American Indian Philosophies: Framing Shared Worlds

Philosophy itself is one of the most respected intellectual enterprises of Western civilization. The cornerstone of every academic discipline, school of thought, and scientific theory is based in philosophy. But are there challenges to the dominance of Western thought? This 4-credit course will seek to survey the philosophies and worldviews of the Indigenous Peoples of North America, focusing on a broad selection of paradigms. From creation stories (cosmologies) to knowledge systems (epistemologies), students will study the origins and cultural values underpinning such ideas as pragmatism and relationality to apply them to both historical and contemporary situations, dilemmas, and problems. This course will contrast these perspectives with dominant Western philosophies such as rationalism and individualism, seeking to understand how these philosophies impact our notions about how the world works. Students will explore questions of existence, ethics, and belonging to see the potential for addressing modern issues and questions from an Indigenous lens.

Fall Anticipated Credit Equivalencies

2 - Native American and Indigenous Studies

2 - Philosophy