questions you ask in those spaces and the answers you give to those questions depend in part on your lived experiences in those spaces. An important element of this open education resource (OER), being grounded through a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) lens, is designed to help students grapple with philosophical concepts in a way that links directly to their own lived experience. Why is this important? Well, incorporating deeper discussions involving inequities in our society can allow students to broaden their perspectives and experiences beyond what they already know. From a young age, we all tend to ask our parents and teachers a lot of questions: “Why this?” “What about that?” “Who am I?” When we add a DEI lens, we broaden our understanding and perspective to be more inclusive and equitable. So, when you approach the study of philosophy through this OER, you are entering the land of many questions and answers, but mostly, questions about the self, searching for reasons for our values and beliefs, and understanding good reasons for our answers by making connections to each other.
This OER asks students to think about how they think and how they know what they know. Students will start by challenging assumptions and flexing those critical thinking skills we all have—not just in an abstract way but in a practical, everyday way. Students will explore the branches of philosophy, including metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and aesthetics, by asking questions like: “Where did we come from?” “How do we know right from wrong?” “Who are we?” “Why are we here?” “How should we live?” “What does “a good life” mean?” and “Why do bad things happen?”
Throughout this OER, students will practice recognizing and assessing our all-too-human assumptions, cultivating arguments, and learning to justify their beliefs and values clearly and rationally by asking deeper, more probing questions they face in their lives and the world. Even if we disagree with an argument, when we examine branches of philosophy, including metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, aesthetics, and social and political philosophy, we can learn from other people and, through their experiences, to respect differing opinions or views. Engaging in this philosophical work means we can agree to disagree by respectfully listening and reading.
