PHL - Philosophy

A study of philosophical methods and concepts via selected philosophical systems and problems.

Studies principles of correct reasoning: formal and informal arguments.

Examines major systems of thought regarding problems of moral value and the good life.

Examines major concepts and methods of 20th- and 21st- century philosophy.

An examination of selected topics in the philosophy of art and critical appreciation such as the nature of art, aesthetic experience and aesthetic objects.

An introduction to feminist philosophy and philosophical questions about gender. Readings will include classic and contemporary sources.

Examines the nature and validity of religious beliefs.

An examination by case study of moral problems in the business world. Topics include the obligation of industry to the natural environment, governmental regulation of private enterprise, employee rights and truth in advertising. Develops a number of ethical theories to assist the analysis.

An investigation of selected moral problems that arise in the contemporary biomedical setting. Issues include abortion, euthanasia, patient rights, animal experimentation, in-vitro fertilization, surrogate motherhood and genetic engineering.

An examination of issues that arise from human beings interacting with their natural environment. Initial discussion involves selected ethical problems that arise from human use of "common systems" (e.g., the atmosphere, oceans, wilderness). Further discussions consider whether ecological systems, natural features and non-human animals have moral worth independent of their utility for human commerce.

Designed to strengthen students' skills in reasoning about problems and issues of everyday life by helping them to distinguish between good and bad arguments. Students work to achieve these goals through reading and discussion of course materials, written analyses of others' arguments or development of their own arguments, and class debates for practice in persuasive argument.

An examination of ancient philosophy in the Western world with a concentration on the philosophical views of Plato and Aristotle.

A study of major social and political systems and issues from Plato to the present.

What is the mind? How is it related to the brain and body? How is it connected to the world? What exactly is consciousness? This course is an introduction to the philosophy of mind, with a focus on issues of metaphysics. Topics covered may include mind-brain dualism, logical behaviorism, mind-brain identity theory, functionalism, connectionism, artificial intelligence, philosophical questions about mental representation and the nature of consciousness, embodied cognition and other current trends in philosophy of mind.

An investigation into a set of issues at the intersection of philosophy and sport. Sport plays a significant role in public consciousness. This course provides the opportunity for students to participate in an in-depth analysis of major metaphysical, social, and political questions pertaining to the world of sport. Topics may include:  what constitutes a sport; ethical questions about sport; fandom, identity, and racism; sports and gender; and fairness in sport.

An in-depth study of selected philosophers or philosophical problems. May be repeated if content varies.

This course examines philosophical problems related to Asian martial arts and military philosophy, looking at classic texts and at more recent academic and popular writings. It is also an introduction to the emerging academic field of martial arts studies. We will emphasize the cross-cultural comparison of philosophical traditions, methods and commitments.  This course has an experiential learning component: We will learn and practice a form of taijiquan (i.e., t’ai chi) inside and outside of class. The taijiquan practice will be modified for those who are physically unable to perform it.

An introduction to yoga practice and philosophy. This course has an experiential learning component: We will do hatha yoga postures, breathing techniques and meditation as part of class. This course examines yoga and its associated philosophical, cosmological and religious beliefs. We will compare and contrast traditional Indian conceptions of the body and health with those of other cultures and of modern medicine. We will examine appropriations of yoga tradition by practitioners. Contemporary and classical readings by scholars and practitioners will supplement the practices. Appropriate for beginners and advanced practitioners. Practices will be modified for those physically unable to perform them.

An introduction to Indian and East Asian philosophy. Surveys the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, early Indian Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism (a.k.a. Taoism) and East Asian Buddhism.

Please note: This course was cross-listed as REL 217 prior to the 2013-2014 academic year. Students who took the course as REL 217 may not repeat it.

This course introduces analytic and continental approaches to the study of aesthetics through philosophical explorations of Hip Hop. Students will analyze scholarly themes, perspectives, and critiques, centered on questions of the social, political, and philosophical import of a variety of forms of local and global hip hop aesthetical productions and topics including sexism, homophobia, class, and race. Students will also critically engage others in a group project, while developing their own theoretical attitudes towards critical questions of epistemology, classical aesthetics, post-modernity, and existentialist thought through analyses of traditional and contemporary thinkers, artists, texts and media.

This course explores what is called “Modern Philosophy”--that is, the highly influential philosophies of early modern rationalists (such as René Descartes) and empiricists (such as David Hume) as well as the extraordinary synthesis provided by Immanuel Kant.  We focus on early modern philosophers' theories and ideas about metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of mind, religion, science, and related issues.  This course provides a foundation for both understanding and critiquing the modern world.

An investigation into the nature of emotions and their relationship to rationality and moral responsibility. We first examine some traditional philosophical accounts that analyze emotions in terms of specific sensations. We then examine a Freudian account of emotion, which holds that one can have an unconscious emotion. Existential theories of emotion are then considered, followed by an examination of contemporary cognitive theories.

A study of central themes in existential philosophy and literature.

A study of film as an aesthetic medium. Explores the social, technological, historical and artistic influences on the development of cinema. Also examines how theories of film (i.e., realism, formalism, expressionism and semiology) affect the aesthetic construction and critical reception of films.

What is democracy? How is it tied to justice? Is liberal democracy the only legitimate form of democracy? Can we make democracy better? How should democracy be shaped by culture and context? This course focuses on contemporary philosophical debates about democracy, but readings also include texts in political theory and political philosophy. Specific topics may include democratic representation; minimalism/realism about democracy; liberal democracy; classical pluralism; social choice theory; difference democracy and issues of gender, race, and class; deliberative democracy; green/environmental democracy; globalization and cross-cultural issues as they relate to democracy.

This course will introduce students to the academic field of the philosophy of law. Students will be exposed to, and develop their capacity to think critically about, historically influential philosophical answers to the following questions: “What is the nature of the law, and what makes something a valid or legitimate law? Should the law reflect morality, or does it somehow constitute or create morality?” This course will also examine the philosophy of constitutional law, contract law, criminal law, rights to property, free speech, free practice of religion, privacy, pornography, abortion, gay marriage, affirmative action and punishment. It is recommended that students have had at least one course in philosophy, criminology or government and world affairs, but this course may be taken as a first course in philosophy by ambitious students who are interested in the subject matter.

An in-depth investigation into the philosophical nature and implications of human rights. Examines whether human rights are objective or human constructions, different cultural and religious conceptions of human rights, how many human rights there are, and what protection of human rights requires.  Prerequisite:  one previously completed PHL course or consent of instructor.

An in-depth investigation of major philosophical theories of justice, as well as questions of applied justice, such as justice and the family, affirmative action, and mass incarceration.  Prerequisite:  one previously completed PHL course or consent of instructor.

An in-depth study of major theories of international justice and applied international issues, such as human rights, world poverty, nationalism, multiculturalism, and climate change.

An in-depth examination of when war is morally justified, which tactics in war are morally justified, and what is morally required post-war. Topics include pacifism, preventive war, use of overwhelming force, terrorism, and civilian and military responsibility.

This advanced course introduces students to fundamental issues regarding ethics and artificial intelligence, including questions about whether A.I. are conscious beings warranting moral consideration, problems in ensuring that A.I. behavior is controllable and aligned with human values, algorithmic police profiling, social media algorithms, and creating A.I. for friendship, romance, or sex.

This course offers a detailed examination of contemporary analytic epistemology, or the study of knowledge. Knowledge and related epistemic concepts such as belief, justification, truth, and probability are integral to the ways in which we understand the world. Before we can make substantive claims about anything, we must consider the conditions under which we can know something. To that end, this course may cover topics such as:  theories of knowledge, justification, and probability, skepticism, and issues at the intersection of ethics and epistemology such as testimonial injustice and moral encroachment.

An in-depth survey of classical Chinese philosophy, with an emphasis on the cross-cultural comparison of philosophical traditions, methods and commitments. This course will focus on classical Confucianism and Daoism (Taoism), but will also cover topics such as Mohism, the legalist philosophy of Hanfeizi and Yin/Yang metaphysics. It is recommended that students have had at least one course in philosophy, religion or Asian studies (including Asian languages), but this course may be taken as a first course in philosophy or Asian studies by ambitious students who are interested in the subject matter.

This course is an introduction to the philosophy and religion of Daoism (Taoism).  It will emphasize the cross-cultural comparison of philosophical traditions, methods and commitments.  This course has an experiential learning component:  In addition to our study of texts, we will practice Daoist meditation techniques and qigong (i.e., Chinese yoga-like body practices) inside and outside of class. The practices will be modified for those who are physically unable to perform them.

An exploration of special topics in Asian or Indian philosophy, with an emphasis on the cross-cultural comparison of philosophical traditions, methods and commitments. It is recommended that students have had at least one course in philosophy, religion or Asian studies (including Asian languages), but this course may be taken as a first course in philosophy or Asian studies by ambitious students who are interested in the subject matter. May be repeated if content varies.

An exploration of one or more special topics in philosophy. It is recommended that students have had at least one philosophy course, but this course may be taken as a first philosophy course by ambitious students who are interested in the subject matter. May be repeated if content varies. Students will write philosophical research papers that undergo formal review and revision, and they will do other kinds of writing while engaging with philosophical issues.

An exploration of one or more special topics in philosophy. It is recommended that students have had at least one philosophy course, but this course may be taken as a first philosophy course by ambitious students who are interested in the subject matter. May be repeated if content varies. Students will write philosophical research papers that undergo formal review and revision, and they will do other kinds of writing while engaging with philosophical issues.

An introduction to the philosophy of sex. Topics covered include philosophical issues related to gender, biological sex, sexual orientation, sexual desire, perversion, consent, embodiment, conceptions of sex in non-Western traditions, etc.  The course will include cross-cultural comparisons of conceptions of sex and sexuality.

This course explores various philosophies and applies them along with knowledge from the social and/or natural sciences to issues in today’s world. We study and/or develop skills, abilities, theories, or methodologies from philosophy sub-disciplines such as ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics and connect them with skills, abilities, theories, or methodologies of the social and/or natural sciences. Students present original philosophical research via an in-class academic conference. Intended for students who have completed or are currently taking at least one other 300/400-level PHL course and who have completed all components of the Spartan Studies Core other than the Culminating Experience.

A project designed in consultation with a full-time professor in philosophy in which the student researches a philosophical topic or problem. May be repeated if content varies. Students will write at least one philosophical research paper that undergoes review and revision, and they will do other kinds of writing while engaging with philosophical issues.

Capstone course in which a student, in consultation with a full-time philosophy professor, writes a major research thesis on a philosophical topic.