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COURSES OF STUDY
Philosophy (PL)
Bachelor of Arts
Daniel Coyle, Steven Hendley, William Myers
In the western world philosophers from Plato to Whitehead have
attempted to do systematically and consistently what every reflective person
does fragmentarily and haphazardly: to reflect on beliefs about the physical
world, moral and religious commitments, aesthetic experiences, relations of
the individual to the community, and other phases of human experience.
In doing so philosophers have hoped to deepen their insights into the
meaning of human existence and to explore the possibilities for individuals
to participate creatively in the reconstruction of their values to meet the
new conditions of the contemporary world.
In this process philosophers have also undertaken to examine critically
what is elsewhere taken for granted. In doing so they have developed
analytical techniques such as various systems of logic, studies of the nature
and limits of the human understanding, and linguistic analysis.
Collegiate courses in philosophy are invitations to modern
undergraduates to participate in this intellectual heritage and to develop
analytical techniques essential to it.
Upon completion of the philosophy major, students will be able to
•
make appropriate use of scholarly literature relevant to the topic in
defense of a thesis,
•
sympathetically articulate the views of scholarly literature which
present arguments that run contrary to a thesis,
•
construct a cogent argument in defense of a thesis,
•
write in a clear and well organized manner in defense of a thesis,
•
speak in a clear and well organized manner in defense of a thesis.
Major Requirements
The following courses are required (9 units):
PL 241 (PL 350 may substitute, with consent)
PL 250
PL 251
PL 252
PL 253
three units in PL numbered 300 and above (except PL 398 and 498)
PL 470
Recommended supporting courses for the philosophy major include
foreign language competency at the third course level (normally German
or French) and a four- or five-course sequence in a related field, such
as English and the fine arts; history and political science; mathematics;
psychology and sociology; or religion.
