Introduction
Philosophy isn’t about memorizing facts or quoting famous names. It’s about thinking critically, questioning the world around us, and engaging deeply with some of the most profound questions ever asked. This book is your invitation to that tradition—a journey through the ancient, Enlightenment, and modern eras, guided by thinkers whose ideas have helped shape how we understand ourselves and the world.
What makes philosophy so powerful is not that it gives us definitive answers, but that it teaches us how to ask better questions. Questions like:
What is the meaning of life, and how do we find purpose?
What is the nature of reality and consciousness—are they just physical phenomena, or is there more?
Does God exist, and if so, what does that mean for how we live?
Do we have free will, or are our choices determined by forces beyond our control?
What are the foundations of morality—how do we know what’s right and wrong?
How do we gain knowledge, and what can we truly know?
These aren’t just abstract puzzles. They influence how we make decisions, how we relate to others, and how we define justice, truth, and identity. In other words, they shape the way we live.
This book focuses not on the quantity of information, but on the quality of inquiry. Philosophy trains us to uncover the assumptions we often take for granted—to make the invisible visible. It pushes us to examine the systems and values that guide our beliefs, actions, and societies. Often, we move through life accepting what seems obvious or natural. But philosophical thinking helps us realize that many of our “truths” are up for debate—and always worth examining.
You’ll read texts from a wide range of philosophers—some ancient, some modern—all of whom wrestled with the same questions we still ask today. Their ideas may challenge you. They may inspire you. And they’ll almost certainly help you see the world in new and surprising ways.
To support your journey, this book provides a variety of tools to help you think through such questions:
Primary texts from influential philosophers, introduced with summaries to guide your reading
Secondary readings that clarify and expand the central ideas
Discussion questions and thought experiments to deepen your reflection and spark dialogue
Case studies from Ethics Bowl Canada, offering real-world scenarios for ethical analysis
A practical guide on how to read, write, and engage with philosophy more effectively
Throughout this journey, you’ll sharpen your skills in reasoning, argumentation, and self-reflection. You’ll learn how to think with the great thinkers—sometimes against them—and refine your own views on what it means to live wisely and justly.
In the end, philosophy is about more than answering questions—it’s about learning to ask the right ones, and developing the tools to think more deeply about our lives and our world. It’s about cultivating a mindset of curiosity, clarity, and courage. Whether you’re encountering philosophy for the first time or returning with new questions, this book offers you a space to think more deeply, to begin your own conversation with some of the greatest minds in history, and, perhaps, come closer to answering some of life’s most enduring questions.
Chapter Contents
Chapter I – “How to Read and Write in Philosophy”
This information supports you as you gain both experience and knowledge engaging with the university environment and discipline of philosophy for the first time! This chapter includes five parts:
- How to attend class.
- How to read philosophy.
- How to plan a philosophy paper.
- How to write a philosophy paper.
- How to cite your sources.
Chapter II – “Thought Experiments”
This section includes an introduction to thought experiments, what they are, what their purpose is, and numerous examples for students to work through.
Chapter III – Course Readings: Ancient to Enlightenment
This chapter covers the following philosophers and assignments:
- Bertrand Russell
- Patrick Stokes
- Monty Python’s Argument Clinic
- Socrates
- Plato
- Herodotus
- Aristotle
- Rene Descartes
- David Hume
- Blaise Pascal
- Thomas Hobbes
- Pierre Laplace
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau
- Mary Wollstonecraft
Chapter IV – Course Readings: Enlightenment to Modern
This chapter covers the following philosophers and assignments:
- Simone De Beauvoir
- The Combahee River Collective
- Quobna Ottobah Cugano
- Fyodor Dostoyevsky
- Immanuel Kant
- G.W.F. Hegel
- Friedrich Nietzsche
- Soren Kierkegaard
- Karl Marx
- Friedrich Engels
- John Stuart Mill
- Bertrand Russell
- Jean Paul Satre
- Leanne Betasamosake Simpson
- Virginia Woolf
- Turgenev Ivan Sergeyevich
Reading the Materials
The materials for this course will require sustained attention. You should aim to read each article at least twice. Preparing yourself for discussing the material requires:
- Determining the key point the author is trying to establish or criticize
- Understanding why the author considers it important
- Identifying the reasons the author gives in support of the conclusion
- Considering whether those reasons both (a) are true or correct, and (b) actually support the author’s conclusion