Undergraduate Course Descriptions

Philosophy

PHL 101 Introduction to Logic (4 credits)
An introduction to critical thinking, formal and informal logic. Includes exercises in critical analysis of arguments and elements of symbolic logic. Note: PHL 101 does not fulfill the core requirement in philosophy unless one additional course in philosophy is also taken. Does not fulfull the philosophy requirement in the core curriculum.

PHL 109 Issues in Philosophy (4 credits)
An introductory course that examines the works of representative philosophers through the ages and their responses to some perennial issues. Includes topics such as faith and reason, theories of knowledge, and ethical behavior. Not open to students enrolled in or with credit in PHL 110.

PHL 110 Wisdom and the Web (4 credits)
An introductory course that examines periods in the history of philosophy, various philosophical movements, important philosophers, and key philosophical ideas in Western philosophy. All content for the course will be drawn from the Internet. Not open to students enrolled in or with credit in PHL 109.

PHL 150 Theories of Ethics (2 credits)
A general introduction to ethical theories focusing on major figures of the Western tradition, including Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, and Kant. Not open to student enrolled in or with credit in PHL 346.

PHL 170 Philosophy of Good and Evil (2 credits)
An introductory course that examines how representative thinkers through the ages have defined the nature of good and evil, including both evil caused by humans and by natural forces. Thinkers covered may include Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, Leibniz, Hume, Kant, and Nietzsche.

PHL 206 Philosophy of the Person (4 credits)
An examination of traditional approaches to the study of human nature. Includes an analysis of major figures from the history of philosophy as well as an analysis of contemporary approaches present in Christian personalism.

PHL 224 Philosophy of Religion (4 credits)
A critical examination of the fundamental questions of religion from the perspective of reason. May include topics such as arguments for the existence of God; the phenomena of religious experience and mysticism; the problem of evil; faith and revelation; death and immortality.

PHL 230 Principles of Justice (4 credits)
An examination of some fundamental questions about how people should treat each other and how communities should allocate their resources. To answer these questions, students will study the basic tenets of different theories of justice and economic systems. The course will focus on justice in the allocation of a community’s resources, but it also will address how different forms of justice are related.

PHL 242 Applied Ethics (4 credits)
An examination of ethical principles and their application to ethical issues. Specific areas of application announced when the course is offered. Prerequisites: For two-credit sections, one prior PHL course other than PHL 101.

PHL 245 The Philosophy of Love and Friendship (4 credits)
A seminar for the review of philosophical literature dealing with the enduring themes of friendship and love.

PHL 250 History of Ancient Philosophy (4 credits)
Period course that examines the beginnings of philosophy in ancient Greece from the Pre-Socratic through the Neo-Platonists; with special consideration given to the writings of Plato and Aristotle. Prerequisites: ENG 101, 102 and IDS 179 or transfer equivalent.

PHL 251 History of Medieval Philosophy (4 credits)
Period course that examines developments in philosophy from the fifth century through the fourteenth century; with special consideration of the writings of Augustine, Anselm and Aquinas; as well as several Muslim and Jewish philosophers. Prerequisites: ENG 101. 102 and IDS 179 or transfer equivalent.

PHL 252 History of Modern Philosophy (4 credits)
Period course that examinesthe developments in philosophy from the Renaissance through the 19th century. Thinkers covered may include Descartes, Spinoza, Locke, Leibniz, Berkeley, Hume, Kant, Hegel, Kierkegaard and Nietzsche. Prerequisites: ENG 101, 102 and IDS 179 or transfer equivalent.

PHL 253 History of Contemporary Philosophy (4 credits)
Period course that examines developments in philosophy from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries; special consideration of the movements of existentialism and phenomenology, pragmatism, analytic philosophy, and Christian personalism. Prerequisites: ENG 101, 102 and IDS 179 or transfer equivalent.

PHL 270 After Thomas Aquinas: Varieties of Thomism (2 credits)
An examination of the system of philosophy developed by Thomas Aquinas and with emphasis on its continued vitality in later figures of the Thomistic tradition.

PHL 340 Epistemology (4 credits)
An examination of the nature and foundations of human knowledge. Topics covered may include rationalist and empiricist theories; truth and falsity; evidence, justification, and belief. Prerequisites: ENG 102 and IDS 179 or transfer equivalent, and one prior PHL course other than PHL 101.

PHL 345 Metaphysics (4 credits)
An examination of the nature of reality; with special consideration of metaphysics as ontology and as natural theology. Includes consideration of representative metaphysical systems from classical, Christian and modern philosophy. Prerequisites: ENG 102 and IDS 179 or transfer equivalent, and one prior PHL course other than PHL 101.

PHL 346 Principles of Business Ethics (2 credits)
An introduction to traditional ethical theories in preparation for more advanced study of problems in social philosophy and business. Not open to students enrolled in or with credit in PHL 150.

PHL 348b Thematic Studies: Bioethics (4 credits)
An examination of ethical principles and their applications to ethical issues in medicine, health care, and biological sciences. Prerequisites: ENG 101-102 or 110-111

PHL 348c Thematic Studies: Aesthetics (4 credits)
A survey of theories of art and beauty from Plato to the present. Includes a study of major movements in art history and the work of distinguished artists. Prerequisites: ENG 102 and IDS 179 or transfer equivalent.

PHL 348h Thematic Studies: Opera Omnia (4 credits)
An audition into the wonderful world of opera. Stories of the operas will be presented with an emphasis on literary, artistic and philosophical themes. Literary sources such as Shakespeare, artistic trends such as Romanticism, and philosophical issues such as the nature of the passions and theories of tragedy, will be explored. Students will be introduced to some of the greatest music of Bellini, Donizetti, Puccini, Rossini, Verdi, Wagner, and many others. Prerequisites: ENG 102 and IDS 179 or transfer equivalent.

PHL 1/2/3/485 Special Topics (2-4 credits)
Study of topics of special interest in philosophy including semantics, hermeneutics, philosophy of law, philosophy of science, and philosophy of history. Prerequisite for 385 and 485: one prior philosophy course.

PHL 2/3/486 Independent Study (2-4 credits)
Research in philosophy directed by a professor in the division. Prerequisites: prior course work in philosophy; consent of instructor, academic advisor, division chairperson.