Course Descriptions

Philosophy

UNDERGRADUATE

200 Introduction to Philosophy: Ancient Period. 3 hrs. I, II, S.
The origins of philosophical activity among the Greeks by means of a selective sounding of several major thinkers.

200H Introduction to Philosophy: Ancient Period. 3 hrs. Honors
A detailed consideration of selected texts from Ancient philosophy, such as the pre-Socratics, Plato, Aristotle, the Stoics, the Epicureans, the Academic Skeptics, and the neo-Platonists.

201 Introduction to Philosophy: Modern Period. 3 hrs. I, II, S.
Questions and answers concerning the nature of existence and human values and how we come to know them.

250 Studies in Humanities. 3 hrs. I, II.
An interdisciplinary course to introduce students to the elements of a humanistic education. (Same
as Classics 250 and Religious Studies 250; PR or CR: English 101)

280-283 Special Topics. 1-4; 1-4; 1-4; 1-4 hrs.
Group or individual study of areas demanding further study of a more specialized depth.

301 Plato’s Republic. 3 hrs.
A deconstruction of the major time-worn prejudices and presuppositions of Platonism by way of a radical reading of Plato’s great dialogue the REPUBLIC.

302 Applied Ethics. 3 hrs.
The application of basic ethical theories to contemporary moral issues drawn from such fields as medicine, business and the environment.

303 Ethics. 3 hrs.
A critical study of diverse moral norms, ideals and systems in theory and practice.

304 Logic and Interpretation. 3 hrs. I, II.
Theory and practice of valid principles of thinking, including developing the skills of justifying diverse types of belief and evaluating reasons for conflicting standpoints (for example, racial, gender, and ethnic differences).

306 Philosophy of Art. 3 hrs.
Examination of the qualities involved in the appreciation of beauty which serve as standards of taste.

315 American Philosophy. 3 hrs.
Great American thinkers, including thinkers such as Emerson (transcendentalism), Peirce, James, Dewey, and Rorty (pragmatism), Royce (idealism), Quine (analytic philosophy), and de Man (poststructuralism).

320 Comparative Philosophy. 3 hrs.
The relations of the world’s philosophies to the basic cultural and religious traditions of the world and to the development of the world community.

321 Current Philosophical Trends. 3 hrs.
Selected reading in contemporary thought embracing such movements as realism, Marxism, poststructuralism, deconstruction, postmodernism.

330 Philosophy of Sex. 3 hrs.
Introduction to some of the basic authors, texts, and themes in this branch of philosophy beginning with Plato’s Symposium.

340 Philosophy of Sexual Orientation and Gender. 3 hrs.
An introduction to the philosophy of sexual orientation and its relation to gender, with a special focus on issues of knowledge and politics.

353 Philosophy of Science. 3 hrs.
Reflections on crucial concepts of modern science relevant to philosophical issues in interpreting human beings and the universe; special attention given to epistemological and other problems of mathematics and physical and social sciences. (PR: Three hours of philosophy)

363 Philosophy of Feminism. 3 hrs.
An introduction to contemporary feminist theory including discussion of current gender-related issues.

390-394 Junior Seminar in Humanities. 3 hrs.
A structured interdisciplinary study offered by the departments of Philosophy, Classics, and Religious Studies in the foundations of human thought, myth, literature, religion, philosophy, and art. Same as CL 390-394 and RST 390-394. (CR/PR: ENG 102, 302, 201H,YGS 152, IST 201, or one course from CL 231, 232, 233, 319, PHL 200, 201, 303, 321, 340, 353, RST 205, 206, 300, 304, 320,
325)

400 Ancient Philosophy. 3 hrs.
Advanced study of major philosophers drawn from the ancient Greek and Roman period. (PR: PHL 200)

401 Modern Philosophy. 3 hrs.
Advanced study of major movements in philosophy from the 17th century on, movements such as rationalism, empiricism, idealism, and existentialism. (PR: PHL 201, or any 300 level PHL course)

420 Metaphysics. 3 hrs.
Advanced study of the most basic nature of reality. (PR: 3 hrs. of philosophy)

421 Philosophy of Knowledge. 3 hrs.
Advanced study of the nature and possibility of knowledge. (PR: 3 hrs. of philosophy)

451 Philosophy of History and Culture. 3 hrs.
Ancient and modern theories of the meaning and consequence of history and culture. (PR: 3 hrs of philosophy)

455 Philosophy of Religion. 3 hrs.
Theories of the nature and functions of religion, including the meaning of religious language and
the problems of belief. (PR: Six hours between philosophy and religious studies)

460 Philosophy of Politics and Power. 3 hrs.
Advanced study of the significance or the place in human reality of political organization, negotiation, strategy and power.

465 Existential Philosophy. 3 hrs.
A study of existential philosophers from Kierkegaard to Heidegger, Sartre and beyond.

470 Philosophy of Logic. 3 hrs.
Advanced study of the nature of logic: Whether logic is possible at all, how far it applies, and whether and how there can be conflicting logics.

480-483 Special Topics. 1-4; 1-4; 1-4; 1-4 hrs.
Shared study and research on a special topic as announced. (PR: Permission of the chair)

485-488 Independent Study. 1-4; 1-4; 1-4; 1-4 hrs.

490-494 Senior Seminar in Humanities. 1-4 hrs.
Designed for majors as a senior humanities seminar, the the culminating interdisciplinary study in the Humanities program. (Sames as CL 490-494 and RST 490-494).

495H-496H Readings for Honors in Philosophy. 4; 4 hrs.
Open only to philosophy majors of outstanding ability. See Honors Courses.

498 Directed Readings in Philosophy. 3 hrs. I or II.
Advanced research adaptable to the needs of the individual student. (PR: Permission of department chair)

GRADUATE

500 Ancient Philosophy. 3 hrs.
Advanced study of major philosophers drawn from the ancient Greek and Roman period.

501 Modern Philosophy. 3 hrs.
Advanced study of major movements in phologophy from the 17th century on, including movements such as rationalism, empiricism, idealism, and existentialism.

520 Metaphysics. 3 hrs.
A study of what Aristotle called “first philosophy” or the study of being, later called metaphysics.

521 Philosophy of Knowledge. 3 hrs.
Advanced study of the nature and possibility of knowledge.

551 Philosophy of History and Culture. 3 hrs.
Ancient and modern theories of the meaning and consequence of history and culture.

553 Philosophy of Science. 3 hrs.
Crucial concepts in modern science relevant to contemporary philosophical issues concerning man and the universe; special attention to epistemological and ethical implications of natural law, induction, mathematical theory and the new physics.

555 Philosophy of Religion. 3 hrs.
Theories of the nature and functions of religion, including the meaning of religious language and
problems of belief.

560 Philosophy of Politics and Power. 3 hrs.
Advanced study of the significance or the place in human reality of political organization, negotiation, strategy, and power.

563 Philosophy of Feminism. 3 hrs.
An introduction to contemporary feminist theory including discussion of current gender-related issues.

565 Existential Philosophy. 3 hrs.
A survey of the contributions of leading existentialist philosophers of the past and present from Kierkegaard and Nietzsche to Sartre and Tillich; course is conducted much like a seminar.

570 Philosophy of Logic. 3 hrs.
Advanced study of the nature of logic; whether logic is possible at all, how far it applies, and whether and how there can be conflicting logics.

580-583 Special Topics. 1-4; 1-4; 1-4; 1-4 hrs.

585-588 Independent Study. 1-4; 1-4; 1-4; 1-4 hrs.

598 Directed Readings in Philosophy. 3 hrs. I, or II.
Advanced research adaptable to the needs of students. Regular consultations with the chairman and staff.

599 Humanities Seminar. 3 hrs.