Fall 2009 Courses

PHI105N The Philosophic Quest (3 credits)

Sara Shady

Do you often find yourself wondering about things? In this course you can earn General Education and Philosophy credit by exploring answers to questions such as: Does God exist? If so, what is God like? Who am I? What can I know? What should I do? What is a just society? We will learn how important thinkers throughout the history of philosophy have answered these questions, and we will also work on formulating our own answers to these questions.

PHI110N Society and Morality (3 credits)

Carrie Peffley

We’ll study and debate some contemporary ethical issues that impact society (topics might include cloning, euthanasia, capital punishment, Palestine/Israel conflict), solutions and proposals offered for them, and how major philosophical theories might address them. We’ll consider how Christians might think and act about these issues. Assignments include reading, quizzes, tests (objective and essay), and a short paper.

PHI110N Society and Morality (3 credits)

Eric Snider

PHI210L The Modern Mind (3 credits)

Don Postema

Marx, Nietzsche, Freud, Kierkegaard. Classism, racism, feminism, liberation theology. Annie Dillard, Barbara Ehrenreich, Joseph Conrad, Kate Chopin. How would you relate all these in a coherent pattern, framing the ways in which you today think about yourself and your world? By reading philosophical and literary texts, considering contemporary events, and critically reflecting on your own beliefs and values. This cross-disciplinary course will guide you in this process through discussion, reflection, short quizzes, and writing (three short papers and a final integrative essay). This could be the mind-expanding experience you’re looking for!

PHI251 History of Philosophy I (formerly Philosophical Traditions: Ancient and Medieval) (4 credits)

Carrie Peffley

How are Judaic, Christian and Muslim philosophy a response to Greek and Roman thought? In this course we will study the development of Western philosophy from its origin in the ancient Greeks to the time of the Renaissance. We’ll emphasize the works of Plato, Aristotle, Augustine and Aquinas, and take a fascinating look at the transmission of Greek thought to the West through Islamic philosophy. Assignments will include four exams, a handful of short essays and two long papers.

PHI252 History of Philosophy II (formerly Philosophical Traditions: Modern and Contemporary) (4 credits)

Sara Shady

This course studies the history of Western philosophy from the Enlightenment through the 20th Century. Major topics to be studied include: Continental Rationalists (Descartes, Leibniz, Spinoza), British Empiricists (Locke, Berkeley, Hume), Kant, Hegel, 19th century reactions to idealism and subsequent developments in Continental and Anglo-American philosophy. We will learn how these different philosophers and schools of thought answered basic epistemological, metaphysical, ethical, and political questions.

PHI301 Symbolic Logic (4 credits)

Dan Yim

A study of symbolic logic including standard translations from arguments in natural language, methods of quantification and formal proofs of validity, and an introduction to modal logic. Focus on the application of symbolic logic to philosophical arguments. Prerequisite: PHI225M, MAT241, or instructor’s approval (contact instructor if Banner blocks registration).

PHI310 Aesthetics (3 credits)

Don Postema

What is art? What is good art? What good is art? These seemingly simple questions provide the structure for an exploration of classic and contemporary views of the nature, meaning, and value of art and the aesthetic. Laced with examples from painting, music, literature, and film, this course moves beyond the textual to test art theories in practice. You’ll compare your views with those of students majoring in art, music, writing, and philosophy, a rich and stimulating mix of ideas and experience. You’ll develop your own perspectives through quizzes and three papers. You may know what art you like, but do you know why it’s good? Here’s your chance to find out.

PHI323 Social and Political Philosophy (4 credits)

Sara Shady

This course is not an overview of the history of political philosophy. Rather we will take a topical approach and consider the following questions: What is the difference between a community, a society, and a state? What is the role of the individual in each of these associations? How should diverse people and ideas be integrated into a social organization? What should the role of religion be in creating and sustaining social organizations? Are Christians obligated to enable, sustain, and participate in certain forms of social organization (and/or obligated to refrain from others)? We will integrate theoretical answers to these questions with practical analyses of actual social organizations.

GES420P Bioethics (3 credits)

Don Postema

Beginning with a short review of ethical frameworks and principles, the course is structured around issues chosen by the students. Typically, these are ethical issues in health care provider-patient relations, end-of-life situations, the use of reproductive technologies, advances in human genetics, using human research subjects, allocating scarce health care resources, and health disparities. This quasi-seminar course offers maximum student involvement through reading responses, case discussions, group presentations, two case position papers, and a final paper developing your position on a contemporary issue in bioethics. If you haven’t had to face these issues yet, be assured you will – and this course will help you deal with them in a reflective, reasoned manner as a person of faith.

PHI490 Topics in Philosophy: Aristotle (4 credits)

Eric Snider

The good human life. Just what is it like? And how could anyone from 2400 years ago have anything relevant to say now? While modern moral philosophy focuses on maximizing pleasure, or figuring out the exact right thing to do, Aristotle examines what characteristics good people should have: generous, witty, friendly, fair, having an accurate self-assessment, gentle. We will study his Nicomachean Ethics and speculate about how we might integrate his advice into a Christian pursuit of the good human life.

PHI499 Senior Seminar (4 credits)

Dan Yim

A capstone course in which students and faculty consider contemporary issues in philosophy. Prerequisite: Philosophy major or minor with senior standing, or instructor’s approval.