This course will apply critical thinking techniques of analysis and evaluation to the methods, arguments and positions of several philosophers on topics such as human freedom, the belief in God, the nature and limits of scientific knowledge, natural rights, the nature of the State, and the basis of moral judgments.

This course is a critical analysis of major philosophical beliefs, values, and social and political institutions of the peoples of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, Native America and Europe.

This course introduces the student to classical and contemporary ethical theories and their application to a variety of contemporary moral issues such as capital punishment, animal rights, affirmative action, abortion, euthanasia, torture, and same-sex marriage.

Logic and critical reasoning provides instruction on the tools needed to be an effective rational person. The student will learn to identify premises and conclusions in arguments and to identify cogent inductive arguments and valid deductive arguments. Special emphasis is placed on recognizing and overcoming perceptual and cognitive errors and biases that hinder the ability to think critically. The standards of critical thinking and logic will be discussed in terms of their historical development and their cultural impact on society.

The primary emphasis of this course is on learning to evaluate the experience of paranormal phenomena using fundamental principles of critical thinking and logical analysis. The need for scientific experiments testing paranormal claims is explained, as are the logical requirements and limitations of such experiments and the inherent difficulties of meeting those requirements. Students will write a minimum of 8,000 words divided among at least five essays, all of which require research.

This course introduces the student to logical symbolism, truth tables, and methods of formal analysis and proof in propositional and predicate logic. It is recommended for students of the sciences, computer programming, mathematics, and philosophy.

This course is a study of the origin and development of Western philosophy from the period of the ancient Greeks and Romans, and continuing through the Middle Ages. This course is recommended for all philosophy, history and humanities majors.

This course examines, analyzes, and critically evaluates philosophical works essential to the development of Western philosophy from Bacon to Kant. The course is recommended for all philosophy, history and humanities majors.

This course focuses on the philosophy of literature. J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and the medieval grail myths will be the literary basis for philosophic issues and discussion. Plato, neoplatonism, and Romantic Idealism will be the basis for concepts in metaphysics and aesthetics. This will include concepts of myth, art, Tibetan metaphysics/magic, and fairy tales, as well as concepts of beauty and eros.

This course is recommended for students interested in an introduction to philosophy with a focus on existential concerns such as alienation, authenticity and anxiety, and on problems in the philosophy of language such as the meaning of "meaning" and language games.

This course is an introductory survey of selected world religions. Emphasis is on the origins, beliefs, and interpretations of philosophical concepts underlying Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, African, and Native American religions. Major topics include ideas of revelation, mysticism, religious myths, worship, and ritual.

This course is an introduction to the major religions of the Far East: Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Shintoism. The origins, myths, basic teachings, development, and modern forms of each religion will be surveyed through comparison and contrast with each other in order to clarify religious concepts and practices. The influences of these religions on Western cultures will be examined.

This course is an introductory survey of the origins, history, development, important teachings, mythology, and modern forms of the major Western religions--Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Zoroastrianism, a forerunner of these, will also be examined in detail. In order to clarify concepts and practices, comparison and contrast with other religions will be used as a basis for discussion. The influences of these religions on the Western world will be identified and examined.

This course introduces the student to the historical, cultural, legal, and philosophical development in American culture of (1) abstract principles such as rights, justice, the nature of law, freedom of speech, equal protection of the law, and following precedent; and (2) theoretical issues such as statutory and constitutional interpretation, utilitarian and retributive theories of punishment, and justice as fairness; and (3) practices such as the exclusionary rule, plea bargaining, and the insanity defense.

This course is a study of the origin and development of Western philosophy from the period of the ancient Greek philosophers and continuing through the Hellenistic and Roman philosophers. The course is recommended for all philosophy, history, and humanities majors. This honors section uses an intensive instructional methodology designed to challenge motivated students.

This course examines, analyzes, and critically evaluates key philosophical works from Descartes to Kant.

The honors section uses an intensive, seminar style, instructional methodology designed to challenge motivated students. The honors section requires that each student make a 15-minute classroom presentation in which he or she interprets and explains a section of text taken from the writings of one of the philosophers listed in the course syllabus (from Descartes to Kant). The honors section also requires a 2,000 word term paper.

This course introduces the student to the historical, cultural, legal, and philosophical development in American culture of (1) abstract principles such as rights, justice, the nature of law, freedom of speech, equal protection of the law, and following precedent; and (2) theoretical issues such as statutory and constitutional interpretation, utilitarian and retributive theories of punishment, and justice as fairness; and (3) practices such as the exclusionary rule, plea bargaining, and the insanity defense.

Themes and experimental offerings in Philosophy 11 will encompass topics from the following areas: (a) knowledge and existence, (b) self and mind, (c) philosophy and the arts, (d) norms and politics, (e) philosophy of the East and West, (f) philosophical literature and myths, (g) science and human nature, and (h) specific ideas of individual philosophies. The course may be repeated for credit providing there is no duplication of topics.