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Course Criteria
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4.00 Credits
A thematic introduction to philosophy, taking a comparative approach, looking at philosophy not only of the Western tradition, but also of the Eastern tradition. Themes include the idea of a "good life," ethics and the self. Through close reading of primarytexts, we critically explore both the commonalities and differences across the traditions. Students learn how to analyze difficult philosophical texts and arguments critically, develop writing skills and ask and answer questions in a philosophical manner. Also offered through Asian Studies and Global Studies.
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4.00 Credits
An introduction to argument and logic. Attention is given to both deductive and inductive logic and to methods of determining the reliability of arguments of both types. Additional topics may include scientific thinking, informal evaluation of arguments and composition of arguments.
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4.00 Credits
A historical introduction to ethical theory, drawing on texts from the Greeks to the present. What is the nature of moral obligation? What character traits are human virtues and vices? How do we discern goodness and evil? How do we justify ethical judgments of any kind? This is an appropriate selection for students with some previous experience in philosophy and provides an important background for further study in philosophy or other disciplines. Prerequisite: Philosophy 100, 101, 102, 103, or 202 or permission of instructor. Also offered through Global Studies.
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4.00 Credits
A historical introduction to theories of knowledge and reality, from the Greeks to moderns. What is knowledge? What is it possible to know? How is knowledge obtained? What must the world be like for knowledge to be possible? What do we know about the world? Contemporary thinking about these questions is illuminated by showing its relation to previous theories; students are invited to consider these and related questions for themselves. Prerequisite: Philosophy 100, 101, 102, 103, or 202 or permission of the instructor. Also offered through European Studies.
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4.00 Credits
A study of the answers that philosophers from Plato to Nietzsche have given to the question, "How should political life be organized?"This question leads us to consider the related problems of justice, power, equality, freedom and human nature. The course includes discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of liberal democracy. Also offered as Government 206 and through European Studies.
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4.00 Credits
An introduction to some of the major thinkers and themes of the philosophies of India, China and Japan. The major themes - self and ethics - require us to think in a different frameworkfrom that of the Western tradition: for instance, whereas the East emphasizes the ethical, the West stresses the logical and epistemological; whereas the West seeks out a methodology, the East inquires after a path. Students are encouraged to think in these non-Western frameworks; however, we also make reference to ideas and themes in Western philosophy to aid understanding of the traditions. Also offered through Asian Studies.
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4.00 Credits
A discussion of brilliant, enduring works by Homer, Sophocles, Aeschylus, Euripides, Aristophanes, Thucydides and Plato. The course focuses on the growth of "enlightenment" in classicalAthens, along with its attendant social, intellectual and political problems. Socrates, who grasped both the splendor and the perils of enlightenment, is the pivotal figure. Also offered as Government 245 and through European Studies.
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4.00 Credits
Why does science produce such reliable knowledge? Is there really a "scientific method"? Does science get at truth, or is scientificknowledge socially constructed? In addition to these questions, we consider whether science advances according to a steady and rational process, or whether it advances according to radical "scientific revolutions." We also try to identify what (if anything)distinguishes scientific knowledge from other kinds of knowledge. To conclude the course, we reflect on whether scientific knowledge is comprehensive enough to constitute a complete worldview. Prerequisite: Philosophy 100, 101, 202 or permission of the instructor. Also offered through European Studies.
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4.00 Credits
A study of elementary symbolic logic. Topics include sentential and predicate logic. Prerequisite: Philosophy 202 or permission of instructor.
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4.00 Credits
Our current environmental problems are due primarily to the total volume of human consumption. This course focuses on the problem of high consumption in developed countries and possible solutions for it. Is this high consumption necessary for our happiness, or could we be just as happy while doing less damage to the natural world? If we could, as many environmentalists argue, why do so few of us live as though we truly believe that? Is it possible to consume less, either as individuals or as a society? What kinds of changes are feasible in society to reduce our damage to the natural world? The course offers a theory of happiness intended to make it possible to answer these questions. Prerequisite: Philosophy 100, 101, 102, 103, 202, Environmental Studies 101 or permission of the instructor. Also offered as Environmental Studies 310 and Outdoor Studies 310.
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