PL 1100 - Making Sense of the World: An Introduction to Great Works in Philosophy and Literature

The stories we tell are a reflection of our self-understanding. They present us with who we believe ourselves to be and create a context for interpreting the experiences that are definitive of the human condition. All knowledge begins with this process, as does our search for meaning and our need for purpose. Bringing together the great philosophic and literary narratives of cultures, this course will demonstrate how the literary imagination, in concert with philosophical reasoning, serves as a compass for navigating the landscape of experience as we continue to explore the boundaries of morality and the contours of our own humanity. Is there a place for story telling in philosophical exploration? Can literature offer us philosophical insight? What is the role of metaphor in human expression? What is the difference between myth and truth? Through a selection of texts central to a given theme, students will gain a deeper understanding of the nature of truth as it appears in its many rich and varied forms. (4 Credits)