Course Descriptions

PHIL 102: Reason & Rhetoric
May be used as core credit in J-3-a. Form and style of argumentative discourse; development of critical thinking and rhetorical skills as students prepare and deliver written and oral presentations; construction, evaluation, and presentation of arguments; identification of arguments and fallacies to improve abilities to organize thoughts, express them clearly and simply, and judge the suitability of material for the audience. Instructors: Jay Feldman

PHIL 103: Ethics
May be used as core credit in J-3-d. Introduction to philosophical reasoning through historical study of Western moral thought. Instructors: J. Carl Mickelsen, Jason Johnstone-Yellin

PHIL 201: Critical Thinking
May be used as core credit in J-3-d. Acquiring and improving important skills of thinking, reading, and writing critically; emphasis on avoiding fallacies and mastering forms of valid argument in ordinary language. Instructor: Staff

PHIL 202: Intro to Symbolic Logic
May be used as core credit in J-3-d. Development of systematic techniques for assessing validity of arguments; includes categorical logic, propositional logic, and elementary quantificational logic. Instructors: Michael O'Rourke

Phil 204 (s): Special Topics (cr arr)
Instructor: Staff

PHIL 221: Philosophy in Film
WSU Phil 210. The use of film as "philosophical text", discussing philosophical theories and debates presented in films, both old and new. Instructors: Royce Grubic

PHIL 240: Belief and Reality
May be used as core credit in J-3-d. Introduction to epistemology (examination of grounds and limits of knowledge) and metaphysics (inquiry into the nature of reality) through historical and contemporary readings. Instructors: Michael O'Rourke

PHIL 302: Biblical Judaism
Same as RelS 302. May be used as core credit in J-3-d. Analysis of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and related texts with an emphasis on hermeneutics and thought. Instructors: Janice Capel Anderson

PHIL 303: Early Christianity
Same as RelS 303. May be used as core credit in J-3-d. Analysis of the New Testament and other early Christian texts of the first and second centuries C.E. with an emphasis on hermeneutics and thought. Instructors: Janice Capel-Anderson

PHIL 307: Buddhism
Same as RelS 307. May be used as core credit in J-3-d. Philosophy and religion of Gautama Buddha as it developed in India, Tibet, China, and Japan. Instructor: Jay Feldman

PHIL 316: Philosophies and Religions of India
WSU 314. Same as RelS. Instructors: Staff

PHIL 320: History of Ancient Philosophy
WSU Phil 290. May be used as core credit in J-3-d. Philosophical thought from the early Greeks through the Middle Ages; concentration on metaphysics and theory of knowledge. Instructors: Staff

PHIL 321: History of Modern Phil
WSU Phil 305. May be used as core credit in J-3-d. Critical evaluation of the thought of major figures in early modern philosophy, such as Descartes, Leibniz, Spinoza, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, and Kant; emphasis on metaphysics and epistemology. Instructors: Staff

PHIL WS322: 19th Century Philosophy
WSU Phil 322.The Continental, post-Kantian tradition, with emphasis on thinkers such as Hegel, Schopenhauer, Kierkegaard and Nietzsche. Taught at WSU only. Instructors: Aaron Bunch

PHIL 325(s): Historical Figures in Philosophy
Study of a major philosophical figure from the history of philosophy. May be repeated for credit. Recommended preparation: one philosophy course. Instructors: Staff

PHIL 351: Philosophy of Science
WSU Phil 351. Introduction to the critical analysis of the aims and methods of science, its principles, practices, and achievements. Prerequistes: 3 credits of philosophy or 3 credits of natural science. Instructor:

PHIL 361 (s): Professional Ethics (3 cr, max 6)
Study of ethical issues and problems arising in professions. Each section focuses on a specific area of professional ethics: bioethics; business ethics; engineering ethics; environmental and natural resource ethics; human service provider ethics; media ethics; ethics in public affairs. Prerequisite: Phil 103. Instructor: Jason Johnstone-Yellin, Janice Capel Anderson

PHIL 365: Biomedical Ethics
May be used as core credit in J-3-d. Ethical questions in the health professions and medical research, with emphasis on current dilemmas faced by physicians, nurses, medical technologists, and dentists; case analysis in context of modern ethical theory. Instructor: Staff

PHIL 367: Global Justice
Same as Soc 367. Topical study of issues of justice in the global context. Instructors: Staff

PHIL 381: American Indian Environmental Philosophy
Exploration of traditional and contemporary American Indian thought about people in relationship to the more than human world. Recommended preparation: Any courses in philosophy, religious studies, American Indian studies, or environmental studies. Instructor: Staff

PHIL 382: Philosophy of Ecology
Exploration of conceptual issues in ecology with special consideration of the connection between ecology and environmental philosophy. Recommended preparation: Any courses in philosophy, natural resources, or environmental studies. Instructor: Staff

PHIL 404 (s): Special Topics (cr arr)
Instructor: Staff

PHIL 409/509: Advanced Logic
WSU 409/509. First-order predicate logic plus some metatheory, applications, and/or extensions. Additional work required for graduate credit. Instructors: Michael O'Rourke

PHIL 413/513: Seminar in Philosophy of Religion
WSU 407/507. Same as RelS 407. Instructors: Staff

PHIL 417/517: Philosophy of Biology
WSU Phil 418. A study of selected conceptual and methodological issues biology, such as the nature of species, units of selection, and function. Prerequisites: 3 credits of philosophy and 3 credits of biology (or permission of the instructor).

PHIL WS420: Contemporary Continental Philosophy
WSU PHIL 420. Selected movements, figures, and issues in recent continental philosophy. Taught at WSU only. Instructor: Aaron Bunch

PHIL 442/542: Philosophy of Mind
WSU Phill 442. May be used as core credit in J-3-d. Survey of current philosophical theories of the nature of minds and mental states, including forms of dualism, reductive physicalism, functionalism, and eliminative materialism. Additional assignments required for graduate credit. Recommended Preparation: Phil 202 and 240. Instructors: Michael O'Rourke

PHIL 443: Philosophy of Language
WSU Phil 443. May be used as core credit in J-3-d. Philosophical thinking about meaning, reference, and truth. Recommended Preparation: Phil 202 and 240. Instructor: Michael O'Rourke

PHIL 446: Metaphysics
WSU Phil 446. Classical and contemporary readings on such items as realism versus nominalism, free will and determinism, the nature of causality, the existence of God, personal identity, modality. Recommended Preparation: Phil 202 and 240. Instructors: Michael O'Rourke, Joe Keim Campbell

PHIL 447: Theory of Knowledge
WSU Phil 447. Analysis of the nature of knowledge; survey of various philosophical positions on the sources and extent of what we know. Recommended Preparation: Phil 202 and 240. Instructors: Michael O'Rourke

PHIL 450: Ethics in Science
An investigation of social and ethical issues in scientific research and the place of ethics in a scientific worldview.

PHIL J452 / ENVS J552: Environmental Philosophy
Phil 552 same as EnvS 552. May be used as core credit in J-3-d. Philosophical examination of various ethical, metaphysical, and legal issues concerning humans, nature, and the environment; issues covered may include biodiversity and species protection, animal rights, radical ecology, environmental racism, wilderness theory, population control, and property rights. Additional projects/assignments reqd for grad credit. Instructors: Staff

PHIL 457: Natural Resource Ethics
Examination of key ethical concepts and arguments underlying all fields of natural resources. Recommended preparation: Any course in philosophy, environmental studies, or natural resources. (Spring, alt/yrs)
Instructor: Staff

PHIL ID&WS460: Ethical Theory
WSU Phil 460. Critical analysis of classical consequentialist and deontic views as well as one or more recent theories such as emotivism and prescriptivism, feminist ethics, communitarianism, or virtue ethics. Prerequisite: Phil 103. Instructors: Janice Capel-Anderson, Douglas Lind, Matt Stichter

PHIL ID&WS470: Philosophy of Law
WSU Phil 470: May be used as core credit in J-3-d. Analysis of fundamental philosophical issues in law and legal systems, including the nature of law, relation of law to morality, judicial method, and nature and ascription of rights. Recommended Preparation: Phil 103. Instructor: Douglas Lind

PHIL ID&WS480: INPC Seminar
WSU Phil 490. Focused study of the topic of the annual Inland Northwest Philosophy Conference with guest instruction by scholars from the conference. Instructor: Staff

PHIL 490: Senior Seminar
Required of all philosophy majors; capstone course devoted to mastery of the philosophical essay; topics will vary. Prerequisite: Senior standing or completion of 24 credits in philosophy. Instructor: Staff

PHIL 491: Seminar in Professional Ethics and Diversity
Same as Soc 491. Capstone course for students pursuing certificates in professional ethics or diversity. Interdisciplinary seminar culminating in research projects and presentations under the direction of faculty mentors. Prerequisite: Phil 361 or Soc 301 or Permission. Instructor: Douglas Lind, John Mihelich

PHIL 496: Teaching Methods in Philosophy (2 cr, max 4)
Learn methods of teaching while assisting in an introductory-level philosophy course. Prerequisite: four upper-division courses in philosophy, the introductory course in which the student will participate, and perm of dept. Graded P/F. Instructor: Staff

PHIL 499 (s): Directed Study (cr arr)
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Instructor: Staff

PHIL 500: Master's Research and Thesis (cr arr)

PHIL 501 (s): Seminar (cr arr)
Graded P/F. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Instructor: Staff

PHIL 502 (s): Directed Study (cr arr)

PHIL 504 (s): Special Topics
Graded P/F. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Instructor: Staff

PHIL 508 (s): Critical Theory and Continental Aesthetics
Introduction and examination of principal texts on art and aesthetics from the major figures in Critical Theory and Continental philosophy. Students will be encouraged to address the possible relevancy and application of the various theoretical frameworks within the purview of their own aesthetic and critical disciplines. Instructor: Ivan Castaneda

PHIL ID&WS510: Seminar in the History of Philosophy (3 cr, max 6)
WSU Phil 510. Systematic exploration of the central works of an individual philosopher or philosophical movement. Instructor: Staff

PHIL WS513: Seminar in Philosophy of Religion
WSU Phil 507. See Phil J413/J513

PHIL 517: Philosophy of Biology
See Phil J417/J517.

PHIL WS520: Seminar in Ethical Theory
WSU Phil 520. The major issues, views, and figures of ethical theory from ancient Greece to the present. Taught at WSU only. Instructor: Harry Silverstein

PHIL ID&WS522: Seminar in Metaphysics
WSU Phil 522. The nature of reality, through study of key concepts such as God, personhood, free will, causation, space, time, and identity. Instructors: Joe Keim Campbell, Michael O'Rourke, David Shier

PHIL ID&WS524: Seminar in Epistemology
WSU Phil 524. Classical problems, questions, and theories involving the concept of knowledge. Instructor: Joe Keim Campbell, Michael O'Rourke, David Shier

PHIL 525: Philosophy and Feminism
See Phil J425/J525. Instructor: Janice Capel Anderson

PHIL WS532: Seminar in Business Ethics
WSU Phil 532. Taught at WSU only. Instructor: Matt Stichter

PHIL WS535: Advanced Biomedical Ethics
WSU Phil 530. Taught at WSU only. Instructor: Bill Kabasenche

PHIL 542: Philosophy of Mind
See Phil J442/J542. Instructor: Michael O'Rourke

PHIL 543: Philosophy of Language
See Phil J443/J543. Instructor: Michael O'Rourke

PHIL 552: Environmental Philosophy
See Phil J452/J552. Instructor: Staff

PHIL 556: Religion and the Environment
Explores concepts of the sacred, the human, nature, their inter-relationships from several religious traditions; relates these to ecology, environmental ethics. Specific religious traditions covered may vary. Recommended Preparation: At least one 300-400 level philosophy or religious studies course. Instructor: Janice Capel-Anderson

PHIL 571: Ecological Jurisprudence
Inquiry into the nature of law as a product of culture, emphasizing property, land tenure, and environmental rights and responsibilities. Recommended Preparation: Phil 103, 452, or 470. Instructor: Douglas Lind