|
Any course whose title contains the word "introduction"
may be taken as a first course. The department recommends that students
take no more then two such introductory courses. Often after a single
such course, students should proceed to follow their interests with
200- and 300-level
PHL 110 Introduction to Philosophy 3 cr
An introduction to philosophical analysis and criticism through a
survey of the major branches of philosophy. Topics may include, but
are not limited to: the mind/body problem, theory of knowledge, skepticism,
ethics, political philosophy, aesthetics, and philosophy of religion.
Core Course.
PHL 121 Introduction to Logic 3 cr
Studies arguments: what they are, how to identify them, and how to
judge their quality; and examines inductive and deductive arguments
in both their informal and formal aspects. Core Course.
PHL 131 Introduction to Ethics 3 cr
Examines ideas about good and bad, right and wrong, and moral obligation
through a survey of major ethical systems in western philosophy. The
course includes consideration of how these ideas apply to moral problems
and issues. Core Course.
PHL 141 Introduction to Oriental Philosophy: China 3 cr
Acquaints the student with the main streams of the Chinese philosophical
heritage as embodied in Primordial Confucianism, Taoism, Mahayana
Buddhism, and Neo-Confucianism, with emphasis on their contribution
to world philosophy.
PHL 142 Introduction to Oriental Philosophy: India 3 cr
Acquaints the student with the main streams of the Indian philosophical
heritage as embodied both in the orthodox school of Hinduism, and
the unorthodox school of Jainism, Carvakas, and Buddhism (Mahayana
and Hinayana), with emphasis on their contribution to world philosophy.
PHL 231 Social Ethics (W) 3 cr
Readings and analyses of ethical issues in society. Topics may include
euthanasia, sexual equality, sexual morality, censorship, world hunger,
animal rights, the environment, and capital punishment. Core Course.
PHL 233 Philosophy of Love and Friendship (W) 3 cr
Love and friendship are investigated by a philosophical analysis of
concepts embraced by the terms. Examples of the concepts are drawn
from common life, religion, history, and literature.
PHL 236 Philosophy of Law 3 cr
Introduces philosophical issues in the area of law, including theories
about the nature of law, legal validity, the relation between morality
and law, and our obligation to obey the law. Specific problems, such
as legal moralism, are also examined.
PHL 240 Western Philosophy: Classical and Medieval 3 cr
Survey of Greek, Roman, and Medieval philosophy with emphasis on classical
Greek philosophy. Core Course.
PHL 245 Western Philosophy: The Renaissance To Kant (W) 3 cr
Survey of Western philosophy from F. Bacon to Kant with emphasis on
the empiricists, rationalists, and Kant.
PHL 261 Existentialism 3 cr
An investigation of human individuality, the individual in relation
to society, and authentic versus inauthentic individuality. Philosophers
studied can include Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Sartre, and
Camus.
PHL 290 Special Topics 1-3 cr
Different themes and issues of philosophical significance will be
studied as announced.
PHL 321 Symbolic Logic 3 cr
A study of sentential and predicate logics and related topics.
PHL 327 Philosophy of the Social and Natural Sciences 3 cr
Studies such topics as method and explanation in the sciences; realist
and anti-realist views about scientific theories; scientific change;
and society, science, and values. Attention will be given to the similarities
and differences between the social and natural sciences.
PHL 331 Alienation 3 cr
Alienation, a fundamental element in human existence, is analyzed
in the philosophy of Marx, Hegel, Dostoevsky, Nietzsche and Sartre,
and then used to interpret characters and situations in selected novels
and films.
PHL 333 Biomedical Ethics (W) 3 cr
Ethical analyses of problems and issues in the biomedical and health-related
fields. Topics may include genetic research and technology, abortion,
health care, experimentation, and death and dying.
PHL 334 Man and Technology 3 cr
Examines the most common impacts that technology is envisioned to
have on both the spirit of the human person and the environment in
which that person lives. Both the technologist and antitechnologist
arguments will be explored.
PHL 336 Social-Political Philosophy 3 cr
An examination of contemporary philosophical theories and problems
concerning democracy and correlative economic systems, set against
the background of classical liberal philosophy. Issues to be examined
include notions of political authority and legitimation, liberty and
freedom, political and economic justice, inequality, and the relation
between individualism and community.
PHL 339 Philosophy of Culture 3 cr
Acquaints students with Cassirer’s philosophy of culture, with emphasis
on the unity of human experience as ramified into myth, language,
religion, art, history, science, and politicosocial life.
PHL 345 Anglo-American Philosophy Since Kant 3 cr
An examination of selected themes and issues in Anglo-American
philosophy since 1800. Topics may include pragmatism, ideal language
philosophy, and ordinary language philosophy.
PHL 348 Continental Philosophy Since Kant (W) 3 cr
An examination of selected themes and issues in continental philosophy
since 1800. Topics may include German idealism, Marxism, existentialism,
hermeneutics, phenomenology, and poststructuralism.
PHL 351 Philosophy of Religion (W) 3 cr
Investigates the nature of religion, including religious experience,
religious language, arguments for the existence of God, and the problem
of evil.
PHL 352 World Religions 3 cr
Major Eastern and Western religions emphasizing their historical
development, their theological structure, and their philosophical
implications.
PHL 361 Philosophy of Mind 3 cr
A study of the concept of consciousness and related concepts (e.g.,
mind, self, thinking) as applied to man, other animals, non-terrestrials,
and machines.
PHL 370 Philosophy of Art 3 cr
Acquaints students with main issues in aesthetics, both ancient and
modern. Includes such issues as the nature and function of art, the
creative process, the work of art, and the criteria of aesthetic judgment
and appreciation.
PHL 390 Special Topics 1-3 cr
Different figures or topics of philosophical significance will be
studied as announced. May be repeated, when content varies, for a
total of six hours. NOTE: The Department requires at least one lower-level
philosophy course or Junior standing as a prerequisite for 400-level
courses.
PHL 421 Theory of Knowledge 3 cr
Examines knowledge, its scope and limits. Topics may include the conditions,
criteria, and grounds for knowledge, and theories of truth and meaning.
PHL 431 Advanced Ethical Theory 3 cr
Problems in traditional and recent value theory and ethics.
PHL 461 Metaphysics 3 cr
Studies philosophical theories about the nature of reality, including
such topics as what is real, change, the nature of things, universals,
and such views as monism, materialism, realism, and idealism.
PHL 492 Seminar 1-3 cr
An investigation of issues and concepts in philosophy for advanced
undergraduates and graduate students. May be repeated, when content
varies, for a total of six hours.
PHL 494 Directed Studies 1-3 cr
Directed research in philosophy under the guidance of a member of
the department. Credit according to the magnitude of the individual
project. May be repeated, if content varies, for a total of three
hours. Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing and approval of directing
professor and department chair.
PHL 499 Honors Thesis 3 cr
Extended research paper prepared under direction of thesis advisor
plus two-person committee selected by advisor in consultation with
student. Prerequisites: The student must have developed a proposal
for the thesis in consultation with the advisor, and received permission
for the work from the committee. In addition, the student must be
a senior major or minor, have completed the logic and history of philosophy
requirements, have at least two courses at the 300-level or higher,
and have at least a 3.3 GPA in Philosophy. Credit for this course
is only given as an addition to the hours required for the major.
PHL 590 Special Topics 1-3 cr
Study of individuals or topics of philosophical significance. May
be repeated for credit when content varies. Enrollment is limited
to students in disciplines other than philosophy.
|
