Minor
Philosophy
Philosophy Minor
The minor in Philosophy acquaints students with humankind's most fundamental attempts at self-knowledge and provides a basis from which students can formulate their own views of themselves and the world. Philosophy is the oldest academic discipline, and philosophers strive to uncover wisdom in every dimension of human existence. Consequently, philosophy shares interests with, and complements, most other academic disciplines.
The study of philosophy encourages logical precision, a heightened awareness of assumptions used in any discussion, and an attitude of both open-mindedness and responsible criticism toward new and un-usual ideas. That is, the study of philosophy helps students develop their capacities for creative, clear thinking and careful reasoning. The development of these skills, attitudes, and capacities makes the Philosophy minor an excellent preparation for graduate or professional study, conscientious citizenship, and a successful career. The study of philosophy may also be pursued by selecting the Philosophy specialization of the Humanities major. Consult the Humanities section of this catalog for the complete degree requirements.
Degrees and Certificates
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Philosophy,
Courses
PH 113: Critical Thinking
Credits 3The study of critical thinking emphasizing the careful and deliberate determination of whether one should accept, reject, or suspend judgment on a claim, and how confident one should be in doing so. This course will cover a range of topics, including topics such as: the structure of arguments, common reasoning errors, the use and abuse of language in reasoning, the connections between critical thinking and clear writing, construction and evaluation of definitions and explanations.
PH 114: Philosophy in the Real World
Credits 3Nearly every issue facing our society today has philosophical concepts at its core. This course in and introduction to philosophy by means of exploration of philosophical concepts or questions as they arise through a discussion of current-day issues. Specific topics will vary according to student interest, but will include issues and concepts such as: racism, biological research, health care, equality, knowledge, freedom, justice.
PH 225: Freedom in Modernity
Credits 3A study of the concept of freedom as self-determination, as it emerged from the French Revolution, as it was formulated by 19th-century thinkers such as Hegel, Marx, and Dostoevsky, as ethics explored by 20th-century thinkers such as Sartre and Heidegger, and as it is affecting 21st-century thinking about the person and about political self-determination.
PH 226: American Pragmatism
Credits 3A study of American pragmatism, this course will examine topics such as the roles of individualism, the concept of community, and the idea of freedom in American life. The perspective taken will be developed from a reading of some representative works of the classical pragmatists, Charles Sanders Peirce, John Dewey, and William James.
PH 332: Social Ethics
Credits 3The study of ethical theories and principles related to questions and issues specific to human society, including issues such as questions of personal responsibility and theories of justice in light of cases such as human rights, world hunger, war and peace, disarmament, communications, environment, and issues related to public policy.
Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only.
PH 334: Business Ethics
Credits 3The study of ethical theories and principles related to questions and issues specific to business practices in areas such as property, contracts, work, corporate responsibility, advertising, and the roles of corporations in the community.
Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only.
PH 335: Identities and Inequalities
Credits 3This course investigates social identities such as race, ethnicity, gender, class, and ability from a philosophical perspective. Through the study of ethical and political theories, the course examines a range of questions about these identities—e.g., questions about how identities are constructed, how they are bound up with a range of social, political, and economic inequalities, and what we can and should do to address these inequalities.
Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only.
PH 337: Bioethics
Credits 3The study of the ethical theories and principles related to bio-medical practices and problems arising from practices such as human experimentation, abortion, fetal research, involuntary commitment, suicide, euthanasia, genetics and human reproduction, and other similar topics.
Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only.
PH 339: Philosophy of Death and Dying
Credits 3Attempts to work out a reflective approach to death and dying which can support the concrete consciousness of one's own death. Studies the work of thinkers such as Kubler-Ross, and also the work of such philosophers as Plato, Schopenhauer, Hegel, Freud, and Heidegger.
Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only.
PH 355: Philosophy in Literature
Credits 3This course explores various philosophical theories and themes as they are expressed in literature. Content and themes of the course will vary from year to year. Topics may include questions of morality and responsibility, alienation, issues of appearance vs. reality, questions about human nature and personal identity, the dynamics of tragedy, and the concept of human existence. Readings may draw from diverse cultures, traditions, and periods.
PH 375: 20th Century Philosophy
Credits 3The study of selected writings from some of the most important figures in European and American philosophy in the 20th century as they treat central ideas and themes of the Western Philosophical Tradition. Thinkers covered will represent disparate approaches or movements such as Early Analytic Philosophy, Pragmatism, Phenomenology (and Existentialism), post-Wittgensteinian Analytic Philosophy, Postmodernism, Deconstructionism, and Feminist Philosophies.