Philosophy, Religion, and Classical Studies

Transcription

1 Philosophy, Religion,and Classical Studies-1 Philosophy, Religion, and Classical Studies Faculty: Le Mvan, Chair; Haynes, Kamber, Preti, Roberts, Sisko, Tayl, Winston Philosophy Philosophy is the systematic examination of some of the most fundamental questions that human beings ask. Philosophy exples such matters as the nature of reality, the nature and source of knowledge, the nature and basis of ethics, and the relationship between mind and body. The study of philosophy can make a valuable contribution to one s personal development and is the keystone of a liberal education. The philosophy maj combines a though study of philosophies that have shaped Western civilization with rigous training in the analysis of argument. Philosophy majs learn how to analyze and critique arguments, argue effectively f philosophical opinions, make reasoned decisions about ethical issues, actively engage in the debates that have shaped the histy of Western thought, and develop reasoned philosophical views of their own on a range of central philosophical issues. The design of the philosophy maj itself, as well as each course taught, strives to imbue students with ways of identifying, thinking about and analyzing problems and constructing and assessing theies and counterexamples that represent the best philosophy has to offer. Both lower and upper level courses in philosophy expressly ask students to demonstrate the ability to identify philosophical issues as problems puzzles with respect to which there exist opposing solutions each of which requires investigation, understanding and assessment. They also emphasize the imptance of the student s engaging deeply with the assigned and recommended materials f the course in addition to demonstrating mastery of those materials. Finally, they emphasize mastery of the process by which good philosophical research is produced and communicated. Philosophy majs and mins may elect to pursue either the general course of study in philosophy a maj min specialization either in the area of Law and Philosophy in the area of Ethics. The general course of study in philosophy is designed f students who have broad interests in philosophy who wish to prepare f graduate school in philosophy. The specialization in Law and Philosophy is designed f students with an interest in law in legal and political they. The specialization in Ethics is designed f students with interests in theetical applied ethics, medicine, nursing, and other professions. The study of philosophy provides a powerful perspective on other academic subjects ranging from literature and art to biology and mathematics as well as an exceptionally strong background f such diverse professions as law, teaching, journalism, medicine, ministry, and business. A maj min in philosophy can thus be profitably combined with a variety of other majs. Me infmation about the value of the study of philosophy can be found on the department website Religion Religion courses exple religious matters and their place in human life. They provide critical insight into the fundamental tenets and practices of the maj religious traditions. The min and self-designed maj in religion offer a sustained and probing study of these matters and provide a valuable background f religious vocations and f a number of careers including social wk, teaching, and counseling. Students at TCNJ interested in religion may pursue a five course min in religion a self-designed maj in religious studies. Infmation on the min in religion may be found below. Infmation concerning the the self-designed maj in religion may be found at

2 Philosophy, Religion,and Classical Studies-2 Classical Studies The Classical Studies Program offers students an opptunity to exple the exciting wlds of classical Greece and Rome the histy, art, archaeology, literature, philosophy, science, religion, politics, and languages. Courses in all these aspects of Greek and Roman histy and culture are offered by specialists from the relevant departments. Students may take individual courses wk towards a self-designed maj, a min, an interdisciplinary concentration in classical studies. Infmation on the classical studies program may be found elsewhere in this bulletin and online at Requirements f the Philosophy Maj Philosophy majs, whether pursuing the general course of study in philosophy specializing in Philosophy and Law in Ethics, are required to complete a total of 10 courses f a total of 10 course units. Students must maintain a minumum 2.0 GPA f retention in the maj. Required Courses Logic 120/Introduction to Logic 220/Metalogic Histy of Philosophy 201/Histy of Ancient Philosophy and 205/Histy of Modern Philosophy Ethics 350/Ethical They 375/Law and Ethics Epistemology Metaphysics 410/They of Knowledge 420/Metaphysics Philosophy Electives 4 course units Four additional philosophy courses including at least two at the level. Seni Capstone* 494/Seni Project 495/Seni Thesis Research and 496 Seni Thesis (1 unit each) *The seni capstone is independent wk guided by an advis with whom the student will be wking closely on a mutually agreed-on topic. The goal of the seni capstone is to give students the opptunity to unify the skills and knowledge they have previously gained in the maj. Pri to registering f either , students must consult with the department faculty member they wish to wk with on the capstone, and registration can take place only with the permission of that faculty member. F students completing the Seni Thesis, 495 is nmally completed during the fall term of the seni year and 496 during the spring term. Significant wk as determined by the advis should be completed f each of the research and writing ptions of the Seni Thesis.

3 Philosophy, Religion,and Classical Studies-3 Philosophy Maj Specializations: Law and Philosophy; Ethics Like the traditional maj, the specializations in Law and Philosophy and in Ethics require students to complete 10 course units in philosophy as described above. As part of their 10 course units, students who wish to pursue a specialization will be required to select specified courses as options and a seni project thesis particularly related to the specialization, as follows: Law and Philosophy 275/Philosophy of Law 375/Law and Ethics Seni project thesis on a topic in the area of law and philosophy. Ethics 255/Biomedical Ethics 350/Ethical They 430/Advanced Ethics Seni project thesis on a topic in the area of ethics. Students interested in pursuing a specialization in Law and Philosophy should contact Profess Roberts. Students interested in pursuing a specialization in Ethics should contact Profess Winston. Requirements f the Philosophy Min Philosophy mins may elect to pursue either the general course of study in philosophy, if they choose, a min specialization either in the area of Law and Philosophy in the area of Ethics. All mins, whether pursuing the general course of study in philosophy specializing in Law and Philosophy in Ethics, are required to complete a total of five courses: 120/Introduction to Logic 201/Histy of Ancient Philosophy 205/Histy of Modern Philosophy Two additional courses at any level. One additional course at level. Philosophy Min Specializations: Law and Philosophy; Ethics Philosophy mins specializing in Law and Philosophy in Ethics must ensure that, in choosing courses that satisfy the requirements listed above, they also satisfy certain additional requirements of the specializations. In particular, mins specializing in Law and Philosophy must complete 275 and 375. Mins specializing in Ethics must complete either , 350, and 430. Because the philosophy min may be tailed to any number of specific needs and interests, students who are considering a min in philosophy may wish to consult with the chair of the department befe selecting a particular sequence of courses. Hons in Philosophy and Thesis Hons The department awards hons in philosophy at graduation to students who have completed a distinguished undergraduate recd in philosophy. Rising senis are admitted to the hons program in philosophy provided they have a GPA of 3.6 higher in their philosophy courses and have completed at least six courses in philosophy. Students who then complete the maj with a 3.6 GPA higher in their philosophy

4 Philosophy, Religion,and Classical Studies-4 courses will be awarded hons in philosophy upon graduation. The department may also designate still other students as having achieved hons in philosophy in exceptional cases. The award of hons in thesis will be given to students who have completed 496 (Seni Thesis) with distinction. Thesis students eligible f thesis hons will have, in addition to their advis who will serve as first reader, a second reader. If both readers judge the thesis to meet the standard f thesis hons, the student will be invited to defend the thesis ally. The two faculty readers will then determine whether the thesis, in the light of the al defense, merits thesis hons. The grading of the thesis itself, however, will remain the responsibility of the iginal advis. Course Sequence Many students who choose to maj in philosophy do so in their sophome year even early in their juni year; and some courses are offered only in alternate years. The program that follows is thus an idealized sequence; the exact semester and particular der in which the courses are taken will probably vary. To ensure that students entering the maj in their sophome juni year complete the program on a timely basis, specific requirements may be waived f students who have covered pertinent subject matter in other ways. The substitution of another course f a specific requirement does not reduce the total number of units required f the maj. To graduate, students must complete, in addition to the courses required f the maj, a number of liberal learning requirements. Some of the requirements (in, f example, language, labaty science and quantitative reasoning) are noted in the idealized sequence that follow. Others include courses, programs, sustained experiences in (1) community engaged learning, (2) gender, (3) global perspectives and (4) race and ethnicity. Freshman Year FSP First Seminar WRI 102/Academic Writing if required* Feign Language ** Quantitative Reasoning Two electives in Philosophy (at any level) One elective *It is recommended that students exempted from this course should take another liberal learning course. **Students must determine whether not they can be exempted from language course (by examination other means); otherwise three courses are required. It is recommended that students exempted from these courses take other liberal learning courses. Sophome Year Feign Language Labaty Science Literature 120 Introduction to Logic 220/Metalogic 201/Histy of Ancient Philosophy 205/Histy of Modern Philosophy One Elective

5 Philosophy, Religion,and Classical Studies-5 Juni Year Social Science/Histy 3 course units 350/Ethical They 375/Law and Ethics 410/They of Knowledge 420/Metaphysics One elective in philosophy ( level) Two electives Seni Year Art 494/Seni Project 495/Seni Thesis Research and 496/Seni Thesis One elective in philosophy ( level) Five electives 5 course units