(PH) Philosophy

PH 100. Introduction to Philosophy. 3 Hours.

This course is designed to confront students with perennial human questions about existence, meaning, knowledge, conduct and value, and to acquaint them with selected perspectives on these questions provided by the Western philosophical tradition. A wide range of philosophers, representing many different modes of philosophical inquiry, will be examined. Problems in the contemporary world will provide starting points for the exploration of philosophical theory.

PH 110. Introduction to Ethics. 3 Hours.

This course introduces students to important traditional ethical theories, new directions in moral thinking, and contemporary ethical controversies. It focuses on ethics as the practice of informed dialogue and principled behavior in a diverse and changing society and in the workplace.

PH 112. Professional Ethics. 3 Hours.

This course introduces students to professional ethics, the study of morality and responsibilities pertaining to professional life. Students will be introduced to the meaning and history of the term "profession" and what values distinguish it from other forms of paid work. They will be introduced to general philosophical ethics and then learn to apply those principles to cases and controversies that are common to all professions and, more specifically, to the profession of their own choosing.

PH 199. Topic/. 1-6 Hour.

This course is intended to provide the opportunity to offer advanced courses in philosophy that would not normally be a part of the Husson curriculum. As such the topics will depend upon the interests of students and faculty.

PH 203. Early Western Thought. 3 Hours.

This course focuses on the classic thinkers and schools of thought in early Western philosophy, including Plato, Aristotle, Epicureanism, Skepticism, and Stoicism. Explorations of these texts and traditions help students understand how the critical questioning done by these early thinkers still shape our conversations today about the nature of existence, truth and beauty, and the meaning of life in the face of death.

PH 204. Introduction to Asian Philosophy. 3 Hours.

This course examines the philosophical sources of Asian philosophy and religion with a focus on Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Shintoism. Through studying these sources, students develop a more full understanding of the foundations of Asian philosophy, as well as how it manifests itself in the contemporary practices of meditation and mindfulness.

PH 220. Environmental Philosophy. 3 Hours.

This course covers critical theories about the relationships and moral responsibilities of humans to their environments. Students explore questions such as: What is Nature? What is the environment? Does it have rights, especially in an age of climate change, habitat destruction, mass extinction, and global pollution? Both Western and non-Western philosophical approaches are considered.

PH 221. Bioethics. 3 Hours.

This course explores the philosophical questions and ethical concerns that arise in the contexts and practice of healthcare, medical science, biotechnology, and human research. Students use foundational philosophical traditions as well as mid-level principles in applied ethics as they consider a range of contemporary bioethical issues that arise in the beginning and end of life, genetic and reproductive technology, and the just distribution of healthcare resources.

PH 250. Contemporary Moral Problems. 3 Hours.

In this course, students learn how to think philosophically about the rightness and wrongness of acts, and the goodness and badness of the people involved in current, significant moral issues. In doing so, the class explores thoughtful questions and reasonable answers to issues such as abortion, drug policy, capital punishment, restricting speech, gun control, immigration policy, and other moral challenges that divide society. The course emphasizes locating and analyzing current and reliable information and evaluating arguments over winning debates.

PH 260. Introduction to Political Philosophy. 3 Hours.

In this course, we will engage with enduring questions in political and social philosophy such as: When does the government have legitimate authority? What is justice? How important is equality? How should governments handle religion? What is the best form of government? When, if ever, is a war morally justified? We will learn about major thinkers and movements that have proposed answers to these perennial questions and shape the world in which we live today.

PH 261. What Matters? Existentialism and Its Discontents. 3 Hours.

This class traces the source of existential ideas—the ideas which ask questions such as, who am I?, what am I to do?, and why is there something instead of nothing?—and examine how they impact our lives today. Existential philosophy is the fundamental philosophy of our time, and raises questions surrounding ethics and authenticity, as well as ideas surrounding the good life. Students in this class read both the philosophy of existentialism as well as a selection of its most famous literature.

PH 299. Topic/. 1-6 Hour.

This course is intended to provide the opportunity to offer advanced courses in philosophy that would not normally be a part of the Husson curriculum. As such the topics will depend upon the interests of students and faculty.

PH 499. Topic/. 3 Hours.

This course is intended to provide the opportunity to offer advanced courses in philosophy that would not normally be a part of the Husson curriculum. As such the topics will depend upon the interests of students and faculty.