PHILOSOPHY (PHL)

Any course whose title contains the word "introduction" may be taken as a first course. The Department recommends that students take no more than two such introductory courses. Often after a single such course, students should proceed to follow their interests with 200- and 300-level courses.

PHL 110 Introduction to Philosophy 4 cr
Acquaints the student with the most significant directions of philosophical thought. Typically the ideas and examples are from Western Philosophy. Students who have received credit for PHL 111 may not receive credit for this course.

PHL 111 From Socrates to Sartre, 8 cr
An Introduction to Philosophy This course offers a survey of the development of philosophy in Western Civilization through the writings of six major philosophers; Plato, Descartes, Hume, Hegel, Marx and Sartre. This course is a multi-media course, consisting of reading assignments, video lectures, and tutorial sessions. The course is offered for eight hours credit, over two consecutive quarters. Students can enroll for the second quarter only if they were enrolled in the first quarter. Credit for the first quarter is granted only upon completing the second quarter. Students who have received credit for PHL 110 may not receive credit for this course.

PHL 121 Introduction to Logic 4 cr
Acquaints the student with the principles of correct inference by discussion of formal and informal logic.

PHL 131 Introduction to Ethics 4 cr
Systematic study of various ethical theories, and a study of other fields, social psychology, religion, etc., whose findings are directly related to human behavior and the development of character.

PHL 141 Introduction to Oriental Philosophy: China 4 cr
Acquaints the student with the main streams of Chinese philosophical traditions as embodied in Confucianism, Taoism, Mohism, Legalism, Chinese Buddhism (including Zen), Neo-Confucianism, etc.

PHL 142 Introduction to Oriental Philosophy: India 4 cr
Surveys the main ideas as embodied in the philosophical tradition of India; Hinduism, Jainism, Carvakas, and Hinayanaic and Mahayanaic Buddhism.

PHL 231 Social Ethics (W) 4 cr
Readings and analyses of ethical issues in society. Topics include euthanasia, sexual equality, sexual morality, censorship, world hunger, animal rights, the ecology, and capital punishment.

PHL 233 Philosophy of Love (W) 4 cr
Love is investigated by a philosophical analysis of concepts embraced by the term. Examples of the concepts are drawn from common life, religion, history, and literature.

PHL 236 Philosophy of Law 4 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 241 Classical Philosophy 4 cr
A survey of the Ancient Greek and Roman philosophers.

PHL 242 Medieval and Renaissance Philosophies (W) 4 cr
A survey of medieval Latin, Islamic, and Jewish philosophers followed by an analysis of the main currents of Renaissance philosophy.

PHL 243 Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Philosophy 4 cr
A survey of Renaissance and early modern philosophy emphasizing continental rationalism, British empiricism, and Kant.

PHL 244 Recent Philosophy (W) 4 cr
Selected figures or movements from nineteenth and twentieth century philosophy.

PHL 261 Existentialism 4 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 1-4 cr
Different themes and issues of philosophical significance will be studied as announced.

PHL 323 History of Scientific Concepts 4 cr
History of the major developments of science as an epistemological, methodological, and humanistic discipline. Concentration will be on post-Renaissance science.

PHL 324 Symbolic Logic 4 cr
A study of sentential and predicate logics and related topics.

PHL 325 Philosophy of the Natural Sciences 4 cr
The logic of scientific method illustrated by analysis of concepts and theories from the natural sciences.

PHL 326 Philosophy of the Social Sciences 4 cr
Logical and epistemological examination of the social sciences as types of knowledge: relationship of theory to fact, influence of value judgments, testability, nature of casual law, and induction of the social sciences.

PHL 331 Alienation 4 cr
What is alienation? To what extent do political and economic factors account for alienation? What are the relevant psychological and religious factors in alienation? Is civilization simply in itself alienating? Is dealienation possible?

PHL 332 Philosophy of Revolution 4 cr
What is revolution? What causes it? Can it be justified? How? A study of proposed answers to these questions with reference to various revolutions, especially the American and Russian.

PHL 333 Biomedical Ethics (W) 4 cr
Ethical analyses of problems and issues in the health-related fields. Topics include genetic research and technology, abortion, health care, experimentation, and death and dying.

PHL 334 Man and Technology 4 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 4 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 344 American Philosophy 4 cr
An examination into the origins and current directions of American philosophy.

PHL 348 Recent Continental Philosophy (W) 4 cr
An examination of selected themes and issues in recent continental philosophy.

PHL 351 Philosophy of Religion (W) 4 cr
Aspects of the dialogue of religion with current developments in the natural and social sciences.

PHL 352 World Religions 4 cr
Major Eastern and Western religions emphasizing their historical development, their theological structure, and their philosophical implications.

PHL 361 Philosophy of Mind 4 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 371 History of Aesthetics 4 cr
Traditional theories of art and aesthetic experience, with special attention to the aesthetics of Plato, Aristotle, Kant, and Hegel.

PHL 375 Problems in Aesthetics 4 cr
Problems in the philosophy of art, such as the nature and function of art, the creative act, the art object, aesthetic experience, and principles of judgment, with selected readings and projects from contemporary sources. This course may be taken before PHL 371.

PHL 390 Special Topics 1-4 cr
Different personages or topics of philosophical significance will be studied as announced. This course may be repeated, when different topics are offered, for a total of twelve credit 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 4 cr
Human knowledge and the questions that we ask about its nature.

PHL 431 Advanced Ethical Theory 4 cr
Typical problems in traditional and recent value theory and ethics.

PHL 461 Metaphysics 4 cr
Intensive study of classical or contemporary works which speculate about the ultimate nature of reality.

PHL 492 Seminar 1-4 cr
An investigation of issues and concepts in philosophy for advanced undergraduates and graduate students. May be repeated once for credit when content varies.

PHL 494 Directed Studies 1-4 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, for a total of 8 credit hours, when content varies. Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing and approval of directing professor and department chair.

PHL 499 Honors Thesis 4 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 previously completed a Directed Studies (PHL 494) with the advisor on the topic of the thesis and received permission for the thesis 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 three 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 533 Ethical Issues in Biomedicine 2 cr
Advanced analysis of ethical issues raised by medical technology and research, abortion, health care, death and dying. Topics vary each quarter and are not limited to the above. Enrollment is limited to students in disciplines other than philosophy.

PHL 590 Special Topics 1-4 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.

Courses of Instruction

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