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Central
Philosophy major requirements
30 semester hours including,Philosophy minor requirements3 semester hours in logic: PHIL 125 General Logic (3)
PHIL 221t Classical Thought (3) PHIL 222t Modern Thought (3)
18 semester hours at the 200-300 level
15 semester hours including,Philosophy/religion minor requirementsPHIL 125 General Logic (4)
8 semester hours at the 200-300 level, including:
3 semester hours in history of philosophy: PHIL 221t Classical Thought (3) PHIL 222t Modern Thought (3)
3 semester hours from the following: PHIL 240t Political Philosophy (3) PHIL 260t Metaphysics (3) PHIL 261t Moral Philosophy (3) PHIL 262 Philosophies of the Sciences (3) PHIL 264t Theory of Knowledge (3) PHIL 360It Readings in Metaphysics (3) PHIL 361It Readings in Moral Philosophy (3) PHIL 399I Independent Study (Arr)
18 semester hours-18 semester hours from the philosophy/religion tracks, selected to focus on a particular theme such as great ideas, beliefs and values, or the Christian faith. The department must approve the minor, both as to thematic focus and to the courses used to satisfy it. Students wishing to complete such a minor should have a minor adviser within the department. With department approval, one course from outside the department and outside the student1s first major may be used to count toward the minor.Critical thinking minor requirement
18 semester hours- 18 semester hours chosen from the following list: One advanced course from the student's major field which treats theory or methodology (subject to the approval of the philosophy and religion). At least one course in logic or persuasion: PHIL 125 General Logic, PHIL 221t, PHIL Classical Thought or COMM 318 Persuasion At least two courses in the history of thought: PHIL 221t Classical Thought, PHIL 222t Modern Thought, PHIL 223 Contemporary Thought or REL 230r Asian Religions, REL 272r Modern Christian Thought or One course (if needed) from: PHIL 120ft Introduction to Philosophy 121ft Ethics or REL 112fr The Christian Heritage or REL 255r Christian Ethics.Communication skills endorsement:
The skills endorsement of the philosophy and religion department indicates that the student who completes a major in either philosophy or religion can verbally communicate at the high level appropriate for the recipient of a Bachelor of Arts degree in core areas of a liberal-arts curriculum. To insure achievement at the required level, the communication performance of philosophy and religion majors will be monitored from the time of declaration. An evaluation of the student1s abilities will be made in the earliest class possible and assessments and recommendations deriving from this evaluation will be discussed with the student and the student1s adviser. Where appropriate, evaluation and recommendation will continue through the coursework in the major until such time as the appropriate faculty (philosophy or religion) is satisfied that the student is consistently performing at the desired level.
Course offerings
120ft Introduction to Philosophy (3) An examination of four significant philosophical issues, typically including one social issue (e.g., the morality of capital punishment), ethical relativism and objectivity, relationship between human freedom and the scientific outlook, and rationality of belief in God). Develops analytical thinking, critical reading and writing and sensitivity to argumentation.121ft Ethics (3) The course examines two questions. The first which has exercised moral philosophers in the West at least since the time of Plato: Are assessments of moral right and wrong any more than expressions of personal or group preferences? The second question is especially relevant in contemporary society in the United States: What is the proper relation between morality and the law in a society that values highly the rights and interests of individuals? The course promotes college-level skills especially writing and analytical reading.
122f Social Issues (3) Addresses issues that create conflicts and controversies in contemporary society such as the legality and morality of abortion, the death penalty, homosexuality, and pornographic material. Promotes college-level skills, especially writing and analytical reading.
125 General Logic (4) Introduces the analysis of arguments, including such topics as the uses of language, definitions, fallacies, and the rules of valid deductive inference in syllogistic arguments. Designed to help students with reasoning processes.
126ft Aesthetics (3) Can aesthetic assessments be true or false? Or are such assessments merely expressions of individual preferences? This course examines the nature and importance of aesthetic judgement. It draws on established classics and contemporary efforts by philosophers, artists, critics, among others. Promotes college-level skills, especially writing and analytical reading.
127ft Meaning of Life (3) Explores the concept of the meaning of life through alternative theories of the basis of value; nihilist, existentialist, rationalist, religious and naturalist selections are studied. Emphasizes critical reading and thinking, presentation and assessment of arguments in speech and on paper.
128nt Philosophies in the Far East: China and Japan in Comparison (3) Introduces the philosophical development of China and Japan from the same Confucian tradition. Explores the different interpretation and dynamics of East Asian traditional thought which have influenced modern China and modern Japan. Discusses Western viewpoints on East Asian philosophy.
221t Classical Thought (3) A study of the major classical thinkers in Western philosophy, from the pre-Socratics through the Middle Ages, with emphasis on Plato, Aristotle and Aquinas.
222t Modern Thought (3) A study of selected thinkers and movements shaping the modern western tradition. The focus will be on the work of Descartes, Locke, Berkeley Hume and Kant.
223 Contemporary Thought (3) Topics in contemporary thought vary but may include the nature of the self, bases of ethics and our relationship to society and God. 225t Modern Continental Philosophy (3) A survey of the history of continental philosophy from Hegel to the present, with emphasis on Hegel, Nietzsche, Herdegger, and the post-Herdeggerians. No formal prerequisites.
240t Political Philosophy (3) A historical survey of Western political thinkers from Plato to the present, with emphasis on changing cultural/historical contexts.
245 Environmental Ethics (3) Examines a variety of moral and social issues regarding the relationship between human beings and non-human nature. Issues include the rights of non-humans, ecological obligations to future generations, the value of diversity of life, land use and vegetarianism, obligations to feed the world, and dominion vs. stewardship.
260t Metaphysics (3) This course explores the extent to which the distinctions we draw have any basis independent of us (i.g. mind and body, person and world, causes and non-causes, etc.).
261t Moral Philosophy (3) A survey of major theories of normative ethics, principally concerning the nature of the basis of moral judgments. Aristotelian, Kantian and utilitarian traditions will be studied. 262 Philosophy of the Sciences (3) Discusses philosophical problems raised by modern science, technology and human freedom. Concerns the fundamental shifts that have taken place in the understanding of physical, biological, social and historical sciences, social and historical sciences, social responsibility and the sciences.
264t Theory of Knowledge (3) Drawing on classical sources, the course will focus on philosophical attempts to describe the nature of ordinary everyday knowledge, religious knowledge, moral knowledge, and scientific knowledge, and the differences that distinguish them.
286C Values Seminar (3) Field work in contemporary values issues and discussions of their moral, aesthetic and religious implications for a life and world view. To be taken in Chicago.
360It Readings in Metaphysics (3) Offered jointly with PHIL 260 and covering the same topics but with some separate assignments, sessions and expectations for advanced discussion and research. Students cannot receive credit for both 260 and 360.
361It Readings in Moral Philosophy (3) Offered jointly with PHIL 261 and covering the same topics but with some separate assignments, sessions and expectations for advanced discussion and research. Students cannot receive credit for both PHIL 261 and 361.
362It Readings in Philosophy of the Sciences (3) Offered jointly with PHIL 262 and covering the same topics but with some separate assignments, sessions and expectations for advanced discussion and research. Students cannot receive credit for both PHIL 262 and 362.
390 Topics in Philosophy (Arr) Varying topics determined by the interests of students and the staff. May be repeated for credit.
399I Independent Study (Arr)
397/497PI Internship (Arr) Prerequisite: departmental approval and instructor approval. An applied experience in the major, requiring a minimum number of hours of work per credit hour. Includes conferences with the on-campus instructor and an evaluation by the job supervisor. Pass/no record basis.
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