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Philosophy

Course Code
PHIL 101  Credits
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
PHIL 102  Credits
Title Philosophies of Human Nature 
Lasc Area
  • Goal 6
  • Goal 7
 
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
PHIL 110  Credits
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
PHIL 120  Credits
Title World Religions 
Lasc Area
  • Goal 6
  • Goal 7
 
Course Outline Course Outline 
Description Study of beliefs and practices of major religions of the world. MnTC Goal 6 and 7. 



Course Code
PHIL 215  Credits
Title Contemporary Moral Issues 
Lasc Area
  • Goal 6
  • Goal 9
 
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
PHIL 235  Credits
Title Philosophy of Sex and Love 
Lasc Area
  • Goal 6
  • Goal 7
 
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
PHIL 290  Credits 1-3 
Title Topics in Philosophy 
Course Outline Course Outline 
Description Topics will be announced in class schedule. Students may register more than once when content varies. 



Course Code
PHIL 300  Credits
Title History of Ethics 
Prerequisite PHIL 101 OR PHIL 105 OR PHIL 311 OR PHIL 110 OR PHIL 102 PHIL 100 OR PHIL 215 
Course Outline Course Outline 
Writing Intensive Yes  
Description A history of ethical and political theory in Western philosophy. The course will study the works of such philosophers as Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Locke, Hobbes, Kant, Bentham, and Mill. 



Course Code
PHIL 301  Credits
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
PHIL 302  Credits
Title Buddhist Philosophy 
Lasc Area
  • Goal 6
  • Goal 8
 
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
PHIL 303  Credits
Title Classical Philosophy 
Prerequisite PHIL 101 OR PHIL 105 OR PHIL 110 OR PHIL 102 PHIL 100 OR PHIL 215 
Course Outline Course Outline 
Description A study of the development of ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, including the Presocratics, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and such movements as Stoicism, Epicureanism, and Skepticism. Prerequisites: or consent of instructor. 



Course Code
PHIL 304  Credits
Title Medieval Philosophy 
Course Outline Course Outline 
Description Study of Western philosophy during the medieval period. The course will typically include study of such philosophers as Augustine, Anselm, and Aquinas, as well as philosophers from the Jewish and/or Islamic tradition. 



Course Code
PHIL 305  Credits
Title Modern Philosophy: 17th Century 
Course Outline Course Outline 
Description Study of Western philosophy in the 17th century, focusing on the metaphysical and epistemological writings of Descartes and Locke. Prerequisites: Students should have taken at least two courses in philosophy or obtain consent of instructor. Prerequisites: or consent of instructor. 



Course Code
PHIL 306  Credits
Title Modern Philosophy: 18th Century 
Prerequisite PHIL 305 
Course Outline Course Outline 
Description Study of Western Philosophy in the 18th century, focusing on the metaphysical and epistemological writings of Hume and Kant. 



Course Code
PHIL 307  Credits
Title 19th Century Philosophy 
Course Outline Course Outline 
Description Study of selected major philosophers of the 19th century, such as Hegel, Marx, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Schopenhauer and Mill. 



Course Code
PHIL 309  Credits
Title Continental Philosophy 
Prerequisite PHIL 101 OR PHIL 105 PHIL 100 OR PHIL 102 OR PHIL 110 OR PHIL 215 
Course Outline Course Outline 
Description An investigation of recent trends in European philosophy: areas may include phenomenology, structuralism, post-structuralism, critical and political theory, postmodernism, French feminism. Emphasis will be on how the continental philosophers revolutionize the classic philosophical notions of the self, world, rationality, knowledge, etc. 



Course Code
PHIL 311  Credits
Title Morals and Medicine 
Lasc Area
  • Goal 6
  • Goal 9
 
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
PHIL 312  Credits
Title Business Ethics 
Lasc Area
  • Goal 6
  • Goal 9
 
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
PHIL 316  Credits
Title Ethics in the Information Age 
Lasc Area Goal 9  
Course Outline Course Outline 
Description An introduction to ethical issues associated with the Information Age. A description of what the Information Age is, how it came to be, and what makes it different from the previous age. Students will study new ethical issues arising from, or given increased prominence by, the Information Age, advances in information collection, storage, retrieval, processing, and dispersion. Ethical issues to be covered include privacy, surveillance, accuracy, free speech, intellectual property, Internet crime, identity theft, spam, information access, information dispersion, and some consequences of data mining and emerging technologies. A significant portion of the assignments in the course require both formal and informal writing. It is critical that learners can express themselves in writing, expressing their views on ethical issues that continue to develop as new technologies emerge. Since the course is online, written work will be emphasized as shown: • Weekly written discussions using an online discussion forum and our class wiki (4-5 discussions per week). You are required to respond to at least one other posting from a member of your group for EACH discussion. • Weekly “polls” (3 per week – an article related to current technological developments will be posted, and a reflection about the ethical considerations will be required.) • Persuasive Paper (Each week, one of the required sections of the paper will be handed in as a draft. Feedback will be provided on each draft. The revised (complete) paper is due the last week of the course. Cross listed with CSIS 316 MnTC Goal 9 



Course Code
PHIL 318  Credits
Title Professional Ethics 
Lasc Area
  • Goal 6
  • Goal 9
 
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.