What is the relationship between the good life and good food Between a society and a just food system Moving between the local and the global, the personal and the political, this course takes up the many and diverse ethical questions that attend to one of our most basic human activities: eating. PMI

A critical historical exploration of timeless political questions through the classical works of thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Locke, Machiavelli, Marx, and others. Central themes may include the moral/personal vs. economic/social dimensions of justice, the dangers and advantages of various forms of government, the nature of human rights, the dangers and advantages of private property, the role of the family, religion, and money in society, the basis and limitations of governmental power, and the relationship of politics and ethics.

This course is an introduction to the study of the philosophy of nature as articulated in terms of the relationship between humans and the environment in which they live. One key theme of course class is whether concerns of justice demand we expand our moral concepts and legal institutions to include other non-human animals and even aspects of the larger natural environment. Exploring this problem will introduce us to a variety of related concerns like environmental racism, the rationale of global capitalism and link between the objectification of nature and the objectification of women.

Philosophical examination of the assumption of religion. Possibility of proofs for the existence of the Divine. Western and Oriental concepts of God. The contemporary scene: belief and unbelief. An examination of relations among God, humans, and nature. PMI

This course introduces students to some of the questions and themes that marked the time period of Modern Philosophy, but which are still very much of interest today. Questions regarding the basis of ethics, the appropriate sources and limitations of knowledge, the nature of the interaction between mind and body, whether human beings have free will or are determined, as well as the relationship between faith, skepticism, and reason will be explored in this course. Modern philosophy is characterized as the time period from the 16th through the early 19th Century.

The course will consider the patterns of colonization, examples of cooperation and conflict between the various groups that came into contact in South Africa, strategies of resistance to imperial control, and connections to the broader global networks of trade, imperialism, slavery, and discovery. Special attention will be given to the topics of violence, assimilation, and institutionalized racism during the colonial imperial, and post-colonial periods of South African history. HA

A study of the role of women and the relationships between women and men in Western society, from the ancient Greeks to the present, including the prominent gender roles, the attitudes toward sexuality and love, the patterns of sexual behavior, and the patterns of family life. HA

This course presents an introductory survey of the history of western medicine, the evolution of the major doctrines of health and illness, and the changing position of health care providers in society during the past 2500 years. It examines the ancient Greek innovations in healing, the medieval rise of hospitals and the changes to medicine brought about by the Scientific Revolution. The course culminates with the professionalization of medicine and the rise of the modern hospital system. HA

A study of the three great religions/civilizations of the Mediterranean region in the middle ages-Islam, Byzantine Christianity, and western Christianity-from about 400-1500, focusing on their basic beliefs and religious practices, and their economic, social, political, and cultural characteristics. It also studies the points of contact and conflict among the civilizations, including the crusades, the Reconquista, and the Islamic intellectual influence on Western Europe through Sicily and Spain. The role and experience of the Jews through the centuries are also explored. HA

Courses on topics of interest to history students offered on the basis of need, interest, or timeliness. Restricted to students with junior standing or higher. May be repeated for credit. For specific section description, click to the Section Details in VitNet.