Bulletin - John Jay College Of Criminal Justice - CUNY

Courses Offered
PHI 231 Knowing, Being and Doing: Philosophical
Method and Its Applications
3 hours, 3 credits
An introduction to four major philosophical questions: What can I
know for certain Does God exist How should I act toward others
What is justice This analysis of the foundations of knowledge,
religious belief, ethical theory and social justice includes readings
from Plato, Aristotle, St. Thomas, Descartes, Kant, Mill and
contemporary philosophers.
Prerequisite: ENG 101
PHI 310 Ethics and Law
(Same course as LAW 310)
3 hours, 3 credits
Inquiry into the relationship between morality and law; their organic
interrelationship in the natural law tradition; their separation in
positivism. The contemporary debate illustrated by the issues of
human and civil rights; the enforcement of sexual morality; civil
disobedience; and the ethics of law enforcement.
Prerequisites: ENG 102 or ENG 201, and PHI 231 or permission of
the section instructor
PHI 302 Philosophical Issues of Rights
3 hours, 3 credits
This course will explore a number of philosophical issues regarding
the nature, content and scope of rights. Fundamental issues include
what is meant by the notion of a right, how rights are justified and
what sorts of rights we have (negative and/or positive). Other issues
will also be explored including whether all humans have rights,
whether the scope of rights encompasses animals and ecosystems in
addition to humans, and whether rights exist for groups as well as
individuals.
Prerequisites: ENG 102 or ENG 201, and PHI 231
PHI 304 Philosophy of the Mind
3 hours, 3 credits
This course presents discussion and critical assessment of some
major philosophical questions concerning the mind: What is the
mind How much can we know about the self Can we completely
understand the mind in physico-chemical terms What are the moral,
political and ethical implications of our understanding of the mind
The course will survey the most important approaches to these
questions, including dualism, behaviorism, identity theory,
functionalism, eliminativism and others.
Prerequisites: ENG 102 or ENG 201, and PHI 231 or permission of
the section instructor.
PHI 315 Philosophy of the Rule of Law: Theory and
Practice
3 hours, 3 credits
This course investigates various philosophies of the rule of law
contributing to the liberal democratic tradition, focusing on
controversies and debates over what, exactly, the rule of law is and
what it is supposed to do. Positivism, natural law theory, the social
function of law, legal realism, rule skepticism, and the normative and
aspirational aspects of the rule of law will all be considered. Once we
have read through the history and philosophy of the rule of law, the
course will focus on real world problems and debates about the rule
of law in domestic and international settings, to ask how we might
reimagine the rule of law in the face of contemporary challenges.
Prerequisites: ENG 102 or ENG 201; PHI 231 or permission of the
instructor
PHI 321 Police Ethics (Same course as CRJ 321)
3 hours, 3 credits
An identification and analysis of the diverse ethical issues
encountered in the police service. Traditional ethical theories will be
examined and will be applied to such topics as discretion, deadly
physical force, misconduct, authority and responsibility, affirmative
action, civil disobedience, undercover operations and privacy.
Prerequisites: ENG 102 or ENG 201, and PHI 231 or permission of
the section instructor
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