Philosophy syllabus, dot point by dot point
Every dot point in the TAS Philosophy course document, in syllabus order, with a focused answer for each. Open any dot point for the answer, exam-style questions and links to related points.
Epistemology
Section overview →Is the foundation of knowledge sensory experience or pure reason?
What is knowledge, and does the justified true belief account survive the Gettier problem?
Can we be certain of anything, or do Cartesian and Humean scepticism show the limits of knowledge?
Ethics
Section overview →Are moral claims objectively true, or do they merely express attitudes or cultural conventions?
How do consequentialism, deontology and virtue ethics each decide what makes an action right?
Free Will and Determinism
Section overview →If everything is caused by prior events, can we ever act freely or be morally responsible?
If our choices are determined, can anyone deserve punishment or be held morally responsible?
Life, the Universe and Everything
Section overview →Does the existence and origin of the universe require a first cause or necessary being?
Does the order and apparent fine-tuning of the universe point to a designer?
Can the existence of a wholly good, all-powerful God be reconciled with the suffering in the world?
Logic and Critical Reasoning
Section overview →What makes an argument good, and how do validity and soundness differ?
What are the common informal fallacies, and why do they make reasoning fail?
Metaphysics
Section overview →What makes you the same person over time, your body, your memories, or something else?
Philosophy of Mind
Section overview →Are mental states just behaviour, or are they defined by the functional role they play?
If mind and body are distinct substances, how can they possibly affect each other?
Is the mind simply the brain, with mental events nothing more than physical processes?
The Good Life
Section overview →What makes a human life go well, pleasure, desire-satisfaction, or objective flourishing?