Philosophy (PHIL) Undergraduate Course Descriptions
PHIL 111. Multicultural Philosophy [Goal 6, Goal 8] (Diversity/MGM)
Reality, knowledge and value, from the perspectives of various African, Arabic, European, East Asian, South Asian and/or Native American cultures. 3 Cr. F, S.
PHIL 112. Philosophical Explorations [Goal 6]
Basic issues in philosophy: theory of knowledge, human nature, morality, political systems, religious thought, the meaning of life, etc. Individual sections may focus on particular topics. 3 Cr. F, S.
PHIL 194. Critical Reasoning [Goal 2]
Reasoning about human values, human knowledge and our place in the scheme of things. Conceptual analysis, identifying and analyzing arguments, and recognizing fallacious reasoning. 3 Cr. F, S, SUM.
PHIL 211. Philosophy and Feminism [Goal 6, Goal 8] (Diversity/MGM)
The ways in which philosophical and feminist thinking enhance one another. A variety of perspectives, including race, class and culture. 3 Cr. S.
PHIL 212. Moral Problems and Theories [Goal 6, Goal 9]
Ethical theories and their application to moral problems such as abortion, euthanasia and animal rights. 3 Cr. F, S.
PHIL 213. Environmental Ethics [Goal 9, Goal 10]
Critically evaluate the ethical dimensions of environmental and natural resource issues. Identify moral values in alternative solutions and encourage reasoned defense of proposed actions. 3 Cr. F, ALT.
PHIL 221. Philosophy of Religion [Goal 6]
The existence of God, the problem of evil, the nature and justification of religious beliefs, religious diversity and the role of faith, revelation and science. Prereq.: One of 111-194. 3 Cr. F, S, ALT.
PHIL 222. Existentialism [Goal 6]
Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger and Sartre on the human subject. Existential phenomenology, knowledge, truth, freedom, personal relations, authenticity and value. Prereq.: One of 111-194. 3 Cr. F, S, ALT.
PHIL 251. History of Western Philosophy I [Goal 6]
Ancient and Medieval Philosophy. The Presocratics, Plato, Aristotle, Hellenistic and Roman philosophers, Augustine and Aquinas. Prereq.: One of 111-194. 3 Cr. F.
PHIL 252. History of Western Philosophy II [Goal 6]
Western Philosophy from the Renaissance, through Descartes and the Rationalists, Hume and the Empiricists, and Kant. Prereq.: One of 111-194. 3 Cr. S.
PHIL 301. Ethics
The nature of morality. Theories of right action and the good person. The good life, facts and values, relativism, metaethics and relations between morality, religion and social attitudes. Prereq.: One of 211-252. 3 Cr. F.
PHIL 302. Metaphysics
The nature of reality. God, the self, matter, mind, substance, modality, universals, free will, time, change, survival, death, and realism vs. anti-realism. Prereq.: One of 211-252. 3 Cr. S.
PHIL 303. Epistemology
The nature, value and possibility of knowledge and justified belief. Sense perception, the a priori, skepticism, foundationalism, coherentism, internalism, externalism and naturalism. Prereq.: One of 211-252. 3 Cr. F.
PHIL 304. Symbolic Logic
Basic logical concepts: validity, necessity, possibility and consistency. Natural deduction for sentence and predicate logics. Introduction to modal and many-valued logics. Prereq.: One of 211-252. 3 Cr. S.
PHIL 321. History of Western Philosophy III
German Idealism, Schopenhauer, Marxism, Nietzsche, Post-Humean British Empiricism, British Idealism, Pragmatism, Analytic Philosophy. Prereq.: One of 211-252. 3 Cr. F, ALT.
PHIL 322. Social and Political Philosophy
Issues and theoretical frameworks. May include libertarian, feminist, communitarian and liberal social theories and the work of Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Marx and Arendt. Prereq.: One of 211-252 3 Cr. F, ALT.
PHIL 323. Aesthetics
The nature and value of art, beauty, creativity, aesthetic experience and critical judgment. Prereq.: One of 211-252. 3 Cr. S, ALT.
PHIL 324. Philosophy of Mind
The nature of conscious intelligence. The relation between the mind and the body, artificial intelligence, knowledge of other minds. Prereq.: One of 211-252. 3 Cr. S, ALT.
PHIL 325. Philosophy of Science
The nature of science. Carnap, Popper, Kuhn and others on scientific explanation, induction, scientific realism, objectivity and relativism. Prereq.: One of 211-252. 3 Cr. F, ALT.
PHIL 326. Philosophy of Language
Meaning, reference, translation and indeterminacy, the analytic/synthetic distinction, speech act theory and theories of truth. Prereq.: One of 211-252. 3 Cr. S, ALT.
PHIL 441. Philosophy After Graduation
Produce a high quality philosophy paper, investigate graduate programs, prepare to integrate philosophy into one's life after graduation. Prereq.: Three courses between 301-304. 3 Cr. F.
Philosophy (PHIL) Courses for Advanced Undergraduate and Graduate Students
PHIL 411/511. Topics in Philosophy
Study of a single philosopher, problem or special topic. May be repeated with different topics. Graduate students will complete additional assignments. Prereq.: At least one 300-level course. 3 Cr. F, S.
PHIL 451/551. Seminar
Advanced studyof a single philosopher, problem or special topic in a seminar setting. May be repeated with different topics. Graduate students will complete additional assignments. Prereq.: Two courses between 301-304 or permission of instructor. 3 Cr. S.
PHIL 481/581. Professional Ethics
The concept of a profession and the relationships that constitute professional activity. Confidentiality, privacy, consent, whistle blowing, professional codes of ethics and social responsibility. 3 Cr. F.
PHIL 482/582. Philosophy of Law and Punishment
The nature, purpose and foundations of law. Legal and moral responsibility, just punishment, the limits of authority and legal reasoning. 3 Cr. S.
PHIL 484/584. Global Business Ethics [Goal 8, Goal 9]
Personal, organizational, and nationalistic issues in international business. Relativism, corporate responsibility for the environment, bribery and the use of Third World labor. 3 Cr. F, S.
