Philosophy 466 - Sem: Faith and Reason

Many believe that Socrates walked the streets of ancient Athens; that there are infinitely many prime numbers; that a divine being created the universe; that tomorrow day will follow night; that there are minds other than their own.  Are all these beliefs justifiable?  If so, in the same way or in radically different ways?  Or is it a mistake to seek to justify some of these beliefs, for instance, religious beliefs?  And if a belief cannot be justified, is it irrational to believe it?  We shall explore these questions through discussions of a handful of classics of philosophy, including works by David Hume, William James, Søren Kierkegaard, John Locke, and Ludwig Wittgenstein. 

Requisite: Two courses in Philosophy or consent of the instructor.  Limited to 15 students. Fall semester. Professor George.