Courses

Spring 2026

Course Title	Section	GenEd	Meeting Time	Instructor	Prerequisite(s)
PHIL 1013 Introduction to Philosophy	001	IV-WC	TR 12:00-1:15	Spalding
This course will introduce students to a variety of fundamental philosophical questions through the close reading of primary sources, both historical and contemporary. The course is designed to help you learn and develop the skills needed to address, engage, and perhaps ultimately attempt to answer such questions. These skills include (a) careful reading of philosophical works, (b) critical evaluation of arguments, (c) the clear and effective written presentation of a philosophical view, and (d) the rigorous but charitable interpretation of presented arguments. To facilitate this, we will engage the assigned readings through close reading, lecture, discussion, and debate.
PHIL 1013 Introduction to Philosophy	002	IV-WC	MWF 10:00-10:50	Cheney
Basic problems of philosophy explored through a consideration of selected philosophers.
PHIL 1013 Introduction to Philosophy (Honors)	003	IV-WC	TR 1:30-2:45	Burkhart	Honors only
This course explores how philosophy addresses questions of authority, truth, and responsibility in the face of contemporary global crises. From climate change and war to the pressures of technological and political order, we will ask how philosophical texts help us think about crisis, respond ethically, and reflect on the tension between global order and individual freedom—including how philosophers have reflected on the idea of apocalypse or “the end of the world.” We will engage works that confront the angst of meaning, choice, and responsibility in times of uncertainty. Readings will include global philosophers old and new—Laozi, Kwasi Wiredu, Hannah Arendt, Black Elk, Nagarjuna, María Lugones, G.W.F. Hegel, Kristie Dotson, and Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, among others. Students will encounter both classic and challenging texts as well as contemporary public philosophy. The guiding theme is how philosophy equips us to think critically about collective emergencies and the personal struggle to live authentically when freedom and order are in constant tension.
PHIL 1013 Introduction to Philosophy	004	IV-WC	M 5:00-7:40	Spears
This course is a thematic introduction to philosophy that focuses on some of the most central issues in the field. The topics we will discuss include the existence of God, the mind-body problem, free will, the nature of persons and morality. By the end of the semester, students will not only be familiar with some of the central philosophical questions, but will have developed and sharpened their analytic and argumentative skills.
PHIL 1013 Introduction to Philosophy	995	IV-WC	Online (asynchronous)	Liu
This course aims to open the door to the world of philosophy for students. “The unexamined life is not worth living,” so said Socrates—one of the goals of philosophy is to reflect on our lives. We will focus on three things that matter for human life: morality, knowledge, and art. Students will become familiar with various philosophical theories and develop skills in reading, critical thinking, and writing.
PHIL 1013 Introduction to Philosophy	996	IV-WC	Online (asynchronous)	Williams
By studying and developing philosophical thinking we come to better understand ourselves and the world we inhabit. Philosophy deals with problem spaces by examining the most interesting and difficult questions relevant to our human existence: How should we live? How can we tell what is right and wrong? What can we know and how do we know? What is in the world? What is the world like? We will engage with some of the most influential thinkers and topics in philosophy related to these questions. This course aims to give you the foundations necessary for deep reflection and analytical reasoning.
PHIL 1103 Critical Reasoning	001	III-SS	MWF 11:00-11:50	Geiszler
An informal survey of evaluative principles of reasoning. The application of these principles is emphasized, and common errors and fallacies in everyday, ethical, legal, and scientific reasoning are discussed. This course is not a course in formal symbolic logic or mathematical logic.
PHIL 1113 Introduction to Logic	001	I-M	TR 1:30-2:45	N. Jones	DMAT 0123 or satisfactory score on math placement test
An introduction to modern logic and its applications. Emphasis is placed on deductive logic, but may also include some treatment of inductive logic. Various common fallacies and errors in reasoning will also be discussed.
PHIL 1213 Introduction to Ethics	001	IV-WC	TR 9:00-10:15	N. Jones
Basic issues in moral philosophy examined through a consideration of selected philosophers, including a sampling of normative theories as well as an introduction to issues of metaethics.
PHIL 1233 Contemporary Moral Issues	001	IV-WC	MWF 12:00-12:50	Sutton
Philosophical exploration of major contemporary moral issues such as euthanasia, abortion, death penalty, war and terrorism, poverty and world hunger, animal rights, pornography, marriage, affirmative action, drug legalization, and organ sales. Students will read contrasting views from prominent philosophers, and learn about how moral theories may be invoked in support of positions on those issues.
PHIL 1233 Contemporary Moral Issues	002	IV-WC	TR 4:30-5:15	Huynh
Philosophical exploration of major contemporary moral issues such as euthanasia, abortion, death penalty, war and terrorism, poverty and world hunger, animal rights, pornography, marriage, affirmative action, drug legalization, and organ sales. Students will read contrasting views from prominent philosophers, and learn about how moral theories may be invoked in support of positions on those issues.
PHIL 1243 Death and Loss	995	IV-WC	Online (asynchronous)	Olberding
This course addresses some of the most vexing challenges of human experience: death and loss. We will consider whether death should be considered bad, what we lose when people we love die, and what role mortality can play in a meaningful life. Students will learn significant classical and contemporary arguments, as well as learn to develop their own.
PHIL 1263 Introduction to Ethics in Health Care	001	IV-WC	MWF 12:00-12:50	Tucker
An overview of important issues in health care ethics, including dilemmas facing providers, patients, researchers, and society at large. The course will introduce facts and concepts drawn from health care practice, and a variety of philosophical approaches used to analyze ethical dilemmas.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	001	IV-WC	MWF 10:00-10:50	N. Jones
An overview of important issues in business ethics, including the morality of market systems, business-customer relations, employer-employee relations, and firm-shareholder relations. The course will introduce facts and concepts drawn from economic analysis and business practice, as well as a variety of philosophical approaches used to analyze ethical considerations.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	002	IV-WC	MWF 1:00-1:50	Huismann
Moral considerations pervade our lives, and business situations are no exception. In this course, we will be concerned with the ethical content of commerce, from the morality of market institutions to the normative considerations involved in business-customer, employer-employee, and firm-shareholder relations. We will consider all of these issues from the standpoints of moral psychology and moral theory, as well as by considering cases.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	003	IV-WC	MWF 9:00-9:50	N. Jones
An overview of important issues in business ethics, including the morality of market systems, business-customer relations, employer-employee relations, and firm-shareholder relations. The course will introduce facts and concepts drawn from economic analysis and business practice, as well as a variety of philosophical approaches used to analyze ethical considerations.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	004	IV-WC	MWF 12:00-12:50	Huismann
Moral considerations pervade our lives, and business situations are no exception. In this course, we will be concerned with the ethical content of commerce, from the morality of market institutions to the normative considerations involved in business-customer, employer-employee, and firm-shareholder relations. We will consider all of these issues from the standpoints of moral psychology and moral theory, as well as by considering cases.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	005	IV-WC	MWF 11:00-11:50	Fogel
An overview of important issues in business ethics, including the morality of market systems, business-customer relations, employer-employee relations, and firm-shareholder relations. The course will introduce facts and concepts drawn from economic analysis and business practice, as well as a variety of philosophical approaches used to analyze ethical considerations.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	006	IV-WC	MWF 1:00-1:50	Elliot
An overview of important issues in business ethics, including the morality of market systems, business-customer relations, employer-employee relations, and firm-shareholder relations. The course will introduce facts and concepts drawn from economic analysis and business practice, as well as a variety of philosophical approaches used to analyze ethical considerations.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	007	IV-WC	MWF 2:00-2:50	Van Duijn
An overview of important issues in business ethics, including the morality of market systems, business-customer relations, employer-employee relations, and firm-shareholder relations. The course will introduce facts and concepts drawn from economic analysis and business practice, as well as a variety of philosophical approaches used to analyze ethical considerations.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	008	IV-WC	MWF 3:00-3:50	Tucker
An overview of important issues in business ethics, including the morality of market systems, business-customer relations, employer-employee relations, and firm-shareholder relations. The course will introduce facts and concepts drawn from economic analysis and business practice, as well as a variety of philosophical approaches used to analyze ethical considerations.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	009	IV-WC	MWF 4:00-4:50	Tucker
An overview of important issues in business ethics, including the morality of market systems, business-customer relations, employer-employee relations, and firm-shareholder relations. The course will introduce facts and concepts drawn from economic analysis and business practice, as well as a variety of philosophical approaches used to analyze ethical considerations.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	010	IV-WC	MW 3:00-3:50	Ellis
Moral considerations pervade our lives, and business situations are no exception. In this course, we will be concerned with the ethical content of commerce, from the morality of market institutions to the normative considerations involved in firm-shareholder, employer-employee, and firm-society relations. We will consider all of these issues from the standpoints of moral psychology and moral theory, as well as by considering cases.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	028	IV-WC	W 5:00-7:40	McCumber
An overview of important issues in business ethics, including the morality of market systems, business-customer relations, employer-employee relations, and firm-shareholder relations. The course will introduce facts and concepts drawn from economic analysis and business practice, as well as a variety of philosophical approaches used to analyze ethical considerations.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	029	IV-WC	TR 10:30-11:45	McCumber
An overview of important issues in business ethics, including the morality of market systems, business-customer relations, employer-employee relations, and firm-shareholder relations. The course will introduce facts and concepts drawn from economic analysis and business practice, as well as a variety of philosophical approaches used to analyze ethical considerations.
PHIL 3233 The Meaning of Life	001	IV-WC	MWF 2:00-2:50	Nagasawa	Junior standing
This course explores one of philosophy’s most enduring and personal questions: What makes life meaningful? We will examine classical and contemporary perspectives on meaning, purpose, and value, drawing from both Western and non-Western traditions. Topics include the role of happiness, morality, religion, mortality, and creativity in shaping a meaningful life, as well as challenges posed by nihilism, absurdity, and suffering. Through close reading, discussion, and critical reflection, students will engage with the ideas of thinkers such as Schopenhauer, Williams, Nagel, and recent psychological research, while also developing their own reasoned views on what gives life significance.
PHIL 3273 Ethics and Business	001	IV-WC	MW 5:00-6:20	Sankowski	Six hours of philosophy or junior standing
A study of how ethics illuminates business activities. Topics include: the philosophical bases of capitalism; the legitimacy of the profit motive; virtue and the marketplace; corporate responsibility; government regulation; the marketplace and the environment; the ethics of advertising; employee privacy; and the challenges posed by the developing information age.
PHIL 3293 Environmental Ethics	001	IV-WC	TR 10:30-11:45	Burkhart	Junior standing or permission of the instructor
This course addresses philosophical questions about the human moral relationship to the environment. Does the environment have moral standing in relationship to human moral reasonabilities and obligations? Do particular trees, animals, species, ecosystems have such moral standing? Why? Or Why not? What existing moral theory if any captures the human moral relationship to the environment or do the human relationship to the environment require a pluralist or pragmatic moral approach? Does an anthropocentric perspective on morality where value is centered in human value alone capture the human moral relationship to the environment or does the human moral relationship to the environment or the sense of an impending environmental crisis require a shift to Nonanthropocentric morality, where at least some elements of the environment have value apart from humans or human values? What is the importance of nature, naturalness, wildness, or wilderness, if any? What are the particular moral implications, if any, of climate change at an individual moral or collective political level? Are there conflicts that are unresolvable between environmental ethics and animal ethics, between the moral responsibility regarding human hunger and protecting the environment, and so on? Are there moral or political responsibilities regarding food security and are these responsibilities different and commensurable with any such responsibilities regarding food sovereignty? What are the implications and possible limitations of the concept of the Anthropocene? What are the human moral and political responsibilities regarding environmental justice, if any? Are these possible responsibilities commensurable with possible moral and political responsibilities regarding the environment?
PHIL 3333 History of Modern Philosophy	001	IV-WC	MWF 1:00-1:50	Branscum	Six hours of philosophy
This course is an introduction to early modern philosophy. It is intended to provide you with the background necessary to navigate most references to early modern philosophy in adjacent subfields; it can also serve as a starting point for future study in philosophy’s history. With these goals in mind, we will focus on central philosophical problems as they evolved and were debated between the late medieval period and 1800, primarily in Europe. In the early modern context, relatively new scientific methods collided with changes in religious and social structures. Reformations proliferated, and the increasing accessibility of printed texts made it easier than ever for average people to engage in the economy of ideas – that is, if they could read. We will study some of the major philosophical problems that emerged from this milieu, as well as some important historical figures who engaged with those problems. Our main questions include: What kinds of things are we, how do we know, and who has the authority to pursue philosophical inquiry? We will therefore connect classic issues in metaphysics and epistemology to matters of social concern. This course does not presuppose acquaintance with the history of philosophy.
PHIL 3433 Modern Philosophy of Religion	001	IV-WC	TR 9:00-10:15	Judisch	Six hours of philosophy of junior standing
Covers the history of modern religious philosophy in the West from the 17th to the mid-20th centuries. Major figures studied include Descartes, Pascal, Leibniz, Locke, Hume, Kant, Kierkkegaard, Nietzsche, Clifford, James, Freud, and Wittgenstein.
PHIL 3503 Self and Identity	001	IV-WC	TR 1:30-3:45	Montminy	PHIL 1013 or permission of instructor
We will explore the concept of the self and various issues that arise in connection with it. Our main question will be what kind of thing we are, at the most basic level. For example, are we persons, souls, minds, or human beings? This question will generate several other ones: What does it take to be a person, or to have a mind?; What is consciousness?; How do persons retain their identity through time and change?; Do we have free will, and are we truly responsible for our actions?; How we know about ourselves and others?
PHIL 3643 AI and Ethics in the Digital Age	001	IV-WC	MWF 10:00-10:50	Beasley	Junior standing or instructor permission
Students will engage with the intersection of artificial intelligence and ethical values like privacy, autonomy, accountability, fairness, and flourishing. They will examine machine learning, large language models, modern means of surveillance, cryptocurrency, and other technologies. They will look at the intersection of AI and politics, policing, romantic relationships, international relations, work, and making end of life decisions.
PHIL 3653 Ethics and Modern Warfare	001	IV-WC	MWF 9:00-9:50	Green	Junior standing or departmental permission
This course concerns the impact of modern technology, especially developments in AI, for the ethics of war. It covers traditional topics such as just war theory but also gives one a representative survey of issues posed by, for instance, drone warfare, autonomous weapons systems, genetically targeted bioweapons, digital disinformation campaigns, digital surveillance, and more.
PHIL 3713 History of Social and Political Philosophy	001	IV-WC	TR 12:00-1:15	Tucker
A survey of the views of major philosophers from Plato to the nineteenth century on the nature of man's relation to society and to the state in the context of their wider philosophical (logical, epistemological, metaphysical and ethical) doctrines. Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hegel and Marx are the chief figures covered, though others will be considered as time permits.
PHIL 3811 Philosophy Writing Workshop	001		MW 3:00-3:50	Mitchell	Co-requisite with 3813, 3833, 3853
Intensive instruction on how to write papers in philosophy. Students will use the workshop to help them write the term paper for a designated target class, in which they must be concurrently enrolled.
PHIL 3833 History of Modern Philosophy for Majors	001		MWF 1:00-1:50	Branscum	Majors only; six hours of philosophy
This course is an introduction to early modern philosophy. It is intended to provide you with the background necessary to navigate most references to early modern philosophy in adjacent subfields; it can also serve as a starting point for future study in philosophy’s history. With these goals in mind, we will focus on central philosophical problems as they evolved and were debated between the late medieval period and 1800, primarily in Europe. In the early modern context, relatively new scientific methods collided with changes in religious and social structures. Reformations proliferated, and the increasing accessibility of printed texts made it easier than ever for average people to engage in the economy of ideas – that is, if they could read. We will study some of the major philosophical problems that emerged from this milieu, as well as some important historical figures who engaged with those problems. Our main questions include: What kinds of things are we, how do we know, and who has the authority to pursue philosophical inquiry? We will therefore connect classic issues in metaphysics and epistemology to matters of social concern. This course does not presuppose acquaintance with the history of philosophy.
PHIL 3900 Ethics and Energy Systems	001		MWF 11:00-11:50	Trachtenberg
Global energy justice—what would this take to achieve? A moral case for fossil fuels—how does this go, and does it hold up? In this course we will use the tools of ethical analysis to evaluate arguments made by leading scholars of energy, so that you gain the skill of thinking about energy from an ethical point of view. The essential place energy has in our lives raises deep ethical concerns: human flourishing depends on energy, but energy production, distribution, and consumption involve both benefits and harms that ought to be distributed fairly. This course will help improve your ability to analyze and evaluate ethical arguments about energy; taking it should improve your ability to clarify and express your own point of view on ethical dilemmas regarding energy use—as a consumer making personal choices, and as a citizen with a voice on energy policy. This course is an elective in the undergraduate certificate program in Sustainable Energy Systems.
PHIL 4533 Philosophy of Language	001		W 4:00-6:40	Montminy	Eight hours of philosophy or instructor permission
This course will explore central issues in the philosophy of language. Our main focus will be on meaning and reference: What is meaning? What makes it the case that our words mean what they do? How is meaning related to reference? We will also examine issues in pragmatics such as speech acts, context sensitivity and metaphor. Throughout the semester we will attend to connections between the philosophy of language and other areas of philosophy such as ethics, metaphysics and the philosophy of mind.
PHIL 4713 Survey of Social and Political Philosophy	001		R 3:00-5:40	Sankowski	Eight hours of philosophy or instructor permission
Survey of important theories in social and political philosophy. Beginning with ancient theories (Plato and Aristotle), to modern social contract theories and the foundations of liberalism (Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Mill), and concludes with the debate between liberals and communitarians (Rawls and his critics). No student may earn credit for both 4713 and 5713.
PHIL 4893 Senior Capstone in Philosophy	001		TR 10:30-11:45	Judisch	Graduating majors
Covering the major areas of philosophy taught in the undergraduate major, coordinated with the departmental objectives for undergraduate majors and for the purpose of assessing the level of learning among graduating seniors.
PHIL 5313 Plato	001		TR 1:30-2:45	Huismann	PHIL 3313 History of Ancient Philosophy
This class will address Plato’s seminal contributions to metaphysics, epistemology, language, causation, and ethics.
PHIL 5533 Philosophy of Language	001		W 4:00-6:40	Montminy	Graduate standing
This course will explore central issues in the philosophy of language. Our main focus will be on meaning and reference: What is meaning? What makes it the case that our words mean what they do? How is meaning related to reference? We will also examine issues in pragmatics such as speech acts, context sensitivity and metaphor. Throughout the semester we will attend to connections between the philosophy of language and other areas of philosophy such as ethics, metaphysics and the philosophy of mind.
PHIL 5713 Survey of Social and Political Philosophy	001		R 3:00-5:40	Sankowski	Eight hours of philosophy or instructor permission
Survey of important theories in social and political philosophy. Beginning with ancient theories (Plato and Aristotle), to modern social contract theories and the foundations of liberalism (Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Mill), and concludes with the debate between liberals and communitarians (Rawls and his critics). No student may earn credit for both 4713 and 5713.
PHIL 5813 Philosophy Proseminar	001		T 3:00-5:50	Riggs	Graduate standing
The Philosophy Proseminar is designed to: (i) help philosophy graduate students develop the skills needed to succeed at their academic work in the graduate program; (ii) prepare them to make good progress through their respective programs, either the MA or the PhD; and (iii) prepare them for success after graduation.
PHIL 6393 Mind-Matter Monism in Milton’s Cambridge Context	001		M 4:00-6:40	Branscum
Note: Given the interdisciplinary quality of the texts we’ll be reading, I invite and encourage any interested graduate students (not just those with a background in the history of philosophy) to participate! Scholars of history and English literature have identified a robust philosophical influence on the writings of poet and polemicist John Milton (1608-1674), but he has received vanishingly little attention from historians of philosophy. In this advanced graduate-level seminar, we will consider the value of reading Milton as a philosopher while applying historical-philosophical methodologies to improve our grasp upon his intellectual context. Like his close contemporaries Anne Conway (1631-1679), Margaret Cavendish (1623-1673), and Francis Glisson (1597-1677), Milton appears to advance a form of non-reductive, panpsychist monism according to which the one kind of substance in nature is both spatially extended and endowed with mental capacities. We’ll take a closer look at representative texts from each of these authors – e.g., Conway’s Principles, Milton’s Paradise Lost, Glisson’s Tractatus de Natura substantiae energetica, and Cavendish’s Grounds of Natural Philosophy – to evaluate claims about the thinkers’ systematic similarities and investigate lesser-studied aspects of the Cambridge University context that binds them together historically. Participants can also expect to read secondary literature on all four authors, including selections from Stephen Fallon’s Milton Among the Philosophers: Poetry and Materialism in Seventeenth-Century England, John Rogers’s The Matter of Revolution: Science, Poetry, and Politics in the Age of Milton, and Ann Thomson’s Bodies of Thought: Science, Religion, and the Soul in the Early Enlightenment.

Previous Semesters

Fall 2025

Course Title	Section	GenEd	Meeting Time	Instructor	Prerequisite(s)
PHIL 1013 Introduction to Philosophy	001	IV-WC	TR 1:30-2:45	Montminy
This course is a thematic introduction to philosophy that focuses on some of the most central issues in the field. The topics we will discuss include the existence of God, the mind-body problem, free will, the nature of persons and morality. By the end of the semester, students will not only be familiar with some of the central philosophical questions, but will have developed and sharpened their analytic and argumentative skills.
PHIL 1013 Introduction to Philosophy	002	IV-WC	MWF 1:00-1:50	Spalding
This course will introduce students to a variety of fundamental philosophical questions through the close reading of primary sources, both historical and contemporary. The course is designed to help you learn and develop the skills needed to address, engage, and perhaps ultimately attempt to answer such questions. These skills include (a) careful reading of philosophical works, (b) critical evaluation of arguments, (c) the clear and effective written presentation of a philosophical view, and (d) the rigorous but charitable interpretation of presented arguments. To facilitate this, we will engage the assigned readings through close reading, lecture, discussion, and debate.
PHIL 1013 Introduction to Philosophy (Honors)	003	IV-WC	TR 12:00-1:15	Trachtenberg	Honors only
In this course you will engage deeply with a challenging and profoundly influential book: Plato’s Republic, one of the founding texts of western Philosophy. You will aim at making sense of the complex arguments and vivid images you encounter as you read through the Republic. And you will also aim at developing your own comprehensive interpretation of it—a sense of what the Republic is about. Over the semester you will give sustained attention to a substantial, carefully articulated intellectual work, allowing you to comprehend the point of view it expresses; you will consider how well Plato’s ideas help you to make sense of your society, and of yourself; and, by encountering the key topics the Republic explores (metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and political theory), you will gain an introduction to the main themes explored in western Philosophy.
PHIL 1013 Introduction to Philosophy	004	IV-WC	MWF 10:00-10:50	Rivas Tinoco
This course invites you to explore some of the big questions in philosophy by diving into important texts, both classic and modern. Along the way, you'll build key skills to help you think deeply and critically about these ideas. These include (a) carefully reading and understanding philosophical writings, (b) evaluating arguments thoughtfully, (c) clearly expressing your own philosophical views in writing, and (d) interpreting different perspectives with both rigor and openness. We'll develop these skills through close reading, lectures, discussions, and debates, creating an engaging and thought-provoking learning experience.
PHIL 1013 Introduction to Philosophy	005	IV-WC	M 5:00-7:40	Spears
This course is a thematic introduction to philosophy that focuses on some of the most central issues in the field. The topics we will discuss include the existence of God, the mind-body problem, free will, the nature of persons and morality. By the end of the semester, students will not only be familiar with some of the central philosophical questions, but will have developed and sharpened their analytic and argumentative skills.
PHIL 1013 Introduction to Philosophy	006	IV-WC	TR 10:30-11:45	Geiszler
Basic problems of philosophy explored through a consideration of selected philosophers.
PHIL 1013 Introduction to Philosophy	995	IV-WC	Online (Asynchronous)	Liu
This course aims to open the door to the world of philosophy for students. “The unexamined life is not worth living,” so said Socrates—one of the goals of philosophy is to reflect on our lives. We will focus on three things that matter for human life: morality, knowledge, and art. Students will become familiar with various philosophical theories and develop skills in reading, critical thinking, and writing.
PHIL 1013 Introduction to Philosophy	996	IV-WC	Online (Asynchronous)	Williams
By studying and developing philosophical thinking we come to better understand ourselves and the world we inhabit. Philosophy deals with problem spaces by examining the most interesting and difficult questions relevant to our human existence: How should we live? How can we tell what is right and wrong? What can we know and how do we know? What is in the world? What is the world like? We will engage with some of the most influential thinkers and topics in philosophy related to these questions. This course aims to give you the foundations necessary for deep reflection and analytical reasoning.
PHIL 1103 Critical Reasoning	001	III-SS	M 5:00-7:40	N. Jones
An informal survey of evaluative principles of reasoning. The application of these principles is emphasized, and common errors and fallacies in everyday, ethical, legal, and scientific reasoning are discussed. This course is not a course in formal symbolic logic or mathematical logic.
PHIL 1113 Introduction to Logic	001	I-M	TR 1:30-2:45	Green	DMAT 0123 or satisfactory score on math placement test
Logic is about disciplining the mind to see and to care about the truth. This is a practice based class. We will introduce tools for reasoning and use them repeatedly in easier and then more complicated ways. You will learn how to build an argument and evaluate the arguments of others. Learning logic will help you think through your beliefs and form new ones. It will help you become a more discerning student, consumer, friend, and citizen.
PHIL 1233 Contemporary Moral Issues	001	IV-WC	MWF 12:00-12:50	Huynh
In our lives, we face a multitude of pressing moral and political questions that demand thoughtful and demanding reflection. As social and moral beings, we all inquire about what moral values are important to us and the moral and social obligations that we owe to others. Through philosophical engagement, we will explore many contemporary moral issues and their corresponding debates and arguments. For this purpose, we will explore some influential ethical theories which will provide us with the tools and skills on how we can systematically analyze such moral topics in a rigorous manner. By the end of the semester, we should all be able to listen and respond to others about pressing and difficult moral questions in a respectful, compassionate, and properly critical manner. What is most important about our philosophical journey together is not the conclusions that we may or may not reach to the moral questions presented in the course, but in how we reach our conclusions through thoughtful discussion and sound arguments.
PHIL 1263 Introduction to Ethics in Health Care	001	IV-WC	W 5:00-7:40	Tucker
An overview of important issues in health care ethics, including dilemmas facing providers, patients, researchers, and society at large. The course will introduce facts and concepts drawn from health care practice, and a variety of philosophical approaches used to analyze ethical dilemmas.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	001	IV-WC	MWF 2:00-2:50	Mitchell
An overview of applying philosophical theory to analyze contemporary issues within business ethics, such as business-customer relations, employer-employee relations, and the morality of resource distribution theories. The course will use a variety of philosophical approaches to analyze ethical considerations present in current economic analyses and business practices. The goal of this course is to give students the philosophical knowledge and skills which can be effectively applied to a wide range of business-related ethical issues.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	002	IV-WC	MWF 11:00-11:50	Huismann
Moral considerations pervade our lives, and business situations are no exception. In this course, we will be concerned with the ethical content of commerce, from the morality of market institutions to the normative considerations involved in business-customer, employer-employee, and firm-shareholder relations. We will consider all of these issues from the standpoints of moral psychology and moral theory, as well as by considering cases.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	003	IV-WC	MWF 10:00-10:50	Huismann
Moral considerations pervade our lives, and business situations are no exception. In this course, we will be concerned with the ethical content of commerce, from the morality of market institutions to the normative considerations involved in business-customer, employer-employee, and firm-shareholder relations. We will consider all of these issues from the standpoints of moral psychology and moral theory, as well as by considering cases.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	004	IV-WC	MWF 10:00-10:50	Sutton
This class will survey the basic issues and concepts of business ethics, an applied ethics discipline which looks at the moral issues related to the field of business. This will include an overview of foundational moral values, the psychology of ethical decision-making, the ethics of various economic systems, and the ethics of employee and employer relationships.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	005	IV-WC	TR 1:30-2:45	Fogel
An overview of important issues in business ethics, including the morality of market systems, business-customer relations, employer-employee relations, and firm-shareholder relations. The course will introduce facts and concepts drawn from economic analysis and business practice, as well as a variety of philosophical approaches used to analyze ethical considerations.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	006	IV-WC	TR 10:30-11:45	Fogel
An overview of important issues in business ethics, including the morality of market systems, business-customer relations, employer-employee relations, and firm-shareholder relations. The course will introduce facts and concepts drawn from economic analysis and business practice, as well as a variety of philosophical approaches used to analyze ethical considerations.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	007	IV-WC	TR 12:00-1:15	Beasley
An overview of important issues in business ethics, including the morality of market systems, business-customer relations, employer-employee relations, and firm-shareholder relations. The course will introduce facts and concepts drawn from economic analysis and business practice, as well as a variety of philosophical approaches used to analyze ethical considerations.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	008	IV-WC	TR 4:30-5:45	Elliot
An overview of important issues in business ethics, including the morality of market systems, business-customer relations, employer-employee relations, and firm-shareholder relations. The course will introduce facts and concepts drawn from economic analysis and business practice, as well as a variety of philosophical approaches used to analyze ethical considerations.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	009	IV-WC	MWF 9:00-9:50	N. Jones
An overview of important issues in business ethics, including the morality of market systems, business-customer relations, employer-employee relations, and firm-shareholder relations. The course will introduce facts and concepts drawn from economic analysis and business practice, as well as a variety of philosophical approaches used to analyze ethical considerations.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	010	IV-WC	MWF 11:00-11:50	N. Jones
An overview of important issues in business ethics, including the morality of market systems, business-customer relations, employer-employee relations, and firm-shareholder relations. The course will introduce facts and concepts drawn from economic analysis and business practice, as well as a variety of philosophical approaches used to analyze ethical considerations.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	011	IV-WC	MWF 12:00-12:50	N. Jones
An overview of important issues in business ethics, including the morality of market systems, business-customer relations, employer-employee relations, and firm-shareholder relations. The course will introduce facts and concepts drawn from economic analysis and business practice, as well as a variety of philosophical approaches used to analyze ethical considerations.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	012	IV-WC	MWF 1:00-1:50	Tucker
An overview of important issues in business ethics, including the morality of market systems, business-customer relations, employer-employee relations, and firm-shareholder relations. The course will introduce facts and concepts drawn from economic analysis and business practice, as well as a variety of philosophical approaches used to analyze ethical considerations.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	013	IV-WC	MWF 2:00-2:50	Tucker
An overview of important issues in business ethics, including the morality of market systems, business-customer relations, employer-employee relations, and firm-shareholder relations. The course will introduce facts and concepts drawn from economic analysis and business practice, as well as a variety of philosophical approaches used to analyze ethical considerations.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	014	IV-WC	MWF 3:00-3:50	Tucker
An overview of important issues in business ethics, including the morality of market systems, business-customer relations, employer-employee relations, and firm-shareholder relations. The course will introduce facts and concepts drawn from economic analysis and business practice, as well as a variety of philosophical approaches used to analyze ethical considerations.
PHIL 1273 Introduction to Business Ethics	030	IV-WC	MW 3:00-3:50	Ellis
Moral considerations pervade our lives, and business situations are no exception. In this course, we will be concerned with the ethical content of commerce, from the morality of market institutions to the normative considerations involved in firm-shareholder, employer-employee, and firm-society relations. We will consider all of these issues from the standpoints of moral psychology and moral theory, as well as by considering cases.
PHIL 2900 Ethics Bowl	001		MW 9:00-9:50	R. Jones
In this dynamic and engaging course, you'll explore the moral complexities of real-world issues—everything from technology and bioethics to politics and environmental justice. You'll not only build essential analytical skills but also engage in spirited debates with peers, all while preparing for state and regional competitions. Learn the skills necessary for law school, medical school, graduate school, and the professional world!
PHIL 3273 Ethics and Business	002	IV-WC	MWF 2:00-2:50	Ellis	Six hours of philosophy or junior standing
This course looks at more than how businesses can “play nice.” We will start with the economic & ethical presuppositions of business behavior in a capitalist system. After examining issues involving the justification of markets systems (e.g., the moral importance of economic efficiency, liberty interests in commerce) we will draw some lessons about the general rights & responsibilities of businesses. Time permitting, we will then consider some specific topics in light of those lessons: government intervention in markets, labor relations, environmental concerns, etc.
PHIL 3293 Environmental Ethics	001	IV-WC	MWF 11:00-11:50	Burkhart	Six hours of philosophy or junior standing
This course addresses philosophical questions about the human moral relationship to the environment. Does the environment have moral standing in relationship to human moral reasonabilities and obligations? Do particular trees, animals, species, ecosystems have such moral standing? Why? Or Why not? What existing moral theory if any captures the human moral relationship to the environment or do the human relationship to the environment require a pluralist or pragmatic moral approach? Does an anthropocentric perspective on morality where value is centered in human value alone capture the human moral relationship to the environment or does the human moral relationship to the environment or the sense of an impending environmental crisis require a shift to Nonanthropocentric morality, where at least some elements of the environment have value apart from humans or human values? What is the importance of nature, naturalness, wildness, or wilderness, if any? What are the particular moral implications, if any, of climate change at an individual moral or collective political level? Are there conflicts that are unresolvable between environmental ethics and animal ethics, between the moral responsibility regarding human hunger and protecting the environment, and so on? Are there moral or political responsibilities regarding food security and are these responsibilities different and commensurable with any such responsibilities regarding food sovereignty? What are the implications and possible limitations of the concept of the Anthropocene? What are the human moral and political responsibilities regarding environmental justice, if any? Are these possible responsibilities commensurable with possible moral and political responsibilities regarding the environment?
PHIL 3313 History of Ancient Philosophy	001	IV-WC	MWF 1:00-1:50	Cheney	Six hours of philosophy
This course will introduce you to a wide range of philosophical thought from Ancient Greece and Rome, including particular attention to Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, as well as Epicurus, the Stoics, and the Sceptics. One particular point of focus will be on how systematic these thinkers were. While they recognized difference between, say, logic, ethics, epistemology, and psychology, they were concerned to offer integrated and coherent philosophical accounts which depended on seeing the deep connections between these areas of philosophy.
PHIL 3343 Chinese Philosophy	001	IV-WDC	TR 12:00-1:15	Olberding	Six hours of philosophy
This online course surveys Chinese philosophy, with special attention to its earliest philosophers whose influence is felt throughout China’s philosophical history. We will study classical Confucianism, Daoism, Mohism, and Legalism. In addition to the classical works, we will also examine how contemporary philosophers seek to apply insights from these materials to current challenges and issues. Evaluation will include quizzes, discussion boards, essays, and discussion participation.
PHIL 3423 Ancient and Medieval Religious Philosophy	001	IV-WC	TR 12:00-1:15	Judisch	Six hours of philosophy of junior standing
This course covers the religious thought of ancient and medieval philosophers. We shall focus principally on central figures such as Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Epictetus, the Buddha, Augustine, Boethius, Anselm, Algazali, Averroes, Maimonides and Thomas Aquinas. Topics to be discussed include creation, time, God’s relation to the created order, the divine nature, religious language, evil, human freedom and immortality, religious knowledge and the relation between faith and reason. We will proceed (loosely) chronologically, though we will be sensitive to thematic developments in religious thought wherever sensitivity to such development is philosophically illuminating.
PHIL 3443 Contemporary Issues in Philosophy of Religion	001	IV-WC	TR 9:00-10:15	Judisch	Six hours of philosophy or junior standing
What’s the difference between a cult and a religion? Are there any salient differences in the psychology and mindset of ‘normal’ religious believers and cult members? What distinguishes theories invoking conspiracies – for instance, that Brutus masterminded the plot to assassinate Caesar – from conspiracy theories – e.g., that Lee Harvey Oswald was merely a patsy for the CIA? And what makes conspiracy theorists different from religious people who believe in supernatural, unseen forces that orchestrate our lives and all of world history? This course explores the relations between cults, conspiracy theories, and creeds, by which I mean socially reinforced, transcendent ideologies governing belief and behavior. We begin with early 20th century debates concerning the rationality of (mainstream) religious belief, and cover some central themes and theories related to religious epistemology and psychology. We then consider how these theories shape philosophical responses to the problems of evil and divine hiddenness/silence. Finally, aided by this framework, we will attempt to plot the differences (and similarities) between religions, cults, and conspiracies.
PHIL 3503 Self and Identity	001	IV-WC	MWF 12:00-12:50	Nagasawa	PHIL 1013 or permission of instructor
Imagine falling into a deep sleep, only to wake up with a completely different mind or body - would you still be you? In this course, we explore one of philosophy's most intriguing puzzles: the nature of the self and what makes us who we are. Through engaging discussions and thought experiments, we will examine enduring questions about personal identity, human nature, and free will. Here are some of the questions we will explore: How do you know that you today are the same person as you 20 years ago? How much can someone change physically or mentally before they become a different person? Can we digitally copy ourselves? What if you reincarnated - would that still be you? How does the concept of “no-self” from Eastern traditions challenge Western notions of identity? Can there be free will or moral responsibility if our choices are determined?
PHIL 3643 AI and Ethics in the Digital Age	001	IV-WC	TR 10:30-11:45	Green	Junior standing or instructor permission
We have always been a tool-using species. With the advent of artificial intelligence and the digital age generally, new ethical issues arise and evolve as quickly as our technology does. In this course, students will engage with ethical values like privacy, autonomy, accountability, fairness, and flourishing. They will examine machine learning, large language models, modern means of surveillance, cryptocurrency, and other technologies. Finally, we will look at the intersection of our ethical values and modern technologies in particular areas of life such as politics, policing, romantic relationships, international relations, work, and making end of life decisions.
PHIL 3743 Feminist Philosophy	001	IV-WC	MWF 2:00-2:50	Irvin	Six hours of philosophy or junior standing
In this course, we’ll learn about key moments in the development of feminist philosophy and explore contemporary feminist approaches to questions about beauty, embodiment, justice, language, knowledge, and gender. We’ll examine the concepts of intersectionality, patriarchy, objectification, and epistemic injustice and learn about feminist contributions to philosophical method. Students will develop the analytical tools to reflect on gendered social structures, including their own participation in those structures, and to articulate cogent philosophical perspectives on feminist issues.
PHIL 3753 Philosophy of Race	001	IV-WC	MWF 9:00-9:50	Burkhart	Six hours of philosophy or junior standing
This course addresses philosophical questions about race. Where does the concept of race come from? Can we trace it’s cultural, scientific, and philosophical genealogy? How does the genealogy of the concept of race intersect with the histories of colonialism and slavery? Do races exist? Is race a biological fact, a social construction, or something else? Should we eliminate the concept of race, or is it necessary for achieving social justice (given a history of massive racial injustice) and/or worth keeping because it can be used to celebrate the culture and achievements of groups of people with a distinct cultural history? What exactly is racism? Is it some individual phenomena or does it exist in a society as a whole in some way, perhaps as a structure? Is racism a form of individual immorality, irrationality or rather social or political ideologies and structures that do not necessary depend on individual beliefs and attitudes? What is implicit bias and stereotype threat? How do concepts of race impact epistemic capacity, result in epistemic injustice and violence? What is racial identity, and why does it matter? How does the significance of racial identity differ for members of different races? How does racial identity interact with gender, ethnicity and nationality? How do concepts of race and values of racial justice and equality interact with or impact political philosophy concepts such as social contract and political recognition? What is it like to exist as a person who is seen primarily through the lens of race? What are the phenomenological and existential frameworks and characteristic of being a particular race and being seen and even living as a particular race? What are the phenomenological and existential frameworks and characteristic of racism?
PHIL 3763 Law and Society	001	IV-WC	TR 12:00-1:15	Heiser	Six hours of philosophy or junior standing
This course is an introduction to the history and structure of the main concepts and controversies in modern law. For the most part, "law" in this course will be illustrated by U.S. law, particularly recent Supreme Court cases, and "philosophy" will mean the western philosophical tradition. No familiarity with law, political science, or political philosophy is required or expected, but some familiarity with philosophy will be helpful. We will be utilizing philosophical concepts that should be familiar to students who have prior introductory coursework: personhood, moral agency, idealism, materialism, etc. By the end of the course, students will be familiar with some of the material and most of the conceptual landscape covered in a law school course in jurisprudence, but will also have gained a broader perspective in how legal controversies mirror those in religion, literature, and social thought.
PHIL 3811 Philosophy Writing Workshop	001		MW 3:00-3:50	van Duijn	Co-requisite with 3813, 3833, 3853
Intensive instruction on how to write papers in philosophy. Students will use the workshop to help them write the term paper for a designated target class, in which they must be concurrently enrolled.
PHIL 3813 History of Ancient Philosophy for Majors	001		MWF 1:00-1:50	Cheney	Majors only; six hours of philosophy
This course will introduce you to a wide range of philosophical thought from Ancient Greece and Rome, including particular attention to Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, as well as Epicurus, the Stoics, and the Sceptics. One particular point of focus will be on how systematic these thinkers were. While they recognized difference between, say, logic, ethics, epistemology, and psychology, they were concerned to offer integrated and coherent philosophical accounts which depended on seeing the deep connections between these areas of philosophy.
PHIL 3843 Chinese Philosophy for Majors	001		TR 12:00-1:15	Olberding	Majors only; six hours of philosophy
This online course surveys Chinese philosophy, with special attention to its earliest philosophers whose influence is felt throughout China’s philosophical history. We will study classical Confucianism, Daoism, Mohism, and Legalism. In addition to the classical works, we will also examine how contemporary philosophers seek to apply insights from these materials to current challenges and issues. Evaluation will include quizzes, discussion boards, essays, and discussion participation.
PHIL 3900 Why Is There Something Rather Than Nothing?	001		MWF 10:00-10:50	Nagasawa
Have you ever gazed up at the Oklahoma night sky, free of city lights, and marveled at the endless expanse of stars? This sense of awe is where philosophy begins. Beneath that wonder lies a profound philosophical question: Why is there anything at all? In this course, we explore what many consider the most fundamental question humanity can ask. We will discuss theories and ideas from metaphysics, ethics, philosophy of science, and philosophy of religion, fostering thought-provoking debates and deep contemplation. Here are some of the questions we will explore: Can God or science explain why anything exists? Can we meaningfully ask what existed before the Big Bang? Is absolute nothingness even possible? Why does this particular world exist rather than some other possible world? Is the question of nothingness beyond the limits of human comprehension? Is there an ethical or axiological foundation for existence?
PHIL 4133 Symbolic Logic I	001		MWF 12:00-12:50	Huismann	Six hours of philosophy
This course is a study of logical form. Topics covered include the various forms of sentences and arguments, as expressed using the tools of sentential and first-order predicate logic; methods for assessing the validity of arguments expressed in sentential and first-order predicate logic and ways of incorporating probabilistic features into sentential and first-order predicate logic.
PHIL 5333 Rationalism	001		TR 3:00-4:15	Branscum
In this graduate-level course, we will not be conducting a systematic overview of philosophers who have traditionally been described as continental or modern rationalists. This doesn’t mean we won’t read Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz: on the contrary, we will spend almost the first half of the semester on these figures, both to gain a solid grasp on these important philosophers and to aid us in establishing what rationalism means as a historiographical category. Once this preparatory work is complete, we will turn to a lesser-studied philosophical tradition – the ‘mystical’ or ‘contemplative’ mode – in order to examine the possible impact of mysticism on early modern philosophy, and in particular the relationship between rationalism and mysticism. Authors for the latter portion of the class will include figures like Anne Conway (1631-1679), Henry More (1614-1687), Mary Astell (1666-1731), and Damaris Masham (1659-1708), as well as earlier exemplars of mystical philosophy.
PHIL 5823 Philosophy Graduate Writing Seminar	001		TR 3:00-4:15	Montminy
The Writing Seminar focuses on philosophical writing. We will examine exemplars of good philosophical writing, analyze philosophical writing techniques and structures, and identify common strengths and weaknesses in philosophical work. The course will be delivered in a cooperative fashion, with students gaining experience through presentations, giving peer feedback, intensive editing and revision.
PHIL 6393 The Trial of Socrates	001		M 4:00-7:00	R. Jones
This seminar focuses on the philosophy of Socrates as represented in texts that concern events surrounding his trial, as well as the historicity of those events. We’ll read from Plato, Xenophon, Libanius, and others, and will survey recent scholarship. Students will gain a capacity to produce independent scholarship on the topic and will be extremely well-equipped to teach Plato’s Apology and related texts. Texts provided by instructor.
PHIL 6593 Happiness	001		W 4:00-7:00	Irvin
In this seminar, students and the professor will work together to design a new 1000-level undergraduate course about philosophical perspectives on happiness. We will read and evaluate texts suitable to assign at the undergrad level, reflect about effective pedagogy, and design a course structure with innovative assignments. We will likely read some selections from The Art of Teaching Philosophy: Reflective Values and Concrete Practices, edited by Brynn Welch, Bloomsbury 2024. Students will contribute to course design and deliverables in various ways rather than writing an essay as the major class assignment.

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