PHILOSOPHYProfessors Hinlicky, Wisnefske, Zorn; Assistant Professor Adkins The study of philosophy examines the most basic questions of life. The study of philosophy prepares students for any number of career options by equipping them with a better self understanding, and developing in them the ability to reason clearly and to write convincingly. A major in philosophy requires the completion of nine units. These include: Surveys (none required, and only one may count toward the major)
Logic (at least one)
History of Philosophy (at least two)
Topics (at least two)
Advanced (at least two)
Senior Thesis (one)
Minor in Philosophy A minor in philosophy requires the completion of six units. These include: Surveys (none required, and only one may count toward the minor)
101 Philosophical Inquiry An examination of philosophers answers to the questions: What
can I know? What ought I do? What might I hope for? and What is it to
be a human being? (1) 105 Socrates, Jesus, and the Buddha A survey of the main figures in the philosophical and religious traditions
of the Western world, as well as major figures in Eastern philosophy
and religion. All members of the department of Religion and Philosophy
will contribute lectures. (1) 122 Logic This course seeks to develop skills in formulating and evaluating arguments.
Topics covered include the nature and types of arguments, patterns of
fallacious reasoning, inductive logic, and systems of deductive logic.
(1) 205 Moral Philosophy An investigation of the sources of, and our responses to, human dignity.
Readings include slave and internment narratives, research from the social
sciences, philosophical analyses, as well as debates on specific moral
issues. (1) 211 Philosophical Issues in the Sciences An inquiry into the assumptions behind scientific methods, the aims
of scientific achievements, and the history of scientific discovery.
(1) 213 Religions and Philosophies of India An interdisciplinary examination of the philosophical and religious
traditions of South Asia. Topics include the central ideas and practices
of these traditions, their historical development, their styles of reasoning,
and the relationship between religion and philosophy. (1) 215 Symbolic Logic An introduction to truth functional logic including truth tables, and
natural deduction in propositional and predicate logic. (1) 218 Religions and Philosophies of China An interdisciplinary examination of the philosophical and religious
traditions of East Asia. Topics include the central ideas and practices
of these traditions, their historical development, their styles of reasoning,
and the relationship between religion and philosophy. (1) 222 Business Ethics An examination of normative questions arising from business practice
and decision-making, focusing on the analysis of theories of ethical
action and character, and their application to contemporary business
issues. (1) 223 Ethics and Medicine An examination of ethical issues in medicine and the moral principles
that might be employed to resolve ethical dilemmas. (1) 251 Early Western Philosophy An analysis of the history of Western thought from the rise of classical
philosophy with the pre-Socratic philosophers and the pivotal figures
of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, through the evolution of classical
thought in Hellenistic philosophies and medieval thinkers such as St.
Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas. (1) 252 Modern Western Philosophy A study of the attempts of thinkers such as Bacon, Hobbes, Descartes,
Leibniz, Spinoza, Locke, Hume, and Kant to come to terms with the scientific,
political, and religious changes in the modern world. (1) 260 Selected Topics in Philosophy The study of a particular issue, theme, or philosopher of current interest.
(1) 265 American Philosophy The development of American philosophy from the colonial period to contemporary
thinkers. Particular emphasis will be placed on the pragmatist tradition,
including 19th-century thinkers such as Peirce, James, and Dewey, and
contemporary figures such as Quine, Davidson, and Rorty. (1) 310 Kants Critical Philosophy A consideration of the philosophical questions Kant addressed, his answers
to them, and their impact on existentialism, pragmatism and language
philosophy. Focusing on his major works it considers the viability of
Kants philosophy today. (1) 315 Hegel An introduction to the thought of G.W.F. Hegel. Through examination
of his central writings, students will encounter the major questions
of his thought: Where does philosophy begin? Does it have any presuppositions?
What is the method appropriate to philosophy? What is the purpose of
philosophy? (1) 321 Philosophy of Religion Is it reasonable to believe in God? Can we know anything about God?
Different ways of responding to these questions, along with the different
views of rationality and religion they imply, are explored using classical
and contemporary sources. (1) 330 Nietzsche and Heidegger on Nihilism A consideration of Nietzsches charge that Christian and Plantonic
thought is Nihilistic. It examines Heideggers commentary on Nietzsches
attack, and makes inquiries concerning the connection between nihilism
and nazism. (1) 332 Metaphysics An examination of questions concerning the ultimate nature of reality,
including such topics as time, identity, mind and body, language, truth,
and the implications of idealist and realist approaches to these questions.
(1) 405, 406, 407 Independent Study and Research Selected topics in philosophy carried out under the direction of a member of the departmental staff. Enrollment with the approval of the department. (1/2, 1, 1/2) 410, 411, 412 Senior Thesis At the end of the junior year every major will register with a member of the department to study and write a major paper in the final year. Guidelines, requirements and dates are explained in "The Senior Thesis." (1/2, 1, 1/2) 495, 496, 497 Honors Project A program of independent study culminating in a paper. |