Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL-1033
A historical and theoretical introduction to major issues in Western philosophy. Questions to be explored include, but are not limited to, “what is being?”, “does God exist?”, “what is truth?”, “are we free?”, and “how ought we to live?” Fulfills Language, Philosophy & Culture core requirement.
Critical Thinking and Reasoning
PHIL-1533
This course provides an introduction to critical thinking, the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information in order to think through a problem clearly and communicate a solution effectively. Although students will learn to recognize, analyze, evaluate, and compose arguments – the primary instrument of critical thinking and reasoning – and will investigate the various forms arguments take, addressing both formal and informal methods of argumentation and distinguishing between good arguments and bad arguments, the principal focus of the course is not on learning and applying critical thinking methodologies as such. Rather, foremost emphasis is placed on exploring the role that critical thinking plays in the development, articulation, and analysis of ideas, values, and beliefs in various cultural contexts as well as the creative products through which these ideas, values, and beliefs are expressed. Fulfills Language, Philosophy & Culture core requirement.
Ethics
PHIL-2033
A historical and theoretical introduction to the study of moral philosophy or ethics. Questions to be explored include, but are not limited to, “what are good and evil?”, “how ought one to live?”, and “how ought one to act?” . Fulfills Language, Philosophy & Culture core requirement.
Health Care Ethics
PHIL-2103
This course provides an introduction to contemporary biomedical and clinical health care ethics through sustained exploration, analysis, and discussion of a wide array of ethical issues. Topics to be addressed include, but are not limited to, end of life issues, experimentation on human subjects, confidentiality, informed consent, ownership of bodily tissues, cloning and genetic engineering, and justice in health care.
Political Philosophy
PHIL-2133/4133
A historical and theoretical survey of the main problems of political philosophy through an examination and critical analysis of key thinkers and theories in the tradition. Fulfills Language, Philosophy & Culture core requirement. Prerequisite(s): May not be taken if student has received credit for PHIL-4133.
Philosophy of Race and Racism
PHIL-2203
This course explores various philosophical issues pertaining to race and racism. The first part of the course will focus on the history of the concept of “race” as well as various approaches philosophers have taken to defining and analyzing this concept. The second part of the course will consider the political, social, economic, and cultural implications of race with particular emphasis on the concept of “racism” and related concepts such as white privilege, white supremacy, and unconscious bias. Questions to be discussed throughout the semester include, but are not limited to: What is race? How does race differ from ethnicity, national origin, cultural affiliation, and other forms of collective identity? What is the relationship between race and other aspects of social identity such as class, gender, and sexual orientation? Are racial differences biological in nature, or are they socially constructed? Can value judgments about racial differences be intellectually and morally justified, or are such judgments objectionable by definition? What is racism/racial privilege? What are the different forms of racism and how do they relate to one another? What are the underlying causes of racism? What are the best strategies for combating racism? Throughout the course special attention will be given to recent political and social controversies surrounding race/racism such as police brutality, mass incarceration, racial inequality, post-racialism and “color-blindness,” etc.
Asian Philosophy and Religion
PHIL-2213/4213
A historical and theoretical survey of Asian philosophy and religion, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Fulfills Language, Philosophy & Culture core requirement. Prerequisite(s): May not be taken if student has received credit for PHIL-4213.
Feminist Philosophy
PHIL-2223/4223
A historical and theoretical survey of feminist philosophy. Fulfills Language, Philosophy & Culture core requirement. Prerequisite(s): May not be taken if student has received credit for PHIL-4223.
Philosophy of Religion
PHIL-2333/4333
A critical examination of the definitions, assumptions, and arguments central to religion. Topics may include interpreting the nature of religion, arguments for and against the existence of God, the relation between theology and philosophy, the relation between God and the world, the problem of evil, and the nature of religious experience. Fulfills Language, Philosophy & Culture core requirement. Prerequisite(s): May not be taken if student has received credit for PHIL-4223.
Ancient & Medieval Philosophy
PHIL-2503/4503
This course provides a historical and theoretical overview of Western philosophy from classical antiquity through the end of the Middle Ages. Prerequisite(s): May not be taken if student has received credit for PHIL-4503.
Modern & Contemporary Philosophy
PHIL-2513/4513
This course provides a historical and theoretical overview of Western philosophy from the early modern period through the present. Prerequisite(s): May not be taken if student has received credit for PHIL-4513.
Philosophy of Sex, Love, and Friendship
PHIL-2823
This course provides an introduction to the philosophy of sex, love, and friendship from both a theoretical and historical perspective. Particular topics to be discussed include, but are not limited to, the existence and nature of love, the complexities of human sexuality, and the ideal and practical realities of friendship.
Special Topics in Philosophy
PHIL-3533
Specialized studies in philosophy. May be repeated when topics vary. Prerequisite(s): Communication Core complete and 3 hours of prior philosophy coursework or permission of instructor.
Independent Study in Philosophy
PHIL-4993
Individual directed readings, with approval of philosophy advisor or consent of chair. May be repeated once for credit when topics vary. Prerequisite(s): Communication Core complete and approval of instructor required.