Philosophy
The Philosophy Department conceives of philosophy as an enterprise of both the mind and the spirit. The faculty are committed to providing the student with the knowledge and skills necessary to become a philosophically literate person. At the same time, our focus is on the integration of this knowledge with each student’s process of moral, spiritual and intellectual growth.
The philosophy faculty at CLU are trained in a variety of areas:
- ethics
- existentialism
- analytic philosophy
- philosophy of mind
- history of philosophy
- Greek philosophy
- epistemology
- metaphysics
- phenomenology
- logic and the philosophy of science
Philosophy is an excellent major (or double major) for students who are prelaw or who are considering graduate degrees in philosophy, religion, theology or bioethics. Finally, for those who are primarily seeking an education to advance their personal growth and the means to integrate various disciplines, philosophical education is irreplaceable.
An undergraduate philosophy education also offers many career and educational opportunities to students whose ambitions lie elsewhere. Hospitals, church vocations, government agencies and business corporations seek out people with a philosophical education, as well as knowledge of applied ethics, because of their training in clear and focused thinking and their sensitivity to a wide range of ethical dilemmas.
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
32 credits minimum, 20 credits upper division.
PHIL 435 | Faith and Reason | 4 |
Four Upper Division Philosophy Courses | 16 | |
Three Philosophy Courses (Lower or Upper Division) | 12 | |
Total Hours | 32 |
Minor in Philosophy
16 credits minimum, 12 credits upper division.
Three Upper Division Philosophy Courses | 12 | |
One Philosophy Course (Lower or Upper Division) | 4 | |
Total Hours | 16 |
Courses
Lower Division
PHIL 115. Humanities Tutorial. (4).
The year-long Humanities Tutorial begins with an
in-depth, one-semester study of the origins of
Western culture in Greek literature and
philosophy. The second semester continues with a
study of contemporary themes and concerns both in
Western and Non-Western thought. In addition to
providing practice in the skills of analysis,
argument, and critical and reflective
interpretation, the course aims to familiarize
students with the intellectual ideal of
illuminating the new by understanding the old.
(cross-listed with ENGL 115 and HNRS 115).
PHIL 200. Problems. (4).
Studies the meaning of philosophy as the
"examined life," with an introduction to the
concepts and major problems of philosophy.
PHIL 220. Logic. (4).
A study of the basic methods of clear thinking
and argument, including both deductive and
inductive reasoning. Special emphasis is placed
on critical analysis of arguments.
PHIL 260. Topics in World Philosophy. (4).
A study of representative philosophical
traditions of Greece and China, with a focus on
the awareness of global diversity,
interdependence and relevance. (cross-listed with
ENGL 260).
PHIL 282. Selected Topics. (4).
Upper Division
PHIL 300. Ethics. (4).
The study of what makes for a well-lived life in
terms of character, conduct and relationships
with others. Special attention is given to the
connection between ethics and leadership.
PHIL 310. Metaphysics. (4).
The general inquiry into the nature of the real.
Topics include the role of language in thought,
the nature of truth, necessity and possibility,
being and essence.
PHIL 311/312. History of Philosophy. (4,4).
First semester through medieval times; second
semester from Descartes through Nietzsche.
PHIL 315. Social Ethics. (4).
The analysis of contemporary social issues such
as abortion, capital punishment, affirmative
action, multiculturalism, the environment,
euthanasia and world hunger from a moral and
philosophical perspective.
PHIL 320. Philosophy of Religion. (4).
Studies the evidence for belief in God and
includes an examination of religious experience,
the relation of religion and science, and the
alternatives to theism.
PHIL 321. Ancient Political Thought. (4).
Presents the scope and nature of political ideas,
philosophy and discussion in the Western ancient
political tradition and focuses on the major
philosophers from Plato to St. Thomas Aquinas and
the major streams of ideas and philosophy flowing
from them. (cross-listed with POLS 321).
PHIL 340. Philosophy of Science. (4).
A study of science from a philosophical
perspective, covering the basic procedures of
scientific research, the key features of
scientific progress, and some ethical issues
related to scientific research, in particular the
uses of animals and humans as experimental
subjects. Recommended for biology majors
interested in exploring the philosophical
implications of the scientific enterprise.
PHIL 345. Bioethics. (4).
A study of moral issues raised by the recent
development of biological and medical sciences,
including those related to reproductive
technologies, human genetics, euthanasia, organ
donations, health-care policies, and human/animal
experimentation. The course focuses on the
complexities that often surround moral choices in
biological and medical sciences.
PHIL 350. Technology and Value. (4).
A study of moral issues raised by the recent
development of technology, including those
related to computers, genetic engineering and the
environment. The course examines how current
technological achievements profoundly change our
social, cultural and moral life and how they
create moral dilemmas for our society at the same
time.
PHIL 355. Chinese Philosophy and Culture. (4).
A study of the development of Chinese philosophy
and culture from the ancient to the contemporary
period. The major philosophical traditions in
China - Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism - are
covered. Key features of Chinese culture,
reflecting the experiences and perspectives of
both native Chinese and Chinese Americans, are
examined.
PHIL 400. Contemporary Philosophy. (4).
Each year different philosophies and problems are
studied, including analytic philosophy,
existentialism, post-modernism, pragmatism and
philosophy of mind and brain.
PHIL 402. Post-Modernism: Politics and Philosophy Of Art. (4).
Postmodernism explores the relationship between
art, science, and politics in contemporary
philosophy. The course begins with a
consideration of the legacies of Freud,
Nietzsche, and Marx and continues with an
analysis of such authors as Breton, Heidegger,
Benjamin, Cortázar, Borges, Derrida, Foucault,
Heisenberg, and Rorty. Uses film (including
students' own short surrealist films) literature,
and philosophical texts. Open to all students, it
also fulfills the Honors Capstone requirement.
(cross-listed with POLS 402 and HNRS 402).
PHIL 414. Philosophy of Art. (4).
The study of the aesthetic experience and the
work of art. Includes the various theories and
their expression, function and criticism.
(cross-listed with ART 414).
PHIL 435. Faith and Reason. (4).
Team-taught by professors of philosophy and
religion, the course is an integrated and
interdisciplinary exploration of the perennial
tensions and cross-fertilizations between faith
and reason. Authors read include St. Augustine,
St. Thomas, Meister Eckhart, Luther, Descartes,
Hume, Kierkegaard, Newman and Rudolf Otto. The
course meets the capstone requirement for
philosophy and religion majors. Open to juniors
and seniors from all disciplines. Sophomores must
get permission of instructor. (cross-listed with
REL 435 and HNRS 435) (spring).
PHIL 445. Philosophy of Education. (3).
The analysis of educational principles and
policies from the perspective of major
philosophical schools and their associated
ideologies. The course aims to clarify the
connections between theory and practice as they
relate to teaching and learning. Not available to
freshmen.
PHIL 482. Selected Topics. (1-4).
PHIL 490. Independent Study. (1-4).
PHIL 492. Internship. (2-4).
PHIL 497. Departmental Honors. (4).
Professors
Chen | ||
Tierney |
Associate professor
Bersley |