Bard High School Early College – PHIL 101: Introduction to Philosophy

Mar 2026 · 2nd Semester

Philosophy is that discipline within the academy reserved for asking theBig Questions: "Does God exist?" "What is the right thing to do?" "Whatis the best life?" "What is the nature of the soul?""What is the meaningof life?" They are considered the Big Questions because these are thequestions that humanity has organized itself around. One of the thingsthat makes us human is that we seem to be the only species that considersquestions like these. In a profound way, these questions make us human.And, as it will be argued throughout the course, considering thesequestions can lead to a fuller, richer, and more intentional life. At theheart of the liberal arts, of which philosophy is king, is the pledge that ifyou undertake this endeavor, then you will come out the other side able tolead a freer life.