1000 Problems in Philosophy

An introductory course on the classic problems and methods of philosophy. Topics may include logic, critical thinking, the existence of God, the basis of knowledge, human nature, the mind/body problem, free will, ethics, the meaning of life, and some applied ethical problems. Offered occasionally. Recent Syllabus

2010 Social and Political Philosophy

An inquiry into the basic principles of social and political organization, with special emphasis on the concepts of government, justice, punishment, family, property, work and peace. Same as Political Science 2500. Current Syllabus

 

 

 

2120 Ethics: Theories and Applications

An introductory course on morality, including metaethics (the definition of such topics as good and evil, the source of morality, morality's relationship to religion and biology, the proper goals of human life), ethical theory (the importance of consequence versus duties, virtue versus right and wrong, the ethical theories of Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Mill, Kant, Nietzsche, feminists, evolutionists), and applied ethics (abortion, euthanasia, death penalty, privacy rights, biotechnology, gay rights, animal rights, racism, sexism, multiculturalism, military policy and others). Offered occasionally.

 

2130 Biomedical Ethics

An introductory course on conceptual and ethical issues in medicine and biotechnology, including the definition of death and disease, the definition of personhood, abortion, euthanasia, genetic engineering, reproductive technology, patients' rights, human and animal research, organ transplants, cloning, biotechnological enhancement, and healthcare rights. Offered occasionally. Recent Syllabus

2140 Environmental Ethics

An introductory course on conceptual and ethical issues concerning the environment, including the definition of "nature" and "technology," major types of environmentalism, green politics, wilderness preservation and restoration, deforestation, animal rights, transgenic crops, pesticides, population control, pollution and sustainable practices.

 

2150 Topics in Applied Ethics

An introductory course on special issues of applied ethics not covered by 2130 or 2140. Possible topics include business ethics, computer and internet ethics, legal ethics and the philosophy of law. Offered occasionally.

 

2160 Philosophy of Human Nature

An introductory course on the very nature of human beings, including such issues as whether there is a universal human nature, types of explanations of human nature (religious, psychological, biological), whether humans are essentially different from animals or machines, the importance of gender in shaping human identity, the source of human morality and politics (religion, rationality, evolution), the role of the unconscious, the limitations of humans' ability to understand themselves, and whether human nature could be changed. Offered occasionally.

2210 Aesthetics

A study of the nature of art and specific art forms, aesthetic experience and judgement, and relations between the aesthetic values and other kinds of values (moral, political, religious, etc.) Offered occasionally. Recent

2220 Philosophy and Literature

A study of various works of literature with an eye to issues such as the nature and function of language, perception and reality, self and the spoken word, theories of meaning, texts and subtexts. Authors considered include Beckett, Borges, Pinter, Gass, O'Connor, DeLillo, Robbe-Grillet, Abish, Woolf and others

 

 

2300 Philosophy of Film

A study of issues in the formation of personal and social experience through the mediation of film, using historically important films and film theories along with modern and contemporary philosophers as primary sources. Offered occasionally.

 

 

 

FWRK 2400 The Meaning of Work

An investigation into the phenomenon that is arguably at the foundation of human civilization and the human psyche: work. The course explores issues of value, purpose, function, organization, and justice in relation to the meaning of work from a variety of perspectives, including philosophy, theology, sociology, psychology, and management. (This course counts toward the Philosophy, Religious Studies, or Philosophy-Religious Studies major as an elective in the major.) Current Syllabus

2900 Logic

This course focuses upon propositional logic and quantification, and to a lesser extent upon syllogistic logic. Attention will be given to scientific method and induction, and to informal analysis of arguments in language. Offered every year.

 

 

3010 History of Philosophy I

This course moves from the rise of philosophy among the ancient Greeks to the development of Western European "scholastic" philosophy in the later Middle Ages.
Recent History of Philosophy I Syllabus

 

3020 History of Philosophy II

This course moves from the deliberate re-founding of philosophy by early modern thinkers in the 17th century through the development of Continental rationalism and British empiricism to Kant's critical-idealist synthesis of those approaches, Hegel's amplified idealism, and a variety of post-idealist approaches of the 19th century.
Current History of Philosophy II Syllabus

3040 Ancient Philosophy

A survey of selected philosophers, mostly Greek, from the beginnings of philosophy through the Hellenistic period.

 

 

 

 

 

3060 Twentieth Century Philosophy

An introduction to twentieth-century philosophy, considering one or more philosophical traditions such as phenomenology, analytic philosophy, existentialism, pragmatism, process philosophy, critical theory, post-structuralism and postmodernism. Offered occasionally. Current Syllabus

 

 

3110 Philosophy of Embodiment


This course examine questions about the concept of body from philosophical perspectives such as Cartesian dualism, idealism, phenomenology, gender theory, and disability theory. Offered occasionally. Recent Syllabus

3120 Nietzsche, Faith and Passion

An examination of writings by nineteenth-century philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche and Nietzsche's thought in light of contemporary debates about faith and passion. Offered occasionally.

 

3330 Zen and Phenomenology

This course explores ways ancient and contemporary traditions of Buddhism (especially Zen) and philosophy (especially phenomenology) describe the world and human experience. Offered occasionally.

3340 Philosophy of Mind

An upper-level introductory course on the nature of mind, including mental versus physical explanations of minds, theories of behavior, consciousness, other minds, perception, optical and cognitive illusions, the limits of human knowledge, personal identity, artificial intelligence, evolutionary explanations of moral and religious beliefs, and thought experiments about zombies, brains in vats, brain implants, and robot civil rights. Offered occasionally.

3610 Metaphysics

A consideration of traditional philosophical questions about "Being" such as, but not limited to: What is reality? Do I have free will? Is there a God? What kind of thing am I? The course may either survey briefly the history of metaphysics or cover one or two philosophers in detail. Offered occasionally.

 

3750 Special Topics

Special topics courses offered in the last few years include: Gender and Technology, Philosophy of History, Mind and Body, Pain and Aggression, Philosophy of Language, Philosophy of War, Philosophy of Time, Nietzsche and Gender, and Pragmatism.

 

 

3850 Major Philosophers

A careful consideration of a single philosopher's work. Offered occasionally.

 

 

 

 

4000 Epistemology

This advanced course in theory of knowledge usually focuses upon one or two trends in the 20th century such as Pragmatism, Logical Positivism, Analytic Philosophy, Feminism, Deconstruction, neurobiology and epistemology, etc. Offered occasionally.

 

 

4120 Ethical Theory

An advanced course on classical and contemporary theories of ethics including basic concepts of ethical decision-making, issues in cognitive moral perception, how to analyze moral issues, relativism, moral skepticism, egoism, utilitarianism, deontological ethics, virtue ethics, care ethics, rights theory, the law and ethics, religion and ethics, evolutionary theory and ethics, moral insanity and disease, and selected

4800 Directed Readings



4900 Senior Seminar

Intensive reading in selected issues, schools, and thinkers. Since the comprehensive exam is administered through the Senior Seminar this course is open only to those completing the philosophy major. We strongly encourage you to finish History of Philosophy I and II before taking Senior Seminar. Offered every year.