Philosophy (PHI)
PHI 101. Logic and Critical Reasoning. (3 Credits)
(3) A. Prerequisite: ACT scores: Math 19 or higher; Reading 20 or higher; and English 18 or higher or ENG 101 or 101R(C) or minimum placement test score. Introductory course in the analysis and evaluation of arguments, with primary focus on deductive validity and the systems of categorical and propositional logic. Credit will not be awarded to students who have credit for PHI 101R. Gen. Ed. E-2.
PHI 101R. Logic and Critical Reasoning (Supported). (4 Credits)
(4) A. Prerequisite: ACT scores: Reading 20 or higher; and English 18 or higher or ENG 101 or 101R(C) or minimum placement test score. Introductory course in the analysis and evaluation of arguments, with a primary focus on deductive validity and the systems of categorical and propositional logic. Credit will not be awarded to students who have credit for PHI 101. Gen. Ed. E-2.
PHI 110. Beginning Philosophy. (3 Credits)
I, II. Basic introductory course in philosophy. Consideration of perennial questions of the human experience, especially questions about reality, knowledge, self, values, and religious belief. Credit will not be awarded to students who have credit for PHI 110W. Gen. Ed. Element 3B.
PHI 110W. Beginning Philosophy: Writing Intensive. (3 Credits)
I, II. Prerequisite: ENG 102 or 105 (B) or HON 102 (B). A writing-intensive basic introductory course in philosophy. Consideration of perennial questions of the human experience, especially questions about reality, knowledge, self, values, and religious belief. Credit will not be awarded to students who have credit for PHI 110. Gen. Ed. Element 3B.
PHI 130. Beginning Ethics. (3 Credits)
I, II. Survey of theories concerning the nature of right and wrong, emphasizing how these theories can be applied to personal moral choices. Credit will not awarded for both PHI 130 and PHI 130S. Gen. Ed. Element 3B.
PHI 130S. Beginning Ethics. (3 Credits)
(3) I, II. Survey of theories concerning the nature of right and wrong, emphasizing how these theories can be applied to personal moral choices, enhanced with a service learning component. Credit will not be awarded for both PHI 130S and PHI 130. Gen. Ed. E-3B.
PHI 240. Philosophy of Religion. (3 Credits)
A. Study of religious experience, faith and knowledge, the nature and existence of God, the problem of evil, religious ethics, and religious language. Credit will not be awarded to students who have credit for PHI 240W. Gen. Ed. Element 3B.
PHI 240W. Philosophy of Religion: Writing Intensive. (3 Credits)
A. Prerequisites: ENG 102, or ENG 105, or HON 102. Study of religious experience, faith and knowledge, the nature and existence of God, the problem of evil, religious ethics, and religious language. Credit will not be awarded to students who have credit for PHI 240. Gen Ed. Element 3B.
PHI 300. Greek and Roman Philosophy. (3 Credits)
A. Survey of philosophical thought as seen through an examination of selected issues and selected philosophers from ancient Greece through the early Roman period. Credit will not be awarded to students who have credit for PHI 300W. Gen. Ed. Element 3B.
PHI 300W. Greek & Roman Philosophy: W. (3 Credits)
A. Prerequisite: ENG 102, or ENG 105 (B), or HON 102 (B). Survey of philosophical thought as seen through an examination of selected issues and selected philosophers from ancient Greece through the early Roman period. Credit will not be awarded to students who have credit for PHI 300. Gen. Ed. Element 3B.
PHI 310. Medieval Philosophy. (3 Credits)
A. Study of Christian, Jewish, and Islamic philosophical thought in the Middle Ages and of Renaissance scholasticism. Issues in various areas of philosophical inquiry are examined through selected readings from Augustine to Suarez.
PHI 320. Modern Philosophy. (3 Credits)
A. Examination of some major issues and some major philosophers from the 17th and 18th centuries. Gen. Ed. Element 3B.
PHI 330. Twentieth Century Philosophy. (3 Credits)
A. A survey of the principal schools of philosophic thought of the twentieth century in Europe and America, with special attention to the important issues which emerge.
PHI 332. Existentialism & Postmodernism. (3 Credits)
A. Study of the influence of such existentialists as Nietzsche, Husserl, Sartre, de Beauvior, and Heidegger on contemporary postmodern theories such as Foucault, Baudrillard, Derrida, Kristeva, and Irigaray.
PHI 340. Philosophy of Science. (3 Credits)
A. How views of reality, knowledge, and values relate to science and scientists. Philosophical assumptions of science examined through historical examples of scientific investigations. The value and the values of scientific methods and scientific theories. Credit will not be awarded to students who have credit for PHI 340W. General Education VIII (Option 3).
PHI 340W. Philosophy of Science: W. (3 Credits)
A. Prerequisite: ENG 102 or 105 (B) or HON 102 (B). A writing-intensive basic introductory course in philosophy of science. How views of reality, knowledge, and values relate to science and scientists. Philosophical assumptions of science examined through historical examples of scientific investigations. The value and the values of scientific methods and scientific theories. Credit will not be awarded to students who have credit for PHI 340. General Education VIII (Option 3).
PHI 342. American Philosophy. (3 Credits)
A. A critical examination of basic beliefs held by Americans regarding themselves, their culture, and world, through the thought of modern American philosophers such as Royce, Peirce, James, Santayana, Woodbridge, Dewey, and Whitehead.
PHI 349. Applied Learning in Philosophy. (0.5-8 Credits)
A. Prerequisite: consult with department chair before enrolling. Work in placements related to academic studies. One to eight hours credit per semester or summer. Total hours: eight, associate; sixteen, baccalaureate. A minimum of 80 hours employment required for each semester hour credit.
PHI 350. Metaphysics. (3 Credits)
A. An elaboration of the various approaches to metaphysics in the history of philosophy, including contemporary anti-metaphysical points of view.
PHI 352. Theory of Knowledge. (3 Credits)
A. An examination of the nature, possibility, limits, sources and value of knowledge of minds and the world.
PHI 360. Ethical Theory and Practice. (3 Credits)
(3) A. Prerequisite: ENG 102, ENG 105 (B), or HON 102; PHI 110 or 130. An advanced course in ethics that examines the intersection of ethical tehory and practical ehtics. Topics inlude major ethical theories, the nature and aims of applied ehtics, and critical and creative thinking in ethical problem-solving.
PHI 362. Technology and Values. (3 Credits)
A. An examination of philosophical issues related to science, technology, public health, economics, and the environment, with special attention being given to the personal and social ethical issues that arise in these contexts. Gen. Ed. VIII.
PHI 371. Symbolic Logic. (3 Credits)
A. Basic introduction to modern symbolic logic: propositional logic, first order predicate logic, proofs and metaproofs, and nature and properties of formal logic systems. Gen. Ed. VII (QS).
PHI 381. Animal Ethics. (3 Credits)
A. An examination of major theories of animal welfare and rights; consideration of issues involving the use of animals as food and other goods, animal experimentation, wildlife, endangered species, hunting, animals and sport, pets, and zookeeping.
PHI 383. Health & Biomedical Ethics. (3 Credits)
A. An examination of the value-issues which surround problems that arise in health-related fields and whose resolution calls for moral judgments. Typical problems would include: euthanasia, experimentation with humans, behavior control, genetic engineering, and distribution of health care facilities. Credit will not be awarded for both PHI 383 and PHI 383W.
PHI 383W. Health and Biomedical Ethics. (3 Credits)
A. Prerequisite: ENG 102 or 105(B) or HON 102. An examination of the value-issues which surround problems that arise in health-related fields and whose resolution calls for moral judgments. Typical problems would include: euthanasia, experimentation with humans, behavior control, genetic engineering, and distribution of health care facilities. Credit will not be awarded for both PHI 383 and PHI 383W.
PHI 385. Environmental Ethics. (3 Credits)
A. Prerequisite: ENG 102 or 102R or ENG 105 (B) or HON 102. An examination of historical and contemporary views of the values and rights of nature. Possible topics include animal rights, conservationism, the land ethic, stewardship, deep ecology, ecofeminism, and indigenous approaches to the environment. Credit will not be awarded for both PHI 385 and ENV 385.
PHI 388. Special Topics in Ethics. (1-3 Credits)
A. An examination of ethical theories, of major ethical thinkers, or of an applied ethical field like business ethics or environmental ethics. May be retaken to a maximum of fifteen hours if the topic is different.
PHI 390. Special Topics in Philosophy. (1-3 Credits)
A. Prerequisite: consult with department chair before enrolling. Detailed examination of a problem-area or a school of philosophy in the history of philosophy or the thought on one outstanding philosopher. May be retaken to a maximum of fifteen hours if the topic is different.
PHI 432. Philosophy of Art. (3 Credits)
A. Examination of the major philosophical theories of art and beauty and the place of aesthetic language in the general area of value judgments. Representative classical and contemporary figures will be considered.
PHI 490. Independent Work in Philosophy. (1-3 Credits)
(1-3) I, II. Prerequisite: consult with department chair before enrolling. Individual research and reading on a specified philosophical problem chosen by the student and instructor. Students must have the independent study proposal form approved by faculty supervisor and department chair prior to enrollment. May be retaken to a maximum of six hours if topic is different.
PHI 499. Senior Project. (3 Credits)
A. Prerequisite: Departmental Approval. Supervised, independent project for seniors majoring in philosophy.
PHI 551. Classical Political Theory. (3 Credits)
A. Cross-listed as POL 551. Examination of Western political thought from Plato to Aquinas. Credit will not be awarded to students who have credit for POL 551, POL 551W or PHI 551W.
PHI 551W. Classical Political Theory. (3 Credits)
A. Prerequisite: ENG 102 or 105 (B) or HON 102 (B). Cross-listed as POL 551W. Examination of Western political theory from Plato to Aquinas. Credit will not be awarded to students who have credit for POL 551, POL 551W or PHI 551.
PHI 552. Modern Political Theory. (3 Credits)
A. Cross-listed as POL 552. Examination of Western political theory from the Renaissance to the mid-twentieth century. Credit will not be awarded to students who have credit for POL 552, POL 552W or PHI 552W.
PHI 552W. Modern Political Theory. (3 Credits)
A. Prerequisite: ENG 102 or 105 (B) or HON 102. Cross-listed as POL 552W. Examination of Western political theory from the Renaissance to mid-twentieth century. Credit will not be awarded to students who have credit for POL 552, POL 552W or PHI 552.
PHI 553. Contemporary Political Theory. (3 Credits)
A. Cross-listed as POL 553. Examination of Western political theory form the mid-twentieth century to the present. Credit will not be awarded to students who have credit for POL 553, POL 553W or PHI 553W.
PHI 553W. Contemp Political Theory: W. (3 Credits)
A. Prerequisite: ENG 102 or 105 (B) or HON 102. Cross-listed as POL 553W. Examinatio of Western political theory from the mid-twentieth century to the present. Credit will not be awareded to students who have credit for POL 553, POL 553W or PHI 553.
PHI 751. Classical Political Theory. (3 Credits)
A. Cross-listed as POL 751. Examination of Western political thought from Plato to Aquinas. Credit will not be awarded to students who have credit for PHI 551, PHI 551W, POL 551, POL 551W or POL 751.