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PHL 100 Introduction to Philosophy
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
An introduction to philosophy through a consideration of such topics as the person, human values, freedom, morality, knowledge, death, the meaning of life, God, and the nature and destiny of human existence. Students come to understand that philosophy asks the most fundamental questions about ourselves, the world, and the relationship between the two. The method of philosophical thinking and critical reflection will be stressed. | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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PHL 140 Topics in Critical Thinking
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
This course emphasizes the critical thinking skills necessary to particular disciplines, areas of inquiry, and subject matters. The topic studied will vary with the instructor and the semester in which the course is taught: in one semester, critical thinking for law or health care might be stressed; in another semester, the critical evaluation of visual media might be the topic. | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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PHL 150 Introduction to Logic
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
A basic course in logic concerned with the improvement of reasoning in everyday life, this course stresses elementary argument forms, deductive and inductive reasoning, the analysis and assessment of arguments, the relationship between truth and validity, informal fallacies, and the recognition of good arguments. Although this course may include some elements of formal symbolic logic, the emphasis is on the study of arguments as expressed in a natural language such as English. | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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PHL 201 Ethics
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
An introductory examination of ethical theories and moral principles.
Different sections of this course emphasize different topics and questions, including
both issues in ethical theory and more specific or applied moral questions.
Some of the issues include the following: whether morality is subjective or o
bjective, the relationship between morality and religion, promoting the greatest
good, doing one?s duty, virtue and character, the permissibility of abortion,
euthanasia, capital punishment, animal experimentation. (Also offered as ETH 201). | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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PHL 202 Person and Society
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
An in depth study of the human person and the relationship if the individual to society. This
includes consideration of the person as intelligent and free, the limits of society in making decisions for the individiual,
as well as the obligations the individual had toward society to maintain or promote "the common good" of the group. | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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PHL 208 Philosophy of Feminism
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
An examination of the main varieties of feminist
theory: liberal feminism, Marxist feminism, radical feminism,
socialist feminism, lesbian feminism, and post-colonial feminism.
The course also involves philosophical analysis of central themes
in modern feminism, including sexism and oppression. Theory will be
applied to practice in considering philosophical approaches to some
of the following: race, class, and privilege, pornography and prostitution,
violence against women, love, relationships, and marriage, and the role of
men in feminism. | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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PHL 209 Introduction to Existentialism
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
The existentialist movement hit its stride in the mid-20th century and includes such figures as Heidegger, Sartre, and Camus. Existentialism approaches traditional philosophical problems in a radically novel way and continues to be influential, not only in philosophy but also in literature, drama, and art. The course explores the central themes of this important philosophical movement through the careful reading and critical discussion of selected texts. | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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PHL 240 Topics in Philosophy
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
Varying with both the semester and the instructor, this course requires students to examine a single issue or question in philosophy. The topic in any given semester will be influenced by student recommendations and faculty interests. Possible topics: philosophy of sex and love, philosophy and technology, philosophy and race, and philosophy and film. | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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PHL 250 Symbolic Logic
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
An introduction to the artificial language of sentential and predicate logic, which is designed to facilitate the symbolic representation of natural language (English) arguments. In addition to learning how to construct formal proofs for valid arguments, students learn the different logical properties that statements and sets of statements may have. The concepts of truth-functionality, validity, consistency, implication, and equivalence will be explored. Students will have a heightened appreciation of the logical functions of language. | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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PHL 301 Social and Political Philosophy
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
An examination of the issues surrounding the state and the political agents who live in such states. The course may be oriented either historically or topically and may cover: ancient Greek political theory as articulated by Plato and Aristotle, the social contract tradition of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau, Marxism, communitarianism, the nature of political obligation, justice, law, human rights, the nature and value of political liberty and equality, and the nature and value of patriotism. | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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PHL 302 Philosophy of Religion
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
A study of the philosophical issues raised by religious practice and religious belief. In addition to arguments for the existence of God, the course will include the following topics: the problem of evil and attempted solutions, the epistemological significance of religious belief, the relationship between religious belief and religious practice, and the role of religion in contemporary society. | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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PHL 303 Philosophy of God
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
A study of God?s existence and nature, of the ways God may be known, and of God?s significance for human life. Some of the traditional arguments will be examined, as well as reasons for belief, the meaning of faith, and the meaning of religious language. | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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PHL 305 Aesthetics
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
An examination of theories regarding the valuable/beautiful in our perceptual experience of both nature and works of fine art: the nature of the aesthetic, the different aesthetics which are characteristic of different cultures, societies, and individuals; the nature of art; the importance of anything?s being classified as art; the functions of the arts in society; the nature of artistic creation; the non-artist?s understanding of, response to, and evaluation of works of art. | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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PHL 306 Greek Philosophy
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
An examination of the views of the three major ancient Western philosophers: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Pre-Socratic thinkers such as Parmenides, Anaxagoras, and Anaximenes may also be considered. Students should be prepared to extract and consider the philosophical arguments in the texts of these thinkers. The course may also include reading and consideration of some of the secondary literature in this area. | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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PHL 307 Medieval Philosophy
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
An examination of the various syntheses of Greek philosophy and Christianity between the 4th and 14th centuries. The early attempt to reconcile Platonism and Christianity will be examined in the works of Augustine, Pseudo-Dionysius, Anselm and others, all proponents of Christian Neoplatonism. The later attempts to reconcile Aristotle and Christianity will be examined in the works of St. Thomas Aquinas and other theologian/philosophers of the 13th and 14th centuries. | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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PHL 308 Early Modern Philosophy
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
An examination of the period in philosophy from the publication of Descartes? Meditations in 1641, to the publication of the second edition of Kant?s Critique of Pure Reason in 1787. Philosophers in this period were examining the epistemological implications of the "new science,"as formulated by such figures as Galileo, Newton, and Kepler. The work of this period paved the way for the Western analytic tradition in the 20th century, and continues to influence philosophers today. | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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PHL 309 Marxism and Christianity
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
An examination of the changing attitudes in the history of Christian-Marxist relations. Evaluations of philosophical and theological arguments for and against Marxism are made. Also included are new interpretations of Marx, the "theology" of liberation, and possible strategies for social change. | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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PHL 315 Philosophy of Law and Politics
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
An examination of philosophical issues which arise concerning the nature of law and its relation to political life. It will compare and contrast views on the central question in analytic jurisprudence: what is law? There is a special emphasis on the impact of these interpretations on the Constitution. Other topics may include: the relationship between causality and negligence in tort, the morality of plea-bargaining, and the relationship between law and liberty. | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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PHL 320 Contemporary Ethical Theory
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
A more philosophically advanced, sophisticated, and in-depth treatment of moral theory and specific ethical questions. Possible topics include: contemporary utilitarianism, contemporary Kantian ethics, virtue theory, the social contract theory of morality, recent feminist critiques of traditional moral theory, the nature of moral or practical reasons and their relation to motivation, the justification of morality, and moral psychology. Students are strongly encouraged to take PHL 201 prior to PHL 320. | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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PHL 356 Peace and Social Justice
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
An introduction to the world dilemmas of peace and social justice, human dignity, racism, world hunger, economic power, war and the nuclear threat, and social change in Latin American, Eastern Europe, and Asia, through films, reading and discussion. | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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PHL 365 African Philosophy and Culture
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
Investigate | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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PHL 406 Metaphysics
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
An investigation of the nature of reality in general; the issues of materialism and idealism, change and permanence, the origin of the universe, etc. This course examines conceptual systems about reality through a study of classical examples of metaphysical systems, as well as the modern refutation of metaphysics stemming from Hume and Kant. | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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PHL 407 Epistemology
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
An investigation of the nature, sources, and limits of human knowledge. Topics may include: the traditional philosophical conception of knowledge as justified true belief, the nature and objectivity of truth, skepticism about the external world, and the role and limits of science as a means of obtaining knowledge. In addition to considering classical and contemporary Western philosophical views on these topics, the course may also include criticism of the Western tradition itself. | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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PHL 415 Advanced Topics in Philosophy
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
The content of the course will vary with the instructor and the semester in which it is offered, but in all cases it will involve a more sophisticated and in-depth treatment of a major figure in philosophy, and/or a major theme or issue. | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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PHL 440 Contemporary Philosophy
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
An investigation of some of the major 20th century developments within Continental and Anglo-American philosophy, with special attention paid to questions or issues within epistemology and metaphysics/ontology. Particular movements studied include phenomenology, existentialism, postmodernism, and deconstruction within the Continental tradition, and pragmatism, naturalism, process philosophy, and analytic philosophy within the Anglo-American tradition. | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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PHL 445 Phenomenology and Existentialism
| Credit Hours | Recitation/Lecture Hours | Studio Hours | Clinical Hours | Lab Hours |
An exploration of the major themes of phenomenology and existentialism, including:
consciousness, methods of describing being, the ego, freedom, death, and meaning in life.
This course includes readings from Husserl, Heidegger, Sartre, Merleau-Ponty, and Jaspers. | 3 | 0 | 0 | | |
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