Philosophy Courses Offered
on UW Colleges Campuses
PHI 101 Introduction to Philosophy 3 cr. An introduction to philosophy as the activity
of clarifying ideas, developing positions, and evaluating arguments on problems
such as what is, what ought to be, freedom, God and knowledge. Some reference
to positions of leading figures and schools of thought in the history of
philosophy is usually involved. HU
PHI 102 Social and Political Philosophy 3 cr. Studies of differing philosophical views
about humankind and its political and social life. HU
PHI 103 Belief, Knowledge and Truth 3 cr. Study of the grounds of rational belief and
knowledge and the methods used for obtaining them, with particular emphasis on
problems of evidence and truth. HU
PHI 106 Philosophy of Religion 3 cr. An introduction to the problems inherent in
defining the nature of religious experience and analyzing the concepts needed
to explicate and communicate that experience, together with an analysis of
various religious assumptions. HU
PHI 201 Asian Philosophy 3 cr. An introduction to
Asian philosophy through a study of opposing views about knowledge, nature,
society and the individual. Areas of emphasis may include Chinese, Indian,
Japanese and Muslim thought. HU
PHI 202 Feminist Philosophy 3 cr (Same as WOM 202).
An introduction to feminist philosophies through a study and critique of
traditional and feminist views about women, their lives, society and knowledge,
with particular attention to theories of women's oppression. HU
PHI 203 American Indian Philosophies 3 cr. A study of
philosophical aspects of American Indian world views and practices--including a
study of myth, ritual and ceremony--with an emphasis on systems of knowledge,
explanations of natural phenomena, social and life cycle philosophies, and
relations to nature. Attention will be given to historical and contemporary
relations between American Indian and White cultures. HU/ES
PHI 210Thinking Critically 3 cr. Argument in familiar
contexts; emphasis on improving the student's skills in making and evaluating
arguments. AP
PHI 211 Elementary Logic 3 cr. Principles, standards
and methods of distinguishing good reasoning from bad, as applied to deductive
and inductive inferences. The course largely consists of substituting symbols
for statements in arguments and understanding and assessing the logical
structure of these arguments. May include a discussion of the nature and
detection of fallacies and linguistic pitfalls affecting reasoning. MS
PHI 220 Philosophy of Science 3 cr. An introduction
to the presuppositions underlying the natural and social sciences; their nature
and function, the logic of scientific method and analysis of basic concepts
such as cause, probability, determinism and teleology. HU
PHI 226 Philosophical Ideas in Literature 3 cr. A
study of philosophical and moral ideas as embodied in selected works of
literary art: aesthetic analysis of their structure and content. HU
PHI 230 The Biological Revolution: Directing our Destiny
3 cr. (Same as BIO 230). Combines significant elements from biology, philosophy
and psychology. This course involves a multidisciplinary exploration of the
ethical and practical implications of current developments and applications in
the areas of molecular genetics, reproductive biology and sociobiology. HU
PHI 231 Feminism, Equality and Public Policy 3
cr. (Same as WOM 231 and POL 231). This
course involves a discussion and examination of the issues which generate
public policy such as affirmative action, comparable worth, pornography,
abortion etc. from the viewpoint of philosophy and political science. HU
PHI 232 Nature and Culture: The Eighteenth century 3
cr. This course involves participants from several disciplines, representing
the humanities, social sciences, fine arts and natural sciences. The course
emphasizes philosophy, literature, art, science and technology in the
eighteenth century. HU
PHI 240 Existentialism 3 cr. An introduction to
existential philosophy through critical examination of philosophical problems
found in the writings of selected existential philosophers from Kierkegaard to
the present. HU
PHI 241 Ethics 3 cr.
Nature of moral problems and of ethical theory, varieties of moral skepticism,
practical ethics and the evaluation of social institutions. HU
PHI 243 Business Ethics 3 cr. Critical discussion of ethical reasoning and
moral values in business and industry; includes relevant case studies and
readings. HU
PHI 244 Environmental Ethics 3 cr. Philosophical
examination of both traditional and recent concepts and values which structure
human attitudes towards the natural environment. HU
PHI 248 Biomedical Ethics 3 cr. Study of ethical issues pertaining to
medicine and related biological sciences. Issues covered usually include
abortion, euthanasia, truth telling, confidentiality, experimentation on human
subjects, behavior modification genetic engineering, criteria of death, organ
transplants, professional relationships and professional duties. HU
PHI 253 Philosophy of the Arts 3 cr. Examination of production, appreciation and
criticism of works of art; sources and uses of standards. HU
PHI 258 Human Nature, Religion and Society 3 cr. Study and Critique of the views of theistic and
secular writers concerning religion and its relationship to individual and
social problems. HU
PHI 291 Selected Topics in Philosophy 3 cr. Each course offering must be approved
by both the local campus and the chair of the department. Prereq: varies with
each offering. *
PHI 299 Independent Reading in Philosophy 1-3 cr.
Program must be approved by chair of the department. Prereq cons. instr. *