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Department of Humanities
poverty is emphasized, as is the rise of the
modern banking and investment systems. The
influence of an increasingly globalized world on
production, labor, distribution of wealth, northsouth
dynamics, access to natural resources,
and development is a central theme.
HST401 Special Topics in History [3 – 0]
Some possible topics could include: social
history, oral history, history of slavery, history of
architecture, history of changing tastes, history
of ideologies, history of revolutions, comparative
nationalisms, comparative empire building, cases
of historical decline, and much more. Specific
periods to be covered can also be designated.
HST499 Senior Study [3 – 0]
Every student majoring in history will be required
to take this course in his/her senior year. It is a
3-credit course run seminar-style and entailing
the interactive sharing of independent research
by students working on the topics for their
Senior Studies that have been agreed upon
individually with the professor. Students write
a supervised 40-page Senior Study on a topic
formulated in consultation with a member of the
history faculty.
ITALIAN
ITA 201 Beginning Italian [3-0, 3 cr.]
A beginning course in standard Italian designed
for students who have no previous knowledge
of the language. The course aims at basic
proficiency in the language skills: listening,
speaking, reading and writing focusing on the
use of the Italian sound system, acquisition
of vocabulary and developing standard
grammatical structures, reading of short texts
and writing at the paragraph level. Emphasis
is placed on students’ use of the language in
authentic situations of everyday life beginning
to cultivate an appreciation for the richness and
diversity of the culture. A communicative content
task-based approach is used and opportunities
are given to participate in activities and events
PHILOSOPHY
PHL101 Introduction to Philosophy [3-0, 3 cr.]
This course introduces the major issues and
outlooks in ancient, modern, and contemporary
philosophy.
PHL201 Ancient Philosophy: From the pre-
Socratics to the Epicureans and the Stoics
This course examines the roots of Western
philosophy in Ancient Greece, and serves as
a broad introduction to philosophy. While
emphasis will be placed on the works of Plato
and Aristotle, the renewed appreciation of the
depth of pre-Socratic thought and the value of
post-Aristotelian thought will also be given their
due. In the process, themes such as the origins
of the universe, the nature of reality, the basis
of our knowledge, the good life and society, and
the handling of misfortune will be discussed.
PHL202 Medieval Philosophy: From Plotinus
to Ockham
An examination of the works of major Medieval
thinkers. Special attention will be paid to
the origins of modern philosophy in Medieval
thought, and how Medieval thinking stands
in contrast to Ancient thinking. Also, the
theological character of scholastic thought
will be emphasized, for example: attempts
to reconcile each of Christian and Islamic
teachings with the authority of Aristotle;
attempts to reconcile the benevolence of God
with the existence of evil; attempts to reconcile
the omnipotence of God with presumed limits
placed on his power by “natural laws”; and
attempts to reconcile the omniscience of God
with free will.
PHL203 Early Modern Philosophy: From
Montaigne to Kant
Emphasis will be given to (1) early modern
theories of knowledge (epistemology) against
the backdrop of the Scientific Revolution and
(2) the roots of early modern philosophy in
Renaissance humanism and the outstanding
individuals such as Montaigne who had
contributed to several areas of human
endeavour. In parallel with (1) and (2),
two contrasting approaches to acquiring
knowledge will be studied, one based on
experience (empiricism), the other on reason
(rationalism). Finally, attention will be given to
the significant role of skepticism.
PHL204 Modern Philosophy: From Hegel to
Heidegger and/or Frege to Wittgenstein
Two variants of the course will be offered to
reflect recent realities. The first variant of
the course traces a development from Hegel
through Marx, Kierkegaard, Schopenhauer, and
Nietzsche into 20th Century Phenomenology
and Existentialism. The second variant of
the course will look at the work of Frege and
Russell, and some of their influential 20th
century successors. Within the second variant,
special attention will be given to Wittgenstein,
who was a unique and unclassifiable thinker of
great importance.
ACADEMIC CATALOG [ 2011-2012 ] SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
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