Philosophy Courses

PHIL 151 Western Thought 3 credits. An introduction to the major thinkers and major problems in Western philosophical and scientific traditions. Sections may emphasize either an historical or problems approach. Satisfies Goal 8 of the General Education Requirements. F, S, Su

PHIL 200 Critical Thinking 3 credits. An introduction to the concepts and methods of deductive and inductive logic, with special emphasis on the use of logical methods to identify, analyze, construct, and evaluate everyday arguments. R1

PHIL 210 Introduction to Asian Philosophies 3 credits. A study of Hindu, Buddhist, and other Far Eastern approaches to topics such as immortality, time, reality, mystical experience, the divinity of the soul, the question of duty. Emphasis varies. R2

PHIL 220 Philosophical Issues in Religion 3 credits. An inquiry into the nature of religious belief, the concept of God, rational proofs of the existence of God, the religious experience, the concept of faith, the character of religious language, the meaning of myths and symbols, and the question of modern atheism. R2

PHIL 230 Contemporary Moral Issues 3 credits. An examination of moral problems that have recently arisen in such areas as health care, biological research, business administration, defense policy, and environmental protection. Emphasis varies. R1

PHIL g305 History of Philosophy: Greek Reason and Christian Faith 3 credits. Philosophical readings from the pre-Socratics to St. Thomas Aquinas. Topics include the theory of essence, human nature and happiness, the problem of evil, the relation of reason and faith. R2

PHIL g315 History of Philosophy: Rationalism and Empiricism 3 credits. Readings in philosophy from Descartes to Hegel. Emphasis on the question of the limits of human knowledge. D

PHIL g325 History of Philosophy: Modern Philosophical Movements 3 credits. Readings in philosophy of the 19th and 20th centuries. Organized to illuminate the development of particular schools of thought, including existentialism, pragmatism, phenomenology, analytic philosophy, and Marxism. Emphasis varies. R2

PHIL 397 Workshop 1-2 credits. Workshops aimed at the development and improvement of skills. Does not satisfy requirements for a major or a minor. May be repeated. Graded S/U. D

PHIL g400 Philosophy of Art 3 credits. Study of philosophic problems encountered in perceiving, interpreting, and evaluating works of art. Topics include the nature of a work of art, aesthetic response, expression, symbol; the nature and role of representation; the nature of interpretive and evaluative claims. R2

PHIL g410 Philosophy of Language 3 credits. Study of theories of language, with emphasis on contemporary thinkers such as Frege, Heidegger, Russell, Wittgenstein, Piaget, and Chomsky. Topics include the nature and origin of meaning, the temporal dimension of discourse, the significance of syntax, animal languages, computer languages. D PHIL

g420 Philosophy of Mind 3 credits. Inquiry into the mind-body problem and representative solutions, such as dualism, philosophical behaviorism, central-state materialism. Related topics include the self, personal identity, immortality, claims of parapsychology, mystical consciousness. R2

PHIL g430 Philosophy of Science 3 credits. A critical analysis of the philosophical presuppositions of the empirical sciences, with attention given to the wider expressions of these presuppositions in contemporary life. R2

PHIL g440 Philosophy and Literature 3 credits. Reflections on the relation between poetic and speculative discourse. Topics include forms of consciousness, temporality and narrative, metaphysics of genre. R2

PHIL g450 Ethical Theory 3 credits. Study of the nature of value claims, stressing ethical value claims; examination of the scope of reason in ethical decision-making. Applications to normative ethical theories. Related topics include human rights, justice, ethical and legal systems. R2

PHIL g460 Theory of Knowledge 3 credits. A survey of reflections on the question, "What, if anything, can we know?" Topics include knowing, believing, meaning, truth, and certainty. R2

PHIL g470 Symbolic Logics and Foundations of Mathematics 3 credits. A comprehensive study of formal methods of determining validity and of systems of symbolic logic, with attention to the philosophy of logic and the relationship between logic and mathematics. D

PHIL 480 Philosophy Tutorial 2 credits. Consultation course for seniors interested in a philosophical problem connected with their major field. Will consist of independent reading, conferences, and the preparation of a term paper. May be repeated up to 6 credits. F, S

PHIL g490 Philosophy Seminar 1-3 credits. Advanced reading and discussion on selected topics in philosophy. May be taken for credit more than once with permission of the department. D