Imagine you were asked to lead a discussion with some smart people (some of them scientists) who had never taken a philosophy course or read philosophy, but wanted to know about it. You get three lessons; what would you teach?
Well, I was in that situation this summer! And I had alot of fun going over these topics which 1) I haven’t thought about for a long time and 2) are well out of my usual wheelhouse, but important for my own understanding nonetheless. What would you include?
Lesson I: Logic and Epistemology
Lesson II: Metaphysics and the Soul
Lesson III: Ethics, Politics, and Aesthetics
I have found that ethics is the subdiscipline within philosophy that people are naturally most interested in talking about, so I saved that for last. Aristotle said people cannot help wanting to talk about justice, it is simply part of our nature. As with many things Aristotle said- it’s still true.
Dear Chris, I'll read it with interest and (no doubt) profit. A first thought about where and how to begin: you're more scholastic (or modern) than premodern, or Straussian.
This sounds quite elaborate & academic! So was it a success, Chris?