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Philosophy
| Course Code |
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| Title |
Introduction to Western Philosophy |
| Lasc Area |
Goal 6 |
| Course Outline |
Course Outline |
| Description |
An introduction to Western philosophical thinking and methods through an examination of selected figures and movements from the history of the discipline. MnTC Goal 6. |
| Course Code |
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| Title |
Philosophies of Human Nature |
| Lasc Area |
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| Course Outline |
Course Outline |
| Description |
This course examines multiple philosophical ideas about human existence. In addition to exploring culturally distinct perspectives, we will explore normative consequences and applications regarding basic obligations and attitudes towards others, the environment, and values. Topics typically include Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Existentialism, Aristotleanism, Kantianism, and secular humanism. MnTC Goal 6 and 7. |
| Course Code |
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| Title |
Practical Reasoning |
| Lasc Area |
Goal 2 |
| Course Outline |
Course Outline |
| Description |
An introduction to critical thinking, with emphasis on understanding the logic of everyday arguments, interpreting the arguments of others, detecting fallacies, and constructing good arguments. MnTC Goal 2. |
| Course Code |
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| Title |
World Religions |
| Lasc Area |
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| Course Outline |
Course Outline |
| Description |
Study of beliefs and practices of major religions of the world. MnTC Goal 6 and 7. |
| Course Code |
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| Title |
Contemporary Moral Issues |
| Lasc Area |
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| Course Outline |
Course Outline |
| Description |
Application of ethical theories to contemporary moral issues, such as world hunger, punishment, sexual equality, sexual behavior, abortion, the environment, corporate responsibility, and war. MnTC Goal 6 and 9. |
| Course Code |
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| Title |
Philosophy of Sex and Love |
| Lasc Area |
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| Course Outline |
Course Outline |
| Description |
Exploration of historical and contemporary sources. Topics may include the nature of sexual acts, perversion, homosexuality, sexual ethics, fantasy, pornography, marriage, the different types of love, and feminist views on sex and love. MnTC Goal 6 and 7. |
| Course Code |
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| Title |
Philosophy of Religion |
| Prerequisite |
PHIL 101, PHIL 102, PHIL 110 OR PHIL 215 |
| Course Outline |
Course Outline |
| Description |
An examination of religions from a philosophical standpoint. The course will discuss such issues as the existence and nature of God, religious experience, and life after death. |
| Course Code |
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| Title |
Buddhist Philosophy |
| Lasc Area |
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| Course Outline |
Course Outline |
| Description |
This course explores the most fundamental issues in Buddhist philosophy that have shaped the way of life and thoughts of Buddhists for 25 centuries. Topics include Buddhist conceptions of reality, empty persons, ethical relationships, the doctrine of emptiness, Buddhist epistemology, and Zen. MnTC Goal 6 and 8. |
| Course Code |
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| Title |
Morals and Medicine |
| Lasc Area |
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| Course Outline |
Course Outline |
| Writing Intensive |
Yes |
| Description |
A consideration of some moral problems that arise in medicine such as truth-telling, experimentation, paternalism, abortion, euthanasia, allocation of sparse resources and health care systems. MnTC Goal 6 and 9. |
| Course Code |
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| Title |
Business Ethics |
| Lasc Area |
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| Course Outline |
Course Outline |
| Description |
This course explores the ethical challenges that arise in the business world. The course will begin with a discussion of different normative theories and then applies those theories to areas of concern within the business world. Case studies will be used to illustrate theoretical points with particular situations. This course will develop critical thinking competencies. MnTC Goal 6 and 9. |
| Course Code |
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| Title |
Professional Ethics |
| Lasc Area |
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| Course Outline |
Course Outline |
| Writing Intensive |
Yes |
| Description |
The course explores the special ethical challenges that arise in professional life. The course is organized around issues common to many professions, such as competing rights, informed consent, professional obligation, and confidentiality. The course provides an overview of different normative theories and applies them to areas of concern that frequently arise in professional decision making. Case studies illustrate these issues. This course develops critical thinking and writing competencies. MnTC Goal 9. |
| Course Code |
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| Title |
Philosophy of the Arts |
| Lasc Area |
Goal 6 |
| Course Outline |
Course Outline |
| Writing Intensive |
Yes |
| Description |
A consideration of philosophical questions relating to the fine arts. Representative topics include the nature of art, aesthetic experience, criticism in the arts, representation, symbolism, and evaluation. Same as ART 320. MnTC Goal 6. |
| Course Code |
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| Title |
Religious Traditions in our Global Society |
| Lasc Area |
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| Course Outline |
Course Outline |
| Description |
Examination of how the five major world religious traditions-Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam-interact with each other in our contemporary pluricultural world. Emphasis on how they diversely, and divergently, influence and inspire their practitioners in our 21st century global society. MnTC Goal 6 and 8. |
| Course Code |
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| Title |
Death and Dying |
| Lasc Area |
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| Course Outline |
Course Outline |
| Description |
Everybody dies. But is that a bad thing? Going back to Epicurus, philosophers have argued about this question. The implications should be obvious: if death isn’t a bad thing, then what do we say about murder, war, suicide, and end of life issues? On the other hand, if death is bad, what makes it so? In this class, we will consider questions about what life is and what death is, what impact on life’s meaning death has, whether death is bad or not, and how our answers to these questions will impact our thinking about procreation, suicide, and killing others. MnTC Goal 6 and 9. |
| Course Code |
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| Title |
Symbolic Logic |
| Lasc Area |
Goal 4 |
| Course Outline |
Course Outline |
| Description |
A survey of deductive logic, emphasizing the use of symbolism to interpret and evaluate arguments. Includes propositional and predicate logic. MnTC Goal 4. |
| Course Code |
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| Title |
Social and Political Philosophy |
| Course Outline |
Course Outline |
| Description |
Investigation of major issues of contemporary social and political philosophy. Topics may include the justification of the state, rights, equality and liberty, the major political ideologies, feminist politics, and critical theory. Listed prerequisites may be waived by prior completion of a 200 or 300 level philosophy course. |
| Course Code |
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| Title |
Peace and War |
| Lasc Area |
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| Course Outline |
Course Outline |
| Description |
War affects people around the globe, both when their nation is at war and when allies of their nation are at war. By studying the writings of people from different cultures and nations, we will examine both the causes of war and alternatives. During this class we will have occasion to question whether war is ever moral and whether there are any viable alternatives to war that might allow for more peaceful resolutions of conflict. We will finish the semester with a discussion of terrorism and how it should affect our beliefs about some of these issues. MnTC Goal 6 and 8. |
| Course Code |
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| Title |
Topics in Philosophy |
| Course Outline |
Course Outline |
| Description |
Topics will be announced in semester class schedules. Students may repeat course when content varies. |
| Course Code |
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| Title |
Senior Project |
| Course Outline |
Course Outline |
| Description |
As a capstone requirement for the major, students will complete a research paper with departmental presentation or submit a portfolio. A portfolio containing (1) four or five papers they have written for philosophy courses; (2) a philosophical self-assessment. See Department Chair for details. |
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