Spring 2024 Courses
Download the Spring 2024 course brochure here!
All 100 and 200-level philosophy courses satisfy the Gen Ed Humanities requirement -- except PHIL 120, which satisfies the Mathematics requirement. We offer both a major and a minor in philosophy plus a concentration in Politics, Philosophy, and Law. More information can be found at philosophy.cofc.edu.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR IN PHILOSOPHY:
33 semester hours in philosophy which must include 120; 201; 202; and 450 (or PPLW 400). Of the remaining 21 hours, at least 3 hours must be taken in value theory courses; 12 hours must be taken at or above the 200 level; and least nine hours must be taken at or above the 300 level.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINOR IN PHILOSOPHY
18 semester hours in philosophy which must include a course in the history of philosophy (201, 202, 304, 305, 306, 307, or 310), and one course at or above the 300 level.
Philosophy majors who are interested in independent study options (including Internships, Bachelor’s Essays, and Teaching Apprenticeships) should consult with the department chair or their advisor. A maximum of six hours these courses may be taken to satisfy the requirement of nine elective hours at or above the 300-level.
| Introduction to Philosophy Lecture |
PHIL | 101 | 01 | 3 | 20359 | Todd Grantham (Primary) |
Monday,Wednesday,Friday
01:00 PM - 01:50 PM Type: Class Building: EDUCATION CENTER Room: 111 |
Main |
| Introduction to Philosophy Lecture |
PHIL | 101 | 03 | 3 | 20361 | Scott Hemmenway (Primary) |
Monday,Wednesday,Friday
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM Type: Class Building: EDUCATION CENTER Room: 111 |
Main |
| Introduction to Philosophy Lecture |
PHIL | 101 | 04 | 3 | 21153 | Andrew Garnar (Primary) |
Monday,Wednesday,Friday
10:00 AM - 10:50 AM Type: Class Building: MAYBANK HALL Room: 206 |
Main |
| Introduction to Philosophy Lecture |
PHIL | 101 | 05 | 3 | 23235 | Andrew Garnar (Primary) |
Monday,Wednesday,Friday
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM Type: Class Building: MAYBANK HALL Room: 206 |
Main |
| Critical Thinking Lecture |
PHIL | 115 | 01 | 3 | 21656 | Jennifer Baker (Primary) |
Tuesday,Thursday
12:15 PM - 01:30 PM Type: Class Building: ROBERT SCOTT SMALL BUILDING Room: 235 |
Main |
| Symbolic Logic Lecture |
PHIL | 120 | 01 | 3 | 23236 | Larry Krasnoff (Primary) |
Monday,Wednesday,Friday
09:00 AM - 09:50 AM Type: Class Building: EDUCATION CENTER Room: 111 |
Main |
| Symbolic Logic Lecture |
PHIL | 120 | 02 | 3 | 23237 | Larry Krasnoff (Primary) |
Monday,Wednesday,Friday
10:00 AM - 10:50 AM Type: Class Building: EDUCATION CENTER Room: 111 |
Main |
| Environmental Ethics Lecture |
PHIL | 155 | 01 | 3 | 23238 | Nicolas Delon (Primary) |
Tuesday,Thursday
09:25 AM - 10:40 AM Type: Class Building: MAYBANK HALL Room: 100 |
Main |
| Biomedical Ethics Lecture |
PHIL | 170 | 01 | 3 | 21428 | Jennifer Baker (Primary) |
Tuesday,Thursday
09:25 AM - 10:40 AM Type: Class Building: EDUCATION CENTER Room: 111 |
Main |
| Biomedical Ethics Lecture |
PHIL | 170 | 02 | 3 | 21429 | Andrew Garnar (Primary) |
Monday,Wednesday,Friday
03:00 PM - 03:50 PM Type: Class Building: TBD Room: TBD |
Main |
| Philosophy and Film Lecture |
PHIL | 185 | 01 | 3 | 23240 | Jonathan Neufeld (Primary) |
Monday,Wednesday,Friday
12:00 PM - 12:50 PM Type: Class Building: EDUCATION CENTER Room: 111 |
Main |
| History of Modern Philosophy Lecture |
PHIL | 202 | 01 | 3 | 20362 | Deborah Boyle (Primary) |
Tuesday,Thursday
12:15 PM - 01:30 PM Type: Class Building: MAYBANK HALL Room: 206 |
Main |
| Topics in Law and Morality Online + Scheduled Online Mtgs |
PHIL | 206 | 01 | 3 | 23241 | Thomas Nadelhoffer (Primary) |
Tuesday,Thursday
09:25 AM - 10:40 AM Type: Synchronized Online Meeting Building: ONLINE COURSE - Type: Online Building: ONLINE COURSE
|
Off-Campus |
| Ethics Lecture |
PHIL | 207 | 01 | 3 | 23242 | Scott Hemmenway (Primary) |
Monday,Wednesday
02:00 PM - 03:15 PM Type: Class Building: MAYBANK HALL Room: 206 |
Main |
| Eastern Philosophy Lecture |
PHIL | 234 | 01 | 3 | 23243 | Christian Coseru (Primary) |
Tuesday,Thursday
01:40 PM - 02:55 PM Type: Class Building: EDUCATION CENTER Room: 111 |
Main |
| Philosophy of Religion Lecture |
PHIL | 255 | 01 | 3 | 23244 | Todd Grantham (Primary) |
Monday,Wednesday,Friday
10:00 AM - 10:50 AM Type: Class Building: EDUCATION CENTER Room: 219 |
Main |
| Philosophy of Law Online + Scheduled Online Mtgs |
PHIL | 270 | 02 | 3 | 21657 | Thomas Nadelhoffer (Primary) |
Tuesday,Thursday
01:40 PM - 02:55 PM Type: Class Building: ONLINE COURSE |
Off-Campus |
| Feminist Theory Lecture |
PHIL | 275 | 01 | 3 | 23245 | Andrew Garnar (Primary) |
Monday,Wednesday,Friday
01:00 PM - 01:50 PM Type: Class Building: MAYBANK HALL Room: 206 |
Main |
| Topics in Ethical Theory Lecture |
PHIL | 301 | 01 | 3 | 23246 | Nicolas Delon (Primary) |
Tuesday,Thursday
10:50 AM - 12:05 PM Type: Class Building: EDUCATION CENTER Room: 111 |
Main |
| Theory of Knowledge Lecture |
PHIL | 325 | 01 | 3 | 23247 | Deborah Boyle (Primary) |
Monday,Wednesday
03:25 PM - 04:40 PM Type: Class Building: EDUCATION CENTER Room: 111 |
Main |
| Senior Seminar |
PHIL/ PPLW |
450/ 400 |
01/ 02 |
3 |
20363/ 21928 |
Larry Krasnoff (Primary) |
Monday,Wednesday
02:00 PM - 03:15 PM Type: Class Building: EDUCATION CENTER Room: 111 |
Main |
PHIL 101: INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
CRN 20361 | MWF 11:00-11:50 | PROF. SCOTT HEMMENWAY
NO PREREQUISITE
This course will introduce you to philosophy by means of a careful study of selections from some of the great philosophers on the theme of the good life. Some of the philosophers we’ll read are Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Descartes, Spinoza, Nietzsche, and Sartre; thus, all of the major periods of Western philosophy will be represented. Some of the many questions we will raise about the good life are What is the good life? Is it completely individual, or can we argue that some lives are better than others? Is morality a necessary part of the good life? Is happiness? Is a relationship with God? Where does reflection figure into the good life?
PHIL 101: INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
CRN 21153 | MWF 10:00-10:50 | PROF. GARNAR
NO PREREQUISITE
This course will introduce you to philosophy through exploring several important debates in philosophy. Some of these topics will include whether values are relative; can knowledge be objective; is it reasonable to believe in God based on faith; does wealth inequality violate our ideals of equality and justice; If minds are nothing but collections of mindless particles governed by deterministic laws, is moral responsibility possible? We investigate these questions through reading a wide selection of classic and contemporary philosophers. Through in class discussion and several papers, students are expected to develop and defend their own views.
PHIL 101: INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
CRN 23235 | MWF 11:00-11:50 | PROF. GARNAR
NO PREREQUISITE
This course will introduce you to philosophy through exploring several important debates in philosophy. Some of these topics will include whether values are relative; can knowledge be objective; is it reasonable to believe in God based on faith; does wealth inequality violate our ideals of equality and justice; If minds are nothing but collections of mindless particles governed by deterministic laws, is moral responsibility possible? We investigate these questions through reading a wide selection of classic and contemporary philosophers. Through in class discussion and several papers, students are expected to develop and defend their own views.
PHIL 115: CRITICAL THINKING
CRN 21656 | TR 9:25-10:40 | PROF. BAKER
NO PREREQUISITE
Critical thinking is one of the skills for which we attend college. Employers value it and new research indicates that it makes our lives go better in general. In this class we learn how arguments ought to be supported with logically adequate, relevant, and generally acceptable claims. We practice improve other's arguments in various domains, such as science, investigation, politics, morality, and everyday conversation. Students will leave this class with the ability to recognize different uses of language and definition, logical errors and rhetorical tricks and with a commitment to being charitable (in a philosophical sense).
PHIL 120: SYMBOLIC LOGIC
CRN 23236 | MWF 9:00-9:50 | PROF. KRASNOFF
NO PREREQUISITE
Analysis of arguments using the tools of mathematical logic. Since Socrates, Western philosophy has asked that we argue for our beliefs on the basis of reasons. Logic is the branch of philosophy that asks: what makes an argument rationally convincing? We will develop a formal, mathematical language that will allow us to translate an important set of arguments from ordinary English, and proof techniques for the mathematical language that will allow us to determine with precision whether the arguments are valid, and thus should be accepted if their premises are true.
PHIL 120: SYMBOLIC LOGIC
CRN 23237 | MWF 10:00-10:50 | PROF. KRASNOFF
NO PREREQUISITE
Analysis of arguments using the tools of mathematical logic. Since Socrates, Western philosophy has asked that we argue for our beliefs on the basis of reasons. Logic is the branch of philosophy that asks: what makes an argument rationally convincing? We will develop a formal, mathematical language that will allow us to translate an important set of arguments from ordinary English, and proof techniques for the mathematical language that will allow us to determine with precision whether the arguments are valid, and thus should be accepted if their premises are true.
PHIL 155: ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
CRN 23238 | TR 9:25-10:40 | PROF. DELON
NO PREREQUISITE
A study of the philosophical and ethical dimensions of environmental issues, including such topics as the moral status of other species and the nature of human obligations toward the environment.
PHIL 170: BIOMEDICAL ETHICS
CRN 21428 | TR 12:15-1:30 | PROF. BAKER
NO PREREQUISITE
Biomedical ethics (or medical ethics) is one of the most significant ways in which we test shared ethical principles. In this course we take a clinical approach to medical ethics, by uses as our examples actual medical practice. We look to the stated goals of medicine, relevant law, and to the professional guidelines for clinicians. We consider new research on concepts like triage, informed consent, autonomy, and well-being. Our topics include the justice of organ donation, vaccine ethics, the treatment of SUD and mental illness, and end-of-life controversies. In class discussion and a final paper, students are expected to develop and defend their own views.
PHIL 170: BIOMEDICAL ETHICS
CRN 21429 | MWF 3:00-3:50 | PROF. GARNAR
NO PREREQUISITE
Biomedical ethics is one of the most significant ways in which we test our shared ethical principles. In this course we study the goals of medicine and the professional expectations of clinicians. We will explore concepts including autonomy, well-being, and informed consent. Our topics include the include the ethics of vaccines, abortion, end-of-life decisions, confidentially, and conscientious objection. We will examine the relationship between medicine and the wider society. Through in class discussion and several papers, students are expected to develop and defend their own views.
PHIL 185: PHILOSOPHY AND FILM
CRN 23240 | MWF 12:00-12:50 | PROF. NEUFELD
NO PREREQUISITE
In this course we will do two different kinds of thing. First, we will explore philosophical topics through film: self identity, artificial intelligence, the possibility of time travel, and more. We will also explore philosophical topics about film. Why do we like horror movies? Why do we like bad movies? Can good movies be made by bad people? What is the nature of adaptations and remakes? The course will involve film viewings and philosophical readings.
PHIL 202: HISTORY OF MODERN PHILOSOPHY
CRN 20362 | TR 12:15-1:30 | PROF. BOYLE
NO PREREQUISITE
The early modern period (the 17th & 18th centuries) saw the rise of modern science, when medieval and Aristotelian conceptions of knowledge, nature, and our plans in the world began to reject. Readings will be from works by philosophers such as René Descartes, Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia, Margaret Cavendish, Baruch Spinoza, John Locke, George Berkeley, David Hume, Mary Shepherd, and Immanuel Kant., important philosophers from the early modern era who sought to find new understandings of the world, our place in it, and our knowledge of it.
PHIL 206: FYE - TOPICS IN LAW & MORALITY
CRN 23241 | TR 9:25-10:40 | PROF. NADELHOFFER
NO PREREQUISITE
The goal of this learning community is to the explore the foundations of human behavior, and explore questions of agency, responsibility, and criminality. Why do people behave badly and do “bad” things? How do we decide what counts as simply different (or divergent, non-conforming) behavior, and what counts as “deviant” or wrong behavior that is punishable. We will examine traditional conceptions of moral and legal responsibility and recent advances in neuroscience, genetics, and psychiatry when it comes to our understanding of psychopathology and other “causes” of deviant behavior. By exploring the relationship between psychology, neuroscience, and our social/moral/legal treatment of deviant behavior from multiple vantage points, students will be in a better position to develop informed opinions of their own when it comes to the intersection of philosophy, psychology, and public policy.
PHIL 207: ETHICS
CRN 23242 | MW 2:00-3:15 | PROF. HEMMENWAY
NO PREREQUISITE
In this study of ethics, we will survey some the important philosophers in the history of inquiry on this subject: Aristotle, Hume, Kant, Mill, and Nietzsche. Questions that will be addressed include: Do we discover ethics by thinking about human virtue (excellence), are moral obligations grounded in our feelings or our reason, how might we determine what is right and wrong, and what might the history of morality reveal about our moral values?
PHIL 234: EASTERN PHILOSOPHY
CRN 23243 | TR 1:40-2:55 | PROF. COSERU
NO PREREQUISITE
Philosophers in the East have grappled with many of the same problems as their Western counterparts: What really exists? What is real? What is it to know, and what counts as a reliable source of knowledge? Who or what am I, and can I truly know myself? This course examines answers to these questions from the Buddhist tradition, and their relevance to contemporary debates. Our focus will be on four major topics: personal identity, causation, the external world, and self-knowledge. The course has two aims: first, to show how a productive conversation between these two traditions can address perennial problems in philosophy; second, to help you develop an appreciation for the value of cross-cultural or intercultural reflection in an increasingly global world.
PHIL 255: PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION
CRN 23244 | MWF 10:00-10:50 | PROF. GRANTHAM
NO PREREQUISITE
This course offers a survey of central issues in the philosophy of religion. We will examine the traditional arguments for and against the existence of a theistic God (cosmological, ontological, teleological, the problem of evil). We will also discuss important questions of epistemic justification: are we ever justified in believing in miracles? Is “faith” rationally defensible? Should the existence of other religious traditions undermine or temper our commitment to a particular faith? Is religious belief compatible with belief in science? We will approach these questions in philosophical spirit. That is, I will not assume any particular religious position is correct; nor will we assume an atheistic position. Rather, we will carefully and critically assess arguments on various sides of these topics.
PHIL 270: PHILOSOPHY OF LAW
CRN 21657 | TR 1:40-2:55 | PROF. NADELHOFFER
NO PREREQUISITE
A philosophical examination of some fundamental features of a legal system, focusing on issues such as the nature and function of law, judicial decision making, legal reasoning, legal responsibility, and the relationship of morality, justice and liberty to a legal system.
PHIL 275: FEMINIST THEORY
CRN 23245 | MWF 1:00-1:50 | PROF. GARNAR
NO PREREQUISITE
This course studies the connections between gender and knowledge, culture, and social practice. We will explore this through looking at a wide range of topics. We will examine topics including: how has feminism been defined? What is the nature of gender and how is it related to race, class, sexuality, and gender identity? How does women’s oppression operate? What is the significance of the body in feminist theory? What interventions should feminism make in ethics and epistemology? What are feminist visions for the future? Our readings will address these questions from a variety of different feminist theorists. Through in class discussion and several papers, students are expected to develop and defend their own views.
PHIL 301: ST: EFFECTIVE ALTRUISM
CRN 23246 | TR 10:50-12:05 | PROF. DELON
PREREQUISITE: 6 CREDIT HOURS IN PHILOSOPHY EXCLUDING PHIL 120,
OR PERMISSIOM OF INSTRUCTOR
How much good can you do? How much should you? Effective Altruism (EA) is a movement dedicated to using reason and evidence to help people figure out how to do the most good they can—whether through charitable giving, their career, or their advocacy. This course will examine the philosophical foundations of EA, especially what it says about living an ethical life, the importance of beneficence, how to approach some of the world’s most important problems, and the relations between moral theory and altruistic behavior. EA can be applied in many domains from global health to animal welfare to existential risks raised by artificial intelligence, pandemics, and nuclear war. In this course, you will learn about cost-effectiveness, cause prioritization, moral uncertainty, and what we owe (or not) to strangers, other animals, and future generations. We will also read many critiques of EA, especially in relation to institutional change, career choice, resource allocation, AI, and the far future.
PHIL 325: THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE
CRN 23247 | MW 3:25-4:40 | PROF. BOYLE
PREQUISITE: EITHER SIX SEMESTER HOURS IN PHILOSOPHY (OTHER THAN 120) OR PERMISSION OF THE INSTRUCTOR.
Descartes’ Meditations suggest the possibility that we are being systematically deceived by an “evil demon,” so that nothing we thought we knew is certain. Modern-day versions of Descartes’ suggestion are that we could be brains in vats or trapped in a Matrix-like state. We will consider the skeptical challenge posed by these scenarios. Is it even possible to know anything? And if knowledge is possible, what it is? Many philosophers have answered this question with the claim that knowledge requires justified true belief, and so we will study the nature of justification. Does all our knowledge depend on some basic foundational beliefs? Alternatively, is justification more a matter of how our beliefs hang together or "cohere" with each other? We will examine various sources of evidence, such as perception, induction, and testimony, and we will consider whether certain approaches to knowing can aptly be described as virtuous.
PHIL 450/PPLW 400: RECHTSLEHRE: LAW & FREEDOM
CRN 20363 & 21928 | MW 2:00-3:15 | PROF. KRASNOFF PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR
In Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Justice Samuel Alito held that a right to an abortion was not an essential part of the nation’s “scheme of ordered liberty.” Especially after Dobbs, many critics have charged that Alito’s reference to “ordered liberty” is theoretically and practically meaningless; he and the other conservative justices are simply affirming or rejecting the kinds of freedom and the kinds of order they do or do not like. But there is an older tradition that holds that law and freedom do have an essential theoretical connection, one that places substantial moral constraints on juridical claims. In this course we will study some classical formulations of this view in Kant and Hegel, and then relate these views to contemporary applications of the doctrine of substantive due process to cases like Dobbs and others. The goal is to understand what sorts of freedom must be protected by law.