Philosophy

This course surveys various concepts involved in the construction of a philosophy and briefly introduces students to some of the systems of ideas that have developed over time, arising out of the human search for the meaning of existence in the world. Major topics include religion and the meaning of life; science, the mind and nature; thinking and knowing; the dilemmas of personhood; living a good life; justice and responsibility.

This course surveys and applies the elements of logical thinking: arguments, premises, and conclusions; deduction and induction; validity, truth, soundness, strength, and cogency; and language, meaning, and definitions.

This course considers how values and character develop across the human life span and how they may be promoted by character education through an examination of the changes that occur during childhood, adolescence and adulthood. The course introduces the research of both classical and contemporary scholars as well as other critics that point toward expanded conceptions of moral development. In addition, moral leadership development and service leadership are discussed in terms of building community, promoting human growth and new levels of professionalism.

This course surveys the major systems of morality in both the Western world and the non-Western world and relates these systems to the everyday processes of ethical decision making.

This course, which explores a topic of contemporary interest to the study of philosophy, is offered as needed to students with sophomore standing.

This course, which involves supervised research on a selected topic, is offered as needed to students with sophomore standing. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor

Western philosophy from the ancient period through the Middle Ages. Figures such as the pre-Socratics, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, the Stoics and Aquinas are examined.

This course covers selected aspects of the history of Western philosophy from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century. Figures such as Descartes, Berkeley, Hume, Locke and Kant are examined.

This course surveys the political thought of Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, St. Augustine, St. Thomas and Machiavelli. Prerequisite: ENG 101 with a grade of C or better

A survey of the political thought of Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Burke, Hume, Hegel, Mill, Marx and Rawls, the course emphasizes the aspects of their ideas most relevant to the development of Western political institutions. Prerequisite: ENG 101 with a grade of C or better

This course examines the major philosophers of the 20th century, including such figures as Hussrl, Heidegger, Sartre, Wittgenstein and others.

This course, which explores a topic of contemporary interest to the study of history, is offered as needed to students with junior-senior standing.

This course, which involves supervised research on a specified topic, is offered as needed to students with junior-senior standing. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor