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Academic Bulletin Philosophy - 2008-09

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Faculty: G. Helman (chair), M. Brouwer, C. Hughes*, J. Levin, W. Placher*, S. Webb

*Sabbatical leave, full year

The Wabash philosophy department offers courses on a range of philosophical topics, with a diversity of points of view unusual in a small college department. Most of our courses are historically oriented, with emphasis on looking at philosophical arguments. Students grow familiar with the classic texts of the Western philosophical tradition as they develop their own skills in reading difficult texts, writing, and thinking about philosophical issues.

We try to provide a variety of ways for interested students to sample the subject. All courses in the 100’s are appropriate first courses in philosophy. Students with interests in a particular area can also begin with a course in the 200’s, though the work there may be slightly more advanced. Philosophy 449 and 489 are normally taken by majors during their senior year.

Comprehensive Examinations: Students write for two days, three hours each day. The department has usually invited majors to submit a list of six books from a number of periods in the history of philosophy to serve as the basis for the questions on the first day. Second day questions usually explore broad philosophical issues, with students free to draw on any material in answering them. The department’s goal is to give students the chance to tie their major together, reflect on this part of their education, and demonstrate their strengths in the field.

Requirements for the Major: Nine course credits (of which up to one credit may be from Political Science 330, 335, or 350), including:

• The history of ancient and early modern philosophy (Philosophy 140 and Philosophy 242)

• Logic (Philosophy 270)

• Work in ethics, social, or political philosophy (at least one credit from among Philosophy 110, Philosophy 213, Philosophy 219, Philosophy 319, or Political Science 330, 335, or 350)

• 20th century philosophy in the continental and analytic traditions (Philosophy 345 and Philosophy 346, each one-half credit.)

• Senior seminar (Philosophy 449)

• Senior research (Philosophy 489, one-half credit.)

Requirements for the Minor: Five course credits (of which up to one credit may be from Political Science 330, 335, or 350), including:

• The history of ancient and early modern philosophy (Philosophy 140 and Philosophy 242)

• Work in ethics, social, or political philosophy (at least one credit from among Philosophy 110, Philosophy 213, Philosophy 219, Philosophy 319, or Political Science 330, 335, or 350)

• At least one credit from courses in philosophy with a number of 300 or above.


Course Title Credits Prerequisites
 
PHI 109 Perspectives on Philosophy 1 or 1/2

No prerequisite and not open to junior or senior majors without permission of the instructor.

 
PHI 110 Philosophical Ethics 1  
PHI 140 Philosophy of the Classical Period 1  
PHI 144 Introduction to Existentialism 1  
PHI 213 Philosophy of Law 1 or 1/2  
PHI 219 Topics in Ethics and Social Philosophy 1 or 1/2

Prerequisite, if any, will depend on the topic in a given year.

 
PHI 220 Aesthetics 1  
PHI 242 Foundations of Modern Philosophy 1  
PHI 249 Topics in the History of Philosophy 1 or 1/2

Prerequisite, if any, will depend on the topic in a given year.

 
PHI 269 Topics in Metaphysics and Epistemology 1 or 1/2

Prerequisite, if any, will depend on the topic in a given year.

 
PHI 270 Elementary Symbolic Logic 1  
PHI 272 Philosophy of Science 1  
PHI 279 Topics in Logic and the Philosophy of Science 1 or 1/2

Prerequisite, if any, will depend on the topic in a given year.

 
PHI 287 Independent Study 1 or 1/2  
PHI 288 Independent Study 1 or 1/2  
PHI 299 Special Topics in Philosophy 1 or 1/2

Prerequisite, if any, will depend on the topic in a given year.

 
PHI 319 Seminar in Ethics and Social Philosophy 1 or 1/2

Prerequisite, if any, will depend on the topic in a given year.

 
PHI 345 20th Century Continental Philosophy 1/2

Prerequisites: Philosophy 140 and 242 (old 142) or consent of the instructor.

 
PHI 346 Analytic Philosophy 1/2

Prerequisites: Philosophy 242 (old 142) and 270 or consent of the instructor.

 
PHI 349 Seminar in the History of Philosophy 1 or 1/2

Prerequisite will depend on the topic in a given year.

 
PHI 369 Seminar in Metaphysics and Epistemology 1 or 1/2

Prerequisite will depend on the topic in a given year.

 
PHI 379 Seminar in Logic and Philosophy of Science 1 or 1/2

Prerequisite will depend on the topic in a given year.

 
PHI 387 Independent Study 1 or 1/2  
PHI 388 Independent Study 1 or 1/2  
PHI 399 Proseminar 1 or 1/2

Prerequisite will depend on the topic in a given year.

 
PHI 449 Senior Seminar 1  
PHI 489 Senior Research 1/2  
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