Bulletin 2007-2008 - Austin College

PHILOSOPHYinclude both disciplines. The major inreligious studies and philosophy consistsof ten course credit units approvedby both departments (usually consistingof a five/five distribution), to be chosenfrom offerings in both fields accordingto the interests of the student. The studentmust take two 300-level or abovecourses in both Philosophy and ReligiousStudies (four total).A minor in philosophy consists of fivecourse credit units in philosophy withat least three courses numbered 200or above.A minor in ethics consists of fivecourse credit units in philosophy, normallytaken from the following list:205, 207, 209, 213, 302, 307, 314,and 105 (if not taken after any of theother courses in this list). Approvedtopics courses may also count, butstudents should consult the instructorto determine whether a course is appropriatebefore enrolling in it.105 Introduction to PhilosophyAn introduction to such basic problems in philosophyas the relationship between mind andbody, freedom of the will, skepticism and thenature of knowledge, personal identity, God andthe problem of evil, and the demands of morality.Includes an introduction to techniques of criticalthinking and arguing. (Each fall and spring)110 Modern LogicA study of the formal structure of argumentationfrom Aristotle to the present with primaryemphasis on modern symbolic logic. (Each year)203 Philosophy and ArtAn examination of various accounts of art fromPlato and Aristotle to the present. Topics coveredinclude: art and truth; the peculiar kindof being of works of art; objectivity in meaningand interpretation of art; feminist, postmodernand multicultural criticisms of traditional aesthetictheory. (Fall 2007, Spring 2010)205 EthicsA critical analysis of ethical theory, including(but not limited to) consequentialism, egoism,relativism, religious ethics, feminist ethics,virtue ethics, and deontological ethics. (Spring2009, Fall 2010)207 Environmental EthicsAn examination of ethical issues that involve theenvironment with an emphasis on prominentmoral theories that have been used to addressthem, including traditional consequentialism,animal welfare approaches, biocentric theories,the Land Ethic, and deep ecology. (Each spring)209 Ethics and MedicineAn exploration of ethical issues that arise in thepractice of medicine and the health sciences,including such issues as euthanasia, abortion,cloning and other forms of artificial reproduction,eugenics, and technologies for enhancingmind and body. (Each fall)211 Feminist Thought and Its CriticsA survey of different types of feminist theory(conservative and liberal feminists, Marxistfeminists, radical feminists, psychoanalyticfeminists, postmodern feminists, multiculturalfeminists, ecofeminists, etc) and an explorationof both internal and external critiques of thesetheories. (Spring 2009, Spring 2010)213 Law and MoralityAn examination of the complex relationshipbetween law and morality. Topics include issuesin philosophy of law (What makes somethinga law? Is the threat of punishment theonly reason to follow a law? Is an immoral lawstill a law?) and legal ethics (Can a lawyer lie?If a lawyer knows a witness is telling the truth,can she cross-examine that witness to make itappear the witness is lying? How can a lawyerprotect a client he knows is guilty?) (Spring2009, Spring 2010)220 Ancient and Medieval PhilosophyAn examination of Ancient Greek, Hellenistic,and Medieval philosophy, with special emphasison Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, and Aquinas.(Each fall)225 Early Modern PhilosophyAn examination of philosophical issues in theearly modern period, with an emphasis on theworks of Descartes, Leibniz, Locke, Spinoza,Berkeley, Hume, and/or Kant. (Each spring)230 Contemporary PhilosophyAn examination of 19th and 20th-century philosophyto the present, with special attentionto analytic, existentialist, pragmatist, and postmodernistpositions. (Each fall)COURSES OF INSTRUCTION| 131