Philosophy (PHL)

PHL-111. Introduction to Philosophy. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
An introduction to major themes of Western and Asian philosophical thought designed to give the student a grasp of the fundamental option which reflective persons face between opposing views of the world. The way in which this option was formed is traced, and the manner is shown in which this choice influences one's thinking about topics such as the nature of the self, truth, religion, morality and government.

PHL-114. Ethics. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
A survey of the most influential efforts of philosophers from diverse traditions to bring reason into the process of making appropriate and adequate choices in matters basic to the flourishing of human beings. Contemporary problems analyzed include end-of-life, reproductive, genetic engineering, punishment, business and environmental issues.

PHL-115. Logic. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
Logic is the study of reasoning, good and bad. Good reasoning moves from credible statements to others that are well supported by them. Bad reasoning obscures this process. This course examines features that make reasoning good or bad, develops critical skills in recognizing formal and informal patterns of reasoning, and deepens one's talent in constructing arguments that exemplify good reasoning.

PHL-118. Philosophy of Leadership. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
This is a course on the philosophy of leadership. It focuses on philosophical thinking on leadership from ancient Greece to the present. The course covers both classical philosophical readings on leadership by Aristotle, Epictetus, Machiavelli, and Sartre, as well as contemporary perspectives on leadership, including ethical leadership, authentic leadership, servant leadership, and greatness theory of leadership. The course will examine some of the ethical challenges of leadership in a wide variety of contexts, including government, social movements, business, and the military.

PHL-180. Introduction to Philosophy-Honor. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
This seminar follows, conceptually and historically, dominant lines of philosophical thinking on themes widely taken to be fundamental in Western and Asian culture. The course also compares and contrasts classical with contemporary perspectives.
Prerequisites: Permission of department chair or honors advisor.

PHL-210. American Philosophy. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
This course surveys important ideas, perspectives, and theories in the writings of prominent 19th and 20th century American philosophers, focusing on the classical pragmatism of Peirce, James, Dewey, and Mead. We will examine the larger intellectual and cultural context of American thought, referencing pivotal historical, legal, and intellectual events and traditions, especially the Civil War, Transcendentalism, and Darwinian evolutionary biology. This course aims to provide an understanding of the classical American pragmatist tradition and the relation of American philosophy to the history of philosophy and to American culture. Of central importance is the pragmatist connection between theory and action, that is, the effort not merely to make thought practical, but to make our practices, and our lives, intelligent.

PHL-211. Philosophy of the Person. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
A lecture-discussion course of classical readings from religious and humanist authors centering on related notions of human nature, person, self, self-actualization and freedom. An effort is made to assess some social policies by reference to an adequate notion of the person.

PHL-212. Philosophy and Religion. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
This course surveys the development and interaction of world religions, such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, African religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and Shintoism. It examines major figures, stories, rituals and beliefs of the religions, and shows how they shape the lives of believers. Finally, it analyzes philosophical concepts such as God and gods, faith and reason, immortality, good and evil, karma, love, meditation, mysticism and nirvana.

PHL-213. Philosophy of Religion. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
This is a course in the philosophy of Western monotheistic religion. Its main focus is on the doctrine (often said to be common to Islam, Christianity, and Judaism) that there is exactly one supreme being, God, who is all-knowing, all-powerful, morally perfect, and created the world (among other things). The course evaluates arguments for and against the existence of God, and examines questions pertinent to the existence of such a God. Central to the course are these two questions: 1) Regardless of what people have believed or why they have believed it, can we establish, by reason, that God exists (or doesn't exist); and 2) what is the nature of a perfect being.

PHL-216. Contemporary Moral Issues. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
Contemporary Moral Issues ranges over current topics of interest in philosophy, including but not limited to: philosophies of race, gender, violence, and warfare. In addition, it revisits familiar issues, such as the relationship between philosophy and science, philosophy and religion, the evolution of right and wrong, philosophy and literature, and morality without religion. Further topics include moral relativism, the difficulty of philosophy, philosophy's purpose, the philosophy of love, and many more. The course introduces new topics in philosophy and revisits old ones.

PHL-218. Philosophy and Civil Disobedience. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
Philosophies of civil disobedience form a subset of political thought. The topics in this course will include the rights to free expression, assembly, and peaceful protest. Emphasis will be placed on the present century and the voices of freedom and human rights. As a corollary, the course will examine whether there are limits to free expression and will distinguish civil disobedience from uncivil disobedience. To add an historical perspective, the origins of several movements will be studied: anti-slavery, women's suffrage, and the history of the current social justice movement.

PHL-221. Philosophy of Plato. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
Concentrated readings and in-depth discussion of several of the great dialogues of Plato, chosen from the following: Meno, Republic, Laws, Phaedo, Symposium, Phaedrus, Apology and Crito.

PHL-280. Ancient Philosophy-Honors. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
This seminar critically examines the central ideas of Plato and Aristotle on knowledge, mind, body, freedom, nature, ethics, politics and religion. The course also contrasts their ideas with those of other ancient philosophers, such as Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Parmenides, Zeno, Epicurus, Epictetus, Cicero and Aurelius. Students develop the ability to formulate their own views on philosophic issues.
Prerequisites: Permission of department chair or honors advisor.