Undergraduate Catalog 2008-2010 - Immaculata University

and others, students will acquire understanding of basic
philosophical vocabulary and concepts. In this one semester course,
students will examine metaphysical, epistemological, aesthetical,
and ethical themes which provide a firm foundation for further
philosophical study.
PHI 201 Stein and Phenomenology (1)
The course introduces students to the life and work of Edith
Stein, a German philosopher who studied under Edmund Husserl.
Stein’s German, Jewish, feminist, Catholic, and Carmelite
experiences are woven into the fabric of her philosophy. In this
course, students are introduced to phenomenology and to Edith
Stein as her life and works are explored. (See THE 200 ST)
PHI 202 Stein’s Psychophysical Person (1)
This course studies Edith Stein’s use of the phenomenological
method to investigate how a human being understands the
experiences of another person. Stein delves into the problem of how
several persons experience the same phenomenon and how this
experience impacts the sense of community. In this section,
students will explore concepts of empathy and the psychophysical
individual. (See THE 200 ST)
PHI 203 Stein’s Essays on Women (1)
This course focuses on Edith Stein’s interest in the human
person and her determination to live a life committed to Christian
principles. It also focuses on Stein’s public addresses to women,
her critique of National Socialism, and her canonization. (See THE
200 ST)
PHI 204 Survey of Catholic Philosophy (3)
Philosophy, based on reason, and theology, based on faith, seem
to be divergent studies. However, Catholic philosophers have a long
and fruitful history of contributing to philosophical discourse. This
course examines how beliefs can relate to human reason. Texts
from the Bible, Plato, Aristotle, the Patristic Age, the Middle Ages,
the Renaissance through Nineteenth Century, and the Twentieth
Century and beyond will highlight the richness of dialogue that
exists between reason and faith.
PHI 209 Logic and Knowledge (3)
This course aims at both formal argument analysis and extended
argumentation in topics that introduce the student to the different
modes of thought employed in various disciplines with some
particular attention to philosophic issues.
PHI 214 HON: Ethics: Theory and Praxis (3)
This course will benefit students planning careers in helping
professions and those providing services to diverse populations.
Foundations of the Western philosophical tradition regarding ethical
concepts and human nature will be examined in the first part of the
course, with special emphasis given to key thinkers. The second
part will involve both examination and application of the process of
ethical decision-making, with strong focus upon the types of current
ethical issues that workers face. (See SOC 214)
PHI 215 Edith Stein and Phenomenology (3)
This course is an in-depth analysis of the life and work of Edith
Stein, a German philosopher who studied under Edmund Husserl.
Stein’s German, Jewish, feminist, Catholic, and Carmelite
experiences are woven into the fabric of her philosophy. In this
course, students are introduced to phenomenology and to Edith
Stein. The life and works of Edith Stein are explored.
PHI 220 Global Economic and Environmental Ethics (3)
In this course, students consider ethical decisions as they relate
to the environment and subsequently impact global economics. In
studying the moral dilemmas concerning world energy and its
economic influence, students become more aware of environmental
and cultural ramifications. Students consider and work toward
positive actions for a new world environment.
PHI 309 Philosophy in History (3)
A historical and thematic survey of the major issues and thinkers
in Western philosophical tradition, beginning with ancient Greece
and moving into the contemporary period. We use primary and
secondary texts as a basis for articulating fundamental problems in
epistemology, metaphysics, and ethics. Emphasis is placed on the
historical and contextual nature of thinking, exploring the
connection between systems of ideas and the world-views they
present to us.
PHI 312 Ethics (3)
The study of ethics is concerned with action and the character of
a person. In this course, students will read from primary sources,
tracing key ethical theories as they developed throughout history.
Using varied ethical theories, students will address contemporary
problems.
PHI 314 HON: Asian Thought (3)
This course focuses on a study of major texts and thinkers in
East Asian thought and religion, including a survey of Hinduism,
Buddhism in India and China, and Chinese Confucianism and
Daoism. Students will consider key concepts such as the nature of
knowledge, social praxis, perception, language, reality, truth,
illusion, self, society, and ethics as they participate in close readings
of the texts, analysis, and commentary. Students will also compare
Asian thought and practice with Western thought and traditions.
(Meets cross-cultural studies requirement)
PHI 324 Philosophy of Literature (3)
Philosophy is often given voice in literature. While reading and
analyzing traditional and popular literature, students will discover
the relationship between literature and philosophy. Special
emphasis will be placed on modern literature wherein students will
discover recurring philosophical themes.
PHI 326 Women Thinkers (3)
This is an interdisciplinary course which examines issues
surrounding women, gender, and knowledge. Our major focus will
be philosophical analysis of the role of gender and the construction
of knowledge in various theoretical frameworks, including
literature, epistemology, psychoanalysis, and the multicultural
milieu.
PHI 328 Artificial Intelligence (3)
A general introduction to artificial intelligence (AI) and
philosophy of the mind that allows students to explore this topic
from both the technical and philosophical perspectives. The
underlying fundamental theories and representational structures in
AI are covered. Students work with AI and survey current AI
literature from both viewpoints. Students are challenged to consider
consciousness, intelligence, robotics, and implications for the
future. (Prerequisite: PHI 209 or PHI 309) (See CIS 328)
PHI 329 Contemporary Philosophy (3)
A thematic and developmental approach to contemporary
continental thought with an emphasis on introducing the student to
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