Philosophy (PY)

Students explore what resilience means in theory and in practice. By understanding how resilience involves critical thinking and practicing skills aligned with a resilient mindset, successful completion of the course offers a toolkit for overcoming hardship and assessing challenges as transient and manageable. Topics include building self-confidence, growth mindset, responsible risk-taking, exercise, meditation, compassion, gratitude, and strategies for managing stress. Springs and Falls.

Explores some of humanity's biggest questions, such as: Does God exist? What are we, and do we survive the death of our bodies? Are right and wrong mere matters of social convention? What's the basis of a government's authority, and could a world government solve humanity's biggest challenges such as war, global inequality and environmental degradation? Students become aware of a rich diversity of philosophical opinion among some major thinkers in the Western tradition, and they too try to work out for themselves some answers to some of our ultimate questions. Falls. (GACO)

An introduction to the structure of correct reasoning, the problems of language, informal fallacies and the need for systematic and critical thinking. Includes both traditional logic and the methods of modern symbolic logic. Falls. (QRCO)

Explores in-depth some philosophical topic of the instructor's choosing. May be repeated for credit with a different topic. Unscheduled.

Students are tasked with analyzing how ethics and morality intersect with the criminal justice system and in turn effect society. Explores ethical theories and legal concepts, with particular attention to legal issues connected to race, class, and gender. Students are expected to apply interdisciplinary concepts in order to demonstrate their mastery of general education skills. Not open to students who have earned credit for CJ/PY 3155. Offered as PY or CJ 3157. Falls. (DICO)

Prerequisite(s): Junior Status.

Uses philosophy and science to study moral relationships between humans and the environment, and considers how to ethically defend our actions on the environment and its nonhuman contents. Explores population growth, resource usage, sustainability, biodiversity loss, nonhuman animal welfare, environmental justice, and global climate change from interdisciplinary perspectives, and encourages awareness of the impact environmentally-based choices have upon mind/body wellness. Spring of odd years. (WECO)

Prerequisite(s): Junior status.

Uses philosophy and medical science to analyze moral and legal relationships of practitioners and patients from interdisciplinary perspectives, while examining social, political, and ethical issues arising from medical and technological advancements including topics of confidentiality, truth-telling, responsibility, reproductive technologies, end of life issues, genetic engineering and enhancement, involuntary psychosurgery, and medical experimentation. Fall of even years. (INCO) (WECO)

Prerequisite(s): Junior status.

Uses philosophy and business to investigate ethical issues in business, as a central feature for society and culture. Explores economic, social, legal, political, and environmental interests impacted by business ethics, from the perspectives of the employer, employee, local community, and global community. Topics include social and corporate responsibility, consumer rights, integrity, transparency, fairness, corruption, ecological sustainability, and other environmental responsibilities. Falls Odd. (DICO) (INCO)

Explores historically relevant ethical theories and principles pertaining to military decision-making and action. Topics include courage, integrity, confidentiality, justice, and human rights. Investigates ethical issues and the global impact pertaining to wars, military conflicts, and humanitarian rescue efforts conducted by the US military. Spring of even years. (GACO)

Introduces ethics concepts as they apply to questions and challenges in conducting human and animal subject research. The aim is to increase students' awareness of and ability to reason through ethical issues arising from research. Topics include obedience, conformity, confidentiality, vulnerable populations, dual relationships, informed consent, autonomy, and regulatory requirements relevant to human and animal research. Springs. (WECO)

Uses philosophy and communication to examine the ethical responsibilities we have as participants in diverse communication contexts; includes reading primary philosophical texts on virtue ethics, deontology, consequentialisms, and dialogic lenses. Introduces perspectives from contemporary philosophers, communication ethicists, and rhetoricians. Students are exposed to traditional philosophical theories and contemporary applications of communication ethics from political, social, and philosophical perspectives. Falls Even. (DICO) (INCO)

Students use technology to explore ethical considerations pertaining to robotic technologies, communicative technologies, and computer networks. Topics include social and legal implications from humanoid production; impact portable technologies, i.e., cell phones, ipads, ipods, e-readers, etc., have upon consciousness and social relationships; user/programmer/hosting site responsibilities, confidentiality, cyber-bullying, storage/sharing of personal information, honesty, fairness, plagiarism, and harmful practices. Special focus on sustainability. Fall of even years. (TECO)

A critical analysis of the traditional and contemporary religious concepts and values that underlie the basic doctrines of the major religious faiths. Examines some contemporary religious and quasi-religious movements. Unscheduled. (INCO)

Prerequisite(s): Junior status.

Offers an integrated look at the problem of war and violence in the nuclear age, including historical, religious, psychological, political, economic and technological aspects. Helps students see the interrelationships among the many causal factors of war as well as to help them think philosophically about the problems of war and peace as global issues facing virtually all nations and, indeed, raising the most serious questions about the continued existence of life on earth. Readings are based on texts, handouts and web sites to ensure that students have information on current developments regarding arms trade, military budgets, United Nations activity, etc. May be taken as IS 3560. Unscheduled. (GACO) (INCO)

Prerequisite(s): Junior status.

Uses philosophy and computer science to explore the relationship between technology and the ideal life. Investigates social and ethical impacts of emerging technologies such as nanotechnology, drones, brain-computer interface systems, robo-sapiens, and biotechnologies utilized for cloning and genetic manipulation, paying particular attention to ways technology works to shape human experience. Includes perspectives from philosophers, computer scientists, engineers, and legal analysts. Spring of even years. (INCO) (INCP) (TECO)

Prerequisite(s): Junior status.

Uses the Lizzie Borden Murder Trial to analyze what the law is and ought to be. Explores traditional and contemporary debates about the nature, scope, and requirements of justice, recognizing different American viewpoints. Explores how different sub-cultures in America are impacted by issues of equity, opportunity, and justice, with a particular focus on female voices in the Lizzie Borden Trial. Springs Odd. (DICO)

An examination of the historical development and basic themes of existentialism such as existence, anxiety, absurdity, nothingness, death, and alienation/estrangement. Particular attention is given to the historical period and distinguishing between various existential positions/sentiments worldwide. Identifies ways existentialism has shaped peoples, cultures, and regions of the world. Springs. (GACO)

Students gain real world experience and reflect upon those experiences through philosophical and ethical studies in the Philosophy major. Students reflect upon their internship experience through various ethical lenses as they consider how their critical thinking skills, analytical skills, and problem solving skills shaped their engagement with others. Includes 120 hours of supervised work.

Prerequisite(s): approval of Chair and advisor.