Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of Philosophy

PHIL 100 Introduction to Philosophy

An examination of issues pertaining to knowledge, reality and morality. Issues examined might include the following: Can we know anything? Does God exist? Is morality merely personal opinion?
3

Course Attribute

LAA3-Arts&Hum-Ways of Thinking and GT Ways of Thinking

PHIL 126 Introduction to Global Philosophies

An introduction to a number of formative philosophical traditions from different cultures, e.g., Africana, Aztec, Buddhist, Confucian, Daoist, Indian, Islamic, and other philosophies.
3

Course Attribute

LAA3-Arts&Hum-Ways of Thinking and LAIS-International Studies and GT Ways of Thinking

PHIL 150 Moral Issues

An introduction to moral reasoning about issues such as drug use, capital punishment, world hunger, animal rights, internet privacy, discrimination and sexual morality.
3

Course Attribute

LAA3-Arts&Hum-Ways of Thinking and GT Ways of Thinking

PHIL 221 Basic Logic

An introduction to deductive and inductive reasoning. Students will develop their creative and critical thinking skills while learning to avoid common fallacies in the contexts of decision-making and problem-solving.
3

Course Attribute

LAA3-Arts&Hum-Ways of Thinking and GT Ways of Thinking

PHIL 225 Philosophical Figures

An introduction to philosophy focused on the thought of one or two classical or contemporary figures, e.g. Kierkegaard & Socrates, Zhuangzi, Nietzsche, Ortega y Gassett, John Rawls & Martha Nussbaum.

3

Offered

Generally offered Spring and/or Fall Annually

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

ST - Repeatable under different subtitles with no limits on the number of times it can be repeated

PHIL 231 Ancient Greek Philosophy

A study of the major figures in ancient Greek philosophy from the pre-Socratics to the end of the Hellenistic period.
3

PHIL 232 Medieval Western Philosophy

A study of the major figures in Western philosophy from Augustine to William of Ockham, including Christian, Muslim, and Jewish philosophers.
3

PHIL 233 Modern Western Philosophy

A study of the major figures in modern Western philosophy from Descartes through Kant.
3

PHIL 246 Early Chinese Philosophy

A study of the major texts and figures in pre-Han China from Kongzi to Han Feizi.
3

PHIL 250 Medical Ethics

An introduction to moral reasoning about issues that arise in a medical context, e.g., abortion, euthanasia, health care professional-patient relationships, research on human subjects, and health-care access.
3

Course Attribute

LAA3-Arts&Hum-Ways of Thinking and GT Ways of Thinking

PHIL 270 Philosophy of Religion

An exploration of selected topics in the philosophy of religion, e.g., religious experience, faith and reason, the existence and nature of God, religion and science, and the problem of evil.
3

Course Attribute

LAA3-Arts&Hum-Ways of Thinking and GT Ways of Thinking

PHIL 280 Philosophy of Science

An introduction to philosophy of science focused on questions about its nature, methods and goals, e.g., What distinguishes science from pseudo-science? What constitutes the ‘scientific method?' What is scientific objectivity?
3

Course Attribute

LAA3-Arts&Hum-Ways of Thinking and GT Ways of Thinking

PHIL 300 Topics in Philosophy

Offerings under this heading will focus on areas of philosophical interest not regularly covered at the 300 level (e.g., Philosophy of Mind).
3

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

ST - Repeatable under different subtitles with no limits on the number of times it can be repeated

PHIL 311 Environmental Ethics

Explore theories of environmental value; understand and evaluate the ethical implications of environmental choices and policies.
3

PHIL 321 Formal Logic I

A first course in formal logic. Topics include calculi and artificial languages, the logistic method, truth functions, propositional calculi, calculi for first order logic, and a semantics for first order logic.
3

PHIL 322 Formal Logic II

Topics could include modal logic; logical metatheory; axiomatic approaches to formal logic; identity, terms, and formalized theories; or higher-order logics.
3

Prerequisites

PHIL 321 with a minimum grade of D-

PHIL 350 Ethical Theory

In-depth examination of selected topics in normative ethics and meta-ethics (e.g., the nature of moral values, the possibility of moral knowledge, the structure of moral reasoning).
3

PHIL 355 Social and Political Philosophy

In-depth examination of selected topics in social and political philosophy (e.g. the concept of political obligation, freedom and dissent, equality and justice, human rights).
3

PHIL 360 Feminist Theories

This course offers a survey of competing philosophical, political, and epistemological feminist frameworks for understanding gender inequality, examining how feminist theories both build on and critique Western philosophical traditions.
3

Mutually Exclusive Course

Credit allowed for only one of these courses: PHIL 360 and GNDR 350

PHIL 365 Topics in Value Theory and Public Policy

This course provides opportunities to explore specific topics within value theory or public policy (e.g., aesthetics, bioethics, environmental policy, or professional ethics).
3

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

ST - Repeatable under different subtitles with no limits on the number of times it can be repeated

PHIL 366 Philosophy of Law

Explores the philosophical problems generated by thinking about law (e.g., the nature of law, the relationship between law and morality, the normative justifications for criminal and tort law, etc.).
3

PHIL 368 Philosophy of Disability

This class will focus primarily on the philosophical problems generated by thinking about disability. Students will think philosophically about the concept of disability and the relationship between disability and well-being. Students will also study how disability matters in biomedical ethics and political philosophy thinking.

3

Special Notes

PHIL 368 cannot be retaken for credit if PHIL 495 "Philosophy of Disability" was taken in Spring of 2020 or Spring of 2023

Offered

Generally offered Fall even years

Mutually Exclusive Course

Credit allowed for only one of these courses: PHIL 368 and PHIL 495

PHIL 371 Topics in Metaphysics and Epistemology

This course provides opportunities to explore specific topics within metaphysics and epistemology (e.g., causation, epistemic injustice, modality, or social epistemology).
3

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

ST - Repeatable under different subtitles with no limits on the number of times it can be repeated

PHIL 372 Philosophy of Race

Explores metaphysical and epistemological questions that arise in contexts involving race. In what sense is race real? Is the race of a person epistemologically significant?
3

PHIL 375 Science Fiction and Philosophy

This course will use the medium of science fiction (both literature and film) to provide a foundational understanding of several main topics in Metaphysics and Epistemology, including Time, Persistence and Identity, Time Travel, Causation, Free Will, Modality/Possible Worlds, and Skepticism.

3

Special Notes

PHIL 375 cannot be retaken for credit if PHIL 371 “Science Fiction and Philosophy” title was taken in Spring 2021.

Offered

Generally offered Spring Even Years

Mutually Exclusive Course

Credit allowed for only one of these courses: PHIL 375 and PHIL 371

PHIL 377 Philosophy of Mind

Philosophical exploration of the nature of the mind, including questions of the mind-body relationship, mental states, consciousness, non-human animal intelligence, and artificial intelligence.

3

Offered

Generally offered Fall and Spring - Check with department/school for next offering

PHIL 385 Epistemology

In-depth examination of selected topics in theory of knowledge (e.g., the nature and limits of human knowledge, knowledge and belief, doubt and certainty, perception and intuition, faith and justification).
3

PHIL 390 Metaphysics

In-depth examination of selected topics in metaphysics (e.g., the nature of space and time, particulars and universals, the different senses of 'being,' substance, causality, identity and difference).
3

PHIL 422 Directed Study

Individualized investigation under the direct supervision of a faculty member. (Minimum of 37.5 clock hours required per credit hour.)
1- 3

Special Notes

Maximum concurrent enrollment is two times.

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

Course is repeatable with no limitations

PHIL 492 Internship

Practical training in academic research or public philosophy. Minimum 37.5 clock hours per credit hour. S/U graded.
1- 6

Repeatable Status

Course is repeatable with no limitations

PHIL 495 Advanced Seminar

Detailed investigation of a specific philosophical issue. Substantial independent research and at least one oral presentation required.
3

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

ST - Repeatable under different subtitles with no limits on the number of times it can be repeated