Philosophy
PHI 1001: Power of Logic (5)
Offerings
An introductory course in logic that covers the following topics: the basic concepts of logic (such as validity and soundness), argument forms, identifying arguments, logic and language, categorical syllogisms and Venn diagrams, informal fallacies, truth tables and natural deduction (for propositional logic).
Attributes: Arts and Humanities B, WK Humanities
PHI 1002: History of Ethics (5)
Offerings
This course will introduce students to the methods and practices of moral philosophy as we engage the perennial question of how should we live a good life. Students will engage with philosophers from a variety of cultural and philosophical perspectives and approaches. The aims of the course include: developing tools for productive cross-cultural moral discourse, learning how to analyze philosophical arguments, and learning how to articulate one's own moral views.
Attributes: Arts and Humanities B, WK Humanities
PHI 1004: Survey of Western Philosophy (5)
Offerings
Ever since Socrates declared that “the unexamined life is not worth living,” philosophers and other thinkers have debated what it means to live a well-examined life. This course discusses what it means to think critically and what it is to be human and pursue the good life. In addition, ethical questions pertaining to justice, holiness, social contract, and the nature of virtue will be explored. In considering these and other questions, the course brings those from Greek and other Western traditions into conversation with Islamic, feminist and African American intellectuals who have challenged the prevailing definitions of humanness, justice, and the good life.
Attributes: Arts and Humanities B, WK Humanities
PHI 2001: Advanced Logic (3)
Offerings
Prerequisite: PHI 1001. Covers these topics: predicate logic with identity and modal logic.
Prerequisites: PHI 1001: D or better
PHI 2222: Social Ethics (5)
Offerings
In this course we critically examine contemporary controversial moral issues. Questions that may be addressed include: Is abortion morally permissible? Under what conditions, if any, can war or terrorism be justified? Do animals have rights? Does the environment? Do we have a moral obligation to help ɬ in other countries? May the state permissibly prohibit the use of drugs? Should homosexual couples be allowed to marry?
Attributes: Ways of Engaging
PHI 2500: Philosophy of Science (3)
Offerings
The course will examine philosophical issues raised by modern physics, biology, and psychology (among other sciences). It will address questions such as the following. What distinguishes science from pseudo-science? Does science differ from philosophy and theology? Can scientific hypotheses be conclusively established through observation and experiment? What makes for a good scientific explanation? Does science converge on the truth about nature or provide merely useful predictive tools? What are the consequences of historical change in science for the rationality of science? Offered alternate years.
Attributes: Arts and Humanities B
PHI 2999: Aesthetics (3)
Offerings
This course familiarizes students with many of the themes and topics of contemporary moral philosophy through an exploration of the arts, including film, television, and literature. It also addresses topics in the ethics of art, such as whether there are moral limits to artistic expression, and whether the moral qualities of an artwork or artist should figure into the aesthetic appraisal of works of art. The aims of this course include: identifying ethical issues in works of art and through works of art, learning how to analyze philosophical arguments, and learning how to articulate one’s own arguments.
Attributes: Arts and Humanities B, Ways of Engaging
PHI 3601: Ancient Philosophy (5)
Offerings
Surveys the work of principally Greek philosophers emphasizing Plato and Aristotle. Some consideration may be given to pre-Socratics and post-Aristotelian developments, such as stoicism and Neoplatonism.
Attributes: Upper-Division, Writing "W" Course
PHI 3602: Medieval Philosopy (3)
Offerings
PHI 3602: Medieval Philosopy (3)
Offerings
Prerequisite: PHI 1001 or PHI 1002 or PHI 1004, or UCOR 3000 or instructor's permission. What happens when Greek philosophy starts a conversation with the Abrahamic faith traditions (Judaism, Christianity, & Islam)? This course discusses some of the issues and questions arising from the Ancient period (especially in Plato and Aristotle) and engaged by later theologians and philosophers struggling to articulate the beliefs and practices of their faith traditions. Questions include: What is the nature of God? How are we to understand divine knowledge and power? How do answers to such theistic questions accord with human free will, sin, and evil? What is the relationship between faith and reason, and faith and ethics? The course focuses on such thinkers as: Augustine, Boethius, Al Farabi, Ibn Sina, Al Ghazali, Maimonides, and Thomas Aquinas.
Attributes: Upper-Division, Writing "W" Course
Prerequisites: PHI 1001: D or better
OR PHI 1002: D or better
OR PHI 1004: D or better
OR UCOR 3000: D or better
PHI 3606: Continental Philosophy (5)
Offerings
Prerequisite: PHI 1001 or 1002 or 1004, or UCOR 3000, or instructor permision. Surveys major philosophical figures in the continental tradition such as Hegel, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Gadamer, Derrida and Rorty. Offered alternate years.
Attributes: Upper-Division, Writing "W" Course
Prerequisites: PHI 1001: D or better
OR PHI 1002: D or better
OR PHI 1004: D or better
OR UCOR 3000: D or better
PHI 3633: Early Modern Philosophy (5)
Offerings
Prerequisite: PHI 1001 or PHI 1002 or PHI 1004 or UCOR 3000. Surveys the thought of main figures in the early modern period such as Descartes, Locke, Leibniz, Hume and Kant.
Attributes: Upper-Division, Writing "W" Course
Prerequisites: PHI 1001: D or better
OR PHI 1002: D or better
OR PHI 1004: D or better
OR UCOR 3000: D or better
PHI 3651: Contemporary Ethical Theory (5)
Offerings
Prerequisite: PHI 1001 or 1002 or 1004, or UCOR 3000, or instructor permission. An in-depth examination of the main philosophical theories of ethics such as consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics. Contemporary versions of these theories will be emphasized. Selected topics in metaethics will also be included, such as morality and self-interest, and morality and rationality.
Attributes: Upper-Division, Writing "W" Course
Prerequisites: PHI 1001: D or better
OR PHI 1002: D or better
OR PHI 1004: D or better
OR UCOR 3000: D or better
PHI 3770: Political Philosophy (3)
Offerings
An in-depth examination of the main philosophical theories of the nature of justice and the just society such as liberalixm, libertarianism, communism, and communitarianism. Contemporary and historical theories will be covered. Offered alternate years.
Attributes: Upper-Division, Writing "W" Course
PHI 3999: Mind and Immortality (3)
Offerings
Prerequisite: PHI 1001 or PHI 1002 or PHI 1004, or UCOR 3000 or instructor's permission. An in-depth examination of the naturalistic program in understanding the human mind. Topics covered include dualism versus physicalism, behaviorism, mind-brain identity theory, functionalism, mental causation, consciousness, reductive and nonreductive physicalism, and the Christian doctrine of the resurrection of the body.
Attributes: Upper-Division, Writing "W" Course
Prerequisites: PHI 1001: D or better
OR PHI 1002: D or better
OR PHI 1004: D or better
OR UCOR 3000: D or better
PHI 4652: Contemporary Metaphysics (5)
Offerings
Prerequisite: PHI 1001. An in-depth examination of classic metaphysical issues focusing on more recent contributions to the debates. Topics include free will, ontology, realism and essentialism.
Attributes: Upper-Division, Writing "W" Course
Prerequisites: PHI 1001: D or better
PHI 4653: Contemporary Epistemology (3)
Offerings
Prerequisite: PHI 1001 or PHI 1002 or PHI 1004, or UCOR 3000 or instructor's permission. An in-depth examination of classic epistemological issues focusing on more recent contributions to the debates. Topics include the analysis of knowledge, the Gettier problem, the structure and sources of justification, skepticism, a priori knowledge, and naturalized and feminist epistemology.
Attributes: Upper-Division
Prerequisites: PHI 1001: D or better
OR PHI 1002: D or better
OR PHI 1004: D or better
OR UCOR 3000: D or better
PHI 4898: Existence of God (3)
Offerings
Prerequisite: PHI 1001 or PHI 1002 or PHI 1004 or UCOR 3000. Explores issues relevant to the existence of God, such as, religious experience, the problem of evil, theistic arguments (e.g. the cosmological argument, the design argument, the ontological argument, the moral argument), religious pluralism, and the merits of philosophical naturalism. Can fulfill the senior capstone requirement in philosophy.
Attributes: Upper-Division
Restrictions: Freshman students are excluded.
Prerequisites: PHI 1001: D or better
OR PHI 1002: D or better
OR PHI 1004: D or better
OR UCOR 3000: D or better
PHI 4899: Philosophical Theology (3)
Offerings
PHI 1001 or PHI 1002 or PHI 1004 or UCOR 3000. Explores philosophical questions arising from topics in theology, including the divine attributes (e.g. omnipotence, omniscience, perfect goodness), divine revelation, the Trinity, the Incarnation, and the Atonement. Can fulfill the senior capstone requirement in philosophy.
Attributes: Upper-Division
Restrictions: Freshman students are excluded.
Prerequisites: PHI 1001: D or better
OR PHI 1002: D or better
OR PHI 1004: D or better
OR UCOR 3000: D or better
PHI 4900: Independent Study (1-5)
Offerings
Student works independently with a faculty member on a mutually agreed upon topic. May be repeated for credit up to 15 credits.
Attributes: Upper-Division
PHI 4920: Directed Readings (1-9)
Offerings
Directed Readings May be repeated for credit up to 9 credits.
Attributes: Upper-Division
Restrictions: Junior, Post-Baccalaureate, Senior students only.
PHI 4930: Philosophy Practicum (1-5)
Offerings
For advanced students who wish to assist as discussion leaders and readers in lower-division philosophy classes. May be repeated for credit up to 5 credits.
Attributes: Upper-Division
Restrictions: Philosophy Majors only. Freshman, Sophomore students are excluded.
PHI 4940: Philosophy Internship (1-5)
Offerings
Prerequisite: 30 credits of philosopy. Practical application of philosophical skills. (See philosophy Web-site for illustrative possibilities.) May be repeated for credit up to 5 credits.
Attributes: Upper-Division
Restrictions: Philosophy Majors only. Freshman, Sophomore students are excluded.
PHI 4950: Special Topics in Philosophy (1-5)
Offerings
An in-depth exploration of a specific philosophical topic chosen by the instructor. Recent topics include the problem of evil, the doctrines of the trinity and incarnation, political philosophy and C.S. Lewis on the quest for the permanent things. May be repeated for credit up to 10 credits.
Attributes: Upper-Division
Restrictions: Junior, Post-Baccalaureate, Senior students only.
PHI 4970: Independent Research (1-9)
Offerings
Independent Research
Attributes: Upper-Division