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ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Birmingham-Southern College Catalog 2016-2017
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PL 298, 398, 498 Teaching Experience in Philosophy (½ or 1)
A teaching experience course. Upon invitation, qualified students participate in first-year
and sophomore courses as docents. Specific guidelines concerning teaching experiences
appear in the “Teaching Experiences” section of this catalog.
PL 302 Existentialism (1)
An examination of major issues and problems arising from the existentialist tradition in
philosophy through a treatment of one or two representative figures. Prerequisite: one
previous course in PL (except PL 241).
PL 304 Topics in American Philosophy (1)
An examination of some aspect of American philosophy. The focus of this course may
vary each time it is offered: for example, Jonathan Edwards and the Puritans, the
philosophy of the “founding fathers,” Transcendentalism, American Pragmatism, Neo-
Pragmatism. With the permission of the philosophy faculty, students may enroll more
than once for credit, provided that the focus of the course is different. Prerequisite: one
previous course in PL (except PL 241).
PL 307 Environmental Ethics (1)
A study of one or more of the current trends and theories in environmental ethics. The
course may focus on areas such as deep ecology, eco-feminism, sustainability, process
ecology, environmental pragmatism, and others. A Leadership Studies designated course.
Prerequisite: one previous course in PL (except PL 241).
PL 308 Topics in Metaphysics and Epistemology (1)
An examination of questions in contemporary metaphysics and epistemology concerning
the nature of our knowledge of the world and different conceptions of reality which come
into play in our idea of what there is in the world. The focus of the course may vary with
different questions being highlighted: for example, questions concerning the objectivity
of moral values, the dominance of science in our understanding of reality, the identity of
consciousness and neurophysiological processes, the relation of knowledge to experience
and reason, and the capacity of truth to transcend our capacity to know it. With the
permission of the philosophy faculty, students may enroll more than once for credit,
provided that the focus of the course is different. Prerequisite: one previous course in PL
(except PL 241).
PL 360 Postmodernism and Philosophy (1)
An examination of some of the ways postmodern perspectives have impacted recent
philosophy with respect to questions about the nature of language, reason, community,
and justice. A major contemporary alternative to postmodernism is also assessed in order
to establish a critical dialogue concerning the strengths and weaknesses of our
“postmodern condition.” Prerequisite: one previous course in PL (except PL 241).
PL 361 Topics in Philosophy of Religion (1)
An examination of some issues in the philosophy of religion primarily in the Western
tradition. Potential topics include the problem of evil, the nature of God, proofs for God’s