Philosophy

Minor in Philosophy (18 credit hours)

Faculty:Philip Cronce, Paul Gomberg, Das Ana Janssen

The Department of History, Philosophy, and Political Science offers a minor in philosophy to those students who desire a more fundamental appreciation for how philosophy is interconnected with law, medicine, business, the natural and human sciences in addition to those seeking personal enrichment.

The program emphasizes the development of critical thinking skills, which the discipline is uniquely positioned to offer, as well as ethics courses involving value studies applied to contemporary issues. The minor is designed to complement the student’s major field of study and prepares the student for nearly every employment challenge requiring informed decision-making, critical thinking, and assessment.

Required Courses (9 credit hours)

PHIL 1010/101, 1020/204 or 1030/221, 1040/203 or 2770/233 or 2530/265 or 290 or 2520/291.

Elective Courses (9 credit hours)

Completion of 9 additional credit hours in philosophy selected with the approval of the department. No course will be accepted toward the minor below a grade of C.

Philosophy (PHIL) Course Offerings

1010/101 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY(3)

The nature and functions of philosophic inquiry and thinking. The major branches of philosophy: metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. IAI: H4 900.

1020/204 INTRODUCTION TO LOGIC(3)

Training in deductive reasoning including syllogism, symbolic logic and truth tables (Enrichment core course.) IAI: H4 906.

1030/221 CRITICAL THINKING(3)

Practical training in the principles of reasoning including the analysis, construction and criticism of arguments and fallacies in natural language. (Enrichment core course.)

1040/203 ETHICS(3)

An examination of moral principles applied to contemporary problems. (A writing emphasis and enrichment core course.) IAI: H4 904

1200/200 SPECIAL TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY(3)

The study of a selected topic in philosophy which may be repeated once under a different topic.

2000/215 HISTORY OF GREEK PHILOSOPHY(3)

Prerequisite: PHIL 1010/101 or consent of the department.

Development of philosophic thought from about 640 B.C. to 332 B.C., covering the pre-Socratics, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.

2020/218 HISTORY OF MODERN PHILOSOPHY(3)

Prerequisite: PHIL 1010/101 or consent of the department.

Philosophical trends of the 17th and 18th centuries from Bacon to Kant.

2040/319 CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY(3)

Prerequisite: PHIL 1010/101 or consent of the department.

Twentieth century philosophic thinking; idealism, pragmatism, analytic philosophy, existentialism, and phenomenology.

2210/206 PHILOSOPHY OF HUMAN NATURE(3)

Prerequisites: Successful completion of English and reading qualifying exams.

A study of classical and contemporary views on human nature, including the mind/body problem, personal identity, and human freedom.

2220/222 UTOPIA(3)

Analysis of the visionary dreams of leading Utopian thinkers.

2229/329 SYMBOLIC LOGIC(3)

Prerequisite: PHIL 1020/204 or consent of instructor.

Propositional and predicate logic with identity emphasizing formalization in natural language and decision methods for valid arguments.

2250/235 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY(3)

Concepts and issues such as individual and collective interests, justice, equality, democracy and freedom.

2510/266 ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS(3)

Prerequisite: GEOG 4220/301 or equivalent or consent of department.

Ethical issues involved in the environment broadly understood as a social and cultural as well as a physical and biological phenomenon. Topics addressed include environmental justice, the question of sustainability, and the philosophical foundations of the environmental movement.

2520/291 BUSINESS ETHICS(3)

A moral audit of business practices by applying relevant ethical principles to case studies. The emphasis throughout is on the discernment and analysis of the moral dimensions and implications of corporate conduct toward the employee, the consumer, and the society.

2500/233 MEDICAL ETHICS(3)

Examination of ethical principles applied to selected moral issues concerning the health care profession.

2530/265 COMPUTER ETHICS(3)

Examination of the ethical issues involved in computerized technologies. Issues such as professional responsibility, privacy, security, hacking, network use, individual use, and other social values are addressed, including the ACM Code of Ethics.

2700/201 THE SCIENTIFIC WORLD OUTLOOK(3)

The study of scientific reasoning concentrating on major scientific theories such as the origins of the universe, history of earth and history of life.

2710/205 PHILOSOPHICAL ISSUES OF RACE AND SOCIETY(3)

Issues in social, political, and moral philosophy occasioned by the rise of racial identities and racial inequality.

2720/240 AFRICAN AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES(3)

Prerequisite: Successful completion of English Qualifying Exam and one course in philosophy or consent of the instructor.

An examination of African American philosophical thought. (A writing emphasis course.)

2730/207 COMPARATIVE RELIGION(3)

An examination and comparative exposition of the doctrinal issues affecting the world’s major religions with an emphasis on non-western religions. Non-Western/Third World culture course. IAI: H5 904N.

2740/304 PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION(3)

Prerequisite: PHIL 1010/101 or consent of the department. 

Analysis of the ecumenical questions of traditional theistic religions: warrant for the belief in God, the problem of evil, the intelligibility of the traditional attributes of God, and the warrant for religious experiences. IAI: H4 905

2750/324 PHILOSOPHY AND WOMEN(3)

Prerequisites: One course in philosophy or consent of instructor, and successful completion of the English qualifying exam.

Philosophical issues in the history of philosophy as these concern women including questions such as identity, gender and sexual difference from a nonrepresentational framework.

2760/330 PHILOSOPHY OF LAW(3)

Prerequisite: Consent of the department.

Nature and functions of the common law system and some of its basic concepts, such as legal liability, legal responsibility, legal reasoning, causation, and theories of punishment.

2770/223 PHILOSOPHY IN LITERATURE(3)

Examination of novels, plays, poetry, or essays for philosophic content.

2790/302 EXISTENTIALISM(3)

Prerequisite: PHIL 1010/101 or consent of the department.

Analysis of the existential perspective found in the writings of Dostoyevsky, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Kafka, Sartre, Camus and others.

3010 READING AND WRITING PHILOSOPHY(3)

Prerequisites: One course in philosophy.

Intensive reading of classical philosophical texts, written exposition and criticism of philosophical argument and development of original arguments.

3040 ETHICAL THEORY(3)

Prerequisites: One course philosophy .

An examination of ethical theories and principles including utilitarianism and deontological theories as well as contemporary approaches to ethical issues.

3100 PRE-SOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY(3)

Prerequisites: PHIL 2000 or 2020 or consent of instructor.

A study of selected thinkers and issues from the Pre-Socratic period.

3130 MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY(3)

Prerequisites: PHIL 2000 or 2020 or consent of department.

A study of thinkers and issues from the medieval period from the 5ththrough the 14^th centuries.

3140 EARLY MODERN PHILOSOPHY(3)

Prerequisites: PHIL 2000 or 2020 or consent of department.

A study of selected 17^th century thinkers and issues in the context of the rise of modern science.

3150 18TH CENTURY PHILOSOPHY(3)

Prerequisites: PHIL 2000 or 2020 or consent of instructor.

A study of selected thinkers and issues from the European Enlightenment.

3160 19TH CENTURY PHILOSOPHY(3)

Prerequisites: PHIL 2000 or 2020 or consent of instructor.

A study of selected thinkers and issues including the rise of German idealism in response to Kant.

3170 20TH CENTURY PHILOSOPHY(3)

Prerequisite: PHIL 2000 or 2020 or consent of department.

A study of selected thinkers and issues from the 20 ^th century.

3190 PHILOSOPHICAL FIGURE/TEXT(3)

Prerequisite: One course in philosophy or consent of department.

A study of the work of one important philosopher or philosophical movement. May be repeated once for a maximum of 3 credit hours each under different topics.

3290 PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE(3)

Prerequisites: Once course in philosophy. PHIL 1020 or 3020 recommended.

An examination of the nature of language, meaning, and truth.

3400 AESTHETICS(3)

Prerequisites: Once course in philosophy .

A study of the nature, theories, and experience of art and aesthetic values.

3500 RESEARCH ETHICS (2)

Prerequisite: Junior standing.

Ethical considerations involving research with human subjects including the issues of privacy and informed consent, standards for ethical research such as the Belmont Report, the function of an IRB, and various federal regulations. This course fulfills NIH certification for human subject research.

3510 METAPHYSICS(3)

Prerequisites: One course in philosophy or consent of the department.

A study of the nature of reality. Topics include causation, freedom and determinism, and the mind-body problem.

3520 THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE(3)

Prerequisites: One course in philosophy or consent of department.

Inquiry into the origin, nature, certainty, and limits of human knowledge as examined through the positions of the world’s leading thinkers in the field.

3530 PHILOSOPHICAL PSYCHOLOGY(3)

Prerequisites: One course in philosophy or consent of department.

A survey of the important issues in the philosophy of mind and cognitive sciences.

3900/391 INDEPENDENT STUDY IN PHILOSOPHY(3)

Prerequisite: Consent of the department.

Staff-directed study in special topics.