In this summer course, students will examine the major questions and techniques of philosophy (such as the meaning of life) while also exploring the art of film (movies) as a way of creatively engaging with philosophical issues. Movies and philosophy go together very well. Philosophy is the careful thinking through of life’s big questions, and movies (moving pictures, film, cinema, video…) are a very big part of how we live our daily lives: a favorite movie can help us understand who we are and how our lives have meaning. In this sense, movies philosophize: they pose deep questions about our existence through dramatic conflict, and they explore possible answers through dramatic resolution. Philosophers do something similar with something called a “thought experiment.” These are what-if scenarios designed to help a philosopher think through a problem or solution she is thinking about, such as “What if I had to choose between saving a school bus of children and someone who might cure cancer?” or “If there were alternate realties, could we travel between them?” These make-believe stories help her think through hard questions without having to leave her armchair. Notice how similar that is to a science fiction story: she can figure out all sorts of stuff about time travel without having to build a time machine.

Philosophy (φιλοσοφία) is one of the world’s oldest areas of study. To philosophize is to investigate the mysteries of existence. For millennia philosophers have wondered and debated about the nature of the world and our place in it, asking questions such as how we should live our lives, what (if anything) happens after death, what a “self” is, what makes something good or bad, how we know things, what comprises reality, and many other similar questions. The word ‘Philosophy’ literally means “love of wisdom” (philo = “I love”; sophia = “wisdom”). Philosophy then is the process of seeking wisdom about life’s biggest questions, and valuing that wisdom as an end in itself. So, in this course we will philosophize using film: we will think, watch, create, discuss, and debate… and then think and create some more!

All students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion and have the opportunity to request a Syracuse University noncredit transcript.

Course Objectives

A student who successfully completes this course will:

- become familiar with key questions in major areas of philosophy.

- understand the basics of philosophical argument and debate.

- develop an appreciation for film as an art

- understand the basics of screenwriting and story development.

- have fun creating philosophical stories and characters!