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Philosophy
PH202 Philosophy in Our World 3 credits
This general education course gives students the opportunity to read a major philosophical work,
Plato’s Republic, and to discuss issues raised by the text that relate to our world. Such issues include
justice, artistic expression and censorship, ethical conduct, the role of women in society, the best form
of government, family, work, freedom, and responsibility. The course is for first and second year students
who want a serious introduction to philosophy and enjoy rigorous philosophical conversation.
PH253 History of Ancient Philosophy: Thales - Aristotle 4 credits
This course, the first of four sequential courses in the history of philosophy, is a survey of Greek
philosophy from its origins in the thought of Presocratic poets and philosophers to its later
development in the dialogues of Plato and writings of Aristotle. Through the close reading of primary
sources in their historical context and through a wide variety of other exercises, students gain an
appreciation for the major texts, themes and problems that have shaped the Western philosophical
tradition. Students also begin to develop a facility with the various tools and terms with which
philosophers in the Western tradition have worked.
PH254 History of Medieval Philosophy: Augustine - Ockham 4 credits
In this course, the second of four history of philosophy courses, students study the development of
philosophy in the Middle Ages through its contact with Christianity. The goals of this course are to
examine the following themes and philosophical problems: the relation of faith and reason, spirituality
and philosophy; human knowledge and human freedom; and philosophy as a principle of integration
within Medieval culture. Prerequisite: PH253.
PH298 Field Exploration 1-3 credits
The field exploration provides the student the opportunity to work closely with a professor in the
presentation of a course. The student get experience in basic research and techniques involved in
presenting philosophical ideas. The reading and thinking that gradually lead to a basic understanding
of the various philosophical positions and to an authentic philosophical insight is one kind of learning
experience. An additional learning experience comes about with the responsibility of presenting
these ideas to others. The philosophy department, in providing this opportunity, recognizes that
communication of ideas is an essential part of doing philosophy.
PH300 Moral Theory 3 credits
The course begins with a thorough examination of the foundations of natural law ethics and
consequentialist ethics. The instructor links those theories of morality with explicit assumptions
regarding human nature. Central texts in the course are Saint Thomas Aquinas’ Prima Secundae and
John Stewart Mill’s Utilitarianism.
PH305 Health Care Ethics 3 credits
This course provides a survey of some of the specific issues in health care ethics that are faced today by
patients, provides, insurance companies and other constituencies in the health care arena. Such issues
include: access – how are limited resources to be allocated? Informed consent – what information must
patients possess in order to make reasonable and informed decisions about their health care? What
compensatory obligations do providers have in the realm of informed consent? Funding – should the
quality of health care vary by the means of the payer? Death – what is death? Also, should a patient
have the right to choose the time and means of his or her death? Procedures and technologies – are all
possible procedures and technical interventions moral defensible?
PH343 Contemporary Ethical Issues 3 credits
The course examines critically the foundations of ethical or moral judgments on vital issues such as
abortion, birth control, capital punishment, civil disobedience, divorce, drug-use, ecology, euthanasia,
homosexuality, marriage, pre-marital sex, suicide, segregation, stealing, truth: acquiring-revealingconcealing,
technology, war, and work.
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