As someone who had never taken a philosophy class in my life, I was curious upon registering for HON 105 – Intro to Philosophy – for my spring quarter. Now, halfway through the quarter, I can confidently say this has been one of my favorite classes I’ve taken at DePaul! Not only is Professor Seyler extremely knowledgeable in his subject, but he also approaches this class with an open mind and understands that not everyone has had exposure to philosophy in the past. He offers plenty of opportunities outside of normal participation and assignments to boost your grade. One of my favorite parts of the class is every student being assigned a date to write a “protocol” – when your date arrives, you take extensive notes about what we discuss in class and present it to Professor Seyler. At the end of each protocol presentation, the student presents a question to Professor Seyler relating to what we discussed. He loves engaging with the questions students present to him and always provides a thoughtful answer. Besides classroom protocols, the class is heavily reading-based… but again, any question that come up Professor Seyler is quick to answer.
The class is meant to be an exposure to famous philosophers and an analysis of the different philosophical theories and ideas that have been created throughout history. I find the class enjoyable because even if I struggle to understand the reading we are assigned for homework, we examine each text thoroughly and relate it to a broader question, such as Where do our ideas come from? or Are some things more real than others? These questions are interesting to consider, which is part of what sets philosophy apart from other classes – there’s usually not a definite answer. All of what we read and study in HON 105 are different ideas, perceptions, and theories from famous philosophers about reality and the world around us. I find myself agreeing with some interpretations and being completely bewildered by others, which is unique considering all of the individuals we study – Aristotle, Hume, Kant – come from the same field but have such wildly different ideas. If you’re up for reading, note taking, and discussing, this is the class for you. I would definitely recommend Professor Seyler in general because he’s intelligent and understanding. Philosophy may seem intimidating, but if you’re looking to fill your HON 105 requirement, Professor Seyler’s Introduction to Philosophy course is sure to be enjoyable and worthwhile.
About the Author: Sophia Rozanski is a freshman communication major with minors in history and spanish.
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