Philosophy
PH 103 Contemporary Moral Problems A study and discussion of selected, contemporary moral issues such as capital punishment, sexual morality, pornography and censorship, discrimination, etc.
PH 106 Religions of the East (I) An introduction to the major religions of Asia with particular attention to those traditions which have attracted attention in the West. Certain distinctions between Eastern and Western culture are suggested. Offered fall and spring semesters.
PH109 Political Philosophy This course examines and assesses various political theories concerning the relation between individuals and the state. Topics may include justice, power, human rights, natural law, equality, political obligation and consent, democracy and representation, civil disobedience, freedom and coercion, and utopias.
PH 205-ILC Philosophy of Mind This course examines various philosophical and psychological approaches to our mental life and their implication for philosophy and culture. Topics may include: the nature of the mental, the relation of mind and body, the reduction of mind to brain, whether a machine could think, and whether consciousness can be reconciled with a scientific view of the world.
PH 212 Hegel, Marx and Nietzche. This course examines the development of German philosophical thought from the late eighteenth century to the early twentieth century around the themes of idealism and materialism. Authors may include: Hegel, Fichte, Marx, and Nietzche. Offered as required.
PH 400 Senior Reflective Tutorial This course is an advanced research and writing course that examines a major philosopher or issue from one of the three groups of philosophy -- the group as set forth in the description of the major (ethics, values, and society; history of philosophy; metaphysics, epistemology, mind and logic.) As the culminating experience of the Reflective Tutorial, students will engage in self-directed library research - research consisting of a minimum of 100 hours - that either will result in a senior thesis or will engage in fieldwork in the community resulting in a written senior project. Senior projects and senior these will be presented at the end of the spring semester.
PH 401 Seminar: Topics in Philosophy This course examines selected topics in the history of philosophy or in recent philosophy. Topics may include: a single philosopher's analysis of several philosophic issues, a few philosophers’ analyses or one or two closely related issue: or a twentieth century philosopher's reaction to a philosophic text, movement - or even to traditional philosophy itself
RELIGIOUS STUDIES
RE 103 Religions of the West (I) An introduction to the major religions of the Western world. The beliefs and practices of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam will receive primary attention. Particular attention will be paid to similarities and differences among these three faiths. Offered as needed.
RE 105(I) Religions of the East. An introduction to the major religions of Asia with particular attention to those traditions which have attracted attention in the West. Certain distinctions between Eastern and Western culture are suggested. Offered fall and spring semesters.
RE 120(I) Introduction to the Bible. An introduction to the literature, history, and religious thought of the Bible and its interpretation. Study focuses on the origins of Judaism and Christianity, their institutions, beliefs, and major personalities as contained in the Jewish/Christian Bible. Offered fall and spring semesters.
RE 203 Spiritual Quest in Literature An examination of some major pieces of literature that draw heavily upon religious themes and concepts for their content. How, for example, do fictional works deal with the issues of guilt, punishment, faith and the quest for salvation? What is salvation" how, also are God and Christ conceived in contemporary fiction.
RE 224 Mary Magdalene and Judas Prostitute and Betrayer, or Chief Apostle and the One Who Saves Jesus. This course will examine the roles of Mary Magdalene and Judas in the New Testament Gospels as well as in the second-century Gospels of Mary Magdalene & Judas and also in the other so-called Gnostic gospels that were not canonized. The course will focus on gender-related issues regarding these two figures. Students will participate in oral reports, papers and a research paper. Offered biannually fall semesters.