Philosophy | List of Classes

 

Current Schedule of Classes

PHIL 101: Introduction to Philosophy

Introduction to the methods and subject matter of the discipline of philosophy through critical analysis of primary texts and discussion of enduring questions regarding reality, knowledge, and value. Topics include the sources and limits of knowledge; the nature of reality, mind, and personal identity; the existence of God and religious experience; moral value; philosophy of science; the nature of truth; distributive justice; and the meaning of life.

PHIL 108: Introduction to Ethics and Contemporary Moral Issues

Introduction to moral philosophy. Critical study of major ethical theories and their application to contemporary moral issues in such areas as bio-medical practice, law and violence, sexuality, social and economic justice, the environment, and business conduct.

PHIL 109: Introduction to Logic

Introduction to the principles and practice of sound reasoning: argument analysis and evaluation, induction, deduction, fallacies, categorical logic, and propositional logic.

PHIL 114: Political Philosophy

Introduction to the normative discussion of social organization from a variety of philosophical perspectives. Topics include the nature of the state, rights, the role of law, liberty, distributive justice, and the common good. Emphasis on the American social experience with additional attention given to the global context. Cross-listed with POLS 114.

PHIL 117: Philosophy of Religion

Introduction to major topics in the Philosophy of Religion: the existence and nature of God, religious experience and knowledge, and concepts of immortality and human destiny. Special attention is given to conflicts between religion and science, competing claims for religious truth, and the relevance of religion to social ethics. Cross-listed with RLST 117.

PHIL 118: Philosophy of Science

This is a course exploring the nature, sources, and limits of knowledge, modern and contemporary epistemological theories, the challenges skepticism raises for epistemology, and the principles, criteria and methodology of science and scientific investigation. This course is intended for students seeking a basic understanding of the nature of knowledge and its relationship to science. 

PHIL 120: Ancient Philosophy

Critical study of the major movements, figures, and influential texts in the ancient period of Western Philosophy: the Pre-Socratics, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Discussion of the influence of Greek thought on Hellenistic, Roman, and Medieval philosophy.

PHIL 121: Intro to Modern/Contemporary Philosophy

Introduction to major Western philosophers and movements from the 16th through the 18th Centuries. Emphasis on primary source readings representative of Continental Rationalism, British Empiricism, and Kant, with some attention given to precursors and following developments.

PHIL 207: Introduction to Critical Thinking

Study and practice in critical thinking and advanced English composition: analysis, evaluation, and formulation of arguments; critical study of texts; and extended argumentative writing. Application of critical thinking and writing skills to current moral, social, and religious issues. Cross-listed with RLST 207.