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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PHILOS 335      Philosophy Of Mind
A study of problems arising in connection with such topics as mental phenomena, the relation of mind to body, free will and determinism, the self and personal identity, and ""thinking"" machines. Classical and contemporary treatments of such concepts as ""mind,"" ""intention,"" ""sensation,"" ""perception,"" ""stimulus,"" etc., and their relation to action and behavior are considered. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210, PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 336      Philosophy Of Language
A study of the nature and uses of language, with special reference to concepts of meaning, denotation, reference, syntax, name, metaphor, vagueness, and definition. Applications in the fields of psychology, linguistics, anthropology, and literary criticism are examined. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210, PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 337      Philosophy Of History
A discussion of methodological and substantive issues, including the nature of historical explanation, whether history can be a science, and various theories of history such as those of Vico, Hegel, Marx, and Collingwood. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210, PHILOS 215,PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 338      Philosophy Of Biology
An investigation of methodological and conceptual issues in biology, such as the roles of mechanistic and teleological explanations, reductionism, the nature of evolutionary theories, and the relation between taxonomy and the concept of species. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210,PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 340      Philosophy Of Law
An analysis of major philosophies of law, including methods of justifying legal systems through natural law, legal positivism, sociological jurisprudence, theology, etc. Contemporary legal theories are critically analyzed. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210, PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 341      Introduction to Cognitive Science & Philosophy of Consciousness
A study of the development of phenomenology. Selections from the works of such thinkers as Husserl, Merleau-Ponty, Heidegger and other related philosophers are considered. Special attention is given to phenomenological movements in literature, social science and medicine.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 344      Philosophy of Sport
This course uses sports as a point of departure to explore central philosophical themes in metaphysic/epistemology, aesthetics, ethics, and social/political philosophy. Students will explore the concept and role of sports in society from ancient Greece to modern times.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 346      Metaphysics and Epistemology
this course is an advanced overview of some central themes in metaphysics nad epistemology. Metaphysics focuses on basic questions about the nature of reality. Epistemology is concerned with questions about knowledge and justification. In this class, we will explore a variety of topics (causation, universals, scepticism, induction, etc.) that occupy contemporary philosophers.Prerequisite: Philosophy 222 or consent of the instructor.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 350      Scientific Controversies
Students will study particular scientific controversies and the arguments scientists se to defend their own position and attack the positions of their opponents.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 360      Current Issues In Bioethics
Alternative approaches to issues such as life and death, human experimentation, the scarcity of resources, contraception, abortion, euthanasia, eugenics, etc. will be discussed critically. Major theories of ethics will be applied to several of the issues in order to have the student develop his or her own approach to ethical decision making in the area of bioethics. No prerequisites.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 370      Environmental Ethics And Policy
Various philosophical approaches to issues such as the value of nature, human obligations to non-human animals, species, ecosystems and future generations; environmental justice; restoration; resource use; environmental politics; and the relation between environmental issues, policy and ethics will be discussed critically. Prerequisite: None Offered: Annually Restrictions: None
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 400      Interdisciplinary Studies: Cluster Course Offerings
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 400CJ      Cluster Course: Aesthetic Issues In The Arts
Specialists in various art forms (e.g., literature, music, painting) will discuss specific artworks from their own perspective as artists and/or critics. This gives the student first-hand experience of how questions dealt with in the philosophy of art arise. Using this common core of examples, philosophical issues such as relevance of artists' intentions to interpretation and evaluation, the nature of aesthetic value, the nature and significance of comedy, and special issues raised by contemporary developments in the arts are discussed.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 400CO      Cluster Course: Issues In Death And Dying
A study of the various philosophical dimensions of death and dying in the history of thought from the pre-Socratics through the contemporary existentialist philosophers. Topics to be critically examined will include the ethical, religious and legal implications of the changing definitions of death, active and passive euthanasia, suicide, the ethical aspects of truth telling, and the impact of technological and scientific advancements as they relate to the rights and dignity of the dying patient and survivors as well as special populations such as children and incapacitated persons. The philosophical dimensions of death and dying will include epistemological, metaphysical, ethical and hermeneutic aspects. Alternate theories and approaches to ethical decision making concerning this important aspect of human existence will be presented.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 401PC      CC: Biological And Ethical Issues In Aging
This course is designed to provide both a disciplinary and interdisciplinary study of the biological, philosophical, and ethical foundations and principles underlying the phenomenon of aging on an individual and societal level. Various physiological, neurological, anatomical, and psychological processes and changes characteristic of the development occurring during the aging process will be studied, and discussed. The philosophical and specifically ethical issues associated traditionally with aging will be re-examined and analyzed in terms of scientific, technological, cultural, sociological, economic, and legal changes in knowledge and attitudes. Prerequisites: Biology 102 or equivalent. This course is also cross-listed as NAT-SCI 430PC.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 423      Symbolic Logic
Advanced analysis of deductive procedures; sentential connectives, quantifiers, classes, and relations; the notion of formal system; introduction to axiomatics and metalogical proofs. No prerequisites.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 424      Art, Aesthetics And Society
This course examines various moral and social issues concerning the arts and the aesthetics of our environment, bringing in case studies of particular artworks. It explores the relationships between aesthetic and moral value in the case of censorship, the effect of images on the public, and the aesthetics of the natural environment. It also looks at how public art is supposed to serve the public, and ethical dilemmas faced by art museums.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 425      History Of Aesthetics
An examination of the major thinkers in the history of aesthetics, such as Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Nietzsche, Tolstoy and Croce. The focus will be on how their ideas bear on topics which will interest anyone desiring to understand the origin, nature and value of the arts. Examples of these topics are the relationships among art, knowledge and morality; the natures of originality, creativity and genius; the importance of form, content and expression of emotions; and standards of taste and the claims of criticism. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210, PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.
Credits: 3 hours
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PHILOS 430      Plato
Selected dialogues of Plato are studied with a view to understanding Plato's philosophy and its position in the world of Greece and antiquity. Plato's philosophy is also examined with reference to his place in the Western tradition and in modern philosophy. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210,PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.
Credits: 3 hours
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