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Major

Major w/env. ethics concentration

Major w/religious studies concentration

Minor

Courses

Honors Program

Academic Standards

Test-out Policy

 

 


Philosophy
 (College of Letters and Science)
 Dona Warren, Chair
Room 489, Collins Classroom Center
Phone: 715-346-3340
E-mail: philosophy@uwsp.edu
Web: www.uwsp.edu/philosophy

Faculty:  
 Philosophy: D Chan, C Diehm, K Fry, J Sage, J Waligore, D Warren, D Williams.

Religious Studies: C Dempsey, D Fadner, A Keefe; J Lewis

Anthropology: S Aleman, I Choi, TH Johnson.

 

Definitions: Philosophy is the rigorous examination of issues that cannot be resolved through empirical observation or experiment, such as the status of ethical judgments, the existence of God, and what counts as good reason for belief.
     Religious Studies is the cross-cultural and comparative examination of humanity's diverse religious traditions, without privileging the truth-claims of any particular tradition.
     Anthropology studies evolution of the human species, the history and evolution of past human cultures, and present day cultures and languages.

Philosophy Major
Consists of a minimum of 27 credits including:

  1. History: Phil 325, 326, and 327.
  2. Logic: Phil 322.
  3. Value theory: One course from Phil 302, 303, 305, 307, 315, 336.
  4. Metaphysics/Epistemology: One course from Phil 306, 310, 312, 318, 320, 350, 360, 385.
  5. Seminar: Phil 490.
  6. Electives: At least 6 additional credits in philosophy which may include either 100 or 101, but not both.

Philosophy Major with Concentration in Environmental Ethics
Consists of a minimum of 33 credits including:

  1. Logic: Phil 121 or 322.
  2. History: Phil 325, 326, 327.
  3. Value theory: One course from Phil 302, 303, 305, 307, 315, 336.
  4. Environmental ethics: Phil 380 and 480.
  5. Philosophy electives: 3 credits from Phil 303, 306, 307, 315, 320, 350, 385.
  6. Interdisciplinary electives: 9 credits (at least 6 must be 300 level or higher) from: Biology 305, 308; Clinical Lab Science 395; Communication 220, 230, 240, 280; Economics 342; English 358, 363, 365, 392; Forestry 232; Geography 100, 340, 371; Geology 330; History 366, 368, 394; Natural Resources 150, 151, 320, 323, 330, 370, 395, 412, 458, 459, 460, 491, others with approval; Phil 381; Political Science 304, 305; Religious Studies 301; SHP 330; Sociology 355.

Philosophy Major with Concentration in Religious Studies
 Consists of a minimum of 33 credits including:

  1. Philosophy core, 12 credits.
  1. Logic: Phil 121 or 322.
  2. Content areas: Three additional courses in philosophy. Two must be at 300 level.
  1. Religious studies concentration, 21 credits. At least 12 must be 300 level or above.
  1. Non-Western religions: One course from Rel Std 100, 105, 316, 333 if not used in 2c, 340, 341, or Phil 105.
  2. Western religions: One course from Rel Std 101, 303, 304, 311, or 330.
  3. Approaches to the study of religion: One course from Rel Std 301, 302. 321, 333 if not used in 2a, or Anthropology 320.
  4. Senior seminar: Rel Std 450.
  5. Electives: A minimum of 9 additional credits from religious studies or collateral courses in anthropology, history, and philosophy. Collateral courses must be approved by religious studies coordinator or department chair.

Philosophy Minor
 0Consists of a minimum of 18 credits including:

  1. Logic: Philosophy 121 or 322.
  2. History: Two courses from Phil 325, 326, 327.
  3. One course at 300 level or higher, that may include 322 if 121 is taken to fulfill the logic requirement.
  4. Electives: At least 6 additional philosophy credits.

Philosophy Honors Program
The Department of Philosophy offers an honors program for students majoring in philosophy, philosophy with a concentration in environmental ethics, or philosophy with a concentration in religious studies. To apply for admission:

  1. Have at least 30 university credits.
  2. Have 6 credits in philosophy or religious studies with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
  3. Contact the department chair or department honors advisor.

Requirements for philosophy honors are:

  1. Complete all the requirements for the major with a GPA of at least 3.5 for courses in the major.

  2. Complete a minimum of 6 honors credits in philosophy and/or religious studies courses with a grade of "A Honors."
  3. Complete one credit "Independent Study: Honors Project" in Phil 399 or Rel Std 399.

Academic Standards

  1. To ensure that your program is as well planned as possible, the Philosophy Department requires each major or minor to have a departmental advisor.
  2. You must have your advisor's approval on all philosophy courses you select to apply to the major or minor.
  3. You may apply selected upper division religious studies courses with advisor approval to your philosophy major or minor if it will strengthen your program.
  4. To be accepted and retained as a major or minor and approved for graduation, you must have a minimum grade point average of 2.50 in courses counted toward the major or minor, including transfer credits and regardless of any declaration of academic bankruptcy. Courses taken pass/fail or with a grade lower than C- may not be counted toward the major or minor. You may repeat a course in the major or minor only if you follow the policy on repeating courses found in the Academic Information section of this catalog.
  5. Courses in philosophy are open to all students who meet the prerequisites.

Test-out Policy
You may apply to test out of any course in philosophy, religious studies or anthropology that meets one or more of the general degree requirements. The department chair will make arrangements for the test. You will work with a designated faculty member who will confer with you regarding date, site, question format, etc. The faculty member will prepare a comprehensive written exam, grade it and inform you in writing of your grade within two weeks of taking the exam. If you receive a grade of B or higher, the corresponding GDR requirement will be waived.

The department assumes no responsibility for preparing students for test-out examinations. You may not apply to test-out of a course in which you are currently enrolled. You may not attempt to test out of a course more than once.

Courses in Philosophy

PHIL 100. Introduction to Philosophy. 3 cr. Survey of important problems in philosophy such as the nature of reality, knowledge, and value. GDR:HU3

 

PHIL 101. Contemporary Moral Problems. 3 cr. An attempt to clarify selected contemporary moral issues by applying insights of moral philosophy and tools of critical reflection. GDR:HU3

 

PHIL 104. The Ways of Philosophy: Searching for a Worthwhile Life. 3 cr. Introduction to eastern and western ways of philosophy that have guided people throughout history.

 

PHIL 105(NW). Philosophy and Religion of India and China. 3 cr. Introduction to origin and development of Indian and Chinese thought and religion, with emphasis on Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. GDR:HU3

 

PHIL 121. Critical Thinking. 3 cr. Fundamental principles of reasoning including recognition, analysis, and evaluation of arguments. GDR:HU3

 

PHIL 199. Reading in the Discipline. 1 cr; pass/fail. Improve critical reading and thinking skills. Taken in conjunction with designated sections of philosophy courses.

 

PHIL 230(NW). Philosophy of Human Nature: Eastern and Western.
3 cr. Introduction to Eastern and Western theories about human nature, the human condition, and their ethical implications. GDR:HU3

 

PHIL 270. Liberalism, Conservatism and Democracy. 3 cr. Examine central ideologies in American politics through classic and contemporary texts. Philosophical foundations and practical applications in critical perspective. May not earn credit in both PHIL 270 and Political Science 270. GDR:HU3

 

PHIL 301. Philosophy in a Popular Mode. 3 cr. Interpret and discuss selected popular works of philosophic interest. Subtitle will designate topic. GDR:HU3

 

PHIL 302. Ethics and Medicine. 3 cr. Critical examination of ethical issues in medicine and health care. GDR:HU3

 

PHIL 303. Philosophy of Art. 3 cr. Examine traditional and contemporary theories about nature and function of art, processes of artistic creation and appreciation, and philosophical problems in art criticism.

 

PHIL 304. Ethics in Business and Economics. 3 cr. Apply ethical concepts from selected readings and case studies to business management, economic policy, and the organization of work. GDR:HU3

 

PHIL 305/505. Ethics. 3 cr. Critical examination of moral concepts and representative ethical systems. GDR:HU3

 

PHIL 306. Philosophy of Science. 3 cr. Examine scientific inquiry, including theory formation, justification and change. GDR:HU3

 

PHIL 307. Science and Value. 3 cr. Examine relationship between scientific knowledge and basic moral values. GDR:HU3

 

PHIL 310. Metaphysics. 3 cr. Philosophical theories of reality. May include personal identity, the nature of mind, substance, causation.

 

PHIL 312. Epistemology. 3 cr. Study of nature, limits, and bases of human knowledge.

 

PHIL 315/515. Philosophy of Law. 3 cr. Examine central legal concepts including natural law, and

structure of legal reasoning. GDR:HU3

 

PHIL 318. Philosophy of Language. 3 cr. Introduction to theories of meaning to explain the relationship between language and the world.

 

PHIL 320. Philosophy of Religion. 3 cr. Basic problems of the philosophy of religion such as the existence of God, the problem of evil, religious language, and immortality. GDR:HU3

 

PHIL 322. Symbolic Logic. 3 cr. Introduction to symbolic logic including truth functions, propositional logic, and introductory predicate logic.

 

PHIL325. Ancient Greek Philosophy. 3 cr. Major philosophical movements and figures from classical Greece. GDR:HU3

 

PHIL 326. 17th and 18th Century Philosophy. 3 cr. Major philosophic movements and figures from the Renaissance through Immanuel Kant. GDR:HU3

 

PHIL 327. 19th and 20th Century Philosophy. 3 cr. Major philosophic movements and figures in the 19th and 20th centuries. GDR:HU3

 

PHIL 330. Existential Philosophy. 3 cr. Phenomenology and the philosophy of human existence from Kierkegaard to Sartre. GDR:HU3

 

PHIL 336. Political and Social Philosophy. 3 cr. Historical and contemporary analyses of fundamental concepts of political and social theory including the state, law and rights, and political obligation. Prereq: So st. GDR:HU3

 

PHIL 345. Philosophy of Nature. 3 cr. Examine classical and contemporary theories of nature, including intersection of natural philosophy and environmental ethics.

 

PHIL 350. Feminist Philosophy. 3 cr. Surveys and analyzes the history of and contemporary directions in feminist philosophy.

 

PHIL 360. Philosophy and Psychotherapy. 3 cr. Examine epistemological, metaphysical and ethical issues underlying various schools of psychotherapy and study attempts to use philosophy in a psycho-therapeutic context.

 

PHIL 380. Environmental Ethics. 3 cr. Philosophical, religious, and scientific concepts and values that have structured human attitudes toward the natural environment. GDR:HU3 EL

 

PHIL 381(NW)(MNS). American Indian Environmental Philosophies.
3 cr. Examine the worldviews, environmental attitudes, and ethics of American Indians. GDR:HU3

 

PHIL 385. Philosophy of Ecology. 3 cr. Explore conceptual issues in ecology, especially the connection between ecology and environmental ethics.

 

PHIL 392. Philosophy Internship. 1 cr; pass/fail. Intern provides small group writing and reading assistance in selected philosophy courses. Prereq: Cons instr.

 

PHIL 395/595. Philosophical Problems. 1-3 cr. Significant philosophical problem and related literature. Subtitle will designate area. Prereq: 3 cr in philosophy or cons instr.

 

PHIL 399. Independent Study. 1-3 cr. Independent study of a philosophical problem, theme, thinker, or period with cons instr and chair. Credit based on scope of project.

 

PHIL 480/680. Advanced Environmental Ethics. 3 cr. Advanced study of ethical relationships between humans and the nonhuman world. Prereq: (Undergrads only) 380 or cons instr.

 

PHIL 490/690. Seminar. 3 cr. Intensive study of a major philosophic figure or topic. Subtitle will designate topic. Prereq: Cons instr.

 

Philosophy Latent Courses:  Not offered recently. See full course description in indicated (xx-xx) catalog.

  • 338          Chinese Philosophy, 3 cr, (95-97)

  • 340          American Philosophy, 3 cr, (95-97)

 

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