Philosophy
Welcome to the Undergraduate Program at LUC Philosophy!
Our philosophy undergraduate programs prepare students for successful careers in a wide variety of fields, and it is well-documented that philosophy undergraduates are extremely competitive in applications for law school, medical school, and other graduate programs. (See BA in Philosophy for further information.) We pride ourselves in our diverse department, with deep strengths in multiple traditions of philosophy and an extensive range of course offerings, which are relevant to many different professions and interests.
Undergraduate Policies and Procedures
Please see Undergraduate Policies and Procedures for academic policies that supersede those of academic units within the University.
Philosophy (PHIL)
PHIL 130 Philosophy & Persons (3 Credit Hours)
This course introduces students to the fundamental philosophical issues that bear on our understanding of persons in three equally weighted components, namely, Persons & Knowledge, Persons & Values, and Persons & Reality.
Knowledge Area: Foundational Philosophical Knowledge
Course equivalencies: PHIL120/130/180/ACPHI130
Students will be able to explain a claim to truth, to explain theories of value in human life, and to describe theories of the metaphysical nature of human persons
Outcomes
Students will be able to explain a claim to truth, to explain theories of value in human life, and to describe theories of the metaphysical nature of human personsPHIL 180 Being Human: Philosophical Perspectives (3 Credit Hours)
The course examines the way philosophy looks for fundamental characteristics that identify life as a properly human life, asks about its ultimate meaning or purpose, and raises questions about what counts as a good life.
Course equivalencies: PHIL120/130/180/ACPHI130
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the various approaches of the philosophical question of what it means to be human
Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the various approaches of the philosophical question of what it means to be humanPHIL 181 Ethics (3 Credit Hours)
This course is a general introduction to ethics and moral philosophy.
Knowledge Area: Ethics
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of criteria for choosing between conflicting ethical theories, moral disagreement, the justification of moral judgments, and the application of ethical standards to practical decision-making and ethical questions that arise in everyday life
Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of criteria for choosing between conflicting ethical theories, moral disagreement, the justification of moral judgments, and the application of ethical standards to practical decision-making and ethical questions that arise in everyday lifePHIL 182 Social and Political Philosophy (3 Credit Hours)
This course will investigate one of the central questions of philosophy and social theory: how we, as human beings, should live together.
Knowledge Area: Ethics
Course equivalencies: PHIL162/182/262/282/ACPHI205
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the major philosophical questions in the area of social philosophy with attention to the historical and conceptual development of these questions and be able to articulate some of the major problems and responses central to this area of philosophy
Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the major philosophical questions in the area of social philosophy with attention to the historical and conceptual development of these questions and be able to articulate some of the major problems and responses central to this area of philosophyPHIL 190 Loyola's Mission: The Philosophical Vision (3 Credit Hours)
Enrollment is limited to transfer students with 30 or more credit hours. The course introduces transfer students to the mission of LUC, especially "Transformative Education," by means of the methodology of philosophy."
Students who take the course acquire an intellectual and experiential assimilation of LUC's mission, especially as it relates to "Transformative Education
Outcomes
Students who take the course acquire an intellectual and experiential assimilation of LUC's mission, especially as it relates to "Transformative EducationPHIL 191 Traditional Chinese Philosophy (3 Credit Hours)
Students will investigate Chinese ancient philosophy in a way to let its own tendencies be sensed and appreciated. Topics include Confucianism, Mencius, Sunzi, Taoism, Legalism, Yin-Yang School, Tung Chung-shu, Chinese Buddhism and Neo-Confucianism. In addition, students learn about the relations among different schools or different thinkers in the same school. Comparisons between Chinese philosophies and western ones are encouraged.
Knowledge Area: Tier 2 Philosophical Knowledge
Interdisciplinary Option: Asian Studies, Chinese Language & Culture
Course equivalencies: X-PHIL191/ASIA191
PHIL 192 Chinese Ethics and Asian Values (3 Credit Hours)
This course offers an overview of the spirit of Chinese ethics, covering sacred and secular as well as intellectual and practical elements.
Knowledge Area: Tier 2 Philosophical Knowledge
Interdisciplinary Option: Asian Studies, Chinese Language & Culture, Global Studies
Course equivalencies: X-PHIL192/ASIA192/INTS192
PHIL 193 Contemporary Chinese Philosophy (3 Credit Hours)
Students will analyze the development of Chinese contemporary thought in its different stages: rejection of the tradition and its recent reevaluation.
Interdisciplinary Option: Asian Studies, Global Studies
Course equivalencies: X-PHIL193/ASIA193/INTS193
PHIL 262 Social & Political Philosophy - Civic Engagement (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: PHIL 130
This course will investigate one of the central questions of philosophy and social theory: how we, as human beings, should live together. Because it includes a service learning experience it satisfies the civic engagement core requirement.
This course satisfies the Engaged Learning requirement.
Course equivalencies: PHIL162/182/262/282/ACPHI205
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the major philosophical questions in the area of social philosophy with attention to the historical and conceptual development of these questions, and be able to articulate some of the major problems and responses central to this area of philosophy
Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the major philosophical questions in the area of social philosophy with attention to the historical and conceptual development of these questions, and be able to articulate some of the major problems and responses central to this area of philosophyPHIL 263 Contemporary Ethical Issues - Civic Engagement (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: PHIL 130
This course explores ethical reasoning by considering a variety of contemporary issues in ethics. Because it includes a service learning experience it satisfies the civic engagement core requirement.
Students will develop a deeper appreciation of moral problems, and will gain practice in using philosophical moral reasoning
Outcomes
Students will develop a deeper appreciation of moral problems, and will gain practice in using philosophical moral reasoningPHIL 264 Health Care Ethics - Civic Engagement (3 Credit Hours)
Requirement: PHIL 130 for students admitted to Loyola University for Fall 2012 or later. No requirement for students admitted to Loyola prior to Fall 2012 or those with a declared major or minor in the Department of Philosophy or Department of Political Science. This course studies philosophical ethics as practiced in the health care setting. It includes a service-learning experience and satisfies the civic engagement core requirement.
Interdisciplinary Option: Bioethics
This course satisfies the Engaged Learning requirement.
Course equivalencies: PHL184/284BIET184PHL164BIET164
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of traditional moral theories in a health care framework, as well as the varieties of ethical challenges facing contemporary health care
Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of traditional moral theories in a health care framework, as well as the varieties of ethical challenges facing contemporary health carePHIL 267 Aesthetics - Civic Engagement (3 Credit Hours)
Requirement: PHIL 130 for students admitted to Loyola University for Fall 2012 or later. No requirement for students admitted to Loyola prior to Fall 2012 or those with a declared major or minor in the Department of Philosophy or Department of Political Science. The course explores philosophical issues in aesthetics like the nature of art and beauty through, in part, service-learning in retirement communities and theaters, as examples.
Knowledge Area: Tier 2 Philosophical Knowledge
Students will be able to demonstrate their understanding of aesthetics and the value of leadership development and civic engagement
Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate their understanding of aesthetics and the value of leadership development and civic engagementPHIL 271 Philosophy of Religion (3 Credit Hours)
Requirement: PHIL 130 for students admitted to Loyola University for Fall 2012 or later. No requirement for students admitted to Loyola prior to Fall 2012 or those with a declared major or minor in the Department of Philosophy or Department of Political Science. This course explores the development, not only of some classic positions within the philosophy of religion, but also of how these views have affected the formulation of more contemporary discussions.
Knowledge Area: Tier 2 Philosophical Knowledge
Course equivalencies: PHIL 171 / PHIL 271
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the enterprise of using reason, broadly construed, to articulate issues arising out of religious belief and practice and to formulate and defend positions with respect to those issues
Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the enterprise of using reason, broadly construed, to articulate issues arising out of religious belief and practice and to formulate and defend positions with respect to those issuesPHIL 272 Metaphysics (3 Credit Hours)
Requirement: PHIL 130 for students admitted to Loyola University for Fall 2012 or later. No requirement for students admitted to Loyola prior to Fall 2012 or those with a declared major or minor in the Department of Philosophy or Department of Political Science. This course examines the fundamental principles by which the nature of reality can be explained.
Knowledge Area: Tier 2 Philosophical Knowledge
Course equivalencies: PHIL 172 / PHIL 272
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the central issues surrounding the field of metaphysics
Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the central issues surrounding the field of metaphysicsPHIL 273 Philosophy of Science (3 Credit Hours)
Requirement: PHIL 130 for students admitted to Loyola University for Fall 2012 or later. No requirement for students admitted to Loyola prior to Fall 2012 or those with a declared major or minor in the Department of Philosophy or Department of Political Science. This course examines the nature of scientific knowledge and its claim to possess a distinctive method of inquiry.
Knowledge Area: Tier 2 Philosophical Knowledge
Interdisciplinary Option: Neuroscience
Course equivalencies: PHIL 173 / PHIL 273
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the mode of inquiry which is the scientific method
Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the mode of inquiry which is the scientific methodPHIL 274 Logic (3 Credit Hours)
Requirement: PHIL 130 for students admitted to Loyola University for Fall 2012 or later. No requirement for students admitted to Loyola prior to Fall 2012 or those with a declared major or minor in the Department of Philosophy or Department of Political Science. This course is a detailed study of the deductive methods and principles of correct reasoning, from both the traditional and modern point of view.
Knowledge Area: Tier 2 Philosophical Knowledge
Students will be able to formally analyze, evaluate, and demonstrate the various aspects of argumentation
Outcomes
Students will be able to formally analyze, evaluate, and demonstrate the various aspects of argumentationPHIL 275 Theory of Knowledge (3 Credit Hours)
Requirement: PHIL 130 for students admitted to Loyola University for Fall 2012 or later. No requirement for students admitted to Loyola prior to Fall 2012 or those with a declared major or minor in the Department of Philosophy or Department of Political Science. This course examines both the nature and the reliability of human knowledge.
Knowledge Area: Tier 2 Philosophical Knowledge
Course equivalencies: PHIL 175 / PHIL 275
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the various approaches to the study of knowledge
Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the various approaches to the study of knowledgePHIL 276 Philosophy of Mind (3 Credit Hours)
This course is a study of the different philosophical views regarding the nature and the existence of the mind and its relation to material bodies.
Interdisciplinary Option: Neuroscience
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the various philosophical views and problems regarding the mind and its relation to matter
Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the various philosophical views and problems regarding the mind and its relation to matterPHIL 277 Aesthetics (3 Credit Hours)
Requirement: PHIL 130 for students admitted to Loyola University for Fall 2012 or later. No requirement for students admitted to Loyola prior to Fall 2012 or those with a declared major or minor in the Department of Philosophy or Department of Political Science. This course will explore one or more of the following philosophical questions in aesthetics: What is art? What is good art (art evaluation or critical theory)? What is beauty? What is it about human nature that allows us to experience beauty?
Knowledge Area: Tier 2 Philosophical Knowledge
Course equivalencies: PHIL 177 / PHIL 276
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the various approaches to the philosophical study of beauty and the arts
Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the various approaches to the philosophical study of beauty and the artsPHIL 277R Aesthetics: the Aesthetic Experience in Rome (3 Credit Hours)
This course will explore one or more of the following philosophical questions in aesthetics, with reference particularly to aesthetic experience in Rome: What is art? What is good art (art evaluation or critical theory)? What is beauty? What is it about human nature that allows us to experience beauty?
Knowledge Area: Tier 2 Philosophical Knowledge
Interdisciplinary Option: Italian Studies
Course equivalencies: PHIL 177 / PHIL 276
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the various approaches to the philosophical study of beauty and the arts
Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the various approaches to the philosophical study of beauty and the artsPHIL 279 Judgment and Decision-Making (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: Requirement: PHIL 130 for students admitted to Loyola University for Fall 2012 or later
This course examines the philosophical and psychological foundations of decision-making. Students can take only one course from PHIL 279, PSYC 279, PSYC 280. No requirement for students admitted to Loyola prior to Fall 2012 or those with a declared major or minor in the Department of Philosophy or Department of Political Science.
Knowledge Area: Tier 2 Philosophical Knowledge
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the principles of reasoning and decision-making
Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the principles of reasoning and decision-makingPHIL 283 Business Ethics (3 Credit Hours)
Effective Spring 2007 students who have taken and successfully passed PHIL 185 are not eligible to take MGMT 341. This course is an introduction to ethics which focuses on ethical issues in the world of business and commerce.
Course equivalencies: PHIL185/283/MGMT341/H/BHNR341
Students will be able to examine and assess various ethical theories and apply those theories to ethical issues in business
Outcomes
Students will be able to examine and assess various ethical theories and apply those theories to ethical issues in businessPHIL 284 Health Care Ethics (3 Credit Hours)
Requirement: PHIL 130 for students admitted to Loyola University for Fall 2012 or later. No requirement for students admitted to Loyola prior to Fall 2012 or those with a declared major or minor in the Department of Philosophy or Department of Political Science. This course studies philosophical ethics as practiced in the health care setting.
Knowledge Area: Tier 2 Philosophical Knowledge
Interdisciplinary Option: Bioethics
Course equivalencies: PHL184/284BIET184PHL164BIET164
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of traditional moral theories in a health care framework, as well as the varieties of ethical challenges facing contemporary health care
Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of traditional moral theories in a health care framework, as well as the varieties of ethical challenges facing contemporary health carePHIL 285 Contemporary Ethical Issues (3 Credit Hours)
This course explores ethical reasoning through consideration of a variety of contemporary issues in ethics, such as: abortion, euthanasia, corruption, discrimination, poverty, and justice.
Interdisciplinary Option: Bioethics, Black World Studies, Bioethics, Black World Studies
Students will develop a deeper appreciation of moral problems and will gain practice at using philosophical moral reasoning to come to justifiable ethical choices and answers
Outcomes
Students will develop a deeper appreciation of moral problems and will gain practice at using philosophical moral reasoning to come to justifiable ethical choices and answersPHIL 286 Ethics and Education (3 Credit Hours)
Requirement: PHIL 130 for students admitted to Loyola University for Fall 2012 or later. No requirement for students admitted to Loyola prior to Fall 2012 or those with a declared major or minor in the Department of Philosophy or Department of Political Science. This course examines philosophical ethics as it informs and guides the activity of teaching.
Knowledge Area: Tier 2 Philosophical Knowledge
Students will be able to examine and assess various ethical theories and apply those theories to ethical issues in teaching
Outcomes
Students will be able to examine and assess various ethical theories and apply those theories to ethical issues in teachingPHIL 287 Environmental Ethics (3 Credit Hours)
Requirement: PHIL 130 for students admitted to Loyola University for Fall 2012 or later. No requirement for students admitted to Loyola prior to Fall 2012 or those with a declared major or minor in the Department of Philosophy or Department of Political Science. This course introduces students to ethical reasoning and to various topics in environmental ethics. Topics may include: pollution, animal rights, and natural resources.
Knowledge Area: Tier 2 Philosophical Knowledge
Interdisciplinary Option: Bioethics
Course equivalencies: PHIL187/BIET187
Students will demonstrate an understanding of diverse ethical theories and an ability to use philosophical reasoning to defend positions in topics covered
Outcomes
Students will demonstrate an understanding of diverse ethical theories and an ability to use philosophical reasoning to defend positions in topics coveredPHIL 288 Culture and Civilization (3 Credit Hours)
Requirement: PHIL 130 for students admitted to Loyola University for Fall 2012 or later. No requirement for students admitted to Loyola prior to Fall 2012 or those with a declared major or minor in the Department of Philosophy or Department of Political Science. This course examines the nature, causes, and possible future development of human culture and civilization.
Knowledge Area: Tier 2 Philosophical Knowledge
Course equivalencies: PHIL 288/288R
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the various approaches to the philosophical study of human culture and civilization
Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the various approaches to the philosophical study of human culture and civilizationPHIL 288R Culture & Civilization in Rome (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: PHIL 130
This course examines the nature, causes, and possible future development of human culture and civilization with an emphasis on Italian philosophers during the Renaissance.
Knowledge Area: Tier 2 Philosophical Knowledge
Interdisciplinary Option: Italian American Studies, Italian Studies
Course equivalencies: PHIL 288/288R
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the various approaches to the philosophical study of human culture and civilization
Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the various approaches to the philosophical study of human culture and civilizationPHIL 289 Philosophy and Gender (3 Credit Hours)
This course considers gender as a philosophical question. Is gender simply a biological truth, or is it a social construct? How does gender affect our roles and opportunities in society? Should gender play a role in discussion of human rights?
The student will develop a philosophical understanding of gender and will be able to articulate in a thoughtful manner understanding of issues concerning ethics, society and biology concerning gender
Outcomes
The student will develop a philosophical understanding of gender and will be able to articulate in a thoughtful manner understanding of issues concerning ethics, society and biology concerning genderPHIL 301 Symbolic Logic (3 Credit Hours)
This course is an introduction to the study of modern symbolic logic, emphasizing formalization and proof construction. The student is introduced to the terminology and chief concepts of modern logic.
Students will be able to symbolically analyze, evaluate, and demonstrate the various aspects of formal reasoning
Outcomes
Students will be able to symbolically analyze, evaluate, and demonstrate the various aspects of formal reasoningPHIL 302 Topics in Formal Logic (3 Credit Hours)
Selected topic regarding logical theory or metatheory, such as the completeness of formal systems, non-standard logics, computability, foundational issues regarding mathematics.
Students will develop an advanced understanding of the selected topic in formal logic
Outcomes
Students will develop an advanced understanding of the selected topic in formal logicPHIL 304 History of Ancient Philosophy (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: Students must have taken at least two philosophy courses
This course studies the philosophies of the ancient Greeks, including the pre-Socratics, Plato, and Aristotle.
Interdisciplinary Option: European Studies, Italian Studies
Course equivalencies: X-PHIL304/CLST304
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers representative of the ancient Greek philosophers
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers representative of the ancient Greek philosophersPHIL 305 Medieval Philosophy (3 Credit Hours)
This course studies the philosophies of the major thinkers of the 4th to the 12th centuries, such as Augustine, Scotus, Boethius, Avicenna, Anselm, Abelard, Maimonides, and Averroes.
Interdisciplinary Option: Catholic Studies, European Studies, Medieval Studies
Course equivalencies: X-PHIL305/CATH305/MSTU344
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers representative of the early medieval philosophers
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers representative of the early medieval philosophersPHIL 306 19th Century Philosophy (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: Students must have taken at least two philosophy courses
This course studies 19th century post-Kantian philosophy from idealism toward phenomenology. May include philosophers such as Hegel, Nietzsche, and Husserl.
Interdisciplinary Option: European Studies, German Studies
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers representative of 19th century post-Kantian philosophy
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers representative of 19th century post-Kantian philosophyPHIL 307 13th & 14th Century Philosophy (3 Credit Hours)
This course studies major thinkers of the 13th and 14th centuries, such as Albertus Magnus, Aquinas, Scotus, William of Ockham, Roger Bacon.
Interdisciplinary Option: Catholic Studies, European Studies
Course equivalencies: X-PHIL307/CATH307
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers representative of the late medieval philosophers
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers representative of the late medieval philosophersPHIL 308 Islamic Philosophy (3 Credit Hours)
Covers the development of classical Islamic philosophy from 800 to 1200 CE. Attention will be given to the central topics (God, the cosmos, knowledge, the human good) with which Muslim philosophers were concerned and to major figures such as Al-Kindi, Al-Farabi, Ibn Sina (Avicenna). Al-Ghazali and Ibn Rushd (Averroes).
Interdisciplinary Option: Islamic World Studies, Islamic World Studies
Course equivalencies: X-PHIL308THEO357MSTU334IWS308
Students will be able to articulate and discuss major philosophical problems of concern to Muslim philosophers of the classical period
Outcomes
Students will be able to articulate and discuss major philosophical problems of concern to Muslim philosophers of the classical periodPHIL 309 Classical Modern Philosophy (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: Students must have taken at least two philosophy courses
This course studies selected philosophers from the early modern period, such as Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Hume, Berkeley, Kant.
Interdisciplinary Option: European Studies, German Studies
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers representative of the early modern philosophers
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers representative of the early modern philosophersPHIL 310 Issues in Philosophy of Human Nature (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: Students must have taken at least two philosophy courses
This course gives intensive consideration to various issues that pertain to being human, such as freedom, determinism, person, society, mind-body, immortality, etc.
Students will be able to understand and articulate a deeper awareness of philosophical problems and answers regarding key issues of human nature
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate a deeper awareness of philosophical problems and answers regarding key issues of human naturePHIL 311 Issues in Metaphysics (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: Students must have taken at least two philosophy courses
This course studies various philosophical issues regarding the nature of all reality, including existence, causality, relations, abstract entities, purpose, the possibility of knowledge of reality.
Students will be able to understand and articulate a deeper awareness of philosophical problems and answers regarding key metaphysical issues
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate a deeper awareness of philosophical problems and answers regarding key metaphysical issuesPHIL 312 Problems in the Philosophy of God (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: Students must have taken at least two philosophy courses
This course studies classical and contemporary approaches to knowledge of the existence of God, divine attributes, good and evil, providence and human freedom.
Interdisciplinary Option: Catholic Studies
Students will be able to understand and articulate a deeper awareness of philosophical problems and answers regarding philosophical views of God
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate a deeper awareness of philosophical problems and answers regarding philosophical views of GodPHIL 318 Philosophy of Art (3 Credit Hours)
Reading and discussion of selected philosophical texts concerning the nature of art and artistic experience.
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers to questions regarding the nature of art and artistic experience
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers to questions regarding the nature of art and artistic experiencePHIL 319 Studies in Philososphy & Literature (3 Credit Hours)
This course is a study of selected works of literature and a discussion of philosophical issues in relation to these works.
Students will be able to understand and articulate a deeper awareness of philosophical problems and answers to questions regarding the nature of literary work, the relations of philosophical and literary language, and methods of interpretation
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate a deeper awareness of philosophical problems and answers to questions regarding the nature of literary work, the relations of philosophical and literary language, and methods of interpretationPHIL 320 The Philosophy of St Augustine (3 Credit Hours)
This course is a study of the principal works of Augustine, such as the Confessions, City of God.
Interdisciplinary Option: Catholic Studies, Medieval Studies
Course equivalencies: X-PHIL320/CATH320/MSTU346
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers found in the works of Augustine
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers found in the works of AugustinePHIL 321 Ethics and Society (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: Students must have taken at least two philosophy courses
This course is a study of the rights, duties, and virtues of individuals as members of societies, covering issues such as family and state, social justice, international society, war, and globalization.
Interdisciplinary Option: Sociolegal Studies
Students will be able to understand and articulate a deeper awareness of philosophical problems and answers to questions regarding ethics in social contexts
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate a deeper awareness of philosophical problems and answers to questions regarding ethics in social contextsPHIL 322 Philosophical Perspectives on Woman (3 Credit Hours)
Philosophical reflections on being a woman. Topics such as womanhood, representations of women, self-respect, oppression, affirmative action, sexism, and racism.
Interdisciplinary Option: Women & Gender Studies
Course equivalencies: X-PHIL322/WOST322/WSGS322
Students will be able to understand and articulate a deeper awareness of philosophical problems and answers to questions regarding conceptions of and experience of being a woman
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate a deeper awareness of philosophical problems and answers to questions regarding conceptions of and experience of being a womanPHIL 323 Philosophy of Law (3 Credit Hours)
This course pursues a philosophical analysis of law. It deals with topics such as philosophical presuppositions of law, origin and purpose of law, law as social control, current legal problems involving ethical issues.
Interdisciplinary Option: Sociolegal Studies
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers to questions regarding law and its applications
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers to questions regarding law and its applicationsPHIL 324 Topics in Ethics (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: Students must have taken at least two philosophy courses
This course studies a particular topic selected from the field of ethics.
Students will be able to understand and articulate a deeper awareness of philosophical problems and answers to questions regarding the selected topic
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate a deeper awareness of philosophical problems and answers to questions regarding the selected topicPHIL 324B Bioethics Minor Capstone: Philosophical Topics (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: Two Science courses and two Ethics courses
This course number will only be used when PHIL 324 is tagged with the Bioethics Minor Capstone course.
Interdisciplinary Option: Bioethics
Students will understand the connection between ethical and scientific issues with regard to the special topic in philosophy
Outcomes
Students will understand the connection between ethical and scientific issues with regard to the special topic in philosophyPHIL 325 Ethics & Case Based Reasoning (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: Two previous philosophy courses
This course is an engaged learning course that provides students with a unique opportunity to practice applying moral theories and argumentative principles to personal and social- ethical problems, and to teach middle school students how to do the same. The course focuses on presenting solutions to cases and hence involves research, writing, and oral presentation.
This course satisfies the Engaged Learning requirement.
Students will be able to understand and articulate a deeper awareness of philosophical problems and answers to questions using a case based system
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate a deeper awareness of philosophical problems and answers to questions using a case based systemPHIL 326 Political Philosophy (3 Credit Hours)
This course is an examination of the major theories of political society, studying important aspects of political society and their relationships to human nature.
Interdisciplinary Option: Sociolegal Studies
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers to questions regarding the nature of political society in relation to its members
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers to questions regarding the nature of political society in relation to its membersPHIL 327 Topics in Political Philosophy (3 Credit Hours)
This course will concentrate on a specific issue or issues in political philosophy. Typical topics include civil disobedience, war and peace, political revolution, punishment, and criminal justice.
Students will be able to understand and articulate a deeper awareness of philosophical problems and answers to questions regarding the selected topic
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate a deeper awareness of philosophical problems and answers to questions regarding the selected topicPHIL 328 Philosophical Questions in Human Rights (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: Two prior courses in Philosophy
This course addresses questions in human rights such as the concept of rights and its critics, sovereignty and its relation to global governance, the role of intent, and how human rights are gendered.
Students are expected to have an overview of the major legal frameworks for human rights, as well as an understanding of several of the major philosophical issues and related literature
Outcomes
Students are expected to have an overview of the major legal frameworks for human rights, as well as an understanding of several of the major philosophical issues and related literaturePHIL 329 International Ethics (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: Two prior courses in either Philosophy or Political Science
This course is intended to give students an overview of some of the major frameworks for addressing ethical issues in the international arena. This includes Just War doctrine, economic rights, and global governance.
Students are expected to be familiar with the major treaties, international law doctrines, and institutions relevant to international ethics, as well the pertinent secondary literature
Outcomes
Students are expected to be familiar with the major treaties, international law doctrines, and institutions relevant to international ethics, as well the pertinent secondary literaturePHIL 330 Theory of Knowledge (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: Students must have taken at least two philosophy courses
This course will study major philosophical positions regarding knowledge, belief, thought and language, truth, evidence, reason, perception, skepticism.
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers to questions regarding the field of knowledge and related issues
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers to questions regarding the field of knowledge and related issuesPHIL 333 Language: Theories Ancient & Modern (3 Credit Hours)
Classical, modern, and contemporary philosophical theories on the nature and structure of human language.
Course equivalencies: X-LING333/PHIL333
Students will be able to understand and articulate some philosophical problems and answers regarding the nature and structure of human language
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate some philosophical problems and answers regarding the nature and structure of human languagePHIL 335 Asian Philosophy (3 Credit Hours)
A study of fundamental tenets of major Eastern philosophies (Chinese, Japanese, Indian) in comparison to Western tradition. Course may vary in emphasis on particular philosophies and themes.
Interdisciplinary Option: Asian Studies, Global Studies, Japanese Language and Culture
Course equivalencies: X-PHIL335/ASIA335/INTS334
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers to questions regarding Eastern philosophical thought
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers to questions regarding Eastern philosophical thoughtPHIL 340 Philosophy of St Thomas Aquinas (3 Credit Hours)
A study of the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas, including background regarding his life and medieval context.
Interdisciplinary Option: Catholic Studies, Medieval Studies
Course equivalencies: X-PHIL340/MSTU348
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers to questions regarding the thought of Aquinas and its medieval context
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers to questions regarding the thought of Aquinas and its medieval contextPHIL 342 Topics in the Catholic Philosophical Tradition (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: One class in philosophy or permission of instructor
This course examines the Catholic philosophical tradition, beginning with its roots in ancient Greek philosophy, through the medieval period in the work of figures such as St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, and up to and including contemporary Catholic philosophy.
Students will be conversant and familiar with the Catholic philosophical tradition throughout its history, demonstrating proficiency in operating within the philosophical framework of this tradition
Outcomes
Students will be conversant and familiar with the Catholic philosophical tradition throughout its history, demonstrating proficiency in operating within the philosophical framework of this traditionPHIL 344 Philosophy of Human Nature (3 Credit Hours)
The course explores at an advanced level the relation of human nature and aesthetics through, in part, service-learning in retirement communities and theaters, as examples.
Students will be able to demonstrate advanced understanding of the relation between human nature and aesthetics and the value of leadership development and civic engagement
Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate advanced understanding of the relation between human nature and aesthetics and the value of leadership development and civic engagementPHIL 350 Directed Reading (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: Students must have taken at least two philosophy courses
Independent research according to program developed jointly by the student and a faculty director. Open to majors and to non-majors with the permission of the chairperson.
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers regarding the selected topic
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers regarding the selected topicPHIL 355 Neuroethics (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: students must have taken at least two philosophy courses
This course focuses on ethical considerations emerging from contemporary research in neuroscience, as well as neuroscientific techniques for studying ethical questions. Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the ways in which the study of ethics and neuroscience inform each other
Interdisciplinary Option: Bioethics
Course equivalencies: X - PSYC355/PHIL355
PHIL 360 Contemporary European Philosophy (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: Students must have taken at least two philosophy courses
Readings and discussion drawn from contemporary French and German philosophers, such as Merleau-Ponty, Sartre, Heidegger, Derrida, Foucault.
Interdisciplinary Option: European Studies
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers representative of contemporary French and German philosophy
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers representative of contemporary French and German philosophyPHIL 362 The British Philosophers (3 Credit Hours)
Readings and discussion drawn from early modern and modern British philosophers such as Hobbes, Locke, Hutcheson, Hume, Smith, Bentham, Mill.
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers representative of early British philosophy
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers representative of early British philosophyPHIL 369 Philosophy of Medicine (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: Students must have taken at least two philosophy courses
This course investigates philosophical questions concerning the practice of medicine, such as the epistemology of medicine, the nature of health and disease, what is a profession, and the nature of suffering.
Interdisciplinary Option: Bioethics
Course equivalencies: X-PHIL369/BIET369
The student will develop a critical understanding of the practice of medicine from a philosophical point of view
Outcomes
The student will develop a critical understanding of the practice of medicine from a philosophical point of viewPHIL 370 Intro to American Philosophy (3 Credit Hours)
This course studies American Philosophers such as Peirce, James, Dewey, with an evaluation of their principles.
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers representative of American philosophy
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers representative of American philosophyPHIL 374 Philosophy of History (3 Credit Hours)
Study of the nature of historical knowledge and of theories concerning historical process.
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers regarding history as a discipline and a historical process
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers regarding history as a discipline and a historical processPHIL 375 Philosophy of Marxism (3 Credit Hours)
A study of the philosophical dimensions of the thought of Karl Marx, his 19th century precursors and 20th century interpreters.
Interdisciplinary Option: German Studies
Course equivalencies: PHIL394/PHIL375
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers to questions regarding the thought of Karl Marx and Marxism
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers to questions regarding the thought of Karl Marx and MarxismPHIL 380 Topics in Philosophy of Religion (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: Students must have taken at least two philosophy courses
This course studies various philosophical issues regarding religion. May include issues such as religious concepts, types of religion, divine attributes, free will and providence, problem of evil.
Course equivalencies: PHIL391/PHIL380
Students will be able to understand and articulate a deeper awareness of philosophical problems and answers regarding key religious issues
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate a deeper awareness of philosophical problems and answers regarding key religious issuesPHIL 381 Philosophy of Science (3 Credit Hours)
Readings and discussion of selected texts regarding theories of scientific methods, scientific reasoning, metaphysical foundations of science, philosophical problems of scientific theories about physical reality.
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers regarding scientific inquiry and theory
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers regarding scientific inquiry and theoryPHIL 382 Philosophy of Social Science (3 Credit Hours)
Study of philosophical issues in the practice of contemporary behavioral sciences: theory, fact and value, causality, relativism, functionalism, statistical generalization, social planning.
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers regarding issues in the behavioral sciences
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers regarding issues in the behavioral sciencesPHIL 383 Philosophy of Psychology (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: Students must have taken at least two philosophy courses
A philosophical analysis of theoretical positions in psychology. May include issues regarding methodology, perception, learning theory, rationality, emotions.
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers regarding issues in the field of psychology
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers regarding issues in the field of psychologyPHIL 384 Topics in Philosophy & Science (3 Credit Hours)
Particular topics selected from philosophy and science. Typical topics include the Scientific Revolution, positivism, space and time, relativity theory, cosmology, evolution.
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers regarding the selected topic
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers regarding the selected topicPHIL 385 Environmental Ethics (3 Credit Hours)
This course will examine a number of controversial moral issues involving our environment. Theoretical and applied topics may include animal rights and species rights, nonwestern environmental perspectives, ecofeminism, duties to future generations, overpopulation, pollution, nuclear power, and environmental issues in policy making and business ethics.
PHIL 386 Analytic Philosophy (3 Credit Hours)
A survey of 20th century British and American philosophy in the analytic tradition, including philosophers such as Russell, Moore, Wittgenstein, Carnap, Quine.
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers regarding the analytic tradition in philosophy
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers regarding the analytic tradition in philosophyPHIL 387 Philosophy of Mind (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: Students must have taken at least two philosophy courses
This course is a critical study of issues such as the mind-body problem, personal identity, knowledge of other minds, consciousness, perception.
Interdisciplinary Option: Neuroscience
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers regarding issues in the philosophy of mind
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers regarding issues in the philosophy of mindPHIL 388 History of Ethics (3 Credit Hours)
An intensive study of the ethical theories of several major figures in the history of western moral philosophy, including, for example, the systems of Aristotle, Kant, and Mill.
Students will develop a more advanced understanding of philosophical problems and answers to questions in the field of ethics by means of this historical study
Outcomes
Students will develop a more advanced understanding of philosophical problems and answers to questions in the field of ethics by means of this historical studyPHIL 389 Contemporary Issues (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: Students must have taken at least two philosophy courses
Study of a selected topic in some area of contemporary philosophy.
Interdisciplinary Option: Black World Studies
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers regarding the selected topic
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers regarding the selected topicPHIL 390 Independent Study for Majors (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: Students must be a philosophy major with adequate background
In-depth independent research developed jointly by the student and a faculty director. The topic should be one with which the student has some familiarity so that the research can be an examination of it in-depth.
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers regarding the selected topic
Outcomes
Students will be able to understand and articulate philosophical problems and answers regarding the selected topicPHIL 391 Topics in Philosophy of Religion (3 Credit Hours)
Course equivalencies: PHIL391/PHIL380
PHIL 393 Philosophy & The Human Sciences (0 Credit Hours)
This seminar explores a selected theme in health care ethics. Extensive use is made of visiting guest experts. Students should have completed four courses in philosophy, including a course in health care ethics.
Students will develop a more advanced philosophical understanding of health care ethics, through direct student participation in an interactive seminar environment
Outcomes
Students will develop a more advanced philosophical understanding of health care ethics, through direct student participation in an interactive seminar environmentPHIL 395 Seminar in Ancient Philosophy (3 Credit Hours)
This course will study selected issues from ancient philosophy. Course intended for philosophy majors. Students should have completed five philosophy courses, including PHIL 304.
Students will develop a more advanced understanding of ancient philosophy, through direct student participation in an interactive seminar environment
Outcomes
Students will develop a more advanced understanding of ancient philosophy, through direct student participation in an interactive seminar environmentPHIL 396 Seminar in Medieval Philosophy (3 Credit Hours)
This course will study selected issues from ancient philosophy. Course intended for philosophy majors. Students should have completed five philosophy courses, including a course in medieval philosophy.
Interdisciplinary Option: Medieval Studies
Course equivalencies: X-PHIL396/MSTU350
Students will develop a more advanced understanding of medieval philosophy, through direct student participation in an interactive seminar environment
Outcomes
Students will develop a more advanced understanding of medieval philosophy, through direct student participation in an interactive seminar environmentPHIL 397 Capstone Seminar in Classical Modern Philosophy (3 Credit Hours)
This course will study selected issues from early modern philosophy. Course intended for philosophy majors. Students should have completed five philosophy courses, including PHIL 309.
Students will develop a more advanced understanding of early modern philosophy, through direct student participation in an interactive seminar environment
Outcomes
Students will develop a more advanced understanding of early modern philosophy, through direct student participation in an interactive seminar environmentPHIL 398 Capstone Seminar in Contemporary Philosophy (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: Course intended for philosophy majors
Students should have completed at least five philosophy courses. This course will study selected issues in contemporary philosophy. Course intended for philosophy majors. Students should have completed five philosophy courses.
Students will develop a more advanced understanding of contemporary philosophy, through direct student participation in an interactive seminar environment
Outcomes
Students will develop a more advanced understanding of contemporary philosophy, through direct student participation in an interactive seminar environmentPHIL 399 Capstone Seminar on a Topic in Philosophy (3 Credit Hours)
Pre-requisites: Course intended for philosophy majors
Students should have completed at least five philosophy courses. This course engages the student in an analysis and discussion of special problems found in various areas of philosophy. Student should have completed five philosophy courses.
Students will develop a more advanced understanding of the philosophical enterprise, through direct student participation in an interactive seminar environment