PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION MINORS
4640 - Philosophy
18 hours of philosophy beyond 100 level including Philosophy 211, 351, 353; 9 of these hours must be earned in courses at 300 level or above.
Minimum 2.0 average in the minor.
4650 - Religious Studies
Total of 18 hours in religion, with at least one course from each of the following groups:
Religion 211, 314, 315, 317, 319, 320, 321, 322, 417, 493r
Religion 318, 334, 337, 351, 352, 362, 366, 369, 467, 484, 492r;
One of the following Philosophy courses may count toward the Religious Studies minor: Philosophy 351 or Philosophy 353.
Nine of the 18 hours must be earned in courses at 300 level or above.
Minimum 2.0 average in the minor.
PHILOSOPHY COURSES (PHIL)
101 Western Philosophical Traditions I (3)
A survey of Western philosophical thought from Antiquity to the Renaissance. An exploration and elucidation of questions concerning the human condition and values. Pre- or Corequisite: English 121.
102 Western Philosophical Traditions II (3)
A survey of Western philosophical thought from the Renaissance to the 20th Century. An exploration and elucidation of questions concerning the human condition and values. Prerequisite: English 121; Pre- or Corequisite: English 122.
106 Philosophy and Human Nature (3)
Interpretations of human nature and analyses of the human condition from Plato to Russell and others in the 20th century. Lectures and discussions aimed at clarification of present meanings and values. Every semester.
113 Western Humanities I (3)
An historical approach to the pivotal ideas, systems of thought, and creations of the Western world from antiquity to approximately 1600 C.E. Emphasis on philosophical and religious themes. Corequisite: English 121.
115 Western Humanities II (3)
An historical approach to the pivotal ideas, systems of thought, and creations of the Western world from approximately 1600 C.E. to the present. Emphasis on philosophical and religious themes. Prerequisites: English 121. Corequisite: English 122.
199r Special Projects (1-4)
Individual or group projects. On demand. Maximum credit 4 hours.
201 Introduction to Philosophy (3)
An introduction to the nature of philosophical thinking through the exploration of a selection of classic philosophical problems such as the possibility of knowledge, the existence of God, the problem of evil, the nature of the human mind, or the possibility of freedom. Selection of problems varies from year to year. Alternate years.
211 Logic, Language, and Evidence (3)
An examination of accepted forms of reasoning and of the varied ways in which language functions; fallacy, definition, metaphor, and theories of meaning; examples from such areas as science, law, politics, theology, and philosophy; classical and symbolic logic; deductive techniques; induction and deduction contrasted. Fall semester.
221 Introduction to Ethics (3)
An examination of classical and modern theories of the foundations of morality. Selections from such philosophers as Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Butler, Hume, Kant, Bentham, Sidgwick, and Mill. Every semester.
322 Ethical Theory (3)
A critical analysis of contemporary ethical theories. Emphasis on the writings of philosophers such as Moore, Stevenson, Dewey, Rawls, Baier, Hare, and Searle. Alternate years.
325 Biomedical Ethics (3)
An examination of moral and ethical issues that arise in both the practice of medicine and in medical research.
333 Philosophy of Religion (3)
A philosophical examination of religion, including traditional and modern arguments for the existence and nature of God, the nature of religious experience and belief, and the functions of religious language. Alternate years. May be registered as Religion 333. Credit not allowed in both Philosophy 333 and Religion 333.
336 Aesthetics (3)
A study of the nature and value of art, of human creativity, and of aesthetic response. Close attention to theoretical analysis and to the interpretation and critique of important artistic achievements. On demand.
341 Metaphysics (3)
A study of classical and contemporary approaches to the question of what is ultimately real; consideration of modern challenges to the legitimacy of metaphysics. Alternate years.
345 Epistemology (3)
A critical examination of the nature of knowledge and the philosophical problems concerning skepticism; knowledge of the self, material objects, other minds; the past, present, and future; universal and necessary truth. Selections from both historical and recent writings. Alternate years.
348 Philosophy of Science (3)
An introduction to philosophical problems in the natural and social sciences: the nature of explanation, induction, evidence, probability, verification, causation; the role of observation; the relations among the sciences. Spring semester alternate years.
351 History of Ancient Philosophy (3)
Selections from the pre-Socratic through the late Greco-Roman writers, including Plotinus. Emphasis on Plato and Aristotle. Fall semester.
352 Medieval Philosophy (3)
This course will trace the development of philosophy from late Antiquity through the High Middle Ages. Texts will be drawn from medieval Christian, Jewish, or Muslim authors. May be registered as Religion 352. Credit not allowed in both Philosophy 352 and Religion 352.
353 History of Modern Philosophy (3)
Rationalism and empiricism as developed by leading thinkers; selections from chief representatives from Hobbes and Descartes through Kant. Spring semester.
360 American Philosophy (3)
Earlier American thought in its reaction to European movements; the emergence of a genuinely American philosophy. Emphasis on James, Pierce, Santayana, Royce, Dewey, and Whitehead. Alternate years.
364 Existentialism and Phenomenology (3)
Presentations on the major figures and themes of this movement; discussions of selected passages from Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Husserl, Heidegger, Sartre, and Ricoeur. Alternate years.
425 Ethics and the Professions (3)
An examination of ethical issues and principles related to problems and standards in the professions. Special attention to professional codes and case studies in relation to traditional and contemporary moral philosophy. Designed as a general course for students not majoring in philosophy and religion. Fall semester.
442 Philosophy of Mind (3)
A history of the philosophy of mind, from Aristotle and Descartes through the twentieth century. Emphasis on current debates, with reference to relevant scientific discoveries. Alternate years.
481r Interdisciplinary Seminar (3)
Critical inquiry into the most comprehensive questions raised by particular disciplines; reading and discussion of significant primary sources from scholars in the special field and philosophers. Two faculty members. On demand.
