哲学（philosophia）的原意是爱智慧，因而真正的哲学并不是哲学理论的堆积，而是从实际的生存经验出发的反思与辩难。本课程以讲授和讨论西方哲学史（从泰勒斯到康德）为主要内容，着重点是在西方哲学史中最重要的一些哲学家的思想，例如柏拉图、亚里士多德、笛卡尔、康德等。本课程会论及的一些主要哲学问题包括：世界是由物质构成的么？最好的政体是什么？存在最好的生活方式么？存在一个生活的最终目标么？存在一个不依赖于思想的外部世界么？在一个被因果规律决定的世界中自由是可能的么？有没有一个规范人类生活实践的最终法则？本课程当然重视哲学史知识的传授，但更重视哲学精神的培养，因而课堂中的热烈互动将是必不可少的。 The original meaning of the word “philosophy” is to love wisdom, thus the real philosophy is not the same as philosophical theories, which are developed by famous philosophers, but to philosophizing, which means the reflection of our everyday life and the surrounding world. This course will deal with the long history of western philosophy, circa from Thales to Kant. The main interest will be the philosophy of great philosophers, which include Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Kant, and so on. Although the knowledge of philosophy will be concerned in this course, but the focus will be the cultivation of philosophical ideas. Thus active participation will be welcomed and even anticipated. The major philosophical questions include: Is the world made of material? What is the best form of government? Is there a best way of living? Is there a final purpose for our life? Is the objective world independent of our thoughts? How is the freedom possible in a by causal laws determined natural world? Is there a universal practical law? Etc.