BASIC CONCEPTS
This section will develop the fundamental premises on which the remainder of the course will depend. A full exploration of basic philosophical issues would be beyond the bounds of this course, although the treatment of some topics here may be more intensive than many students have encountered elsewhere. Sources where these issues are explored at greater length will be cited. In this course the goal is more modest: to establish the necessary groundwork for the ensuing sections, in order that they may provide enlightenment rather than confusion.

While the subject matter of Section 1 may seem abstract to some, some of its momentous real-world implications may be conveyed by the overview in the following four pages. The ideas summarized here, of course, will require clarification and detailed support as we proceed. The student is encouraged to print a copy for future reference.