Creative musicians think as deeply as we feel. We must therefore train our minds, alongside our hearts and our ears. Philosophy asks the biggest questions: What am I? Can we Know that this world is Real? What is Truth? Does my Mind = my Brain? Is the beauty of music Objective or Subjective? What is Good? It also teaches us valuable life skills: how to think clearly, engage in respectful debate, identify false arguments and prejudices (including in our own heads), and express ourselves well. Questioning our own assumptions in life and music turns out to be as vital as questioning the world around us. Philosophy is also a collaborative listening art like music, a high-level conversation across time that equips us for being human. We mature both as persons and musical artists as we learn to articulate our own ideas in response to those of others. Thinkers by nature and necessity, as musicians we develop our artistic voices through a rigorous study of the masters. Very quickly we confront deep philosophical questions about Identity and Creativity. Wrestling with them can augment our freedom, both in our artistic practice and our daily lives. This process teaches us who we are. This introductory class is specifically designed for musical artists who enjoy engaging with the biggest questions. We will explore together the import of classic debates for practicing musicians. Topics of specific interest to artists will also be explored: including Culture, The Self, and Social Responsibility. Implications for aesthetic practice will be examined. Class participation is essential.