PHIL   2010   Introduction to Philosophy

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

Basic themes, problems, and representative figures in philosophy, and may address issues such as religion, ethics, reality, and ways of knowing.

PHIL   2020   Critical Thinking

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

This course is an introduction to the concepts and skills necessary for identifying, evaluating, and constructing good arguments. Topics will include strategies that are used to strengthen or weaken an argument, spot fallacious ways of reasoning, and identify hidden assumptions. The course also studies the basic elements of deductive reasoning.

PHIL   2030   Introduction to Ethics

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

An examination of the most influential moral philosophies, such as those originating in Aristotle, Kant, and Mill. Moral theories may be applied to the analysis of a range of contemporary moral issues in a variety of areas such as technology, environmental relations, or medicine.

PHIL   3030   Selected Topics in Philosophy

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

Focuses on a special topic or theme as chosen by the instructor. May be repeated for additional credit when topics change.

PHIL   3100   Ancient Philosophy

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

Emphasis on the Pre-Socratics, Plato, and Aristotle. May also address thinkers such as the Stoics, Epicureans, Skeptics, and Neo-Platonists.

PHIL   3120   Medieval Philosophy

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

Major thinkers from Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, including notable figures such as Augustine, Aquinas Ibn Sina, and Maimonides.

PHIL   3130   Early Modern Philosophy

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

The modern rationalist tradition and its rival empirical tradition, with emphasis on Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Hobbes, Locke, Berkeley, and Hume.

Prerequisite(s): Completion of ENGL   1101.

PHIL   3140   Nineteenth Century Philosophy

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

A survey of nineteenth century thinkers and their ideas regarding the nature of reality, knowledge, truth, God, society, and humanity. Possible representative figures are: Kant, Hegel, Marx, Schopenhauer, James, Keirkegaard, and Nietzsche in addition to others.

PHIL   3150   Contemporary Philosophy

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

Twentieth century schools and trends in philosophy as exhibited by such figures as Heidegger, Whitehead, Moore, Wittgenstein, Sartre, and Ayer.

Prerequisite(s): Completion of ENGL   1101.

PHIL   3170   Postmodernism

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

A study of the philosophical response to the modernist philosophical tradition that led to significant changes in Western discourse on politics, aesthetics, and science.

PHIL   3200   Technology, Society and Human Values

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

A philosophical exploration of the formative impact of technology on the character of modern culture and human values. The study of competing descriptions and definitions of technology as well as questions regarding effective human control of technology, the moral neutrality of technology, and the effects of technology on conceptual paradigms, language, politics, economics, sciences, education, art, and religion.

Prerequisite(s): Completion of ENGL   1101.

PHIL   3230   Modern Political Thought

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

The course in modern political thought is concerned with the differentiation of politics as an activity distinct from, and independent of, religion. Political thinkers in the modern period are distinguished by their turn to scientific and other modern modes of rationality as foundations for the analysis of politics. Central concerns include delineating the rights and powers of the individual and establishing a secular basis for a just society.

Cross Listing(s): POLS   3230.

PHIL   3232   Philosophy of Law

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

A study of major topics in the philosophy of law, all of which concern the relationship of law to morality and justice-including the nature of law in general; the importance of the rule of law and of limiting the rule of law; and some theory and practice of criminal law.

Cross Listing(s): POLS   3232.

PHIL   3330   Philosophy of Art

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

A critical study of philosophical theories about the nature of art drawing from both traditional and contemporary thinkers. Topics include defining and evaluating art, describing the creative process, the significance of art in society, censorship, the connection between art and politics, and the relationship between art and commercialism.

PHIL   3332   Contemporary Moral Problems

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

A course in applied ethics which provides a philosophic discussion of the most salient ethical problems of the day. Typically the course will cover such topics as abortion, animal rights, euthanasia, capital punishment, and suicide.

PHIL   3334   Environmental Ethics

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

A study of the moral relations between human beings and their natural environment. The course examines theories of valuing nature, applies ethical analysis to environmental problems, and explores the underlying causes of environmental degradation.

Prerequisite(s): PHIL   2010.

PHIL   3531   Theory of Knowledge

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

A study of the main theories concerning the nature of knowledge and belief. Topics will include problems of skepticism, the reliability of perception and memory, and the sources of justification.

PHIL   3532   Metaphysics

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

A study of the main theories concerning the nature of reality. Topics will include what things exist, the nature of space, time, matter, self, freedom, infinity, and God.

PHIL   3635   Existentialism

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

A study of the existentialist movement in philosophy from its origins to the present, showing how and why the movement began, what its authors advocate, and how it has been assessed by contemporary critics. Readings will include selections from Kierkegaard, Jaspers, Heidegger, Sartre, and others.

PHIL   4130   Feminist Philosophy

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

An introduction to the main topics in Feminist Philosophy to include the adversary method and the 'maleness' of philosophy; dualities of mind and body, male and female, self and other; women's ways of knowing; caring and maternal thinking; and ecofeminism. Feminist philosophy addresses these ideals and assumptions in the western philosophic traditions that have oppressed women and other subordinate groups.

PHIL   4233   Symbolic Logic

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

Fundamentals of propositional and predicate logic. Emphasis will be placed on construction of proofs in formal systems.

PHIL   4433   The Irish Philosophical Tradition

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

This course focuses on the history of Irish Philosophy, from the Irish Augustine, a seventh-century monk, to contemporary philosophers working in Ireland today. Special emphasis is placed on the Irish contribution to Empiricism in the work of Robert Boyle, William Molyneux, and George Berkeley.

PHIL   4434   Focus on the Philosopher

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

The work of a great philosopher warrants a more detailed study than a survey course can allow. This advanced course is a detailed, semester-long study of the work of an important philosopher. The philosophers covered may vary from semester to semester, and from instructor to instructor.

PHIL   4532   Philosophy of Emotions

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

This course is designed to help students understand the nature of emotions, and to enable students to become better equipped to understand their own emotions. Students will study and critically evaluate the major contemporary theories of emotion as well as historical accounts of emotion.

PHIL   4533   Philosophy of Mind

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

An introduction to the most important questions in the philosophy of mind. The course will ask what minds are, whether statements about minds can be replaced by or reduced to statements about brains, what consciousness is, and whether there can be artificial intelligence.

PHIL   4534   Philosophy of Film

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

Investigates philosophical issues via the medium of film. Topics may include philosophical issues represented in film, the cinematic experience, as well as the effectiveness of film as a philosophical medium.

PHIL   4632   Philosophy of Religion

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

Major problems arising in the encounter between philosophy and religious belief (reason and faith). Emphasis varies among topics such as the nature and validity of religious experience and belief, the problem of evil, the meaning and status of religious language, and arguments regarding God's existence.

PHIL   4790   Internship

3 Credit Hours.   0 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

This course is for advanced majors who want work experience in fields related to Philosophy and Religious Studies such as academia, law, medicine, and for profit and not for profit business. Must have permission of the Chair and secure a faculty mentor who will sponsor the project.

PHIL   4800   Independent Study

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

Offered on demand. The student, with the advice and permission of the supervising professor, selects the topic and submits a prospectus for department approval before the semester in which the course is to be taken. Transient students may take this course only with permission of the department head.

PHIL   5030   Selected Topics in Philosophy

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

Focuses on a special topic or theme as chosen by the instructor. May be repeated for additional credit when topics change. .

Cross Listing(s): PHIL   5030G.

PHIL   5030G   Selected Topics in Philosophy

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

Focuses on a special topic or theme as chosen by the instructor. May be repeated for additional credit when topics change. Graduate students will be given an extra assignment determined by the instructor that undergraduates will not be required to do.

Cross Listing(s): PHIL   5030.

PHIL   6030   Selected Topics in Philosophy

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

Focuses on a special topic or theme as chosen by the instructor. May be repeated for additional credit when topics change. Graduate students will be given an extra assignment determined by the instructor that undergraduates will not be required to do.

PHIL   7100   Professional & Applied Ethics

3 Credit Hours.   3 Lecture Hours.   0 Lab Hours.

Training in professional ethics in the workplace. Emphasis on specific ethical issues and dilemmas that arise in particular professional contexts; ethical theory, including central notions such as social justice, merit, individual liberty, freedom of communication, privacy informed consent, confidentiality, utility, the work ethic and collective responsibility and logical reasoning, including logical fallacies.