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PL323, Introduction to Analytic Philosophy:
A survey of some of the important themes in
analytic philosophy from the late 19th century
to the present, focusing on such figures as
Russell and Wittgenstein. Prerequisite: One
philosophy course or permission of instructor.
(U/G)(3). Occasionally.
PL342, Philosophy of Religion: A study of
the logic and function of religious language
with special reference to the problem of religious
knowledge and the validity of religious
claims. Prerequisite: One philosophy course or
sophomore standing. (U/G)(3). Occasionally.
PL343, Philosophy of Science: An analysis of
some philosophical questions about the natural
sciences, including the problem of distinguishing
science from pseudoscience, the nature of scientific
explanation, the structure and confirmation
of scientific theories, scientific revolutions,
and the relationship between science and
reality. Prerequisite: One philosophy course or
permission of instructor. (U/G)(3). Every third
semester.
PL344, Philosophy of Law: Consideration
of general theories of law and justice; nature of
judicial reasoning; topics such as relation of law
and morality, punishment, legal rights and legal
liabilities. Prerequisite: One philosophy course
or sophomore standing. (U/G)(3).
Occasionally.
PL345, Contemporary Social and Political
Philosophy: A critical study of major contemporary
social and political philosophies, such
as welfare liberalism, libertarianism, communitarianism,
democratic socialism and feminism.
Topics include economic justice within the
state, global justice, rights, equality, the family
and workplace democracy. Prerequisite: One
philosophy course or permission of instructor.
(U/G)(3). Fall odd-numbered years.
PL346, Philosophy of Mind: A study of
philosophical questions concerning the mind:
the nature of mind, the mind-body problem,
the problem of free will and methodological
approaches to the study of mind. Includes a
discussion of the power and limits of contemporary
cognitive science. Prerequisite: One
philosophy course or permission of instructor.
(U/G)(3). Occasionally.
Butler University
PL347, Existentialism: A study of existentialism,
one of the most important philosophical
movements of the twentieth century, focusing
on the philosophical essays, novels and plays
of Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus and Simone
de Beauvoir. Prerequisite: One philosophy
course or permission of instructor. (U/G)(3).
Occasionally.
PL348, Philosophy of Feminism: A study
of cultural values, social practices and policies
that shape women’s lives, and the philosophical
responses to these. Topics include the workplace,
the legal system, pornography, art and
popular culture, abortion, reproductive rights,
sexual practice, alternative families, militarism
and ecofeminism. Prerequisite: One Philosophy
course or one Gender, Women’s and Sexuality
Studies course. (U)(3). Fall only.
PL349, Philosophy of Biology: A study of
philosophical problems in biology. The course
explores both theoretical problems within biology,
like the evolution of altruism and problems
of taxonomy, and philosophical problems that
are influenced by biological theory, including
the nature of morality and the status of religious
belief. Prerequisite: BI110 or permission
of instructor. (U/G)(3). Occasionally.
PL360, Ethics: An examination of the fundamental
concepts and problems of morality, facts
and values, duty and self-interest and the logic
and justification of moral judgments. Attention
to major figures in history of ethical theory
such as Aristotle, Butler, Kantand Mill. Prerequisite:
One philosophy course or permission of
instructor. (U/G)(3). Occasionally.
PL363, Biomedical Ethics: A study of
fundamental ethical problems in medical
practice, health policy and biomedical research.
Topics include patients’ rights and professional
responsibilities, abortion, physician-assisted
suicide, surrogate motherhood, justice in the allocation
of medical resources, human genetics,
and experimentation on human subjects and
animals. Prerequisite: One philosophy course or
sophomore standing. (U/G)(3). Spring only.
PL364, Ethics and International Relations:
A study of foundational and contemporary
writings on the ethics of international relations.
Key concepts and issues include realism,
nationalism, cosmopolitanism, sovereignty,
global poverty, immigration, humanitarian