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Course Descriptions
PHI 109 Perspectives on Philosophy
A course in some selected philosophical topic or range of topics designed to provide an example of philosophical reflection and inquiry.
Prerequisites: Not open to junior or senior majors without permission of the instructor.
Credits: 1 or 1/2
PHI 110 Philosophical Ethics
Thought about what is good, what is right, and what ought to be done pervades our lives. Philosophy can contribute to this thought by providing ways of organizing it and reflecting on it critically—which is done in this course using both historical and contemporary sources. This course is offered in the fall semester.
Prerequisites: None.
Credits: 1
PHI 140 Ancient Philosophy (CLA 140)
A survey of the Ancient Greek philosophy, including Pre-Socratics, Plato and Aristotle; Hellenistic philosophy may also be included. This course focuses on acquiring and improving abilities in philosophical reading, thinking and expression. In class, the norm is close textual analysis through lectures and discussion. Topics include the nature of the physical and human world, and questions about knowledge and ultimate being. This course is offered in the fall semester.
Prerequisites: None.
Credits: 1
PHI 144 Introduction to Existentialism
An introduction to some of the primary texts in philosophy of human existence of the 19th and 20th centuries, including works of fiction, philosophy, and psychology from such writers as Kierkegaard, Dostoyevski, Nietzsche, Camus, Sartre, de Beauvoir, and Jaspers.
Prerequisites: None.
Credits: 1
PHI 213 Philosophy of Law
An introduction to philosophical issues concerning the analysis of legal concepts and the moral justification of the law. Typical issues include the nature of law and its relation to morality, issues of moral justification arising in specific branches of the law (e.g., criminal, tort, or contract law), and the nature and justification of international law.
Prerequisites: None.
Credits: 1 or 1/2
PHI 219 Topics in Ethics and Social Philosophy
Seminar discussion of a topic or area in ethical theory, applied ethics, or social and political philosophy.
Prerequisites: Vary with topic.
Credits: 1 or 1/2
PHI 220 Aesthetics
A survey of work in the philosophy of art both prior to and during the 20th century. Topics considered include the concept of art and a work of art, the relation between art and truth, the objectivity of aesthetic evaluation, the nature of representation, and issues concerning meaning and interpretation.
Prerequisites: None.
Credits: 1
PHI 242 Foundations of Modern Philosophy
Readings and discussion of the classical modern philosophers of the 17th and 18th centuries, focusing on questions such as scientific method and the possibility of knowledge, the nature of reality, ethics and the relation of the individual to society, and the existence of God. Readings from among Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Hobbes, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Kant, and Rousseau. This course is offered in the spring semester.
Prerequisites: None.
Credits: 1
PHI 249 Topics in the History of Philosophy
Seminar discussion of a historical period, figure or topic.
Prerequisites: Vary with topic.
Credits: 1 or 1/2
PHI 269 Topics in Metaphysics and Epistemology
Seminar discussion of a topic or area in metaphysics or the theory of knowledge.
Prerequisites: Vary with topic.
Credits: 1 or 1/2
PHI 270 Elementary Symbolic Logic
An introduction to the principles of deductive logic for connectives (“and,” “not,” “or,” “if”) and quantifiers (“all,” “some”). Attention is given to the logical structure of English sentences and its representation in symbolic notation and to formal proofs establishing the logical properties and relations of sentences.
Prerequisites: None.
Credits: 1
PHI 272 Philosophy of Science
An introduction to philosophical issues concerning the logical structure and historical development of natural science. Among the general issues considered will be the relations among theory, observation, and experiment; the reality of theoretical entities; and the significance of scientific revolutions. Some attention is usually given also to philosophical issues regarding specific sciences, principally biology and physics.
Prerequisites: None.
Credits: 1
PHI 279 Topics in Logic and the Philosophy of Science
Additional topics in formal or informal logic or the philosophical study of science and its historical development.
Prerequisites: Vary with topic.
Credits: 1 or 1/2
PHI 287 Independent Study
Independent Studies at a more advanced level will be numbered 387 or 388.
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and the department chair.
Credits: 1 or 1/2
PHI 288 Independent Study
Independent Studies at a more advanced level will be numbered 387 or 388.
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and the department chair.
Credits: 1 or 1/2
PHI 299 Special Topics in Philosophy
A course in some selected philosophical topic.
Prerequisites: Vary with topic.
Credits: 1 or 1/2
PHI 319 Seminar in Ethics and Social Philosophy
Seminar discussion at a more advanced level of a topic or area in ethical theory, applied ethics, or social and political philosophy.
Prerequisites: Vary with topic.
Credits: 1 or 1/2
PHI 345 Continental Philosophy
Seminar discussion of major themes or figures in the Continental tradition from the 19th century to the present, which may include work in phenomenology and existentialism, Marxism and critical theory, poststructuralism, and feminism. Readings may be drawn from Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Habermas, Sartre, Beauvoir, Foucault, Derrida, or others. This course is offered in the fall semester.
Prerequisites: PHI 140 and 242.
Credits: 1 or 1/2
PHI 346 Analytic Philosophy
Seminar discussion of major themes or figures in the Analytic tradition.
Prerequisites: Vary with topic.
Credits: 1 or 1/2
PHI 349 Seminar in the History of Philosophy
Seminar discussion at a more advanced level of a historical period, figure, or topic.
Prerequisites: Vary with topic.
Credits: 1 or 1/2
PHI 369 Seminar in Metaphysics and Epistemology
Seminar discussion at a more advanced level of a topic or area in metaphysics or the theory of knowledge.
Prerequisites: Vary with topic.
Credits: 1 or 1/2
PHI 379 Seminar in Logic and Philosophy of Science
Additional topics in formal or informal logic or the philosophical study of science and its historical development offered at a more advanced level.
Prerequisites: Vary with topic.
Credits: 1 or 1/2
PHI 387 Independent Study
Independent studies at a less advanced level will be numbered 287 or 288.
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and the department chair.
Credits: 1 or 1/2
PHI 388 Independent Study
Independent studies at a less advanced level will be numbered 287 or 288.
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and the department chair.
Credits: 1 or 1/2
PHI 399 Proseminar
An advanced course in some selected philosophical topic.
Prerequisites: Vary with topic.
Credits: 1 or 1/2
PHI 449 Senior Seminar
A detailed study of a major philosopher or philosophical topic. Required of majors and open to other students. Normally taken in the senior year. This course is offered in the fall semester.
Prerequisites: Vary with topic.
Credits: 1
PHI 490 Senior Reading
Seminar discussion of selected work in recent philosophy. Normally taken in the spring semester of the senior year.
Prerequisite: Senior majors.
Credits: 1/2