Philosophy Courses
PHI 1010 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY 3 cr
This course is a study of several major philosophical problems concerning reality, knowledge, and value, and the theories of some of the greatest thinkers on those problems. Topics to be studied include the nature of moral value, human happiness, social justice, the nature of mind, the problem of free will and determinism, our knowledge of the world, the existence of God, the problem of evil, and others. Readings are drawn from the works of such philosophers as Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Locke, and Descartes. Every semester.
PHI 1020 CRITICAL THINKING 3 cr
An examination of reasoning skills in ordinary language and argument as distinct from the formal techniques of logic.
PHI 1030 INTRODUCTION TO LOGIC 3 cr
An examination of the principles of good reasoning through a study of deductive logic, inductive logic, and informal fallacies. Every semester.
PHI 1040 INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS 3 cr
This course is an introduction to philosophical problems about the nature of moral value, conduct, and character. Topics include problems in the nature of moral judgment and moral knowledge, theories of morally right action, and the practice of moral decision-making. Students will study selections from Aristotle, Mill, Kant, Nietzsche, Rawls, etc. Fall
PHI 2010 COMPARATIVE RELIGIONS 3 cr
This course is a study of several major religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and perhaps some African and Native American religious traditions. The philosophies of Taoism and Confucianism will also be considered. Special attention is given to religious ideas about the divine or spirituality, the nature of reality, human nature, and the proper life for humans. Prerequisite: Previous course in Philosophy or consent of instructor. Fall
PHI 2060 BUSINESS ETHICS 3 cr
This course is an introduction to ethical problems in business. Included is a survey of theories of economic justice and the ethical implications of socialism and capitalism. Central moral problems include problems regarding hiring, firing, reverse discrimination, employer and employee rights and responsibilities, truth in advertising, responsibilities to the environment, and the responsibilities of multi-national conglomerates. Periodically.
PHI 2710 SPECIAL TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY 1-3 cr
This course allows faculty and students to pursue subjects in philosophy that are treated briefly, or not at all, in the regular philosophy courses. The specific subject of the course will be announced at registration, as well as whether credits from this course will count toward the philosophy minor. Students may take this course more than once. Periodically.
PHI 3011 HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY I 3 cr
An historical survey of western philosophy from the pre-Socratics to the sixteenth century. Problems and theories in metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and political philosophy are studied through the writings of the Pre-Socratics, followed by Plato, Aristotle, the Stoics and Epicureans, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, Bacon, and Hobbes. Prerequisite: Previous course in Philosophy or consent of the instructor. Periodically, Fall 2008.
PHI 3012 HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY II 3 cr
A continuation of PHI 3011 from the seventeenth-century to the present. Philosophers studied include Spinoza, Descartes, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Kant, Hegel, Mill, Nietzsche, Marx, Russell, and Wittgenstein, Quine, and Rorty. Prerequisite: Previous course in Philosophy or consent of the instructor. Periodically, Spring 2009.
PHI 3020 MEDICAL ETHICS 3 cr
This course is a study of current ethical problems in medicine and health care. Topics include ethical problems about the doctor-patient relationship, problems at the end of life, the beginning of life, and problems concerning the health care system. Specific issues to be discussed may include abortion, euthanasia, new reproductive technologies, the rights and responsibilities of patients, doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals, and justice and the health care system. Spring.
PHI 3040 PHILOSOPHY OF MIND 3 cr
A study of philosophical problems concerning the nature of the mind, including the mind-body problem. Prerequisite: previous course in philosophy or consent of instructor.
PHI 3050 PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE 3 cr
This course is a survey of philosophical problems in science including the nature of scientific method, scientific law, prediction, and explanation.
Periodically.
PHI 3060 AESTHETICS 3 cr
Aesthetics, or Philosophy of Art, is an examination of problems and theories of the nature
of art and aesthetic value. Problems concern the definition of art, the nature of beauty and aesthetic value, the nature of aesthetic judgments, the relationship between art and morality, and the nature of artistic creativity. Prerequisite: Previous course in Philosophy or consent of the instructor. Periodically.
PHI 3110 METAPHYSICS 3 cr
This course is an examination of some traditional and current problems in metaphysics, including theories of the nature of reality- materialism, idealism, dualism- the problem of universals, the nature of causality, time and space, and theories of human nature. Prerequisite: Previous course in Philosophy or consent of the instructor. Periodically.
PHI 3160 ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS 3 cr
This course is a survey of ethical issues involving humans and the natural environment. Central problems are: Of what moral value is, or what moral responsibilities do humans have toward, the natural world? Animals? Future generations? Are the ethical issues at odds with economic issues? Current ethical theories or movements to be studied include the Land Ethic, Deep Ecology, Biocentrism, and Ecofeminism. Spring, even years.
PHI 3220 EPISTEMOLOGY 3 cr
A study of philosophical problems about the nature of knowledge, belief, and truth. Prerequisite: previous course in philosophy or consent of instructor.
PHI 4510 SEMINAR IN PHILOSOPHY 3 cr
An opportunity for faculty and advanced students in philosophy to concentrate on specific figures, issues, or periods in philosophy. Examples are Contemporary Philosophy, Seminar in Plato, Seminar in Existentialism, or Philosophy in Literature. Prerequisite: previous course in philosophy or consent of instructor.
PHI 4620 SENIOR THESIS IN PHILOSOPY 3 cr
An opportunity for senior students in philosophy to study intensively on a philosophical subject in conjunction with a philosophy faculty member. Prerequisite: senior student in philosophy. |
