Philosophy Courses (PHIL)



Religion Courses (RELG)

Philosophy Courses:

PHIL 100: Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking. 3 hours.
This course is to help students learn to think clearly, concisely and analytically, through a familiarity with the reasoning methods of logic in terms of learning how to define terms, formulate arguments and analyze statements critically and objectively. The course will deal with the language of logic and the methods of deductive and inductive reasoning. Offered annually.

PHIL 200: Classical Problems in Philosophy. 3 hours.
An introductory survey of a number of perennial philosophical questions such as “How can a physical body produce a mind?” “Does free will exist?” “What is the self?” “Can we know if God exists?” and “Is there really an external world?” Offered annually. (Meets Ideas and Events of Western History)

PHIL 206: Eastern Religions and Philosophies. 3 hours.
An introduction to Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Specifically, the course focuses on the systems of value that emerge from these traditions and, where appropriate, compares and contrasts them with the values systems of Western traditions. The conceptual framework guiding this examination incorporates the tradition’s overall world view, conception of God or ultimate reality, its understanding of the origin,nature, and destiny of the cosmos and of human beings, a diagnosis of the human condition and a prescription for attaining the ultimate goal or purpose of human life. Same as RELG 206.

PHIL 210: Values Analysis. 3 hours.
This course is designed to help students develop an understanding of diverse models of ethical decision making and how to apply those models. Included in these models are the various concepts, ideas, theories and arguments that come together to form a framework for a common language within which discussion and understanding are possible. The goal of the course is to help students see that by mastering this framework they will be better able to articulate their own set of values and to take responsibility and participate in a democratic society. Values Analysis is a writing intensive course that uses both formal and informal writing as the primary medium in which students explore, reflect and draw conclusions regarding values questions. Some of the topics that will be covered in the course are relativism, subjectivism, religion and morality, environmental ethics, issues in business and medical ethics, utilitarianism and consequentialism, Kantian moral theory and issues in political theory.

PHIL 276: Field Experience. 1-3 hours.
Allows students to apply skills and abilities gained through studies in the department (e.g., critical thinking and logic, values analysis, medical ethics, Hebrew, Greek, etc.) to specific and practical contexts in the larger community. Recent experiences include serving as critical thinking mentors in the Phelps Gifted Education Program and for middle and high school students involved in the STEP UP program. Students will receive one credit hour per 40-50 hours of experience/service. Same as RELG 276.

PHIL 305: Ethical Issues in Health Care. 3 hours.
This course explores the ethical dilemmas confronting contemporary medicine. It both inquires into a broad range of topics (abortion, euthanasia, health care costs, organ transplantation, etc.) and provides a thorough study of ethical theories which may be applied to address the dilemmas of modern medicine. Offered annually. Same as RELG 305.

PHIL 308: History of Women Philosophers. 3 hours.
An introduction to women's contributions to the history of philosophical thought. The course moves from ancient Greece up through twentieth-century Western Europe and North America. The course considers the methodology and style of women philosophers and examines their reflections on the nature of reality, God, the human person and the human condition, knowledge, freedom and moral responsibility, sexual identity and difference, society, ethics and politics, language and science. Same as RELG 308.

PHIL 309: Christian Ethics. 3 hours.
This course explores the biblical resources for Christian moral decision-making, examines the historical development of moral theology (from the early church through the 20th century) and addresses selected moral issues. Same as RELG 309.

PHIL 311: History of Philosophy I: Ancient Greek. 3 hours.
An introduction to prominent figures and doctrinal developments in the history of ancient Greek philosophical thought. The course focuses on the primary texts of the Presocratics, Sophists, Plato and Aristotle and examines their reflections on the origin, nature and architecture of the universe, the nature and possibility of human knowledge and scientific theorizing, the human being and the human condition, as well as related ethical and political issues. Same as RELG 311.

PHIL 312: History of Philosophy II: Medieval. 3 hours.
An introduction to prominent figures and doctrinal developments in the history of medieval philosophical thought from the fourth through the fourteenth centuries. The course examines medieval reflections on the existence, nature and knowability of God, the origin and architecture of the universe, the human person, the freedom of the human will, human knowledge, the relation between faith and reason, and theology and philosophy, as well as related ethical and political issues. Same as RELG 312.

PHIL 313: History of Philosophy III: Modern. 3 hours.
A study of the general developments in empiricism, rationalism and idealism from the 16th through the 19th centuries in Europe. Such major thinkers as Bacon, Hobbes, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Berkeley, Locke, Hume, Kant, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Neitzsche and Kierkegaard will be considered.

PHIL 314: History of Philosophy IV: Contemporary European. 3 hours.
A study of some of the main types of contemporary European philosophy, including Positivism, analytic philosophy and existentialism.

PHIL 315: Buddhism and the Joy of Being Awake. 3 hours.
An in-depth study of Buddhism through the critical reading of primary source texts in translation. The course examines the conceptual framework of early Buddhist understandings of an overall world-view, ultimate Reality, the origin, nature and destiny of the cosmos, and of human beings as well, the human condition, the ultimate aim of human existence and a prescription for actualizing that goal. The course then explores the subsequent historical and doctrinal developments of Theravada, Mahayana, Zen and Vajrayana Buddhism. The course concludes with a look at contemporary Buddhism, its presence in the West, and its modern challenges, some contemporary Buddhist political leaders, and the lives and contributions of Buddhist women. Same as RELG 315. (Meets Minorities and Indigenous Cultures)

PHIL 320: Environmental Ethics. 3 hours.
This course seeks to develop a better understanding of both the factual and ethical dimensions of our current and possible future environments. Explores several contemporary approaches in environmental ethics (including: deep ecology; ecofeminism; animal rights; market efficiencies; the loss of biodiversity and responses from deontological, utilitarian and virtue ethics, etc.) and representative theoretical problems (e.g., Aldo Leopold's "land ethic" vs. natural rights views; ecological holism vs. moral atomism; market efficiency vs. moral obligations, etc.). Using a case-study approach, students then learn to apply different ethical frameworks to several ethical choices occasioned by human interaction with the natural order. Same as ENVR 320.

PHIL 376: Philosophy of Religion. 3 hours.
A critical examination of some of the major interpretations of God, humanity, evil, human destiny and history, and immortality. Each student is encouraged to work out a personal constructive philosophy of religion. Offered occasionally. Same as RELG 376.

PHIL 377: Philosophy of Science. 3 hours.
A philosophic study of the conceptual foundations and methodology of modern science, including the logical structure and verification of theories and the relations between scientific finding and ethical, social and metaphysical problems. Offered occasionally.

PHIL 493: Senior Seminar. 3 hours.

PHIL 290, 390, 490: Selected Topics. 1-3 hours each.

PHIL 391, 392, 491, 492: Research.

PHIL 495, 496: Honors Research.

PHIL 397, 398, 497, 498: Internship.

Religion Courses:

RELG 109: Introduction to the Study of Religion. 3 hours.
Religion and religious ideas are central to all cultures and societies, including our own. This course will look at the broad range of cultural forms we have come to call religion, examine how these forms shape cultures and societies, and finally, by examining what these forms have in common and how they differ, we will determine what it is we study when we study religion. Required of all majors and minors. Offered annually.

RELG 201: Religions of the World: Eastern. 3 hours.
A religio-philosophical introduction to Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. Specifically, the course focuses on the systems of value that emerge from these traditions and, where appropriate, compares and contrasts them with the value systems of Western traditions. The conceptual framework guiding this examination incorporates the tradition's overall world view, conception of God or ultimate reality, understanding of the origin, nature and destiny of the cosmos and of human beings, diagnosis of the human condition and prescription for attaining the ultimate goal or purpose of human life.

RELG 202: Religions of the World: Middle Eastern. 3 hours.
A comparative study of the major ideas of those religions most directly related to and influencing the West: Zoroastrianism, Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Offered annually.

RELG 203: Introduction to the Bible. 3 hours.
An introductory study of the Hebrew scriptures and the Christian New Testament with attention to the literature of these sacred texts, the historical circumstances of their development and the methods of textual interpretation. Offered annually

RELG 204: Introduction to History of Christianity. 3 hours.
An introductory survey of the history of Christianity. Attention is given to the Early church Fathers, the Medieval era, the Reformation, the church's response to the Enlightenment and the Contemporary period.

RELG 205: The Life and Teachings of Jesus. 3 hours.
A study of the person, work and teaching of Jesus as reflected in the Biblical records, with some attention given to later and current interpretations of His life. Offered annually.

RELG 206: Eastern Religions and Philosophies. 3 hours.
An introduction to Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Specifically, the course focuses on the systems of value that emerge from these traditions and, where appropriate, compares and contrasts them with the values systems of Western traditions. The conceptual framework guiding this examination incorporates the tradition’s overall world view, conception of God or ultimate reality, its understanding of the origin,nature, and destiny of the cosmos and of human beings, a diagnosis of the human condition and a prescription for attaining the ultimate goal or purpose of human life. Same as PHIL 206.

RELG 276: Field Experience. 1-3 hours.
Allows students to apply skills and abilities gained through studies in the department (e.g., critical thinking and logic, values analysis, medical ethics, Hebrew, Greek, etc.) to specific and practical contexts in the larger community. Recent experiences include serving as critical thinking mentors in the Phelps Gifted Education Program and for middle and high school students involved in the STEP UP program. Students will receive one credit hour per 40-50 hours of experience/service. Same as PHIL 276.

RELG 305: Ethical Issues in Health Care. 3 hours.
This course explores the ethical dilemmas confronting contemporary medicine. It both inquires into a broad range of topics (abortion, euthanasia, health care costs, organ transplantation, etc.) and provides a thorough study of ethical theories which may be applied to address the dilemmas of modern medicine. Offered annually. Same as PHIL 305.

RELG 308: History of Women Philosophers. 3 hours.
An introduction to women's contributions to the history of philosophical thought. The course moves from ancient Greece up through twentieth-century Western Europe and North America. The course considers the methodology and style of women philosophers and examines their reflections on the nature of reality, God, the human person and the human condition, knowledge, freedom and moral responsibility, sexual identity and difference, society, ethics and politics, language and science. Same as PHIL 308.

RELG 309: Christian Ethics. 3 hours.
This course explores the biblical resources for Christian moral decision-making, examines the historical development of moral theology (from the early church through the 20th century) and addresses selected moral issues. Same as PHIL 309.

RELG 310: The Bible and Sexual Ethics. 3 hours.
This course explores the Bible through theories of anthropology, sociology, and cultural criticism. It looks specifically at stories in the Bible that concern marriage, sex and violence.

RELG 311: History of Philosophy I: Ancient Greek. 3 hours.
An introduction to prominent figures and doctrinal developments in the history of ancient Greek philosophical thought. The course focuses on the primary texts of the Presocratics, Sophists, Plato and Aristotle and examines their reflections on the origin, nature and architecture of the universe, the nature and possibility of human knowledge and scientific theorizing, the human being and the human condition, as well as related ethical and political issues. Same as PHIL 311.

RELG 312: History of Philosophy II: Medieval. 3 hours.
An introduction to prominent figures and doctrinal developments in the history of medieval philosophical thought from the fourth through the fourteenth centuries. The course examines medieval reflections on the existence, nature and knowability of God, the origin and architecture of the universe, the human person, the freedom of the human will, human knowledge, the relation between faith and reason, and theology and philosophy, as well as related ethical and political issues. Same as PHIL 312.

RELG 315: Buddhism and the Joy of Being Awake. 3 hours.
An in-depth study of Buddhism through the critical reading of primary source texts in translation. The course examines the conceptual framework of early Buddhist understandings of an overall world-view, ultimate Reality, the origin, nature and destiny of the cosmos, and of human beings as well, the human condition, the ultimate aim of human existence and a prescription for actualizing that goal. The course then explores the subsequent historical and doctrinal developments of Theravada, Mahayana, Zen and Vajrayana Buddhism. The course concludes with a look at contemporary Buddhism, its presence in the West, and its modern challenges, some contemporary Buddhist political leaders, and the lives and contributions of Buddhist women. Same as PHIL 315. (Meets Minorities and Indigenous Cultures)

RELG 368: 20th Century Christian Thought. 3 hours.
An examination of the works of some of the major Christian thinkers of the 20th century in their response to the intellectual and cultural movements of the times. Offered occasionally.

RELG 376: Philosophy of Religion. 3 hours.
A critical examination of some of the major interpretations of God, humanity, evil, human destiny and history, and immortality. Each student is encouraged to work out a personal constructive philosophy of religion. Offered occasionally. Same as PHIL 376.

RELG 401: Readings in Religion. 1-3 hours.

RELG 402: Readings in Religion. 1-3 hours.

RELG 493: Senior Seminar. 3 hours.

RELG 290, 390, 490: Selected Topics. 1-3 hours each.

RELG 391, 392, 491, 492: Research.

RELG 495, 496: Honors Research.

RELG 397, 398, 497, 498: Internship.