In this course, we focus on questions driving the discipline by exploring theories of reality and the nature and limits of knowledge. To be effective in resolving societal issues, like increasing happiness, requires understanding these complex and essential fields.

In this course, we consider ethical problems and forms of ethical reasoning within the larger context of social and political philosophy.

Attention is given to specific ongoing problems, including poverty, famine, abortion, punishment, animal rights, or environmental sustainability amongst others.

Introductory course developing skills in argumentation, critical thinking, and scientific reasoning. Covers a wide array of topics including rules of logical inference, informal fallacies, problem-solving, and probabilistic reasoning, these analytical and critical thinking skills are tested on LSAT and MCAT. In this course, we discuss issues central to advancement in the sciences, and knowledge in general. In the course, you will learn valuable skills for employers.

What is philosophy?  What is the nature of reality? What is the difference between knowledge and opinion?  What is the best kind of life for a human being to lead? Ancient Greece was the birthplace of Western philosophy, and this course traces the history of ancient Greek thought, from Homer and Hesiod through the pre-Socratic thinkers (e.g. such figures as Thales, Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Parmenides, Zeno of Elea, Empedocles, Anaxagoras and Democritus) to Plato, Aristotle and later Hellenistic thought. Cross-listed with PHIL 5002. Grading Basis: Letter Grade. Typically Offered: Fall, Spring. Semester Hours: 3 to 3

All who live in this world must choose what to do. Some of those choices can rely on first-hand experience, but most rely on information, facts, and descriptions from external sources. As every programmer will tell you, "Garbage in, garbage out." Thus, getting "good" information is critical to our ability to live freely, autonomously, and ethically. It is typical for philosophy classes to teach logic and reasoning -- and those are important. But reasoning is useless if its content (or information) is deceptive, misleading, or incoherent. What's more, since democratic countries are premised upon knowledgeable citizens, the short-circuiting of reasoning by propaganda may be the greatest danger democracy has. The question becomes: what is propaganda? How do we define it? How do we locate it? And finally, how do we spell out what's (possibly) wrong with it? Accordingly, this course is an inquiry into the epistemic, technological, and ethical dimensions of propaganda. It will define propaganda, identify how it works, and seek to understand the variety of agents and motives who use propaganda to achieve their ends. (It is not assumed that propaganda is always good or always bad, by the way.) In addition to understanding the logical and epistemic nature of propaganda, this course will examine how it is disseminated. How do technologies (text, video, social media, algorithms, etc.) influence and foment misinformation? The overarching goal will be to become more aware and critical of propaganda we encounter so we can avoid "garbage" information which can manipulate us and prevent us from reasoning logically and ethically. Cross-listed with PHIL 3050. Max hours: 3 Credits.

This course examines basic issues in social and political philosophy, including justice, freedom, individuality, power and community. Cross-listed with PHIL 5200. Term offered: spring. Max hours: 3 Credits.

We in the Western world encounter a vastly different world, a radically different "universe of meaning," when we examine the traditions of the East. Even what we tacitly assume to be "real" is claimed by the Hindus and Buddhists of India to be a grand illusion. The world of China is, again, very different from India. An examination of Tibetan and Japanese religious forms will conclude our study of Asian thought. Cross-listed with RLST 3410.  Max hours: 3 Credits.

This course explores ways ideology functions within culture. Specific attention is given to how ideology creates and maintains racist and sexist patterns of thought and behavior. By analyzing the methods and sources of ideological forces we explore different thinkers claims about if and how eliminating racist and sexist thinking is possible as an individual or as a collective society.

Why do motives matter in ethics?  What is an ethical duty? How do sensations and  ideas combine to make reality unified and coherent? Kant's philosophy answers these questions by providing a profound synthesis of the philosophers before him. Kant's work still influences ethics, politics, metaphysics, epistemology, and science today. This course involves students in close study of Kant’s revolutionary thought as it appears in several of his major works. Strongly Recommended: PHIL 3002 or 3022, a minimum grade of “C” in each previous philosophy course. If the student does not have this coursework, consulting with the instructor prior to registration is strongly recommended. Cross-listed with PHIL 5830. Term offered: fall. Max hours: 3 Credits. Semester Hours: 3 to 3

What is a legal “law”? What justifies its ability to force our compliance? How is law distinct from morality? What makes some laws immoral? Is ignorance of the law ever a valid excuse?  We all find ourselves entangled with the law at some point. Sometimes we’re the victim and sometimes we stand accused; even beyond those special circumstances, we all have to live with the law and the many ways it regulates (or controls) our conduct. While this course is recommended for pre-law students, this course will every students to be intellectually critical of what law is, how it can and is justified, and how to assess it on grounds that reach beyond to law, such as logic or ethics. Both historical and contemporary sources will be used to survey theoretical positions on the nature of law. Figures may include (among others): Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Locke, Kant, Holmes, Mackinnon, Dworkin, Hart, Devlin, as well as more contemporary Supreme Court justices and case law.  Suggested prerequisite one or two previous courses in philosophy, and a minimum grade of C in each course are strongly recommended; if the student lacks this coursework, consult with the professor prior to registration. Cross-listed with PHIL 5260. Term offered: fall. Max Hours: 3 Credits. Grading Basis: Letter Grade. Typically Offered: Fall or Spring.

This course examines some of the central philosophical questions concerning the nature of scientific investigation, such as the logical relation of evidence to hypothesis, the objective adjudication of competing hypotheses, the logical function of modeling in empirical inquiry, the criterion for a classificatory system to underwrite induction and explanation, the explanatory relationships between the differing sciences, as well as the theoretical and pragmatic function of scientific law and its relationship to explanation. ​

Explores debates about psyche and body, mind and world, self and others, and consciousness and nature. Examines the philosophical questions related to those debates that arise within theories of perception, affect and cognition offered by influential psychological models. Cross-listed with HUMN 5750, SSCI 5750 and PHIL 5755. Max hours: 3 Credits.

A close study of Nietzsche's philosophical writings, with attention to his significance for philosophy in the 20th century and beyond. Cross-listed with PHIL 5790. Term offered: spring. Max hours: 3 Credits.