Introduction to Philosophy II
Description
Intro to Philosophy II (8 Weeks)
Philosophy, Reason, and the Organization of Knowledge
This second term builds upon the foundations established in the first and moves toward a deeper examination of philosophy as an active and historically situated discipline. The focus shifts from defining philosophy and clarifying its subject matter to understanding how philosophical inquiry proceeds, how traditions form, and how philosophy situates itself among other modes of knowledge.
The course begins with a sustained study of philosophical method. Students examine rational demonstration and empirical investigation, the structure of deductive and inductive reasoning, and the distinctive features of philosophical argumentation. Attention is given to the strengths and limits of reason, as well as the boundaries of rational inquiry.
The term then turns to philosophy as a living intellectual tradition. Through the study of philosophical schools and doctrines, students explore how shared questions give rise to structured systems of thought, how traditions develop, and what distinguishes philosophical thinking—universality, abstraction, conceptual precision, and disciplined analysis.
In its final movement, the course situates philosophy within the wider landscape of intellectual life. Students consider philosophy’s relationship to religion, wisdom, and science, including the evaluation of philosophy by religious thinkers and the conceptual foundations underlying scientific practice. The term concludes with a structured overview of the classification of the sciences and a survey of the major divisions of philosophy, providing a coherent framework for further study.
Intro to Philosophy II (8 Weeks)
Philosophy, Reason, and the Organization of Knowledge
Section I — Method and the Limits of Reason
Week 1 — The Rational and Empirical Methods
Topics: Deductive and inductive reasoning, rational demonstration, empirical investigation, philosophical method
Week 2 — The Limits of Reason
Topics: Boundaries of rational inquiry, critique of reason, philosophy and other modes of knowing
Section II — Schools and Doctrines
Week 3 — Philosophical Schools
Topics: Formation of philosophical traditions, shared methods and problems, historical development
Week 4 — Philosophical Doctrines
Topics: Systems and positions, coherence and critique, development of comprehensive frameworks
Section III — Philosophy, Religion, and Science
Week 5 — The Value and Characteristics of Philosophical Thought
Topics: The value of philosophical investigations, rigor, abstraction, universality, disciplined questioning
Week 6 — Philosophy and Religion
Topics: The judgment of religious thinkers on philosophy, reason and revelation, tension and reconciliation
Week 7 — Philosophy and Wisdom
Topics: Philosophy as love of wisdom, wisdom as intellectual and existential formation, the aim of philosophical inquiry
Week 8 — Philosophy and Science; Classification of the Sciences
Topics: Philosophy and science, terminology of philosophy and science, philosophy of science and scientific philosophy, the Eight Headings, classification and organization of the sciences, survey of the divisions of philosophy
Texts
Akram Almajid, Philosophical Investigations: Defining Philosophy (al-taʿrīf bi-l-falsafa), Sage Press, 2026, (forthcoming)
Primary course text. All readings and discussions are structured around this work.
Prerequisites
No prior background in philosophy, religious studies, or technical terminology is required. The course is designed for beginners who seek clarity and depth, while maintaining conceptual rigor and intellectual discipline throughout.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
Articulate what philosophy is and explain the challenges involved in defining it
Identify the subject matter, methods, and fundamental questions of philosophy
Distinguish philosophical inquiry from scientific, theological, and empirical modes of knowing
Understand key metaphysical concepts, including existence, unity and multiplicity, and their philosophical significance
Recognize the major divisions of philosophy and their place within the broader classification of the sciences
Evaluate the value and purpose of philosophical inquiry in relation to wisdom, religion, and intellectual formation
Readings
Assigned readings are drawn primarily from the course text and are selected to support careful understanding rather than technical specialization. Readings are to be completed prior to each session and serve as the conceptual foundation for lecture and discussion.
Class Structure
Each class meets for ninety minutes, with approximately fifty minutes devoted to structured lecture and forty minutes to discussion and questions. Lectures are designed to build progressively, ensuring continuity and conceptual grounding across the eight-week course.
Q&A Protocol
Students may submit questions during class via Zoom’s chat function or “raise hand” feature. Questions may be addressed during the lecture when appropriate or reserved for the discussion portion of the session.
Follow-Up
Students are welcome to contact the instructor outside of class for clarification, further discussion, or guidance on related readings and study pathways.
Course Details
Instructor
Professor Mukhtar Ali
Dates
April 6 - May 25 (8 Weeks)
Once a week, every Monday
Time
12pm - 1:30 pm EST
Location
ZOOM
Tuition
$225
For further inquiries, please contact
admin@thewordacademy.org