PH-100 Introduction to Philosophy

LASC Categories: HBS, TLC

The fundamentals of philosophy: its vocabulary, problems, and methods.

Every year. 3 Credits

PH-101 Ancient Greek Philosophy

LASC Categories: ICW, TLC

Introduction to fundamental topics in Western philosophy through the works of ancient philosophers, including Plato and Aristotle. While predominantly Greek thinkers are studied, the course may include Roman or other ancient thinkers as well.

Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-110 Critical Thinking

LASC Categories: TLC, ICW

Critical thinking through informal logical identification, analysis and evaluation of arguments, including identification of fallacious arguments, through engagement with rhetoric and public discourse

Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits

PH-115 Logic I

LASC Categories: QR

A study of introductory symbolic (formal) logic, covering sentential logic and the foundations of predicate logic.

Every year. 3 Credits

PH-130 Ethics: Human Conduct & Values

LASC Categories: HBS, TLC

The nature of morality and value and their place in the world of human action.

Every year. 3 Credits

PH-131 Medical Ethics

LASC Categories: HBS, TLC

An introductory-level examination of various ethical issues such as abortion, euthanasia, cloning and other genetics issues, access to health care, race and health care, and women's health.

Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-133 Social and Political Ethics

LASC Categories: HBS, TLC, DAC

Investigates major social and politicl theories and their applications to selected problems of justice.

Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-134 Computing Ethics

LASC Categories: HBS, ICW

An introduction to significant issues in the ethics of computing, including the application of ethical theories to the development of technology, cyberculture, and artificial intelligence, as well as some distinct ethical theories that emerge from thinking about computing and information technology.

Fall and Spring and every year. 3 Credits

PH-151 Race, Gender, and the Law

LASC Categories: TLC, USW, CON, DIV

This course provides a philosophical approach to issues of race and gender as expressed in legislation, judicial interpretation, enforcement, and public policy.

Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-152 Philosophy of Love and Sex

LASC Categories: HBS, ICW, DAC

Investigates the concepts of love and sex and structural and discursive factors contributing to our daily experiences of these phenomena.

Every year. 3 Credits

PH-170 Introduction to Asian Philosophy

LASC Categories: GP, TLC, DAC

Introduces and surveys the major philosophical traditions in East-Asia, South-Asia, and South-East Asia. This course will study the different worldviews, conceptions of human nature and the good life from these philosophical perspectives, and where possible, make comparisons with Western philosophies.

Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-171 Buddhist Philosophy

LASC Categories: GP, ICW, DAC

Introduces and surveys the history and development of the major Buddhist traditions, and their interpretation of core Buddhist philosophies, as they move outwards from India.

Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-172 Chinese Philosophy

LASC Categories: GP, TLC, DAC

Surveys the philosophies of ancient China, including Taoism, Buddhism, Legalism and the development of the Confucian tradition in China.

Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-178 Africana Philosophy

LASC Categories: TLC, USW, DAC

Explores the philosophy of the African diaspora in African, African American and Caribbean writings. The course addresses both historical and contemporary material across intersections of race, gender, and class using philosophy, history, and literature.

Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-180 Sports and Philosophy

LASC Categories: ICW

Examines key ethical and other issues in sports, including competition, fair play, sportspersonship, drug use, race and gender, and violence.

Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-190 Special Topics in Philosophy

An introductory philosophy course on current or specialized topics. LASC Categories: Varies by topic. See current course listing for specific LASC area approved.

Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-193 First Year Seminar Philosophy

LASC Categories: FYS

An introductory course covering a topic of special interest to first-year students. Offered only as a First-Year Seminar.

Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-200 Knowledge and Reality

LASC Categories: NSP, TLC

A critical evaluation of answers to the most general questions of human existence: What is there? How do we know it? How did it come to be?

Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-205 Environmental Ethics

LASC Categories: GP, ICW, TLC

This course will examine the contemporary ethical issues in our interactions with the environment and students will develop the skills necessary to engage in the contemporary debates surrounding these issues. Students will read, discuss, and critique traditional and contemporary theories in environmental ethics, as well as how these influence current debates. Students will focus on analyzing and critiquing contemporary cases, and develop philosophical arguments to better approach the relevant ethical issues. Possible topics include animal rights, duties to nature, food ethics, climate change, and environmental justice.

Fall and Spring and every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-206 Animal Ethics

LASC Categories: ICW, HBS, TLC

This course is intended as an exploration of some of the many issues surrounding non-human animals and how they are treated by our species. The goal of this class is to critically examine our assumptions and views toward nonhuman animals, with the hope of not only forming coherent opinions, but also being able to provide strong arguments for them. Some topics we will address are: historical perspectives on the human-animal relationship, legal and philosophical personhood, human exceptionalism, and various ethical approaches.

Fall and Spring and every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-215 Logic II

LASC Categories: QR

Prerequisites: PH-115

Intermediate symbolic (formal) logic including multi-placed predicates and identity.

Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-220 Philosophy of Mind

LASC Categories: NSP, TLC

Prerequisites: EN-102

Drawing on canonical philosophical texts as well as research from relevant disciplines, this course is an investigation of the relationship between mental phenomena and physical states and processes, along with implications for such issues as personal identity and free will.

Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-221 Existentialism and Phenomenology

LASC Categories: GP, TLC

Examines the Existentialist movement of the first half of the 20th Century.

Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-223 American Philosophy

LASC Categories: TLC, DAC

Prerequisites: EN-102

Surveys key movements in the history of philosophy in the United States that have come to be identified with the tradition of American philosophy, including Transcendentalism, Pragmatism, indigenous philosophy, African American philosophy, and their representative thinkers.

Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-225 Philosophy of Language

LASC Categories: TLC, ICW

A survey of theories of reference, truth, word and sentence meaning, ordinary language philosophy, embodied communication, and/or dialogic ethics.

Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-228 Bioethics

LASC Categories: ICW, HBS, TLC

This course is an advanced-level examination of various ethical issues at the intersection of biology and medicine, and students will develop the skills necessary to engage in the contemporary debates surrounding these issues. Students will read, discuss, and critique traditional and contemporary theories in bioethics, as well as how these influence current debates. Students will focus on analyzing and critiquing contemporary cases, and develop philosophical arguments to better approach the relevant ethical issues. Possible topics include genetic screening and modification, pandemics and epidemics, scarce medical resources, animal experimentation, and medical research.

Fall and Spring and every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-231 Philosophy of Law

LASC Categories: CON, HBS, USW, DIV, DAC

Prerequisites: EN-102

Survey of the legal theories and issues and the philosophical bases of key legal and related political concepts, including Natural Law Theory, Legal Positivism, Legal Realism, and critical perspectives.

Every year. 3 Credits

PH-237 Philosophy of Space and Time

LASC Categories: NSP, TLC

An investigation into philosophical problems regarding space and time, with a focus on those that emerge from the history of science and contemporary physics.

Spring only and every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-240 Political Theory

LASC Categories: USW, TLC, DIV

Investigates concepts including political power, equality, revolution, liberties, slavery, socialism and patriarchal power, race and gender.

Every year. 3 Credits

PH-241 Genocide and Human Rights

LASC Categories: USW, GP, DIV

This course treats the ethical, political, and other dimensions of systematic mass violence through case studies and general theoretical analyses.

Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-242 Race, Nation, Class, Gender and Sexuality

LASC Categories: USW, HBS, DIV

Examines these five important social categories that define the political, legal, economic, and cultural contexts in which we live.

Other or on demand. 3 Credits

PH-250 Global Feminisms

LASC Categories: TLC, GP

Investigates the theoretical underpinnings of women's movements for equal rights around the globe.

Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-251 Mass Violence Against Women

LASC Categories: USW, GP, DIV

A philosophy-based, interdisciplinary course examining historical and contemporary mass violence against women.

Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-254 Feminist Theory

LASC Categories: HBS, USW, DAC, DIV

Feminist Theory: Examines the development of feminist ideas and movements from the 18th century to the present, in the US and, particularly in recent decades, globally. A close analysis of Second Wave, Postmodern, and Black Feminist ideas are studied as a basis for writings and social action that attends to issues of race, class, gender, and sexuality, using intersectional methodologies and critiques to address issues of reproduction and health, labor and economic power, violence, and state power.

Other or on demand and every year. 3 Credits

PH-260 Philosophy of Science

LASC Categories: HBS, TLC

Critically investigates such quesions as: What distinguishes sciences from pseudo-sciences? When is a theory confirmed? What is a law of nature?

Every year. 3 Credits

PH-262 Philosophy of Art

LASC Categories: CA, TLC

Prerequisites: One semester of philosophy required.

An investigation of the nature of aesthetic experience, art and art history, creativity, criticism and artistic reception.

Alternating and every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-263 Film and Philosophy

LASC Categories: GP, TLC

An intermediate study of films presenting philosophical ideas about film.

Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-264 Philosophy of Education

LASC Categories: TLC, ICW

Examines philosophical approaches to education through readings of various authors such as Plato, Rousseau, Wollstonecraft, Dewey, and Freire. Additionally surveys recent empirical and/or cross-disciplinary work that engages with philosophical approaches to education, including psychology, cognitive science, education, feminist theory, critical race theory, and/or decolonial theory.

Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-290 Advanced Special Topics in Philosophy

A treatment of current or special topics for students beyond the introductory level. LASC Categories: Varies by topic. See current course listing for specific LASC area approved.

Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-301 Individual Figure in the History of Western Philosophy

Prerequisites: EN-102

Studies a specific Western philosopher. The philosopher for a given semester will be indicated in the course registration listings.

Every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-315 Moral Psychology

LASC Categories: HBS, TLC

Prerequisites: Writing II

This course will examine theories and current research on moral judgments, decision-making, and behavior. Students will learn to assess and critique the intersecting research in moral philosophy and the empirical sciences, and reflect on how these relate to their own moral interactions, as well as those of people from very different cultures. Possible topics include: moral motivation; moral development; moral emotions, such as empathy, sympathy, disgust, and guilt; free will; akrasia (weakness of will); cultural relativism; and virtue.

Fall and Spring and every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-316 Moral Skepticism

Prerequisites: EN-102 or EN-202.

A survey of topics in what is often called "metaethics": The nature of moral truth, the meaning of moral terms, and the subjects of moral discourse and practice.

Fall and Spring and every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-327 Feminist Medical Ethics

LASC Categories: DIV, ICW

This course will examine various feminist critiques of mainstream bioethics and explore the growth of feminist bioethics as its own distinct sub-field. We will work through feminist conceptions of autonomy and epistemic injustice, and discuss how those conceptions affect decision making with respect to medical interventions. We will focus upon ethical questions and cases that highlight feminist concerns about reproductive choice, reproductive technology, dependency and disability, race, gender, and power imbalances. We will also explore how feminist conceptions of autonomy and care reframe ethical concerns regarding medical decision making for children and minors. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing.

Other or on demand. 3 Credits

PH-328 Comparative Ethics

LASC Categories: GP, HBS, TLC

Prerequisites: EN-102 or EN-202.

All societies have some discussion about the moral issues that they must face. Some of these are very similar across cultures, while others vary greatly due to social, economic, geographic, and historical circumstances. This course will examine, compare, and contrast ethical approaches from different geographical locations, cultures, and times. Students will learn to understand, analyze, and critique ethical theories and applications across a range of traditions that are both familiar and foreign to them. These could include ethical theories from Western, African, Eastern, and Middle Eastern traditions.

Fall and Spring and every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-335 Animal Law & Policy

LASC Categories: ICW, CON, TLC

Prerequisites: EN-102 or EN-202.

This course will provide an interdisciplinary and in-depth survey of the growing and dynamic field of animal law. We will address the historical status of animals in the law, how our society views animals, how ethics relates to animal treatment, how animals are currently utilized in society, the current application of animal protection laws (including their limitations and efforts to strengthen them), as well emerging efforts to re-classify some animals within our legal system. We will consider how legal systems, specific cases, legislation, and cultural values have affected and continue to affect the evolution of this arena.

Fall and Spring and every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

PH-390 Independent Study in Philosophy

Tutorials in areas of philosophy not covered in normal course offerings.

Fall and Spring and every year. 1-6 Credits

PH-408 Directed Study: Philosophy

Directed study offers students, who because of unusual circumstances may be unable to register for a course when offered, the opportunity to complete an existing course with an established syllabus under the direction of and with agreement from a faculty member.

3 Credits