The Washington State University Pullman Catalog

Courses with the PHIL Subject

The online catalog includes the most recent changes to courses and degree requirements that have been approved by the Faculty Senate, including changes that are not yet effective.

Courses

The online catalog includes the most recent changes to courses and degree requirements that have been approved by the Faculty Senate, including changes that are not yet effective. Courses showing two entries of the same number indicate that the course information is changing. The most recently approved version is shown first, followed by the older version, in gray, with its last-effective term preceding the course title. Courses shown in gray with only one entry of the course number are being discontinued. Course offerings by term can be accessed by clicking on the term links when viewing a specific campus catalog.


Philosophy (PHIL)

Spring 2024 Summer 2024 Fall 2024 


101 [HUM] Introduction to Philosophy 3 Nature and place of philosophy in human thought; problems and achievements. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer.

103 [HUM] Introduction to Ethics 3 Ethics through analysis of contemporary moral and social issues. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer.

200 [WRTG] Critical Thinking and Writing 3 Application of critical thinking skills to essay writing. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer.

201 [QUAN] Introduction to Formal Logic 3 Course Prerequisite: MATH 101 with a C or better, MATH 103 with a C or better, a minimum ALEKS math placement score of 40%, or higher level MATH. Core logical concepts and formal syntax, semantics and proof procedures for categorical, propositional, and basic predicate logic. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer.

207 [HUM] Philosophy of Religion 3 Critical inquiry into the existence and nature of God; the problem of evil; the relation of faith and reason; immortality and miracles. Typically offered Fall and Summer. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

210 [HUM] Philosophy in Film 3 The use of film as philosophical text. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer.

220 [HUM] Philosophy of Food 3 Philosophical issues concerning the nature, production, and distribution of food, including ethical, aesthetic, metaphysical, and/or social/political dimensions of food.

280 Islam in Theory and Practice 3 Fundamental principles of Islam, including the relation between faith and practice, and the social, economic, political, and judicial systems in Islam. (Crosslisted course offered as PHIL 280, ASIA 280). Typically offered Spring.

280 (Effective through Summer 2024) [HUM] Islam in Theory and Practice 3 Fundamental principles of Islam, including the relation between faith and practice, and the social, economic, political, and judicial systems in Islam. (Crosslisted course offered as PHIL 280, ASIA 280). Typically offered Spring.

314 [M] Philosophies and Religions of India 3 Metaphysical, epistemological, ethical, aesthetic, social, and political views of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam, and their influence on Indian civilization. (Crosslisted course offered as PHIL 314, ASIA 314). Typically offered Spring and Summer.

314 (Effective through Summer 2024) [HUM] [M] Philosophies and Religions of India 3 Metaphysical, epistemological, ethical, aesthetic, social, and political views of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam, and their influence on Indian civilization. (Crosslisted course offered as PHIL 314, ASIA 314). Typically offered Spring and Summer.

315 [M] Philosophies and Religions of China and Japan 3 The philosophies and religions of China and Japan, and their metaphysical, epistemological, ethical, social, and political positions and views of God and gods. (Crosslisted course offered as PHIL 315, ASIA 315). Typically offered Fall and Summer.

315 (Effective through Summer 2024) [HUM] [M] Philosophies and Religions of China and Japan 3 The philosophies and religions of China and Japan, and their metaphysical, epistemological, ethical, social, and political positions and views of God and gods. (Crosslisted course offered as PHIL 315, ASIA 315). Typically offered Fall and Summer.

320 [M] History of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy 3 Course Prerequisite: 3 hours PHIL. Pre-Socratics, Plato, Aristotle; post-Aristotelian philosophy to the Renaissance. Typically offered Fall. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

321 History of Modern Philosophy 3 Course Prerequisite: 3 hours PHIL. Renaissance, 17th and 18th century philosophers. Typically offered Fall and Spring. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

322 Nineteenth-century Philosophy 3 Course Prerequisite: 3 hours PHIL. The Continental, post-Kantian tradition, with emphasis on thinkers such as Hegel, Schopenhauer, Kierkegaard and Nietzsche. Typically offered Fall and Spring. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

333 Development of Marxist Thought 3 Marxist theory from the original writing of Marx and Engels to contemporary developments. (Crosslisted course offered as POL S 333, PHIL 333).

350 Philosophy of Science 3 Purpose and logical structure of science; human implications. Typically offered Fall and Spring. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

360 [HUM] Business Ethics 3 The principles of ethics as applied to specific problems in business faced by individuals and corporate institutions. Typically offered Spring.

365 [HUM] Biomedical Ethics 3 Ethical problems in medicine and biological research. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer.

370 [HUM] Environmental Ethics 3 Explores the obligations we have regarding non-human parts of the environment and the justification for those obligations. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer.

390 Topics in Philosophy 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Typically offered Spring.

401 Advanced Formal Logic 3 First-order predicate logic plus some metatheory, applications and/or extensions. Credit not granted for both PHIL 401 and PHIL 501. Recommended preparation: PHIL 201. Offered at 400 and 500 level. Typically offered Fall and Spring. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

406 Philosophy and Race 3 Course Prerequisite: 3 hours in PHIL or CES 201. Examination of race within western philosophy including work of philosophers of color and analysis of the category race. (Crosslisted course offered as CES 406, PHIL 406). Typically offered Spring.

407 Seminar in Philosophy of Religion 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Advanced topic-driven seminar. Critical analysis of traditional and contemporary religions and religious phenomena. Credit not granted for both PHIL 407 and PHIL 507. Offered at 400 and 500 level. Typically offered Spring. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

413 [CAPS] Science and Religion 3 Course Prerequisite: 3 credits PHIL; 3 credits [BSCI] or [PSCI]; junior standing. Methodological comparison and philosophical investigation of the relation between religion and natural science and related issues. Typically offered Odd Years - Spring.

420 Existentialism and Continental Philosophy 3 Selected movements, figures, and issues in recent continental philosophy. Recommended preparation: PHIL 320, 321 or 322. Typically offered Spring. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

421 Kant 3 Course Prerequisite: 3 hours PHIL. Exploration of Kant's philosophy and the philosophies heavily influenced by Kant. Typically offered Fall and Spring. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

425 Philosophy and Feminism 3 Course Prerequisite: PHIL 101, WGSS 101, or WGSS 120. Feminist philosophy as critique of Western philosophical tradition and as alternate framework for thought. (Crosslisted course offered as PHIL 425, POL S 425, WGSS 425.) Typically offered Fall and Spring.

431 Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art 3 Course Prerequisite: 3 hours PHIL; junior standing. Philosophical exploration of aesthetics experience and any or all of the arts; emphasis on value considerations and comparisons of differing media. Typically offered Fall and Spring. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

435 East/West Philosophy of Architecture 3 Course Prerequisite: Junior standing. East/West philosophies and their impact on understanding of nature and architecture. Typically offered Fall.

437 [HUM] Classical Political Thought 3 The development of political philosophy from the pre-Socratics to Machiavelli. (Crosslisted course offered as POL S 437, PHIL 437).

438 [EQJS] [M] Contemporary Political Theories of Power, Oppression, and Resistance 3 Exploration of three paradigms in contemporary political theory - critical theory, post-structuralism, and feminist theory - for an understanding of power, oppression, and possibilities for more just societies. (Crosslisted course offered as POL S 438, PHIL 438).

442 [CAPS] [M] Philosophy of Mind 3 Course Prerequisite: 3 hours PHIL; junior standing. Theories of mind, self, mental acts, psychological states and artificial intelligence. Typically offered Fall and Spring. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

443 [M] Philosophy of Language 3 Course Prerequisite: 3 hours PHIL. Investigation of philosophical issues concerning meaning, reference, truth, the nature of language, and the relation between language and thought. Credit not granted for both PHIL 443 and PHIL 543. Offered at 400 and 500 level. Typically offered Fall. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

446 Metaphysics 3 Course Prerequisite: 3 hours PHIL. Issues and theories concerning free will and determinism, the nature of truth, the existence of God, space, time and identity. Typically offered Fall and Spring. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

447 Theory of Knowledge 3 Course Prerequisite: 3 hours PHIL. Problems and theories concerning skepticism, the nature and scope of knowledge, a priori knowledge, and induction. Typically offered Fall and Spring. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

450 [HUM] Data Analytics Ethics 3 Course Prerequisite: Junior standing. Ethical issues concerning the collection, use, and dissemination of data. Typically offered Spring.

460 [M] Ethical Theory 3 Course Prerequisite: 3 hours PHIL. Problems of ethical theory as treated by historical and contemporary philosophers. Typically offered Fall. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

462 [M] Women and Ethics 3 Course Prerequisite: PHIL 101, WGSS 101, or WGSS 120. Study of gender and feminism and their effect on contemporary ethical theories and issues. (Crosslisted course offered as WGSS 462, PHIL 462.) Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

470 Philosophy of Law 3 Course Prerequisite: 3 hours PHIL or POL S. Selected topics pertaining to moral and philosophical evaluation of law. Credit not granted for both PHIL 470 and PHIL 570. Offered at 400 and 500 level. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

472 [M] Social and Political Philosophy 3 Course Prerequisite: 3 hours PHIL or POL S. Problems of normative social and political theories; historical and contemporary philosophers. Typically offered Fall and Spring. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

475 [CAPS] Zombie Apocalypse 3 Course Prerequisite: Junior standing. Uses zombies to model responses to global pandemics and critically assesses awareness of pandemic threats in contemporary popular culture. Typically offered Fall.

499 Special Problems V 1-4 May be repeated for credit. Course Prerequisite: By department permission. Independent study conducted under the jurisdiction of an approving faculty member; may include independent research studies in technical or specialized problems; selection and analysis of specified readings; development of a creative project; or field experiences. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer. S, F grading.

501 Advanced Formal Logic 3 First-order predicate logic plus some metatheory, applications and/or extensions. Credit not granted for both PHIL 401 and PHIL 501. Recommended preparation: PHIL 201. Offered at 400 and 500 level. Typically offered Fall and Spring. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

504 Special Topics in Philosophy 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Intensive study of a special topic not otherwise covered in depth in the curriculum. Typically offered Spring. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

507 Seminar in Philosophy of Religion 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Advanced topic-driven seminar. Critical analysis of traditional and contemporary religions and religious phenomena. Credit not granted for both PHIL 407 and PHIL 507. Offered at 400 and 500 level. Typically offered Spring. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

510 Seminar in the History of Philosophy 3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Systematic exploration of the central works of an individual philosopher or philosophical movement. Typically offered Fall and Spring. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

520 Seminar in Ethical Theory 3 The major issues, views, and figures of ethical theory from ancient Greece to the present. Typically offered Spring. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

522 Seminar in Metaphysics 3 The nature of reality, through study of key concepts such as God, personhood, free will, causation, space, time, and identity. Typically offered Fall and Spring. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

524 Seminar in Epistemology 3 Classical problems, questions, and theories involving the concept of knowledge. Typically offered Fall and Spring. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

530 Bioethics 2 Professional ethics for scientists; ethical implications of new technologies; obligations to human and non-human research subjects. Typically offered Fall and Summer. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

532 Seminar in Business Ethics 3 The major issues in business ethics, both domestic and international, from general principles to specific cases. Typically offered Spring. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

535 Advanced Biomedical Ethics 3 Current ethical issues in medical practice, medical research and public policy relating to health issues. Typically offered Fall and Spring. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

540 Ethics and Social Science Research 3 Professional ethics for social science research, ethical conduct of research, obligations to human subjects and ethical implications of methods and technologies. Typically offered Fall.

543 [M] Philosophy of Language 3 Investigation of philosophical issues concerning meaning, reference, truth, the nature of language, and the relation between language and thought. Credit not granted for both PHIL 443 and PHIL 543. Offered at 400 and 500 level. Typically offered Fall. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

564 Topics in Biomedical Experimentation 1 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Examination of the philosophy of experimental design and practical application and analysis of various experimental approaches in biomedical research. Recommended preparation: graduate standing in a WSU biomedical-based program, and an advanced undergraduate or graduate statistics course. (Crosslisted course offered as BIOMDSCI 564, PHIL 564).

570 Philosophy of Law 3 Selected topics pertaining to moral and philosophical evaluation of law. Credit not granted for both PHIL 470 and PHIL 570. Offered at 400 and 500 level. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

600 Special Projects or Independent Study V 1-18 May be repeated for credit. Independent study, special projects, and/or internships. Students must have graduate degree-seeking status and should check with their major advisor before enrolling in 600 credit, which cannot be used toward the core graded credits required for a graduate degree. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer. S, F grading.

700 Master's Research, Thesis, and/or Examination V 1-18 May be repeated for credit. Independent research and advanced study for students working on their master's research, thesis and/or final examination. Students must have graduate degree-seeking status and should check with their major advisor/committee chair before enrolling for 700 credit. Typically offered Fall, Spring, and Summer. S, U grading.

Student Affairs Schedule of Classes Commencement Veteran's Affairs Summer Session
 
Office of the Registrar, PO Box 641035, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-1035, 509-335-5346, bitter@wsu.edu
Copyright © Board of Regents, Washington State University