PHIL 11Introduction to Philosophy
An introduction to the main areas of philosophy through critical reflection on and analysis of both classical and contemporary texts. Focuses on central and enduring problems in philosophy such as skepticism about the external world, the mind-body problem, and the nature of morality.
- Enrollment in the associated discussion section is mandatory. From the Instructor: Using the concept of 'Free Will' as a central thread, this course will introduce you to Western Philosophy, by asking fundamental questions about how we should live. Starting with Plato's account of Socrates' trial and execution for corrupting the youth of ancient Athens, we'll move to central historical thinkers including Aristotle, Augustine, Montaigne, Descartes, Hume, Kant, Thoreau, Nietzsche, Sartre, Beauvoir, and King Jr., as well as contemporary philosophers who show why the same questions are still relevant today. All students may enroll. There are no prerequisites for this course.
Find a section and add it to your scheduleLive seat counts, time-conflict checks and the walk from your previous class.
When it runs
Winter 2027Open Winter 2027
| Section | Type | When | Where | Instructor | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lecture | Tue Thu 1:30pm–3:05pm | Humn Lecture Hall | E. Tuna | Open 0/300 |
Fall 2026Open Fall 2026
| Section | Type | When | Where | Instructor | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lecture | Tue Thu 5:20pm–6:55pm | Kresge Acad 3105 | A. D. Stone | Open 192/220 |
Summer 2026Open Summer 2026
| Section | Type | When | Where | Instructor | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lecture | TBA | Online | T. Peszle | Open 71/120 |
Winter 2026Open Winter 2026
| Section | Type | When | Where | Instructor | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lecture | Mon Wed Fri 1:20pm–2:25pm | Kresge Acad 3105 | K. Robertson | Open 347/360 |
Fall 2025Open Fall 2025
| Section | Type | When | Where | Instructor | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lecture | Tue Thu 5:20pm–6:55pm | ClassroomUnit 002 | C. Flores | Open 319/320 |
Who teaches it
| Instructor | Rating | Difficulty | Would take again | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E Hande Tuna | 3.4 / 5 | 3.2 / 5 | 58% | 12 |
| Abraham Stone | 3.2 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 | 45% | 24 |
| Kyle Robertson | 3.8 / 5 | 2.8 / 5 | 63% | 48 |
| Carolina Flores | 2.2 / 5 | 2.0 / 5 | 9% | 22 |
From RateMyProfessors, which is student-submitted and not a survey. Small review counts move a long way on one bad quarter.
SlugAtlas is a student project and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by UC Santa Cruz. Course data is a snapshot of the public class search; myUCSC is authoritative for enrolment.