Philosophy Fall 2026 Course Offerings
SO courses are online courses that meet Synchronously Online.
AO courses are online courses that meet Asynchronously Online.
BL is a class with reduced in-seat time due to a strong online component.
If nothing is listed, then this is an in-seat course.
There could be some adjustments in delivery mode options, like an additional SO section associated with an in-seat class. These changes will be found at classes.isu.edu.
PHIL 1101 (Objective 4A): Introduction to Philosophy
Multiple sections offered, see MyISU class schedule.
An introduction to major thinkers and major problems in philosophy. Topics may include the existence of God, the nature of knowledge, and the meaning of life.
For more information about this course, watch this video.
PHIL 1103 (Objective 4A): Introduction to Ethics
Multiple sections offered, see MyISU class schedule.
How should we live? This is the fundamental question of ethics, and it is in this sense that ethics, as a branch of philosophy, is practical rather than theoretical: it is concerned not primarily with what to believe or with what exists but with what to do, how to act. This course will introduce you to some of the most important questions that arise in ethics: What would constitute a good human life? What is the highest good? What is the foundation of morality? Can moral claims be objectively true or false? What could make them true or false? What is the content of morality? What (kinds of) actions are morally right or wrong, and why? Why should I be moral? What is the relationship between morality and self-interest? Is it always in my interest to behave morally? If so, how?
For more information about this course, watch this video.
PHIL 2230: Medical Ethics
01: AO with Caroline von Klemperer (CRN: 10033)
02: AO with Caroline von Klemperer (CRN: 10034)
03: AO with Ralph Baergen (CRN: 10035)
04: AO with Nobel Ang (CRN: 13912)
The practice of medicine raises ethical issues unlike those encountered in other spheres of life. The purpose of this course is to explore a number of these issues, drawing out the ethical considerations involved and examining how ethical decisions are made. The course will begin with a brief overview of ethical theories and their application. The issues to be examined include refusing life-sustaining treatment, medical futility, making medical decisions for others, assisted suicide, managed care, abortion, etc.
For more information about this course as taught by Professor Ang, watch this video.
PHIL 2255: Political and Social Philosophy
01: TR 9:30-10:45 with Jim Skidmore (CRN: 12216)
02: TR 9:30-10:45 SO with Jim Skidmore (CRN: 12217)
Human beings live in societies, rather than simply on our own. This raises important philosophical questions: What is the proper relationship between the individual and society (or the state)? Why should I obey the laws of the society in which I live? What justifies the coercive power the state? What is the source of its authority? What does it mean to say that individuals have rights (like the right to life or liberty), and what rights must the state respect? How should wealth and other social goods be distributed in societies?
PHIL 2260 (Objective 7): Philosophy of Life and Death
01: TR 11-12:15 with Evan Rodriguez (CRN: 13904)
02: TR 11-12:15 SO with Evan Rodriguez (CRN: 13914)
In this course we will discuss some of the most important and difficult questions about life and death. How should we live in light of the fact that each of us will die? Is death really the end? Is there anything special about human existence, and is there one best way to live as a result? If we could achieve immortality, would it be worth it?
We will investigate answers from ancient philosophers both East and West as well as contemporary thinkers still grappling with these issues today. We will also consider perspectives informed by both religious and non-religious traditions. Socrates said that the unexamined life is not worth living, so let's take this opportunity to examine!
PHIL 3305: Greek and Roman Philosophy
01: TR 1-2:15 with Evan Rodriguez (CRN: 14587)
02: TR 1-2:15 SO with Evan Rodriguez (CRN: 14592)
Aristotle says that philosophy begins with wonder: What’s out there? How do we know? How should we conduct our lives? We will examine some of the puzzles that inspired the birth of Western philosophy, the methods that Greek and Roman philosophers developed to solve them, and the impact that their novel answers had on later philosophical and religious traditions.
There are no prerequisites for this course, though some previous experience with philosophy (e.g. PHIL 1101) is recommended. It is a requirement for the philosophy major and provides useful background for the philosophy and religion minor. It also will provide relevant background for a variety of other courses in the College of Arts and Letters that interface with Greek thought (art, history, and political science just to name a few). Special emphasis will be placed on the foundational skills of reading, interpreting, and discussing philosophical texts. These skills are essential for the major but are also widely applicable outside of the philosophy classroom.
PHIL 4425/5525: Existentialism
01: TR 2:30-3:45 with Nobel Ang (CRN: 14589/14596)
02: TR 2:30-3:45 SO with Nobel Ang (CRN: 14597/14598)
A survey of major works of Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Sartre, and Camus. Topics may include the origins of values, the death of God, the varieties of despair, the inevitability of love's failure and the absurdity of life.
PHIL 4456/5556: Ethical Issues in Healthcare Law and Policy
01: AO with Caroline von Klemperer (CRN: 11637/13919)
Healthcare involves the day to day reality of clinical care, as well as the laws and policies that shape this care. All of these facets of healthcare are ethically significant. This course examines the ethics of healthcare. Students will explore how healthcare practices, laws, and policies can uphold or conflict with ethical considerations. The aim throughout will be to give students the conceptual and analytical abilities they need to understand and probe ethical dimensions of healthcare - in practice, law, and policy.