Academics > Majors and Areas of Study > Philosophy > Course Offerings

PHIL 127 Introduction to Philosophy (3 C.H.)
An introduction to philosophy through a study of selected problems. Attention is given to problems concerning God and evil, free will and determinism, moral judgments, and knowledge and skepticism. Suitable for non-major.

PHIL 137 Introduction to Language and Logic (3 C.H.)
A study of various terms and methods for analyzing language and evaluating statements and arguments. Attention is focused on forms and functions of language, material fallacies, definition, and deductive logic. Suitable for non-major.

PHIL 147 Introduction to the History of Philosophy: Socrates to Aquinas (3 C.H.)
An introduction to, and survey of, philosophical ideas that have influenced modern thought. Emphasis will be placed on Greek and early European philosophical development. Suitable for non-major.

PHIL 157 Introduction to the History of Philosophy: Descartes to Sartre (3 C.H.)
An introduction to, and survey of, philosophical ideas that ushered in the modern era. Emphasis will be placed on Descartes, the British Empiricists, and selected contemporary philosophers. Suitable for non-major.

PHIL 267 Ethics (3 C.H.)
A study of major systems of ethical decision-making, the language of morals, and contemporary moral problems.

PHIL 277 Business Ethics (3 C.H.)
The world of business increases in technological complexity and competitive pressure daily. Dealing successfully with problems in the business world requires, in addition to technical competence, a firm grounding in the ethical tradition of human culture. This class will provide practical assistance to those
entering the business community and theoretical understanding for those studying how humans interact
in the world.

PHIL 287 Symbolic Logic (3 C.H.)
A course in deductive logic, emphasizing both basic principles and techniques. Theory of truth functions and quantification theory are introduced, and alternative deductive methods within these theories are presented. Attention is focused on these methods in analyzing and testing the validity of various kinds of arguments.

PHIL 317 Contemporary Philosophical Movements (3 C.H.)
A study of principal movements in 20th century philosophy. Attention is given to European as well as American topics. (P: One course in philosophy)

PHIL 327 Philosophy of Art (3 C.H.)
An introduction to aesthetics and an examination of such problems as the nature of art, the character of the aesthetic experience, the relation of the arts to one another, and the language of describing, interpreting, and evaluating works of art. (P: One course in philosophy)

PHIL 337 Social and Political Philosophy (3 C.H.)
An analysis of the major concepts of social and political thought, including justice, authority, and legitimate coercive force. Special attention is given to attempts to justify various forms of social organization. (P: One course in philosophy)

PHIL 347 Philosophy of Mind (3 C.H.)
An examination of human action, the relationship of mental events to brain events, the problem of free will, and the essential and distinguishing features of the human being. (P: One course in philosophy)

PHIL 357 Metaphysics (3 C.H.)
An examination of historically important theories of reality. Attention is focused on the works of Plato, Descartes, Kant, Hegel, Ayer, and Quine. (P: One course in philosophy)

PHIL 358 Philosophy of Language (3 C.H.)
An investigation of issues surrounding the nature of language and its relation to thought and the world:
e.g. What is the nature of word and sentence meaning? What is the relation between those meanings
and mental entities such as beliefs and desires? What do we use language to do? Does language
influence thought? Could or do nonhuman animals and/or computers use a language?

PHIL 367 American Philosophy (3 C.H.)
A brief survey of early American thought, a detailed examination of the major themes in the philosophy of Peirce, James, Dewey, Royce, Santayana, and Whitehead, and a glimpse of contemporary work. (P: One course in philosophy)

PHIL 377 Legal Philosophy (3 C.H.)
Seminar on legal reasoning, the relationship of ethics to the law, and justifications for theories of punishment. The idea of justice will be given central importance. (P: One course in philosophy)

PHIL 387 Medical Ethics (3 C.H.)
Moral decisions in medicine. Topics covered include distribution of scarce medical resources, death and dying, organ transplants and euthanasia. (Suggested P: One course in philosophy)

PHIL 397 Philosophy of Science (3 C.H.)
Seminar examining theory formation, reasoning, and experimentation in the natural and social sciences. (P: One course in philosophy)

PHIL 417 Readings in Philosophy (3 C.H.)
A course designed to permit advanced students to read in an area of their interest. (P: Permission of instructor)

PHIL 427 Readings in Philosophy (3 C.H.)
A course designed to permit advanced students to read in an area of their interest. (P: Permission of instructor)

PHIL 477 Research in Philosophy (3 C.H.)
A course designed to guide senior majors in their thesis research. (P: Major in philosophy and permission of instructor)

PHIL 455 Cooperative Education (C.H. Variable)

PHIL 497 Independent Study (3 C.H.)
An opportunity for further independent study. (P: Permission of instructor and the chairperson of the department)