PHIL
101. Introduction to Philosophy 3 sem hrs
How do we
know what we know? Who are we? What is real? Do people have free will? Is there
absolute knowledge or only contingent knowledge? Many issues that we deal with
in daily life are ultimately philosophical issues. The word philosophy is from
the Greek for “love of wisdom,” but what is wisdom? Reading a selection of texts
from the history of Western philosophy and from world philosophy, the class will
consider these and other questions, while we work to perfect the art of “slow
reading” and to value open-ended questions as much as or more than certain
answers. Prerequisites: None.
PHIL 201. Critical Thinking: Introduction
to Logic 3 sem hrs
This course
will be an introduction to the art of reasoning. We will practice analyzing
arguments in advertising, the media, in selections from philosophical and
literary texts, and in our own conversations as we explore deductive reasoning,
inductive reasoning, and fallacies.
Prerequisites: None.
PHIL 205. Classical and Medieval Philosophy 3 sem hrs
This course will offer a survey of some of the primary texts of ancient
Greek and medieval philosophy in their cultural contexts. After considering
Greek philosophy, we will trace
some of its impact on the development of medieval philosophy. We will study the
influence of the Arab-Muslim scholarship of medieval Spain both for its role in
preserving, translating, and expanding on Greek texts and for its foundational
role in the development of European culture.
PHIL 207. Ethics: Philosophical and
Religious 3 sem hrs
(Cross-listed as
RELG 207) This course will examine some of the moral problems we face in our
lives and will consider a variety of ways of thinking about how to understand
them. Beginning with an overview of some of the main theoretical approaches in
ethical thought in the Western philosophical tradition, the class will then
consider specific issues, which may include: sexual ethics, violence and peace,
economic justice, environmental ethics, business ethics, race, gender, etc. No
prerequisites.
PHIL 211. Philosophy of Education 3 sem hrs
An
introduction to some of the philosophical foundations of education in order to
consider the purposes of education for student, teacher, family, and society and
some strategies for reaching educational goals. Students will consider how those
philosophical foundations apply to educational practices of students and
teachers and will ask what constitutes effective teaching and learning for both
students and teachers. The class will explore how philosophies of education both
shape and reflect societal values and will examine how those philosophies of
education, put into practice, shape students and teachers, either to support
and/or to challenge societal norms. This course is designed for students
entering the teaching profession. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing.
PHIL 213. Philosophy of Religion 3 sem hrs
(Cross-listed
as RELG 213) Can the existence of God be proven? Is religion rational?
Do we have free will? Is there life after death? Can religious experience be
verified? This is an introduction to the basic problems and issues that
constitute contemporary philosophy of religion. In addition to a basic survey of
the field, this course will focus on a particular issue, such as rationality and
religion, religious pluralism, or proofs for the existence of God.
Prerequisites: None.
PHIL 225. Philosophy and Feminism 3 sem hrs
This course will
offer an introduction to some of the questions that shape feminist philosophy
today. What connections are there between feminist philosophy and feminist
writing in other disciplines and feminist movements inside and outside the
academy? The class will assume the importance of diverse women’s voices. Reading
theoretical, literary, and experimental texts which challenge the distinction
between theory and literature, the class will focus on how an awareness of the
intersections of race, class, sexuality, gender, ability, and ethnicity is vital
for disciplinary and interdisciplinary study in feminist philosophy.
PHIL 250. Special Topics 3 sem hrs
PHIL 300. Philosophy and Religions of Asia 3 sem hrs
(Cross-listed
as RELG 300) An introduction to the origins, histories, thought, practices, and
developments of the great religions and philosophies of Asia. The course will
study some of the following: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Shintoism,
Taoism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Eastern philosophies will be
explored in religious and cultural contexts. This course is intended primarily
for students in their junior and senior years. May be repeated for credit with
permission of the instructor.
PHIL 307. Modern Philosophy 3 sem hrs
This course
will trace the development of European modernity, from its beginnings in the
Renaissance through the Reformation and Scientific Revolution and into the
eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. We will look especially at how the rise of
modernity, as expressed by the Rationalists, the Empiricists and through the
Kantian turn, shaped European views of nature, science, mind, body,
spirit/faith, and the nature of human beings. The emphasis will be on
understanding modern philosophical works in their historical context.
Recognizing that how we conceptualize ourselves and our world is shaped by our
cultural moments, we will also consider challenges to modern European
conceptions of people and our planet. This course is designed for students with
some experience in philosophy and assumes some familiarity with the
discipline. Prior completion of Phil 101, Phil
201, Phil 205, or Phil 207 is highly recommended.
PHIL 310. Environmental Ethics 3 sem hrs
(Cross-listed as
RELG 310) An examination of ecological problems caused by human
activities and possible solutions, starting with a rethinking of the
relationship between
human beings and nature. From different perspectives the course will investigate
various interrelated issues ranging from ethical to metaphysical, including: Do
we have an obligation to natural objects? If there should be an environmental
ethic, what kind of ethic should it be? Students will have opportunities to
develop and express their own views on these issues. This course is intended
primarily for students in their sophomore, junior, and senior years.
PHIL 311. Contemporary Philosophy 3 sem hrs
This course will
explore some of the directions philosophy has taken from late modernity
to the present. Starting with a review of the eighteenth-century philosopher,
Immanuel Kant,
we will outline the defining features of modernity and some of the cracks in
those foundations. Although quintessentially modern, Kant also paved the way for
contemporary critiques of modernity on one hand and for contemporary attempts to
defend and maintain modernity
on the other. We will briefly consider the divergent paths contemporary
philosophy has taken since Kant—the so-called Analytic and Continental paths—and
we’ll ask ourselves if the two are really as separate as they sometimes seem.
Finally, we’ll ask ourselves if there is a way
to move from modernity’s self-assurance that the world can be understood with
absolute certainty to contemporary views that the world may be beyond our grasp
and that different cultures (broadly defined) have different foundations for
understanding in a world of contingencies. This course is designed for students
with some experience in philosophy and assumes some familiarity with the
discipline. Prior completion of PHIL 101, PHIL 201, PHIL 207, PHIL 305, or PHIL
307 is highly recommended.
PHIL 315G.
Philosophy of Art 3 sem hrs
An examination of
perennial questions concerning beauty in works of art and nature, the
attribution of value, the relation of aesthetic judgment and imagination to
cognition and moral duty, and the impact of these matters on inquiries in
related disciplines (i.e., linguistics, psychoanalysis, and religious studies).
This course fulfills the Beauty and Meaning in Works
of Art requirement.
PHIL 316.
Existentialism 3 sem hrs.
(Cross listed as RELG 316) An overview of issues and
claims associated with existentialism, a cultural phenomenon touching upon and
influenced by diverse fields of interests. The course necessarily is
interdiscipilinary, examining existential influences on literature and religious
thought, as well as philosophy. Readings are from a number of contributors to
the tradition, including Kierkegaard, Dostoevsky, Nietzsche, Neidegger, Tillich,
Sartre, Camus. The course also employes narrative film. Sophomore standing or
above.
PHIL 320.
Individualized Study 1–3 sem hrs
Directed research
and writing in an area of special interest to the student. May be repeated
for credit.
PHIL 330. Theories of
Knowledge 3 sem hrs
This course will
introduce several of the major philosophical approaches to the question of what
it means to know. Through a historical survey of primary sources, we will become
familiar with the classical conception of knowledge as justified true belief and
we will understand how modern challenges to this view—including skepticism
regarding the senses and the problem of induction—have shaped contemporary
movements in epistemology. This course is intended primarily for students in
their sophomore, junior, and senior years.
PHIL 350. Topics in the
History of Philosophy 1–3 sem hrs
This course will
examine a particular figure, period, or theme in the history of philosophy, in a
more focused manner than a survey course will allow. Emphasis will be placed on
the significance of these ideas for contemporary debates and perspectives.
PHIL 411. Political Philosophy from Plato
to the Present 3 sem hrs
(Cross-listed as
POLS 411) A historical survey and philosophical analysis of political theory
from ancient Greece to the present. Includes works by Plato, Aristotle,
Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Marx, and Mill.
PHIL 450.
Senior Project 1–3 sem hrs
A thorough
examination of a topic in philosophy and the composition of an extended essay
involving in-depth research and analysis and/or synthesis under the
individualized direction of a faculty member, or in a seminar. Required for
majors in Philosophy as the culminating experience of their program of study.
Open only to senior majors.
PHIL 452. Senior Research 1 sem hr
This course is
designed for students conducting independent research in preparation for their
senior projects in philosophy. Through regular meetings with the project adviser
and individual research, students will begin the semester reading broadly in the
relevant scholarship to generate and then focus a topic for the senior project.
The remainder of the semester will consist of more focused research. Credit/No
Credit.
Religious Studies Course Descriptions:
RELG 100. Introduction to World Religions 1 sem hr
This one-credit course offers a brief introduction to the
world’s major religious traditions, including the Indian traditions of Hinduism
and Buddhism, the Chinese religions of Confucianism and Taoism, and the
“religions of Abraham” – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Our weekly meetings
will be primarily lecture, incorporating some images and video clips as well as
time for discussion. The course will also encourage students to reflect on the
category of “religion” in general and to consider the complexities of comparing
traditions.
RELG 101. Introduction to the Old Testament 3 sem hrs
A study of the text
of the Old Testament in its historical and cultural context. The story of Israel
is traced from its formation as a people through the rise of the monarchy,
exile, and return. The complex web of traditions that shaped Israel’s identity
is analyzed, and the historical, literary, and theological dimensions of the
texts are explored. Prerequisites: None.
RELG 108. Introduction to the New Testament 3 sem hrs
A study of
first-century Christian literature in its historical and cultural contexts. The
course
will focus on the historical Jesus, Paul’s epistles, and the Jewish framework of
early Christian faith and practice in Hellenic-Roman culture. Prerequisites:
None.
RELG 150. Religion and Religions 3 sem hrs
What is religion?
How do we make sense of religions in all of their diversity and all of their
complexity? This course exposes students to an array of theories about religion,
including sociological, anthropological, psychological, and phenomenological. It
also engages the issues that arise in comparing traditions through a
consideration of such issues as ritual, community, and sacred texts.
Prerequisites: None.
RELG 200. Topics in the History of Christian Thought 3 sem hrs
Introduction to the
history of Christian thought, from the missionary work of Paul to the
development of basic church teachings in figures like Augustine, Anselm,
Aquinas, and Julian of Norwich; the Reformation (Luther, Calvin, others) through
to developments in the modern period, and the variety of Christian responses to
contemporary culture. This course may focus on a particular theme or time
period. Students may repeat this course for credit by permission
of department chair. Prerequisites: None.
RELG 207. Ethics: Philosophical and Religious 3 sem hrs
(Cross-listed as PHIL 207)
This course will examine some of the moral problems we
face in our lives and will consider a variety of ways of thinking about how to
understand them. Beginning with an overview of some of the main theoretical
approaches in ethical thought in the Western philosophical tradition, the class
will then consider specific issues, which may include: sexual ethics, violence
and peace, economic justice, environmental ethics, business ethics, race,
gender, etc. No prerequisites.
RELG 210G. Judaism and Islam 3 sem hrs
A study of the
origins, history, rituals, sacred writings, beliefs, practices, and modern
developments among Jews and Muslims. Special attention is given to understanding
similarities and differences between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as
monotheistic traditions which all trace their roots to Abraham. Prerequisites:
None. This course meets the Human Societies general education requirement.
RELG 213. Philosophy of Religion 3 sem hrs
(Cross-listed as
PHIL 213) Can the existence of God be proven? Is religion rational? Do we
have free will? Is there life after death? Can religious experience be verified?
This is an introduction to the basic problems and issues that constitute
contemporary philosophy of religion. In addition to a basic survey of the
field, this course will focus on a particular
issue,
such as rationality and religion, religious pluralism, proofs for the
existence of God, or the problem of evil. Prerequisites: None.
RELG 220. Women and Religion 3 sem hrs
This course
explores the religious lives of women across cultures and religious traditions.
Course readings include: writings by women religious leaders and lay
participants as well as essays about women in a variety of religious contexts.
Attention is paid to the uniqueness and diversity of
women’s experience within religious traditions, including the experience of
oppression but also of empowerment. This course meets the cross-cultural
requirement of the religious studies major.
RELG 244. Religion and Politics 3 sem hrs
(Cross-listed as
POLS 244) The “secularization” thesis prevailed among the social scientists
during the 1950s and 1960s. This thesis assumed that under the influence of
industrialization, urbanization, and modernization, religion will become less
important in the public and the private spheres. The emergence of highly
politicized religious movements have posed a severe challenge to the
secularization thesis. In this course, we will explore the relationship between
religion and politics by examining contemporary movements such as the Christian
Right in the U.S., Hindu fundamentalism in India, and political Islam in the
Middle East and South Asia.
RELG 250. Special Topics 1–3 sem hrs
RELG 300. Philosophy and Religions of Asia 3 sem hrs
(Cross-listed as
PHIL 300) An introduction to the origins, histories, thought, practices, and
developments of the great religions and philosophies of Asia. The course will
study some of the following: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Shintoism,
Taoism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Eastern philosophies will be
explored in religious and cultural contexts. This course is intended primarily
for students in their junior and senior years. May be repeated for credit with
permission of the instructor.
RELG 310. Environmental Ethics 3 sem hrs
(Cross-listed as PHIL 310) An examination of
ecological problems caused by human activities and possible solutions, starting
with a rethinking of the relationship
between human beings and nature. From different perspectives, the course will investigate various
interrelated issues ranging from ethical to metaphysical, including: Do we have
an obligation to natural objects? If there should be an environmental ethic,
what kind of ethic should it be? Students will have opportunities to develop and
express their own views on these issues. This course is intended
primarily for students in their sophomore, junior, and senior years.
RELG 312. Religion in America 3 sem hrs
(Cross-listed as
HIST 312) The story of American religious history is an important narrative
about our country’s identity. Recent work in the field has focused on what has
been left out of the old stories and how we might better account for the
experiences of women, of minorities, and of those groups who challenge the
dominate theologies and practices. This course covers the colonial period
through to contemporary developments, including secularization, New Age
movements and the flourishing of the world’s religious traditions within an
American context. Students will be exposed to some of the recent work in the
field that explores the various ways to tell the story of American religious
history. Course topics will vary from year to year. Possible topics include:
Christianity in America, African-American religious history, new religious
movements and utopian experiments, women in American religious history or the
world’s religions in America. This course is intended primarily for students in
their sophomore, junior, and senior years. May be repeated for credit with
permission of the instructor.
RELG 316. Existentialism 3 sem hrs.
(Cross listed as PHIL316.) An overview of issues and claims associated with existentialism, a
cultural phenomenon touching upon and influenced by diverse fields of interests. The course necessarily is interdiscipilinary, examining existential
influences on literature and religious thought, as well as philosophy. Readings are from a number of contributors to the tradition, including
Kierkegaard, Dostoevsky, Nietzsche, Neidegger, Tillich, Sartre, Camus. The course also employes narrative film. (Sophomore standing or above.)
RELG 320. Individualized Study 1–3 sem hrs
Directed research
and writing in an area of special interest to the student. May be repeated for
credit.
RELG 350. Contemporary Issues in Religious
Studies 1–3 sem hrs
This course
examines a contemporary issue in the study of religion and draws upon recent
scholarship in the field.
RELG 450. Senior Project 1–3 sem hrs
A thorough
examination of a topic in religion and the composition of an extended essay
involving in-depth research and analysis and/or synthesis under the
individualized direction of a faculty member, or in a seminar. Open only to
senior majors.