Philosophy (PHL)

In this course, students will examine the discipline of philosophy from a topical perspective. Major philosophers and concepts in this discipline will be studied in the context of central problems or issues in the history of philosophy. Issues or topics to be studied may include: the meaning of life, freewill and determinism, the mind-body problem, moral realism v. moral relativism, moral theory or the nature of moral judgment, metaphysics or the study of reality, epistemology or the study of knowledge, the question of the existence of God or ultimate reality as well as the rationality of religious belief. Level I Prerequisite: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6

In this course, students consider the works of central existentialist figures such as Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Sartre and Camus as well as related literary works. Students explore themes such as authentic existence, freedom, nihilism, meaning, subjectivity and values. They will also examine questions such as the meaning of life and whether values are dependent on the existence of God. The course is both an introduction to this body of work and an attempt to raise individual awareness of the human condition within which our existence takes place. Level I Prerequisite: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6

In this course, students will be introduced to the main tenets and justifications of at least four classical ethical theories within the Western tradition, such as Ethical Relativism, Virtue Ethics, Natural Law Ethics, Deontological (Duty) Ethics, Utilitarianism, Social Contract Theory, and Care Ethics. Additionally, students will be introduced to how each ethical theory covered in the course answers some concrete moral questions differently. Level I Prerequisite: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6

In this course, students will be introduced to philosophical ethics and its application to contemporary environmental issues. Environmental degradation is easily recognizable; however, the obligation to remedy or prevent such degradation is highly contested. Students will examine and consider the nature and extent of moral responsibility as it pertains to the natural world. After building a foundational understanding of environmental ethical theory and concepts, a number of contemporary environmental issues will be examined (including environmental justice, climate change, population and consumption, food ethics, sustainability, pollution and waste management). Level I Prerequisite: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6

In this course, students are introduced to issues arising from the application of philosophical ethics or moral theory to the health care context. Different models of ethical decision-making will be used to examine current issues in health care. The course also provides an overview of legal theory and responsibility as it applies to the health care context with an emphasis placed on professional negligence. Topics to be discussed may include patients' rights, informed consent, confidentiality, medical research or experimentation, genetics, treatment of impaired newborns, end of life care, HIV/AIDS and moral/legal responsibilities toward colleagues. Level I Prerequisite: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6

In this course, students are introduced to the discipline of philosophical logic. Emphasis will be placed on the distinction between deductive/formal reasoning and inductive/informal reasoning. With regard to the former, the course will examine different methods for the evaluation of deductive/formal arguments or reasoning. With regard to the latter, the course will again explore methods of evaluation, highlighting common mistakes in informal or everyday reasoning. Level I Prerequisite: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6