Courses

    A survey of selected figures in ancient Greek and Roman philosophy and in medieval philosophy. Philosophers studied may include the pre-Socratics, Plato, Aristotle, the Hellenistic philosophers, and such figures as Aquinas and Occam. Explores the larger cultural context that influenced these philosophers and were, in turn, influenced by them. Prereqs., 6 hours of philosophy coursework. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: historical context. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) only.
    Introduces modern philosophy, focusing on the period from Descartes through Kant. In addition to careful analysis of philosophical arguments, attention is paid to the ways in which philosophers responded to and participated in major developments in the 17th and 18th century, such as the scientific revolution. Prereq., 6 hours of philosophy course work. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: historical context. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) only.
    Studies major issues and theories in ethics. Prereq., 6 hours of philosophy course work. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: ideals and values. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Juniors or Seniors).
    Explores a variety of personal and public policy issues in the light of the basic feminist commitment to opposing women's subordination. Provides a sense of how a principled commitment to feminism may influence or be influenced by prevailing interpretation of contemporary ideals and values, and gives an opportunity for developing skills of critical analysis. Prereq., WMST 2000 or 2290. Same as WMST 3110. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: ideals and values. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Juniors or Seniors).
    Examines major traditions in moral philosophy to see what light they shed on value issues in environmental policy and the value presuppositions of the economic, ecological, and juridical approaches to the environment. Prereq., PHIL 1100, 1200, 2200, 3100, or 3200. Same as ENVS 3140. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: ideals and values. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) only.
    Analysis of ethical problems involved in such issues as abortion, euthanasia, organ transplants, eugenics, treatment of the patient as a person, and the institutional nature of the health care delivery system. Prereq., 6 hours of philosophy course work. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: ideals and values. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) only.
    Looks at a selected topic such as nuclear disarmament, racial and sexual discrimination, animal rights, or abortion and euthanasia by examining issues through the lens of critical philosophical analysis. Reviews the reasoning behind espoused positions and the logical connections and argument forms they contain. Prereq., 6 hours of philosophy course work. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) only.
    Focuses on moral issues raised by war as a human institution. What are the justifications, limits, and alternatives? Does the advent of nuclear weapons change the nature of war? Prereq., 6 hours of philosophy course work. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: ideals and values. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) only.
    Systematic discussion and analysis of such philosophic ideas as community, freedom, political power, and violence. Prereq., 6 hours of philosophy course work. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: ideals and values. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) only.

    Considers philosophical topics concerning the international economic, political, and legal systems. Topics that may be considered include the nature of international law, war and peace, humanitarian intervention, international justice, world hunger, and human rights. Prereq., 6 hours PHIL course work. Restricted to sophomores/juniors/seniors. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: ideals and values.

    An interdisciplinary introduction to cognitive science, drawing from psychology, philosophy, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, and linguistics. Prereq., two of the following four courses: PSYC 2145, LING 2000, CSCI 1300, PHIL 2440. Same as PSYC/LING 3005 and CSCI 3702.

    Surveys the history of science up to Newton, including the emergence of scientific modes of thinking from religious and philosophical roots in the Near East and Greece to the development of these modes in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Culminates with Isaac Newton and the 17th century scientific revolution. Prereq., 6 hours of philosophy course work. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: historical context or natural science. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) only.
    The history of physical and biological science, from the epoch-making achievements of Charles Darwin in biology to the dawn of the 20th century revolutions in physics, chemistry, and genetics. Deals with the success of the mechanical philosophy of nature and its problems. Department enforced prereqs., 6 hours of philosophy course work. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: historical context or natural science. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) only.
    Focuses upon the fundamental skills, methods, concepts, and distinctions that are essential for the study of philosophy. The basic skills covered include the writing of philosophy papers, the reading of articles, and the extraction and evaluation of arguments. Prereq., 6 hours of philosophy course work. Prereq. or coreq., PHIL 2440. Approved for art and sciences core curriculum: written communication. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) Philosophy (PHIL), BA or ADL majors only.
    Philosophical discussion of fundamental issues in religion, such as existence of God, religious experience, faith and reason, evil, immortality, and religious language. Prereq., 6 hours of philosophy course work. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: ideals and values. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Juniors or Seniors).
    Introduces major theories of aesthetics and contemporary discussions of problems, e.g., the nature of art and the problem of evaluations in art. Prereq., 6 hours of philosophy course work. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) only.
    Variety of new courses at the 3000 level. See current departmental announcements for specific content. Maybe repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Prereq., 6 hours of philosophy course work. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) only.
    May be repeated up to 8 total credit hours. Prereq., 6 hours of philosophy course work. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Juniors or Seniors).

    Under the guidance of an official in a governmental or non-governmental organization, students are assigned to projects selected for their academic suitability as well as for value to the sponsoring organization. Prior approval of department required. Prereq., 9 hours in moral or political philosophy course work. Recommended prereqs., PHIL 1200, 2200, and 3200.

    Intensively studies the work of one historical figure in philosophy, with the aim of reaching a broad understanding of the philosopher's whole body of thought. Philosophers covered include, from year to year, Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, Descartes, Spinoza, Locke, Leibniz, Hume, and Kant. Includes at least one course per year on an ancient author and one course per year on a modern author. May be repeated up to 12 total credit hours. Prereq., 12 hours philosophy course work. Same as PHIL 5010. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Juniors or Seniors).
    Examines a specific philosophical problem over an extended historical period. Recommended prereqs., 12 hours of philosophy course work, including PHIL 3000 and 3010. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours. Same as PHIL 5020. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Juniors or Seniors).
    Introduces philosophy from the late Roman era to the 14th century. Philosophers studied may include Augustine, Boethius, Aquinas, and Ockham. Topics range over religion, ethics, mind, and metaphysics. Prereq., 12 hours of philosophy course work. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Juniors or Seniors).
    Studies two or three major philosophies prominent during the last century. Prereq., 12 hours of philosophy course work. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Juniors or Seniors).

    Examines central figures and texts in the existential tradition, from Kierkegaard and Nietzsche to Heidegger and Sartre. Prereq., 12 hours of philosophy course work. Restricted to juniors/seniors.

    Provides an in-depth look at some recent work in moral theory. Topics covered, varying from year to year, include: consequentialism and its critics; virtue theory; moral psychology; impartiality and the personal point of view. Prereqs., 12 hours philosophy course work, including PHIL 3100; and junior standing. Same as PHIL 5110.

    Pages