1997-1998 - The University of Scranton

PHILOSOPHY
DR. ROWE, Chairperson
The basic objectives of the Philosophy Department may be stated as follows:
1) To inspire the student to come to grips with the basic philosophical problems implicit in the experience
of the self, others and the universe, together with the question of their relations to ultimate transcendence
(God and immortality);
2) To lead the student to develop habits of clear, critical thinking within the framework of both an adequate
philosophical methodology and accepted norms of scholarship;
3) To introduce the student to reading critically the great philosophers, past and present;
4) Finally, to help the student to formulate for himself or herself a philosophy of life or world-view consistent
with the objectives of liberal education at a Catholic university.
For the AB degree in Philosophy, the major must take 24 credits (8 courses) in Philosophy in addition
to the six required of all students. These 24 credits must include a logic course and at least two courses on
the 300 or 400 level.
See also the Philosophy offerings in the SJLA Program described elsewhere in this catalogue.
Phil. 120, Introduction to Philosophy, is a prerequisite to any other philosophy course.
PHIL 120 Staff
Introduction to Philosophy 3 credits
The aim of this course is to awaken in the student
an appreciation of the nature and method of philosophical
inquiry through an examination of key
texts that grapple with central questions in the history
of philosophy.
PHIL 210 Staff
Ethics 3 credits
A critical examination of fundamental moral issues
through close readings of seminal texts spanning
the history of philosophy from ancient Greece to
the present. The ethical theories of such philosophers
as Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, Kant
and Mill may be examined as major representatives
of the Western philosophical tradition.
Themes to be explored may include happiness,
virtue, the nature of justice, free choice, conscience,
natural law and obligation, God and
morality.
PHIL 211 Drs. Klonoski, Black
Business Ethics 3 credits
This course is an application of standard philosophical
principles and theories to the critical
study of questions, issues, and problems that surround
the moral conduct of business.
Recommended for business majors.
PHIL 212 Dr. Baillie, Fr. McKinney
Medical Ethics 3 credits
(Prerequisite: Phil. 210) The course will introduce
the student to the presence of basic ethical concerns
in the practice and distribution of health
care. The course will emphasize both current
scholarship and the practical nature of the subject
through the discussion of medical cases, ethical
theories, and current readings. Recommended for
those interested in the health care professions.
PHIL 213 Dr. Casey
Environmental Ethics 3 credits
(Prerequisite: Phil. 210) An introduction to environmental
philosophy and the various ethical
responses to the ecological crisis of the late 20th
century. Examines such issues as biocentrism vs.
anthropocentrism, the relation between culture and
nature, the environmental ethical debate.
PHIL 214 Dr. Nordberg
Computers and Ethics 3 credits
(Prerequisite: Phil. 210) ) The computer revolution
raises new ethical problems and presents novel
aspects of traditional ethical issues. Ethical aspects
of hacking, software piracy, computer aided decision
making, protection of software by copyright,
patent, trade secret laws, unauthorized use of computer
resources, privacy and data-base security,
program warranties and programmer responsibility,
artificial intelligence, the interface between
human and computer.
PHIL 215 Fr. Gensler, Dr. Casey
Logic 3 credits
This course will help the student to understand reasoning—and
to reason better. We will study syllogistic,
propositional, quantificational, and modal
logic. We will use these to analyze hundreds of arguments;
many of these are on philosophical topics like
morality, free will, and the existence of God.
PHIL 218 Dr. Meagher
(D)Feminism: Theory and Practice 3 credits
In this course we will explore the relationship
between feminist analyses of sexism and political
practices aimed at eliminating it. To this end we
will examine divergent political traditions and
show ways in which feminists have criticized,
appropriated, and made use of them in their own
work. Special attention will be paid to the interrelationship
of gender, class and race. This course
may be counted toward Women’s Studies
Concentration.
PHIL 219 Fr. Slesinski
Russian Philosophy 3 credits
This course will trace the evolution of Russian
philosophical thought. The offering will concentrate
on select nineteenth and twentieth century
authors and will also highlight several grand
themes dear to Russian philosophers, including
integral knowledge, the philosophy of history,
Godmanhood and Sophia. Consideration will be
afforded both religious and non-religious thinkers.
123