University of Missouri - Kansas City : Philosophy (PHILOS)

An introduction to many of the central problems of philosophy. The various dimensions of philosophy are examined as it related to our relationships with each other, our understanding of our world and our understanding of ourselves. Connections between classical philosophers and contemporary issues are explored as philosophy is considered as a deeply personal and also as a social phenomenon.

3 hrs

PHILOS 211 Great Minds

In this course we will explores texts that have played a pivotal roles in shaping western intellectual thought and the formation of political and cultural communities up to the present day. We will focus on tracing out their common themes such as political and social organisation, political authority, morality, human nature, and the nature of knowledge. In doing so, our concerns will be twofold. On the one hand we will be trying to understand these texts in their historical and social context, on the other we will analyse and critically discuss the arguments they present and their underlying assumptions thereby learning how to construct will-formed arguments of our own.

3 hrs

PHILOS 221 Contemporary Moral Issues

This course offers a philosophical examination of ethical issues in contemporary society. Topics for discussion include ethical conflicts arising in business and technology, engineering, healthcare, politics, and the environment. Moral concerns addressed may include reproductive rights and technologies, warfare, capital punishment, pornography, privacy, consumerism, euthanasia, sexuality, and animal welfare.

3 hrs

PHILOS 222 Foundations Of Logic

This course introduces the basic concepts and methods of modern logic, beginning with "premise", "inference", "conclusion" , and "argument", with emphasis on understanding and reconstructing complex patterns of reasoning, and analysis and construction of valid arguments.

3 hrs

PHILOS 300 CK Cluster Course: Controversy And Choice In Life And Science

An examination of advances in the health and life sciences that involve methodological questions about the pursuit and acceptance of theories. Procedures for choosing and conducting research will be analyzed using a model that incorporates existing knowledge. Assessment and management of research are also explored. Participating guests will present solutions derived.

3 hrs

PHILOS 310 WI Ancient Philosophy

A survey of the central figures of classical philosophy: the pre-Socratics, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, the Stoics, the Epicureans and other philosophers of antiquity. The contributions of major philosophers to the development of science, religion, and social and political theories are studied. Prerequisites: PHILOS 210,PHILOS 222 or an equivalent and successful completion of the WEPT Offered: Fall.

3 hrs

PHILOS 315 Logic And Methodology In The Health And Social Sciences

Analysis of the reasoning processes and theory-building procedures specific to the health and social sciences. As its major focus, the course will critically examine the philosophical foundations of the health and social sciences using the case study method. In addition, brief case study analyses of reasoning and theory-construction in the physical sciences will be offered in comparison. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210, PHILOS ,222.

3 hrs

PHILOS 320 WI History of Modern Philosophy

A survey of the central figures of modern philosophy: Rene Descartes, Baruch Spinoza, G.W. Liebniz, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, George Berkeley, David Hume and Immanuel Kant. In addition to the philosophical issues of the period, cultural, historical and political matters are considered. A secondary goal is the establishment of the pedigree of contemporary philosophical problems. Prerequisites: PHILOS 210, or PHILOS 222 or an equivalent and successful completion of the WEPT Offered: Winter.

3 hrs

PHILOS 321 Ethics

Attention is given to the nature of ethical ideas and the development and history of ethical theory. Prerequisites: PHILOS 210, PHILOS 221, or PHILOS 222, or with permission of instructor.

3 hrs

PHILOS 322 Philosophy of Literature

A close study of the ancient problems at the intersection of philosophy and literature: what sort of truth, if any, do we find in literature? Does literature have ethical content? What makes a literary text beautiful? How do "literary" texts defer from philosophical and other kinds of texts? Should literary texts influence our thinking about politics and other social issues? We will study classic philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, Kierkegaard, and Nietzche, great literary writers such as Sappho, Dante, Goethe, Dosteovesky, and Rilke, and harder to categorize figures like Freud. The class will include the study of several recent philosophers who worked specifically on the subject of the "philosophy of literature," such as Bakhtin, Benjamin, Lacan, Szondi.

3 hrs

PHILOS 325 Aesthetics

The basic problems of aesthetics are examined, with special emphasis on the character of the work of art, the aesthetic response of the viewer, the creative process of the artist, and the nature of aesthetic criticism. These topics are discussed in light of conflicting aesthetic theories. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210, PHILOS 222, or equivalent.

3 hrs

PHILOS 326 Epistemology: Theories Of Knowledge

A study of the problems connected with the nature of knowledge and human understanding. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210, 222 or an equivalent.

3 hrs

PHILOS 327 Metaphysics: Theories Of Reality

An investigation of the essential problems regarding the nature of reality in its most general aspects. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210,PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.

3 hrs

PHILOS 328 Philosophy In The Middle Ages

The history of philosophy from St. Augustine to William of Ockham, including analysis of the relationships of medieval philosophical developments to earlier and later philosophical developments. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210,PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.

3 hrs

PHILOS 329 American Philosophy

The main trends of American thought are covered, with special emphasis on the philosophies of Peirce, James and Dewey. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210 or PHILOS 215 or PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.

3 hrs

PHILOS 330 19Th-Century Philosophy

Following a review of the influence of Kant on European thought, consideration is given to the German idealists, Comte and Positivism, Mill and Empiricism, British Neo-Hegelianism, the rise of Evolutionary Philosophy and Nietzsche. Prerequisites: PHILOS 210 or PHILOS 215 or PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.

3 hrs

PHILOS 331 Philosophy Of Religion

An analysis of the nature and function of religion and its relation to culture. An examination is made of the basic ideas of religion, and special attention is given to the problems of religion and reality, religion and science, and the changing character of religion in our times. No prerequisites.

3 hrs

PHILOS 332 Existentialism

A study of the development of existentialism. Selections from the works of such thinkers as Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Sartre, Heidegger, Camus and other related philosophers are considered. Special attention is devoted to the existential movements in literature, social science and medicine. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210, PHILOS 222 or equivalent.

3 hrs

PHILOS 333 Social And Political Philosophy

A consideration of representative views of the place of man in contemporary society. Contributions in psychology, political theory, economics, sociology and anthropology are investigated philosophically with a view toward offering a critical appraisal of the nature of man in the human community. No prerequisites.

3 hrs

PHILOS 334 Philosophy Of Science

A critical analysis of the assumptions, methods and conceptual frameworks of the sciences. The course emphasizes such topics as the influence of theory on observation; the problem of discovery, verification and experimental confirmation; and the relation of scientific language and concepts to ordinary language and beliefs. Prerequisite: PHILOS 222.

3 hrs

PHILOS 335 Philosophy Of Mind

A study of problems arising in connection with such topics as mental phenomena, the relation of mind to body, free will and determinism, the self and personal identity, and "thinking" machines. Classical and contemporary treatments of such concepts as "mind," "intention," "sensation," "perception," "stimulus," etc., and their relation to action and behavior are considered. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210, PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.

3 hrs

PHILOS 336 Philosophy Of Language

A study of the nature and uses of language, with special reference to concepts of meaning, denotation, reference, syntax, name, metaphor, vagueness, and definition. Applications in the fields of psychology, linguistics, anthropology, and literary criticism are examined. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210, PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.

3 hrs

PHILOS 337 Philosophy Of History

A discussion of methodological and substantive issues, including the nature of historical explanation, whether history can be a science, and various theories of history such as those of Vico, Hegel, Marx, and Collingwood. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210, PHILOS 215,PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.

3 hrs

PHILOS 338 Philosophy Of Biology

An investigation of methodological and conceptual issues in biology, such as the roles of mechanistic and teleological explanations, reductionism, the nature of evolutionary theories, and the relation between taxonomy and the concept of species. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210,PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.

3 hrs

PHILOS 340 Philosophy Of Law

An analysis of major philosophies of law, including methods of justifying legal systems through natural law, legal positivism, sociological jurisprudence, theology, etc. Contemporary legal theories are critically analyzed. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210, PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.

3 hrs

PHILOS 344 Philosophy of Sport

This course uses sports as a point of departure to explore central philosophical themes in metaphysic/epistemology, aesthetics, ethics, and social/political philosophy. Students will explore the concept and role of sports in society from ancient Greece to modern times.

3 hrs

PHILOS 346 Metaphysics and Epistemology

this course is an advanced overview of some central themes in metaphysics nad epistemology. Metaphysics focuses on basic questions about the nature of reality. Epistemology is concerned with questions about knowledge and justification. In this class, we will explore a variety of topics (causation, universals, scepticism, induction, etc.) that occupy contemporary philosophers.Prerequisite: PHILOS 222 or consent of the instructor.

3 hrs

PHILOS 350 Scientific Controversies

Students will study particular scientific controversies and the arguments scientists se to defend their own position and attack the positions of their opponents.

3 hrs

PHILOS 360 Current Issues In Bioethics

Alternative approaches to issues such as life and death, human experimentation, the scarcity of resources, contraception, abortion, euthanasia, eugenics, etc. will be discussed critically. Major theories of ethics will be applied to several of the issues in order to have the student develop his or her own approach to ethical decision making in the area of bioethics. No prerequisites.

3 hrs

PHILOS 370 Environmental Ethics And Policy

Various philosophical approaches to issues such as the value of nature, human obligations to non-human animals, species, ecosystems and future generations; environmental justice; restoration; resource use; environmental politics; and the relation between environmental issues, policy and ethics will be discussed critically. Prerequisite: None Offered: Annually Restrictions: None

3 hrs

PHILOS 400 Interdisciplinary Studies: Cluster Course Offerings

3 hrs

PHILOS 400 CJ Cluster Course: Aesthetic Issues In The Arts

Specialists in various art forms (e.g., literature, music, painting) will discuss specific artworks from their own perspective as artists and/or critics. This gives the student first-hand experience of how questions dealt with in the philosophy of art arise. Using this common core of examples, philosophical issues such as relevance of artists' intentions to interpretation and evaluation, the nature of aesthetic value, the nature and significance of comedy, and special issues raised by contemporary developments in the arts are discussed.

3 hrs

PHILOS 400 CO Cluster Course: Issues In Death And Dying

A study of the various philosophical dimensions of death and dying in the history of thought from the pre-Socratics through the contemporary existentialist philosophers. Topics to be critically examined will include the ethical, religious and legal implications of the changing definitions of death, active and passive euthanasia, suicide, the ethical aspects of truth telling, and the impact of technological and scientific advancements as they relate to the rights and dignity of the dying patient and survivors as well as special populations such as children and incapacitated persons. The philosophical dimensions of death and dying will include epistemological, metaphysical, ethical and hermeneutic aspects. Alternate theories and approaches to ethical decision making concerning this important aspect of human existence will be presented.

3 hrs

PHILOS 423 Symbolic Logic

Advanced analysis of deductive procedures; sentential connectives, quantifiers, classes, and relations; the notion of formal system; introduction to axiomatics and metalogical proofs. No prerequisites.

3 hrs

PHILOS 424 Art, Aesthetics And Society

This course examines various moral and social issues concerning the arts and the aesthetics of our environment, bringing in case studies of particular artworks. It explores the relationships between aesthetic and moral value in the case of censorship, the effect of images on the public, and the aesthetics of the natural environment. It also looks at how public art is supposed to serve the public, and ethical dilemmas faced by art museums.

3 hrs

PHILOS 425 History Of Aesthetics

An examination of the major thinkers in the history of aesthetics, such as Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Nietzsche, Tolstoy and Croce. The focus will be on how their ideas bear on topics which will interest anyone desiring to understand the origin, nature and value of the arts. Examples of these topics are the relationships among art, knowledge and morality; the natures of originality, creativity and genius; the importance of form, content and expression of emotions; and standards of taste and the claims of criticism. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210, PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.

3 hrs

PHILOS 430 Plato

Selected dialogues of Plato are studied with a view to understanding Plato's philosophy and its position in the world of Greece and antiquity. Plato's philosophy is also examined with reference to his place in the Western tradition and in modern philosophy. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210,PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.

3 hrs

PHILOS 431 Aristotle

Selected portions of Aristotle's works on logic, metaphysics, science, ethics, politics, and poetics are studied with a view to understanding Aristotle's philosophy and its position in the world of Greece and antiquity. Aristotle's philosophy is examined with reference to its place in the Western tradition and in modern philosophy. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210,PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.

3 hrs

PHILOS 435 Hume

A study of selected writings of David Hume for the purpose of gaining an understanding of the rise of modern empiricism and its influence on contemporary thought. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210 or 215 or 222 or an equivalent. On demand.*

3 hrs

PHILOS 435 R The British Tradition In Philosophy

This course is a survey of major British philosophers. Among those who will be studied are Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, David Hume, J.S. Mill, E.H. Bradley, and Bertrand Russell. The influence of British philosophy on other philosophical movements will also be included. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210,PHILOS 215,PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.

3 hrs

PHILOS 436 Kant

A study of selected writings of Immanuel Kant, with particular emphasis on the epistemological, metaphysical and ethical aspects of Kant's philosophy; an examination of Kant's significance within contemporary thought. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210, PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.

3 hrs

PHILOS 445 20Th-Century Philosophy

A study of the development of philosophy in the 20th-Century, treating such movements as Idealism, Realism, Logical Positivism, Existentialism, Phenomenology, Pragmatism, and Analytic Philosophy. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210 or PHILOS 215 or PHILOS 222.

3 hrs

PHILOS 448 Recent Ethical Theories

An analysis and investigation of modern and contemporary ethical theories. Among the theories considered are ethical relativity, the emotive theory, utilitarianism, neo Kantianism, and situation ethics. Prerequisite: PHILOS 321.

3 hrs

PHILOS 450 WI Ethics And Government

An examination of ethical issues related to government, with the primary focus on national and local governmental bodies in the United States. Ethics in the executive, legislative and judicial branches are examined. Ethical standards for elected officials and appointed public servants are reviewed. Attempts to "legislate morality" are considered. The course includes a historical review of ethics and government and an analysis of the legal implications of legislation regarding ethics in the executive branch. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210 or permission of the instructor. Offered: On demand.

3 hrs

PHILOS 480 Selected Topics

Each time this course is offered a particular philosopher or particular area of philosophy will be the topic of discussion. The course may be repeated for credit when the topic varies. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210, PHILOS 222 or an equivalent, depending on the topic.

1-3 hrs

PHILOS 480 A Selected Topics

1-3 hrs

PHILOS 480 B Selected Topics

1-3 hrs

PHILOS 480 Selected Topics

1-3 hrs

PHILOS 490 Special Topics And Readings

Intensive reading and/or research in an area selected by the student in consultation with the instructor. By permission only. May be repeated for credit when the topic varies. Prerequisite: PHILOS 222, 310, 320, 321 or 423.

1-3 hrs

PHILOS 490 B Special Topics And Readings

1-3 hrs

PHILOS 490 F Special Topics and Readings

1-3 hrs

PHILOS H310 WI Ancient Philosophy

3 hrs

PHILOS H329 American Philosophy

The main trends of American thought are covered, with special emphasis on the philosophies of Peirce, James and Dewey. Prerequisite: PHILOS 210 or PHILOS 215 or PHILOS 222 or an equivalent.

3 hrs