Philosophy

PHIL 100 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY - 5 hrs
Examination and development of one�s own world view with emphasis on such shared concerns as the existence of God, the search for meaning, the possibilities of freedom, and the nature of morality.

PHIL 120 EFFECTIVE THINKING - 5 hrs
Designed to develop the student�s ability to reason clearly, to distinguish between good and bad arguments, and to use intelligence and logic in situations often clouded by emotion.

PHIL 125 SYMBOLIC LOGIC - 5 hrs
An introduction to symbolic logic, including propositional logic and first-order predicate logic with multiple quantifiers and the identity function. Emphasis will be on construction derivations, with some focus on translating arguments from ordinary English in symbolic notation. (Satisfies the mathematics requirement for the BA degree. Required for Philosophy majors.) Prereq: A C- or better in MATH 090 or qualification through the Mathematical Science Department�s placement exam.

PHIL 130 ETHICS - 5 hrs
An introduction to the thought of influential moral philosophers, an examination of contemporary moral issues, and a critical evaluation of contemporary moral thinking.

PHIL 200/300 GREEK PHILOSOPHY - 5 hrs/5 hrs
An examination of the emergence of philosophy from the poetic tradition (Homer & Hesiod) and the development of ideas, theories, and arguments from the sixth century BCE to the 4th century CE, about the nature of reality, the nature, sources, and possibility of knowledge, the nature and sources of morality, the nature and identity of the human self, the nature of the relation between the individual and the State, the nature of justice, and the relation between human nature (and its place in reality) and the Good (or fulfilled) Life. (Philosophy Majors and Minors must take PHIL 300.)

PHIL 210/310 EARLY MODERN PHILOSOPHY - 5 hrs/5 hrs
An examination and interpretation of the emergence and development of modern philosophy, in the 17th and 18th centuries, as the quest for certainty concerning moral, political, and religious truths in the context of the rise of the physical sciences (especially physics and astronomy), which seem to offer no hope of arriving at any such truths, let alone certainty about them. Ideas whose development will be traced: modern Cosmography, the nature of causality, the distinction between Primary and Secondary Qualities, the nature of space and time, the nature of explanation, the nature of scientific method, the nature and explanation of motion, God�s relation to the physical world, the relation between mental and the physical, the place of humans in the world of science, how knowledge of the physical world is possible, whether knowledge of anything other than the physical world is possible, and the nature, sources, and reality of values. (Philosophy Majors and Minors must take PHIL 310.)

PHIL 220/320: EXISTENTIALISM - 5 hrs/5 hrs
This course is an introduction to Existentialism, a philosophical worldview that flourished in Europe in the middle of the 20th Century, but which has roots in the 19th Century, and which is still an important philosophical, artistic, and literary outlook. The course will begin with an examination of the roots of Existentialism in the work of Kierkegaard and Nietzsche (and others), and move to its flowering in the 20th Century in the works of Sartre, Heidegger, Camus, and others. The readings will be drawn both from philosophical texts as well as from novels, short stories and plays. Themes to be addressed include: existentialist phenomenology, the rejection of human nature, existentialist approaches to God and religion, existentialist freedom, as well as existentialist ethics. (Philosophy majors must take PHIL 320. Course offered every other year.)

PHIL 260 PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION - 5 hrs
An examination of the traditional (theistic) conception of God, from the perspective of possible responses to four strategies that have been used to reject this idea. Focus is upon the following issues: the meaningfulness of religious language, the analysis of the idea of God and whether it is coherent, reasons for thinking God does exist, reasons for thinking God does not exist, the nature and limits of faith, and the significance of religious experiences.

PHIL 280 ENVIRONMENTAL PHILOSOPHY - 5 hrs
Environmental Philosophy is perhaps the most exciting new area of applied philosophy. Certainly issues in environmental ethics are becoming ever-more pressing as contemporary society confronts its environmental problems. This course will investigate philosophical views on the value of nature, the moral status of animals, our responsibilities to preserve species and natural objects (like trees), and our obligations to future generations. Among other topics that may be discussed include population explosion, world hunger, pollution, economics and the environment, and energy and global justice. PHIL 280 meets the Humanities requirement for Environmental Studies minors. (Course offered every other year.)

PHIL 330 KNOWLEDGE AND REALITY - 5 hrs
This course is an introduction to metaphysics and epistemology. The course is centered not on particular philosophers from history, but rather on various key issues in metaphysics and epistemology. Topics in metaphysics to be discussed may include Platonism and nominalism, the ontological status of numbers, identity, free will, modality, and cosmology. In the epistemology section of the course we will cover such questions as the nature and possibility of knowledge, the various kinds of knowledge, the reliability of perception, memory, and testimony, and the nature of justification. Competence and familiarity with these issues is essential for a well-rounded philosophical education. (Course offered every other year.)

PHIL 340 PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE AND MIND - 5 hrs
This is an introduction to the philosophies of language and mind. Among the questions we will consider in the philosophy of language are these: What is the nature of a human language? How are we able to use language to talk about the world around us? What accounts for the meaningfulness of language? How does communication work? When it comes to the philosophy of mind, we shall think about the following questions: What is the relationship between minds and bodies? Can an adequate account of the mind be given in completely physicalist, or materialist, terms? What is the nature of the emotions? What are the distinctive features of a mind? Is artificial intelligence possible? Do other creatures besides humans have minds? What is the nature of consciousness? Connections will be evident between the subject matter of this class and psychology, cognitive science, computer science, and linguistics. (Course offered every other year.)

PHIL 390 INDEPENDENT STUDY - 1-5 hrs
Independent study. Opportunity for work in topics of special interest; by initiative of student and agreement of instructor. Intended to guide students in discussion and independent research in areas of philosophical thought.

PHIL 400 SEMINAR IN PHILOSOPHY - 5 hrs
A course designed chiefly for majors, though others may register for it. The course is intended to guide students in discussion and independent research in areas of philosophical thought. Permission of the instructor is required.

PHIL 490 INTERNSHIP - 1-15 hrs
Departmental permission required.