PHILOSOPHY
Department of Classics, Philosophy, and Religion
Craig R. Vasey, Chair
Craig R. Vasey, Career Advisor
Faculty
Professors
David K. Ambuel, Kurt F. Leidecker
Chair of Asian Studies
Mehdi Aminrazavi, Kurt F. Leidecker
Chair of Asian Studies
Nina Mikhalevsky
Craig R. Vasey
Assistant Professor
Jason P. Matzke
The Philosophy Program
The discipline of philosophy has been shaped by an intellectual and historical tradition that began some 2500 years ago in Greek culture. “Philosophy” literally means “love of wisdom.” It is the systematic study of ideas and issues, a reasoned pursuit of fundamental truths, a quest for a comprehensive understanding of the world, a study of principles of conduct, and much more.
The problems and materials of philosophy are drawn from every aspect of our lives and experience, and its deliberations extend to every subject admitting of disciplined reflection. Students majoring in philosophy will develop knowledge of the history and current state of Western philosophy, a grasp of representative philosophical issues and ways of dealing with them, a capacity to apply philosophical methods to intellectual problems, and a sense of how philosophy bears on other disciplines and on human life more generally. A philosophy major develops a critical mind, a balance of analytic and interpretive abilities, and a capacity for the imaginative development of abstract formulations and their concrete applications. These virtues make philosophy especially good preparation for responsible citizenship and positions of leadership.
Philosophy Major Requirements
Students wishing to major in Philosophy may choose from two concentrations: the Philosophy major, or the Pre-Law Concentration in Philosophy, which offers special preparation for students considering a career in law or related fields.
1. Requirements for the Philosophy major:
Ten courses (30 credits) including PHIL 151, 201, 202; one of PHIL 301, 302, 303; one course from the Continental Philosophy set (PHIL 342, 343, 405, 450); one course from the Social and Political Philosophy set (PHIL 100, 210, 220, 320, 325, 350) or the Ethics set (225, 330, 335); one course from the non-Western set (PHIL 283, 284, 286, 287, 440); PHIL 485 (Research in Philosophy); two additional courses in Philosophy, at least one of which must be at the 300-or 400-level. With the approval of the major advisor, one of the following may be allowed: CPRD 299, CPRD 331, LATN 432, RELG 306, RELG 314, RELG 317, RELG 331, RELG 341.
2. Requirements for the Pre-Law Concentration in Philosophy:
Ten courses (30 credits) in Philosophy, including PHIL 151, 201, 202, 320, 325; one of PHIL 301, 302, 303; one course from the Ethics set (225, 330, 335); one course from the Continental Philosophy set (PHIL 342, 343, 405, 450); one course from the non-Western set (PHIL 283, 284, 286, 287, 440); PHIL 485 (Research in Philosophy). Successful completion of LATN 202 (Intermediate Latin) or an upper-level LATN language course. (3 credits)
Majors in Philosophy with an interest in graduate studies should take courses beyond the minimum required for the major, and they are especially urged to achieve competence in Greek, Latin, French or German. Students with a 3.5 GPA in Philosophy are eligible for Honors depending upon successful completion of PHIL 485 and defense.
Philosophy Course Offerings
100 – Individual and Community (3)
Through a close reading of Plato’s Republic, supplemented by accompanying readings, small tutorial groups will read, write, and talk about specific issues that interest them.
101– introduction to philosophy (3)
A historical introduction to Western civilization’s philosophical heritage from Plato to contemporary philosophical movements.
151 – Introductory Logic (3)
Basic principles of analytical reasoning and the appraisal of arguments. Among the topics covered are symbolic language, translation, and methods of formal proof including propositional calculus and first order predicate calculus.
201 – Ancient Greek Philosophy (3)
Selected works by ancient Greek philosophers, including the pre-Socratics, Plato, and Aristotle.
202 – Early Modern Philosophy (3)
Rationalism and Empiricism. Selected works by such early modern philosophers as Descartes, Spinoza, Locke, Leibniz, and Berkeley.
210 –Social and Political Philosophy (3)
Introduction to classical, modern, and contemporary social and political theories as well as issues in a global context.
220 – Introduction to Feminism (3)
Study of feminism as a philosophical movement of the 20th century, its historical background, and contemporary feminist issues and theories.
225 –Practical Ethics (3)
An introduction to the philosophical examination of contemporary moral issues. Topics might include the death penalty, euthanasia, hate speech regulation, pornography, and human cloning.
231—Topics in Philosophy (3)
Selected topics outside of regular course offerings.
244 – Philosophy of Science (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of Lab Science General Education requirement. An examination of the philosophical issues raised and illustrated in both scientific theory and practice.
283 –Hinduism (3)
An introduction to the thought and traditions of Hinduism. Readings from the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavadgita, Puranas, and philosophical schools. Crosslisted as Religion 283
284 – Buddhism (3)
An introduction to the thought and traditions of Buddhism. Readings from the Dhammapada as well as from various Theravada and Mahayana schools. Crosslisted as Religion 284
286 –Confucianism (3)
An introduction to major Confucian texts and the contemporary uses of Confucian thought. Crosslisted as Religion 286
287 –Daoism (3)
An introduction to major Daoist texts and the contemporary uses of Daoist thought. Crosslisted as Religion 287.
301 – Medieval Philosophy (3)
Prerequisite: Philosophy 201. A survey of philosophical thought in the Jewish, Christian and Islamic traditions.
302 – Hume and Kant (3)
Prerequisite: Philosophy 202. A study of the major works and influence of Hume and Kant, with emphasis on the Critique of Pure Reason.
303 – Hegel, Marx, and Nietzsche (3)
Prerequisite: Philosophy 202. Study of the most important European philosophers of the 19th century.
306 – Advanced Logic (3)
Prerequisite: Philosophy 151 or six credits in mathematics. Theory of formal systems; applied criteria of consistency, completeness, and quantification; other topics in symbolic logic.
310 – Plato (3)
Prerequisite: Philosophy 201. Close study of selected works by Plato and scholarship on Plato.
311 – Aristotle (3)
Prerequisite: Philosophy 201. Close study of selected works by Aristotle and scholarship on Aristotle.
318 – Philosophy of Religion (3)
Philosophical examination of such topics as the relationship between faith and reason, the existence and non-existence of god, life after death, mysticism, and miracles. Cross-listed as Religion 318.
320 – Philosophy of Law I (3)
Central issues in the philosophy of law, including justice, liberty, punishment, responsibility, and the definition of law; discussion of the relation of theoretical questions to contemporary legal issues.
325 –Philosophy of Law II (3)
An exploration and analysis of issues in criminal and tort law: responsibility and punishment, causation and liability, acts and omissions, justifications and excuses, and the duty to rescue.
330 –Environmental Ethics (3)
A philosophical investigation of topics such as individualistic and holistic ethics, anthropocentrism and ecocentrism, wilderness and sustainability, ecofeminism, and environmental justice.
331 –Topics in Philosophy (3)
Selected topics outside of regular course offerings.
335 –Ethical Theory (3)
An in-depth study of moral theory. Topics might include relativism, utilitarianism, deontology, virtue theory, care ethics, egoism, and moral pluralism.
342 – Phenomenology (3)
The basic concepts and arguments of both transcendental and existential phenomenology, from central works of Husserl and Heidegger.
343 – Existentialism (3)
Critical study of major works of Heidegger, deBeauvoir, and Sartre.
350 – Feminist Theory and Philosophy (3)
Prerequisite: Philosophy 202 or 220. In-depth study of philosophical issues in feminism and implications of feminist theory for epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and philosophy of science.
354 – Philosophy of Education (3)
Historical and contemporary philosophical examination of the goals and methods of education.
405 – Freud (3)
Prerequisite: Philosophy 201 or 202. Theoretical papers from among Freud’s metapsychological works.
407 – Analytic Philosophy (3)
Prerequisites: Philosophy 201 and 202. Study of the history, development and some central writings of Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein, Quine and others.
440 –Studies in Asian and Comparative Philosophy (3)
Prerequisite: One of the following: Philosophy /Religion 283, 284, 285, 286, 287. Studies in a topic within Asian philosophical traditions.
450 – Seminar in Twentieth Century Philosophy (3)
Prerequisite: Philosophy 202. Intensive examination of a selected author, problem or movement of the twentieth century.
481 – Readings in Philosophy (3)
Discussion of philosophical literature in a field selected by the philosophy faculty after consultation with students.
485 – Research in Philosophy (3)
Capstone course required of all senior Philosophy majors; preparation of a senior thesis under supervision of the Philosophy faculty. Successful completion and defense, with GPA of 3.5 in the major, required for graduation with Honors in Philosophy.
491, 492 – Individual Study (3–6, 3–6)
Prerequisite: permission of department. Tutorial under the direction of a member of the staff. By permission of the philosophy faculty.
499 – Internship (Credits variable)
Supervised off-campus experience, developed in consultation with the philosophy faculty.
Joint Course Offerings Classics–Philosophy–Religion
299 – Mysterium Humanum Studies (3)
Different topics of fundamental human concern are treated at different times in this interdisciplinary course involving the entire faculty of the Department of Classics, Philosophy, and Religion. Topics covered in the past include Wrestling with Death, The Tempest of Time, Sex and Society in the West, Slavery, and Freedom and Religion.
301, 302 – Studies in Ancient Languages (3, 3)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Introduction to the morphology and syntax of selected ancient languages relevant to the study of classics, philosophy, and religion (such as Coptic, Quranic Arabic, Oscan, and Sanskrit). These courses do not satisfy the College’s general education requirement for proficiency in a foreign language.
331 – Crossdisciplinary Topics in Classics, Philosophy, and Religion (3)
A consideration of a theme from the perspective of two or three of the disciplines taught in the Department of Classics, Philosophy, and Religion.