Philosophy

This course is designed so that students will engage moral questions deeply.  The hope is that students will continue to develop a thoughtful and intentional moral worldview.  Students who take this course seriously will cultivate important virtues equipping them to be God’s creative and redemptive agents in the world.  Overall, this course is an inquiry into the nature of morality as it applies to a variety of personal and social issues. Through reading and analysis of classical and contemporary literature, we will study how the main ethical theories can be applied to a variety of contemporary moral issues such as the distribution of wealth, personal and social responsibility, war, violence, and many others.  Half of the class will be devoted to ethical theory and half will be devoted to current moral and ethical issues.  It should be very exciting!!!

In Quest for the Good Life, you’ll have the opportunity to wrestle with the big questions about how to live and what makes your life meaningful. The course tackles such issues as personal identity (who am I?), what habits and patterns of behavior cultivate a good life, what moral obligations do I have, and how can I live a purposeful and meaningful life? We’ll learn what some of the great philosophical traditions have to say about the good life as well as explore modern issues like the marriage decision, friendships and faith.  We’ll talk in small discussion groups and have large raucous debates about how to live a good life.

This course will demonstrate the power and corruptibility of reasoning and the scientific method in the criminal justice system.  In this course, students will learn the foundations of critical thinking and logic.  What makes a strong argument (in the courtroom)?  How can we avoid fallacies of reasoning?  Where are humans susceptible to irrationality (e.g. confirmation bias, tunnel vision, racial profiling and the like)?  In addition, the course will take students inside the courtroom to determine the credibility of various forms of forensic science (e.g. DNA, blood spatter, bite marks, fingerprints, etc.).  What are the most credible forms of forensic science?  What are the most problematic?  Why?  By the end of the course, students will have a better understanding of the science and philosophical argument forms most often used in the courtroom.

In order to understand the modern world we live in, we must first understand our intellectual and moral roots.  This course explores the philosophical foundations of Western culture to better understand our own context.  Focusing on the philosophy of the ancient Greeks (Plato, Aristotle, Stoics and Epicureans), this course will emphasize those ideas most influential on the modern world.  In addition to understanding the views of the ancient Greeks, we will also spend time critiquing and deconstructing some of the foundational concepts that gave rise to Western dominance and oppression.

Education is intended to help us gain knowledge and pursue the truth.  But to pursue truth responsibly and well, we must use strong critical thinking skills, and we must cultivate intellectual virtues like open-mindedness, curiosity, honesty and wisdom.  In this course we will learn how to make strong arguments supported by reliable evidence and strong reasoning.  This will help us pursue truth responsibly and effectively.  We will also engage habits of formation related to intellectual virtues like curiosity and wisdom.  Cultivating virtues will equip us with the dispositions needed to pursue truth well.

How can meaning, truth and purpose be found in a worldview that does not include God?  If God does not exist, do humans pick up the mantle as creator (e.g. humans create moral norms, humans create meaning and purpose, humans create truth, etc.)?  Can a person reject objective, universal truths and remain a Christian?  These represent a few of the exciting questions explored in this class.  The fundamental quest of existential philosophy is to better understand the human experience and our place in the world.  Journey with me as we engage the provocative writings of some of history’s most influential thinkers (e.g. Nietzsche, Camus, Sartre, Kierkegaard and more). (See THEO3410.)

This course explores the various ways the rise of modern science has impacted philosophical discussion. The pursuit of knowledge has long been the primary goal of philosophical discourse.  Today, the natural sciences are exemplars at formulating reliable knowledge.  Because of this, philosophy must engage science if it is to pursue knowledge diligently.  For example, if one wants to have a philosophical discussion surrounding human free will, one must also consult the evidence coming from neuroscience and behavioral psychology.  In order to have a robust conversation about human nature, special attention must be paid to the theory of evolution.  The primary objective in this course is to enhance the interdisciplinary dialogue taking place at the interface between science and philosophy.

The primary objective of the course is to enhance the interdisciplinary dialogue taking place between science and theology.  To accomplish this, the course will explore several core scientific theories and how these theories impact Christian theology.  The four scientific disciplines covered in this course are cosmology, macroevolution, quantum physics and cognitive psychology.  Each of these scientific disciplines has a significant impact on Christian theology.  For instance, the big bang raises questions related to creation, provides evidence for a literal “beginning” and supports the argument from fine tuning.  Similarly, evolution raises questions about the historical accuracy of Genesis 1-3, the fall, original sin, and the imago dei.  Each of these theological views will be explored in depth.  Finally, quantum physics calls into question the determinism of a clockwork universe and opens the door to chaos, indeterminacy and potentially human freedom.  The key questions undergirding the course are as follows.  How does modern science aid the theological process?  How does modern science challenge certain theological views? What are the limits of natural science in relation to the Christian faith?  How can faith help educate, humble and direct the scientific pursuit? (See THEO3620.)

This course is designed to introduce you to the history of political thought. This course seeks out the truths discovered in political thought, truths about human nature and governance. In reading, answering questions and writing, you will critically examine the tenets of the philosophers; in doing so, you will develop a better understanding of the world we live in and its history; you will learn to respect the depth of the ideas surrounding political discourse; and you will recognize basic social structures that seem to be present in every ‘polis’. Finally, your own self-understanding should develop as you recognize yourself as an integral part of a larger political body, with roots in the ideals of previous centuries.

A survey of the philosophers of the 20th century and the trends in natural, social, and political science that have impacted their thought. Both the analytic and continental streams of thought will be addressed with special attention given to positivism, existentialism, linguistic analysis, and postmodernism.

An investigation of the ultimate philosophical commitments about reality. Topics selected may include the basic constituents of ontology, the nature of space and time, causality, freedom and the self. Representative figures in the history of philosophy may be considered and analyzed.

The purpose of this course is for students to study religion from a distinctly philosophical perspective.  Are there any good reasons or arguments to support the existence of God?  If reliable beliefs rely on good evidence and sound reasoning, can a rational person be religious or believe in God?  Philosophical and scientific pursuits are open-ended.  The conclusion is not set before the exploration is complete. But core religious beliefs are established.  The conclusions are set.  Thus, philosophy relies on reason and evidence, while religious belief often relies on faith.  How can these two disciplines coexist?  Special attention is given to problems such as: the relationship between faith and reason, natural and revealed theology, epistemology in religion, religious experience, and theodicy.

A senior level capstone course integrating philosophy and the visual arts. Students will gain a working knowledge of basic theories in aesthetics with an aim to understanding assessment of the visual arts. The culminating project will include a piece of group artwork displaying robust synthesis of aesthetic theory and basic art practice. The project will include a ten-page paper articulating the group's process.