Philosophy

Readings in documents that have attempted to answer the question: What is the meaning of life? Texts include: those of Plato, Confucius, Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, Martin Buber, C.S. Lewis, Camus, Sartre, the Book of Ecclesiastes, the Book of Job. This course meets a General Education Core Curriculum requirement. Spring.

A survey of the major questions and issues in philosophy, including the scope and justification of knowledge, the nature of truth and reality, determinism and free will, the mind-body problem, the existence of God, and the nature and scope of morality. This course meets a General Education Core Curriculum requirement. Fall.

A study of the methods and principles of sound reasoning and their application to important issues in the public square. The course will discuss the nature of arguments and how to evaluate them, covering such topics as deduction and induction, informal fallacies, and techniques for critically analyzing controversial claims. This course meets a General Education Core Curriculum requirement. Fall alternate years.

A survey of the major philosophers and their ideas from the Ancient Greek period through the Medieval period. Fall alternate years.

A survey of the major philosophers and their ideas from the Modern period to the Contemporary period. Spring alternate years.

A study and evaluation of major ethical theories such as moral relativism, Kantian deontology, utilitarianism, natural law theory, and divine command ethics. Application of these theories will be made to important ethical issues such as abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, human cloning, and war. This course meets a General Education Core Curriculum requirement. Spring.

An examination of the rational justification of religious belief. The focus will be on central issues in the Western philosophical tradition such as the nature and existence of God, miracles, the problem of evil, and religious pluralism. Fall, alternate years.

Explores bioethical theory applied to medical issues such as human research, confidentiality, personhood, defining health and disease, euthanasia, patient rights. Case analysis emphasized. Prerequisite: ENGL 240 or 250. This course meets a General Education Core Curriculum requirement. Fall and Spring.