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• PHIL 210: Ancient Philosophy

  3.00 Credits

  Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

  
  Explores the ideas and arguments of Ancient Greek thinkers such as the pre-Socratics, Plato, and Aristotle as well as their influence on the history of philosophy. Themes include the nature of reality, the character of the universe, the possibility of knowledge, what counts as beauty, and the pursuit of the good life. The course will also compare and contrast differences among Ancient Greek thinkers and the impact of their ideas on contemporary philosophy.
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• PHIL 221: Cont Moral Problems

  3.00 Credits

  Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

  
  Investigates the ethics of various major contemporary (and perennial) moral problems: abortion and the rights of the fetus; pornography and its control; crime and its punishment; obedience to laws; discrimination based on race and sex; decision-making procedures; social justice; drugs, suicide, and euthanasia; freedom and its limits.
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• PHIL 222: Phil and Pop Culture

  3.00 Credits

  Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

  
  Using a variety of contemporary examples and case studies from American popular culture (which may change from one course offering to the next) the course will introduce students to perennial problems in Philosophy and demonstrate Philosophy's relevance & application in the mainstream popular culture. Course emphasizes development in critical thought and evaluation, analysis, and communication skills.
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• PHIL 223: Phil Religion

  3.00 Credits

  Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

  
  Introduces the basic problems of religion, such as the nature of religion, religious language, the relationship between faith and reason, varieties of theism and atheism, proofs for and against the existence of God, the knowledge of God, religious pluralism, immortality, miracles, mysticism, and the problem of evil. Also examines religious beliefs, theories, and practices with the aim of clarifying, examining, and evaluating the central ideas and theories in both Western and Eastern religions.
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• PHIL 302: Ethics

  3.00 Credits

  Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

  
  Introduces the basics of ethical theorizing and describes how such theories may be critically evaluated. Surveys major ethical theories including egoism (psychological and ethical), divine command theory, natural law theory, cultural relativism, consequentialism, Kantianism, social contract theory, and virtue ethics. Additionally, the three major theories of well-being are presented and critically analyzed.
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• PHIL 303: Existentialism

  3.00 Credits

  Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

  
  Introduces students to the philosophical movement of existentialism, a movement characterized by themes of moral nihilism, rootlessness, self-creation, anxiety as a response to the human condition, and the disturbing freedom of the individual. Typical writers to be studied include Fyodor Dostoevsky, Soren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Albert Camus, and Jean-Paul Sartre.
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• PHIL 304: Philosophy of Law

  3.00 Credits

  Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

  
  Examines and analyses the writings and ideas of legal philosophers from Plato through 20th century philosophers. Course content revolves around the questions regarding the nature and value of the law, the freedom and limitations of the law, citizens' responsibilities to obey and to disobey the law, justifications for legal punishment, and judicial reasoning & decision making. Legal philosophies may include those of Plato, Aquinas, Mill, Locke, Rawls, Austin, Hart, Feinberg, Dworkin, and Rawls.
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• PHIL 305: Political Philosophy

  3.00 Credits

  Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

  
  Examines and analyses the writings and ideas of political philosophers from Socrates to current times. Course content revolves around the fundamental political concepts of sovereignty, citizenship, liberty, justice, law, rights, and responsibilities with significant discussion of the proper authority of the state over the individual and the rights and responsibilities of citizens within a state. Political philosophies will include those of Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Mill, Locke, Rousseau, and Rawls.
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• PHIL 306: Feminist Philosophy

  3.00 Credits

  Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

  
  Examines the philosophical tradition in light of questions such as who is empowered by that tradition and whether philosophy is itself a site for the reproduction of sexist, racist, and anti-LGBTQ dispositions. Explores institutions such as marriage, family, and work from the perspective of several distinct feminist theories: liberal, socialist, radical, and ecological. Seeks to compare and contrast feminist theories concerning contemporary debates over issues such as abortion, the wage gap, and sexual violence.
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• PHIL 307: Philosophy of Art

  3.00 Credits

  Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

  
  Examines and analyzes the writings of philosophers (including Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Nietzsche, and Danto) as they apply to the basic philosophical problems, issues, and questions surrounding art, beauty, and the sublime. Topics may include the nature and definition of art, beauty, and the sublime; the nature of expression and representation in the arts; environmental aesthetics; the connections between art, religion, ethics, and politics; and the nature of aesthetic value.
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