PHIL 101-1 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY----MWF 9:00-9:50----
Dr. Manson
Students will get a sense of some of the central issues in philosophy by confronting classical philosophical topics:
Are there any absolute truths or are all truths just relative? Does there exist anything that we cannot experience
with our senses? Are there any fundamental limits to human knowledge? What is the nature of human freedom? Is human
freedom even possible? Is it possible for a human to survive death? What is the nature of the human mind? Is it
immaterial or material? What is the nature of God? Can God's existence be proved or disproved? In the course of
addressing these questions students will develop their abilities to think critically, reason analytically, and
write clearly.
PHIL 101-2 (H) INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY----MWF 12:00-12:50----
Dr. Manson
(Open only to students enrolled in the Honors College.)
(See course content under section 1.)
PHIL 101-3 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY----TTH 9:30-10:45----
Dr. Skultety
(Course content similar to section 1.)
PHIL 101-4 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY----TTH 8:00-9:15---- Dr. Skultety
(Course content similar to section 1.)
PHIL 103-1 & 2 LOGIC: CRITICAL THINKING (Same as LING
203-1 or 2)----TTH 9:30-10:45----Dr. Barnard
This course will introduce the student to various techniques for representing and evaluating arguments and reasoning.
We will learn to recognize common mistakes in reasoning, and try to understand why poor reasoning can seem so convincing.
Course evaluation will be based upon in class examinations and exercises, as well as regular homework.
PHIL 301 HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY I----TTH 1:00-2:15----Dr.
Skultety
This course is a survey of the significant thinkers, movements, and ideas in Greek, Hellenistic, Medieval, and
Renaissance philosophy. We will focus on how philosophical ideas develop, how they can be criticized, and how they
become modified.
PHIL 309 ASIAN PHILOSOPHY (Same as REL 309)----TTH 8:00-9:15----Dr.
Cozad
(See course content under REL 309)
PHIL 318 EXISTENTIALISM----TTH 9:30-10:45----Dr. Lawhead
The existentialists: often criticized, often praised--seldom read. This course offers a remedy to this problem
by surveying the writings and thoughts of the foundational, philosophical thinkers that have generated the existentialist
movement. Among the topics to be discussed will be the similarities and yet differences between the religious existentialists
and the atheistic existentialists. The texts being used will also enable us to examine the various styles and methods
of existentialist communication: meditations, aphoristic utterances, plays, autobiography, essays, and perhaps
a film or two. The course will focus on the "big four": Søren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche,
Martin Heidegger, Jean-Paul Sartre, as well as an assortment of other writers.
PHIL 321 ETHICS----MWF 11:00-11:50----Dr. Westmoreland
This is an exciting time in ethical theory. Traditional questions about (e.g.) whether there are moral values,
and about what they must be like if there are any (presumably they're very different from desks, chairs, and rainbows)
are being explored with more rigor and subtlety than ever. In addition to reading contemporary views on these questions,
we will also examine (among other things) the roles of emotion and reason in morality, various concepts of the
person and the moral theories of which they're parts, the place of rights on the moral map, and even recent excursions
into what you might call "untheory" (which say that moral theory is either of limited usefulness or even
downright distorting). Class participation, one short paper (4-5 pages), one longer paper (7-8 pages), a mid-term,
and a final exam will be required.
PHIL 328 BIOMEDICAL ETHICS----MWF 9:00-9:50----Dr. Westmoreland
This course will explore ethical issues in contemporary medicine such as abortion, euthanasia, the patient's "right
to know" about his or her condition and treatment, moral issues in the allocation of scarce medical resources,
the issues surrounding "socialized medicine" including the question whether each person has a right to
a certain level of medical care, the trend toward treating conditions that used to be considered manifestations
of moral flaws as diseases (e.g., alcoholism). Evaluation will be based on two papers, a mid-term, final exam,
and class discussion.
PHIL 342 PHILOSOPHY OF MIND----W 2:00-4:30----Dr. Barnard
This course is designed to offer a deep introduction into issues a problems arising in contemporary Philosophy
of Mind. Topics covered will include: theories of the mind/brain, qualia, content, and intentionality.
PHIL 490-1 DIRECTED READINGS IN PHILOSOPHY----Contact Dr. Lawhead
This is a student-initiated, student-designed research project. It is arranged through a contract with a faculty
member in the relevant field. This is only for independent scholars who have a proven track record in philosophy
courses.
PHIL 511 PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE----TTH 11:00-12:15----Dr.
Manson
Survey of philosophical issues in scientific theory and practice, including the nature of scientific method and
explanation.
REL 101-1 INTRODUCTION TO RELIGION----MWF 8:00-8:50----Staff
This course provides a survey of major world religions originating in Europe, India, Asia, and the Middle East.
Material will be presented chronologically and will cover basic beliefs, deities, personalities, life rituals,
and holy days. Students are expected to identify these aspects of each religion and also to discover common themes
among the religions.
REL 101-2 INTRODUCTION TO RELIGION----MWF 12:00-12:50----Staff
(See Rel 101-1)
REL 101-3 INTRODUCTION TO RELIGION----TTH 8:00-9:15----Staff
(See Rel 101-1)
REL 101-4 INTRODUCTION TO RELIGION----MWF 2:00-2:50----Staff
(See Rel 101-1)
REL 101-5 INTRODUCTION TO RELIGION----TTH 9:30-10:45----Staff
(See Rel 101-1)
REL 101-6 (H) INTRODUCTION TO RELIGION----TTH 1:00-2:15----Dr.
Thurlkill
(Open only to students enrolled in the Honors College.) This course provides a survey of major world religions
originating in India, Asia, and the Middle East. It emphasizes aspects of myth (sacred stories within religious
tradition) and ritual (sacred actions related to myth). Students are required to complete one group project (create-a-ritual)
and three exams. This Honors course will include a focus on primary texts and scriptures.
REL 101 (Web Course)-1 INTRODUCTION TO RELIGION----Prof.
O'Sullivan
This is a survey of 8 religions originating in Europe, India, China, and Arabia. Material is presented chronologically
and will include basic beliefs, deities, personalities, life rituals, and holy days. Students will be expected
to identify these aspects of each religion and also discover common themes among the religions. Assessment is based
on essays, quizzes, and class discussion. The texts will be: Huston Smith, The World's Religions, Philip Novak,
The World's Wisdom, Marianne Fergusson, Women and Religion.
REL 309 ASIAN RELIGION (Same as PHIL 309)----TTH 8:00-9:15----Dr.
Cozad
This course operates as an introduction to the religious traditions of Asia. We will focus on sacred texts, divine
figures, myths, and rituals of the Hindu, Buddhist, Confucian, Taoist, and Shinto traditions. While we will be
looking at common themes that structure these traditions, we will be particularly focused on their diversity and
the diverse ways in which various social groups (i.e., women, indigenous peoples) express themselves within the
parameters of these traditions. Throughout this course one recurrent question will be asked: What complexities
arise from viewing non-western religious traditions from the confines of a western class-room setting? Most class
periods will be split between lectures and discussions supplemented by videos, recordings and various forms of
interactive learning. Evaluation will consist of a final exam, a paper, five short quizzes, and class participation.
Readings are to be completed for the day they are listed. No prerequisites required.
REL 310 THE OLD TESTAMENT AND EARLY JUDAISM----MWF 10:00-10:50----Staff
A study of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and the early development of Judaism.
REL 311 WOMEN AND THE GODDESS IN EASTERN RELIGION (Same
as G St 311)---- TTH 11:00-12:15----Dr. Cozad
This course has three goals: first, to explore the wide variety of Goddess figures within the Hindu, Buddhist,
and Taoist traditions through myths, rituals, theological texts, and iconography; second, to examine the social
experiences of women within these religious traditions and the ways in which these women have articulated their
own personal and religious identities; and third, to question the impact of various representations of the divine
upon our own personal, social, and religious identities. Class discussions will be supplemented by films, recordings,
a divination demonstration, and other forms of experiential learning. Evaluation will consist of a mid-term exam,
final exam, a paper, and five short quizzes. Optional extra credit assignments will also be offered.
REL 320 HINDUISM----CANCELLED
REL 323 (Web Course) ISLAM ----Dr. Thurlkill
This course examines the history of Islam as a 'world of meaning' beginning with the Arabian milieu before Muhammad's
prophetic call. It then continues to sketch the development of Muslim thought and practice over the fourteen centuries
of the ensuing Islamic era in which the "House of Islam" (dar al-Islam) expands over three continents
and beyond. Topics of focus will include the career of the Prophet and his function in shaping Muslim piety; Qur'an
and hadith; Islamic ritual and the pillars of Muslim praxis; Sunni/Shi'i division within the Muslim community;
and mysticism and devotional piety. We will conclude with a look at the modern political landscape of the Middle
East, and an examination of the origins and nature of modern Muslim reform and renewal movements.
REL 366 (Web Course) WOMEN OF THE
JUDEO-CHRISTIAN BIBLE (Same as G St 366)----Dr. Harrington
In this course you will relive the lives of the important women in the Judeo-Christian Bible by reading formal essays, informal analyses
and novels. Your readings and our discussion will be set in the context of contemporary biblical scholarship rather than devotional
studies. What this means is that all of us want to help you understand these women from many important points of view; under no
circumstances will we dictate to you what you must or should believe about them or anything else. A mid-term and a final, two book
reviews, quizzes, and discussion particiation required.
REL 371
CHRISTIANITY----TTH 11:00-12:15----Dr.
Thurlkill
This course provides a survey of Christianity and its practices in their cultural, social, political, and theological
contents. Particular attention will be paid to formative and Medieval Christian thought, Christian praxis, and
gender.
REL 490-1 DIRECTED READINGS IN RELIGION----Contact Dr. Cozad
This is a student-initiated, student-designed research project. It is arranged through a contract with a faculty
member in the relevant field. This is only for independent scholars who have a proven track record in religion
courses.
REL 497 CAPSTONE COURSE----TBA----Staff
A senior thesis done under the direction of the religion faculty. It is restricted to and required for senior philosophy
majors pursuing the joint philosophy-religion emphasis. It is normally taken during a student's final semester.
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