Philosophy & Religious Studies
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Religion: Spring Term List of Classes R 201D, INTRO TO WORLD RELIGIONS: EASTERN (3) Philosophy Philosophy Classes: An introduction to the major religions of the Far East: Confucianism, Taoism, Hinduism and the Buddhism of PHL 101, INTRO; KNOWLEDGE & REALITY & India, Tibet and Japan (Zen). This course is compara- PHL 102, INTRO: PERSONAL MORALITY & SOCIAL tive and taught from a broad historical and sociologi- JUSTICE Religious Studies cal perspective, and does not endorse any particular faith tradition. PHL 103, INTRODUCTION TO LOGIC PHL 251, ETHICS CRN 30809, MWF, 1:00-1:50 pm, Dr. Ken Kirby PHL 263, PHILOSOPHY OF MIND PHL 283, PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION R 202D, INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS (3) An introduction to major world religious traditions PHL 316, CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY (Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, PHL 350, SOCIAL 7 POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY Islam), which examines both basic beliefs and ritual practices of each tradition. Origins and histories of PHL 370, PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE these traditions are covered, as well as their contin- PHL 380, PHILOSOPHY OF LAW Spring 2018—2019 ued practice in contemporary society. CRN 30810, TR, 9:30-10:50 am, Dr. Ken Kirby Spring Registration Begins: Religion Classes: Monday, February 25, 2019 R 201D, INTRO TO WORLD RELIGIONS: EASTERN (3) R 202D, INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS (3) Spring Classes Begin: Monday, April 1, 2019 Western Oregon University Bellamy Hall, Humanities Division 345 N. Monmouth Avenue Monmouth, OR 97361 Division Office: HSS 313 Phone: 503-838-8408 Department Chair: Susan Daniel Division Chair: Dr. Carol Harding Philosophy: PHL 101, INTRO TO PHILOSOPHY: KNOWLEDGE AND REALITY (3) This course is an introduction to philosophical reflection Spring Courses on the fundamental nature of reality (assuming that there is such a thing), on our knowledge of it (assuming that we PHL 350, SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY (3) know anything in the first place), and on the justification of that knowledge (assuming that the justification of our In the Spring of 2019, the first half of PHL350 will knowledge claims is something worth pursuing). PHL 283, PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION (3) survey the main political philosophies relevant for establishing western democracies: Thomas Hobbes’ CRN 30798, MWF, 10:00-10:50 am, Dr. Ken Kirby Does God exist? Do many gods exist? Or do no gods Leviathan, and John Locke’s Second Treatise of CRN 31529, MWF, 11:00-11:50 am, Dr. Ken Kirby exist? What arguments can be used to support or oppose Government. The second half of the course will be the existence of God(s). If a God exists, what would God applied to more contemporary justifications of state be like? All knowing? All powerful? All good? Can one authority: John Rawls' magisterial Theory of Justice, PHL 263, PHILOSOPHY OF MIND (3) being be all three of these and still allow evil to exist? and Robert Nozick's Anarchy, State, and Utopia, Can human beings have free will if God is all-knowing? representative of welfarist and libertarian Is your mind the same thing as your brain? Or is it a sepa- This course will present and analyze the various argu- philosophies, respectively. No prerequisites. rate thing? Is it simply what your brain does? Or is it ments for the existence of God, and some traditional something more? This course covers philosophical ques- problems CRN 31533, TR, 2:00-3:20 pm, Dr. Ryan Hickerson tions about mental states and the relation of mind to associated with God. brain. In the Spring of 2019 it will also cover several re- cent attempts to explain the nature of conscious- CRN 30804, TR, 12:30-1:50 pm, Dr. Ken Kirby ness. Topics include dualism and various forms of materi- PHL 380, PHILOSOPHY OF LAW (3) alism, behaviorism, Note: Three to six hours of mind-body identity theories, and functionalism, lower-division philosophy recommended as background In this course, we will discuss various philosophical including the nature and content of mental states. The for upper-division courses. problems in and apply philosophical methods to the principal text will be David Chalmers’ (ed.) Philosophy of study of the law. We will discuss the nature of law, the Mind. Prior experience with philosophy or psychology not connection between law and morality, the justification required. PHL 370, PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE (3) of punishment. While we will spend the most time on issues in criminal law, paying particular attention to CRN 31532, MWF, 3:00-3:50 pm, Dr. Ryan Hickerson What is science? Is it objective? Does science really philosophical problems regarding the excuses of progress? Are there really scientific ‘laws’? This course self-defense and the insanity defense, we will also will investigate theoretical issues of science and scientific examine philosophical issues in constitutional and methodology, such as scientific explanation, the structure private law. We will examine questions of how far of theories, nature of scientific laws, revolutions in basic freedoms are to be tolerated, for example, asking “ The unexamined life is not worth living.” science, and the distinction between observation and whether pornography, flag-burning, and so-called 'hate theory. It will also include sections on science vs. speech' are criminal acts or protected by the - Socrates pseudo-science, and creationism vs. evolution. Constitution. We will examine in particular the issue of a constitutional right to privacy, and briefly deal with CRN 31534,MWF, 11:00-11:50 am, Dr. Mark Perlman philosophical issues in tort and contract law. CRN 31535, MWF, 10:00-10:50, Dr. Mark Perlman .