Philosophy Courses

PHIL 101. Philosophical Problems. 4 Credits.

Introduction to philosophy based on classical and modern texts from Plato through the 21st century. Sample topics include free will, the mind-body problem, the existence of an external world.

PHIL 102. Ethics. 4 Credits.

Study of moral theories and issues central to moral theory (such as justification of moral judgments and concepts of duty, goodness, and virtue) as well as theoretical engagement with pressing contemporary moral debates.

PHIL 103. Critical Reasoning. 4 Credits.

Introduction to thinking and reasoning critically. How to recognize, analyze, criticize, and construct arguments.

PHIL 104. History of Western Philosophy. 4 Credits.

The course is an introduction to some currents, seminal thinkers, and texts of the Western philosophical tradition from the Ancient Greeks to Medieval, Modern, and 19th and 20th Century Philosophy. The course includes both classical text and readings traditionally excluded from the canon.

PHIL 110. Human Nature. 4 Credits.

Consideration of various physiological, cultural, psychological, and personal forces that characterize human beings, taking into account issues of class, gender, race, and sexual orientation.

PHIL 120. Ethics of Enterprise and Exchange. 4 Credits.

Moral examination of business by considering the nature of enterprise and exchange. Topics include corporate and consumer responsibility, meaningful work, and leadership.

PHIL 123. Internet, Society, and Philosophy. 4 Credits.

Introduction to philosophical problems of the Internet. Primary focus on social, political, and ethical issues with discussion of epistemological and metaphysical topics.

PHIL 130. Philosophy and Popular Culture. 4 Credits.

Engages in critical philosophical reflection about and through popular culture, including movies, music, graphic novels, and sports.

PHIL 135. Ethics in the Life Sciences. 4 Credits.

Focused on complex ethical issues in the life sciences, ranging from debates over human enhancement, the use of human cells in research, non-human animals in research, synthetic biology, genetically-modified organisms, and recent research in microbial biology.

PHIL 170. Love and Sex. 4 Credits.

Philosophical study of love, relationships, marriage, sex, sexuality, sexual identity, and sexual representation.

PHIL 199. Special Studies: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable.

PHIL 199L. Special Studies: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Repeatable.

PHIL 211. Existentialism. 4 Credits.

Basic ideas of the Christian and atheistic divisions of the existentialist movement; some attention to the philosophical situation that generated the existentialist rebellion.

PHIL 216. Philosophy and Cultural Diversity. 4 Credits.

Philosophical investigation of the implications of cultural diversity for identity, knowledge, and community, from the perspectives of several American cultures.

PHIL 220. Food Ethics. 4 Credits.

Examination of a variety of issues relating to food production and consumption in light of virtue, utilitarian, deontological, pragmatist, and care ethics.

PHIL 223. Data Ethics. 4 Credits.

This course explores central ethical challenges in data science and related fields of computational analysis. Offers both an overview of the major theoretical commitments of data ethics as well as engagement with applied contexts such as computer engineering, behavioral sciences, marketing, and surveillance.

PHIL 225. Introduction to Formal Logic. 4 Credits.

Introduces formal logic, including both propositional (setence) and predicate logic, including the use of truth trees. Students cannot receive credit for both PHIL 225 and MATH 307.

PHIL 299. Special Studies: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable.

PHIL 307. Social and Political Philosophy. 4 Credits.

Major social and political theorists from Plato through Marx. Inquiry into such ideas as justice, natural law, natural rights, and the social contract.

PHIL 308. Social and Political Philosophy: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Focused study of particular theorists and contemporary debates central to the fields of social and political philosophy. Repeatable once for a maximum of 8 credits when topic changes.

PHIL 309. Global Justice. 4 Credits.

Introduction to philosophical problems of globalization and justice related to global poverty, citizenship, human rights, and issues of identity, multiculturalism, war,terrorism, environmentalism and health care.

PHIL 310. History of Philosophy: Ancient and Medieval. 4 Credits.

Focuses primarily on Plato and Aristotle. Examines their roots in pre-Socratic philosophy and their influence on medieval philosophers such as St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas.
Prereq: one lower-division philosophy course.

PHIL 311. History of Philosophy: Modern. 4 Credits.

Survey of European philosophy through Hume, including the work of Descartes, Locke, and Spinoza.
Prereq: one course from Philosophy.

PHIL 312. History of Philosophy: 19th Century. 4 Credits.

Traces Kant's influence on such philosophers as Hegel, Nietzsche, and Marx.
Prereq: one philosophy course.

PHIL 315. Introduction to Feminist Philosophy. 4 Credits.

Introduces basic questions of philosophy through topics central to feminism.

PHIL 320. Philosophy of Religion. 4 Credits.

Philosophical investigation of the nature of "religion" (e.g., the nature of the sacred, spirituality, and transcendence).
Prereq: one philosophy course.

PHIL 322. Philosophy of the Arts. 4 Credits.

Survey of classical and contemporary theories of art and aesthetic experience, with examples from various arts.
Prereq: one philosophy course.

PHIL 323. Moral Theory. 4 Credits.

Study of the most important traditional ethical theories; modern philosophical analysis of moral terms and statements.
Prereq: one philosophy course.

PHIL 331. Philosophy in Literature. 4 Credits.

Selective study of major philosophical ideas and attitudes expressed in the literature of Europe and America.
Prereq: one philosophy course.

PHIL 332. Philosophy of Film. 4 Credits.

Explores questions about the aesthetic dimensions of film, its relation to the other arts, and the treatment of philosophical questions in films.

PHIL 335. Medical Ethics. 4 Credits.

Introduces theoretical tools and concrete case studies for formulating, analyzing, and evaluating ethical judgments raised by contemporary biomedical practice.

PHIL 339. Introduction to Philosophy of Science. 4 Credits.

Examines theories of scientific practice, rationality, objectivity, values in science, and the role of science in society.
Prereq: one philosophy course.

PHIL 340. Environmental Philosophy. 4 Credits.

Considers the nature and morality of human relationships with the environment (e.g., the nature of value, the moral standing of nonhuman life).

PHIL 341. African Philosophy. 4 Credits.

Survey of contemporary African philosophy with a focus on current debates (for example, critique of ethnophilosophy; relation between orality and writing; decolonization of knowledge).

PHIL 342. Introduction to Latin American Philosophy. 4 Credits.

History of Latin American philosophy through the study of ideas, issues, problems, and forms of thinking in the work of key periods, movements, and authors.

PHIL 343. Critical Theory. 4 Credits.

Examines the methodological, epistemological, moral, and political dimensions of critical theory. Prereq: one philosophy course. Offered alternate years.

PHIL 344. Introduction to Philosophy of Law. 4 Credits.

Introduces central problems in the law; examines the nature of legal reasoning.

PHIL 345. Place in the Cosmos. 4 Credits.

Explores the relation between humans and the cosmos as a matter of place by comparing seminal texts in the history of philosophy. Offered alternate years.

PHIL 350. Metaphysics. 4 Credits.

Traditional issues in metaphysics selected from among such topics as substance, existence, time, causation, God, the nature of individuals, and the meaningfulness of metaphysics.
Prereq: one philosophy course.

PHIL 399. Special Studies: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable.

PHIL 401. Research: [Topic]. 1-21 Credits.

Repeatable.

PHIL 403. Thesis. 1-12 Credits.

Repeatable.

PHIL 405. Reading and Conference: [Topic]. 1-21 Credits.

Repeatable.

PHIL 407. Seminar: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable. Recent topics include Eastern Philosophy, Feminist Theory, Nonviolence.
Prereq: one 300-level philosophy course.

PHIL 410. Experimental Course: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable.

PHIL 415. Continental Philosophy: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Survey of significant areas in the Continental tradition, e.g. phenomenology, critical social theory, deconstruction, feminism, and hermeneutics. Repeatable when topic changes.
Prereq: junior standing.

PHIL 420. American Philosophy: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Survey of significant areas of the American tradition, e.g. 19th-, 20th-, and 21st-century thought, African and Native American thought, feminism, recent pragmatism, the self, and pluralism. Repeatable when topic changes.
Prereq: junior standing.

PHIL 421. Ancient Philosophers: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Repeatable. Concentrates on the work of a single philosopher, typically Plato or Aristotle. Repeatable when philosopher changes.
Prereq: PHIL 310.

PHIL 423. Technology Ethics: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Advanced inquiry in ethics with a focus on technology. Addresses moral, political, and cultural issues raised by socio-technical systems for everyday living and democratic citizenship. Repeatable once for a maximum of 8 credits when the topic changes.

PHIL 425. Philosophy of Language. 4 Credits.

Philosophical theories of language and meaning, with special attention to the nature of concepts and reasoning.
Prereq: junior standing.

PHIL 426. Advanced Logic. 4 Credits.

This course covers classical and non-classical logics. A review of propositional and predicate logic will be followed by a consideration of “non-normal” logics of strict implication, conditional logics, many-valued logics, and first degree entailment. The course will consider philosophical issues raised by these diverse logics.
Prereq: PHIL 225.

PHIL 433. 17th- and 18th-Century Philosophers: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Repeatable. Concentrates on the work of a single philosopher, typically Descartes, Locke, Hume, Leibniz, Berkeley, or Kant. Repeatable when philosopher changes.
Prereq: PHIL 310, PHIL 311.

PHIL 443. Feminist Philosophy: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Repeatable. Examines contemporary feminist contributions to philosophy. Repeatable once for maximum of 8 credits.
Prereq: one 300-level PHIL course

PHIL 451. Native American Philosophy. 4 Credits.

Survey of Native American philosophy focusing on philosophical perspectives in historical traditions and contemporary Native American philosophy. Offered alternate years.

PHIL 452. Philosophy and Race. 4 Credits.

Surveys the philosophical contribution to studies of race including intellectual history, philosophy of science, racism and its remedies, media studies, and cultural criticism.
Prereq: one philosophy course at the 300 level.

PHIL 453. 19th-Century Philosophers: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Repeatable. Concentrates on the work of a single philosopher, typically Hegel, Nietzsche, Marx, or Kierkegaard. Repeatable when philosopher changes.
Prereq: PHIL 312.

PHIL 463. 20th-Century Philosophers: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Repeatable. Concentrates on the work of a single philosopher (e.g., Wittgenstein, Dewey, Quine, Merleau-Ponty, C.I. Lewis, or Foucault). Repeatable when philosopher changes.
Prereq: junior standing.

PHIL 471. Advanced Introduction to American Philosophy. 4 Credits.

An advanced introduction to central debates, topics, figures, and trajectories in American Philosophy.
Prereq: PHIL 401 or PHIL 403 or PHIL405 or PHIL 407 or PHIL 410 or PHIL 415 or PHIL 420 or PHIL 421 or PHIL 423 or PHIL 425 or PHIL 426 or PHIL 433 or PHIL 443 or PHIL 451 or PHIL 452 or PHIL 453 or PHIL 463.

PHIL 472. Advanced Introduction to Analytic Philosophy. 4 Credits.

An advanced introduction to central debates, topics, figures, and trajectories in Analytic philosophy.
Prereq: One 400 level philosophy course.

PHIL 473. Advanced Introduction to Continental Philosophy. 4 Credits.

An advanced introduction to central debates, topics, figures, and trajectories in Continental Philosophy.
Prereq: One 400 level philosophy course.

PHIL 474. Advanced Introduction to Feminist Philosophy. 4 Credits.

An advanced introduction to central debates, topics, figures, and trajectories in Feminist Philosophy.
Prereq: One 400 level philosophy course.

PHIL 503. Thesis. 1-16 Credits.

Repeatable.

PHIL 507. Seminar: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable. Recent topics include Eastern Philosophy, Feminist Theory, Nonviolence, Philosophy and Race, Philosophy and Tragedy, Philosophy of Education, Philosophy of Nature.

PHIL 510. Experimental Course: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable.

PHIL 521. Ancient Philosophers: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Repeatable. Concentrates on the work of a single philosopher, typically Plato or Aristotle. Repeatable when philosopher changes.

PHIL 526. Advanced Logic. 4 Credits.

This course covers classical and non-classical logics. A review of propositional and predicate logic will be followed by a consideration of “non-normal” logics of strict implication, conditional logics, many-valued logics, and first degree entailment. The course will consider philosophical issues raised by these diverse logics.

PHIL 533. 17th- and 18th-Century Philosophers: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Repeatable. Concentrates on the work of a single philosopher, typically Descartes, Locke, Hume, Leibniz, Berkeley, or Kant. Repeatable when philosopher changes.

PHIL 551. Native American Philosophy. 4 Credits.

Survey of Native American philosophy focusing on philosophical perspectives in historical traditions and contemporary Native American philosophy. Offered alternate years.

PHIL 553. 19th-Century Philosophers: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Repeatable. Concentrates on the work of a single philosopher, typically Hegel, Nietzsche, Marx, or Kierkegaard. Repeatable when philosopher changes.

PHIL 563. 20th-Century Philosophers: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Repeatable. Concentrates on the work of a single philosopher (e.g., Wittgenstein, Dewey, Quine, Merleau-Ponty, C.I. Lewis, or Foucault). Repeatable when philosopher changes.

PHIL 571. Advanced Introduction to American Philosophy. 4 Credits.

An advanced introduction to central debates, topics, figures, and trajectories in American Philosophy.

PHIL 572. Advanced Introduction to Analytic Philosophy. 4 Credits.

An advanced introduction to central debates, topics, figures, and trajectories in Analytic philosophy.

PHIL 573. Advanced Introduction to Continental Philosophy. 4 Credits.

An advanced introduction to central debates, topics, figures, and trajectories in Continental Philosophy.

PHIL 574. Advanced Introduction to Feminist Philosophy. 4 Credits.

An advanced introduction to central debates, topics, figures, and trajectories in Feminist Philosophy.

PHIL 601. Research: [Topic]. 1-16 Credits.

Repeatable.

PHIL 603. Dissertation. 1-16 Credits.

Repeatable.

PHIL 605. Reading and Conference: [Topic]. 1-16 Credits.

Repeatable.

PHIL 607. Seminar: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable. Recent topics include Emerson, Philosophy of Race, Recent Moral Theory, Schelling.

PHIL 610. Experimental Course: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable.

PHIL 614. Issues in Ethics. 4 Credits.

Examination of ethical theory.
Prereq: major standing.

PHIL 615. Continental Philosophy: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Explores philosophical problems and traditions in contemporary European philosophy. Repeatable three times for a maximum of 16 credits when topic changes.

PHIL 620. American Philosophy: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Treats issues in classical and contemporary American philosophy. Repeatable three times for a maximum of 16 credits when topic changes.

PHIL 623. Data Ethics. 4 Credits.

This course offers an advanced exploration of central ethical challenges in data science and related fields of computational analysis.

PHIL 641. Social and Political Philosophy: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Examination of classical and current problems in social and political philosophy including the nature of justice, legitimacy of the state, conditions of war and peace. Repeatable three times for a maximum of 16 credits when topic changes.

PHIL 643. Feminist Philosophy: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Explores contemporary feminist philosophy. Repeatable three times for a maximum of 16 credits when topic changes.

PHIL 645. Environmental Philosophy: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Pursues advanced questions in environmental philosophy regarding a particular tradition or problem area. Repeatable up to 3 times when topic changes.

PHIL 657. Philosophy and Race: Contemporary Issues. 4 Credits.

Examination of contemporary discussions regarding race including biology and race, race in medicine, reparations, perspectives on race in Continental and American philosophy.

PHIL 670. Issues in Metaphysics. 4 Credits.

Discussion of current controversies in metaphysics (e.g., essentialism, identity, future contingency).