 |
California State University Bakersfield |
| 2005 - 2007 Catalog |
General Information Program Description Lower Division Courses Upper Division Courses
|
Department Chair: Jacquelyn A. Kegley Department Office: Faculty Towers, 104D Telephone: (661) 654-2291 email: klsmith@csub.edu Website: www.csub.edu/Philosophy/ Faculty: D. Boisvert, D. Jackson, J. A. Kegley, S. Gamboa, C. Meyers, P. A. Newberry, M. Paleologou, Y. Frimpong-Mansoh
The Department offers two major tracks in Philosophy, a Pre-Law Concentration, and a minor in Philosophy.
The unexamined life is not worth living. —Socrates
The program in Philosophy enables students to explore critically various systems of beliefs and values, to grapple with the foundations of their own beliefs and values, and to develop habits of critical thinking, writing, and reading. Students in the philosophy program will gain the ability (1) to explore critically and understand the major areas of philosophy, namely, those concerned with values, theories of knowledge, and theories about the nature of reality, and (2) to think logically and analyze critically. A carefully designed set of courses in the upper division affords students the opportunity to master the major areas of philosophy, namely, those concerned with values, theories of knowledge, metaphysics, and social and political philosophy.
“Students do best [on the LSAT, GMAT and GRE exams] who major in a field characterized by formal thought, structural relationships, abstract models, symbolic languages, and deductive reasoning. [This is why] the most consistent performers are philosophy students.” —Based on the findings of a 1985 study conducted by the U. S. Department of Education
Requirements for the Major in Philosophy
General Track 1. Twelve upper division courses in philosophy, including all of the following: PHIL 290 Orientation and Methods PHIL 302 History of Western Philosophy I PHIL 490 Senior Seminar
One course from each of the following groups:
Group A: Modern Philosophy PHIL 303 History of Western Philosophy II PHIL 304 History of Western Philosophy III
Group B: 19th and 20th Century Philosophy PHIL 305 History of Western Philosophy IV PHIL 307 History of Recent Analytical Philosophy PHIL 308 The American Philosophical Heritage PHIL 309 Recent Continental Philosophy
Group C: Epistemology PHIL 351 Theories of Knowledge PHIL 352 Philosophy of Science
Group D: Metaphysics PHIL 340 Metaphysics PHIL 341 Self and Mind PHIL/RS 342 Philosophy of Religion
Group E: Value Theory PHIL 331 Aesthetics PHIL 332 Theories of Ethics
Group F: Social and Political Philosophy PHIL 311 Marx, Marxism, and Post-Marxism PHIL 333 Political Philosophy and Thought PHIL 335 Philosophy of Law
Group G: Breadth Requirement PHIL 306 Contemporary Issues in Philosophy PHIL 310 Existentalism PHIL/RS 320 Asian Philosophy PHIL 355 Philosophy of Language PHIL 363 Philosophy and Religion in Literature
Group H: Philosophy and Praxis PHIL 315 Philosophy, Technology, and our Future PHIL 316 Professional Ethics PHIL 317 Ethical Issues in the Media PHIL 380 Environmental Philosophy PHIL 381 Feminist Philosophy PHIL 382 Philosophy of Race PHIL 383 Philosophy of War PHIL 478 Practical Ethics
One additional upper division course in philosophy.
2. Completion of an approved minor.
Graduate School Track 1. Fifteen upper division courses in philosophy, including all of the following: PHIL 290 Orientation and Methods PHIL 302 History of Western Philosophy I PHIL 303 History of Western Philosophy II PHIL 304 History of Western Philosophy III PHIL 305 History of Western Philosophy IV PHIL 350 Symbolic Logic PHIL 490 Senior Seminar
One course from each of the following groups:
Group A: History of Western Philosophy PHIL 307 History of Recent Analytical Philosophy PHIL 308 The American Philosophical Heritage PHIL 309 Recent Continental Philosophy
Group B: Epistemology PHIL 351 Theories of Knowledge PHIL 352 Philosophy of Science
Group C: Metaphysics PHIL 340 Metaphysics PHIL 341 Self and Mind
Group D: Value Theory PHIL 331 Aesthetics PHIL 332 Theories of Ethics
Group E: Social and Political Philosophy PHIL 311 Marx, Marxism, and Post-Marxism PHIL 333 Political Philosophy and Thought PHIL 335 Philosophy of Law
Group F: Breadth Requirement PHIL 306 Contemporary Issues in Philosophy PHIL 355 Philosophy of Language
Group G: Philosophy and Praxis PHIL 315 Philosophy, Technology, and our Future PHIL 316 Professional Ethics PHIL 317 Ethical Issues in the Media PHIL 380 Environmental Philosophy PHIL 381 Feminist Philosophy PHIL 382 Philosophy of Race PHIL 383 Philosophy of War PHIL 478 Practical Ethics
One additional upper division course in philosophy
2. Completion of an approved minor.
Pre-Law Concentration 1. Thirteen upper division courses, including all of the following: PHIL 290 Orientation and Methods PHIL 302 History of Western Philosophy I PHIL 316 Professional Ethics PHIL 335 Philosophy of Law PHIL 490 Senior Seminar
One course selected each of the following groups:
Group A: Modern Philosophy PHIL 303 History of Western Philosophy II PHIL 304 History of Western Philosophy III
Group B: 19th and 20th Century Philosophy PHIL 305 History of Western Philosophy IV PHIL 306 Contemporary Issues in Philosophy PHIL 307 History of Recent Analytical Philosophy PHIL 308 The American Philosophical Heritage PHIL 309 Recent Continental Philosophy
Group C: Epistemology PHIL 351 Theories of Knowledge PHIL 352 Philosophy of Science
Group D: Metaphysics PHIL 340 Metaphysics PHIL 341 Self and Mind
Group E: Value and Political Theory PHIL 332 Theories of Ethics PHIL 333 Political Philosophy and Thought
Group F: Philosophy and Praxis PHIL 315 Philosophy, Technology and our Future PHIL 317 Ethical Issues in the Media PHIL 380 Environmental Philosophy PHIL 381 Feminist Philosophy PHIL 382 Philosophy of Race PHIL 383 Philosophy of War PHIL 478 Practical Ethics
Group G: Logic and Reasoning PLSI 370 Legal Reasoning PHIL 350 Symbolic Logic
One additional upper division course in Philosophy or a course listed above.
2. Completion of a Special Minor for Pre-Law: Two courses selected from Economics and two courses selected from Political Science. Only one of the four courses may be lower division.
Requirements for the Minor in Philosophy
The minor requires four courses, totaling twenty units, at least fifteen of which must be upper division.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Note: All upper division courses in Philosophy carry as prerequisites PHIL 102 and ENGL 110 or equivalents, with PHIL 100 strongly recommended. Some courses also carry additional prerequisites. Any prerequisite may be waived with the consent of the instructor.
PHIL 100 Introduction to Philosophy (5) This course studies philosophical methods and some of the major philosophical ideas which have resulted from the application of that method. These ideas may be taken from the past as well as the present, from the East as well as the West. They concern the kinds, sources, and tests of knowledge; the nature of reality, of self and of God; and the various kinds of value that ought to inform our lives. (CAN PHIL 2) [F,W,S]
PHIL 102 Logical Reasoning (5) This course is designed to develop critical thinking skills related to the analysis and evaluation of arguments. It involves an analysis and criticism of deductive and inductive reasoning; an understanding of justification and evidence; and analysis of fallacious argument in various areas of inquiry. (CAN PHIL 6) [F,W,S]
PHIL 201 Contemporary Moral Problems (5) This course provides an overview of historical and recent ethics theory and concepts, and an examination of contemporary moral issues and dilemmas, such as abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, affirmative action, animal rights and gender relationships. Emphasis is given to the relationship between theory and practice, Prerequisite: ENGL 110. (CAN PHIL 4) [Offered regularly]
PHIL 289 Experiential Prior Learning (variable units) This course provides an evaluation and assessment of learning which has occurred as a result of prior off-campus experience relevant to the curriculum of the department. It requires complementary academic study and/or documentation. Available by petition only, on a credit, no-credit basis, and is not open to postgraduate students. Interested students should contact the department office. This course may not be counted toward major or minor requirements.
PHIL 290 Orientation and Methods (5) This course provides new and possible philosophy majors with an overview of the Philosophy major and practice in the methodology of good philosophical thinking. The overview may include information about the requirements for the major, computer and information competency, academic and non-academic careers and graduate school (including financial issues). Practice in methodology will help you do research, to read philosophical texts carefully, discern the extended arguments within a text, and write clearly and precisely. [S]
PHIL 296/396 Human Corps Community Service I (variable units) This course provides students a volunteer community service experience working with nonprofit, governmental, educational or community-based service organizations. Offered on a credit, no-credit basis only.
PHIL 302 History of Western Philosophy I (5) This course traces the development of Western philosophy from its Greek origins through the Hellenistic period. It will introduce the students to ancient debates about a number of problems, starting with the fragments of major pre-Socratic thinkers, moving to the more comprehensive systems of Plato and Aristotle, and ending with the works of the Hellenistic philosophers. [F]
PHIL 303 History of Western Philosophy II (5) This course explores the development of Western Philosophy from medieval philosophy through the Modern Rationalists, Descartes, Leibnitz and Spinoza. [Alternate Years]
PHIL 304 History of Western Philosophy III (5) This course explores the Modern period of Western philosophy, focusing on the Empiricists – primarily Locke, Berkeley and Hume – and the Critical Philosophy of Kant. [Alternate Years]
PHIL 305 History of Western Philosophy IV (5) This course explores Western philosophy from post-Kantian idealism through phenomenology and positivism. [Alternate years]
PHIL 306 Contemporary Issues in Philosophy (5) This course will address those issues, movements or figures at the forefront of current research in philosophy. Topics may include, but are not limited to, mind and consciousness, language and interpretation, the human condition, self and community, and value theory. [Alternate Years]
PHIL 308 The American Philosophical Heritage (5) The focus of this course is on American Philosophy as a critical reflection on the response to the interactions of cultural, racial, gendered, and economic differences in the geographical context of America as a nation. It will explore key philosophical ideas such as mind-body-self relationships; the nature of knowledge and inquiry; notions of community and power, slavery and freedom; and democracy and cultural pluralism. Philosophers studied may include William James, Josiah Royce, John Dewey, W.E.B. Duboiss, Alain Locke, and Jane Adams as well as Native American contributions. [Alternate years]
PHIL 309 Recent Continental Philosophy (5) This course provides a study of recent work within the Continental European tradition, which may include an examination of contemporary movements such as phenomenology, critical theory, structuralism, French feminism, genealogy, hermeneutics, deconstruction, poststructuralism, postcolonialism, and postmodernism. [Alternate years]
PHIL 310 Existentialism (5) Various types of existential philosophies are examined in the writings of nineteenth-century philosophers of existence such as Kierkegaard and Nietzsche, and of twentieth century exponents such as Heidegger, Sartre, Beauvoir, Camus, Buber, Fanon, and others. Concepts explored may include the meaning of freedom, the choice of values after the “death of God,” relations between individual and society, embodiment and existential psychoanalysis. [Alternate years]
PHIL 311 Marx, Marxism and Post-Marxism (5) This course examines the central ideas of Marxist philosophy, economics and social theory, both through the writings of Marx and others who contributed to the development of this tradition such as Engels, Lenin, Mao, Horkheimer, Adorno, Marcuse, Althusser and others. This study will include consideration of the relevance of Marxism since the fall of the USSR, through the writings of contemporary critical social theorists. [Alternate years]
PHIL 315 Philosophy, Technology and Our Future (5) This course explores the nature of technology and its relationships to science as well as its recent history and probable futures. Questions of human goals and the quality of life as well as various philosophical, ethical, legal, and social questions raised by modern technologies may be examined. [Alternate years]
PHIL 316 Professional Ethics (5) This course will focus on the unique ethical issues and obligations attached to professional roles. Topics will include a definition of “profession,” with discussion on how that status is distinguished from, for example, “occupation” and “craft;” theories and processes for ethical decision-making; discussion of special role-engendered ethical obligations; and consideration of the kinds of ethical dilemmas faced by persons in such fields as engineering, architecture, medicine, law, computer science, nursing, academia, and social work. (Additional recommended prerequisite: Philosophy 100 or Philosophy 201 or equivalent) [Offered regularly]
PHIL 317 Ethical Issues in the Media (5) This course provides an analysis of ethical issues in the media, with emphasis on news gathering, reporting, advertising, and entertainment. Topics covered include an evaluation of the ethical culture of newsrooms, codes of ethics, objectivity, privacy, fairness, honesty, and the public’s right to know. Case studies will be examined, as well as other means by which students will learn how to recognize and resolve ethical conflicts. This course is cross-listed as COMM 317. [W]
PHIL 331 Aesthetics (5) This course is devoted to a variety of philosophical issues that arise when thinking about the arts. Such issues include: the problem of defining art, the nature of our experience of art, philosophical problems relating to art criticism, special problems surrounding the popular arts, and the social, ethical and political dimensions of art. [Alternate years]
PHIL 332 Theories of Ethics (5) This course reviews ethical systems and theories with analysis of the meaning and function of crucial ethical concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, freedom, choice, responsibility, intention, and consequence. Consideration will also be given to the justification of ethical judgments. [Alternate Years]
PHIL 333 Political Philosophy and Thought (5) This course examines various theories of the nature of social and political life. Significant contributions to Western political philosophy, such as those of Plato, Hobbes, Locke, Mill, Marx, and Rawls, will be examined along with the concepts of rights, equality, justice, obligation, liberty and utility. Additional readings may contribute to analysis of the development of political institutions and civil society in the West and their effects on non-European nations and cultures. This course carries credit in either Philosophy or Political Science. [F,W,S]
PHIL 335 Philosophy of Law (5) This course addresses issues common to both philosophy and law through the study of legal theories such as Natural Law, Positivism. Legal Realism, Law and Economics Feminist Jurisprudence and Critical Race Theory. Attention will be paid to the nature, origin and scope of rights, the specifics of legal reasoning and constitutional law, and the roles played by the legal system in the contemporary world. Additional issues examined may include capital punishment, sex and gender discrimination, changes in tort law, and the growth of the prison industry or other selected topics. [Alternate years]
PHIL 340 Metaphysics (5) The course investigates the nature of reality, and the relations between those things that exist. Possible questions to be explored include: What are the most fundamental things that exist and what are they like? What makes a thing the same thing over time? What is the nature of consciousness? How are mental things related to physical things? What are space and time? Do we have free will? Does God exist and, if so, how is God related to us? [Alternate Years]
PHIL 341 Self and Mind (5) This course critically explores various theories of self and mind and their relationships to the brain, body, consciousness, beliefs, knowledge and personhood. The course will also explore the possibility of nonhuman minds such as those of animals and machines, and the implications for their relationships to humans. [Alternate Years]
PHIL 342 Philosophy of Religion (5) This course examines some of the following issues: the nature of religion and religious experience, various conceptions of God, evidence for the existence of God including the classical arguments, faith and its relationship to knowledge, the problem of evil, meaning and the logical status of religious language, the possibility and nature of personal immortality. This course carries credit in Philosophy or Religious Studies. [Alternate Years]
PHIL 350 Symbolic Logic (5) The course is designed to develop our understanding of different logical notions, such as validity, consistency, logical truth and the formal structures that underlie good reasoning. There will be a focus on developing an ability to translate from a natural language to formal languages such as the propositional and predicate calculus, and a focus on developing an ability to use formal proof systems. [Alternate Years]
PHIL 351 Theories of Knowledge (5) This course critically examines the nature, possibility and limits of human knowledge. Focus will be placed upon historical and contemporary theories and may consider such topics as the distinction between justified belief and knowledge, the nature of justification, skepticism, perception, meaning, experiential and non-experiential knowledge, self-knowledge, logical and mathematical knowledge and feminist epistemology. [Alternate Years]
PHIL 352 Philosophy of Science (5) This course explores the underpinnings of scientific knowledge. It will critically evaluate theories, methods, presuppositions and biases of scientific knowledge claims. Questions concerning the nature and influence of testimony, evidence, culture, statistical reasoning and verification will be explored. [Alternate Years]
PHIL 355 Philosophy of Language (5) This course is concerned with the relation between language and thought, values, speech, communication, world views, interpersonal relation, and reality. Topics may include meaning, reference, grammar, intersubjective constructions of reality, truth, definition, analyticity, beliefs, formal versus ordinary languages, speech acts, semiotics, and conversational dynamics (pragmatics). [Alternate years]
INST 363 Personhood (10) Psychological, philosophical and biological perspectives on the person as mind, body and brain will inform exploration of public policy issues such as those related to models of illness and wellness, health care, gender and sexuality, intelligence, and legal issues such as insanity plea, commitment, eyewitness testimony and spousal and child abuse. Satisfies Themes 2 and 3 of the upper division General Education requirements. Prerequisite PHIL 100 or 201 and PSYC 100 or BIOL 100. [Alternate years]
PHIL 363 Philosophy and Religion in Literature (5) This course examines concepts such as freedom, love, morality, God, death, afterlife, faith, friendship, and meaninglessness in novels, short stories, poetry, and dramatic literature. Authors from various historical periods, cultures, and backgrounds will be included. This course carries credit in Religious Studies or Philosophy. [Alternate years]
PHIL 366 Asian Philosophy (5) This course involves a study of the major Confucian philosophers: Confucius, Mencius, and Hsun Tzu; of the Taoist masters Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu; of the chief sources of Hindu philosophy – the Upanishads, the Bhagavadgita – and the three major Vedanta philosophies which grew out of them; and of Buddhist thought, in both the Theravada and Mahayana (including Zen) traditions, This course carries credit in Philosophy or Religious Studies. [Alternate years]
PHIL 375 Directed Reading (3) This is a seminar style course in which students undertake a close reading of key works either from the history of philosophy or from contemporary material. Past selections have included Immanuel Kant’s Critique of Judgment, Daniel Dennett’s Elbow Room, Peter Singer’s Rethinking Life and Death, Michel Foucault’s Discipline and Punish, and Martha Nussbaum’s Upheavals of Thought. May be repeated for different course content. [Offered regularly]
PHIL 377 Special Studies in Philosophy (1-5) Topics to be offered will be announced prior to registration. May be repeated for different course content. [Offered irregularly]
PHIL 380 Environmental Philosophy (5) This course is a philosophical study and discussion of basic ethical questions raised by humanity’s relationship with the non-human environment. It examines ethical implications of our beliefs, policies, and practices about non-human nature. Topics covered may include debates about the rights of animals and ecosystems, our obligations to future generations, biodiversity vs. anthropocentrism. Additional topics may include global warming, deep ecology, social ecology, ecofeminism, the use of nuclear technologies, the environmental justice movement, and rural-urban conflicts. [Alternate years]
PHIL 381 Feminist Philosophy (5) This course provides an introduction to feminist theory and practice through the writings of historical and contemporary philosophers. Topics may include feminist revisions of the philosophical canon, analyses of oppression and critiques of patriarchy, critiques of sexism and homophobia, approaches to moral, legal, and social philosophy, approaches to ontology and epistemology, and analyses of sexuality, femininity, marriage, motherhood, prostitution, pornography, sexual violence, and social change. This course carries credit toward a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. [Alternate years]
PHIL 382 Philosophy of Race (5) This course examines philosophically the concept of race and the way race informs identity. Topics discussed may include the reality of race, the origins of the concept, and the extent to which race does and should impact our social and personal identities. In addition to contemporary philosophical discussions of these issues, the historical roots of the concept may be explored using the writings of figures such as Gobineau, Kant, and Du Bois. Other topics may include analysis of racism, the intersection of race and gender or race and class, and political and ethical issues surrounding race, such as affirmative action. [Alternate years]
PHIL 383 Philosophy of War (5) This course is a philosophical examination of conceptual and moral issues relating to war. It discusses the Just War Tradition, and examines questions about the sorts of events/conflicts that count as war, when it is just to go to war, and the means by which a war may be justly fought. Other specific topics to be examined may include fundamental questions about terrorism (such as the definition of terrorism, whether terrorism is a warfare strategy/activity), moral justification of military intervention, the moral rights of noncombatants, war crimes, moral responsibility of crimes caused by obedience to orders. Debates about connection between religion and war may also be discussed. [Alternate years]
PHIL 396 Human Corps (5)
PHIL 450 Advanced Symbolic Logic (5) This course may investigate set theory, number, meta-logic, and various modal logics, deontic, and noninductive logics. Additional prerequisite: PHIL 350 or its equivalent; or consent of the instructor. [Offered irregularly]
PHIL 477 Special Studies in Philosophy (1-5) Topics for this course will be announced prior to registration. May be repeated for different course content. [Offered irregularly]
PHIL 478 Special Topics in Practical Ethics (5) Topics to be offered will be announced prior to registration. Such topics as medical ethics, business ethics, legal ethics and others will be covered on a periodic basis. May be repeated for different course content. [Offered irregularly]
PHIL 489 Experiential Prior Learning (variable units) This course provides evaluation and assessment of learning which has occurred as a result of prior off-campus experience relevant to the curriculum of the department. It requires complementary academic study and/or documentation. Available by petition only, on a credit, no-credit basis. Not open to postgraduate students. Interested students should contact the department office. This course may not be counted toward major or minor requirements.
PHIL 490 Senior Seminar (6) This is the capstone course of the major. Specific topics will vary, but all will involve bringing together the major areas of the discipline. Additional prerequisite: Senior standing.
PHIL 496 Internship in Practical Philosophy (1-5) This course involves supervised field experience in the community in applying specific philosophical skills in dealing with individuals and in community organizations and institutions. Career-oriented experience in the community setting is combined with academic activities in the college setting. Hours in the field, placement, and academic requirements such as conferences, readings, and reports are arranged in consultation with the work supervisor and faculty supervisor. Prerequisites vary depending on the specific internship, but enrollment is limited to students with good academic records who are committed to developing an understanding of the philosophical foundations of professional life. [Offered irregularly]
PHIL 497 Cooperative Education (5) The Cooperative Education program offers a sponsored learning experience in a work setting, integrated with a field analysis seminar. The Cooperative Education office contracts the field experience on an individual basis, subject to approval by the department. The field experience, including the seminar and reading assignments, is supervised by the cooperative education coordinator and the faculty liaison (or course instructor), working with the field supervisor. Students are expected to enroll in the course for at least two quarters. The determination of course credits, evaluation, and grading are the responsibility of the departmental faculty. This course is offered on a credit, no-credit basis only. The department will determine application of credit.
PHIL 499 Individual Study (1-5) This is an individual program of study with regular consultations and/or examinations as the instructor may require. Admission to this course is with consent of department chair.
PHIL 577 Special Studies in Philosophy (1-5) Topics to be offered will be announced prior to registration. This course may be repeated for different course content. Enrollment in this course requires graduate level standing.
PHIL 580 Advanced Research Participation (1-5) This course involves individual investigation under the supervision of an identified instructor. (Experience as a research or teaching assistant does not count for credit.) Prerequisite: 3.0 GPA and consent of department chair.
PHIL 599 Advanced Individual Study (1-5) This course involves special projects developed by the individual in consultation with an identified instructor. Prerequisite: 3.0 GPA and consent of department chair.
PHIL 677 Special Studies in Philosophy (1-5) Topics to be offered will be announced prior to registration. This course may be repeated for different course content. Enrollment in this course requires graduate level standing.
|