Philosophy Department Faculty
Jo Ellen Jacobs (Chair)

Full-Time: Jo Ellen Jacobs, Robert E. Money Jr.

The philosophy major is designed to meet the requirements of four classes of students: (a) those who have no professional interest in philosophy but who wish to approach a liberal education through the discipline of philosophy; (b) those who want a composite or interdepartmental major in philosophy and the natural sciences, behavioral sciences, or humanities or fine arts; (c) those who want an intensive study of philosophy preparatory to graduate study in some other field, e.g. law, theology, medicine or education; (d) those who are professionally interested in philosophy and who plan to do graduate work in the field and then to teach or write. Students with a professional interest in philosophy are urged by the Department to give early attention to courses in the history of philosophy sequence, logic and ethics.

MAJOR IN PHILOSOPHY
A major consists of a minimum of 30 credits and leads to the B.A. degree. The following courses are required:
Philosophy 110, Basic Philosophical Problems
Philosophy 213, Critical Thinking: Logic
Philosophy 381, Seminar in Philosophy
Philosophy 400, Senior Thesis

Plus three of the following courses:
Philosophy 300, Ancient World Wisdom
Philosophy 301, The Golden Age of Greece
Philosophy 302, The Medieval World
Philosophy 303, The Modern World (17th-18th century)
Philosophy 304, The Contemporary World of Philosophy (19th -21st)
 
In addition, the philosophy major must take at least nine credits of electives within the Department.

PRE-LAW TRACK WITHIN THE PHILOSOPHY MAJOR
Philosophy also offers a “pre-law track” within the philosophy major. According to the American Bar Association, after physics the major with the highest percentage of acceptance into ABA approved law schools is philosophy. We have developed a track within our philosophy major to provide students with the courses that emphasize the skills and the knowledge content that will make it both likely that they will get into law school and that they will succeed both there and later as lawyers.

The pre-law track of the philosophy major will consist of a minimum of 30 credits and leads to the B. A. degree. The following courses are required:
PH 110, Problems in Philosophy
PH 211, Ethical Theory
PH 213, Critical Thinking:  Logic
PH 301, Golden Age of Greece or PH 311 Metaethics
PH 305, Philosophy of Law
PH 310, Political Philosophy
PH 400, Senior Thesis

Plus 3 elective courses from among any philosophy courses, PO 234 Civil Liberties, or PO 330 Constitutional Law.

MINOR IN PHILOSOPHY
A student seeking a philosophy minor is required to complete 21 credits, including three of the following:
Philosophy 300, Ancient World Wisdom
Philosophy 301, The Golden Age of Greece
Philosophy 302, The Medieval World
Philosophy 303, The Modern World (17th-18th century)
Philosophy 304, The Contemporary World of Philosophy (19th-21st century)

Philosophy Courses (PH) (Credits)

110. Basic Philosophical Problems (3)
An introductory course to acquaint the student with fundamental philosophical problems, techniques and types of philosophical inquiry, including discussion of the views of classical and modern thinkers. Cross listed with HI 105.

200, 300. Ancient World Wisdom (3)
In the 6th century B.C.E., six major sources of wisdom arose: Buddha, Confucius, Lao Tzu, Isaiah, Zoroaster and the pre-Socratic Greek Philosophers. Understanding the classic questions and the answers given by these sages to the timeless issues of who we are, how we should live, what is real, and how we come to know will help us understand the roots of many other thinkers throughout the history of the world as well as offering sound advice on how to live our own lives. Each thinker will be considered in their historical context. Cross listed with HI305.

201, 301. The Golden Age of Greece (3)
A contemporary philosopher said, “All of philosophy is a footnote to Plato.” Certainly Plato, Aristotle, and the Stoics are the keys to understanding much of the intellectual roots of the Western tradition. We will read the major texts of these philosophers in their historical context as they attempt to answer the questions, Who am I? What is my role in society? What is a well-run state? What is real? And how should I live? Cross-listed with HI305.

202, 302. The Medieval World (3)
This course will explore the major Christian philosophers and theologians from Anselm to Aquinas as well as the rise of Islam and the encounter of the two cultures after the Crusades. Cross-listed with HI305.

203, 303. The Modern World (17th-18th Century) (3)
In this course, we will examine the attempts by modern philosophy to answer two central questions. The first is the epistemological question of what human beings can know. In particular, we will examine the issue of whether human beings can justifiably claim to know that there is a mind-independent external world. The second central question with which modern philosophy struggles is the metaphysical question concerning the place of consciousness (mind) in a material universe. What is the relation between mind and matter, between mind and body? Is the mind distinct from the body? Or is the mind identical to the body? What is the self? Readings may include Descartes, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, and Kant with attention to their historical context. Cross-listed with HI 305.

204, 304. The Contemporary World of Philosophy (19th-21th Century) (3)
In this course, we will examine some of the most influential philosophical movements in the contemporary period. The contemporary world of philosophy continues to focus on the epistemological and metaphysical questions placed at the center of philosophical thought during the modern period. In addition, contemporary philosophy pays special attention to the role that language plays in our understanding of the world around us. Movements to be examined include phenomenology/existentialism, logical positivism, and philosophy of language. Readings may include Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Sartre, Ayer, Quine, and Kripke with attention to their historical context. Cross-listed with HI 305.

211. Ethical Theory and Moral Issues (3)
In this course we will examine issues in ethical theory, including such foundational issues as the relationship between ethical behavior and rational behavior, the relationship between ethics and theology, and the issue of whether ethics is objective or subjective, absolute or relative. We will examine both action-centered as well as character-centered approaches to the resolution of ethical dilemmas. Finally, we will turn our attention to the practical application of theory. Readings may include selections from the Western philosophical tradition (e.g., Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Hume, Kant, Mill) as well as Western literature (Dostoyevski, Conrad, O’Connor). We will also watch selected films.
 
213. Critical Thinking: Logic (3)
We will translate standard English into symbolic notation, then use both Aristotelian and truth functional techniques to test for validity of arguments. The aim is to understand the rules and relationships that define rational thinking. From logical puzzles to Venn diagrams to symbolic proofs, this course is an excellent preparation for the GRE or LSAT or MCAT. It requires both quantitative thinking and facility with language.
 
214. Philosophy of Religion (3)
In this course we will examine some of the central issues in the philosophy of religion. We will begin by examining some of the most influential arguments for the existence of God, including the ontological argument, the cosmological argument, and the argument for design. We will examine the problem of evil as well as various replies by theists to the problem of evil. Finally, we will examine the claim that the religious life is a matter of faith, not reason. Readings may include Anslem, Augustine, Aquinas, Leibniz, Paley, Hume, Kant, Kierkegard, Adams, Swinburne, Hicks, Mackie, Plantiga, and others.

305. Philosophy of Law (3)
In the first part of the course, we will examine various theories concerning the nature of law. In particular, we will examine how these theories view the connection between law and morality. Is there a connection between law and morality?  If there is, is it a necessary connection? Theories of law to be examined include legal positivism, natural law, and legal realism (critical legal studies). In the second part of the course, we will focus on issues surrounding judicial interpretation. Questions to be considered include the following:  How ought judges to interpret the constitution?  What role (if any) should moral principles play in their adjudication?  What is the role of judges in relation to democratically elected legislatures?  In “hard cases,” do judges create law (legislate from the bench) or do they work to discover the correct answer (apply the law to the case before them)? Theories of judicial interpretation to be examined include originalism and non-originalism. Interspersed with these theoretical readings will be excerpts from actual U.S. Supreme Court cases. We will be interested in seeing how the theoretical issues identified above get played out in actual U.S. Supreme Court decisions. We will focus primarily (though not exclusively) on the so-called “privacy cases.” Readings may include Austin, Hart, Fuller, Dworkin, Frank, Altman, Bork, Lyons, and Ely as well as various court opinions. Pre-requisites: Philosophy 110, or 211, or 310, or consent of instructor.

307. American Philosophy (3)
Survey of the historical development of American philosophical thought from its beginning in Puritan philosophy through various stages, such as idealism, the American enlightenment, transcendentalism, evolutionary philosophies, late 19th century idealism, pragmatism, realism, and the 20th century setting. Pre-requisite: Philosophy 110 or consent of instructor.

309. Philosophy of the Arts (3)
During the past two hundred years in the West, “fine” art has slowly been separated from the rest of life and restricted to museums, galleries, concert halls, poetry readings, etc.  In the rest of the world, “art” isn’t marked off from religion, politics, ethics, or everyday living.  We will explore experiences such as political street theater, tea ceremony, and music that erupts into dancing and religious ecstasy require a kind of engagement that can make all of life more vibrant—even beautiful rather than the disinterested observation suggested by traditional aesthetic theory.

310. Political Philosophy (3)
In this course, we will examine attempts by philosophers within the Western philosophical tradition to answer the following three questions. First, what justification (if any) can be given for the existence of the state? Second, what reason is there (if any) for preferring one kind of state to another? Third, what justification is there (if any) for placing limits on the power of the state to intervene in the lives of its citizens? Readings may include Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Mill, Berlin, Taylor, Nozick, Rawls, and others. Pre-requisites: Political Science 100, or Philosophy 110, or Philosophy 211, or consent of the instructor.

311. Metaethics (3)
In this course, we will examine fundamental issues in ethical theory. Our investigation will be guided by two central questions. First, are ethical judgments capable of being true or false? Second, if ethical judgments are capable of being true or false, what is it that makes them true if true or false if false? Theories to be discussed include divine command theory, ethical intuitionism, ethical naturalism, contractualism, cultural ethical relativism, individual ethical relativism, ethical constructivism, the error theory, emotivism, and prescriptivism. Readings may include Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Hume, Kant, Mill, Moore, Ross, Ayer, Hare, Rawls, Mackie, McDowell, and others. Pre-requisite: Philosophy 110 or Philosophy 211 or consent of the instructor.

381-384. Seminar in Philosophy (3)
Examination of the relationship between philosophy and various disciplines, topics and periods. Included are philosophies of aesthetics, mind, religion and education. Also, in-depth study of the ancient-medieval, modern and contemporary periods of philosophy, or in-depth study of a particular philosopher. Pre-requisite: Philosophy 110 or consent of instructor.
SEMINAR: NIETZSCHE
Women in and of Africa
Superlogic

391, 392, 393, 394. Independent Study in Philosophy (1-3)
Pre-requisite: approval of subject by Department and consent of Department Chair.

400. Senior Thesis (3)
Senior philosophy majors will compose a thesis. The topic of the thesis will be chosen by the student in consultation with the advising philosophy department faculty member. The student will provide an oral defense of the thesis. The oral defense will be open to all philosophy department faculty members as well as all philosophy department majors and minors. Pre-requisite: senior standing and consent of Department Chair.