PHIL 110R 1M. Logic and Critical Reasoning
4.00 credits
McHugh, Nancy
Prerequisite: Math placement of 22.
This course is divided in two parts. The first part of the course considers important aspects of
philosophical reasoning in relation to the Aristotelian tradition by way of the study of categorical logic, the analytic tradition by way of the study of prepositional/predicate logic and its different
applications. Students will take exams and weekly quizzes to determine their competency during this part of the semester. The second part of the course helps students develop their critical thinking skills. Students will study an area of philosophy called the Epistemology of Ignorance. The epistemologies of ignorance ask us to think about how false knowledge is constructed. We will be reading material in this area on race theory, medical knowledge, gender theory, language, and food production. The second part of the class will be evaluated by weekly quizzes, in-class exercises and a final project. Math reasoning intensive.
Phil 200R 01. Ethics of Everyday Life
4:00 credits
Gilson, Erinn
Prerequisite: None
This course takes a philosophical approach to some of the ethical questions and dilemmas that face each of us in our day-to-day existence. This means that we will consider some of the basic activities of our everyday lives as subjects worthy of examination and questioning. First, the course investigates what it means to talk about "ethics" by studying some important philosophical theories on the topic and discussing what is involved in being a good person, living one's life well, and acting rightly. Then we will turn to the activities that take up the bulk of our time (eating, buying, and working) and the types of relationships (friendship, love, and sex) that fill our lives. Rather than seeking to justify our actions, in this course we will be obliged to evaluate critically the ways we do these things. We will wonder what it means to engage in these activities and participate in these relationships in an ethical manner and consider how we might do so in our own lives.
Phil 200R 02. Ethics of Everyday Life
4:00 credits
Gilson, Erinn
Prerequisite: None
See description above.
PHIL 203R 01. Mysteries of Self & Soul
4.00 credits
Reed, Don
Prerequisite: none
In this course students will explore a range of definitions and descriptions of what we variously refer to as "the self," "the mind," "the soul," "the spirit," "the psyche," "free will," "personality," "character," etc. The two primary prompts for our considerations will be movies such as The Matrix and The Exorcist and texts from the history of philosophy and psychology, including Freud and Beauvoir. Evaluations will be based on quizzes, periodic tests, class participation, class presentations, and a final exam.
We will address questions such as the following:
PHIL 203R 02. Mysteries of Self & Soul
4.00 credits
Reed, Don
Prerequisite: none
See description above.
Phil 311 1W. Modern Philosophy
4.00 credits
Gilson, Erinn
Prerequisite: PHIL 210R or PHIL 310.
This course surveys modern philosophy from the late 16th century to the late 19th century, focusing broadly on one of the central philosophical concerns of the period, namely, the human ability to attain knowledge of reality. In pursuing this issue, the relationships between faith and reason, science and philosophy, and knowledge and political, economic, and social conditions are explored. The course emphasizes the different ways philosophers think about the relationship between knowledge and experience. Moving from the "rationalism" of Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz to the "empiricism" of Locke, Berkeley, and Hume, and to their reconciliation in Kant's critical philosophy, the course traces philosophical perspectives on topics such as our ability to have knowledge of the external world, the existence of God, the nature of the human being, the relationship between the mind and the body, and free will. Then we turn to post-Kantian philosophy, investigating the connection between social conditions and bodies of knowledge in the work of Marx and Nietzsche. The aim of the course is not only to provide students with an understanding of this crucial period in the history of philosophy, to which much of contemporary thought is indebted, but with some critical perspectives on modern philosophy as well. Writing intensive.
Philosophy 380 1W: Advanced Topics: African-American Philosophy
4.00 credits
McHugh, Nancy
Prerequisite: One prior course in PHIL or Permission.
African-American Philosophy has been described as "philosophy born of struggle." This course will think about the role of struggle in relation to the formation of a philosophical perspective. We will study important works in African American philosophy, from its beginnings with W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington through to contemporary philosophers such as Lucius Outlaw, bell hooks, Leonard Harris, Tommy Lott, Charles Mills, Adrian Piper, and Patricia Hill Collins. We will study also study how African-American philosophers have engaged with traditional philosophical areas such as ethics, epistemology, social justice, identity, and aesthetics by engaging mainstream philosophy and by developing their own theoretical frameworks. The course is writing intensive and will consist of weekly quizzes, book reviews, presentations, and a final paper.
PHIL 400 1W. SENIOR SEMINAR -
Topic: Advanced Research Methods in Philosophy
4.00 credits
Reed, Don
Prerequisite: PHIL 312 or permission
The goal of this course is to complete a senior thesis in philosophy. We
will work on writing time management, thesis construction, research
techniques, drafting, editing, writing collaboration, paper presentation and
critiquing others' work. The course will include a symposium in which
students will deliver brief versions of their theses for a department
colloquium. Writing intensive.
PHIL 490 00. Independent Study
1.00-4.00 credits
Staff
PHIL 491 00. Internship
1.00-4.00 credits
Staff
PHIL 499 00. Senior Honors Thesis
0.00-4.00 credits
Staff
Prerequisite: DEPARTMENTAL PERMISSION.
