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course catalog
List of Courses: Undergraduate and Graduate
See course descriptions page for current offerings.
Undergraduate Courses
11001 Introduction to Philosophy (3)
An introduction to the diverse methods and subject matters of philosophy. Primary philosophic sources from varied philosophical traditions focus on at least three philosophic areas. Prerequisite: None. This course may be used to satisfy the Liberal Education Requirements. This course may be used to satisfy the University Diversity Requirement. | top
11009 Principles of Thinking (3)
The place of argument in reasoning and the place of reasoning in thinking are explored through a concentration on argument -- its structure, expression, function, and limits. Prerequisite: None. This course may be used to satisfy the Liberal Education Requirements. | top
21001 Introduction to Ethics (3)
This course considers what constitutes ethics, not just which specific acts or act-kinds are ethical, using at least three primary sources from varied ethical traditions. Prerequisite: None. This course may be used to satisfy the Liberal Education Requirements. This course may be used to satisfy the University Diversity Requirement. | top
21002 Introduction to Formal Logic (3)
Techniques of formal logic, traditional and contemporary. Prerequisite: None. This course may be used to satisfy the Liberal Education Requirements. | top
21003 Ethics in Contemporary Context (3)
Interactions of ethical standards, sanctions, conflicts, and priorities within contemporary contexts (legal, political, religious, professional, commercial, individual) having their own standards and logic. Prerequisite: PHIL 21001. | top
21020 Comparative Religious Thought I (3)
Philosophic study of the religious impulse as it manifests itself variously in beliefs, practices, and institutions ranging over times and cultures. Prerequisite: None. This course may be used to satisfy the Liberal Education Requirements. This course may be used to satisfy the University Diversity Requirement. | top
21021 Comparative Religious Thought II (3)
Comparative exploration in depth of three religions, selected to represent a Western religion, an Eastern religion, and a religion often overlooked in traditional comparative studies. Prerequisite: PHIL 21020. This course may be used to satisfy the Liberal Education Requirements. This course may be used to satisfy the University Diversity Requirement | top
30005 Contemporary Moral Issues (3)
Philosophical examination of at least four issues debated in society, e.g., gun control, capital punishment, welfare and economic disparity, pornography, affirmative action, excluding ethical issues in medicine. Prerequisite: One course in philosophy or junior standing or permission. | top
30015 Medicine and Morality (3)
A philosophical exploration of at least three issues related to current medical practices, which may include ethical, religious, legal and clinical aspects. Prerequisite: One course in philosophy or junior standing. | top
30025 Environmental Philosophy (3)
A philosophical examination of conceptions of nature and the relations between human beings and the natural world with emphasis on exploring connections between environment and science, the humanities, law, religion, ethics, or aesthetics. Prerequisite: One course in philosophy or junior standing. | top
31001 Ancient Greek Philosophy (3)
Examination of issues of Greek thought from its inception through Plato and Aristotle. Prerequisite: At least one of PHIL 11009, 21002, 31045; and at least one of PHIL 11001, 21001; or permission. This course may be used to satisfy the writing-intensive course graduation requirement with approval of major department. | top
31002 Medieval Philosophy (3)
Examination of issues in medieval thought: for instance, the existence and nature of God and the problem of universals. Prerequisite: At least one of PHIL 11009, 21002, 31045; and at least one of PHIl 11001, 21001; or permission. This course may be used to satisfy the writing-intensive course graduation requirement with approval of major department. | top
31003 Continental Rationalism (3)
Selections from Rationalists; for instance, Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz. Prerequisite: At least one of PHIL 11009, 21002, 30145; and at least one of PHIL 11001, 21001; or permission. This course may be used to satisfy the writing-intensive course graduation requirement with approval of major department. | top
31004 British Empiricism (3)
Selections from British Empiricists; for instance, Locke, Berkeley, and Hume. Prerequisite: At least one of PHIL 11009, 21002, 30145; and at least one of PHIL 11001, 21001; or permission. This course may be used to satisfy the writing-intensive course graduation requirement with approval of major department. | top
31005 German Critical Philosophy (3)
Selections from Kant and post Kantians. Prerequisite: At least one of PHIL 11009, 21002, 30145; and at least one of PHIL 11001, 21001; or permission. This course may be used to satisfy the writing-intensive course graduation requirement with approval of major department. | top
31006 Nineteenth Century Philosophy (3)
Selections from works of nineteenth-century philosophers. Prerequisite: At least one of PHIL 11009, 21002, 30145; and at least one of PHIL 11001, 21001; or permission. This course may be used to satisfy the writing-intensive course graduation requirement with approval of major department. | top
31010 Twentieth Century Philosophy (3)
Selections from the most influential schools of thought within twentieth-century philosophy: Existentialism, Pragmatism, Logical Positivism, Analytic Philosophy, and Phenomenology. Prerequisite: At least one of PHIL 11009, 21002, 30145; and at least one of PHIL 11001, 21001; or permission. This course may be used to satisfy the writing-intensive course graduation requirement with approval of major department. | top
31020 American Philosophy (3)
Selection from principal American philosophers from colonial times to present. Prerequisite: At least one of PHIL 11009, 21002, 30145; and at least one of PHIL 11001, 21001; or permission. This course may be used to satisfy the writing-intensive course graduation requirement with approval of major department. | top
31030 Existentialism (3)
Development and themes of existentialism. Prerequisite: Junior standing or one course in philosophy, or permission. | top
31035 Philosophy and Justice (3)
Considerations of topics and issues in the general sphere of justice from different perspectives by classical and contemporary philosophers. Prerequisite: Junior standing in criminal justice or political science, or a prior course in philosophy, or permission. | top
31040 Women and Philosophy (3)
Examines the influences and contributions of women to philosophy and the influences philosophy has had on women either historically or currently. Prerequisite: One course in Philosophy, Junior standing, or permission. | top
31045 Formal Logic (3)
Prerequisite: One course in Philosophy, Junior standing, or permission. Cross-listed with MATH 31045 | top
31060 Aesthetics (3)
Investigation of concepts such as the aesthetic object, creative expression, and critique of certain theories designed to solve various problems of aesthetic evaluations. Prerequisite: Junior standing in architecture, art, journalism, and mass communication, music, speech, or one course in philosophy, or permission. | top
31065 Philosophies of Religious Experience (3)
Examination of phenomena of religious experience, its structure, ramifications, and expression in myth and ritual. Prerequisite: Junior standing or one course in philosophy, or permission. | top
31068 Religious Thought in Contemporary Contexts (3)
An inquiry into religious convictions, beliefs, symbolizations, and texts in contemporary contexts in which religious considerations influence conception, valuation or interpretation of a contemporary situation, and how contemporary contexts influence religious thought. Prerequisite: One course in philosophy of junior standing. | top
31070 African and African-American Philosophies (3)
Exploration of philosophical issues in African and African-American thoughts systems including examination of traditional and emerging approaches to developing conceptions of African and African-American philosophies. Prerequisite: One course in philosophy or junior standing. This course may be used to satisfy the University Diversity Requirement. (cross-listed with PAS 30010) | top
31075 Philosophy and Multiculturalism (3)
Philosophical examination of various approaches to multiculturalism, in terms of definitions, justifications, and relevant alternative views regarding the scope and nature of multiculturalism. Prerequisite: One course in philosophy or junior standing. This course may be used to satisfy the University Diversity Requirement. | top
32091 SEM: Reflections on Humanity (3)
(repeated registration permitted with departmental approval)
Exploration of philosophic literature for contrasting or developing conceptions of man. Prerequisite: Junior standing or one course in philosophy, or permission. | top
40005 Health Care Ethics (3)
Ethical problems in health care critically assessed, and consideration of how these specific ethical problems illuminate the ethical enterprise. Prerequisite: Prior course in philosophy, or junior standing in a health care discipline, or permission. | top
40093 Variable Title Workshop in Philosophy (1-6)
Prerequisite: Permission. | top
41010 Problems in the Philosophy of Religion (3)
Philosophical examination of issues and problems presented by various writers in philosophy of religion. Prerequisite: At least one of PHIL 31001-31020; or permission. | top
41015 Philosophical Study of Religion (3)
A philosophical examination of pivotal issues, schools and theorists in the study of religion and the future of comparative studies. This course pursues the academic study of religion at an advanced level. Prerequisites: At least one of PHIL 31001-31020; or or permission. | top
41020 Social Philosophy (3)
Philosophic examination of theories of societies as proposed by various writers. Prerequisite: At least one of PHIL 31001, 31003, 31004, 31005, 31006, 31010, 31020; or permission. | top
41025 Philosophy of Law (3)
Critical examination of the nature and function of law. Prerequisite: Junior standing in criminal justice or political science, or one philosophy course at 30000-level or above, or permission. | top
41030 Ethical Theories and Practices (3)
Intensive and in-depth study of some dimensions of philosophic traditions in ethics. Prerequisite: At least one of PHIL 31001-31020. | top
41035 Philosophy of Science (3)
Analysis of methodological problems in scientific disciplines. Prerequisite: At least one of PHIL 31001-31020. | top
41040 Theories of Knowledge (3)
Study of various problems in philosophic theories of knowledge with some emphasis on current philosophic challenges to such theories. Prerequisite: At least one of PHIL 31001-31020; or permission. | top
41042 Topics in Metaphysics (3)
Philosophical examination of at least three issues in metaphysics with an emphasis on the historical debates that give rise to them and their contemporary contexts. Prerequisite: At least one of PHIL 31001-31020. | top
41045 Metalogic (3)
Relatively formal treatment of syntactic and semantic theory of propositional and predicate logic, with some attention to the limits of formalism. Prerequisite: PHIL 31045 or permission. (cross-listed with MATH 41045) | top
41050 Philosophical Analysis and Beyond (3)
Study of the major problems in analytic philosophy and subsequent philosophical analysis. Prerequisite: At least one of PHIL 31001-31020; or permission. | top
41055 Phenomenology and Beyond (3)
Investigation of the phenomenological movement, its methods and the scope and course of its applications in philosophy and other disciplines. Prerequisite: At least one of PHIL 31001-31020; or permission. | top
41060 Pragmatism and Beyond (3)
Detailed reading from classical American pragmatists along with some attention to later interpretations and explorations of current re-appraisals and developments. Prerequisite: At least one of PHIL 31001-31020; or permission. | top
41065 Plato (3)
Detailed examination of selected Platonic dialogues, with some attention to Plato's development and dismissal of certain pre-Socratic (and Socratic) themes. Prerequisite: At least one of PHIL 31001-31020; or permission. | top
41070 Aristotle (3)
Detailed examination of selected works of Aristotle, with some attention given to Aristotle's development and dismissal of certain pre-Socratic and Platonic themes. Prerequisite: At least one of PHIL 31001-31020; or permission. | top
41076 Continental Philosophy (3)
Investigation of some figure, issue, or theme in continental philosophy from Descartes to present. Prerequisite: At least one of PHIL 31001-31020; or permission. | top
41077 British and American Thought (3)
Detailed investigation of a figure or issue in British or American philosophy. Prerequisite: At least one of PHIL 31001-31020; or permission. | top
41080 Philosophy and Art in the Modern Age (3)
Exploring, with emphasis on the modern age, philosophical conceptions of art in their interplays with, especially, practicing artists' attitudes toward theory. Prerequisite: Junior standing in art, or one course of PHIL 31001-31020, or permission. | top
41085 Theories, Concepts, and Narratives (3)
Concentrated discussion of explanation, its elements, its varieties, and its alternatives. Prerequisite: At least one of PHIL 31001-31020; or permission. | top
41086 Philosophy of Expression (3)
Concentrated study of expression through philosophy of literature, of music, of body, of language, or of symbols. Prerequisite: At least one of PHIL 31001-31020; or permission. | top
49995 Special Topics (2-3)
(repeatable when content varies)
Prerequisite: Permission. | top
49996 Individual Investigation (1-3)
(repeated registration permitted with departmental approval prior to registration)
IP grade permissible. Prerequisite: Departmental Permission prior to registration. | top
49999 Senior Honors Project (2-3)
(repeated registration permitted with departmental approval prior to registration)
Thesis or other independent study or creative project. IP grade permissible. Prerequisite: Departmental permission before registration. | top
Graduate Courses
50005 Health Care Ethics (3)
Ethical problems in health care critically assessed, and consideration of how these specific ethical problems illuminate the ethical enterprise. | top
50093 Variable Title Workshop in Philosophy (1-6)
| top
51010 Problems in the Philosophy of Religion (3)
Philosophical examination of issues and problems presented by various writers in philosophy of religion. | top
51015 Philosophical Study of Religion (3)
A philosophical examination of pivotal issues, schools and theorists in the study of religion and the future of comparative studies. This course pursues the academic study of religion at an advanced level. | top
51020 Social Philosophy (3)
Philosophic examination of theories of societies as proposed by various writers. | top
51025 Philosophy of Law (3)
Critical examination of the nature and function of law. | top
51030 Ethical Theories and Practices (3)
Intensive and in-depth study of some dimensions of philosophic traditions in ethics. | top
51035 Philosophy of Science (3)
Analysis of methodological problems in scientific disciplines. | top
51040 Theories of Knowledge (3)
Study of various problems in philosophic theories of knowledge with some emphasis on current philosophic challenges to such theories. | top
51042 Topics in Metaphysics (3)
Philosophical examination of at least three issues in metaphysics with an emphasis on the historical debates that give rise to them and their contemporary contexts. | top
51045 Metalogic (3)
Relatively formal treatment of syntactic and semantic theory of propositional and predicate logic, with some attention to the limits of formalism. | top
51050 Philosophical Analysis and Beyond (3)
Study of the major problems in analytic philosophy and subsequent philosophical analysis. | top
51055 Phenomenology and Beyond (3)
Investigation of the phenomenological movement, its methods and the scope and course of its applications in philosophy and other disciplines. | top
51060 Pragmatism and Beyond (3)
Detailed reading from classical American pragmatists along with some attention to later interpretations and explorations of current re-appraisals and developments. | top
51065 Plato (3)
Detailed examination of selected Platonic dialogues, with some attention to Plato's development and dismissal of certain pre-Socratic (and Socratic) themes. | top
51070 Aristotle (3)
Detailed examination of selected works of Aristotle, with some attention given to Aristotle's development and dismissal of certain pre-Socratic and Platonic themes. | top
51076 Continental Philosophy (3)
Investigation of some figure, issue, or theme in continental philosophy from Descartes to present. | top
51077 British and American Thought (3)
Detailed investigation of a figure or issue in British or American philosophy. | top
51080 Philosophy and Art in the Modern Age (3)
Exploring, with emphasis on the modern age, philosophical conceptions of art in their interplays with, especially, practicing artists' attitudes toward theory. | top
51085 Theories, Concepts, and Narratives (3)
Concentrated discussion of explanation, its elements, its varieties, and its alternatives. | top
51086 Philosophy of Expression (3)
Concentrated study of expression through philosophy of literature, of music, of body, of language, or of symbols. | top
59995 Special Topics (2-3)
When content varies, may be repeated for credit. | top
59996 Individual Investigation (1-3)
Prerequisite: Departmental permission before registration; repeated registration permitted with departmental approval. S/U grading only. IP grade permissible. | top
60101 Philosophy's Methods (3)
Exploration of differing approaches to philosophical problems, particularly that of method; practice in identifying these approaches and methods as they occur in classic and current texts; practice in research methods. | top
60102 Philosophy's Rigors and Latitudes (3)
Identifying, classifying, and evaluating terms, allusions, and tactics that commonly occur in a variety of philosophical texts; recognizing mode of philosophizing other than strict argumentation and formal techniques. | top
60110 Classic Figure Disciplinary Matrix Seminar (3)
Intensive primary source reading using a significant portion of the works of a classic philosophical figure, along with critical appreciation of secondary literature. | top
60111 Current Figure Disciplinary Matrix Seminar (3)
Intensive primary source reading using a significant portion of the works of a current philosophical figure, along with critical appreciation of secondary literature. | top
60112 Classic Issue Disciplinary Matrix Seminar (3)
Intensive reading focused on a classic philosophic issue, with readings selected to reflect the issue's fate in various thinkers and periods. | top
60113 Current Issue Disciplinary Matrix Seminar (3)
Intensive reading focused on current philosophic issue, tracing the issue's rise, including at least three authors who discuss the issue, exploring the spectrum of journal literature related to the issue. | top
60114 Emergent Figure/Issues Disciplinary Matrix Seminar (3)
Intensive reading on an emergent figure and issues the figure brings to prominence; focus on the historical contexts and relevant issues out of which the figure, issues, and new orientation(s) emerge. | top
61050 Philosophy of Language (3)
Critical examination of nature and function of language, especially in relation to mental function and development. (cross-listed with ENG 6/75050)? | top
61055 Semiotics (3)
An introduction to contemporary theories of semeiotics and to the application of those theories to linguistics, literature, translation, and technology. (cross-listed with ENG 5/75057 and MCLS 60020) | top
61056 Interpretive Styles and Traditions (3)
Critical appreciation of the theories and practices of interpretation comprehended according to certain classical, current, and emergent philosophic styles and traditions. | top
61062 Theories and Practices for an Ethics of Caring (3)
Critical appreciation of classic, current, and emerging contribution to, critiques of, and alternatives within an ethics of caring. | top
61063 Philosophy's Roles in Ethics across the Discipline (3)
A philosophic reading of texts bearing on the traditions and new emergence of a concern for ethics in many contexts and in many academic disciplines especially related to the roles philosophy is seen to serve. | top
61075 Logical Theory (3)
Intensive study of issues concerning conceptual framework or presuppositions of logic; or challenges or alternatives to classical logic or to logic itself. | top
61084 Research Ethics (3)
Exploration of methodologies, the treatment of human and animal research subjects, responsible authorship practices, and the role of the scientist in the moral community. | top
61085 Meta-ethics (3)
Examination of the conceptions, presuppositions, and value judgments of ethical theories. | top
69194 College Teaching of Philosophy (1)
Discussion, critique, and development of concepts to guide the teaching of philosophy including concepts of procedures and tactics for planning, pacing, presenting, representing, and reviewing philosophic texts, figures, and issues. | top
69199 Thesis I (2-6)
Thesis students must register for a total of 6 hours, 2 to 6 hours in a single semester, distributed over several semesters if desired. IP grade permissible. Prerequisite: Departmental permission before registration. | top
69299 Thesis II (2)
Thesis students must continue registration each semester until all degree requirements are met. IP grade permissible. Prerequisite: PHIL 69199. | top
69996 Special Topics (3)
Selected topics in philosophy. Repeated registration possible. Prerequisite: Permission. | top
69997 Colloquium (1)
Students, faculty, and invited guests participate in conference-like contexts to present and discuss issues of current philosophic interest. Repeated registration permitted. | top
69998 Research (1-15)
Research or individual investigation for master's level graduate students. Credits earned may be applied toward meeting degree requirements. Prerequisite: Departmental permission before registration. Repeated registration permitted with departmental approval. | top
