PHL 209: Existentialism (3 credits) - Koukal

The existentialist movement hit its stride in the mid-20th century and includes such figures as Heidegger, Sartre, and Camus. Existentialism approaches traditional philosophical problems in a radically novel way and continues to be influential, not only in philosophy, but also in literature, drama, and art. The course explores the central themes in this important philosophical movement through the careful reading and critical discussion of selected texts.
Note: This course fulfills Objective 4c of the University Core Curriculum.

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PHL 250: Symbolic Logic (3 credits) - Nyarwath

An introduction to the artificial language of sentential and predicate logic, which is designed to facilitate the symbolic representation of natural language (English) arguments. In addition to learning how to construct formal proofs for valid arguments, students learn the different logical properties that statements and sets of statements may have. The concepts of truth-functionality, validity, consistency, implication, and equivalence will be explored. Students will have a heightened appreciation of the logical functions of language.
Note: This course fulfills Objective 4c of the University Core Curriculum, except for students in the College of Engineering and Science.

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PHL 301: Social and Political Philosophy (3 credits) - Oljar

Political philosophy is primarily about the distribution of goods such as material wealth, rights, liberties, and political power; in other words, it answers the questions "who gets what?" and "says who?" In this course, we will examine the writings of such philosophers as Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Marx, and Rawls for their answers to these questions. We'll begin by thinking about what human life would be like in the absence of a state, and then examine different justifications for the exercise of political power. Since the development of liberal democratic states is arguably the most significant development in political philosophy in the West, we will also discuss the nature and role of democracy, and the place of individual liberty in a just society. We will conclude with an examination of the most significant challenges to liberal political theory: Marxism, feminism, and communitarianism.
Note: This course fulfills Objective 4c of the University Core Curriculum.

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PHL 365: African Philosophy and Culture (3 credits) - Nyarwath

Investigates African philosophy as the communal world views of African peoples (ethnophilosophy), as the views of traditional Africans regarded as wise (sage philosophy), as the though of key African political leaders (liberation philosophy), and as the work of contemporary professional African philosophers who see African philosophy as "counter-colonial practice" seeking to examine, question, and contest identities imposed by the West.
Note: This course fulfills Objective 5d of the University Core Curriculum.

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PHL 415: Advanced Topics in Philosophy - Catholic Social Thought (3 credits) - Presbey

This course follows the debate between advocates of Christian nonviolence and the just war tradition. It also surveys the different emphases on charity and justice as demonstrated in the pronouncements and actions of the Catholic Church and its various religious orders and saints. This course begins during the life of Jesus as depicted in the gospels, following the twin themes of peace and justice. The course proceeds historically, and continues to follow the apostles, the early church teachings, medieval times, Reformation and Counter-Reformation, and up to contemporary times. The course will end covering twentieth century Catholic activists Dorothy Day, the Berrigans and the Plowshares movement.
Note: This course fulfills Objective 4c of the University Core Curriculum. This course is also crosslisted as RS 347-01 and CAS 347-01.

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Students should know there is now an official philosophy minor.

Students interested in the philosophy major should click here; those interested in philosophy as a second major should click here.