PH101-01 Practical Reasoning. A course designed to improve one's ability to think clearly and critically by developing such skills as detecting and eliminating ambiguity and vagueness, determining validity of reasoning, formulating and confirming generalizations and hypotheses, and using analogies. Offered as required.
Donovan T,R 11:20 – 12:50 PM MH 26
PH102-01 Exploring Philosophy. An examination of major philosophical issues as they are discussed by leading classical and contemporary thinkers in the Western tradition. Offered fall and spring semesters.
Danisi M, W ,F 10:10 - 11:10AM MH 27
PH202-01, H1 Medical Ethics. An in-depth examination of some major moral issues arising out of or associated with the practice of medicine, such as abortion, euthanasia, human experimentation, behavior control, the justice of the distribution of health care, etc. The focus will be on acquiring a sophisticated grasp of the complexities of the problems, understanding the logic of the opposed positions, and coming to a critical appreciation of their weaknesses and strengths. Offered spring semester of odd-numbered years.
PH209-01 Ancient Philosophy. Examines the major figures and movements in Greek philosophical thought, especially Plato and Aristotle. Topics may include power, justice, love, morality, immortality, law, the nature of reality, the nature of the soul, belief and knowledge, and the dialectical relation between authority and freedom. Offered as required.
Donovan M, W 1:00 – 2:30 PM MH 26
PH214-01 American Philosophy. This course examines the characteristic methods, positions and themes (e.g., free will, mind, the relation of mind and body, God, knowledge, belief, truth, morality) of the pragmatists and their philosophical, sociological and cultural impact. Among the thinkers included are Peirce, James, Dewey, C. I. Lewis, E. Nagel, Russell and Wittgenstein. Offered as required.
Danisi M, W, F 11:20 – 12:20 MH 27 RE105-01(I) Religions of the East. An introduction to the major systems of religious culture are suggested. Offered fall and spring semesters.
Kaelber T,TH 9:40 - 11:10AM MH 28
RE120-01, H1 (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.
01 Smith-Jr. M, W, F 9:10 - 10:10AM MH 12 H1 Smith-Jr. M, W, F 11:30 - 12:30PM MH12 RE204 Death and Beyond. A cross-cultural study of beliefs and practices regarding death and the afterlife. Among the issues considered will be preparation for life beyond the grave, funeral rituals and rites of mourning, the judgment of the dead, the journey of the soul to a new life, immortality of the soul, and reincarnation. The course will also consider death as a literary motif and as a cultural symbol. No prerequisite. Offered spring semester.
Kaelber T,TH 11:20 - 12:50PM SPH 3
RE209-01 Is Religion "Man Made"? Are religious "truths" divinely given or are they created by humans under the impact of cultural considerations? We will unravel this issue by approaching the question from various perspectives. We will consider, for example, the psychological approach of Freud as well as the anthropological approach of Malinowski. We will also consider the manner in which Biblical scenarios are conditioned - if not determined - by historical and cultural circumstances. Also considered will be the psychology of Jung and his contention that religious symbols are the inevitable products of a "collective unconscious". We will conclude the course with Dante's Text, The Divine Comedy, Hermann Hesse's novel, Demian, and a detailed investigation of the movie, The Matrix, demonstrating in each case how religious symbolism is self-consciously employed - even manipulated - in the arts. The creative use of symbolism will be illustrated through an examination of various novels and movies. (Cross-listed as Psychology 209.) No prerequisites. Offered as required.
Kaelber W 6:00 - 9:00PM MH 11
RE322-01 Quest for the Historical Jesus.The purpose of this course is to acquaint students with the primary sources for the historical Jesus and some representative literature of the "Lives of Jesus." Offered spring semesters.
