2008-2009 Catalog - Virginia Wesleyan College

PHILOSOPHY137read and discuss a variety of theories about human nature,ponder questions about the origin and ultimate purpose ofhuman existence, and grapple with modern philosophicalproblems concerning the nature of selfhood, freedom andchoice.COURSE NUMBER AND TITLEPHIL 104The Examined LifePHIL 211The Human ConditionPHIL 215Philosophy of ReligionPHIL 292Alternative FuturesPHIL 350Existential PhilosophyPHIL 372Beyond the Western TraditionSEM.HRS.333333TOTAL 18Ethics, Society, LawThe department of philosophy offers many coursesbeneficial to anyone thinking of law, public policy orpolitics, or anyone interested in practical ethics.Critical thinking skills, essential to the study of law andpublic policy, are offered in PHIL 109 and 209. Thedepartment also offers an introductory course on theindividual in society, and a course in the different ethicaltheories (PHIL 212) which people often appeal to whendebating. There’s also a course in the political and ethicalideas that underlie public policy debates (PHIL 253/353)such as the inevitable conflict between individualautonomy and political authority. We even have a course onthe future of human society! (PHIL 292/392).Finally, there are a number of courses in topical issues,beginning with the survey course PHIL 102, followed bythree specific couses: environmental philosophy (PHIL304), medical ethics (PHIL 212/312), and the impact oftechnology (PHIL 402).So, if you are intersted in ethical issues, your sequencecould look like this: ETHICSPHIL 304Environmental Ethics 3PHIL 402Thinking about Technology3TOTAL 18If your major is sociology, or you’re interested in publicpolicy, you could put together a sequence like this:SOCIETYCOURSE NUMBER AND TITLESEM.HRS.PHIL 101Individual and Society3PHIL 109Critical Reasoning3PHIL 253/353Social & Political Philosophy3PHIL 292/392Alternative Futures3Additional topical courses in ethics 6TOTAL 18Or if you are thinking of law, these would make a good set:LAWCOURSE NUMBER AND TITLEPHIL 109Critical ReasoningPHIL 209Methods of LogicPHIL 212Practical EthicsPHIL 253/353Social & Political PhilosophyPHIL 292/392Alternative FuturesSEM.HRS.Additional topical course 333333TOTAL 18COURSE NUMBER AND TITLEPHIL 102Contemporary Moral IssuesPHIL 109Critical ReasoningPHIL 212Practical EthicsPHIL 221/321Ethics & Health CareSEM.HRS.3333Philosophy Courses (PHIL)101 Individual and Society (3) (V)An introduction to philosophy as critical thinking andanalysis (the ability to reason well and willingly) through anexamination of questions of human value(s). Students learnhow to recognize and analyze the values by which they live,examine the issues of self and society, and learn how todevelop a philosophical skill in seeing the basic valueswhich influence these personal and social issues. Offeredeach fall.