Issues in Contemporary Philosophy

This course acquaints students with important philosophical developments in Western Anglo- American philosophy during the twentieth century. These include analytic philosophy, ordinary language philosophy, and recent developments questioning the traditional value and role of philosophy. The writings of major philosophers are studied throughout, and emphasis is placed upon epistemological, metaphysical, and linguistic issues. Some attention is given to examining the relationships between these philosophical movements and others, e.g., those that characterize postmodernism. Attention is occasionally given to points that carry implications for Christian faith.

Twentieth Century Philosophy

This course acquaints students with important philosophical developments in Western Anglo- American philosophy during the twentieth century. These include analytic philosophy, ordinary language philosophy, and recent developments questioning the traditional value and role of philosophy. The writings of major philosophers are studied throughout, and emphasis is placed upon epistemological, metaphysical, and linguistic issues. Some attention is given to examining the relationships between these philosophical movements and others, e.g., those that characterize postmodernism. Attention is occasionally given to points that carry implications for Christian faith.

British Empiricism

A study of empiricist philosophy in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Selected writings of Hobbes, Locke, Berkeley, and Hume are analyzed and interpreted. As we discuss each author's ideas, we will evaluate their positions on: the limits of knowledge and experience, the intelligibility of revelatory truth, the existence of God, the divisibility of reality, the role of nature, and the ethics and politics of human life

British Empiricism

A study of empiricist philosophy in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Selected writings of Hobbes, Locke, Berkeley, and Hume are analyzed and interpreted. As we discuss each author's ideas, we will evaluate their positions on: the limits of knowledge and experience, the intelligibility of revelatory truth, the existence of God, the divisibility of reality, the role of nature, and the ethics and politics of human life

Reason & the Enlightenment

A study of rationalist philosophy in the European Enlightenment period of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Selected writings of Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz are analyzed and interpreted. As we discuss each author's ideas, we will evaluate their positions on: the limits of reason, the intelligibility of revealed truth, the existence of God, the divisibility of reality, the role of nature, and the ethics and politics of human life. In the process of dialoguing about these ideas, we shall also study the historical importance of the Enlightenment in modernity as well as the original intent of the philosophers in question with attention to their historic context. We shall also assess the enduring relevance of the Enlightenment to the modern age.

Reason and the Enlightenment

A study of rationalist philosophy in the European Enlightenment period of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Selected writings of Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz are analyzed and interpreted. As we discuss each author's ideas, we will evaluate their positions on: the limits of reason, the intelligibility of revealed truth, the existence of God, the divisibility of reality, the role of nature, and the ethics and politics of human life. In the process of dialoguing about these ideas, we shall also study the historical importance of the Enlightenment in modernity as well as the original intent of the philosophers in question with attention to their historic context. We shall also assess the enduring relevance of the Enlightenment to the modern age.

Contemporary Political Philosophy

An examination of twentieth century political philosophy through reading of texts by major contemporary political philosophers.

Contemporary Political Philosophy

An examination of twentieth century political philosophy through reading of texts by major contemporary political philosophers.

Social & Political Philosophy

An examination of foundational ideas and problems in political life and thought. Both classical and contemporary texts are used. Concepts to be treated include the state, society, the citizen, democracy, liberty, equality, authority, obligation, and disobedience.

Social & Political Philosophy

An examination of foundational ideas and problems in political life and thought. Both classical and contemporary texts are used. Concepts to be treated include the state, society, the citizen, democracy, liberty, equality, authority, obligation, and disobedience.

Postmodern Philosophy

An in-depth investigation into major postmodern texts. Authors considered include Nietzsche, Foucault, Derrida, and their critics. Both the philosophical and historical foundations of modernism and postmodernism will be explored. The historicist focus on the origins and contexts of these ideas will receive considerable attention.

Postmodern Philosophy

An in-depth investigation into major postmodern texts. Authors considered include Nietzsche, Foucault, Derrida, and their critics. Both the philosophical and historical foundations of modernism and postmodernism will be explored. The historicist focus on the origins and contexts of these ideas will receive considerable attention.

Moral Philosophy

The problem of determining standards of right and wrong as well as the problem of determining what is of value in itself. The moral theories of prominent philosophers, both ancient and modern, are examined.

Moral Philosophy

The problem of determining standards of right and wrong as well as the problem of determining what is of value in itself. The moral theories of prominent philosophers, both ancient and modern, are examined.

Symbolic Logic

This course acquaints students with the elements of symbolic logic and its methods of deduction, including: the quantificational calculus, definite descriptions, identity, and the logic of relations. The significance of symbolic logic is examined in relation to logical atomism as advanced early in the twentieth century by Ludwig Wittgenstein and Bertrand Russell.

Symbolic Logic

This course acquaints students with the elements of symbolic logic and its methods of deduction, including: the quantificational calculus, definite descriptions, identity, and the logic of relations. The significance of symbolic logic is examined in relation to logical atomism as advanced early in the twentieth century by Ludwig Wittgenstein and Bertrand Russell.

Philosophy of Language

Examines a range of topics within philosophy of language. Includes an overview of several works considered classics in the field (e.g. Wittgenstein, Quine, Searle, Alston, Grice), as well as critical review of major schools of thought in regard to language and criticism. Insights from linguistics and related disciplines, including text linguistics and sociolinguistics, are considered in evaluating the schools of thought.

Philosophy of Language

Examines a range of topics within philosophy of language. Includes an overview of several works considered classics in the field (e.g. Wittgenstein, Quine, Searle, Alston, Grice), as well as critical review of major schools of thought in regard to language and criticism. Insights from linguistics and related disciplines, including text linguistics and sociolinguistics, are considered in evaluating the schools of thought.

Philosophy of Knowledge & Rational Belief

A descriptive and critical inquiry into the theory of knowledge, including such topics as foundationalism, relativism, evidence, warrant, cognitive reliability, skepticism, and the relationship of cognitive science and psychology to philosophical accounts of knowledge and rational inquiry.

Philosophy of Knowledge and Rational Belief

A descriptive and critical inquiry into the theory of knowledge, including such topics as foundationalism, relativism, evidence, warrant, cognitive reliability, skepticism, and the relationship of cognitive science and psychology to philosophical accounts of knowledge and rational inquiry.

Aesthetics

This course doesn't merely explore different questions about the nature, value, and meaning of beauty, artworks, and aesthetic experience; it also sensitizes students to the value, pleasures, and risks of moving through the world with deep perceptual attention coupled to an expansive imagination.

Aesthetics

This course doesn't merely explore different questions about the nature, value, and meaning of beauty, artworks, and aesthetic experience; it also sensitizes students to the value, pleasures, and risks of moving through the world with deep perceptual attention coupled to an expansive imagination.

Reason & Belief in God

A survey of central issues arising from the question, Is belief in God rational? Topics include arguments concerning the existence of God, religious pluralism, natural science and religious belief, religious language, and critiques of natural theology from Kierkegaard and Reformed Epistemology.

Reason and Belief in God

A survey of central issues arising from the question, Is belief in God rational? Topics include arguments concerning the existence of God, religious pluralism, natural science and religious belief, religious language, and critiques of natural theology from Kierkegaard and Reformed Epistemology.

Religious Experience Seminar

Examines the place of evidence in religion and assesses the evidential force of religious experience and related phenomena. The main body of the course addresses the evidential force of such experiences as near-death experiences, visions, mystical states of consciousness, as well as the Shroud of Turin as a unique religious artifact. Surveys some major contributors to the critical study of religious experience, e.g.: William James, Rudolf Otto, and R.C. Zaehner, and examines competing theories for religious phenomena, e.g., psychological and neurophysiological explanations for near-death and visionary experiences.

Religious Experience Seminar

Examines the place of evidence in religion and assesses the evidential force of religious experience and related phenomena. The main body of the course addresses the evidential force of such experiences as near-death experiences, visions, mystical states of consciousness, as well as the Shroud of Turin as a unique religious artifact. Surveys some major contributors to the critical study of religious experience, e.g.: William James, Rudolf Otto, and R.C. Zaehner, and examines competing theories for religious phenomena, e.g., psychological and neurophysiological explanations for near-death and visionary experiences.

Suffering & Belief in God

Examines some key issues pertaining to suffering and belief in God. Topics include the problem of evil, arguments from suffering original sin, everlasting suffering, and providence.

Suffering and Belief in God

Examines some key issues pertaining to suffering and belief in God. Topics include the problem of evil, arguments from suffering original sin, everlasting suffering, and providence.

Philosophy of Mind

This course explores the philosophically perplexing tasks of finding a place for human consciousness in, and the mind’s causal relations to, the natural world. It also investigates the theories put forward to address these tasks, e.g., dualistic theories like substance dualism, dual-attribute theory, epiphenomenalism, and emergentism, and the monistic theories like physicalism (reductive, eliminative, and non-reductive), idealism (ontological and conceptual), and neutral monism.

Philosophy of Mind

This course explores the philosophically perplexing tasks of finding a place for human consciousness in, and the mind’s causal relations to, the natural world. It also investigates the theories put forward to address these tasks, e.g., dualistic theories like substance dualism, dual-attribute theory, epiphenomenalism, and emergentism, and the monistic theories like physicalism (reductive, eliminative, and non-reductive), idealism (ontological and conceptual), and neutral monism.

Existentialism

Explore primary source material from five major (atheist and theist) existentialist philosophers, excerpts of existentialist fiction, a book that offers an overview of the common themes of existentialism, and another rife with existentialist themes that helps readers assess their own degree of existential alienation. Students engage in daily discussions and lectures on the material read. Students write two papers: a book review and a research paper, and keep a journal tracking their intellectual, emotional, and spiritual journey through class readings and lectures. In small groups, students discuss and share their insights and struggles with existentialism.

Existentialism

Explore primary source material from five major (atheist and theist) existentialist philosophers, excerpts of existentialist fiction, a book that offers an overview of the common themes of existentialism, and another rife with existentialist themes that helps readers assess their own degree of existential alienation. Students engage in daily discussions and lectures on the material read. Students write two papers: a book review and a research paper, and keep a journal tracking their intellectual, emotional, and spiritual journey through class readings and lectures. In small groups, students discuss and share their insights and struggles with existentialism.

Human Nature: Competing Philosophical Views

This course examines some of the most influential views of human nature advanced by philosophers in the history of Western civilization, and explores the implications of these views for ethics, epistemology, political philosophy, and metaphysics.

Human Nature: Competing Philosophical Views

This course examines some of the most influential views of human nature advanced by philosophers in the history of Western civilization, and explores the implications of these views for ethics, epistemology, political philosophy, and metaphysics.

Social Ethics Seminar

Examines ethical questions concerning life and death. Special emphasis is placed on understanding and evaluating moral and legal perspectives on these questions, within the larger tradition of Western philosophy, and in the face of the current technological revolution. Issues include: the moral status of humans, the meaning of personhood, sanctity of life versus quality of life, genetic engineering, reproductive technologies, euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, abortion.

Social Ethics Seminar

Examines ethical questions concerning life and death. Special emphasis is placed on understanding and evaluating moral and legal perspectives on these questions, within the larger tradition of Western philosophy, and in the face of the current technological revolution. Issues include: the moral status of humans, the meaning of personhood, sanctity of life versus quality of life, genetic engineering, reproductive technologies, euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, abortion.

Topics in Philosophy

Topics may vary. Courses offered to date:Existence, Truth, and Possibility Medieval Cosmology Empericism Neoplatonism and Early Christianity Foundations of Ethics

Topics in Philosophy

Topics may vary. Courses offered to date:Existence, Truth, and Possibility Medieval Cosmology Empiricism Neoplatonism and Early Christianity Foundations of Ethics

Research Design

Under the direction of the student's approved thesis advisor, a course of reading and study which leads to the development of both a significant bibliographical essay (or annotated bibliography) and a thesis proposal. The latter includes at least the following: major question(s) to be addressed; significance of the issue(s); methodologies to be used; theories to be addressed and primary sources to be examined.

Research Design

Under the direction of the student's approved thesis advisor, a course of reading and study which leads to the development of both a significant bibliographical essay (or annotated bibliography) and a thesis proposal. The latter includes at least the following: major question(s) to be addressed; significance of the issue(s); methodologies to be used; theories to be addressed and primary sources to be examined.

Thesis

Thesis

Thesis

Thesis

Major Essay

Under the direction of a supervisor, students not doing a thesis research and write a major paper of approximately 10-15,000 words in length.

Major Essay

Under the direction of a supervisor, students not doing a thesis research and write a major paper of approximately 10-15,000 words in length.

Philosophical Perspectives on Religious Pluralism

This course surveys and engages central philosophical issues relevant to assessing normative religious pluralism.

Philosophical Perspectives on Religious Pluralism

This course surveys and engages central philosophical issues relevant to assessing normative religious pluralism.

Questions of Human Nature

This course examines some of the most influential views of human nature advanced by philosophers and scientists in the history of Western civilization, and explores the implications of these views for ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics. The ideas of Plato and Aristotle, as well as ideas that Christianity has drawn from these ancient Greek philosophers are examined before exploring views advanced in modernity and postmodernity.

Questions of Human Nature

This course examines some of the most influential views of human nature advanced by philosophers and scientists in the history of Western civilization, and explores the implications of these views for ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics. The ideas of Plato and Aristotle, as well as ideas that Christianity has drawn from these ancient Greek philosophers are examined before exploring views advanced in modernity and postmodernity.