Current Philosophy Major information

Perhaps one of the most distinctive characteristics of human beings is that our existence is completely entangled with ethical norms and values that fundamentally change our minds and the direction of our lives. This journey will explore the nature of morality, how people should relate to others, and what is involved in having a good life. 

A student interested in the Ethics and Values journey could choose 12 classes from the following of our offerings: 

• PHIL 1012 - Truth, Reality, and the Good Life: Introduction to Philosophy
• PHIL 1020 - Right, Wrong, and Seeing the Difference: Introduction to Ethics
• PHIL 2241 - Logic, Language, and Scientific Reasoning
• PHIL 2510 - Philosophy of Nature
• PHIL 3002 - Ancient Greek Philosophy
• PHIL 3150 - History of Ethics
• PHIL 3250 - Business, Society, and Moral Responsibility
• PHIL 3280 - War and Morality
• PHIL 3430 - How to Think Green: Environmental Ethics
• PHIL 3500 - Ideology and Culture: Racism and Sexism
• PHIL 3656 - Contemporary Religious Ethics: Jewish and Christian Traditions
• PHIL 4220 - Art, Beauty, and Aesthetic Criticism: Philosophy of Art
• PHIL 4242 - Medicine, Health Care, and Justice: Bioethics
• PHIL 4341 - Latin American Philosophy
• PHIL 4600 - Questioning Religious Belief and Practice: Introduction ot Philosophy of Religion
• PHIL 4790 - Nietzsche
• PHIL 4800 - Plato
• PHIL 4810 - Aristotle
• PHIL 4833 - Existentialism

There are multiple philosophical traditions -- reflecting the multiplicity of cultures around the world -- and some of these philosophical traditions have lasted for milennia. But how do these traditions of thought bear on us today in the 21st century? Are they not traditions to be interrogated, challenged, and taken in the new directions? This journey offers students the opportunity to develop themselves critically by engaging the great thinkers of the past for the sake of opening  up new pathways of thinking in the future. 

A student intersted in the Philosophical Traditions journey could choose 12 classes from the following of our offerings: 

• PHIL 1012 - Truth, Reality, and the Good Life: Introduction to Philosophy
• PHIL 1020 - Right, Wrong, and Seeing the Difference: Introduction to Ethics
• PHIL 2241 - Logic, Language, and Scientific Reasoning
• PHIL 3002 - Ancient Greek Philosophy
• PHIL 3022 - Knowledge, Perception, and the Search for Objectivity: Modern Philosophy
• PHIL 3032 - Twentieth Century Analystic Philosophy
• PHIL 3150 - History of Ethics
• PHIL 3760 - Kant: Freedom, Reality, and the Mind
• PHIL 3981 - Chinese Philosophy and Culture
• PHIL 4000 - 19th and 20th Century Continental Philosophy
• PHIL 4040 - Skepticism
• PHIL 4101 - Pragmatism: Classical American Philosophy
• PHIL 4341 - Latin American Philosophy
• PHIL 4500 - Feminist Philosophy
• PHIL 4600 - Questioning Religious Belief and Practice: Introduction to Philosophy of Religion
• PHIL 4735 - Rationalism
• PHIL 4790 - Nietzsche
• PHIL 4800 - Plato
• PHIL 4810 - Aristotle
• PHIL 4833 - Existentialism
• PHIL 4900 - John Dewey
• PHIL 4933 - Philosophy of Eros

The student of what our minds are and how they work is fundamental to our understanding of both ourselves and our world. This journey seeks to help students explore the many relationships between our individual minds and the world. 

A student interested in the Mind and Consciousness journey could choose 12 classes from the following of our offerings: 

• PHIL 1012 - Truth, Reality, and the Good Life: Introduction to Philosophy
• PHIL 1020 - Right, Wrong, and Seeing the Difference: Introduction to Ethics
• PHIL 2441 - Logic, Language, and Scientific Reasoning
• PHIL 3002 - Ancient Greek Philosophy
• PHIL 3022 - Knowledge, Perception, and the Search for Objectivity: Modern Philosophy
• PHIL 3360 - Epistemology
• PHIL 3760 - Kant: Freedom, Reality, and the Mind
• PHIL 4300 - Mind, Body, and Consciousness: Philosophy of Mind
• PHIL 4341 - Latin American Philosophy
• PHIL 4740 - Empiricism
• PHIL 4750 - Introduction to Phenomenology
• PHIL 4755 - Philosophical Psychology
• PHIL 4780 - Heidegger
• PHIL 4790 - Nietzsche
• PHIL 4800 - Plato

Science and technology inform every aspect of our lives, changing both how we act and what we know. Too often, we do not critically assess these large social structures. This journey helps students accomplish this by teaching about (a) the nature of knowledge, (b) our tools for thinking (physical, mental, and symbolic), and (c) the larger social, scientific, and technological structures built upon these fundamentals.

A student interested in the Science, Technology, and Knowledge journey could choose 12 classes from the following of our offerings:

• PHIL 1012 - Truth, Reality, and the Good Life: Introduction to Philosophy
• PHIL 1020 - Right, Wrong, and Seeing the Difference: Introduction to Ethics
• PHIL 2441 - Logic, Language, and Scientific Reasoning
• PHIL 3032 - Twentieth Century Analytic Philosophy
• PHIL 3340 - Investigating Nature: Introduction to the Philosophy of Science
• PHIL 3360 - Epistemology
• PHIL 3441 - Philosophical Reasoning Skills
• PHIL 3760 - Kant: Freedom, Reality, and the Mind
• PHIL 4101 - Pragmatism: Classical American Philosophy
• PHIL 4300 - Mind, Body, and Consciousness: Philosophy of Mind
• PHIL 4350 - Philosophy of Science
• PHIL 4735 - Rationalism
• PHIL 4740 - Empiricism
• PHIL 4755 - Philosophical Psychology
• PHIL 4780 - Heidegger
• PHIL 4790 - Nietzsche
• PHIL 4810 - Aristotle
• PHIL 4900 - John Dewey
• PHIL 4920 - Philosophy of Media and Technology

The Social Justice, Politics, and Diversity journey is intended for students who are interested in creating a more equitable and just world. The courses included in this journey examine the political institutions and social practice that structure our collective life, questions regarding our social and ethical responsibilities for justice and equality, as well as systems of power and domination at the intersection of gender, race/ethnicity, class, sexuality, and disability. Students who pursue this journey will develop analytical skills, critical thinking, cultural sensitivity, and political awareness. 

A student interested in the Social Justice, Politics, and Diversity journey could choose 12 classes from the following of our offerings:

• PHIL 1111 - First Year Seminar
• PHIL 1012 - Truth, Reality, and the Good Life: Introduction to Philosophy
• PHIL 1020 - Right, Wrong, and Seeing the Difference: Introduction to Ethics
• PHIL 2441 - Logic, Language, and Scientific Reasoning
• PHIL 3002 - Ancient Greek Philosophy
• PHIL 3200 - Social and Political Philosophy
• PHIL 3250 - Business, Society, and Moral Responsibility
• PHIL 3430 - Environmental Ethics
• PHIL 3500 - Ideology and Culture: Racism and Sexism
• PHIL 4101 - Pragmatism: Classical American Philosophy
• PHIL 4341 - Latin American Philosophy
• PHIL 4450 - Punishment and Social Justice
• PHIL 4500 - Feminist Philosophy
• PHIL 4790 - Nietzsche
• PHIL 4795 - Marx and Marxism
• PHIL 4800 - Plato
• PHIL 4810 - Aristotle