Course Narrative – PHIL 020
Taking an introduction to philosophy class, I was expecting to be completely lost reading
Aristotle, Plato, or Socrates. I thought that philosophy was this mysterious vague and unclear
way of thinking that very few people could understand. However, this class taught me a
fundamentally life-changing lesson: philosophy is everywhere and it is attainable by anyone
willing to see the philosophy where it may be found. Now, I see philosophy as a way of life, a
path to both clarity and enlightenment, as well as to a better version of oneself.
One particular example that comes to mind when I look back at this semester is Plumwood’s
story with “the predator.” This story highlights one of the objectives of philosophy in my
opinion, which is to be more aware of our position in the world and to be more aware of
others’ positions with respect to ours. As such, being aware of so many different perspectives
makes us more responsible and accountable as humans, but also more conscious of our actions
and their rippling effects on others part of the same ecosystem.
While having awareness of the external effects of our actions on an ecosystem makes us more
considerate of those around us, Dogen taught me how external forces and environments can
affect me internally. More specifically, one of my favorite quotes throughout his piece is,
“When preparing meals, one should reflect intimately on one’s own self; [the food] will then of
itself be pure and refined.” This serves as an example of how an everyday activity such as
cooking, which seems like a chore sometimes, can be a personal/purifying activity. Approaching
any form of activity by bringing attention to the feelings this action generates make us much
