PHL 204: Great
Books of Philosophy
I offer this
class every quarter. In it, we read three books, one from each era
of philosophy (ancient, modern, and contemporary). The class is
writing intensive, and satisfies GE requirements for sections IV
and VI.
PHL 311: Ethics
Ethical philosophy
is a vast subject, and so we must take a selective approach in any
course on the subject. In the course, we will be concerned with
ethical philosophers who focus their attention primarily on human
nature as a way of understanding the nature of ethics. We shall
read: Aristotle, The Nicomachaen Ethics; Hobbes, Leviathan;
Butler, Five Sermons; Hume, An Enquiry Concerning the
Principles of Morals; and Nietzche, On the Geneology of Morals.
Offerd every other year.
PHL 312: Moral
Problems
This class will
focus on several applied ethical issues, such as sexual morality,
the death penalty, world hunger and poverty, and the moral status
of animals. Offered every other year.
PHL 378: Ethics
and Medicine
An examination
of the moral issues that arise in a medical setting. Possible topics
include abortion, euthanasia, doctor assisted suicide, cloning,
genetic engineering, research ethics, and the treatment of severely
impaired infants. Offered every other year.
PHL 399: Freedom,
Identity, and Death
Common sense
thinking suggests that (a) I am, in some important sense, a free
being who is morally responsible for my actions; (b) that I am the
same person now as I was when I was a child (and will be in the
future); and (c) that it would be very bad for me to die now. However,
each of these beliefs are open to serious questions. In this class,
we will pursue those questions. Offered every other year.
PHL 411: Seminar
in Ethics
A variable topic
seminar devoted to advanced topics in moral philosophy. Possible
topics include the objectivity of ethics, the realtion between reason
and morality, the relation between self-interest and morality, ancient
ethics, and British Moral Philosophers. Offered every other year.
PHL 414: Philosophy
of Law
A survey of
the nature and legitimacy of the law. A great class for pre-law
majors, PHL 414 will prepare you for law school by not only having
you critically reflect on the nature of your chosen profession,
but it will also sharpen your analytical and writing skills. Offered
every other year.
