Academic Course Descriptions
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References to the timing of course offerings which follow
apply only to day courses. Evening and summer school course offerings
are scheduled according to need. Christian Brothers University reserves
the right to cancel classes at any time due to insufficient enrollment.
PHILOSOPHY COURSES
PHIL 201. INTRODUCTION TO LOGIC
A study of valid and fallacious reasoning, deductive and inductive.
Formal logical structures such as the syllogism will be examined, as
well as the logic of ordinary discourse and the avoidance of “informal”
fallacies. Offered in the Fall semester. One semester; three credits.
PHIL 213. FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES IN PHILOSOPHY
A course designed to introduce students to philosophical methods and
the range of philosophical inquiry. The course focuses on the philosophical
understanding of ethical, social, and religious values and deals with
topics such as the nature of reality and the basis of knowledge primarily
as these contribute to the analysis and understanding of values. One
semester; three credits
PHIL 219. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
A philosophical investigation into basic questions of politics and society
and the moral foundations of human social existence. Topics may include
human rights, equality, distributive justice, authority, punishment
and coercion, and the nature of the good or just society. (Same as CJ
219) One semester; three credits
PHIL 220. CONTEMPORARY MORAL ISSUES
A philosophical examination of a number of significant and controversial
contemporary moral problems. Topics will vary but may include abortion,
capital punishment, sexual morality, animal rights, environmental ethics,
freedom of speech, discrimination, and affirmative action. The treatment
of these topics will develop in the context of the tradition of philosophical
ethics. Offered in the Spring semester. One semester; three credits
PHIL 224. THEORIES OF HUMAN NATURE
An examination of several major theories of human nature with special
emphasis on the ethical implications of these theories. A consideration
of such questions as whether humans are by nature either good or evil,
individual or social, free or determined in their actions, and whether
they have some natural purpose or end. Offered in the Fall semester.
One semester; three credits
PHIL 234. HONORS THEORIES OF HUMAN NATURE
An intensive study of classical, modern, and postmodern theories of
human nature through the reading of original texts. There will be an
emphasis on the philosophical concepts and the ethical implications
of the theories. Prerequisite: Membership in Honors Program. Offered
in the Spring semester. One semester; three credits
PHIL 317. ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY
An in-depth treatment of selected philosophers from the ancient and
medieval periods including Plato and Aristotle. Prerequisites: HUM 150
or one previous Philosophy course. One semester; three credits
PHIL 318. MODERN PHILOSOPHY
An in-depth treatment of selected philosophers from the 17th to the
19th centuries, beginning with Descartes. Does not presuppose PHIL 317.
Prerequisites: HUM 150 or one previous Philosophy course. One semester;
three credits
PHIL 320. CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY
An introduction to the major currents of 20th Century philosophical
thought in America and Europe. The focus will be on the question of
the meaning of subjective existence. Answers to this question will be
examined from the perspectives of analytic philosophy, pragmatism, existentialism,
and contemporary continental thought. Prerequisites: HUM 150 or one
previous Philosophy course. One semester; three credits
PHIL 321. SCIENCE AND HUMAN VALUES
A study of ethical and value issues relating to science. The course
will consider both the historical significance of the development of
science for the values of Western culture and the ethical and social
implications of contemporary scientific developments and practices.
Prerequisite: Junior standing. One semester; three credits
PHIL 322. MEDICAL ETHICS (Formerly PHIL
422)
A review and evaluation of various theories of moral philosophy and
an investigation into some of the current moral issues in the fields
of biology and medicine. One semester; three credits
PHIL 323. BUSINESS ETHICS
An analysis of business ethics, the responsibilities of business firms
to employees, owners, consumers, and society. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
Offered in the Fall and Spring. One semester; three credits
PHIL 324. TECHNOLOGY AND HUMAN VALUES
A philosophical examination of social and ethical issues relating to
technology. Topics include the ethical responsibilities of engineers;
ethical and social issues associated with risk assessment, environment
and resources, and technology in a global context; and the impact of
modern technology on human values. Prerequisite: Junior standing. One
semester; three credits
PHIL 325. ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
A study of ethical and social issues concerning the relation of humans
to the natural environment. Topics include the history of environmental
ethics, the application of various ethical theories and concepts to
environmental concerns, and the relevance of the scientific, technological,
economic, legal, and socio-political considerations in the analysis
of current issues in environmental ethics. One semester; three credits
PHIL 335. PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION
An examination of philosophical issues relating to religion, the concept
of God, arguments for and against God’s existence, the nature
of religious experience, knowledge, faith, the problem of evil and free
will. (Same as RS 335) One semester; three credits
PHIL 340. ETHICAL THEORY
An examination of various philosophical theories, including those of
Aristotle, Kant, and Mill, concerning moral values. Questions discussed
include the following: whether morality is best defined in terms of
rights, duties, consequences, authenticity of commitment, or models
of virtue, and whether morality can be judged by some absolute standard
or is always relative (and if so, to what?). Prerequisites: HUM 150
or one previous Philosophy course. Offered in the Fall semester. One
semester; three credits
PHIL 350. PHILOSOPHY OF THE ARTS
A study of various philosophical responses to questions concerning art.
Topics include the nature of art, the relation between different arts,
the nature of artistic creation, and the problem of evaluating works
of art. Examples from literature, music, and the visual arts. One semester;
three credits
PHIL 391-396. SPECIAL TOPICS IN ETHICS
Selected philosophical topics in the area of meta-ethics, normative
ethics, or applied ethics; content variable with instructor. Satisfies
the moral values General Education Requirement. One semester; three
credits
PHIL 491-496. SPECIAL TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY
Selected philosophical topics; content variable with instructor. One
semester each; one to three credits each
PHIL 499. SENIOR SEMINAR
The seminar, for Religion and Philosophy majors in their Senior year,
includes an independent study project on a topic related to their previous
years of study toward the major. One semester; three credits
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