Philosophy Department

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

101 Introduction to Philosophy (2 credits)
An introduction to philosophy through the examination of a variety of philosophical problems in areas such as ethics, philosophy of mind and body, theory of knowledge, political philosophy, and philosophy of science. Emphasizes understanding of philosophical method.
Prerequisite: English 102

103 Critical Reasoning (3 credits)
This course emphasizes the development of critical reasoning skills through the analysis of arguments found in everyday life. The topics include the anatomy of arguments, reconstructing arguments, evaluating arguments, analyses of language and fallacies.

104 Formal Logic (3 credits)
An introduction to logic, including deductive validity, truth, functional connectives, truth tables, elementary inferences, predicate logic, and traditional. syllogistic logic. 105 Ethics

105 Ethics (3 credits)
This course provides an introduction to basic concept and principles of ethics. It includes the examination of classical and contemporary accounts of duty, the good utility, virtue, justice and human rights. Students will learn to apply these concepts to their own
lives.

106 Contemporary Moral Problems (3 credits)
Examines such contemporary moral issues as abortion, euthanasia. capital punishment, sexual morality. discrimination and affirmative

205 Oriental Philosophy (3 credits)
Examines a selected set of issues and historical developments in Eastern philosophical traditions, such as those found in India, Tibet, China. and Japan, Includes the study of Hinduism, Buddhism, and classical Chinese traditions.

206 Philosophy of Art and Art Criticism (3 credits)
Covers selected topics in the nature of art and beauty. Examines Formalism, Expressionism, Marxism, criteria for art criticism, aesthetic Perception, and analyses of theories of art.

207 Biomedical Ethics (3 credits)
Provides an introduction to ethical theory as related to the area of Biomedicine. Examines issues such as abortion, euthanasia, Confidentiality, medical experimentation, behavioral control, genetic Engineering, justice and health care.

208 Business Ethics (3 credits)
Examines the nature of the obligation of corporations. Topics include employee rights, advertising and deception, health, safety, quality of the work environment, preferential hiring, product liability, loyalty and whistle blowing, and due process in the work place.

209 Philosophy of History & Social Science (3 credits)
Examines the nature of explanation in history and the social sciences. Considers problems of value-ladeness of theories, theory construction, meaning and social construction and alternative methods for the study of social phenomena.

211 Philosophy & the African-American Experience (3 credits)
Examines a selected set of philosophical issues in the history and struggle of African-American as well as viewpoints of philosophers in the African-American tradition.

212 African Philosophy (3 credits)
Examines a selected. set of issues or, developments in the history of traditional and contemporary African thought as well as the viewpoints of African philosophers on a variety of issues.

214 Special Topics (3 credits)
This course examines topics which are not offered on a regular basis. The topics vary from semester to semester.

301 19th Century Philosophy (3 credits)
Examines 19th century reactions to Kant. It includes the study of Hegel, Schopenhauer, Marx, Mill, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, and Bradley.

303 Epistemology & the Philosophy of Science (3 credits)
Examines the nature of criteria of knowledge, and their application in the sciences. Topics include skepticism, perception, memory, and scientific revolutions.

312 Twentieth Century Philosophy (3 credits)

A study of the great Western philosophical movements of the action, world hunger, and nuclear war. Students learn to apply classical and contemporary theories to these problems.

190 University Seminar I (3 credits)
Any topic may be covered to satisfy University Seminar I requirements. Topics tend to be relevant to current concerns.

201 Greek and Medieval Philosophy (3 credits)
This course covers early Greek and Roman philosophy through the medieval period. It also examines the great philosophers of this period, including the Pre-Socratics, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Epicures, Epictetus, Augustine, Anselm and Aquinas.

202 Modern Philosophy (3 credits)
This course covers the modern period. It examines rationalists such as Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz, and empiricists such as Locke, Berkeley, and Hume. It examines Kant's response to the development of modern philosophy.

203 Legal Philosophy (3 credits)
Examines philosophical views on the nature of law, the authority of the state, and human rights. Topics include the relation between morality and law, civil disobedience. liberty and privacy, criminal law and responsibility, theories of punishment. and affirmative action.

204 Technology, Environment, and Human Value (3 credits)
Emphasizes the examination of the ethical and other value assumptions of technology, especially technology's impact on the environment. It covers such topics as energy choice, waste and pollution, and resource depletion.

208 Business Ethics (3 credits)

204 Technology, Environment, and Human Value (3 credits)

D. Two Philosophy Seminars

411 Philosophy Seminar I

412 Philosophy Seminar II