PHIL 1.21 An Introduction to the Problems of Philosophy Through Literature
Literature has long looked to philosophy for ideas, and philosophy has returned the favor by using on literature as a forum to explore those same ideas. In the spirit of this relationship, this course introduces traditional philosophical questions through literature. These include the demands of morality, the conditions of love, the existence of God, the possibility of knowing other minds, the existence of moral dilemmas, and the authority of tradition. Each will be introduced through a work of literature—a novel, a short story, a play, a film, an opera—and then expounded on in a work of philosophy. We will be interested in both better understanding these issues and assessing the possibilities of symbiosis between philosophy and art.