Current Course Offerings

Bertrand Russell (1872-1970)*

The following are the philosophy courses being offered in the Fall 2009 semester. For general descriptions of all the courses offered by the department, see the UL Lafayette course catalog.

Please note that PHIL 231, 234 and 235 are courses in Religious Studies rather than Philosophy, despite having the 'PHIL' prefix.

FALL 2009

PHILOSOPHY COURSES:

Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL 101    Sec 001    ID#:  218205  Dr. Barbara Conner   MWF 10:00-10:50    HLG 505
PHIL 101    Sec 002    ID#: 218206   Dr. Barbara Conner   MWF 11:00-11:50    HLG 505

Discussion and readings about classic philosophical questions, such as "Does God exist?"; "Do we exist, and does the world exist, and if so, how do we prove it?"; "How do we find truth?"; "What is the right thing to do?"; "What is the best political system?"; and "What is the meaning of life?"

PHIL 101    Sec 003    ID#: 218204    Elizabeth Trigg   TR 9:30 – 10:45    HLG 423

The purpose of this course will be to introduce you to some of the central questions of philosophy, rather than focusing on particular texts and thinkers.  We will use the questions to examine a variety of theories, and enable you to identify the main philosophical issues.  It will serve as a foundation for further study in various disciplines, and will sharpen your critical thinking and writing skills.  The kinds of questions we will be considering include: Is there life after death?; Why should we be moral?; Do we really have free will?; How can we really know anything?  So, if you have ever wondered what it all means, then this course is for you.

Honors: Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL 151    Sec 001    ID#:  218208    Dr  Istvan Berkeley       TR    2:00 – 3:15    HLG 505

This course will provide students with an introduction to the discipline of philosophy. A brief overview of philosophical methodology and useful research skills will be offered. Students will also have the opportunity to study one major philosophical work in detail. The class will then consider philosophical reflections on a range of topics. These topics will include the existence of God, the philosophy of science, the relationship between mind and body, and how society should be correctly structured. Other topics may also be considered, dependent upon student interest.

Critical Thinking
PHIL 202    Sec 001    ID#:  218209   Dr Steve Giambrone    TR    9:30 – 10:45    HLG 505
PHIL 202    Sec 002    ID#:  218210   Dr Steve Giambrone    TR    11:00 – 12:15    HLG 505

An introduction to critical thinking, inductive logic, logical fallacies, and basic forms of valid reasoning.  Coreq:  Eligibility for ENGL 101

Practical Argumentation
PHIL 210    Sec 001    ID#:  218211   Dr Keith Korcz    MWF    11:00 – 11:50    HLG 504

How can people believe they've been abducted by UFOs? ESP? Psychic surgery and other quack medicines? Creationism? We'll examine each of these issues and more in light of inductive logic and the fundamental principles of scientific explanation. No prerequisites.  Course Home Page: http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~kak7409/210Home.html

Ethics
PHIL 314 Sec 001   ID#: 218214   Dr. Jonathan Trigg    TR 19:30-10:45   HLG 504

Contemporary moral philosophy is structured largely by a three way debate between Kantians, Utilitarians and Aristotelians. Kantians and Utilitarians disagree about what makes certain actions right or wrong (Kant thinks that an action is wrong if it is inconsistent with respecting the rationality and autonomy of those it effects, Utilitarians (like Bentham and Mill) think an action is wrong if it is not the best thing we could have done for the community as a whole). Aristotle, on the other hand, thinks questions about right conduct are not as important as questions about good character; he asks instead, ‘what kind of life is the most desirable or excellent?’. His answer makes possession of the virtues (benevolence, courage, loyalty, honesty etc.) into a necessary condition of living the kind of life we most want to lead. The course is open to all but is particularly suitable for those who have already taken my Phil. 101 course.

Professional Ethics

PHIL 316    Sec U01    ID#: 218223   Dr Richard Baggett        MW     4:00 – 5:15          HLG 505
PHIL 316    Sec 001    ID#:  218215   Dr Richard Baggett        MWF    10:00 – 10:50    HLG 422
PHIL 316    Sec 002    ID#:  218216   Dr Richard Baggett        MWF    11:00 – 11:50    HLG 422
PHIL 316    Sec 003    ID#:  218227   Dr Richard Baggett        MWF    12:00 – 1:15      HLG 505
PHIL 316    Sec 004    ID#:  212818   Dr Richard Baggett        MW    2:30-3:45              HLG 505
PHIL 316    Sec 005    ID#:  218219   Dr. Brooke Hamilton      TR     2:00-3:15               FGM 215
PHIL 316    Sec 006    ID#:  218220   Dr. Brooke Hamilton      TR    11:00 – 12:15        FGM 215
PHIL 316    Sec 007    ID#:  218221   Elizabeth Trigg               TR     11:00-12:15          HLG 424
PHIL 316    Sec 008    ID#: 218222    Elizabeth Trigg               TR     2:00-3:15               HLG 424
   
 Prerequisite: ENGL 102.

Plato, Aristotle and the Ancients
PHIL 321    Sec 001    ID#:  218224   Dr  Istvan Berkeley   TR  11:00 – 12:15    HLG 128

This course will examine the philosophy of the ancient world. Important aspects of the philosophy of the Pre-Socratic philosophers, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle will all be covered.

Philosophy of Mind
PHIL 340    Sec 001    ID#:  218225   Dr. Jonathan Trigg    TR 11:00 – 12:15    HLG 504

Philosophy of Science
PHIL 342    Sec 001    ID#: 218226    Dr Steve Giambrone    TR    12:30 – 1:45    HLG 505

What is Science?  Are some theories scientific and others not?  Are those others simply irrational?  Do the sciences give us knowledge, or even rational beliefs?  Or are they glorified myths?  Do such things as quarks, libidos, and genes really exist?  Can all of our theories be reduced to just one basic theory, like physics?  These and other important questions about science will be addressed.  This course can be used toward a minor in Cognitive Science.
 

Topics in Philosophy: Philosophy of Language

PHIL 371   Sec 001   ID#: 218227      Dr. Jonathan Trigg       TR 2:00 - 3:15      HLG 504

How does thought stand to language, and how does linguistically expressed thought stand to the world? Traditionally, thought was conceived as something psychological and private – the sort of thing to which only introspection gives us access. If we conceive thought like this however, it becomes very difficult to understand how thoughts can be shared and how thoughts can put us into cognitively significant contact with objective reality. If thought is essentially linguistic, however, and if language is essentially public and historical, then perhaps we will be able to understand how communication and truth is possible after all. If that is right, then, far from abandoning the traditional problems of philosophy by focusing so narrowly on problems about language, twentieth century philosophers like Frege, Russell, Kripke and Putnam, might just have showed us how to solve them at last. If you want to know what the greatest minds of the twentieth century have been thinking about, you need to take this course.

Metaphysics
PHIL 402   Sec 001   ID#: 218228   Dr Keith Korcz    MW  1:00-2:15   HLG 502

Do we have free will? What is truth? Do mathematical objects or fictional characters exist? If so, where are they? When a person changes, we say he or she has become different, but we also identify him or her as the same person. Are these two characterizations consistent? What are possibilities? Do possible worlds exist? We'll explore answers to these and other questions in metaphysics. Prerequisite: six hours in philosophy. See the course home page at http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~kak7409/402Home.html.

RELIGIOUS STUDIES COURSES:

Topics in World Religions: Christian Mysticism

PHIL 231    Sec 001    ID#: 218212   Rusty Chastant            MWF 10:00 – 10:50    HLG 504

Gain a greater knowledge and appreciation of Christian mysticism and the major mystics and their teachings, and see how they have had a profound influence on the faith community from early Christianity through the modern era.

Introduction to the Old Testament
PHIL 234    Sec 001    ID#: 218223   Rusty Chastant    MWF    9:00 – 9:50    HLG 505

* Photo courtesy of The Bertrand Russell Archives at McMaster University.

©  Copyright 2001 by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Philosophy Department, P.O. Box 43770, Lafayette, LA  70504-3770 Telephone:  337-482-5401