| Year | Course ID | Course |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 | PHIL 384 | Suffering and Belief in GodAn examination of key issues pertaining to suffering and belief in God. Topics include the problem of evil, arguments from suffering, original sin, everlasting suffering, and providence. Course Credits: 3
Prerequisite(s): 3 sem. hrs. of philosophy or third year standing.
Cross-listed: RELS 385. |
| 2024-2025 | PHIL 390 | ExistentialismThrough the profound questions they ask about human life, we explore the verities of human embodiment from the theist (Kierkegaard, Dostoevsky, Heschel, and Percy) and from the non-theist (Nietzsche, Hesse, Heidegger, Camus, and Sartre) existentialist perspectives: Are there invariants within the human condition? Is human identity essentially tied to its historical-cultural embodiment? Do humans have an essence or nature? Are humans fundamentally different from all other animals? Is there meaning to human life? Are human relationships doomed to failure? Are humans capable of authentic lives? Is the notion of God merely a comforting projection arising out of human weakness? Etc. Course Credits: 3
Prerequisite(s): Second year standing or 3 sem. hrs. of philosophy.
NB: Not offered every year. See department chair
|
| 2025-2026 | PHIL 390 | ExistentialismThrough the profound questions they ask about human life, we explore the verities of human embodiment from the theist (Kierkegaard, Dostoevsky, Heschel, and Percy) and from the non-theist (Nietzsche, Hesse, Heidegger, Camus, and Sartre) existentialist perspectives: Are there invariants within the human condition? Is human identity essentially tied to its historical-cultural embodiment? Do humans have an essence or nature? Are humans fundamentally different from all other animals? Is there meaning to human life? Are human relationships doomed to failure? Are humans capable of authentic lives? Is the notion of God merely a comforting projection arising out of human weakness? Etc. Course Credits: 3
NB: Not offered every year. See department chair
|
| 2024-2025 | PHIL 412 | Issues in Contemporary PhilosophyCentral issues arising in 20th century philosophy, particularly within the Anglo-American analytic movement. Recent topics have included the rise and demise of logical positivism, the philosophy of Wittgenstein, Rorty's attack on the Mirror of Nature, and issues raised by continental European philosophy. Course Credits: 3
Prerequisite(s): 9 sem. hrs. of philosophy and third year standing.
NB: Not offered every year. See department chair
|
| 2025-2026 | PHIL 412 | Issues in Contemporary PhilosophyCentral issues arising in 20th century philosophy, particularly within the Anglo-American analytic movement. Recent topics have included the rise and demise of logical positivism, the philosophy of Wittgenstein, Rorty's attack on the Mirror of Nature, and issues raised by continental European philosophy. Course Credits: 3
NB: Not offered every year. See department chair
|
| 2024-2025 | PHIL 415 | Contemporary Political PhilosophyThis course examines the political thought of twentieth century political philosophers, primarily from the Western political tradition. Attention is given to selected primary and secondary literature of contemporary political theorists. Systematic examination of different theorists encourages a broader understanding of the rich tradition of political philosophy in the twentieth century. Course Credits: 3
Prerequisite(s): 6 sem. hrs. of political studies including POLS 101
Cross-listed: POLS 415. |
| 2025-2026 | PHIL 415 | Contemporary Political PhilosophyThis course examines the political thought of twentieth century political philosophers, primarily from the Western political tradition. Attention is given to selected primary and secondary literature of contemporary political theorists. Systematic examination of different theorists encourages a broader understanding of the rich tradition of political philosophy in the twentieth century. Course Credits: 3
|
| 2025-2026 | PHIL 418 | Social & Political Concepts of Community in Contemporary Political TheoryProvides the student with an in-depth study of the social and political concepts of community. Attention is focused on how recognition of community brings into play the tension between individual and collective/group rights. Course lectures, reading assignments, and in class discussion provide an overview of the following topics: interpretation/hermeneutics of community, roots of community theory, myth of community, quest for community, Christian community, recognition of minority communities in politics, problems associated with the concept of community, recognition of group rights, the liberal-communitarian debate over community, and the problems associated with communitarian theory. Course Credits: 3
|
| 2024-2025 | PHIL 418 | Social and Political Concepts of Community in Contemporary Political TheoryProvides the student with an in-depth study of the social and political concepts of community. Attention is focused on how recognition of community brings into play the tension between individual and collective/group rights. Course lectures, reading assignments, and in class discussion provide an overview of the following topics: interpretation/hermeneutics of community, roots of community theory, myth of community, quest for community, Chirstian community, recognition of minoritiy communities in politics, problems associated with the concept of community, recognition of group rights, the libral-communitarian debate over community, and the problems associated with communitarian theory. Course Credits: 3
Prerequisite(s): 6 sem. hrs. of philosophy and third year standing.
Cross-listed: POLS 418/SOCI 418. |
| 2024-2025 | PHIL 420 | AuthorsA study of a major philosopher or philosophical system. Involving substantial reading and the writing of a major paper, the course is available by special request to students who already have at least a minor in Philosophy, on a directed study basis. Course Credits: 3
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy major or instructor's consent.
NB: Not offered every year. See department chair
|
| 2025-2026 | PHIL 420 | AuthorsA study of a major philosopher or philosophical system. Involving substantial reading and the writing of a major paper, the course is available by special request to students who already have at least a minor in Philosophy, on a directed study basis. Course Credits: 3
NB: Not offered every year. See department chair
|
| 2024-2025 | PHIL 421 | Postmodern PhilosophyAn 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. Course Credits: 3
Prerequisite(s): 6 sem. hrs. of philosophy.
NB: Not offered every year. See department chair
|
| 2025-2026 | PHIL 421 | Postmodern PhilosophyAn 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. Course Credits: 3
NB: Not offered every year. See department chair
|
| 2024-2025 | PHIL 430 | Honours ThesisA 40-60 page paper on a topic of the student's choosing (subject to departmental approval) on a important philosophic issue or thinker. An oral defence and a library-acceptable copy are required. This course is to be taken in the final year by all Honours students in Philosophy. Course Credits: 3
Prerequisite(s): 4th year standing; acceptance into the Philosophy Honours program; completion of PHIL 420 in previous semester
|
| 2025-2026 | PHIL 430 | Honours ThesisA 40-60 page paper on a topic of the student's choosing (subject to departmental approval) on a important philosophic issue or thinker. An oral defence and a library-acceptable copy are required. This course is to be taken in the final year by all Honours students in Philosophy. Course Credits: 3
|
| 2024-2025 | PHIL 460 | Philosophy of LanguageThis course surveys central issues in philosophy of language, including: theories of truth and reference, the relationship between language, thought, and mind, constructivist and structuralist accounts of language. A sub-theme for the course is the relationship between the philosophy of language and other core areas of philosophy. Course Credits: 3
Prerequisite(s): 6 sem. hrs. of philosophy, or instructor's consent.
|
| 2025-2026 | PHIL 460 | Philosophy of LanguageThis course surveys central issues in philosophy of language, including: theories of truth and reference, the relationship between language, thought, and mind, constructivist and structuralist accounts of language. A sub-theme for the course is the relationship between the philosophy of language and other core areas of philosophy. Course Credits: 3
|
| 2025-2026 | PHIL 470 | Philosophy of Knowledge & Rational BeliefA 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. Course Credits: 3
NB: Not offered every year. See department chair
|
| 2024-2025 | PHIL 470 | Philosophy of Knowledge &Rational BeliefA 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. Course Credits: 3
Prerequisite(s): 9 sem. hrs. of philosophy and third year standing
NB: Not offered every year. See department chair
|
| 2024-2025 | PHIL 481 | Business EthicsThis course studies the role of business in contemporary society where multiple demands are placed upon it, the responsibility of a corporation to its many constituencies, and responsiveness to changing cultural climate. The course studies a biblical basis for business ethics. Course Credits: 3
Prerequisite(s): One PHIL course, and third-year standing
Cross-listed: BUSI 481 |
| 2025-2026 | PHIL 481 | Business EthicsThis course studies the role of business in contemporary society where multiple demands are placed upon it, the responsibility of a corporation to its many constituencies, and responsiveness to changing cultural climate. The course studies a biblical basis for business ethics. Course Credits: 3
|
| 2024-2025 | PHIL 490 | Philosophy of MindThis 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), lived-body phenomenology, and neutral monism. Course Credits: 3
Prerequisite(s): 3 sem. hrs. of philosophy.
NB: Not offered every year. See department chair
|
| 2025-2026 | PHIL 490 | Philosophy of MindThis 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), lived-body phenomenology, and neutral monism. Course Credits: 3
NB: Not offered every year. See department chair
|
| 2024-2025 | PHIL 510 | Issues in Social JusticeAn examination of ethical issues that pertain to social justice, addressing such topics as the distribution of wealth, the difference between equality and equity, the effects of globalization, and the morality of war.” Course Credits: 3
|
| 2025-2026 | PHIL 510 | Issues in Social JusticeAn examination of ethical issues that pertain to social justice, addressing such topics as the distribution of wealth, the difference between equality and equity, the effects of globalization, and the morality of war.” Course Credits: 3
|
| 2024-2025 | PHIL 511 | KantA study of the philosophy of Immanuel Kant, focusing primarily on Kant's seminal work, Critique of Pure Reason. Course Credits: 3
|
| 2025-2026 | PHIL 511 | KantA study of the philosophy of Immanuel Kant, focusing primarily on Kant's seminal work, Critique of Pure Reason. Course Credits: 3
|
| 2025-2026 | PHIL 512 | Issues in Contemporary PhilosophyThis 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. Course Credits: 3
|
| 2024-2025 | PHIL 512 | Twentieth Century PhilosophyThis 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. Course Credits: 3
|
| 2024-2025 | PHIL 513 | British EmpiricismA 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 Course Credits: 3
|
| 2025-2026 | PHIL 513 | British EmpiricismA 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 Course Credits: 3
|
| 2025-2026 | PHIL 514 | Reason & the EnlightenmentA 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. Course Credits: 3
|
| 2024-2025 | PHIL 514 | Reason and the EnlightenmentA 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. Course Credits: 3
|
| 2024-2025 | PHIL 515 | Contemporary Political PhilosophyAn examination of twentieth century political philosophy through reading of texts by major contemporary political philosophers. Course Credits: 3
|
| 2025-2026 | PHIL 515 | Contemporary Political PhilosophyAn examination of twentieth century political philosophy through reading of texts by major contemporary political philosophers. Course Credits: 3
|
| 2024-2025 | PHIL 520 | Social & Political PhilosophyAn 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. Course Credits: 3
|
| 2025-2026 | PHIL 520 | Social & Political PhilosophyAn 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. Course Credits: 3
|
| 2024-2025 | PHIL 521 | Postmodern PhilosophyAn 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. Course Credits: 3
|
| 2025-2026 | PHIL 521 | Postmodern PhilosophyAn 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. Course Credits: 3
|
| 2024-2025 | PHIL 540 | Moral PhilosophyThe 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. Course Credits: 3
|
| 2025-2026 | PHIL 540 | Moral PhilosophyThe 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. Course Credits: 3
|
| 2024-2025 | PHIL 550 | Symbolic LogicThis 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. Course Credits: 3
|
| 2025-2026 | PHIL 550 | Symbolic LogicThis 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. Course Credits: 3
|
| 2024-2025 | PHIL 560 | Philosophy of LanguageExamines 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. Course Credits: 3
|
| 2025-2026 | PHIL 560 | Philosophy of LanguageExamines 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. Course Credits: 3
|
| 2025-2026 | PHIL 570 | Philosophy of Knowledge & Rational BeliefA 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. Course Credits: 3
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| 2024-2025 | PHIL 570 | Philosophy of Knowledge and Rational BeliefA 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. Course Credits: 3
|
| 2024-2025 | PHIL 571 | AestheticsThis 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. Course Credits: 3
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| 2025-2026 | PHIL 571 | AestheticsThis 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. Course Credits: 3
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| 2025-2026 | PHIL 573 | Reason & Belief in GodA 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. Course Credits: 3
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