Philosophy

In this course, students will be introduced to the important ideas in Western philosophy. The course will emphasize the Greek origins of philosophy, the transformation of philosophy by Enlightenment thought in the 17th and 18th centuries, and the postmodern reaction to Enlightenment thought. The course will relate philosophical ideas to contemporary issues.

The course is an introduction to the major religions of the world. The origins, core beliefs, traditions, and practices will be discussed. The purpose of the course is to understand and appreciate the various religious theories and practices by focusing on key texts, figures and ideas. The approach will strive to be descriptive, not prescriptive. Students will gain initial exposure to the structure and worldview of the religions covered: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism. Additional religions may also be included based on instructor and student interest (African, Native American and new wave, Taoism, Confucianism, Baha’i, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism, etc.).

This course is designed to introduce students to general ethical theories, philosophies and decision-making models. The goal of the course is to relate theory to practice. Throughout the course, this general knowledge will be applied to specific problems and cases. Applications may include general ethical issues and more career-specific issues determined by student interest.