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.

Introduction of the basic concepts and techniques of both Aristotelian syllogism and Modern symbolic logic, designed to equip students to analyze and evaluate arguments employed in scientific and non-scientific discourse. PMI

The ethical issues of health care are some of the most controversial and interesting of our day. In this course, ethical theory is critically examined and applied to moral problems in health care, sometimes using the medium of films and case studies. Moral problems in contemporary medical practice and public policy such as informed consent, euthanasia, confidentiality, termination of treatment, HIV/AIDS, genetics, the allocation of scarce resources, surrogate decision making, advance directives, paternalism, and research involving human and animal subjects are analyzed and discussed.

This course will explore the philosophical and ideological assumptions behind different theories and methods of education, paying close attention to how views of education have developed and changed over time. In addition to exploring fundamental questions surrounding the nature and purpose of education, the course will also examine the potential value of philosophy for K-12 education.

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

A study of selected themes and topics in the history of the 20th century. SJE, HA

The history of the three major states and socities of Asia - China, Japan, and India, since 1750, including the coming of the West, the hey-day of imperialism, nationalist stirring and responses, and the 20th century transformations. HA