PHILOS 210      Introduction to Philosophy
An introduction to many of the central problems of philosophy. The various dimensions of philosophy are examined as it related to our relationships with each other, our understanding of our world and our understanding of ourselves. Connections between classical philosophers and contemporary issues are explored as philosophy is considered as a deeply personal and also as a social phenomenon.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 211      Great Minds
In this course we will explores texts that have played a pivotal roles in shaping western intellectual thought and the formation of political and cultural communities up to the present day. We will focus on tracing out their common themes such as political and social organisation, political authority, morality, human nature, and the nature of knowledge. In doing so, our concerns will be twofold. On the one hand we will be trying to understand these texts in their historical and social context, on the other we will analyse and critically discuss the arguments they present and their underlying assumptions thereby learning how to construct will-formed arguments of our own.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 221      Contemporary Moral Issues
This course offers a philosophical examination of ethical issues in contemporary society. Topics for discussion include ethical conflicts arising in business and technology, engineering, healthcare, politics, and the environment. Moral concerns addressed may include reproductive rights and technologies, warfare, capital punishment, pornography, privacy, consumerism, euthanasia, sexuality, and animal welfare.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 222      Foundations Of Logic
This course introduces the basic concepts and methods of modern logic, beginning with ""premise"", ""inference"", ""conclusion"" , and ""argument"", with emphasis on understanding and reconstructing complex patterns of reasoning, and analysis and construction of valid arguments.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 300      Cluster Course: Controversy And Choice In Life And Science
An examination of advances in the health and life sciences that involve methodological questions about the pursuit and acceptance of theories. Procedures for choosing and conducting research will be analyzed using a model that incorporates existing knowledge. Assessment and management of research are also explored. Participating guests will present solutions derived.
Credits: hours
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PHILOS 310      Ancient Philosophy
A survey of the central figures of classical philosophy: the pre-Socratics, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, the Stoics, the Epicureans and other philosophers of antiquity. The contributions of major philosophers to the development of science, religion, and social and political theories are studied. Prerequisites: PHILOS 210,PHILOS 222 or an equivalent and successful completion of the WEPT Offered: Fall.
Credits: hours
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PHILOS 315      Logic And Methodology In The Health And Social Sciences
Analysis of the reasoning processes and theory-building procedures specific to the health and social sciences. As its major focus, the course will critically examine the philosophical foundations of the health and social sciences using the case study method. In addition, brief case study analyses of reasoning and theory-construction in the physical sciences will be offered in comparison. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210, PHILOS ,222.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 320      History of Modern Philosophy
A survey of the central figures of modern philosophy: Rene Descartes, Baruch Spinoza, G.W. Liebniz, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, George Berkeley, David Hume and Immanuel Kant. In addition to the philosophical issues of the period, cultural, historical and political matters are considered. A secondary goal is the establishment of the pedigree of contemporary philosophical problems. Prerequisites: PHILOS 210, or PHILOS 222 or an equivalent and successful completion of the WEPT Offered: Winter.
Credits: hours
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PHILOS 321      Ethics
Attention is given to the nature of ethical ideas and the development and history of ethical theory. Prerequisites: PHILOS 210, PHILOS 221, or PHILOS 222, or with permission of instructor.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 322      Philosophy of Literature
A close study of the ancient problems at the intersection of philosophy and literature: what sort of truth, if any, do we find in literature? Does literature have ethical content? What makes a literary text beautiful? How do ""literary"" texts defer from philosophical and other kinds of texts? Should literary texts influence our thinking about politics and other social issues? We will study classic philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, Kierkegaard, and Nietzche, great literary writers such as Sappho, Dante, Goethe, Dosteovesky, and Rilke, and harder to categorize figures like Freud. The class will include the study of several recent philosophers who worked specifically on the subject of the ""philosophy of literature,"" such as Bakhtin, Benjamin, Lacan, Szondi.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 325      Aesthetics
The basic problems of aesthetics are examined, with special emphasis on the character of the work of art, the aesthetic response of the viewer, the creative process of the artist, and the nature of aesthetic criticism. These topics are discussed in light of conflicting aesthetic theories. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210, PHILOS 222, or equivalent.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 326      Epistemology: Theories Of Knowledge
A study of the problems connected with the nature of knowledge and human understanding. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210, 222 or an equivalent.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 327      Metaphysics: Theories Of Reality
An investigation of the essential problems regarding the nature of reality in its most general aspects. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210,PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 328      Philosophy In The Middle Ages
The history of philosophy from St. Augustine to William of Ockham, including analysis of the relationships of medieval philosophical developments to earlier and later philosophical developments. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210,PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 329      American Philosophy
The main trends of American thought are covered, with special emphasis on the philosophies of Peirce, James and Dewey. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210 or PHILOS 215 or PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 330      19Th-Century Philosophy
Following a review of the influence of Kant on European thought, consideration is given to the German idealists, Comte and Positivism, Mill and Empiricism, British Neo-Hegelianism, the rise of Evolutionary Philosophy and Nietzsche. Prerequisites: PHILOS 210 or PHILOS 215 or PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 331      Philosophy Of Religion
An analysis of the nature and function of religion and its relation to culture. An examination is made of the basic ideas of religion, and special attention is given to the problems of religion and reality, religion and science, and the changing character of religion in our times. No prerequisites.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 332      Existentialism
A study of the development of existentialism. Selections from the works of such thinkers as Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Sartre, Heidegger, Camus and other related philosophers are considered. Special attention is devoted to the existential movements in literature, social science and medicine. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210, PHILOS 222 or equivalent.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 333      Social And Political Philosophy
A consideration of representative views of the place of man in contemporary society. Contributions in psychology, political theory, economics, sociology and anthropology are investigated philosophically with a view toward offering a critical appraisal of the nature of man in the human community. No prerequisites.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 334      Philosophy Of Science
A critical analysis of the assumptions, methods and conceptual frameworks of the sciences. The course emphasizes such topics as the influence of theory on observation; the problem of discovery, verification and experimental confirmation; and the relation of scientific language and concepts to ordinary language and beliefs. Prerequisite: PHILOS 222.
Credits: 3 hours
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