WCSU Undergraduate Catalog 2021-2022 : Macricostas School of Arts & Sciences

Philosophy

PHI 100 Introduction Philosophy 3 SH
A study of philosophical problems and theories as they are defined and expressed in the writings of the great philosophers and in the representative schools. Competency: Critical Thinking (CT), Information Literacy (IL).

PHI 104 Philosophy Through Television 3 SH
n this class students will apply readings from the history of philosophy to contemporary TV shows to gain a better understanding of some of the key questions of philosophy. The course will also introduce the principles and practices of university education so that students can begin their college careers empowered to succeed. Competency: First Year Navigation (FY).

PHI 105 Philosophy Through Fiction 3 SH
In this class students will apply readings from the history of philosophy to short stories and other works of fiction to gain a better understanding of some of the key questions of philosophy. The course will also introduce the principles and practices of university education so that students can begin their college careers empowered to succeed. Competency: First Year Navigation (FY).

PHI 106 Philosophy of Happiness 3 SH
This course will examine philosophical definitions and theories of happiness, current scientific findings and psychological studies, and public policy implications of happiness theories. Students will think critically about the reading as well as perform some “hands on” assignments that help them explore some essential components of happiness such as meditation, gratitude, altruism and service to others. Standard assignments on comprehension of material will be combined with critical thinking, practical assignments and assignments for self-reflection. Competency: First Year Navigation (FY).

PHI 120 Introduction to Ethical Theory 3 SH
A study of prominent ethical theories as they are defined and expressed in the writings of the great philosophers and in the representative schools. Competency: Critical Thinking (CT), Oral Communication (OC).

PHI 205 Engaged Philosophy: Peace & Justice Studies 4 SH
The aim of this course is to introduce students to an understanding of what peace and justice is and entails. While we come at this from a theoretical angle drawing from historical, philosophical, anthropological, political and other sources we will also consider some of the practical applications. Competency: Health & Wellness (HW), Intercultural (IC).

PHI 209 Informal Logic 3 SH
An introduction to informal, inductive logic. The class will include some discussion of deductive logic in order to clarify how inductive and deductive logic differ and why they require different evaluative standards, but otherwise the class will be focused on informal logic. Topics include: the basic components and concepts of all logic such as premises, conclusions and inferences; logical strength and cogency; diagramming arguments; techniques for eliminating ambiguity and vagueness; intensional and extensional definitions; general principles of all informal fallacies; specific principles of approximately 25 of the most important informal fallacies; the limits of logic. Competency: Critical Thinking (CT), Oral Communication (OC).

PHI 211 Formal Logic 3 SH
An introduction to formal, deductive logic. The class will include some discussion of inductive logic in order to clarify how inductive and deductive logic differ and why they require different evaluative standards, but otherwise the class will be dedicated to the study of formal logic. Topics include: the basic components and concepts of all logic such as premises, conclusions and inferences; validity and soundness; translation from natural language into propositional and predicate logic; truth functions and truth tables; proofs in propositional and predicate logic using rules of replacement and implication; conditional and indirect proofs in propositional and predicate logic; the limits of logic. Competency: Critical Thinking (CT).

PHI 221 Ethical Issues in Business 3 SH
Explores current ethical issues and value conflicts from the standpoint of the organization, the employee, the marketplace and public policy. Case studies of actual situations will be analyzed. Competency: Critical Thinking (CT), Oral Communication (OC).

PHI 223 Ethical Issues in Health Care 3 SH
Explores current ethical issues and value conflicts in health care from the standpoint of the health care professional, the patient and public policy. Competency: Critical Thinking (CT), Oral Communication (OC).

PHI 225 Ethics and the Nonhuman 3 SH
The course involves the application of ethical thinking to issues raised by the animal rights and environmental movements. Topics include: a historical overview of our conception of the nonhuman and our attitudes towards it, especially those found in the Judeo-Christian religious traditions; the significance of new data from molecular biology and communication studies with primates and other animals; the use of nonhuman animals in biomedical research, product testing and dissection; the use of nonhuman animals in agrobusiness; the moral basis of vegetarianism; issues concerning the environment and land use (hunting, trapping, endangered species and zoos). Competency: Critical Thinking (CT), Oral Communication (OC).

PHI 226 Environmental Philosophy 3 SH
An introduction to the philosophical issues surrounding and underlying the contemporary environmental crises. These include such matters as the value inherent in the nonhuman world and the ultimate nature of our relationship to that world. Competency: Critical Thinking (CT), Writing Intensive Tier 2 (W2).

PHI 227 Ethics in Computing 3 SH
This course will address the topics of Social Context, Analytical Tools (Basics of Ethics), Professional Ethics, Intellectual Property, Privacy and Civil Liberties, Sustainability, Economies of Computing, Security Policies, Laws and Computer Crimes. After establishing the context of computing within our society students will study basic ethical theory and then the remainder of the course is addressing the issues inherent in computing as listed above. Competency: Information Literacy (IL), Writing Intensive Tier 2 (W2).

PHI 229 Philosophy of Law and Legal Theory 3 SH
This course will explore and critically evaluate the social and political nature of law from the earliest conceptions of the role law plays in society to the contemporary on-going debates concerning legal and moral obligations, theories of right, responsibility, and privacy. Competency: Critical Thinking (CT), Writing Intensive Tier 2 (W2).

PHI 231 Ancient Philosophy 3 SH
A study of the founding figures in the history of Western philosophy from the pre-Socratics through the major writings of Plato and Aristotle. Competency: Oral Communication (OC), Writing Intensive Tier 2 (W2).

PHI 232 Medieval Philosophy 3 SH
This course will explore and evaluate the roughly 1100 years of medieval philosophy from the early Christian theologians such as Clement of Alexandria and Tertullian to late medieval philosophers such as Meister Eckhart and Catherine of Siena. Competency: Oral Communication (OC), Writing Intensive Tier 2 (W2).

PHI 233 Modern Philosophy 3 SH
A study of the major trends in philosophy from the humanism and new science of the Renaissance through Kant. The course includes continental rationalists, the British empiricists and Kant’s attempt to synthesize them. Competency: Oral Communication (OC), Writing Intensive Tier 2 (W2).

PHI 234 19th and 20th Century Philosophy 3 SH
This course will explore and evaluate the history of philosophy in the 19th and 20th centuries, from Bentham through Nietzsche in the 19th century, and from Husserl through Derrida in the 20th century. Competency: Oral Communication (OC), Writing Intensive Tier 2 (W2).

PHI 240 Philosophy of Religion 3 SH
An examination, from various philosophical points of view, of some of the main topics in the philosophy of religion. These topics include: the concept of God, grounds for belief in God, faith and reason, the problem of evil, religion and morality, religious experience and religious language. Competency: Intercultural (IC), Writing Intensive Tier 2 (W2).

PHI 241 Buddhist Philosophy 3 SH
Drawing on major thinkers from several schools of Buddhism, this course will provide a rigorous introduction to some of its main philosophical concepts and arguments. The course will begin by discussing some of the core principles developed in the writings of Buddha and his disciples. It will then address the main ideas from two movements within the development of Buddhism: Abhidharma, and Mahayana, viz. representative schools of Theravada, Madhyamaka, and Yogacara. The course will emphasize the dialectical connections between the distinct metaphysical, ethical and epistemological views of each school. Competency: Intercultural (IC), Writing Intensive Tier 2 (W2).

PHI 242 Islamic Philosophy 3 SH
This course is an introduction to the major issues, figures, and texts of Islamic philosophy and theology, placing them within the context of the Islamic intellectual tradition, as well as relating them to Western philosophy. We will discuss the central issues and concepts of Islamic philosophy (including existence and essence, God’s knowledge, human knowledge, mysticism, causality, and political thought) as well as Kalam and scholastic theology (including issues such as God’s names and qualities, free will and determinism, reason and revelation, ethics, and political philosophy. Competency: Intercultural (IC), Writing Intensive Tier 2 (W2).

PHI 244 Philosophy of the Self 3 SH
This course explores a variety of conceptions and theories about the nature of the self from the perspectives of Eastern and Western philosophy. Students begin with a study of the conception of the self as articulated by Hindu scriptures. The Upanishads introduce the idea that the self (atman) is identical to a kind of encompassing spiritual substance (Brahman). The first part of the course will offer a careful exposition of this position, and a related but distinct position found in Descartes’ view that the ‘I’ denotes an essentially thinking thing and its associated dualist metaphysics. The second part of the course will explore those views of the self that deny that it is something enduring. Students will examine this view as articulated by early Buddhist scriptures such as the Dhammapada, and scrutinize the arguments of Western counterparts of the ‘no-self’ view, such as David Hume and Derek Parfit. The ethical ramifications of such different views about the self and personal identity will be discussed. Other philosophers pertinent to the course will include Mark Sederits, Joel Kupperman, Eliot Deutsch, Charles Taylor, and John Locke. Competency: Intercultural (IC), Writing Intensive Tier 2 (W2).

PHI 245 Philosophy of Death and Dying 3 SH
Drawing on some of the great philosophical thinkers of the past, this course will investigate the topics of death and dying along with some of the ethical ramifications of these topics. First the course will attempt to clarify the boundaries of these concepts: what is meant by ‘death’ and ‘life,’ and examine some criteria for death. The course will then provide several philosophical perspectives on death, survival and immortality. The final part of the course will concern the moral status of suicide, abortion, and euthanasia. Competency: Intercultural (IC), Writing Intensive Tier 2 (W2).

PHI/ART 250 Philosophy of Art 3 SH
A critical examination of some of the major philosophical theories about the origin, structure, function and criticism of works of art. Competency: Creative Process (CP), Oral Communication (OC).

PHI 251 Philosophy in Literature 3 SH
A study of central philosophical problems concerning human nature, our relationship to society, and the desire for meaning as found in literature. Competency: Creative Process (CP), Oral Communication (OC).

PHI 252 Philosophy in Film 3 SH
This course explores the fundamental philosophical problems through the lens of film. It requires that students watch films and read before class in order to have extensive discussions. The course enables the student to practice philosophy as opposed to just learning about it. Competency: Creative Process (CP), Oral Communication (OC).

PHI 259 Philosophy and Pop Culture 3 SH
This course will analyze the relevance of philosophy to popular culture and will practice applying philosophy to case studies drawn from pop culture sources such as comic books and graphic novels, television, music and music videos, advertising, magazines, blogs and other websites, online videos and memes, and social media. Competency: Creative Process (CP), Oral Communication (OC).

PHI 260 Philosophy of Women and Gender 3 SH
This course will give an overview of issues within feminist philosophy and will historically contextualize the major philosophers within this field of inquiry. Through a feminist lens, students will be asked to take a close look at concepts such as essentialism, autonomy, the self, care ethics, feminist views on science and epistemology, and feminist challenges to traditional approaches to engaging in philosophical work. Competency: Critical Thinking (CT), Writing Intensive Tier 2 (W2).

PHI 262 Philosophies of Love and Friendship 3 SH
A critical study of philosophical theories of the nature of love, with readings from classical to contemporary authors representing a variety of philosophical schools and points of view. Competency: Critical Thinking  (CT), Oral Communication (OC).

PHI 298 Faculty Developed Study 1-6 SH
PHI 299 Student Developed Study 1-6 SH

PHI/COM 315 Philosophy of Language 3 SH
A philosophical theory of meaning is one that attempts to answer several general questions about linguistic meaning, such as: how do linguistic expression (sentences, names, descriptions, etc.) come to be meaningful at all, how do they have the specific meaning that they do, and how is it novel sentences can be effortlessly understood by beings with finite capacities. This course provides a survey of philosophical theories of linguistic meaning, such as the ideational theory, proposition theory, ‘use’ theories of meaning, Gricean theories of speaker-meaning, verificationism, and truth-conditional semantics. Competency: Critical Thinking (CT), Writing Intensive Tier 3 (W3).

PHI 316 Philosophy of Science 3 SH
The course will begin with an examination of the evolution of scientific theories. This history illuminates science as a social institution as well as the components of scientific theories and the “logic” of theory formation. Students will be encouraged to pursue independent readings and to develop seminar presentations. Prerequisite: Any PHI class or permission of the instructor. Competency: Information Literacy (IL), Writing Intensive Tier 2 (W2).

PHI 320 Social and Political Philosophy 3 SH
The course is concerned with such questions as the nature and source of law, property, origin and limitation of sovereign authority, and the rights and duties of citizens.  Prerequisite: Any PHI class or permission of the instructor. Competency: Culminating Experience (CE), Writing Intensive Tier 3 (W3).

PHI 332 American Philosophy 3 SH
An examination of the chief contributions in American philosophic thought as reflected in the works of authors such as Emerson, Royce, Pierce, James, Dewey and Santayana. Major focus is on developments in pragmatism. Prerequisite: Any PHI class or permission of the instructor. Competency: Culminating Experience (CE), Writing Intensive Tier 3 (W3).

PHI 334 Existentialism 3 SH
An examination of the works of major existentialist thinkers. Special topics taken from existentialist writings include: being, time, freedom, consciousness, existential psychoanalysis, and faith. Prerequisite: Any PHI class or permission of the instructor. Competency: Culminating Experience (CE), Writing Intensive Tier 3 (W3).

PHI 338 Postmodernism 3 SH
A study of several important postmodern philosophies and their application to art, architecture, language, psychology, politics, and gender.  Prerequisite: Any PHI class. Competency: Culminating Experience (CE), Writing Intensive Tier 3 (W3).

PHI 339/WS 339 Women in the History of Philosophy 3 SH

The aim of this course is to give students the opportunity to know some of the writings of women philosophers from different periods and different places. We begin with the ancient Greek period, then we move onto the medieval ages. From there, we move onto the 17th and 18th centuries and end the semester with important 19th and 20th century philosophers. Prerequisite: Culminating Experience requirements and any Philosophy course. Competency: Culminating Experience (CE), Writing Intensive Tier 3 (W3).

PHI 340 Non-Western Philosophy 3 SH
A study of the development of ethics, political philosophy, aesthetics and metaphysics in Indian, Chinese, Japanese and Persian writings. Prerequisite: Any PHI class or permission of the instructor. Competency: Critical Thinking (CT), Intercultural (IC).

PHI 381 Plato’s Dialogues 3 SH
This class will read, analyze and discuss all of Plato’s dialogues from every period of his work: early, transitional, middle, and late. We will also explore Plato’s legacy in the history of philosophy and the relevance of Plato’s dialogues for the contemporary world. Competency: Critical Thinking (CT), Writing Intensive Tier 2 (W2).

PHI 389 Schopenhauer and Nietzsche 3 SH
Schopenhauer’s philosophy influenced many thinkers in the 19th century, including Nietzsche, who initially accepted Schopenhauer’s ideas enthusiastically but later criticized most of Schopenhauer’s thinking as nihilistic. This course will focus on the conversation between Schopenhauer and Nietzsche with a particular focus on the theme of nihilism. We will study major works of both Schopenhauer and Nietzsche to analyze how they responded differently to the problem of nihilism and how their responses are relevant to the lives of contemporary college students. Prerequisite: one previous PHI course. Competency: Culminating Experience (CE), Writing Intensive Tier 3 (W3).

The following courses also have been approved and are offered periodically:
PHI 224 Special Topics