Philosophy (PHIL)
PHIL 101 Enduring Questions: Truth and Relativism 3 Hours
The study of central positions and arguments concerning the nature and character of Truth: Is there such a thing as Truth? What is real? If there is Truth and reality, how can we know them? Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code E-AH | AH
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023; spring 2024; fall 2024
PHIL 102 Enduring Questions: The Good and the Beautiful 3 Hours
The study of fundamental questions in moral theory and aesthetics: What is good? What is beauty? On what grounds do we base moral and aesthetic judgments? How are the good and the beautiful related, and how are they different? Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code E-AH | AH
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; summer 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; summer 2023; fall 2023; spring 2024; fall 2024
PHIL 103 Enduring Questions: The Committed Life 3 Hours
The philosophical study of individual and collective commitment to ideals and values in a pluralistic society. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code E-AH | AH
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022
PHIL 202 Racial Justice 3 Hours
An examination of (1) the major perspective that came together to form the civil rights movement of the 1950's and 1960's; (2) the accomplishments and failures of that movement; and (3) the issues of racial justice that remain today. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code SB
Equivalent(s): RELS 202
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PHIL 207 Philosophy and Popular Culture 3 Hours
An examination of the mutliple ways that philosophical inquiry can further the study of popular culture. This will include philosphical accounts of the nature and meaning of popular culture as well as the use of various philosophical approaches to interpret specific elements of popular culture such as film, television, music, and sports.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PHIL 208 Philosophy of Public Space; Reason, Action & Violence 3 Hours
An exploration of how public spaces (squares, malls, streets, parks, and sidewalks) shape citizenship by enabling and disabling public discourse and political participation. Students will investigate and evaluate demands for justice and fairness that have been made in public spaces.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PHIL 211 Why Are Bad People Bad? 3 Hours
A study of enduring questions about the darker side of human nature- such as whether people are born bad and whether people are responsible for vice and evil- providing a philosophical analysis of a wide range of examples from multiple disciplinary perspectives. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: winter 2022; summer 2022; fall 2022; summer 2023; fall 2023; spring 2024; fall 2024
PHIL 212 Philosophy and Gender Theory 3 Hours
Introductory study of philosophical works as they related to gender theory, queer theory, and feminism. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PHIL 214 Logic, Argument, and Practical Reasoning 3 Hours
Focuses on areas of logic that provide a basis for philosophical reasoning and analysis, including types of arguments, logical properties, fallacies, Venn diagrams, truth tables, and categorical, sentential, and quantified logics.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PHIL 215 Symbolic Logic 3 Hours
An introductory course in logic which presents the different uses of language and teaches students (1) to evaluate the logical status of statements and the consistency and validity of arguments using both natural and formal language techniques, and (2) to identify informal fallacies. Typically, a student who earns an "A" or "B" in PHIL 215 may go on to take PHIL 415, with the permission of the instructor of 415. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code F-QR | QR, AH
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024; fall 2024
PHIL 299 Philosophical Writing Workshop 1 Hour (repeatable max of 3 hrs)
A workshop designed to help students develop their writing skills and forms of argumentation in a philosophical context. Note: One philosophy course or concurrent registration in a philosophy course required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PHIL 305 Aesthetics 3 Hours
A survey of outstanding philosophies of art and a study of the principles of art criticism.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PHIL 315 Philosophy of Religion 3 Hours
A systematic study of such problems as the nature and existence of God, the relation of faith and reason, human nature and destiny, immortality, evil, and the problem of religious language. Note: One course in philosophy or religious studies is required.
Equivalent(s): RELS 315
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PHIL 320 Ethics 3 Hours
An introduction to ethical issues using classical and contemporary texts. Among issues that may be treated are justice, rights, responsibilities, punishment, and obligations regarding the environment. Note: One course in philosophy or sophomore status is required. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code AH
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PHIL 322 Biomedical Ethics 3 Hours
A philosophical analysis of ethical problems in biomedical practice and research, including patients' rights, professional responsibilities, death and dying, health care allocation, and reproductive technologies. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code AH
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PHIL 323 Social Ethics 3 Hours
Perspectives and issues involved in the public pursuit of justice in a religiously and philosophically diverse society. One short field trip. Note: One course in religious studies or philosophy or junior status is required. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Equivalent(s): RELS 323
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023
PHIL 324 War and Peace 3 Hours
A philosophical examination of classical and contemporary arguments concerning the use of organized violence to settle human disputes. Topics include just war theories, pacifism and nonviolence, deterrence, militarism, and peacemaking. Note: One course in philosophy at the 100 or 200 level; or permission of instructor is required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PHIL 330 Philosophy of Science 3 Hours
Critical examination of the concepts, presuppositions, and methods of the natural and social sciences. Fundamental concepts such as space, time, matter, and causality are examined. Note: One course in philosophy or permission of instructor is required. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SY
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2023
PHIL 331 Analytic Philosophy 3 Hours
A study of Anglo-American/Analytic philosophy in the 20th century focusing on the works of representative figures like Carnap, Frege, Moore, Russell, Quine and Wittgenstein. Note: One course in philosophy or permission of instructor is required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2023
PHIL 332 Philosophy of Mind: Minds and Machines 3 Hours
A study of the nature of mind, cognitive states, and consciousness. Topics may include the nature of the mental system, mind-brain identity, computer consciousness, and visual system's role in decision-making and intentionality. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SY
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; spring 2024
PHIL 333 Marx and Critical Theory 3 Hours
A study of 19th and 20th century critical social thought focusing on Marxism and the Frankfurt School. Note: One course in philosophy or permission of instructor is required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PHIL 334 Philosophy of Language 3 Hours
Examines major topics in the philosophy of language, including the language-world-thought relationship, linguistic meaning, linguistic structure, and communication. Note: One Philosophy Course or permission of instructor is required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2024
PHIL 341 Plato and Aristotle 3 Hours
The study of primary texts to assess and compare the contributions of Plato and Aristotle and related figures to issues in metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and political philosophy. Note: One course in philosophy or permission of instructor is required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; summer 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; summer 2023; fall 2023; spring 2024; fall 2024
PHIL 342 Skeptics, Stoics, and Epicureans 3 Hours
A selective study to assess and compare the views of Stoics, Skeptics, Epicureans, and others on issues that include reality, knowledge, natural law, well-being, and soul. Note: One course in philosophy or permission of instructor is required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; spring 2024
PHIL 343 Medieval Philosophy 3 Hours
A selective study to assess and compare the contributions of medieval thinkers such as Peter Abelard, Roger Bacon, and William of Ockham to issues including language, knowledge and science, reality and God, virtues and conscience, well-being, and political order. Note: One course in philosophy or permission of instructor is required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PHIL 344 Early Modern Moral Philosophy 3 Hours
A selective study of moral problems and movements in early modern European philosophy between the Reformation and the late eighteenth century. Note:One course in philosophy or permission of instructor is required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2023
PHIL 345 Descartes and Hume 3 Hours
A comparative treatment of the major works and doctrines of Descartes and Hume and their importance for subsequent philosophical developments. Note: One course in philosophy or permission of instructor is required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PHIL 346 Kant and Idealism 3 Hours
A focused study of the philosophy of Kant and reaction to that philosophy by such figures as Hegel, Schelling, Fichte, or Kierkegaard. Note: One course in philosophy or permission of instructor is required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PHIL 347 Leibniz and Locke 3 Hours
A comparative treatment of the major works and doctrines and Leibniz and Locke and their importance for subsequent philosophical developments. Note: One course in philosophy or permission of instructor is required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PHIL 348 20th Century Philosophy 3 Hours
A study of one or more of the philosophical movements of the 20th century. Note: One course in philosophy or permission of instructor is required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PHIL 350 Ethical Theory 3 Hours
A study of the major normative systems in the history of ethics, and of selected problems in contemporary metaethics, including moral reasoning, skepticism, rights, and theories of justice. Note: One course in philosophy or permission of instructor is required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2023
PHIL 401 Readings in Philosophy 3 Hours
An intensive study of selected philosophic classics or readings in a selected area of philosophy. May be repeated for different topics. Note: One course in philosophy or permission of instructor is required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022
PHIL 404 Metaphysics and Epistemology 3 Hours
Selective study of topics about reality and knowledge, such as existence, appearance and reality, causality, persons, certainty, theory and evidence, explanation and understanding and justification. Note: Junior status, PHIL 215 and one philosophy course at the 100 or 200 level; or permission of instructor is required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022
PHIL 406 Existentialism 3 Hours
A study of central thinkers in the existential movement and its representative themes of individualism, subjectivity, passion, freedom, absurdity, and responsibility. Note: One course in philosophy or permission of instructor is required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PHIL 415 Advanced Logic 3 Hours
Advanced topics in First Order Logic and topics in the Philosophy of Logic.
Prerequisite(s): PHIL 215
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PHIL 426 Philosophy and Old Age 3 Hours
Examination of philosophical themes bearing on old age, such as: meaning, memory, selfhood, autonomy, im/immortality, euthanasia, filial obligation, intergenerational justice, authority, dignity, virtue/vice and beauty.
Restriction(s): Students with a semester level of Academy Junior, Academy Senior, Freshman or Sophomore may not enroll.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2023
PHIL 427 Philosophy of Law 3 Hours
A study of theories on the nature and origin of law, basic legal concepts (obligation, right, equality, liberty, justice), legal moralism, church and state, civil disobedience, and other topics. Note: One philosophy course or permission of instructor is required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2024
PHIL 432 Philosophy and Early Modern Science 3 Hours
A study of the links as between natural philosophy, jurisprudence, and the rise of experimentalism in the seventeenth century. Note: One philosophy course or permission of instructor is required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PHIL 433 History of Philosophy of Science 3 Hours
A treatment of the philosophical analyses of problems in science, such as Realism, Instrumentalism, Hypothetico-Deductivism, Models, Empiricism, Experimental Design, and Scientific change or Progress, studies in historical context. Note: One philosophy course or permission of instructor is required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
PHIL 440 Readings in Ancient or Medieval Philosophy 3 Hours
Advanced study of a major thinker or movement in ancient or medieval philosophy. Note: One philosophy course or permission of instructor is required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: winter 2023
PHIL 450 Readings in Modern or Contemporary Philosophy 3 Hours
Advanced study of a major thinker or movement in modern or contemporary philosophy. Note: One philosophy course or permission of instructor is required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2024
PHIL 496 Senior Seminar 1-3 Hours (repeatable max of 3 hrs)
A capstone course designed for senior philosophy majors. Students will complete projects that demonstrate their research, writing, and analytical skills. Content areas of the seminar will vary by semester and instructor. Note: Senior standing and major in Philosophy or permission of instructor required.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Philosophy (745)
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023; spring 2024; fall 2024
PHIL 499 Research in Philosophy 3 Hours
Directed study and research in one area of philosophy. The research will culminate in an acceptable thesis. Note: Open only to philosophy majors with at least a 3.0 grade point average in their senior year is required.
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Philosophy (745)
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024