2007-08 Undergraduate Catalog
Indiana, Pennsylvania 15705
 

Department of Philosophy

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Credit designation below each title is expressed in (c) class hours per week, (l) lab or (d) discussion section hours per week, and (cr) credits per semester.

PHIL 101 Informal Logic: Methods of Critical Thinking

3c-0l-3cr

Develops ability to analyze critically deductive and inductive argumentation, rhetoric, and persuasion, by examples drawn from media, textbooks, advertising, scholarly works, personal contacts, etc.

PHIL 120 Introduction to Philosophy

3c-0l-3cr

Acquaints the beginning student with philosophical problems and methods in such areas as metaphysics, epistemology, logic, and value theory.

PHIL 221 Symbolic Logic I

3c-0l-3cr

An introduction to fundamental concepts in deductive logic with an emphasis on teaching the basis of clear logical thought. Some of the historical origins of logical theory are explored. Students learn to symbolize arguments in the truth-functional logic and the predicate logic. Ways of testing arguments for validity as well as proofs are covered, with a stressing of application to actual arguments drawn from numerous sources in the media, philosophical issues, and moral problems.

PHIL 222 Ethics

3c-0l-3cr

An investigation of efforts to rationally justify moral judgment. Deals with fundamental issues such as: What is morality? Are moral notions cultural, rational, divine, or innate in origin? Are they relative or absolute? Are they freely chosen or determined by genetics and/or environment? Covers a variety of ethical theories significant both historically and contemporarily and applies those theories to current issues which involve moral dilemmas.

PHIL 223 Philosophy of Art

3c-0l-3cr

Investigates some of the major problems in the philosophy of art, e.g., the nature of beauty and the aesthetic experience, the ethics and politics of art, creativity, the nature of the work of art and aesthetic objects, the concept of fine art, and the evaluation of works of art and aesthetic objects.

PHIL 232 Philosophical Perspectives on Love, Marriage, and Divorce

3c-0l-3cr

Examines the philosophical foundations of contemporary Western institutions and ideologies of romantic love. Considers major positions in both the history of philosophy and contemporary philosophy. Investigates the concepts, problems, and philosophical theories central to understanding romantic love, marriage, and divorce.

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PHIL 281 Special Topics

var-1-3cr

Prerequisite: As appropriate to course content

Offered on an experimental or temporary basis to explore topics not included in the established curriculum. A given topic may be offered under any special topic identity no more than three times. Special topics numbered 281 are offered primarily for lower-level undergraduate students.

PHIL 321 Symbolic Logic II

3c-0l-3cr

Prerequisite: PHIL 221

Reviews sentential and predicate logic as presented in PHIL 221. Metalogical results concerning relations between derivability and entailment are studied in detail. Techniques and results important for mathematics computer science are highlighted. May explore modal logic or nonclassical sentential logics.

PHIL 323 Political Philosophy

3c-0l-3cr

An inquiry into the philosophical concepts underlying the major political theories from ancient Greece to the modern era. Emphasizes major authors and texts to demonstrate a continuum of ideas and their modifications, replacement, and revival, as well as novel political ideas. Possible topics: commonality; peace; internationalism; sovereignty; nature of the state; law; the ruler; cosmopolitanism; nationalism; social contract; liberty; obligation; property; racism; sexism; slavery.

PHIL 324 Ancient Philosophy

3c-0l-3cr

Explores the foundations of Western Philosophy through examination of important philosophers of the Ancient period, such as the Pre-Socratic philosophers, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Topics may include the nature of the physical universe, Plato’s theory of Forms, the nature of happiness, and the possibility of morality.

PHIL 325 Modern Philosophy

3c-0l-3cr

A study of exemplary philosophical texts from the late sixteenth through the late eighteenth century. Figures may include Descartes, Hobbes, Locke, Spinoza, Berkeley, Leibniz, Hume, and Kant. Explores such topics as the nature of matter and mind, the possibility and limits of knowledge, and the emerging scientific challenge to church and ancient authority.

PHIL 326 Phenomenology and Existentialism

3c-0l-3cr

A study of the phenomenological method as developed by Edmund Husserl and of the subsequent phenomenological movement as exemplified in the works of such representative figures as Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, and Paul Ricoeour and of existentialism both as an independent movement of thought and as influenced by phenomenology and exemplified in the works of such representative figures as Kierkegaard, Jaspers, Marcel, Buber, and Sartre.

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PHIL 330 Philosophy of Science

3c-0l-3cr

An investigation into the nature of formal and empirical sciences: structure of scientific thought and its dependence upon or independence of theory; the logical and metaphysical status of scientific laws and theoretical concepts; reductionism in science; the concept of causality; the logic of explanation; problems in confirmation theory; science and value. No special background required. Recommended for math and science majors.

PHIL 400 Ethics and Public Policy

3c-0l-3cr

An analysis of the ethical dimension of public policies. Provides a general understanding of ethical theories, then focuses on their application to specific policy issues. Topics vary from semester to semester. See current schedule of classes.

PHIL 405 Justice and Human Rights

3c-0l-3cr

An introduction to theories of justice and an analysis of the concept of human rights which is central to a just society and to much moral, political, and legal dispute. Explores relevant major positions in the history of philosophy, but major focus is contemporary and raises issues such as women’s rights, black rights, animal and environmental rights, welfare rights, and rights to life (or death).

PHIL 410 Contemporary Analytic Philosophy

3c-0l-3cr

Examines Anglo-American philosophy from the early twentieth century onward. Explores early attempts to solve traditional philosophical problems with newly developed methods of logical and linguistic analysis, and also later challenges to such attempts. Authors may include Frege, Russell, Moore, Wittgenstein, Ayer, Austin, Quine, Davidson, Strawson, and Sellars.

PHIL 420 Metaphysics

3c-0l-3cr

Explores the nature of reality through investigation of such concepts as substance, cause, freedom, and God. Draws on both historical and contemporary writings. Other topics may include the nature of space and time, the role of language in comprehending reality, the possibility of non-sensory knowledge, and the nature of possibility and necessity.

PHIL 421 Theory of Knowledge

3c-0l-3cr

Examines various views concerning the nature of knowledge, belief, and justification. Readings drawn from a wide range of historical and contemporary authors. Additional topics may include perceptual knowledge, common sense, skepticism, and the relation between a knower and the community.

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PHIL 450 Philosophy of Law

3c-0l-3cr

An examination of the nature of law and its relationship to such questions as morality, obligation, judicial review, justice, rights, punishment, liberty. Combines philosophical theory with consideration of selected court cases to develop a philosophical and legal understanding of law and its place in society.

PHIL 460 Philosophy of Language

PHIL 460 Philosophy of Language

3c-0l-3cr

An investigation of issues in the philosophy of language and related issues in linguistics (including anthropological linguistics, sociolinguistics, and psycholinguistics). Topics include, for example, the influence of language on perception, rationalist/empiricist perspectives on language acquisition, language and political control, reference, meaning, and truth.

PHIL 480 Honors Seminar in Philosophy

3c-0l-3cr

Prerequisites: Philosophy honors students or instructor permission

Provides an advanced forum for detailed exploration of a single topic or single author, subject to instructor’s choice. Enrollment limited to students designated as candidates for honors, to members of the Honors College who satisfy any additional prerequisites set by instructor, and other Philosophy majors by invitation or permission.

PHIL 481 Special Topics

var-l-3cr

Prerequisite: As appropriate to course content

Offered on an experimental or temporary basis to explore topics not included in the established curriculum. A given topic may be offered under any special topic identity no more than three times. Special topics numbered 481 are primarily for upper-level undergraduate students.

PHIL 482 Independent Study

var-1-6cr

Prerequisite: Prior approval through advisor, faculty member, department chairperson, dean, and Provost’s Office

Students with interest in independent study of a topic not offered in the curriculum may propose a plan of study in conjunction with a faculty member. Approval is based on academic appropriateness and availability of resources. May be taken more than once to a maximum of 6cr. (This option is available to both philosophy majors and nonmajors.)

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PHIL 483 Honors Thesis

var-1-6cr

Prerequisites: Admission to departmental honors program; prior approval through advisor, faculty member, department chairperson, dean, and Provost’s Office

An intensive, focused study involving independent research culminating in a written thesis approved by a thesis director and two faculty readers/

committee members. May be taken more than once to a maximum of 6sh.

PHIL 493 Internship in Philosophy

var-3-6cr

Prerequisites: Permission of the department, junior or senior PHIL major or double major, 2.5 GPA

A supervised experience of no longer than one semester and no less than five weeks. This would take place in either a public or private organization in areas that either extend and develop or complement coursework in Philosophy. Log and/or major paper required. Internships are to be done with a clear analysis, argumentation, and examination of governing principles.

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