Philosophy Courses
PHIL-100 Introduction to Philosophy
An introduction to philosophical issues in epistemology, metaphysics, and value theory including such topics as the nature and sources of knowledge, freedom and determinism, the relation of mind and body, personal identity, the relation of knowledge and values. Offered annually. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
PHIL-155 Special Topics
See department for description.
Credits: 1.00
PHIL-202 Ethics and Society
An introduction to ethical theories and their application to a variety of moral problems and contemporary ethical issues. We will pay special attention to questions of personal conduct. How should I live? How do my personal choices affect society? What values should guide my decision-making? What would it mean for me to live an ethical life? Offered annually. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
PHIL-205 Ancient Philosophy
A study of the major issues and personalities that constituted and shaped early western thought, from the pre-socratics (sixth century BCE) through the Hellenistic and Roman era (fourth century CE). Offered alternate years. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
PHIL-206 Medieval Philosophy
A study of the major issues and personalities that constituted and shaped medieval western thought from the fourth century through the fifteenth century. Offered alternate years. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
PHIL-207 Early Modern Phil 1500-1750
A study of the major issues and personalities that constituted and shaped modern western thought from the sixteenth century through the eighteenth century. Offered alternate years. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
PHIL-208 Late Modern Phil 1750-1900
A study of the major issues and personalities that constituted and shaped modern western thought from the mid-eighteenth century through the nineteenth century. Offered alternate years. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
PHIL-212 Language and Logic
A survey of formal syntactic and semantic features of language, including topics such as sentential logic, predicate logic, axiomatic systems and set theory, and nonclassical extensions such as multivalued logics. Offered annually. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
PHIL-255 Special Topics
See department for course description.
Credits: 1.00
PHIL-275 Internship
See department for details.
Credits: 1.00
PHIL-295 Independent Study
Independent study, see department for details.
Credits: 1.00
PHIL-303 American Philosophy
A survey of major themes, movements, and figures of American philosophical thought from the seventeenth century to the present. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or above. Offered alternate years. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
PHIL-304 Philosophy of Art
An investigation of the arts, including such topics as the nature of art, the metaphysics of art (e.g., form, expression, art as process vs. art as object) the epistemology of art (e.g., the locus of meaning in art, what constitutes artistic understanding, can art be "true"), and the axiology of art (e.g., art and morals, the social significance of art, how can art be evaluated). Besides general philosophical issues connected to art, particular arts will be considered (e.g., painting, dance, music, theatre, film, architecture). Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or above. Offered alternate years. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
PHIL-305 Asian Philosophy
A study of Asian philosophical texts both historical and contemporary from various cultures, focusing for example on the Hinduism of India, the Taoism of China, and the Zen Buddhism of Japan. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or above. Meets comparative cultural core requirement. Offered alternate years. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
PHIL-307 Ethics, Medicine & Health Care
A study of some ethical issues connected with medicine and health care: medical fallibility, cultural sensitivity in medical services, disability issues, economic and social inequalities, cultural relativism & medical intervention, racism, global health problems, and pharmaceutical issues. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or above. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
PHIL-309 Philosophy of Religion
An investigation of the nature of religion and the truth of religious claims as interpreted by both historical and contemporary philosophers and theologians. Topics may include among others: the existence and nature of God, the quality and significance of religious experiences, and the origins of religion as a natural phenomenon. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or above. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
PHIL-310 Philosophy of Science
An investigation of issues and concepts within science and about science, including such topics as the nature of explanation, the nature of confirmation, the nature of scientific progress, the relations among science, technology, values and society. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or above. Offered alternate years. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
PHIL-314 Philosophy of Mind
An investigation of the nature of mind and consciousness as interpreted by contemporary philosophers of mind. What is consciousness? Who has it? How is it produced? Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or above. Offered alternate years. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
PHIL-315 Philosophy of Law
An introduction to philosophical issues within and about law, including such topics as the nature of law, legal reasoning, liberty/rights and the limits of law, the nature of legal responsibility, the nature and justification of legal punishment. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or above. Offered alternate years. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
PHIL-321 Environmental Ethics
A study of the key concepts in environmental ethics, such as biodiversity loss, corporate responsibility, animal rights, over-population, and environmental racism. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or above. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
PHIL-326 Animal Ethics
An investigation of the relationship between human and non-human animals. What is the moral standing of non-human animals? We will study both the theoretical and practical facets of this question by focusing on the ethical issues raised by animal experiments and factory farming. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or above. Offered alternate years. 2 credits.
Credits: 2.00
PHIL-355 Special Topics
See department for course description.
Credits: 1.00
PHIL-395 Independent Study
See department for details.
Credits: 1.00
PHIL-403 Twentieth Century Philosophy
An intensive study of the major issues and personalities in twentieth-century philosophy, in such movements and schools as pragmatism, existentialism, phenomenology, positivism, linguistic analysis, structuralism, poststructuralism, and critical theory. Prerequisite: PHIL 208 plus one other course in the history of philosophy. 4 hours. Offered alternate years.
Credits: 4.00
PHIL-405 Topics in Moral Philosophy
An intensive study in a specific topic in moral philosophy. Prerequisite: PHIL 202. Offered alternate years. 2 credits.
Credits: 2.00
PHIL-420 Seminar in Philosophy
A concentrated study of various issues in philosophy, including such topics as philosophy of language, advanced logic, aesthetics, environmental ethics, moral philosophy, in-depth analysis of particular works or philosophers, etc. Prerequisite: nine hours in philosophy. Offered intermittently. 4 credits.
Credits: 4.00
PHIL-475 Internship
See department for details.
Credits: 0.00
PHIL-494 Senior Seminar I
Required of all philosophy majors in the fall of the senior year; in the spring majors are required to enroll in PHIL 495. The purpose of this seminar is to prepare the student to produce a philosophical essay of significant length and quality, a senior thesis. This project will require researching, writing, defending, and perhaps publishing the essay. In PHIL 494 students will research and prepare a substantial prospectus for the senior thesis; students will also read, discuss and critique the work of other members of the seminar. Prerequisite: eighteen hours in philosophy, PHIL-212, and one course in the history of PHIL (PHIL-205, PHIL-206, PHIL-207, or PHIL-208), each with a C- or better. Offered annually in the fall term. 2 credits.
Credits: 2.00
PHIL-495 Senior Seminar II
Required of all philosophy majors in the senior year; in the fall majors are required to enroll in PHIL 494. The purpose of this seminar is for each student to produce a philosophical essay of significant length and quality, a senior thesis. This project will require researching, writing, defending, and perhaps publishing the essay. In PHIL 495 students will write and defend the senior thesis; students will also read, discuss, and critique the work of other members of the seminar. Prerequisite: PHIL 494 and instructor's approval. Offered annually in the spring term. 2 credits.
Credits: 2.00