Philosophy Department Courses
Honors Philosophy
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HPH234* HNR HUM Justice Through the Ages
- 4.00 credits. (Humanities Core Course - Honors) This seminar addresses the subject of justice as it has appeared in classical literature. Many of the readings involve the contest between positive law, enacted by the state, and what has been labeled natural or eternal law. The course begins with readings from the ancient world and concludes with modern-day readings on the subject. It also includes films that eloquently address the perennial problems associated with defining justice. Register by Instructor.
- 4.00 credits. (Humanities Core Course - Honors) This seminar addresses the subject of justice as it has appeared in classical literature. Many of the readings involve the contest between positive law, enacted by the state, and what has been labeled natural or eternal law. The course begins with readings from the ancient world and concludes with modern-day readings on the subject. It also includes films that eloquently address the perennial problems associated with defining justice. Register by Instructor.
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HPH255 HNR Environmental Ethics
- 4.00 credits. This course in environmental ethics familiarizes students with the range of positions that identifies the contemporary phenomenon of ecological consciousness. The historical framework for the course will highlight the perennial conflict between what environmentalists call First Nature (primordial physical nature) and Second Nature (culture and artifactual overlay). *Prerequiste: Honors course. Register by Instructor. Spring semester.
- 4.00 credits. This course in environmental ethics familiarizes students with the range of positions that identifies the contemporary phenomenon of ecological consciousness. The historical framework for the course will highlight the perennial conflict between what environmentalists call First Nature (primordial physical nature) and Second Nature (culture and artifactual overlay). *Prerequiste: Honors course. Register by Instructor. Spring semester.
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PH105* WCH Introduction to Philosophy
- 4.00 credits. (Western Cultural Heritage Core Course) A historical overview and a topical introduction to the Western philosophical tradition, the course concentrates on the most fundamental existential questions that confront us, and examines some of the great Western philosophers' answers to these questions throughout history. Great historical figures in Western philosophy such as Plato, Aquinas, Descartes and Hume are covered. Course topics and questions include: philosophy of religion, epistemology, metaphysics and ethics.
- 4.00 credits. (Western Cultural Heritage Core Course) A historical overview and a topical introduction to the Western philosophical tradition, the course concentrates on the most fundamental existential questions that confront us, and examines some of the great Western philosophers' answers to these questions throughout history. Great historical figures in Western philosophy such as Plato, Aquinas, Descartes and Hume are covered. Course topics and questions include: philosophy of religion, epistemology, metaphysics and ethics.
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PH110* PLE Logic and Critical Thinking
- 4.00 credits. (Power of Language Core Course) An overview of the key skills necessary for being a critical thinker, writer and speaker and the various impediments to critical thinking as well as the pitfalls they can lead to, such as prejudice and authoritarianism. The student will learn the difference between mere rhetoric and persuasion on one hand, and cogent reasoning on the other. The student will be trained in both deductive and inductive patterns of reasoning, and learn to spot and evaluate such arguments in the wild - magazines, political speeches, advertising, etc. *Prerequisite: MA 011 (competency). This course is open only to students with advanced English placement and cannot be taken by students who have received credit for English 150 to satisfy the Power of Language requirement.
- 4.00 credits. (Power of Language Core Course) An overview of the key skills necessary for being a critical thinker, writer and speaker and the various impediments to critical thinking as well as the pitfalls they can lead to, such as prejudice and authoritarianism. The student will learn the difference between mere rhetoric and persuasion on one hand, and cogent reasoning on the other. The student will be trained in both deductive and inductive patterns of reasoning, and learn to spot and evaluate such arguments in the wild - magazines, political speeches, advertising, etc. *Prerequisite: MA 011 (competency). This course is open only to students with advanced English placement and cannot be taken by students who have received credit for English 150 to satisfy the Power of Language requirement.
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PH111* PLO Introduction to Classical Greek
- 4.00 credits. (Power of Language Core Course) A first experience with the Greek language with focus on the language and its social and cultural context. Students will explore classical Greek literature in its original language.
- 4.00 credits. (Power of Language Core Course) A first experience with the Greek language with focus on the language and its social and cultural context. Students will explore classical Greek literature in its original language.
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PH115* HUM Ethics
- 4.00 credits. (Humanities Core Course) A study of the nature, origin and development of ethical theories from both a historical and contemporary perspective and their relevance to significant current moral dilemmas such as abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment and environmental issues. Special attention is given to the exploration of enduring moral concerns, such as moral realism versus relativism, egoism, altruism, the role of reason in ethics, and the nature of responsible moral decision making.
- 4.00 credits. (Humanities Core Course) A study of the nature, origin and development of ethical theories from both a historical and contemporary perspective and their relevance to significant current moral dilemmas such as abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment and environmental issues. Special attention is given to the exploration of enduring moral concerns, such as moral realism versus relativism, egoism, altruism, the role of reason in ethics, and the nature of responsible moral decision making.
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PH200* WCH History and Philosophy of Science
- 4.00 credits. (Western Cultural Heritage Core Course) This course will cover the nature of scientific laws and explanation, the problem of induction, realism, the Quine-Duhem thesis, falsifiability, instrumentalism, Ptolemaic astronomy, Copernican astronomy, Kepler's laws, the Aristotelian worldview, the Newtonian worldview, the special theory of relativity, the general theory of relativity, space-time structure, time travel, quantum theory, the EPR conundrum, quantum non-locality, and Bell's theorem. The material will be presented in historical context.
- 4.00 credits. (Western Cultural Heritage Core Course) This course will cover the nature of scientific laws and explanation, the problem of induction, realism, the Quine-Duhem thesis, falsifiability, instrumentalism, Ptolemaic astronomy, Copernican astronomy, Kepler's laws, the Aristotelian worldview, the Newtonian worldview, the special theory of relativity, the general theory of relativity, space-time structure, time travel, quantum theory, the EPR conundrum, quantum non-locality, and Bell's theorem. The material will be presented in historical context.
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PH201* WCH History of Western Philosophy I
- 4.00 credits. (Western Cultural Heritage Core Course) Engagement in an in-depth survey of the central issues and thinkers in Western Philosophy in ancient, medieval and early modern periods. Special emphasis is placed on the works of major figures such as Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, Ockham and Descartes with a view toward exploring their respective positions on critical questions in epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, politics and aesthetics.
- 4.00 credits. (Western Cultural Heritage Core Course) Engagement in an in-depth survey of the central issues and thinkers in Western Philosophy in ancient, medieval and early modern periods. Special emphasis is placed on the works of major figures such as Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, Ockham and Descartes with a view toward exploring their respective positions on critical questions in epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, politics and aesthetics.
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PH202* WCH History of Western Philosophy II
- 4.00 credits. (Western Cultural Heritage Core Course) This course engages in an in-depth survey of the central issues and thinkers in the modern and contemporary periods. Special emphasis is placed on major figures such as Kant, Locke, Hume, Hegel, Nietzsche, Wittgenstein and Heidegger with a view toward exploring their respective positions in regard to epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, politics and aesthetics. *Students who have completed PH 240 may not enroll in this course.
- 4.00 credits. (Western Cultural Heritage Core Course) This course engages in an in-depth survey of the central issues and thinkers in the modern and contemporary periods. Special emphasis is placed on major figures such as Kant, Locke, Hume, Hegel, Nietzsche, Wittgenstein and Heidegger with a view toward exploring their respective positions in regard to epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, politics and aesthetics. *Students who have completed PH 240 may not enroll in this course.
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PH213 Philosophy of Science
- 4.00 credits. Fundamental issues in the philosophy of science, such as the nature of scientific laws and explanation, the problem of induction, realism and anti-realism, and scientific progress will be treated. We will concern ourselves with questions such as: What claims are we justified in making within science? Do our best scientific theories give us a literally true account of the whole universe or an approximately true account? Are the entities studied by science really "out there in the world," or are they merely convenient fictions?
- 4.00 credits. Fundamental issues in the philosophy of science, such as the nature of scientific laws and explanation, the problem of induction, realism and anti-realism, and scientific progress will be treated. We will concern ourselves with questions such as: What claims are we justified in making within science? Do our best scientific theories give us a literally true account of the whole universe or an approximately true account? Are the entities studied by science really "out there in the world," or are they merely convenient fictions?
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PH255A Advanced Ethics: Business (BA 255A)
- 4.00 credits. Business Ethics is part of a four-course sequence in Applied Ethics. In each course, a theoretical foundation for ethical discourse within the respective field is established. This course then proceeds to a detailed treatment of central ethical dilemmas in the actual practice of business.
- 4.00 credits. Business Ethics is part of a four-course sequence in Applied Ethics. In each course, a theoretical foundation for ethical discourse within the respective field is established. This course then proceeds to a detailed treatment of central ethical dilemmas in the actual practice of business.
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PH255B Advanced Ethics: Medicine
- 4.00 credits. Medical Ethics is part of a four-course sequence in Applied Ethics. In each course, a theoretical foundation for ethical discourse within the respective field is established. This course then proceeds to a detailed treatment of central ethical dilemmas in the actual practice of medicine.
- 4.00 credits. Medical Ethics is part of a four-course sequence in Applied Ethics. In each course, a theoretical foundation for ethical discourse within the respective field is established. This course then proceeds to a detailed treatment of central ethical dilemmas in the actual practice of medicine.
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PH255C Advanced Ethics: Legal
- 4.00 credits. Legal Ethics is part of a four-course sequence in Applied Ethics. In each course, a theoretical foundation for ethical discourse within the respective field is established. This course then proceeds to a detailed treatment of central ethical dilemmas in the actual practice of law.
- 4.00 credits. Legal Ethics is part of a four-course sequence in Applied Ethics. In each course, a theoretical foundation for ethical discourse within the respective field is established. This course then proceeds to a detailed treatment of central ethical dilemmas in the actual practice of law.
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PH255D Advanced Ethics: Environmental
- 4.00 credit(s). Environmental Ethics is part of a four-course sequence in Applied Ethics. In each course, a theoretical foundation for ethical discourse within the respective field is established. This course then proceeds to a detailed treatment of central ethical dilemmas in the practice of public policy with regard to environmental use and protection.
- 4.00 credit(s). Environmental Ethics is part of a four-course sequence in Applied Ethics. In each course, a theoretical foundation for ethical discourse within the respective field is established. This course then proceeds to a detailed treatment of central ethical dilemmas in the practice of public policy with regard to environmental use and protection.
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PH305 Philosophy of Law (PS 305)
- 4.00 credits. An analysis of the major underlying philosophical issues of both criminal and civil law. Special attention is given to natural law theory, legal positivism, epistemological foundations of legal reasoning and interpretation, and the moral foundations of retributive and distributive justice.
- 4.00 credits. An analysis of the major underlying philosophical issues of both criminal and civil law. Special attention is given to natural law theory, legal positivism, epistemological foundations of legal reasoning and interpretation, and the moral foundations of retributive and distributive justice.
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PH315 Philosophy, Film and Literature
- 4.00 credits. An analysis of selected perennial issues in philosophy through the media of film and literature. Areas of investigation will include: the nature of Self and Reality, the nature of Knowledge, as well as issues in moral and political philosophy.
- 4.00 credits. An analysis of selected perennial issues in philosophy through the media of film and literature. Areas of investigation will include: the nature of Self and Reality, the nature of Knowledge, as well as issues in moral and political philosophy.
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PH320 Philosophy of Religion
- 4.00 credits. A study of the various rational efforts to establish the validity of the religious perspective. Topics will include: the nature of religious experience, the relationship between faith and reason, the arguments for the existence of God, the problem of evil, the possibility of miracles and immortality, and the relationship between religion and ethics, and religion and science.
- 4.00 credits. A study of the various rational efforts to establish the validity of the religious perspective. Topics will include: the nature of religious experience, the relationship between faith and reason, the arguments for the existence of God, the problem of evil, the possibility of miracles and immortality, and the relationship between religion and ethics, and religion and science.
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PH373 Special Topics in Philosophy
- 4.00 credits. A series of courses with topics not otherwise covered in the curriculum. Offered when student interest and faculty availability justify. *Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
- 4.00 credits. A series of courses with topics not otherwise covered in the curriculum. Offered when student interest and faculty availability justify. *Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
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PH484 Independent Study in Philosophy
- 4.00 credits. Advanced students have the opportunity to study specialized areas not otherwise included in the curriculum. *Prerequisites: approval of the Department Chair and Independent Study Committee. Register by Instructor.
- 4.00 credits. Advanced students have the opportunity to study specialized areas not otherwise included in the curriculum. *Prerequisites: approval of the Department Chair and Independent Study Committee. Register by Instructor.
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PH490 Senior Thesis in Philosophy
- 4.00 credits. An individualized study project involving research of a topic and the preparation of a major paper. The paper is presented orally to the Philosophy Department staff and interested persons. This is normally done during the senior year. Register by Instructor.
- 4.00 credits. An individualized study project involving research of a topic and the preparation of a major paper. The paper is presented orally to the Philosophy Department staff and interested persons. This is normally done during the senior year. Register by Instructor.
