Philosophy (PHIL) - For a syllabus or more detailed course information, please contact the department at 610-758-3775.

 

Course Listings

 Course#               Course Title (Credit Hours)                   CRN       Day/Time         Location   Session  Instructor

1-010 Intro. to Philosophy: The Examined Life (4) 20310 M/W 4-7:00pm MG 111 Second Burak
1-011 Intro. to Philosophy: The Examined Life (4) 20430 M-Th 10-11:35am MG 112 First Hulsizer
96-010/ HUM 96-010 Business Values & Ethics (4) 20694 M-Th 12-1:35pm MG 475 Second Litt
105-010 Ethics (4) 20311 M-Th 10-11:35am MG 112 Second Hulsizer
105-011 Ethics (4) 20431 M/W 4-7:00pm MG 112 First Burak
116-010/REL 116-010 Bioethics (4) 20432 M/W 7-10:00pm MG 112 First Steffen
195-010 Early Hollywood Horror Films (4) 20434 M/W 4-7:00pm MG 111 First Mendelson
196-010 Philosophy & Technology (4) 20435 Online   First Reihman
198-010 Contemporary Horror Films (4) 20312 M/W 4-7:00pm MG 260 Second Mendelson
290-010 Independent Study (1-4) 20313 Hours arranged   Second Staff
290-011 Independent Study (1-4) 20436 Hours arranged   First Staff
371-010 Adv. Independent Study (1-4) 20314 Hours arranged   Second Staff
371-011 Adv. Independent Study (1-4) 20437 Hours arranged   First Staff
373-010 Independent Ethics Project (4) 20287 Hours arranged   Second Steffen
373-011 Independent Ethics Project (4) 20378 Hours arranged   First Steffen

Course Descriptions

Philosophy

1.  The Examined Life:  Introduction to Philosophy:  What makes a life meaningful, what makes it worth living?  In pursuit of an answer to this question this course examines many of the basic questions of philosophy: ethical questions about justice and virtue, epistemological questions about the limits of human knowledge, metaphysical questions about what there is.  HU    Online section requires use of Blackboard. 

 

3/REL 3/GCP 3.  Global Religion, Global Ethics:  Introduction to philosophical and religious modes of moral thinking, with attention given to ethical issues as they arise cross-culturally in and through religious traditions. The course will reference the United Nations Millennium Goals to consider family life and the role of women, social justice, the environment, and ethical ideals. Particular focus varies but may include one or more of the following: abortion and reproductive health, the death penalty, religiously motivated violence, and problems of personal disorder (heavy drinking, anorexia, vengeance). A Global Citizenship course. HU

 

96/PHIL 96.  Business Values & Ethics:  This seminar course approaches Business Ethics as “Applied Ethics” where we use moral philosophies to resolve some issues that are part of our 21 century world of Marketplace Global Capitalism.  Our focus is mainly on choices and dilemmas faced by ALL of us in our day-to-day life as consumers, business managers and/or corporate professionals.  Seminar methods are based on small groups, typically 10-12 people.  Where we study business situations in which Values are in conflict.  We do this using BOTH Conceptual analysis and Experience-based stories to capture the theory and the practical understanding of Value & Ethics we-live-by.  This means going beyond factual knowledge alone to also be an intelligent reader/listener of our unique and our common Human Experiences. Our core concepts are the “Values and Ethics” behind personal-professional “Character and Integrity”.  Final grades are based on seminar participation, and several 3-5 page papers.  For further information, please contact Prof. B. Litt through the Office of Summer Sessions 610-758-3966.

105.  Ethics:  Examination of right and wrong, good and bad, from classic sources such as Plato, Aristotle, Hume, Kant, Mill and Nietzsche.  HU 

 

116/REL 116.  Bioethics: Moral issues that arise in the context of health care and related biomedical fields in the United States today, examined in the light of the nature and foundation of moral rights and obligations. Topics include: confidentiality, informed consent, euthanasia, medical research and experimentation, genetics, the distribution of health care, etc. HU

 

195.  Early Hollywood Horror Films:  Many view early Hollywood horror films as unsophisticated cinematic forays that pale in comparison to the kinds of special effects and violence that are characteristic so many contemporary horror films. In this course, we will view some of the great classics of the 1930’s viewing them as serious artistic and philosophical endeavors directed by some of the greatest filmmakers of all time.  HU

 

196.  Philosophy & Technology:  Are new technologies changing how we decide what’s real and what’s  right? Can classical and contemporary views of metaphysics (what’s    real) and morality (what’s right) help us understand how we think and act in virtual worlds? To help answer these questions, students  will read a variety of philosophical works and participate in several different virtual environments (e.g. Second Life). HU

198.  Contemporary Horror Films:  Contemporary horror films are often characterized simply in terms of violence, bloodshed, and gore.  However, there are a variety of sub-genres that need to be taken into account, and in this course we will view a wide array of films that do indeed exhibit some of the characteristic traits but also make philosophical statements that are both reflective and provocative. HU

290.  Independent Study:   Individual philosophy investigation of an author, book, or topic designed in collaboration with a faculty sponsor.  Tutorial meetings, substantial written work.  May be repeated more than once for credit.  Consent of faculty sponsor required. ND

371.  Advanced Independent Study:   Individual philosophical investigation of an author, book, or topic designed in collaboration with a faculty sponsor.  Tutorial meetings, substantial written work.  May be repeated more than once for credit.  Consent of faculty sponsor required. ND

373.  Independent Ethics Project:  Supervised ethics research into a topic approved by the advisor for the Humanities Minor in Ethics.  An option for completing the ethics minor.  For ethics minor only.  HU