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|
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
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
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.
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
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* 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