Courses
Philosophy Courses
PHL101 Introduction to Philosophy
[3–0, 3 cr.]
This course introduces the major issues and outlooks in ancient, modern, and contemporary philosophy.
PHL301 Ethics
[3–0, 3 cr.]
Ethics is classically the study of what is right, just, appropriate, or desirable, all of which are among the various meanings given to “the good,” the central concern of ethics. Typically, this course will have historical, theoretical, and applied dimensions: the historical dimension will provide acquaintance with the various kinds of ethical and moral theory that have emerged over the last two and half millennia; the theoretical dimension will examine the content of these ideas closely; and the applied dimension will sharpen the student’s ability to think through distinctively ethical and moral problems.
Note: This course has not been thought since Fall 2024 and will not be taught in this academic year 2026–2027.
PHL302 Theory of Knowledge
[3–0, 3 cr.]
Theory of knowledge, known as “epistemology,” is a fundamental and enduringly significant branch of philosophy. Despite many historical transformations (some of which will be examined), it has had stable aims, among which are the definition of knowledge, the distinction between knowledge and belief, the methodologies and procedure by which knowledge is acquired, and how to deal with skepticism. These issues will be raised and explored with reference to both ancient and modern texts.
Note: This course has not been thought since Fall 2024 and will not be taught in this academic year 2026–2027.
PHL306 Phenomenology
[3–0, 3 cr.]
This course introduces the 20th century phenomenological movement while developing its connections to existentialism. The course begins with the early phenomenologists like Husserl, or early existentialists like Kierkegaard, and traces a line of development that proceeds through thinkers like Heidegger, Sartre, De Beauvoir, and Levinas. The focus on the course is on questions about the nature of consciousness, freedom, being, and their connections to moral, political, and religious thought.
PHL311 Philosophy of Religion
[3–0, 3 cr.]
This course will address fundamental philosophical questions arising from all major religions in the worlds, including the three Abrahamic faiths as well as the older Asian traditions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism. The course will deal with common religious themes such as Transcendence (or the Sacred or Mystery), religious experience, religious language, symbolism, the relationship between faith and reason, the relationship between science, mythology, and religion, and religious pluralism.
PHL322 Philosophy in Literature and Film
[3–0, 3 cr.]
Modern novels and films have often been far more effective than the work of philosophers in engaging readers with some of the most important questions of life, such as the existence of God, the meaning of life, the role of art in shaping human beings, the nature of time, truth, and reality, our relationship to nature, and so on. This course will therefore turn to literature and/or film to immerse students in situations that bring urgent philosophical issues to the foreground with great power and conviction.
Note: This course has not been thought since Fall 2024 and will not be taught in this academic year 2026–2027.
PHL324 Philosophy of Science
[3–0, 3 cr.]
Traditionally, this course has consisted in an examination of how philosophers have regarded science, especially the natural sciences: physics, chemistry, and biology. However, it has also become important to consider how scientists themselves regard their own work, especially since this often disagrees with what philosophers say about science. Readings will therefore be taken from well known philosophers of science such as Popper, Kuhn, Lakatos, Feyerabend, Holton, and A. W. Moore, and from the writings of scientists themselves, such as Darwin, Maxwell, Mach, Poincarré, Einstein, Heisenberg, Eiseley, Schrödinger, and Hawking.
Note: This course has not been thought since Fall 2024 and will not be taught in this academic year 2026–2027.