Philosophy Subjects in the Undergraduate Core Curriculum

The Philosophy subjects in the Core Curriculum are designed to assist students in developing habits of critical and creative reflection on their personal, social, religious, and ethical experiences.  All four courses are taken during the last two years of college.  The final examinations in these courses take the form of an oral defense of thesis statements.  Past syllabi and thesis sheets can be found at the department.  Some recent syllabi are also at opensyllabus.org.

Ph 101   PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON I (3 units)

After an initial discussion of the nature of philosophy, students are immediately provided with opportunities to reflect on the distinctive experiences of being human: embodiment, freedom and knowledge, historicity and temporality, death and the Absolute.

Ph 102  PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON II (3 units)

A discussion of the social dimension of human existence. It is composed of two parts: the first part is foundational and the second part is flexible. The first part deals with intersubjectivity, the various forms of sociality, the common good, and the meaning of work. The second part deals with special topics that are of current interest: science, business, government, civil society, art, culture, education, theories of knowledge, language, technology, etc.

Pre-requisite: Ph 101 

Ph 103 PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION (3 units)

A critical examination of the human experience of religion, arguments and counter arguments for the existence of God and a Phenomenology and Metaphysics of Hope.

Pre-requisites: Ph 101 and 102

Ph 104  FOUNDATIONS OF MORAL VALUE ( 3 UNITS)

A discussion of the classical and contemporary traditions of moral philosophy. The basic principles of morality and the question of ultimate foundations: conscience, natural law, self-determination, the Transcendent. Applications to concrete cases include sexuality, marriage and the family, social justice, politics, and the environment.

Pre-requisites: Ph 101 and Ph 102