Courses on topics of interest to philosophy students offered on the basis of need, interest, or timeliness. Prerequisites as determined by the instructor. Restricted to students with freshman or sophomore standing. May be repeated for credit. For specific section description, click to the Section Details in VitNet.
Independent reading and/or research under the guidance of a philosophy faculty member. Refer to the academic policy section for independent study policy. Independent study contract is required. May be repeated for credit.
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.
This course examines the major themes and divisions in the development of philosophy from the late 19th century to the present. In exploring different positions on problems like the nature of language, the mind, and concerns over technology, the class shows students how many of the defining philosophical issues of the 20th century continue to influence, both directly and indirectly, how we understand and shape the world. PMI
This course will examine the concept of law as a directive human enterprise from a historical and philosophical perspective, focusing on the American legal tradition. Natural Law and Legal Positivistic approaches to law will be discussed. Philosophical questions to be addressed may include views on the propriety and impropriety of judges interpreting laws in terms of social values, the intent of legislators, particular moral codes, and/or the intentions of Constitutional authors.
The goal of the course Philosophy of Science is to introduce students to many of the underlying assumptions, conceptual foundations, and implications of science as a distinctive approach to understanding the world. There is much contemporary debate on the different methodologies and types of reasoning used in science, and the extent to which science provides objective knowledge of the real world.
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