Philosophy Courses

PHI 2000 ETHICS BOWL (1)
This course will cover moral theories, including fairness, utilitarianism, virtue ethics, common good, and Kantian deontology. Students will not only learn these theories but apply them to a selection of morally ambiguous case studies. Past cases have concerned business ethics, education, and technology. Students will have the opportunity to join the MU Ethics Bowl team at the annual NCICU State Ethics Bowl tournament. May be repeated for credits as the case studies change every term.
Prerequisite: none
Offered: fall

PHI 2110 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY (3)
Socrates claimed that the “unexamined life is not worth living.” This course examines a life worth living by critically struggling with some of life’s most intractable philosophical problems: what is the world like (metaphysics), how do we know what we know (epistemology), and what are the implications of all this for how we should act in the world (ethics).
Prerequisite: none
Offered: fall and spring

PHI 2130 ARGUMENT AND INFERENCE (3)
This course offers a practical introduction to inductive logic that can be applied to the sciences, criminal investigation, medical reasoning, reasoning in business, and reasoning in everyday life. Topics covered include basic methods of induction, inference to the best explanation, Mill᾿s methods, and basic probability theory.
Prerequisite: none
Offered: spring

PHI 2200 MORAL PHILOSOPHY AND CONTEMPORARY ETHICAL PROBLEMS (3)
This course philosophically examines issues of social justice and individual moral problems that we as professionals and citizens face on a daily basis in medicine, the military, education, business, personal relationships, and political life.
Prerequisite: none
Offered: spring (even years)

PHI 3010 HISTORY OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY (3)
Survey of the history of Western philosophy from the pre-Socratics to the contemporary period.
Prerequisite: none
Offered: fall (odd years)

PHI 3200 BUSINESS ETHICS (3)
After a brief consideration of ethical theory, this course will examine selected ethical issues which arise from business, such as corporate responsibility, whistle blowing, environmental issues, and privacy. Emphasis will be placed on the role of virtues in business practice.
Prerequisite: none
Cross-listed: BUS 3200
Offered: fall and spring

PHI 3300 PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION (3)
Philosophical examination of religion; topics include arguments for the existence of God, the nature and reliability of religious experience, the problem of evil, the nature and attributes of God, the meaning of religious language, and life after death.
Prerequisite: none
Offered: fall (even years)

PHI 3350 ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS (3)
This course is a theoretical and practical introduction to the ethical obligations embedded in the relationship of human beings to the natural world. It will cover various theories of how we should interact with the environment and other animals. Exercises will include traditional papers as well as group projects that give students an opportunity to explore such issues in concrete ways.
Prerequisite: none

PHI 3400 MEDICAL ETHICS (3)
After a brief consideration of ethical theory, this course will examine selected ethical issues raised by clinical practice, medical theories, and biomedical research and technologies. This course does not meet the medical ethics requirement for the Methodist University Physician Assistant Program.
Prerequisite: none
Offered: fall

PHI 3600 THE MEANING OF DEATH (3)
A humanistic study of death, including discussions about the experience of dying as well as various philosophical, religious, and artistic understandings of death. Class materials will include personal and literary accounts to bring our experience of death to life.
Prerequisite: none
Cross-listed: REL 3600

PHI 4200 ETHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE (3)
A study of the basic concepts, arguments, and methods of ethics as they apply to those who work in the field of criminal justice. Students will be introduced to the classic theories of normative ethics. Emphasis is placed on the case study approach and ethical decision-making.
Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of the instructor.
Cross-listed: JUS 4200
Offered: fall

PHI 4850 SEMINAR IN PHILOSOPHY (3)
Significant works, problems, and thinkers in the field of philosophy. Can be repeated for credits. Prerequisite: permission of the division head.
Cross-listed: REL 4850 as applicable
Offered: as needed

PHI 4990 INDEPENDENT STUDY IN PHILOSOPHY (TBA)
An opportunity for a well-qualified, upper-division student to engage in special research in his/her major. Prerequisite: approval by the faculty advisor, the supervising professor, the division head, and the college dean before approval by Provost. Credits to be determined.