Philosophy Department

This class is an introduction to a variety of philosophies originating in the Americas. In particular, this class will focus on traditional Mesoamerican, contemporary indigenous, and Latin American philosophies. We will look at metaphysical, ethical, and political problems, and the variety of perspectives offered by this wide array of philosophical theories. We will also focus on the distinctive analysis of colonialism and decolonization offered in the American context.

An introduction to formal deductive logic, covering propositional logic (truth-functional logic) and first-order predicate logic (quantification theory). Typical topics covered include: techniques of symbolization, truth tables, validity and soundness, and techniques of natural deduction. Symbolic notation is used extensively. Does not require 1341 as a prerequisite.

A study of existentialism and its application to social justice. Readings in the class will include existentialist perspectives on racism, sexism, colonialism, and antisemitism.

A critical discussion of philosophical issues arising in religion and theology. Typical topics covered include: religious language, arguments for God's existence, religious experience, miracles and revelation, the relationship of faith and reason, the nature of God, the problem of evil, death and immortality. (Also listed as RELI 2460.)

A study of issues in the philosophy of the arts, through the examination of works of art and the reading of historical and contemporary philosophers and critics. Topics to be discussed include: what makes something a work of art, the nature of artistic representation, the evaluation of works of art, and problems peculiar to such specific art forms as literature, painting, music, and film.

A critical examination of a wide range of approaches to the question, "Does life have meaning?" Among the philosophers to be covered are Aristotle, Tolstoy, Kant, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Camus, Miguel de Unamuno, and Thomas Nagel.

An overview of science and medicine in antiquity, with an emphasis on its relation to ancient philosophy. Topics typically include: astronomy, cosmology, physics, biology, and medicine. The course will focus on such figures as Anaximander, Hippocrates, Plato, Aristotle, Eudoxus, Hierophilus, Ptolemy, and Galen. (Offered every other year.)

PHIL 3340, Symbolic Logic II, Topics include: Review of first-order logic from a more abstract perspective than that taken in PHIL 2340; introduction to set theory; basic metalogical results including soundness, completeness, compactness, the Lowenheim-Skolem theorem, and Godel's incompleteness theorems; connections with issues in computability theory and the foundations of mathematics. Prerequisite: PHIL 2340 or consent of instructor, or CSCI 1323.

Extensions of, and alternatives to, classical logic. Possible topics include modal logic, intuitionistic logic, many-valued logic, and fuzzy logic. Some attention is paid to connections between these logics and topics in philosophy, computer science, and linguistics. Prerequisite: PHIL 2340 or consent of instructor

A study of the major figures in ancient Greek philosophy from Thales to Aristotle, with a special focus on thinkers of the high classical period: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Prerequisite: Any 3 or 4 credit course in Philosophy or consent of instructor.

A study of the dominant philosophical schools after the death of Aristotle - Stoics, Epicureans,and Skeptics - with a particular emphasis on ethics (virtue ethics, hedonism) and epistemology. Prerequisite: Any 3 or 4 credit course in Philosophy or consent of instructor.

A study of philosophical problems that arose in the historical and intellectual context of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. The course will include topics in metaphysics, philosophy of religion, ethics, and mysticism. It will emphasize the ancient origins of Medieval thought, and clarify the intellectual roots of Christianity by discussion of the key notions, ideas and figures that crucially contributed to shaping Western culture. (Offered every other year). Prerequisite: Any 3 or 4 credit course in Philosophy or consent of instructor.

A study of the European philosophers of the 17th and 18th centuries, including Descartes, Leibniz, Spinoza, Cavendish, Elisabeth of Bohemia, Hume, and Kant. (Offered every year). Prerequisite: Any course in Philosophy or consent of instructor

A study of important thinkers and movements at the beginning of the 19th century. We will focus initially on Kant, and investigate how German Idealism and Romanticism developed in the aftermath of Kant's critical philosophy. After an extended treatment of Hegel, we will look at the young Hegelians and Marx. The course will focus on issues in metaphysics, epistemology, the philosophy of history and the problem of subjectivity. (Also listed as GRST 3460.)(Offered every other year). Prerequisite: Any 3 or 4 credit course in Philosophy or consent of instructor.

A study of the important thinkers and movements at the end of the 19th century. We will focus initially on Kant before seeing how Schopenhauer and finally Nietzsche developed on the basis of the Kantian philosophy. After an extended treatment of Nietzsche, we will look at how Freud and psychoanalysis grew out of this tradition. The course will focus on issues in epistemology, the philosophy of art, the philosophy of nature, and the development of the notion of the unconscious. (Also listed as GRST 3461.) (Offered every other year). Prerequisite: Any 3 or 4 credit course in Philosophy or consent of instructor.

A study of the three major indigenous philosophical movements in China: Confucianism, Taoism, and Neo-Confucianism. Special attention will be paid to themes and problems common to all three movements, including: the metaphysics of harmony and conflict, the individual and society the cultivation of human virtues and human perfectibility, and humankind's relation to nature. Course taught in English. (Also listed as CHIN 3428.)(Offered occasionally). Prerequisite: Any 3 or 4 credit course in Philosophy or consent of instructor.

A close reading of some of the major texts of twentieth-century French and German philosophy, with some attention to their roots in nineteenth- century philosophy. Prerequisites: Any 3 or 4 credit course in Philosophy or consent of instructor.

A survey of traditional and contemporary philosophical issues about the nature of reality. Typical topics covered include some of the following: the mind-body problem, personal identity, free will and determinism, causation, time, fatalism, universals and particulars, essentialism, possible worlds. (Offered every other year). Prerequisites: Any 3 or 4 credit course in Philosophy or consent of instructor.

A critical study of contemporary approaches to the mind-body problem, including dualism, behaviorism, the identity theory, and functionalism. Also addressed will be such other issues as the nature of mental representation, the possibility of artificial intelligence, and the sources of intentionality. (Offered every other year). Prerequisite: Any 3 or 4 credit course in Philosophy or consent of instructor.

A study of philosophical views about the sciences. Topics may include: explanation, confirmation, the historical development of science, realism vs. anti-realism, the relation between the natural and social sciences, and the difference between science and pseudo-science. (Offered every other year). Prerequisites: Both PHIL 2340 and an additional 3 or 4 credit course in Philosophy.

A critical study of contemporary issues about language, meaning, reference, translation, and interpretation. (Offered every other year). Prerequisites: Both PHIL 2340 and an additional 3 or 4 credit course in Philosophy.

A critical study of problems in the theory of knowledge, such as: the difference between knowledge and belief; the possibility of knowledge; the conditions under which a belief is rational. Prerequisite: Any 3 or 4 credit course in Philosophy or consent of instructor.

A survey of theoretical approaches to myth from the eighteenth century to the present. This survey begins with the transition from renaissance belief that myth is a form of moral instruction conveyed by allegory to the romantic belief that myth is a symbolic mode of discourse offering insight into transcendental reality. We will then chart the evolution of this approach, beginning with its inspiration in Kantian metaphysics and earliest formulations by German romantics such as Schiller and proceeding on to Freud and Ricoeur. A second strand begins with Hegel's theories of "false consciousness" that would in time develop into interpretations of myth as ideology , under the influence of Marx, Adorno, and Althusser. A final strand begins with the early folklorists, the brothers Grimm, and would in time develop into functionalist approaches to myth by anthropologists such as Malinowski, Boas, and Levi-Strauss. The resulting big picture is as much an intellectual history of modernity as a history of theorizing myth.(Also listed as CLAS 3350.) Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor.

A critical study of philosophical views about society and politics, with particular attention to the concepts of sovereignty, obligation, rights, justice, equality, and liberty. Prerequisite: Any 3 or 4 credit course in Philosophy or consent of instructor.

A discussion of issues in normative ethics and metaethics. Typical topics covered include some of the following: the meaning of ethical terms, the justification or moral principles and judgments, intrinsic and extrinsic value, consequentialism and deontology, moral relativism, natural rights, theories of justice. Prerequisite: Any 3 or 4 credit course in Philosophy or consent of instructor.

A critical study of legal theory, legal reasoning, and the role of law in contemporary society. Prerequisite: Any 3 or 4 credit course in Philosophy or consent of instructor.

A study of issues in the philosophy of gender, through reading the work of historical and contemporary theorists. Topics may include the ontology of sex, gender, and sexuality; the nature and goals of feminism; gendered language; same-sex marriage; the ethics of consent; pornography; and prostitution. (Offered every other year). Prerequisite: Any 3 or 4 credit course in Philosophy or WAGS 2310, 2350, 2351, or 2352, or consent of instructor

Most people agree that racism is bad (evil, immoral, unjust). Yet beneath this consensus we find deep disagreements about what racism is, what makes it so bad, and what we should do about it. This course offers an opportunity to probe our convictions about some deeply held beliefs on significant issues, including reparations for slavery, racial profiling, immigration, and desegregation. Students will seek out the best arguments that can be marshaled on behalf of their moral and political views, identify the vulnerabilities of these arguments, and seek to understand those who disagree by considering the strongest arguments for the views they reject. Our understanding of our own values will deepen and may shift in the process. We will emerge from this investigation with a clearer grasp of what racism is, why it is wrong, and what a world without racism might look like. Prerequisite: Any 3 or 4 credit course in Philosophy or consent of instructor.

A study of issues in the philosophy of film, through reading the work of historical and contemporary philosophers and critics, and studying films. Topics may include: the nature of film, its status amongst the arts, issues of authorship and narrativity, issues of interpretation, and the nature and ethics of documentary. (offered every other year). Prerequisite: Any course in Philosophy, or Introduction to Film Studies (COMM 1302 or FILM 1301), or International Cinema (COMM 3320 or FILM 3320), or consent of Instructor.

In this course we will investigate several philosophical issues raised by music, from the question of what exactly music is, through the nature of various musical objects (works, performances, recordings), to how we should approach music, and what its value is. Throughout we will question how far the theories we discuss can be applied beyond their (typical) application to Western classical music. Students will be expected to bring their experience- as composers, performers, and listeners- to bear on the issues we discuss. (Also listed as MUSC 3458.) (Offered every other year.) Prerequisite: Any 3 or 4 credit course in Philosophy, or 3 credits in Music, or consent of instructor.

A study of ethical issues associated with the practice of medicine and the pursuit of biomedical research. Topics may include: physicians' obligations and patients' rights; experimentation on humans and animals; assisted suicide; euthanasia; abortion and parental rights; genetic engineering; and social justice and the right to health care.

In this course we will investigate several philosophical issues raised by literature, such as what exactly literature is, the nature of literary authorship and interpretation, why it is we respond emotionally to fictional characters, and what the value of engaging with literature is. (Offered every other year). Prerequisite: Any 3 or 4 credit course in Philosophyor six hours of English or consent of instructor.

This is a service learning class in which students learn the theory and practice of teaching philosophy to children. Students will attend a weekly class at Trinity in which they study and discuss educational theory, and learn about methods for teaching children philosophy. They also create and discuss various lesson plans. They then visit a public school where they meet with small groups of children and lead discussions of philosophy. May be repeated for credit. 1 to 3 semester hours. Prerequisites: One course in Philosophy or Education or consent of instructor.

Individual work under faculty supervision. 1 to 4 semester hours. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor

Students taking this class will work for various law of government offices as interns whose responsibilities will be determined by those offices and by supervising faculty. They will then complete a writing assignment in which they relate their experience in the internship to issues in ethics, social and political philosophy, and/or the philosophy of law. Pass/Fail only. Prerequisite: Consent of Instructor

This is a service learning class in which students learn the theory and practice of teaching philosophy to children. Students will attend a weekly class at Trinity in which they study and discuss educational theory, and learn about methods for teaching children philosophy. They also create and discuss various lesson plans. They then visit a public school where they meet with small groups of children and lead discussions of philosophy. May be repeated for credit. 1 to 3 semester hours. Prerequisites: One course in Philosophy or Education or consent of instructor.

Individual work under faculty supervision. 1 to 4 semester hours. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor

Students taking this class will work for various law of government offices as interns whose responsibilities will be determined by those offices and by supervising faculty. They will then complete a writing assignment in which they relate their experience in the internship to issues in ethics, social and political philosophy, and/or the philosophy of law. Pass/Fail only. Prerequisite: Consent of Instructor

This is a service learning class in which students learn the theory and practice of teaching philosophy to children. Students will attend a weekly class at Trinity in which they study and discuss educational theory, and learn about methods for teaching children philosophy. They also create and discuss various lesson plans. They then visit a public school where they meet with small groups of children and lead discussions of philosophy. May be repeated for credit. 1 to 3 semester hours. Prerequisites: One course in Philosophy or Education or consent of instructor.

Individual work under faculty supervision. 1 to 4 semester hours. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor

Students taking this class will work for various law of government offices as interns whose responsibilities will be determined by those offices and by supervising faculty. They will then complete a writing assignment in which they relate their experience in the internship to issues in ethics, social and political philosophy, and/or the philosophy of law. Pass/Fail only. Prerequisite: Consent of Instructor

Individual work under faculty supervision. 1 to 4 semester hours. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor

A close reading of a seminal philosophical text. Pass / Fail only. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: one class in philosophy and consent of instructor

Individual work under faculty supervision. 1 to 4 semester hours. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

Individual work under faculty supervision. 1 to 4 semester hours. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

Individual work under faculty supervision. 1 to 4 semester hours. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

Research and classroom discussion culminating, for each student, in a thesis to be defended before Philosophy Department faculty. Supervision for thesis provided by course instructor and a second faculty member with expertise in student's area of research. Prerequisites: Senior Standing and consent of the department chair.

Taken during the Spring semester of the Junior year. Students draft a thesis under the supervision of a faculty member. The completed draft will be defended before the members of the department, who will decide whether it should be developed further. Students who do outstanding work in Thesis I will be invited to enroll in Thesis II. Students who take Thesis II are not eligible to enroll in PHIL 4395 (Senior Thesis). Requires consent of chair and Instructor.

Taken during the Fall semester of the Senior Year. In thesis II students will complete the theses that they drafted in Thesis I. The completed essay will be defended before the members of the department, who will decide whether to confer Departmental Honors. Requires Consent of Department chair and Instructor, and completion of PHIL 4396.

Individual work under faculty supervision. 1 to 4 semester hours. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.