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Course Criteria
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3.00 Credits
What does it mean to be good Is it worthwhile to lead a good life Does being a good, moral person guarantee happiness This course will focus on ancient Greek ethical theories, their approach to leading a good life, and their relevance to our present lives. We will start with selections from Homer then examine the Sophistical challenge to the traditional Greek view, the rise of Socratic values, and Plato's own vision of a good life. The second half of the semester we will study Aristotle and the Hellenistic philosophers. We will use a contemporary novel and contemporary proponents of these Greek views to connect the theories with our present lives. (Cadavid, offered occasionally)
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3.00 Credits
This is an introductory course to semiotics, the doctrine of sign in all forms and shapes. Signs are processes of interpretation. Anything (object, idea, feeling, action) can become a sign by being interpreted. But interpretation is itself a sign in need of being interpreted, and so semiotics quickly becomes a labyrinth in which the concept of the sign becomes more, rather than less, problematic, as the inquiry into its nature proceeds. A wide variety of approaches to semiotics are presented, and applications to literature, art, architecture, dance, history, anthropology, film studies, women studies, photography, sociology, psychology, and biology are encouraged. (Baer, offered annually)
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3.00 Credits
This course addresses a variety of philosophical issues relating to the arts, focusing on questions such as these: What is the nature of artistic creativity What is the purpose of the arts Is there a way for us to determine aesthetic value Is there truth in art How are emotions related to the arts What role should art critics play How are interpretations and evaluations of art influenced by factors such as culture, time period, race, gender, class What role do the arts have in non-Western cultures Are there aesthetic experiences outside of the arts The course concludes by examining specific art forms chosen according to student interests. (Oberbrunner, offered annually)
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3.00 Credits
This is a basic course in political philosophy. The focus is on striking a balance in a political order between the freedom of the individual and the demands of community. The central question is whether the state is merely instrumental to the fostering of individuality or instead is valuable because of the community it represents. A related question is whether social relations are best understood as created by contract among persons or as constitutive of personhood. What is at issue is the adequacy of liberalism. (Lee, offered alternate years)
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3.00 Credits
The only question you need to know how to answer is "What should I do " We'll examine the three dominant theoretical approaches to answering this fundamental practical question. In the process, we'll also investigate questions like; What make a person morally worthy What makes an action morally right What makes the world a better place (Barn es, alternate year
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3.00 Credits
How should we act Morality and individual self interest are often thought to give conflicting answers to this question. This course examines basic issues in moral theory by focusing on the question of whether acting in one's own interests is incompatible with acting as morality requires. The course has a community service component. (Lee, offered alternate years)
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3.00 Credits
Study of the law raises many problems for which philosophy can help provide solutions. At the same time, the law provides valuable source material bearing on many traditional issues in philosophy. This course studies these problems and issues by examining both philosophical writings on the law and legal opinions. Tort and contract law are examined, as well as criminal and constitutional law. Some of the questions to be considered are: What is law What is the relation between law and morality To what extent is the state justified in interfering with a person's liberty When are persons responsible for their actions What is justice When is a person liable for harm caused to others When is morally justified to punish a person (Lee, offered alternate years)
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3.00 Credits
After reviewing some world religions, this course examines philosophically a variety fundamental questions about religion. Can we honor both the global diversity of religions and our common humanity Can rational thought help us The Western tradition, both classical and contemporary, includes a fascinating set of arguments to prove God's existence. Are they successful Students address the Problem of Evil, a perennial question about why there is so much human suffering. Is religion patriarchal What are some different ways of understanding the nature of divinity Can we understand personal immortality What is the relationship between religion and science Students look at several perspectives on religious truth and ways of knowing it. (Oberbrunner, offered alternate years)
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3.00 Credits
This course focuses on the philosophical implications of evolutionary biology for epistemology, metaphysics, religion, and public policy. We take up several questions central to the philosophy of science: What distinguishes science from non-science What is inductive reasoning When is data evidence for a theory What is a law of nature How does a scientific community modify theories or reject one theory and replace it with another We also confront religious and social issues raised by evolutionary theory, such as arguments about design, teleology, and mechanistic explanation. (Brophy, offered annually)
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3.00 Credits
This course is an introduction to the techniques and theories of formal logic. Topics include translation to artificial languages; formal techniques and procedures (natural deduction and truth tables); the concepts of validity, soundness, completeness, and consistency; and the theory of deductive reasoning. (Barnes, offered alternate years)
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