| PHI 1001: Power of Logic (5) Offerings |
| An introductory course in logic that covers the following topics: the basic concepts of logic (such as validity and soundness), argument forms, identifying arguments, logic and language, categorical syllogisms and Venn diagrams, informal fallacies, truth tables and natural deduction (for propositional logic). |
| Attributes:Arts and Humanities B, WK Humanities
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| PHI 1002: History of Ethics (5) Offerings |
| This course will introduce students to the methods and practices of moral philosophy as we engage the perennial question of how should we live a good life. Students will engage with philosophers from a variety of cultural and philosophical perspectives and approaches. The aims of the course include: developing tools for productive cross-cultural moral discourse, learning how to analyze philosophical arguments, and learning how to articulate one's own moral views. |
| Attributes:Arts and Humanities B, WK Humanities
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| PHI 1004: Survey of Western Philosophy (5) Offerings |
| Ever since Socrates declared that “the unexamined life is not worth living,” philosophers and other thinkers have debated what it means to live a well-examined life. This course discusses what it means to think critically and what it is to be human and pursue the good life. In addition, ethical questions pertaining to justice, holiness, social contract, and the nature of virtue will be explored. In considering these and other questions, the course brings those from Greek and other Western traditions into conversation with Islamic, feminist and African American intellectuals who have challenged the prevailing definitions of humanness, justice, and the good life. |
| Attributes:Arts and Humanities B, WK Humanities
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| PHI 2001: Advanced Logic (3) Offerings |
| Prerequisite: PHI 1001. Covers these topics: predicate logic with identity and modal logic. |
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| PHI 2222: Social Ethics (5) Offerings |
| In this course we critically examine contemporary controversial moral issues. Questions that may be addressed include: Is abortion morally permissible? Under what conditions, if any, can war or terrorism be justified? Do animals have rights? Does the environment? Do we have a moral obligation to help people in other countries? May the state permissibly prohibit the use of drugs? Should homosexual couples be allowed to marry? |
| Attributes:Ways of Engaging
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| PHI 2500: Philosophy of Science (3) Offerings |
| The course will examine philosophical issues raised by modern physics, biology, and psychology (among other sciences). It will address questions such as the following. What distinguishes science from pseudo-science? Does science differ from philosophy and theology? Can scientific hypotheses be conclusively established through observation and experiment? What makes for a good scientific explanation? Does science converge on the truth about nature or provide merely useful predictive tools? What are the consequences of historical change in science for the rationality of science? Offered alternate years. |
| Attributes:Arts and Humanities B
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| PHI 2801: C.S. Lewis and Values (3) Offerings |
| Examines Lewis's insights into the nature of humanness, the meaning of life and the possibility of other worlds; evaluates Lewis's position on selected value issues, e.g., marriage, divorce and friendship. |
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| PHI 2999: Aesthetics (3) Offerings |
| This course familiarizes students with many of the themes and topics of contemporary moral philosophy through an exploration of the arts, including film, television, and literature. It also addresses topics in the ethics of art, such as whether there are moral limits to artistic expression, and whether the moral qualities of an artwork or artist should figure into the aesthetic appraisal of works of art. The aims of this course include: identifying ethical issues in works of art and through works of art, learning how to analyze philosophical arguments, and learning how to articulate one’s own arguments. |
| Attributes:Arts and Humanities B, Ways of Engaging
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| PHI 3601: Ancient Philosophy (5) Offerings |
| Surveys the work of principally Greek philosophers emphasizing Plato and Aristotle. Some consideration may be given to pre-Socratics and post-Aristotelian developments, such as stoicism and Neoplatonism. |
| Attributes:Upper-Division, Writing "W" Course
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| PHI 3602: Medieval Philosopy (3) Offerings |
| Surveys the thought of some main medieval philosophers, such as Augustine, Boethius, Anselm, Aquinas, Duns Scotus, and William of Ockham. Attention will be mainly given to their metaphysical, epistemological and ethical theories. |
| Attributes:Upper-Division, Writing "W" Course
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| PHI 3606: Continental Philosophy (5) Offerings |
| Prerequisite: PHI 3601 or 3633. Surveys major philosophical figures in the continental tradition such as Hegel, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Gadamer, Derrida and Rorty. Offered alternate years. |
| Attributes:Upper-Division, Writing "W" Course
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| PHI 3633: Early Modern Philosophy (5) Offerings |
| Surveys the thought of main figures in the early modern period such as Descartes, Locke, Leibniz, Hume and Kant. |
| Attributes:Upper-Division, Writing "W" Course
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| PHI 3651: Contemporary Ethical Theory (5) Offerings |
| Prerequisite: PHI 1002 is recommended. An in-depth examination of the main philosophical theories of ethics such as consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics. Contemporary versions of these theories will be emphasized. Selected topics in metaethics will also be included, such as morality and self-interest, and morality and rationality. |
| Attributes:Upper-Division, Writing "W" Course
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| PHI 3770: Political Philosophy (3) Offerings |
| An in-depth examination of the main philosophical theories of the nature of justice and the just society such as liberalixm, libertarianism, communism, and communitarianism. Contemporary and historical theories will be covered. Offered alternate years. |
| Attributes:Upper-Division, Writing "W" Course
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| PHI 3801: C.S. Lewis and Values (3) Offerings |
| Examines Lewis's insights into the nature of humanness, the meaning of life and the possibility of other worlds; evaluates Lewis's position on selected value issues such as marriage, divorce and friendship. |
| Attributes:Upper-Division, Writing "W" Course
Restrictions:Freshman students are excluded. |
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| PHI 3999: Mind and Immortality (3) Offerings |
| An in-depth examination of the naturalistic program in understanding the human mind. Topics covered include dualism versus physicalism, behaviorism, mind-brain identity theory, functionalism, mental causation, consciousness, reductive and nonreductive physicalism, and the Christian doctrine of the resurrection of the body. |
| Attributes:Upper-Division, Writing "W" Course
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| PHI 4652: Contemporary Metaphysics (5) Offerings |
| Prerequisite: PHI 1001. An in-depth examination of classic metaphysical issues focusing on more recent contributions to the debates. Topics include free will, ontology, realism and essentialism. |
| Attributes:Upper-Division, Writing "W" Course
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| PHI 4653: Contemporary Epistemology (3) Offerings |
| An in-depth examination of classic epistemological issues focusing on more recent contributions to the debates. Topics include the analysis of knowledge, the Gettier problem, the structure and sources of justification, skepticism, a priori knowledge, and naturalized and feminist epistemology. |
| Attributes:Upper-Division
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| PHI 4661: The Best of C.S. Lewis (3) Offerings |
| Identifies basic literary, philosophical and theological categories of Lewis's work. Evaluates the insights in the great themes that permeate Lewis's literature through examining his major works, including Mere Christianity, Screwtape Letters, Great Divorce, Last Battle and The Four Loves. Incorporates lecture series. |
| Attributes:Upper-Division
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| PHI 4898: Existence of God (3) Offerings |
| Explores issues relevant to the existence of God, such as, religious experience, the problem of evil, theistic arguments (e.g. the cosmological argument, the design argument, the ontological argument, the moral argument), religious pluralism, and the merits of philosophical naturalism. Can fulfill the senior capstone requirement in philosophy. |
| Attributes:Upper-Division
Restrictions:Freshman students are excluded. |
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| PHI 4899: Philosophical Theology (3) Offerings |
| Explores philosophical questions arising from topics in theology, including the divine attributes (e.g. omnipotence, omniscience, perfect goodness), divine revelation, the Trinity, the Incarnation, and the Atonement. Can fulfill the senior capstone requirement in philosophy. |
| Attributes:Upper-Division
Restrictions:Freshman students are excluded. |
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| PHI 4900: Independent Study (1-5) Offerings |
| Student works independently with a faculty member on a mutually agreed upon topic. May be repeated for credit up to 15 credits. |
| Attributes:Upper-Division
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| PHI 4920: Directed Readings (1-9) Offerings |
| Directed Readings May be repeated for credit up to 9 credits. |
| Attributes:Upper-Division
Restrictions:Junior, Post-Baccalaureate, Senior students only. |
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| PHI 4921: Directed Readings in the Philosophical Writings of C.S. Lewis (1-5) Offerings |
| Offers directed study in the explicitly philosophical writings of Lewis, e.g., The Abolition of Man, The Problem of Pain, Miracles, The Four Loves, The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses, and God in the Dock. May be repeated for credit up to 5 credits. |
| Attributes:Upper-Division
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| PHI 4930: Philosophy Practicum (1-5) Offerings |
| For advanced students who wish to assist as discussion leaders and readers in lower-division philosophy classes. May be repeated for credit up to 5 credits. |
| Attributes:Upper-Division
Restrictions:Philosophy Majors only. Freshman, Sophomore students are excluded. |
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| PHI 4940: Philosophy Internship (1-5) Offerings |
| Prerequisite: 30 credits of philosopy. Practical application of philosophical skills. (See philosophy Web-site for illustrative possibilities.) May be repeated for credit up to 5 credits. |
| Attributes:Upper-Division
Restrictions:Philosophy Majors only. Freshman, Sophomore students are excluded. |
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| PHI 4950: Special Topics in Philosophy (1-5) Offerings |
| An in-depth exploration of a specific philosophical topic chosen by the instructor. Recent topics include the problem of evil, the doctrines of the trinity and incarnation, political philosophy and C.S. Lewis on the quest for the permanent things. May be repeated for credit up to 10 credits. |
| Attributes:Upper-Division
Restrictions:Junior, Post-Baccalaureate, Senior students only. |
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