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PHH 3100 ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY

CRN: 80861

TR 1630-1745

Instructor: P. CARELLI

In this course we study the origins of the largest philosophical questions in ancient Greece. Beginning with the Presocratics, we will go on to examine the work of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and the Hellenistic philosophers. We’ll ask about the kind of life human beings ought to lead, the nature of justice and morality, the basic constituents of the world, and the nature and limits of human knowledge. Once we understand the views of the Greek philosophers, and their arguments for these views, we’ll need to decide whether or not to accept them ourselves as guides to leading our own lives.  PHH 3100 is a course required of all philosophy majors.

PHI 3601 ETHICS

CRN: 80316

MW 1500-1615

INSTRUCTOR: D. CALLCUT

What is morality? What is its basis? What norms or principles should guide our actions? This course offers a detailed investigation of these fundamental questions. We will examine theories about the source of morality (topics from the area known as metaethics) and theories concerning how we ought to structure our moral thought and action (topics from the area known as normative theory). We will be concerned throughout to see how metaethical and normative questions interrelate: what are the arguments, for example, for thinking that moral norms derive from different cultural ways of life, and what effect should agreement with such arguments have on one’s moral outlook? The fact that this is primarily a course in abstract theory does not mean that we will not devote time to the discussion of real life moral problems and dilemmas. Indeed, one major goal of the course will be the exploration of the relationship between ethical theory and everyday life. PHI 3601 is a course required of all philosophy majors.

PHI 3633 BIOETHICS

CRN: 82581

MW 1330-1445

INSTRUCTOR: A. SWOTA

Arising out of the changing landscape in medicine are a number of ethical issues. In this course we will analyze and examine some of these issues that have evolved out of recent and anticipated developments in medicine.  Issues to be discussed include the physician-patient relationship, informed consent, advance directives, euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, issues in reproductive ethics, experimentation on human subjects, and access to health care.  Throughout this course we will examine assumptions about rights, persons, and ethical principles at play in the medical arena. Readings will include discussions of ethical principles in medical contexts and legal decisions.  In addition, case studies will be utilized to provide students with the opportunity to sharpen their analytic skills and develop a deeper understanding of some of the major bioethical issues currently being debated.

PHI 3641 BUSINESS ETHICS

CRN: 80500

MW 1630-1745

INSTRUCTOR: M. HANEY

Students will probe various moral questions arising within business's concerns with property, risk-benefit relationships, use of information, and competition. Students will be prepared for this endeavor through focused study of several models of ethical decision-making which should impact market institutions, organizational structures, as well as individuals that comprise the essential elements of the world of business.

PHI 3930 AESTHETICS

CRN: 82586

R 1800-2045

INSTRUCTOR: M. SKEES

Traditionally, “aesthetics” has referred to, and still refers to, the philosophy of art and of beauty.  A better definition is this: aesthetics is the philosophical exploration of the sensuous aspects of experiences and relevant contextual aspects of those experiences.  We will analyze as well as evaluate many different theories of art: ritual theory, formalist theory, imitation theory, expression theory, cognitive theory, postmodern theory.  Many modern artworks challenge us to figure out why, on any theory, they would count as art.  Our purpose will be to highlight the rich diversity of art in order to convey the difficulty of coming up with suitable theories.  Specific attention will be given to what lies ahead for art in the twenty-first century – in the expanding mediascape of our burgeoning digital culture.

PHI 3930 LIES & SELF DECEPTION

CRN: 82588

R 1505-1620

INSTRUCTOR: R. VITZ

Self-deception is a common phenomenon. In fact, nearly everyone seems to have a friend or family member who they think is self-deceived—e.g., about the faithfulness of his or her lover, about his or her beliefs for (or against) a particular religion or political party, and so forth. This apparent ability to lie to oneself in the face of the evidence seems to be a rather contemptuous vice. However, recent psychological studies seem to suggest that at least some forms of self-deception are life enhancing. Thus, it might seem that self-deception can be a virtue. In this course, we examine the curious nature of self-deception, evaluate its ambiguous ethical status, and reflect on how these insights should affect the way that we live. Prerequisite:  one course in philosophy or consent by instructor.

PHI 4220 PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE

CRN: 82590

M 1800-2045 

INSTRUCTOR: H. KOEGLER

The Linguistic Turn defines much of the profile of 20th Century philosophy and remains one of the most powerful inspirations in current debates. “Philosophy of Language” will reconstruct the importance of language for several central philosophical issues, including the relationship between consciousness and language, the social construction of experience through language, the concepts of meaning, truth and reference, and the normative nature of communicative interaction. A critical discussion of behaviorism and Chomsky's universal grammar will set the stage, before exploring the four most productive paradigms in linguistic philosophy. Those include (1) philosophical hermeneutics, (2) structuralism and poststructuralism, (3) analytic philosophy of language, and (4) speech act theory. Philosophers and language theorists discussed will include Humboldt, Gadamer, de Saussure, Foucault, Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein, Searle, and Habermas. The course is unique in its breadth regarding the diverse approaches in philosophy of language; it systematically relates their views vis-á-vis consciousness, society, truth, and normativity to form a powerful vision of language’s role for experience.  Prerequisite:  one course in philosophy.

PHI 4400 PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE

CRN: 82591

TR 1050-1205

Instructor: D. KLINE

This course will introduce students to key issues in the philosophy of science.  The course is divided into two basic parts.   First, we will try to clarify what science is and how it works.  To do this, we will examine several theories regarding the methods of scientific exploration and theory construction, and focus on historical examples of actual scientific advances where appropriate and possible.   Second, we will explore the aims and goals of science, examining among other things, the concept of scientific law, the nature of explanation and whether or not explaining nature means giving a true picture of the world, or merely one which is instrumentally reliable.  Throughout our discussions, we will be concerned with questions surrounding the objectivity of science, and, time permitting, will consider specific challenges to claims that science is objective.

PHI 4935 SEM: ON HAPPINESS

CRN: 82593

MW 1200-1315

INSTRUCTOR: M. HANEY

The nature, value, and sources of happiness have been issues central to ethics from the Ancient Greeks to today. This seminar aims to probe these topics both from a survey of the history of philosophy as well as contemporary sources in philosophy and psychology. The guiding themes of this seminar is whether or not we can know the nature of happiness and its sources, and whether or not happiness really is central to living well.

PHM 3361 PHILOSOPHY OF DEMOCRACY

CRN: 82596

TR 1340-1455

INSTRUCTOR: A. BUCHWALTER

Today nearly all political orders legitimize themselves by claiming to be democracies. Little agreement exists, however, as to what precisely democracy is. This course examines classical, modern, and contemporary readings to clarify and assess the nature and meaning of democracy. Our deliberations will focus on many of the polarities that characterize discourse on democracy: libertarian versus egalitarian, liberal versus republican, popular versus elite, institutional versus plebiscitary, direct versus representative, electoral versus participatory, majoritarian versus constitutional, market-based versus deliberative. We also examine themes in democratic theory with reference to matters of contemporary social concern, including campaign financing, group representation, voter redistricting, worker management, multiculturalism, feminism, corporate multinationalism, the role of the media in public life, the place of democracy in a global setting, and the meaning of democracy in non-Western contexts. A central concern of the course is to determine what meaning popular self-rule—as democracy was originally defined by the Greeks 2,500 years ago—can have in our increasingly complex, bureaucratically regulated, electronically mediated, globally interconnected, and culturally differentiated societies.

 

Graduate Courses

SUMMER A 2009 UPPER DIVISION

PHI 6936 ETHICS AND LITERATURE

CRN: 51234

MW 1240-1610

Instructor: M. HANEY

Morality is a complex phenomenon at the junction of our understandings of good and evil, our personal identity and how they combine with the happenstance of life. In light of such moral “messiness,” some have argued that literature is a better medium for understanding moral life than moral philosophy. In addition, others have argued that due to the richness of literary description, literature is a medium best or better suited to moral education and sensitivity than are moral theories. This course will explore these questions and other possible relationships between morality, moral development, moral theory and literature through works in philosophy, moral psychology, as well as novels, plays, and short stories.

FALL 2009

MA in Practical Philosophy & Applied Ethics

PHI 5606 ETHICS

CRN: 80889

W 1800-2045

INSTRUCTOR: D. CALLCUT

This seminar provides an advanced level survey of contemporary ethical theory. The course will aim 1) to consolidate and expand each student’s knowledge of important recent work in moral philosophy, 2) to pay special attention to the relationship between ethical theory and moral practice, and 3) to provide the necessary foundation in ethical theory for other graduate level offerings.  A section of PHI 5605 is required of all students in the M.A. program in Practical Philosophy and Applied Ethics.

PHI 5628 BUSINESSS ETHICS

CRN: 82583

MW 1630-1745 

Instructor: M.HANEY

Students will probe various moral questions arising within business's concerns with property, risk-benefit relationships, use of information, and competition. Students will be prepared for this endeavor through focused study of several models of ethical decision-making which should impact market institutions, organizational structures, as well as individuals that comprise the essential elements of the world of business.

PHI 5808 AESTHETICS

CRN: 82587

R 1800-2045

INSTRUCTOR: M. SKEES

Traditionally, “aesthetics” has referred to, and still refers to, the philosophy of art and of beauty.  A better definition is this: aesthetics is the philosophical exploration of the sensuous aspects of experiences and relevant contextual aspects of those experiences.  We will analyze as well as evaluate many different theories of art: ritual theory, formalist theory, imitation theory, expression theory, cognitive theory, postmodern theory.  Many modern artworks challenge us to figure out why, on any theory, they would count as art.  Our purpose will be to highlight the rich diversity of art in order to convey the difficulty of coming up with suitable theories.  Specific attention will be given to what lies ahead for art in the twenty-first century – in the expanding mediascape of our burgeoning digital culture.

PHI 5934 BIOETHICS

CRN: 82582

MW 1330-1445

INSTRUCTOR: A. SWOTA

Arising out of the changing landscape in medicine are a number of ethical issues. In this course we will analyze and examine some of these issues that have evolved out of recent and anticipated developments in medicine.  Issues to be discussed include the physician-patient relationship, informed consent, advance directives, euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, issues in reproductive ethics, experimentation on human subjects, and access to health care.  Throughout this course we will examine assumptions about rights, persons, and ethical principles at play in the medical arena. Readings will include discussions of ethical principles in medical contexts and legal decisions.  In addition, case studies will be utilized to provide students with the opportunity to sharpen their analytic skills and develop a deeper understanding of some of the major bioethical issues currently being debated.

PHI 5934 LIES & SELF DECEPTION

CRN: 82589

R 1505-1620

INSTRUCTOR: R. VITZ

Self-deception is a common phenomenon. In fact, nearly everyone seems to have a friend or family member who they think is self-deceived—e.g., about the faithfulness of his or her lover, about his or her beliefs for (or against) a particular religion or political party, and so forth. This apparent ability to lie to oneself in the face of the evidence seems to be a rather contemptuous vice. However, recent psychological studies seem to suggest that at least some forms of self-deception are life enhancing. Thus, it might seem that self-deception can be a virtue. In this course, we examine the curious nature of self-deception, evaluate its ambiguous ethical status, and reflect on how these insights should affect the way that we live. Prerequisite:  one course in philosophy or consent by instructor.

PHI 6405 PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE

CRN: 82592

TR 1050-1205

Instructor: D. KLINE

This course will introduce students to key issues in the philosophy of science.  The course is divided into two basic parts.   First, we will try to clarify what science is and how it works.  To do this, we will examine several theories regarding the methods of scientific exploration and theory construction, and focus on historical examples of actual scientific advances where appropriate and possible.   Second, we will explore the aims and goals of science, examining among other things, the concept of scientific law, the nature of explanation and whether or not explaining nature means giving a true picture of the world, or merely one which is instrumentally reliable.  Throughout our discussions, we will be concerned with questions surrounding the objectivity of science, and, time permitting, will consider specific challenges to claims that science is objective.

PHI 6936 PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE

CRN: 82595

M 1800-2045 

INSTRUCTOR: H. KOEGLER

The Linguistic Turn defines much of the profile of 20th Century philosophy and remains one of the most powerful inspirations in current debates. “Philosophy of Language” will reconstruct the importance of language for several central philosophical issues, including the relationship between consciousness and language, the social construction of experience through language, the concepts of meaning, truth and reference, and the normative nature of communicative interaction. A critical discussion of behaviorism and Chomsky's universal grammar will set the stage, before exploring the four most productive paradigms in linguistic philosophy. Those include (1) philosophical hermeneutics, (2) structuralism and poststructuralism, (3) analytic philosophy of language, and (4) speech act theory. Philosophers and language theorists discussed will include Humboldt, Gadamer, de Saussure, Foucault, Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein, Searle, and Habermas. The course is unique in its breadth regarding the diverse approaches in philosophy of language; it systematically relates their views vis-á-vis consciousness, society, truth, and normativity to form a powerful vision of language’s role for experience.  Prerequisite:  one course in philosophy.

 

PHI 6937 PROSEMINAR I: PRACT PHILOSOPHY

CRN: 80862

T 1800-2045

Instructor: A. BUCHWALTER

This course is an advanced-level introduction to central themes in social and political philosophy, with emphasis on their application to trends in current social life.  The course is divided into three main parts.  Part I reviews main trends in ancient and modern political theory, focusing especially on the distinction between liberalism and republicanism.  Part II explores efforts by contemporary political and social theorists to conceptualize matters like justice, liberty, and democracy.  Part III extends analyses conducted earlier in the course to normative issues related to the phenomenon of globalization, focusing on global justice, transnational democracy, and universal human rights.  Readings draw on writers from diverse traditions and orientations.  The course seeks to enhance advance level philosophical writing skills. A section of PHI 6937 is required of all students in the M.A. program in Practical Philosophy and Applied Ethics.

PHM 5935 PHILOSOPHY OF DEMOCRACY

CRN: 82597

TR 1340-1455

INSTRUCTOR: A. BUCHWALTER

Today nearly all political orders legitimize themselves by claiming to be democracies. Little agreement exists, however, as to what precisely democracy is. This course examines classical, modern, and contemporary readings to clarify and assess the nature and meaning of democracy. Our deliberations will focus on many of the polarities that characterize discourse on democracy: libertarian versus egalitarian, liberal versus republican, popular versus elite, institutional versus plebiscitary, direct versus representative, electoral versus participatory, majoritarian versus constitutional, market-based versus deliberative. We also examine themes in democratic theory with reference to matters of contemporary social concern, including campaign financing, group representation, voter redistricting, worker management, multiculturalism, feminism, corporate multinationalism, the role of the media in public life, the place of democracy in a global setting, and the meaning of democracy in non-Western contexts. A central concern of the course is to determine what meaning popular self-rule—as democracy was originally defined by the Greeks 2,500 years ago—can have in our increasingly complex, bureaucratically regulated, electronically mediated, globally interconnected, and culturally differentiated societies.

Religious Studies Courses

SUMMER A 2009 UPPER DIVISION

REL 3102 CD-PROBLEM OF EVIL

CRN: 51236

TR 1240-1610

Instructor: M. TREYZ

Why does a good God allow bad things to happen?  Why do good people do bad things? How are evil and suffering related?  What role does free will play?  These are some of the questions we will be asking over the course of the semester.  We will examine the traditional answers to these problems, beginning with the biblical story of Job and moving to answers involving Satan, process theology, evil as a "soul-making" mechanism, and the standard eschatological solutions of heaven and hell.  We will look beyond theology to the work of social psychologist Philip Zimbardo in his book The Lucifer Effect.  Finally, we will turn to the fiction of holocaust survivor Eli Wiesel and Roman Catholic writer Flannery O'Connor in their works "The Night" and "A Good Man is Hard to Find." Those with practical experience in evil are encouraged to attend.

 

SUMMER B 2009 UPPER DIVISION

REL3936 BIBLE AND MORAL DISCOURSE

CRN: 50678

MW 1810-2140

Instructor: T. SIMPSON

This class is an examination of the manner in which the Christian Bible has been and is employed in moral, political, and cultural discourse.  After considering the structure of both testaments of the Bible and the circumstances surrounding their emergence, the course examines historical and contemporary ways in which the Bible has been used in public debates, focusing on such topics as slavery, modern capitalism, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, homosexuality, immigration, abortion, and end of life issues.  A central aim of the course is to teach students skills needed to reach the Bible and Biblical passages with regard to matters of current and historical moral controversy.  The course also seeks to assess what value the Bible may hold in clarifying contemporary moral controversies and in contributing to contemporary public discourse.

FALL 2009 UPPER DIVISION

REL 3102 CD-RELIGION AS CULTURE

CRN: 82598

MW 1630-1745

Instructor: J. INGERSOLL

This course will introduce students to one of the primary approaches to Religious Studies: the Social Scientific Study of religion as culture. We will begin with a unit examining classical theorists (Durkheim and Weber) and current theoretical developments and exploring some key methodological issues.  In Units Two and Three we will draw on case studies illustrating religious diversity in the United States to refine/apply our understandings of theory and method.  This course is required for the religious studies minor.

REL 3241 NEW TESTAMENT

CRN: 82599

TR 925-1040

Instructor: E. DANIELL

This course will be a study of the four Gospel narratives using scholarly critical methods. This is not a literal approach to the text but an examination of its content and message within the cultural context of the ancient world.  The study will also include conflicting scholarly interpretations of Paul’s writings. Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to: 1) identify various types of Biblical critical methods; 2) display critical thinking in the preparation and use of scholarly materials in a Classroom PowerPoint Presentation; 3) write well organized, grammatically correct descriptions of the scholarly approaches to the New Testament in essays and exams; 4) answer questions about the content of the Gospels and Paul’s letters.

REL 3930 HISTORY AND CULTURE OF CHRISTIANITY

CRN: 82600

TR 1340-1455

Instructor: L. AMMON

 

This course is a survey of the History of Christianity from antiquity to present.  We will examine some of the diverse forms of practice and belief that Christians embodied in a variety of time periods and cultural contexts since the first century. Using categories such as global/local, official/popular, orthodox/heterodox, we will explore a variety of Christianities across history and the globe. The purpose of this course is to give students an introduction to the issues, both historical and contemporary, that shape the production and understanding of the history of Christianity and Christian communities. A secondary purpose of this course is to introduce students to the method of producing and interpreting history of Christianity, encouraging critical engagement with primary and secondary texts. Students in this course will develop a broad understanding of various currents of practice and belief in the History of Christianity which can be deepened in subsequent course work.

REL 3936 SCIENCE AND RELIGION

CRN: 82601

MW 1500-1615

Instructor: M. TREYZ

This course explores the relationship between science and religion.  We will ask if there is any common ground between these two fields, how that mutual ground might be uncovered, and why it is necessary for us to plow this earth.  We will begin our investigation with an historical introduction moving from Aristotle through Galileo and Darwin to the Scopes trials.  We will then investigate a variety of positions from the perspective of scientists and theologians.  Topics will include subjects as varied as the Big Bang theory and Intelligent Design, bio-ethics and chaos theory.