Course Descriptions
PHIL 100 Introduction to Philosophy (3 units)
An introductory course that examines classic philosophical problems in the areas of metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. Within ethics, attention is given to historical as well as contemporary social and political issues. The course surveys influential philosophers in the Western and Eastern intellectual traditions, providing a multicultural perspective on the above problem areas. The aim of the course is to think critically about these topics, using the philosophical method, and connect the issues to contemporary life.
PHIL 103 Critical Thinking (3 units)
This course is an overview of key critical reasoning skills. Students develop skills to identify types of argument and to analyze the arguments. A wide range of argumentative contexts are examined, such as political discourse, advertisements, scientific claims, and commonly-used social forums. Some formal logic is introduced to strengthen logical reasoning skills. Students also construct and refine written arguments. Specific topics include informal fallacies, the relationship between evidence and conclusions, inductive arguments, deductive arguments, validity, consistency, and soundness.
PHIL 160 History of Philosophy: Ancient and Medieval (3 units)
This course covers the history of Western philosophy, from the ancient Greeks to the medieval period. Key philosophers and movements in antiquity include the Pre-Socratics, Plato, Aristotle, Skepticism, Epicureanism, and Stoicism. Key medieval philosophers include Ibn Sina, Augustine, and Maimonides. Topics include the relationship between philosophy and religion, the relationship between individual and society, human nature, and the limits of human knowledge. Special attention is given to how ancient and medieval thought continues to shape metaphysical, epistemic, and ethical views in contemporary society.
PHIL 175 Modern Philosophy (3 units)
This course addresses 16th through 18th century philosophy with emphasis on the broad epistemological and metaphysical developments of empiricism and rationalism in philosophical thought from Descartes to Kant. Special topics include the foundation of knowledge, the nature of the human mind, free will, and the foundation of morality.
PHIL 190 Contemporary Philosophy (3 units)
A survey of major philosophic movements from the late 1800s until the present day. These movements include phenomenology, Marxism, pragmatism, logical positivism, existentialism, feminism, and race theory. The course explores the social, political, ethical, and religious impact the movements have had on contemporary society. Specific topics include the relationship between mind and consciousness, authenticity, socially situated knowledge, and the relationship between continental and analytic philosophy.
PHIL 200 Introduction to Logic (3 units)
This course is an introduction to formal systems of symbolizing statements, analyzing statements, and testing arguments. Main topics covered in the course include the difference between deductive and inductive arguments; how to translate English statements into propositional logic and predicate logic; how to test statements for consistency and equivalence; and how to test arguments for validity.
PHIL 240 Introduction to Ethics (3 units)
This course is an introduction to major ethical problems and theories. The course examines topics such as human nature, conflicting views of moral goodness, and the relationship between religion and morality, with an emphasis on better understanding sources of moral disagreement. The ethical theories reviewed in the course include deontology, consequentialism, virtue ethics, and the ethics of care. These ethical theories are applied to present-day issues. Potential issues discussed in the course include environmental ethics, biomedical ethics, animal rights, the ethics of eating, the ethics of technology, and human enhancement.
PHIL 300 Introduction to World Religions (3 units)
A survey of major religious traditions, with an emphasis on their origins, key figures, beliefs, rituals, and art. Religions covered include Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The course explores the similarities and differences between religions, using the everyday lives of religious members as points of comparison. The course also examines philosophical questions raised by each religion’s teachings and rituals.
PHIL 312 Introduction to Philosophy of Religion (3 units)
An introduction to philosophical thinking about religion, with an emphasis on issues central to traditional monotheism. This course teaches how to critically examine arguments concerning the origin of religion, the existence of God, the historicity of miracles, the veridicality of religious and mystical experience, the existence of spirits or souls, the possibility of life after death, the equal validity of all religions, and other topics.
PHIL 695 Independent Study (0.5- 3 units)
Designed for students who are interested in furthering their knowledge via self-paced, individualized instruction provided in selected areas or directed study to be arranged with instructor and approved by the division dean using the Independent Study Form. Varying modes of instruction can be used -- laboratory, research, skill development, etc. For each unit earned, students are required to devote three hours per week throughout the semester. Students may take only one Independent Study course within a given discipline.