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Philosophy

PHIL 4XXX: PHILOSOPHY TRANSFER ELECTIVE

Credit transfered from another institution and articulated for philosophy upper division elective.

PHIL 3XXX: PHILOSOPHY TRANSFER ELECTIVE

Credit transfered from another institution and articulated for philosophy upper division elective.

PHIL 2XXX: PHILOSOPHY TRANSFER ELECTIVE

Credit transfered from another institution and articulated for philosophy lower division elective.

PHIL 1XXX: PHILOSOPHY TRANSFER ELECTIVE

Credit transfered from another institution and articulated for philosophy lower division elective.

PHIL 2003: Introduction to Philosophy

ACTS Common Course - PHIL 1103

A study of major philosophical theories and methods and their practical applications.

PHIL 2013: Religions of the World

An examination of the major historical religions according to their basic scripture, their historical development, and their contemporary ideas and practices.

PHIL 2023: Buddhist Philosophy

Offered: Spring

More than just an intellectual activity, Buddhist philosophy aims to become a way of life for all who study it. Buddhist philosophers do address theoretical questions, but their fundamental purpose is to help us live better. This course examines the basic principles of Buddhist philosophy, addresses some of Buddhist philosophy's most profound theoretical questions and asks how Buddhist ideas can improve our daily lives. This is the course to take if you want to question the reality of time and space, find out who you really are or learn how to live your life to the fullest, free of pain and suffering.

PHIL 2033: The Meaning of Life

Offered: Spring

Does life have a meaning or purpose beyond those that we find and create for ourselves? What sources of meaning and purpose can we discover that can make our lives richer and more satisfying? These two broad questions guide our inquiry into this profound subject. We are aided in our inquiry by carefully selected readings from diverse philosophical, literary and religious texts. This course is intended for those with interest in philosophy as a guide for living life. Prior knowledge of philosophy is not required.

PHIL 2043: Honors Introduction to Philosophy

Prerequisites: Admission to University Honors or permission of University Honors Director.

A study of major philosophical theories and methods and their practical applications. Special emphasis will be placed on critical thinking and in-class discussion.

PHIL 2053: Introduction to Critical Thinking

ACTS Common Course - PHIL 1003

The course will initiate the student in the art of analyzing and evaluating his or her thinking in order to make it more potent and persuasive. Topics will include the analysis of argument, the theory of definition, the experimental method of inquiry, and the informal fallacies.

PHIL 2253: Survey of Western Political Thought

Cross-listed: POLS 2253

An introduction to the subfield of political theory, examining the works of major political thinkers from ancient Greece to the present.

PHIL 3003: Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy

An examination of the thought of the leading philosophers of ancient Greece and Rome - the Pre Socratics, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and representatives of the Stoic and Epicurean traditions.

PHIL 3023: Ethics

An introduction to the problems of formulating and validating principles definitive of "the good" in respect to ends, means, and norms of human behavior.

PHIL 3033: Philosophy of Art

An investigation of representative historical theories of beauty, the nature and social significance of art, standards of criticism, and epistemological aspects of the creative process.

PHIL 3043: Health Care Ethics

Offered: Spring

This course examines what ethics requires of healthcare professionals, from physicians and nurses to therapists, social workers, administrators and policy makers. While students gain a firm grasp of general principles, including permission, non-maleficence, beneficence and justice, our focus is on specific questions of right and wrong faced by clinical practitioners and the professionals who support them. We assess the medical, legal, social, political and economic dimensions of real-world cases. Topics covered include decisional capacity, surrogate decision makers, informed consent, disclosure and confidentiality, addiction, refusal of life-saving treatment, physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia.

PHIL 3053: Philosophy of Religion

A consideration of historical and contemporary studies in religious thought, including basic conceptions of the divine, the human engagement with the divine, and the nature and destiny of man within diverse eschatological perspectives.

PHIL 3063: Modern Political Thought

Cross-listed: POLS 3063

An examination of the major contributions to political thought during the Modern Era.

Note: Completion of POLS 2253 recommended.

PHIL 3073: Philosophy of Law

An introduction to that branch of philosophy which investigates the nature of law (analytic jurisprudence) and the values and norms that inform legal decision-making and practices (normative jurisprudence). The philosophy of law also includes examinations of specific legal domains, such as theories of punishment in criminal law and theories of liability in tort law.

PHIL 3083: Leadership Ethics

Offered: Fall

This course is designed to help students to develop as leaders and to prepare them to have a positive influence on others at Arkansas Tech as well as throughout their lives. Using an interdisciplinary approach, students will deepen and broaden their learning about theories, models, and constructs related to the study and practice of ethics and leadership while examining compelling contemporary questions and dilemmas. Students will develop strategies and ways of thinking when faced with ethically complex dilemmas in the leadership process.

The focus is on "ethical fitness" each student can develop over time. The learning activities are designed to assist each student to better understand the ways in which they are already making ethical decisions and to promote reflection and dialogue in order to help each other think about ethical leadership in even deeper, more complex ways. Ethical development is a lifelong process!

Learners will explore the intersections of the concepts of ethics and leadership from a wide range of disciplines, contexts, and professions. Questions explored during the course include:

How are values and ethics established in individuals and organizations?
Is ethical leadership desirable and necessary?
How does ethical leadership apply to me?
What are some helpful approaches to ethical questions?
What are the responsibilities of leaders to establish ethical climates in their organizations and communities?
What are the tensions between ethics and leadership?
Are there universal values and ethical principles in leadership?
How does culture influence ethics and leadership?

PHIL 3103: Logic

A study of the principles of deductive reasoning. Topics include immediate inference, the syllogism, truth functions, natural deduction, quantification, and fallacies.

PHIL 3123: Environmental Ethics

This upper-division course introduces students to contemporary ethical concerns around relations between human behavior and environmental conditions. Critical reasoning skills are stressed, as are verbal and written communication skills. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate familiarity with current debates in environmental ethics, rigorously analyze competing ethical arguments within those debates and reach ethically defensible conclusions. Topics covered may include air pollution, water pollution, acid rain and forest death, waste, chemical fears, biodiversity, and global climate change.

PHIL 3253: Classical Political Thought

Cross-listed: POLS 3253

An examination of the major contributions to political thought during the Classical Age, the Medieval Era, and the Renaissance.

Note: Completion of POLS 2253 recommended.

PHIL 4093: American Philosophy

Cross-listed: HIST 4223

An examination of the main currents of American philosophical and religious thought from the earliest times to the present.

PHIL 4103: Advanced Logic

Cross-listed: MATH 4203

Prerequisites: COMS 2903 or MATH 2703 or PHIL 3103

A study of selected topics in advanced logic. Emphasis will be placed on proof theory, quantification theory, semantic tableaux, logicism, theories of completeness and consistency, and some consideration of the logical foundations mathematics.

PHIL 4233: American Political Thought

Cross-listed: HIST/POLS 4233

The background and development of American political ideas from the colonial period to the present. Emphasis is placed on colonial political theory, the Founding, conflict and consensus prior to the Civil War, the response to industrialization, the rise of the positive state, nationalism, the New Left and New Right, and current trends.

PHIL 4951: Undergraduate Research in Philosophy

Offered: On demand

Prerequisite: Departmental approval

Advanced students carry out independent research activity relating to a significant problem in a major field of study. Supervised by faculty member. Formal report and presentation required. One to four credits depending on problem selected and effort made.

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