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2022-2023 Westminster College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Course Descriptions
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Philosophy |
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PHI 101 - Problems of Philosophy Semester Hours: 4
This course will explore various themes introducing the student to the whole discipline of philosophy, the history of Western philosophy from the pre-Socratics to the contemporary thinkers, and some of the divisions of philosophical thought such as epistemology, ontology, and ethics. Meets Religious and Philosophical Though Intellectual Perspective requirement (RP).
Intellectual Perspective: RP
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PHI 102 - Practical Logic Semester Hours: 4
A systematic introduction to critical thinking. This study of the methods and principles for the evaluation of argument includes formal techniques for reasoning that provides conclusive grounds for the truth of its conclusions. Both traditional (Aristotelian) and modern (Boolean) logic are considered, as is informal logic. Meets Religious and Philosophical Though Intellectual Perspective requirement (RP).
Intellectual Perspective: RP
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PHI 135 - Ancient Greek Justice Semester Hours: 2
This course will be an examination of the philosophical ideas of justice that surfaced in the Golden Age of Greece and will include a travel-abroad component. The emphasis will be on the early establishment of a “people’s court” in which a jury of citizens stands judicial watch, continuing through the development of the Athenian judicial system that tried, convicted, and sentenced Socrates. Focus will be on differentiating the two types of justice that surfaced (shame and guilt), with a view towards understanding the impact that the Socratic idea of justice had on the development of Western culture. Meets Religious and Philosophical Though Intellectual Perspective requirement (RP).
Intellectual Perspective: RP
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PHI 199 - Experimental Course Semester Hours: 1-4
Experimental course.
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PHI 200 - Ancient and Medieval Philosophy Semester Hours: 4
A study of the conceptual history that is Western philosophical thought, starting with its surge within the ancient Greek Ionian civilization (approximately 600 B.C.) and continuing until the end of the Medieval period (around 1400 A.D.). Emphasis will be placed on reading primary sources, in English translation, as a vehicle to understanding first the philosophical method itself; secondly, the philosophical problems that have defined Western philosophy; and thirdly, the developmental nature of philosophical thought. Authors to be discussed may include: the Pre-Socratics, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, Abelard, Maimonides, Avicenna, Averroes, and others. Meets Religious and Philosophical Though Intellectual Perspective requirement (RP).
Intellectual Perspective: RP
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PHI 202 - Foundations Modern Philosophy Semester Hours: 4
An examination of the philosophical period that began with the philosophy of Rene Descartes, whose impact led to a redirecting of intellectual efforts and still reverberates today. Beginning with his attack on the epistemological methodologies of his contemporaries, this course will trace the impact that Cartesian philosophy had on his contemporaries and the philosophical responses that followed. Included will be an examination of the primary epistemological divisions of the time (rationalism and empiricism), as expressed by the key philosophers of the time period (Descartes, Leibniz, Spinoza, Locke, Berkeley, and Hume), as well as a look at the culminating transitional figure who closes the period (Immanuel Kant). Meets Religious and Philosophical Though Intellectual Perspective requirement (RP).
Intellectual Perspective: RP
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PHI 206 - 19th and 20th Century Philosophy Semester Hours: 4
This course will be an overview of several philosophical traditions in the 19th and 20th centuries. These may include phenomenology, Romanticism, transcendentalism, pragmatism, existentialism, analytic philosophy and postmodernism. After a brief sketch of Western philosophy from antiquity through the middle ages and into modernity, the course will explore the varying themes that follow in the wake of Kant and Hegel. Thinkers that may be addressed include but are not limited to Emerson, Thoreau, Marx, Peirce, James, Nietzsche, Russell, Moore, Wittgenstein, Dewey, Husserl, Heidegger, Sartre, Beauvoir, Merleau-Ponty, Foucault, Derrida, Kristeva, Putnam, Rorty, Dennett, West, and Nussbaum. At the end of the course, consideration will be given to the contemporary state of world philosophy.
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PHI 212 - Philosophy of Science Semester Hours: 4
An introduction to critical thinking as approached through philosophical problems concerning science. What is science? What is theory? How are theories verified or confirmed? The course includes inductive reasoning, the history and logic of scientific discovery, and how society and human perspectives affect scientific claims. Meets Religious and Philosophical Though Intellectual Perspective requirement (RP).
Intellectual Perspective: RP
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PHI 218 - Philosophy of Mind Semester Hours: 4
The philosophy of mind is one of the most rapidly developing and vigorous areas in contemporary philosophy. New techniques in neuroscientific imaging are providing a steady flow of data requiring philosophical analysis and interpretation. Guided reading will be supplemented by historical primary sources and articles on neuropsychology. Since it is highly desirable that both philosophy majors and students of neuropsychology be given the opportunity to study philosophy of mind, this course will normally be offered as part of a cluster with PSY 262 : Neuropsychology of Mind. Meets Religious and Philosophical Though Intellectual Perspective requirement (RP).
Intellectual Perspective: RP
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PHI 222 - Philosophy of Religion Semester Hours: 4
Philosophical studies of various specific topics, such as philosophy of science, of religion, of the mind, etc. More than one course in this sequence may be taken for credit, as long as each course has a different number, indicating different content.
Cross-Listed: IFS 178
Intellectual Perspective: RP
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PHI 230 - Environmental Ethics Semester Hours: 4
Beginning with an examination of the nature of ethics in general, this course will explore a variety of theoretical positions on subjects such as the philosophy of nature, animal rights, deep ecology, eco-feminism, and global justice. One guiding theme will be the difference between the “anthropocentric” and an “eco-centric” attitude. Meets Religious and Philosophical Thought Intellectual Perspective requirement
Intellectual Perspective: RP
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PHI 240 - Biomedical Ethics Semester Hours: 4
This course will deal with fundamental moral issues that surface in regard to the medical community and to practices therein, beginning with an examination of the theoretical foundation for making moral choices. Initial focus will be on the divergent religious and philosophical positions that have been put forward to justify medical moral choices. Included will be an examination of both consequentialist and non-consequentialist positions, including Divine Command Theory, Utilitarianism, Kant’s categorical position, Buddhist compassion, and others. Once students are grounded in these differing theoretical perspectives, we will examine specific issues from alternative perspectives, giving students an opportunity to compare and contrast divergent positions. Meets Religious and Philosophical Though Intellectual Perspective requirement (RP).
Intellectual Perspective: RP
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PHI 250 - Business Ethics Semester Hours: 4
This course will be a study of the ethical issues and problems that surface in our contemporary business environment. We will begin with an examination of the theoretical grounds upon which more decision making is based, looking at human conduct in relationship to what we ought to do. From this theoretical foundation, we will proceed to examine concrete ethical business practices, using case studies as a means to grasp the ethical issues of conducting modern business. Possible topics include corporate responsibilities (to shareholders, to the general population, and to the environment), product safety and liability, sexual harassment in the workplace, distribution of wealth.
Intellectual Perspective: RP
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PHI 260 - Technology and Data Ethics Semester Hours: 4
Beginning with an examination of the nature of ethics in general, this course will explore a variety of theoretical positions on subjects
such as the philosophy of information, technology, and data. One guiding theme of the course will be the consequences of
technoscience on human being, from the individual to global society. Meets Religious and Philosophical Thought Intellectual Perspective
requirement.
Intellectual Perspective: RP
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PHI 299 - Experimental Course Semester Hours: 1-4
Experimental course.
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PHI 399 - Experimental Course Semester Hours: 1-4
Experimental course.
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PHI 401 - Advanced Topics in Philosophy Semester Hours: 4
A thorough investigation of restricted areas of study in philosophy. One philosopher, one area, one idea or term, or one branch of philosophy will be selected and explored in detail. Different areas of content will receive different course numbers and a student may take more than one 400-level course as long as they have different numbers, indicating different content.
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PHI 410 - Advanced Topics Semester Hours: 1-4
A thorough investigation of restricted areas of study in philosophy. One philosopher, one area, one idea or term, or one branch of philosophy will be selected and explored in detail. Different areas of content will receive different course numbers and a student may take more than one 400-level course as long as they have different numbers, indicating different content.
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PHI 499 - Experimental Course Semester Hours: 1-4
Experimental course.
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PHI 520 - Travel Semester Hours: 2
Travel Course
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PHI 590 - Field Experience/Internship Semester Hours: 1-4
Prerequisite: consent of the instructor and the department chair.
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PHI 601 - Capstone Semester Hours: 4
The capstone in philosophy will prepare majors for the challenges of doing philosophy in multiple fields (including not just the profession but also in civic engagement with other professions). Under the guidance of their adviser, senior students will produce a polished research project on a selected topic, using an appropriate style and format. Students will attempt to make available the results of this research in a suitable manner, such as a journal publication, a conference presentation or poster, etc. This course is required of all senior philosophy majors who are not doing an Honors Project in philosophy.
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PHI 620 - Independent Study Semester Hours: 1-4
Advanced study under guidance of a staff member in a special area selected by the student.
Prerequisite: four relevant courses in philosophy and approval of the department chair.
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PHI 660 - Honors Research Semester Hours: 1-4
Philosophy majors enrolled in the All-College Honors Program will fulfill all the requirements of the Philosophy Capstone (PHI 601 ).
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PHI 670 - Honors Research Semester Hours: 1-4
Philosophy majors enrolled in the All-College Honors Program will fulfill all the requirements of the Philosophy Capstone (PHI 601 ).
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PHI 680 - Honors Research Semester Hours: 1-4
Philosophy majors enrolled in the All-College Honors Program will fulfill all the requirements of the Philosophy Capstone (PHI 601 ).
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PHI 690 - Honors Research Semester Hours: 1-4
Philosophy majors enrolled in the All-College Honors Program will fulfill all the requirements of the Philosophy Capstone (PHI 601 ).
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Public Communication and Lead |
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PHI 250 - Business Ethics Semester Hours: 4
This course will be a study of the ethical issues and problems that surface in our contemporary business environment. We will begin with an examination of the theoretical grounds upon which more decision making is based, looking at human conduct in relationship to what we ought to do. From this theoretical foundation, we will proceed to examine concrete ethical business practices, using case studies as a means to grasp the ethical issues of conducting modern business. Possible topics include corporate responsibilities (to shareholders, to the general population, and to the environment), product safety and liability, sexual harassment in the workplace, distribution of wealth. Meets Religious and Philosophical Though Intellectual Perspective requirement (RP).
Intellectual Perspective: RP
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