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Core Courses Offered by Philosophy
AR231-PL, Principles of Reasoning: A survey
of principles of reasoning used in a variety of
disciplines, including philosophy, mathematics,
statistics, the natural and social sciences, and
law. Attention also will be paid to how to recognize
and avoid fallacies. (U)(3). Fall and spring.
TI240-PL, Ethics of War and Peace: This
course will focus on two normative approaches
to war, just war theory and pacifism. We will
first examine how soldiers learn to kill and how
killing impacts them psychologically and morally.
Next, we will explore just-war principles
for justly starting and executing war on basis of
case studies, such as the terror bombing in the
Second World War, the Gulf War, the Kosovo
intervention, the Afghanistan war and the
second Iraq War. Special attention will be
paid to humanitarian intervention, terrorism
and the doctrine of preventive war. During the
final weeks of the semester we will discuss the
philosophy of nonviolence and antiwar
pacifism. (U)(3). Occasionally.
TI241-PL, Classics of Soc and Pol Thought:
A critical study of major texts of the history of
Western social and political thought, such as
Plato’s Republic, Aristotle’s Politics, Machiavelli’s
The Prince, Hobbes’ Leviathan and Marx’s
Communist Manifesto. Attention will be given
to both the historical and contemporary
relevance of the texts. (U)(3). Occasionally.
TI242-PL, Marginalized in America:
Marginalized in America: Gender at the
Intersection of Race and Class. This course
introduces the student to the philosophical
method and skills of thinking out problems and
issues that confront women in contemporary
American society, viewed from the intersection
of gender, race and class. (U)(3). Fall and
spring; counts also for major/minor credit.
TI243-PL, Knowledge and Reality: Fundamental
philosophical questions about knowledge
and reality will be studied through the analysis
of classical and contemporary texts. Topics may
include skepticism, the relationship between
faith and reason, the nature of mind, free will,
the nature and existence of the external world,
and the nature and existence of God. (U)(3).
Fall and spring; counts also for major/minor
credit.
Butler University
TI244-PL, Ethics, the Good Life, and
Society: Fundamental philosophical questions
about right conduct, virtues and vices, the good
life and social policy will be examined on basis
of classical and contemporary texts. Topics
include issues of personal and social ethics, such
as forgiveness, tolerance and hate speech, abortion,
animal rights and world poverty. Theories
of justice, human rights and meta-ethical topics
may also be covered. (U)(3). Fall and spring;
counts also for major/minor credit.
Philosophy Courses
PL245, Classics of Social and Political
Philosophy: A critical study of major texts
of the history of Western social and political
thought, such as Plato’s Republic, Aristotle’s
Politics, Machiavelli’s The Prince, Hobbes’
Leviathan and Marx’s Communist Manifesto.
Attention will be given to both the historical
and contemporary relevance of the texts. (U)
(3). Spring odd-numbered years.
PL310, Logic: An introduction to formal
logic. Topics will include systems for proving
logical propositions, the interpretation of
formal systems, and the relationship between
formal and natural languages. Consideration
will be given to the applications of symbolic
logic to problems in philosophy, mathematics,
computer science and the natural sciences.
Prerequisite: MA101 or equivalent. (U)(3).
Every third semester.
PL311, History of Ancient Philosophy: A
study of important figures of ancient philosophy,
with particular emphasis on Plato and
Aristotle. Prerequisite: One philosophy course
or permission of instructor. (U/G)(3). Every
third semester.
PL313, History of Modern Philosophy: A
study of important figures of modern philosophy,
including Descartes, Hume and Kant. Prerequisite:
One philosophy course or permission of
instructor. (U/G)(3). Every third semester.
PL320, Theory of Knowledge: A study of
some fundamental problems of epistemology:
the nature of knowledge and certainty, the
relation of knowledge to belief, evidence and
the justification of beliefs, and the problem
of skepticism. Prerequisite: One philosophy
course or permission of instructor. (U/G)(3).
Occasionally.
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences