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Philosophy
Professor Barker,
chair
Assistant Professor Pawelski
Lecturer Zacharias
Courses
| PHI
101 |
Introduction to Philosophy
Primary attention will be given to basic questions such
as the nature of the self, freedom of the will, and the basis
for moral and religious belief. The aim is to increase the
student’s awareness of some intellectual and practical
dilemmas of modern life. General Studies Humanities Credit.
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| PHI
150 |
Critical Thinking
A study of arguments and rules for correct thinking. Topics
include recognition of arguments, uses of language, fallacious
arguments and the art of persuasion. Emphasis is placed on the
application of critical thinking skills in both professional
and everyday contexts. General Studies Humanities Credit. |
| PHI
175 |
Philosophy and Film
Human beings are creatures in search of meaning. What am
I? Who am I? What is the meaning of my life? Is there meaning
to be found in the universe? Can meaning be found or created
in a world in which death is inevitable and evil is rampant?
What possible visions of the future open up before us as individuals
and as a society? This course will tackle these questions through
the medium of film and corollary readings. The films and readings
have been chosen because they raise the question of meaning
as it relates to the topics of consciousness, the nature of
mind and body, and our knowledge of reality, death and finitude,
evil and moral choice, and visions of the future. General Studies
Humanities Credit. |
| PHI
195 |
Science and Human Nature
An examination of some diverse views of human nature with
an emphasis on how 19th and 20th century developments in the
biological and social sciences have altered our conception of
our nature. Traditional philosophical questions are dealt with,
such as the origins of life, the mind-body relationship, freedom
of the will, the individual and
society, the basis of moral and religious beliefs, and artificial
intelligence. Readings include selections from philosophers
and scientists such as Descartes, Darwin, Mill, Freud, Gould,
Dennett, and Skinner. (Freshman seminar; satisfies General Studies
Humanities Credit.) |
| PHI
202 |
A Philosophical Tour Through Mathematical History
This course examines a wide variety of mathematical techniques
from the standpoint of the historical, cultural, and philosophical
background from which they have arisen. Beginning with the Egyptians
and the Babylonians and extending to the present day, our tour
will examine the role mathematics has played in philosophy,
religion, literature, art, astronomy, physics, economics, and
business. The course approaches mathematics from an interdisciplinary
perspective that is intended to broaden the horizons of those
students who already enjoy mathematical technique, and to excite
those students who find more traditional math courses dry and
tedious. General Studies Quantitative Reasoning Credit or General
Studies Interdisciplinary Studies Credit or Philosophy Concentration
Credit. |
| PHI
203 |
Ethics
A study of the nature, origin, and development of ethical
theories from a historical
perspective and their relevance to some significant problems
in contemporary life. Special attention is given to the exploration
of enduring moral concerns, such as moral relativism, the place
of reason in ethics, egoism and altruism, and the nature of
moral responsibility. General Studies Humanities Credit. |
| PHI
204 |
Contemporary Moral Problems
A philosophical examination of current problems in key areas
of society. These
problems may include abortion, nuclear war, capital punishment,
and famine relief, among others. A strong effort will be made
to show the link between these contemporary problems and traditional
ethical reasoning and theories, thus enabling the student to
formulate moral judgments from a sound philosophical position.
General Studies Humanities Credit. |
| PHI
208 |
Symbolic Logic
A study of two elementary systems of deductive logic, sentential
logic and predicate logic. The symbolization, syntax, and semantics
of each system will be studied, along with methods of determining
validity, and rules and strategies for constructing derivations.
General Studies Quantitative Reasoning Credit or Philosophy
Concentration Credit. |
| PHI
210 |
History of Philosophy: Greek and Medieval
A historical introduction to the beginning of Western philosophy:
the pre-Socratic nature philosophers, the thought of Parmenides,
Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, and the medieval theologians,
Augustine and Aquinas. Reading and discussion of primary sources.
Offered in alternate years. General Studies Humanities Credit. |
| PHI
212 |
History of Philosophy: Rationalism and Empiricism
A study of enduring issues in the writings of the 17th and
18th century rationalists; Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz;
and empiricists; Locke, Berkeley, and Hume. Offered in alternate
years. General Studies Humanities Credit. |
| PHI
213 |
History of Philosophy: Moralists and Existentialists
Readings and discussion of the moral writings and theories
of some 19th and 20th century thinkers, including Kant’s
ethics, utilitarianism, Hegel, and the existentialisms of
Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, Sartre, and others. General Studies
Humanities Credit.
Prerequisite: One course in philosophy. Offered in
alternate years.
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| PHI
216 |
History of Philosophy: 20th Century Thought
A study of some of the main currents of philosophical
thought in this century. Representative figures from the analytic
movement in England and America (Russell, Moore, Witgenstein);
American Pragmatism (Peirce, James, Dewey); and the European
tradition of phenomenology and existentialism (Heidegger,
Merleau-Pontry, Sartre, Foucault). Course content will vary
from year to year focusing on one or more particular movements
in this period. May be repeated with a new topic. General
Studies Humanities Credit.
Prerequisite: One course in the history of philosophy
(210, 212, 213, 245).
Offered in alternate years.
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| PHI
220 |
Philosophy of Religion
A consideration of traditional defenses and arguments
for God which claim to provide a rational basis for faith.
Other topics: God’s nature and attributes, the problem
of evil, religious experience, freedom and divine omniscience,
and miracles. General Studies Humanities Credit.
Prerequisite: At least one course in philosophy or
religious studies, or permission of the instructor.
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| PHI
222 |
Eastern Philosophy
A study of the main Eastern philosophical-religious systems
of thought and practice, especially Buddhism and Hinduism, in
their traditional and recent forms. Readings from primary texts.
General Studies Humanities Credit. |
| PHI
225 |
What is Life?
Two hundred years ago, scientists did not have a clear conception
of the difference between the organic (living) and the inorganic
(non-living.) This course will explore the philosophical assumptions
underlying attempts to understand the nature of life and of
living organisms and what constitutes the differences, if any,
between the living and the non-living. What is Life? Will examine
issues of contemporary interests, such as evolution, the importance
of biodiversity, and genetic determinism. General Studies Humanities
Credit. |
| PHI
228 |
The Feminine Face of Philosophy
Do traditional answers to philosophical questions reflect
male viewpoints and ways of thinking? Are there alternative
philosophical positions that reflect female ways of thinking?
To answer these questions, this course will include 1) an examination
of some philosophers’ views of women, 2) an assessment
of feminist and feminine critiques of the philosophy of knowledge
and of the nature of morality, and 3) a consideration of contemporary
moral problems concerned with women’s issues, such as pornography
and reproductive technologies. General Studies Humanities Credit
or Philosophy Concentration Credit or Women’s Studies Concentration
Credit. |
| PHI
230 |
Philosophy and Law
Philosophy and law are intimately connected, and many of
the fundamental questions about the law are philosophical questions.
Specific topics include the nature of law and crime; the relationship
between law and morality; liability and responsibility (including
insanity and the law); punishment and capital punishment; civil
rights and preferential treatment; and alternative theories
of justice. A combination of readings, case studies, and discussion.
General Studies Humanities Credit. |
| PHI
240 |
Minds, Brains and Programs
What is distinctive about that part of the self we call
the mind? Is it consciousness? Rationality? Or the fact that
thoughts are meaningfully about things? An examination of different
conceptions of the mind, including dualist, materialist, and
functionalist theories. How are minds related to the physical
systems (brains) on which they depend? The course will evaluate
recent attempts in the cognitive sciences to understand mental
activity by means of the "computational model." Does
this analogy with machine activity illuminate the mind? To what
extent are machines (computers) capable of intelligent thought?
General Studies Humanities or Cognitive Science and Artificial
Intelligence Credit. |
| PHI
245 |
The Idea of Nature
This course will examine the history of conceptions of nature
expressed by philosophers and scientists from antiquity to the
20th century. It will begin with the construction of Aristotle’s
theoretical framework and its final overthrow by Newton during
scientific revolution. It will then examine how Newton’s
framework was modified and challenged by the development of
modern ideas of nature, including those of Darwin and Einstein.
Issues covered in the course include 1) whether nature operates
according to the laws of blind necessity or 2) whether it reveals
evidence of purposeful or divine action and 3) whether or not
chance plays a role in the appearance and operation of natural
phenomena. General Studies Humanities Credit. |
| PHI
250 |
Business and Professional Ethics
This course will give students a concise background in ethical
reasoning and ethical
theories and will apply these theories to specific moral issues
in business, using current cases and practices. The following
general considerations will guide the class: What is the relationship
between property and one’s ethical rights and responsibilities?
What is the relationship between the most profitable and the
moral? What is the social purpose and justification for business,
if any? We will approach these questions by looking at current
issues, including the role of the free market, business liability
and consumer protection, business and the environment, and ethical
considerations in employee relations. The course will be a combination
of lecture and discussion, with an active emphasis on critical
thinking and analytical writing. General Studies Humanities
Credit. |
| PHI
260 |
Biomedical Ethics
Biomedical ethics seeks to help students become familiar
with the ethical theories that philosophers, physicians, biomedical
researchers, and other thinking people have used in coming to
understand themselves and their world. Students have the opportunity
to apply these theories to some of the most important moral
problems in medicine and the biomedical sciences. The course
emphasizes critical reasoning and analysis, with the goal of
developing students’ ability to distinguish well-supported
from poorly supported positions. As the life and death issues
of biomedicine are explored, students should begin to understand
the complexity of our moral problems and the need for a careful,
rigorous, and sensitive approach to these problems. General
Studies Humanities Credit. |
| PHI
270 |
Environmental Ethics
Human activities have changed conditions on earth on a massive
scale and threaten to cause the greatest mass extinctions since
the end of the dinosaur age. The world population continues
to grow, resulting in the degradation of air, water and land
and the depletion of natural resources. Yet people need to be
fed and sheltered and our demand for energy continues to grow.
Such environmental problems raise important questions on how
we should live. What obligations do we have concerning the environment?
What justifications can we give for the protection of wildlife,
land and water? Does nature have value apart from human needs?
What do we owe future human beings? Are some parts of nature
more valuable than others? This course will examine and assess
critically various responses to these and other questions. General
Studies Humanities Credit. |
| PHI
391 |
Seminar in Philosophy I (W)
An in-depth study of some great philosopher, historical
movement, or period in philosophy, such as Plato, Marx, Wittgenstein,
medieval philosophy, Darwin’s century, or linguistic
philosophy. May be repeated, with a new topic. Fulfills philosophy
seminar requirement. General Studies Humanities Credit.
Prerequisite: One course in philosophy or permission
of the instructor.
|
| PHI
491 |
Seminar in Philosophy II (W)
An in-depth study of some philosophical theme or topic
such as morality and the law, theories of perception, science
and religion. The seminar is aimed at giving concentrators
and other qualified students a greater opportunity for an
interchange of ideas and individual research. May be repeated,
with a new topic. General Studies Humanities Credit.
Prerequisite: One course in philosophy or permission
of the instructor.
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