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Next: Physical Education (PED) Up: Academic Information Previous: Origins of Behavior (ORB)
Philosophy (PHI)
Paul Gray, Amy Ihlan, James White (chair)
Essential to a liberal education is the ability to think, to detect bad arguments and evidence, to see more than one side of a matter and to decide which is best, to construct a coherent case, to make words perform their task with clarity and precision. This principle, along with an emphasis on ethics and on the careful, creative, and critical reading of classical texts in the history of philosophy, guides the Department in planning its curriculum.
Major: For students majoring only in Philosophy, a minimum of eight course credits, which include PHI 111, 202, 203, 304 or 305 or 306, and four additional courses in Philosophy, at least three of which must be at the 300 level.
Double Majors: For students majoring in another subject and Philosophy, a minimum of six course credits in Philosophy, which include PHI 111, 202, 203, 304 or 305 or 306, and two additional 300-level Philosophy courses. The Philosophy department encourages double majors.
Note: PHI 310 is strongly recommended for students intending to do graduate work in Philosophy.
111. Introduction to Philosophy
Some of the main traditional problems of philosophy as they are discussed in the writings of major philosophers. Designed for first-year students and sophomores. (Humanities)
201. Aesthetics
The nature of art, beauty, criticism, and the relation of art to science, religion, and society. Study of a number of classics in this area by philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Hume, Kant, Tolstoy, and Ortega. Alternate years. (Humanities) GRAY
202. Ethics
The nature of moral experience, moral judgments, and moral principles, and the relation of each to the other. Readings from some major ancient, modern, and contemporary moral philosophers. (Humanities)
203. Logic
Formal and informal logic. Principles and techniques useful for evaluating arguments and avoiding fallacious reasoning. (Humanities) IHLAN or WHITE
221. Applied Ethics
Three major moral issues of the day, selected from areas such as medical ethics, sexual ethics, business ethics, and environmental ethics. Topics may include AIDS, sexual morality, world hunger, capital punishment, genetic engineering, animal rights, suicide, euthanasia, racism. Alternate years. (Humanities) GRAY
223. Business Ethics
Moral issues associated with business. Accounts of economic justice, the nature of corporations and corporate responsibility, employee rights, affirmative action, advertising, and multinational business. Alternate years. (Humanities) WHITE
224. Environmental Ethics
Moral dilemmas associated with human populations, industrial productivity, and a deteriorating environment. Team taught by a philosopher and a biologist, the course will critically analyze the conceptual framework within which questions about the environment are raised and debated, and provide biological information relevant to those questions. Alternate years. (Humanities) WHITE and BLACK
225. Utopia
Philosophical study of selected works in Utopian literature: Plato's Republic, More's Utopia, and more recent utopian visions. Alternate years. (Humanities) GRAY
301. Asian Philosophy
Major traditions in Chinese philosophy including Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. (Humanities) IHLAN
302. Greek Philosophy
Advanced study of ancient Greek philosophers, such as the Presocratics, Plato, and Aristotle. Prerequisite: PHI 111. Alternate years. (Humanities) IHLAN
303. Mediaeval Philosophy
European philosophy from 400 to 1400. One major philosopher from this era will be critically examined. Offered subject to availability of staff. (Humanities)
304. Modern Philosophy: Seventeenth Century
European philosophy from 1600 to 1700. Study of the philosophers of the early modern era such as Bacon, Hobbes, Descartes, Spinoza, and Locke. (Humanities) GRAY
305. Modern Philosophy: Eighteenth Century
European philosophy from 1700 to 1800. Study of the philosophers of the middle of the modern era such as Hume, Voltaire, Rousseau, and Kant. (Humanities) GRAY
306. Modern Philosophy: Nineteenth Century
European philosophy from 1800 to 1900. Study of the philosophers of the late modern era such as Hegel, Schopenhauer, Kierkegaard, Mill, Marx, and Nietzsche. (Humanities) GRAY
307. Marx and Marxism
Primary emphasis on reading a comprehensive and balanced selection of the writings of Karl Marx. Reading will include some leading Marxists such as Lenin, Mao Zedong, and Marcuse. Alternate years. (Humanities) GRAY
308. American Philosophy
Intensive study of two major American philosophers such as William James and John Dewey. Offered every third year. (Humanities) GRAY
309. Existentialism
Reflections on death, the meaning of life, absurdity, alienation, despair, freedom, and the self. Intensive study of the works of two major European existentialists such as Albert Camus and Jean Paul Sartre. Alternate years. (Humanities) GRAY
310. Analytic Philosophy
Introduction to the philosophical movement that has dominated 20th century Anglo-American philosophy. Study of selected English and American philosophers and an examination of their distinctive approach to philosophical problems. Intended primarily for advanced majors. Prerequisites: PHI 203 and either 304 or 305. Alternate years. (Humanities) WHITE
351. Philosophy of Education
Discussion of the nature of education, value of education, types of education, and the relation of education to art, morals, science, and society. Study of a number of classics in this area by philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Rousseau, Kant, Ortega, and Dewey. Offered subject to availability of staff. (Humanities) GRAY
352. Philosophy of Feminism
Explores feminist critiques of Western philosophy and issues in feminist ethics, epistemology, and political theory. (Humanities) IHLAN
353. Philosophy of Law
Inquiry into the nature of a legal system, relation of morality to law, the role of law in society, and topics in constitutional law. Students will also read legal cases and other material that they would encounter in law school. Prerequisite: junior standing. (Humanities) IHLAN
354. Political Philosophy
Intensive study of the work of a major political philosopher, compared with other important contributions to moral and political philosophy. Alternate years. (Humanities) GRAY
355. Philosophy of Religion
Philosophical examination of the major concepts and claims of the Western religious tradition. Topics to be discussed include the nature and existence of God, the problem of evil, the nature of religious language, the relation between faith and reason, the possibility of religious knowledge. Alternate years. (Humanities) WHITE
356. Philosophy of Science
Examination of science as a source of information about the world. The relationship between theory and observation. The objectivity of scientific knowledge. The nature of scientific progress. The difference between scientific and other sorts of claims. The relationship between social and natural sciences. Alternate years. (Humanities) WHITE
357. Philosophy in Literature
Philosophical study of selected works of world literature. (Humanities) GRAY
358. Philosophy of Mind
Theories about the mind and mental phenomena: the relationship between minds and brains; consciousness; free will; artificial intelligence; and the philosophy of psychology. Alternate years. (Humanities) WHITE
359. Postmodern Philosophy
Introduction to a very recent post-Analytic movement in 20th century philosophy. Study of the views of philosophers such as Lyotard, Foucault, and Rorty. Alternate years. (Humanities) GRAY
361through 366. Topics in Philosophy
Study of one major philosopher, one major problem, or one major philosophical movement. Offered subject to availability of staff. (Humanities)
390. Individual Project: see Courses 390.
480. Internship: see Courses 480.
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Up: Academic Information
Previous: Origins of Behavior (ORB)
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