Philosophy and Humanistic Studies

Philosophy and Humanistic Studies

Stuart Dalton, Chair
        daltons@wcsu.edu
        White Hall 021b, Midtown campus
        (203) 837-3282
        (203) 837-8905 (fax)

Carol O’Connor, Department Secretary
        oconnorc@wcsu.edu
        Warner Hall 304, Midtown campus
        (203) 837-8470 
        (203) 837-8905 (fax)

Faculty

S. Dalton, Chair

K. Aronson

Adjunct Faculty

k. Baxter	C. Bohnet	D. Capps
H. Charen	L. Dayley	T. Flynn
R. Hozda	M. Horton	C. Jones
C. Netto	M. O’Neill	J. Pickle
W. Remley	W. Spontak

Overview

Courses in philosophy explore some of the major areas of philosophic inquiry with reference to both historical and contemporary thought. They seek to develop analytical thinking, to explore the relationship of philosophy to other disciplines and to lay the foundation for further work in philosophy and related disciplines.

Humanistic studies courses have an interdisciplinary structure which aims at integrating knowledge and thus counteracting the trend toward fragmentation in academic studies. This approach demonstrates that there is no one way of looking at anything and that, indeed, there may not be a best way, but only a collection of ways.

Mission

The mission of the philosophy and humanistic studies department is to provide courses for students to explore some of the major areas of philosophic inquiry with reference to both historical and contemporary thought, and to maintain an interdisciplinary structure in the humanities which aims at integrating knowledge and thus counteracting the trend toward fragmentation in academic studies.

Objectives

To accomplish this mission, the Department of Philosophy and Humanistic Studies:

• Continues to offer our students high quality course/s in problems of philosophy, ethical theory, logic, American philosophy, ethical issues in business, health care and the nonhuman, introduction to critical reasoning, philosophy of love, religion and science.
• Emphasizes the development of analytical thinking and the exploration of the relationship of philosophy to other disciplines.
• Provides the foundation for further work in philosophy and related disciplines.
• Prepares the students with an interdisciplinary structure which demonstrates that there is no one way of looking at anything and that, indeed, there may not be a best way, but only a collection of ways.

Contract Major in Philosophy:

Contract majors are available in philosophy. Please refer to the Contract Major section of Academic Programs and Degrees in this catalog.

Learning Outcomes

Students who take courses in Philosophy and Humanistic Studies will develop

1. Knowledge and skills from multiple disciplines. Humanistic studies courses are multidisciplinary and therefore students will gain knowledge and skills drawn from a variety of different disciplines in the physical sciences, the social sciences, the humanities, and the arts.
2. Skill in synthesizing ideas from multiple disciplines. Students learn to think beyond the traditional limits of departments and disciplines. They learn to clarify questions and solve problems using the best ideas from every tradition.
3. Students will gain skills in reading, analysis and criticism.
4. Communication skills. Students learn to express themselves with clarity and precision through assignments involving spoken presentations and written essays.

Minor in Philosophy

Requirements for a minor in philosophy are 18 credits selected from the following list, including at least one of the following: PHI 100, PHI 120 or PHI 211.

PHI 100 Introduction to Philosophy
PHI 103 Introduction to Critical Reasoning
PHI 110 Ethical Issues in Business
PHI 111 Ethical Issues in Health Care
PHI 112 Ethics and the Non-Human
PHI 120 Introduction to Ethical Theory
PHI 211 Symbolic Logic
PHI 226 Environmental Philosophy
PHI 227 Ethics in Computing
PHI 231 Ancient Philosophy
PHI 232 Medieval Philosophy
PHI 233 Modern Philosophy
PHI 234 19th and 20th Century Philosophy
PHI 240 Philosophy of Religion
PHI 262 Philosophy of Love and Friendship
OHI 265 Philosophy of Happiness
PHI 315 Philosophy of Language
PHI 316 Philosophy of Science
PHI 320 Social and Political Philosophy
PHI 332 American Philosophy
PHI 334 Existentialism

Course Restrictions

For a complete list of prerequisites, corequisites and other restrictions for all courses, please consult the Course Description section of this catalog.