Bard High School Early College – PHIL 207: Philosophythrough Fiction

Mar 2026 · 2nd Semester

We will examine a representative sample of central philosophicalissues treated in both fictional and philosophical literature. We willalso consider the role of imaginative examples and hypotheticalcases in philosophical work, as well as the importance of notionslike conceivability, possibility and necessity to philosophy. Thefictional pieces often provide concrete imaginative illustrations ofmore abstract philosophical points, and thus can serve as significantaids. Furthermore, by considering variations in the imaginativescenarios of the fiction, we can often explore correspondingvariations in associated philosophical positions. In this course wewill examine both a number of major philosophical debates and thework of prominent science fiction authors. Students will becomefamiliar with philosophical issues in epistemology, metaphysics,and ethics; they will thereby learn to critically examine the ideasportrayed in fiction and advocated in philosophy.