Philosophy

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COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

PHIL 115 ELEMENTARY LOGIC. 3 HOURS, GEN ED --B-II.
An introductory course in logic which presents the different uses of language and teaches students (1) to evaluate the logical status of statements and the consistency and validity of arguments using both natural and formal language techniques, and (2) to identify informal fallacies. Typically, a student who earns an “A” or “B” in 115 may go on to take 415, with the permission of the instructor of 415.

PHIL 120 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY. 3 HOURS, GEN ED B-II.
An introduction to philosophy through a study of the essential problems and types of philosophy, with the aim of exposing the living issues around which reflective thinking is centered. (every semester)

PHIL 201 LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP. 3 HOURS, GEN ED.
A study of the four classical forms of love—affection, eros, friendship, and charity—and of the cultural influences which shape and mold our understanding and experience of love. (every year)

PHIL 202 RACIAL JUSTICE. 3 HOURS, GEN ED C.
Cross listed: Rels 202 Racial Justice.
An examination of (1) the major perspective that came together to form the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s; (2) the accomplishments and failures of that movement; and (3) the issues of racial justice that remain today.

PHIL 302 HISTORY OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY I: ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL. 3 HOURS.
Prerequisite: One course in philosophy.
Survey of history of philosophy from pre-Socrates through the Middle Ages, with emphasis on key figures such as Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, and Thomas Aquinas. (every other year)

PHIL 303 HISTORY OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY II: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY. 3 HOURS.
Prerequisite: One course in Philosophy.
Survey of philosophy’s history from Renaissance through 20th century, emphasizing main currents and figures including empiricism, existentialism, phenomenology, as well as Descartes, Kant, Wittgenstein.(every year)

PHIL 310 SCIENCE, RELIGION AND CONTEMPORARY LIFE. 3 HOURS.
An exploration of the philosophical problems associated with attempts to integrate religious understanding into a cultural environment shaped by recent developments in both natural and social scientific knowledge.

PHIL 315 PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION. 3 HOURS.
Prerequisite: One course in philosophy or religious studies.
A systematic study of such problems as the nature and existence of God, the relation of faith and reason, human nature and destiny, immortality, evil, and the problem of religious language.

PHIL 320 ETHICS. 3 HOURS, GEN ED B-II.
Prerequisite: One course in philosophy or junior status.
An introduction to ethical issues using classical and contemporary texts. Among issues that may be treated are justice, rights, responsibilities, punishment, and obligations regarding the environment. (every semester)

PHIL 321 MORALITY AND BUSINESS. 3 HOURS, GEN ED B-II.
An introduction to the study of moral choice in the business world. Topics include ethical foundations of business practice in general and criteria for evaluating the moral dimensions of issues such as relations with consumers, environmental impact, quality of work life, hiring, advertising, price setting, and corporate governance. (every year)

PHIL 322 BIOMEDICAL ETHICS. 3 HOURS, GEN ED B-II.
A philosophical analysis of ethical problems generated by current biomedical practice and research, including euthanasia, abortion, truth telling, reproductive techniques, organ transplantation, experimentation, allocation, and more. (every year)

PHIL 323 SOCIAL ETHICS. 3HOURS, GEN ED B-II.
Cross listed: RELS 323 Social Ethics
Prerequisites: One course in Religious Studies or Philosophy or junior status.
Perspectives and issues involved in the public pursuit of justice in a religiously and philosophically diverse society. One short field trip.

PHIL 324 WAR AND PEACE. 3 HOURS.
Prerequisite: PHIL 120 or permission of instructor.
A philosophical examination of classical and contemporary arguments concerning the use of organized violence to settle human disputes. Topics include just war theories, pacifism and nonviolence, deterrence, militarism, and peacemaking.

PHIL 350 ETHICAL THEORY. 3 HOURS.
Prerequisite: One course in philosophy or permission of instructor.
A study of the major normative systems in the history of ethics, and of selected problems in contemporary metaethics, including moral reasoning, skepticism, rights, and theories of justice. (every year)

PHIL 401 READINGS IN PHILOSOPHY. 3 HOURS.
Prerequisite: One course in philosophy or permission of instructor.
An intensive study of selected philosophic classics or readings in a selected area of philosophy. May be repeated for different topics. (at least once a year)

PHIL 404 METAPHYSICS AND EPISTEMOLOGY. 3 HOURS.
Prerequisite: Junior status, PHIL 115, AND PHIL 120.
Selective study of topics about reality and knowledge, such as existence, appearance and reality, causality, persons, certainty, theory and evidence, explanation and understanding, and justification.

PHIL 405 EXISTENTIALISM. 3 HOURS.
Prerequisite: At least one course in philosophy or permission of instructor.
Readings from both the philosophical and literary sources of existentialism. The works of Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Sartre, Jaspers, Heidegger, Kafka, Camus, Marcel, and Tillich are included.

PHIL 415 ADVANCED LOGIC. 3 HOURS.
Prerequisite: PHIL 115 or equivalent.
Advanced topics in First Order Logic and topics in the Philosophy of Logic.

PHIL 426 PHILOSOPHY AND OLD AGE. 3 HOURS.
Prerequisite: Junior level or above; or permission of instructor.
Examination of philosophical themes bearing on old age, such as: meaning, memory, selfhood, autonomy, im/mortality, euthanasia, filial obligation, intergenerational justice, authority, dignity, virtue/vice, beauty.

PHIL 499 RESEARCH IN PHILOSOPHY. 3 HOURS.
Prerequisite: Open only to philosophy majors with at least a 3.0 grade point average in their senior year.
Directed study and research in one area of philosophy. The research will culminate in an acceptable thesis. (on demand)

 

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