• Philosophy Requirements
• Philosophy Course Descriptions
• Religion Requirements
• Religion Course Descriptions
• University Course Listings

The Department of Philosophy and Religion offers students programs in two separate disciplines, philosophy and religion. Students may pursue the B.A. degree or minor in either philosophy or religion. Programs of the two disciplines are listed separately below.  Students who elect a double major in philosophy and religion should note that Phil/Rel 1453, 2453 and 3283 count for credit in both majors.

2013 (3 hours)
Reasoning
The development of reasoning skills as used in reading critically, writing, and thinking about practical or theoretical issues. Emphasis on how to analyze, evaluate, and construct arguments. Especially recommended for pre-law students.

2083 (3 hours)
Western Political Thought I: From the Greek Polis to the Modern State
The idea of pagan antiquity in Greece and Rome, focusing on Plato and Aristotle, along with other writers. Attention also paid to the role of Christianity in the evolution of Western political ideas. Same as Pol 2083.

2093 (3 hours)
Western Political Thought II: From the English Revolution to the Russian Revolution
The political theory of Western modernity from the 16th to 19th centuries. Lectures follow changes in the idea of the individual and the political community from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment, and from the era of democratic revolutions to the rise of industrial societies. Same as Pol 2093.

2113 (3 hours)
Philosophy of Art
An examination of paintings, sculpture, literature, film, and music, in order to explore philosophical questions about the nature of art: Is beauty real? Is it definable?  Can it be judged objectively?  Is it subject to moral or political standards?

2183 (3 hours)
Current Problems in Political and Social Philosophy
Selected topics in political and social philosophy, including the concept of justice, the status of political rights, and the justification of social, economic, and legal institutions.

2233 (3 hours)
Existentialism in the 20th Century
Existential thought and related philosophies of the 20th century, including its influence on modern psychology, theology, and the arts.

2453 (3 hours)
The Great Conversation II: Modern and Contemporary
An examination of major figures in the break-off of philosophy from theology in the modern era.  Consideration of the Reformation background of modern thought, the challenge of scientific rationalism to religion, and the effort to conceive the moral and political foundations of society in wholly secular terms.  Required for the religion major.

3013 (3 hours)
Modern Philosophy
Works by major Continental and British philosophers from the 16th through the 18th centuries, including the influence of skepticism and the rise of modern science.

3023 (3 hours)
History of Ethics
The development of ethical reasoning from Plato to the present, with emphasis on problems of justifying moral judgments and understanding the meaning of ethical terms.
Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of instructor.

3043 (3 hours)
Ancient Philosophy
The beginnings of philosophical thought in the West.
Prerequisite: One previous course in philosophy or permission of instructor.

3053 (3 hours)
Philosophy of Science
Methods, aims, and foundations of science, including the nature of scientific explanation, laws, and theories; the alleged objectivity of scientific theory-testing and theory-choice; and the structure of scientific revolutions. Attention to revolutionary episodes in the history of science.
Prerequisite: One previous course in philosophy or background in science.

3073 (3 hours)
Metaphysics and Philosophy
Fundamental principles of such subjects as being, substance, essence, self, time, space, and the nature of reality. Traditional and contemporary views and positions are examined.
Fundamental principles of such subjects as being, substance, essence, self, time, space, and the nature of reality.  Course will focus on the work of a single thinker.

3143 (3 hours)
Equality and the Social Order
The difficulties of balancing demands for economic equality with efficiency, liberty, individualism, and justice. Equality of opportunity, reverse discrimination, and the right to welfare are considered. Same as Pol 3143.
Prerequisite: Phil 2083 or 2093, or junior standing.

3163 (3 hours) *
Continental European Philosophy
Introduction to 20th-century continental European philosophy with emphasis on the philosophy of Heidegger.
Prerequisites: At least two courses in philosophy or permission of instructor.

3173 (3 hours)
Major Philosophical Figures
An in-depth look at a major figure n philosophy.  Some consideration given to major and competing trends in the interpretation of this philosopher.  Emphasis on how the thinker puts parts into a whole.  Philosopher chosen and instructor will vary from semester to semester.

3183 (3 hours)
The Tradition of Existentialism
Historical survey of writings in the existentialist tradition, engaging in phenomenological analysis of the human condition. Such concepts and issues as freedom of will, alienation, "bad faith," and responsibility are addressed.

3193 (3 hours)
Philosophy, Politics and Economics
Non-technical, historical survey of major economic theories from Adam Smith to the present (Mercantilism, Smith, Malthus, Ricardo, J.S. Mill, Fourier, Marx, Mises, Hayek, Keynes, Friedman, etc.) to show how those economic views reflect philosophical presuppositions and how they both reflect political contexts and shape future contexts.

3213
Philosophical Anthropology
An exploration of ancient, modern, religious and philosophical answers to the question, “What is Man?”  An examination of how it sets apart “Athens” and “Jerusalem” as very different approaches to the question; of modern efforts to make anthropology the heart of philosophy; of the influential critique of humanism in Heidegger and the post-structuralists and of recent responses to that.

3223
Nietzsche and Socrates
An exploration of ancient and modern interpretations of the philosopher Socrates, with special emphasis on the thought of Nietzsche.  A consideration of the quarrel between philosophy and poetry, the nature of philosophical eros, the “decadence” of philosophy and philosophical rhetoric.

3263 (3 hours)
Religion and Morality From Kant to Nietzsche
Major themes and figures in 18th- and 19th-century moral philosophy and theology, with attention to the Enlightenment's effort to make secular sense of the moral world and to critics of this effort, both secular and theological.  Same as Rel 3263

3283
Topics in Philosophy and Religion
A consideration of religious themes in philosophy and philosophical questions in religious thought and practice.  Required for the philosophy major

3293 (3 hours)
Jewish Thinkers of the Twentieth Century
An in-depth study of one or more major Jewish writers of the last century who have had an enduring impact on modern though or culture, such as Hannah Arendt,  Sigmund Freud, Franz Kafka, Walter Benjamin, Gershom Scholem, Franz Rosensweig, Emmanuel Levanis, and others

3701-3791 (3 hours)
Intermediate Topics in Philosophy
A series of five-week courses for the student who has already had some philosophy courses. Each course focuses on a single topic such as induction, truth, the concept of a person, philosophy and medicine, philosophy and law, philosophy and biology, and philosophy and careers.
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or one previous course in philosophy.

3993 (3 hours)
Independent Study

4003 (3 hours)
Seminar in the History of Political Thought
Seminar on a single author, the political thought of a particular time and place, or a theme or school of thought. For seniors majoring in history, political science, or philosophy, or pursuing a certificate in political philosophy. Also open to underclass students who are exceptionally able or well-prepared. Same as Hist 4033 and Pol 4033.

4023 (3 hours)
Contemporary Philosophy and Religious Belief
The theological character of certain aspects of contemporary philosophy and the philosophical significance of certain modern theological proposals.  Same as Rel 4xxx

4053 (3 hours)
Aesthetics
In-depth study of one or more major figures in the philosophy of art, such as Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Hegal, Schopenhauer, Sartre, or Heidegger.  Prerequisite:  One course in philosophy or permission of the instructor.

4063 (3 hours)
Philosophy of Law
Major alternative theories of the nature of law and legal systems and possible synthesis, with emphasis on selected principal writings of such philosophers as Hart, Kelsen, R.M. Dworkin, Ross, Fuller, and Raz. Topics include the nature of norms, the relation between law and morality studies, and issues in theory of adjudication. Same as Pol 4063.
Prerequisites: Upper-division standing, one previous course in philosophy, or Interdisciplinary 2043. Same as Pol 4063.

4073 (3 hours)
Phenomenology
Examination of the most important movement in European philosophy in the twentieth century which spawned Sartre's existentialism, Heidegger's ontology, hermeneutics, and post structuralism.  Attention to its consequences for history and historical science, anthropology, psychology, cultural studies, and methods of analysis and interpretation.

4143 (3 hours)
Studies in Plato and Aristotle
Seminal Platonic dialogues or Aristotelian treatises, with attention to the established arena of public discourse within which philosophy competed for prizes of wisdom. Supplementary reading may include sections from Ancient Greek poetry, drama, and history.
Prerequisite: One course in philosophy or permission of instructor.

4163 (3 hours)
Philosophy of Natural Law and Natural Right
An introduction to the Western natural law tradition.  The course is grounded in a study of Thomas Aquinas on natural law, and proceeds to examine discussions by Hobbes, Locke, Kant, Fuller and Hart.

4243 (3 hours)
Augustine
An introduction to the theology of Augustine of Hippo, with special attention to his moral and political writings.  Same as
Rel 4043.

4263 (3 hours)
Kant and German Idealism
Kant’s “Copernican Revolution” in philosophy—the “Critique of Reason”—as it applies to science, nature, ethics, theology, politics, aesthetic and history, and its impact on German Romanticism, Idealism, and later movements like Marxism and Existentialism.  

4333 (3 hours)
Jewish Philosophy and Revelation: Ancient and Medieval Approaches
An exploration of philosophical reflection on the Hebrew Scriptures in the ancient and medieval period, with emphasis on the rabbis of the Talmud and Maimonides.

4453 (3 hours)
Hegel, Marx, and Nietzsche
Development of 19th-century German philosophy including the problem of the nature and significance of history. Emphasis on Hegel, Marx, and Nietzsche, with additional readings from Fichte, Feuerbach, and Schopenhauer. Same as Hist 4453.
Prerequisite: One course in philosophy, or related area with permission of instructor.

4543 (3 hours)
Philosophy of Religion
Analysis of various religious stances and positions to understand the philosophical assumptions involved. Same as Rel 4543.
Prerequisite: Phil 1003 and 2043 or 2053.

4603
Kierkegaard
Close study of the major pseudonymous works of Kierkegaard, with special attention to “aesthetic,” “ethical,” and “religious” modes of life, the nature of paradox, love, anxiety, despair, faith, “the moment” and grace.

4863 (3 hours)
Special Topics
Prerequisite:  Permission of the Instructor

4973 (3hours)
Senior Project

4993 (3 hours)
Independent Study

2013 (3 hours)
The Old Testament as Literature
Cultural, geographic, and literary issues that affect the origin of the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible). Inquiry into characterization, internal structure, casual or intended parallels with other texts, story, and relation of story to theology.

2023 (3 hours)
The New Testament as Literature
The story of Jesus's life as it appears in the cannonical gospels: the messianic gospel of Matthew; The action-centered gospel of Mark; Luke/Acts, which sees Jesus's life as beginning a new era and fulfilling an old one; and the gospel writer John's story of the divine Son of God.

2113 (3 hours)
Roman Catholicism
An overview of Roman Catholicism, its world view, history, rituals, ethics, and contemporary trends.

2203 (3 hours)
Jesus: Traditional and Contemporary Perspectives
New Testament, traditional, contemporary, and comparative religious perspectives on Jesus of Nazareth.

2333 (3 hours)
Christian Ethics
The moral reflections of Christians in America after the demise of cultural Protestantism. Topics include biblical origins, perspectives from he early church and the Reformation, secular alternatives, and the diversity of theological reflection among contemporary Christians.

2343 (3 hours)
Christian Faith and Thought
Introduction to the study of the Christian faith as a major world religion, and critical examination of the heart of the Christian tradition, its doctrines and beliefs.

2453 (3 hours) 
The Great Conversation II: Modern and Contemporary
An examination of major figures in the break-off of philosophy from theology in the modern era.  Consideration of the Reformation background of modern thought, the challenge of scientific rationalism to religion, and the effort to conceive the moral and political foundations of society in wholly secular terms.  Required for the religion major.

2503 (3 hours)
God and Human Suffering 
Western attempts to make sense of moral and natural evil, using theological, literary, biblical, secular, and philosophical sources. Attention to why religious traditions in the West consider evil a problem demanding explanation and how these traditions characterize evil, describe its causes, and devise strategies for its elimination.

2583 (3 hours)
Confronting the Holocaust: Questions of Life and Faith
The impact of the Holocaust on religious people, particularly Jews and Christians, as they seek to bring the resources of their traditions to bear on the ethical and spiritual demands of the late 20th century.

3223 
Critical Issues in Jewish-Christian Relations
A seminar in which major issues affecting relations between Jews and Christians is critically explored.  Special attention given to the post-Holocaust character of Jewish-Christian dialogue.

3253 (3 hours)
Wisdom Literature
The background ideas, and literary problems of the wisdom literature of the Bible.

3263 (3 hours)
Religion and Morality From Kant to Nietzsche
Major figures and themes in Enlightenment moral philosophy, with attention to the Enlightenment's attempt to make secular sense of the moral world and to critics of this project, both theological and secular.

3273
The Wall of Separation: Church-State Relations
An introduction to issues of church and state in American law.  

3283 
Topics in Philosophy and Religion
A consideration of religious themes in philosophy and philosophical questions in religious thought and practice.  Required for the religion major

3313 (3 hours)
The Sociology of Religion
Classical and contemporary sociology of religion, with attention to individual religiosity and patterns of religious institutions and organizations. Topics include the social-psychological dimensions of religiosity, church, sect, and cult development, and religion's relationship to other social and cultural institutions and organizations. Same as Soc 4023.

3443 (3 hours)
Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion
Magic, witchcraft, and religion from a cross-cultural perspective, with emphasis on beliefs and practices of non-Western peoples. Topics include shamanism, sorcery, ritual and symbol, rites of passage, and cult movements. Attention to the diversity of beliefs and practices and their possible functions in human societies. Same as Anth 3443.
Prerequisites: Anth 1063, 2043, or permission of instructor.

3503 (3 hours)
Paul and Early Christian Experience
Life and times of the Apostle Paul and the first Christian recipients of his letters. Major ecclesiastical and theological themes from Romans, Galatians, I-II Thessalonians, I-II Corinthians, and Ephesians.

3523 (3 hours)
Mystical Literature
Christian mystical literature, with attention to literary forms of autobiography, scriptural commentary, and mystical poetry of authors such as Dionysius the Areopagite, Augustine of Hippo, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Julian of Norwich and Bernard of Clairvaux. Same as CpLt 3523.

3971-3 (1-3 hours)
Seminar: Special Topics in Religion
Various topics. Prerequisite: One previous course in religion or permission of instructor.

3993 (3 hours)
Independent Study

4023 (3 hours)
Philosophical Theology
The theological character of certain aspects of contemporary philosophy and the philosophical significance of certain modern theological proposals 

4033
Legal and Political Theory of Thomas Aquinas
A study of Thomas Aquinas's treatment of law and politics.  Topics include the nature of practical reason, authority, types of law, and kinds of political regimes.

4043 (3 hours)
Augustine
An introduction to the theology of Augustine of Hippo, with special attention to his moral and political writings.

4053 (3 hours)
Three Catholic Thinkers
A survey of Catholic thinkers-one from antiquity, one from the medieval period, and one from the modern or contemporary period-on a selected topic, e.g. faith, happiness, justice, ecclesiology.

4093
The Council of Nicea
An introduction to the history of the fourth-century debate among Christian bishops that produced the Nicene Creed, until now a core Christian statement of Trinitarian orthodoxy.

4163 (3 hours)
Philosophy of Natural Law and Natural Right
An introduction to the Western natural law tradition.  The course is grounded in a study of Thomas Aquinas on natural law, and proceeds to examine discussions by Hobbes, Locke, Kant, Fuller and Hart.

4203 (3 hours)
Resistance, Rebellion, and Death: The Ethics of Violence
Introduction to moral and political issues associated with the use of coercive force. Special attention to the just war tradition in both its secular and religious forms, to the varieties of pacifism. State power, punishment, and revolutionary violence also considered.

4213 (3 hours)
Aquinas on Virtue and Vice
Aspects of Thomas Aquinas's moral theology, especially his account of human action, understanding of voluntary agency, treatise on law, explication of individual virtues and vices, praise of friendship, and treatment of the theological virtues.

4333 (3 hours)
Jewish Philosophy and Revelation: Ancient and Medieval Approaches
An exploration of philosophical reflection on the Hebrew Scriptures in the ancient and medieval period, with emphasis on the rabbis of the Talmud and Maimonides.

4473 (3 hours)
The Sacred Feminine
An introduction to how various cultures have used the feminine mode and the pair, masculine-feminine, as ways to respond to ultimate reality.  Materials from Taoism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, prehistoric culture, and ancient Sumeria are considered in light of 1) the sacred body, 2) the sacred dance, and 3) sacred psychology.

4483 (3 hours)
Toleration and Moral Diversity
The moral ambiguities associated with tolerating what we deplore and coercing what we hate.  Secular and theological perspectives.

4503 (3 hours)
Contemporary Christian Thought
The historical roots and theological presuppositions of selected movements within contemporary Christian communities.

4543 (3 hours)
Philosophy of Religion
Analysis of various religious stances and positions to understand the philosophical assumptions involved. Same as Phil 4543.

4603
Kierkegaard
Close study of the major pseudonymous works of Kierkegaard, with special attention to “aesthetic,” “ethical,” and “religious” modes of life, the nature of paradox, love, anxiety, despair, faith, “the moment” and grace.

4863 (3 hours)
Special Topics
Prerequisite: Permission of the Instructor

4973 (3 hours)
Senior Project

4991-3 (1-3 hours)
Independent Readings
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. 

The following courses may be applied toward religion credit. See Languages for course details.

Greek
1008, Greek Grammar Workshop
2006, Greek Reading workshop