Apr 26, 2024

2012-2014 Undergraduate Catalog

2012-2014 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Course Descriptions

Core Curriculum Requirements
Please visit www.providence.edu/academic-affairs/core-curriculum/Pages/approved-core-curriculum-courses.aspx for a listing of courses that have been approved for specific Core Curriculum requirements (Class of 2016 and beyond). The list is updated on a regular basis. In addition, students in the Class of 2013, 2014, and 2015 can search the Course Catalog or Semester Course Offerings in CyberFriar to locate courses with a specific Core Curriculum attribute. Need assistance? Please contact Alyssa Marton at aneubeck@providence.edu or 401.865.1765.

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Philosophy
	PHL 101 - Logic 1 semester, 3 Credits An introduction to identifying, analyzing, and evaluating arguments. Topics may include: paraphrasing arguments, informal fallacies, and Aristotelian categorical logic. Open to Freshman and Sophomores Only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 103 - Introduction to Philosophy 1 semester, 3 Credits An introduction to the principal questions of philosophy. Topics may include: What is the nature of reality? What can we know? How ought we to live? What is the best political state? Do we have an immortal soul? Open to Freshman and Sophomores Only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 150 - Philosophy and Literature 1 semester, 3 Credits An examination, through primary texts, of the relationship between philosophy and literature. Topics may include: the nature of literature, philosophical approaches to fiction, literary criticisms of philosophy, and the necessity of literature in a philosophical life or of philosophy in a literary life. Open to Freshman and Sophomores Only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 200 - Introduction to the Philosophy of St. Thomas 1 semester, 3 Credits The purpose of the course is to introduce the student to the basic principles and themes required for further study in Thomistic philosophy and theology. To meet this goal, the course will rely heavily on selections from St. Thomas’ Summa Contra Gentiles and Summa Theologica, as well as other Thomistic writings. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 202 - General Ethics 1 semester, 3 Credits A study of happiness and of the means used by men and women to attain it. Law, morality, and virtue are studied as contributing to the growth of each person to one’s full intellectual, moral, and spiritual stature. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 206 - The Wisdom of Socrates 1 semester, 3 Credits Seeks to achieve an understanding of the personality, spirit, and thought of the man who gave Western philosophy its distinctive character. An examination of how Socrates, by force of personality and argumentation, stirred and, in some cases, transformed the religious and political perceptions of his contemporaries. Examines the present contemporary relevance of the criticisms of Socrates. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 207 - Philosophy of the Human Person 1 semester, 3 Credits An introduction to philosophical anthropology. Topics may include: the nature of persons, freedom and responsibility, immortality, and the relation of mind and body. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 300 - Ancient Philosophy 1 semester, 3 Credits A study of Greek philosophy, from its beginnings through late forms that survived into the Christian era. Emphasis is placed on analysis and critical understanding of key philosophical problems which developed within Greek culture, and which are of permanent relevance. The foremost of these problems, and the focal motif of the course, is the question of what constitutes a genuinely good life for a human being. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 301 - Ethics, Moral Leadership, and the Common Good 1 semester, 3 Credits This course is a study of the philosophical foundations for an ethics of public service. The course will include the study of ethical principles as a foundation for moral life and moral decision-making; a study of moral leadership as a means for transforming society; and a reflection on the common good and the call to service. Course may include a practical experiential component. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 304 - Current Problems in Ethics 1 semester, 3 Credits The application of ethical principles to the areas of social work, business, law, medicine, and other fields of endeavor. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 306 - Business Ethics 1 semester, 3 Credits The focus is threefold: First, introduce students to the principles that are relevant for resolving moral problems and assist them in developing the reasoning and analytical skills needed to apply those principles. Second, expose students to the important moral issues that arise in various business contexts. Third, provide students with firsthand experience of morality in business situations through case studies and/or seminars with business leaders. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 309 - Biomedical Ethics 1 semester, 3 Credits An analysis of the ethical issues related to contemporary biomedical advances and health care delivery. Among the topics considered are: abortion, euthanasia, health care rationing, patients’ rights, and dilemmas of health care professionals. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 310 - Medieval Philosophy 1 semester, 3 Credits An examination of perennial philosophical issues, such as the existence of God, the process of human knowledge, the relation of intellect to the will, the source of values and meaning in creation, the problem of universals, etc., by drawing from philosophers of the medieval period. Sources include Augustine, Maimonides, Anselm, Averroes, Aquinas, Duns Scotus, and Ockham. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 312 - Thomistic Ethics 1 semester, 3 Credits An exploration of the philosophical elements of St. Thomas Aquinas’s ethics through an extensive reading of his treatises on moral life and action. The course will also examine the enduring influence of the Thomistic ethics. Not open to Freshmen. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 315 - Symbolic Logic 1 semester, 3 Credits A study of the development and fundamentals of contemporary symbolic logic. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 316 - Social and Political Philosophy 1 semester, 3 Credits An historical and critical examination of the core institutions of our society — those within which all of us, including people in business and the professions, will act — and of the ideas that have shaped and continue to inform them. Examine such ideologies as liberalism, conservatism, communitarianism, feminism, and multiculturalism. Includes consideration both of the classics of Catholic political thought and of contemporary teachings by the pope and the Catholic bishops. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 317 - Philosophy of Religion 1 semester, 3 Credits An analysis of the world religions and a metaphysical, psychological, and epistemological study of the religious phenomena. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 318 - Philosophy of Science 1 semester, 3 Credits A systematic study of the principal philosophical problems raised by the natural sciences. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 319 - Philosophy of Knowledge 1 semester, 3 Credits A study of classical and modern theories concerning the nature, origin, and validity of human knowledge. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 320 - Philosophy of Catholic Social Thought 1 semester, 3 Credits Analyzes and critiques the philosophy behind Catholicism’s best kept secret: natural law theory, Thomistic-Aristotelian political theory, modern theories of capitalism and socialism, phenomenology, personalism, and liberation philosophy. Covers the philosophical influences that expand beyond doctrine to Catholic social thought that engages social, economic, and political issues from the tradition of Catholic philosophy. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 321 - American Philosophy 1 semester, 3 Credits A critical study and analysis of the writings of outstanding American philosophers. Same as AMS 331. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 325 - Asian Philosophy 1 semester, 3 Credits An introduction to several of the major philosophical traditions of Asia, including Buddhist philosophy, Vedanta, Taoism, Confucianism, and Zen. The course begins with a brief study of cross-cultural understanding. The emphasis falls upon analysis and critical understanding of philosophical problems within the Asian tradition — e.g. the nature of God, knowledge, and the human person. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 326 - Contemporary Women Philosophers 1 semester, 3 Credits An in-depth investigation of selected women philosophers and their contributions to contemporary thought. The course may include the study of philosophers such as Elizabeth Anscombe, Simone de Beauvoir, Simone Weil, Hannah Arendt, and Edith Stein. Same as WMS 326. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 330 - The Wisdom of Aquinas 1 semester, 3 Credits The reading and discussion of selected texts from the works of St. Thomas Aquinas. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 337 - Philosophy and Globalization 1 semester, 3 Credits Students will study the phenomenon entitled ‘globalization’ through readings and assignments that focus on its epistemological, metaphysical, and ethical import and challenges. Emphasizes the multiple ways of addressing globalization—i.e., it places students in dialogue with scholars from both the developed and developing worlds and with key texts in both the history of philosophy and contemporary Continental and Catholic thought. Same as GST 337. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 339 - Environmental Philosophy 1 semester, 3 Credits A study of the relationship of human beings to the nonhuman world. Topics may include: mechanism, land rights, animal rights, deep ecology, stewardship, preservation, and conservation. Emphasis is placed on the interdisciplinary nature of environmental concerns. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 342 - Sources of Philosophical Errors 1 semester, 3 Credits This course is designed to engage students in the activity of philosophy by examining certain key philosophical problems from a different vantage point: as mistakes that have been made. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 347 - Philosophy of Language 1 semester, 3 Credits An introduction to, and exploration of, some of the central themes and problems in contemporary Philosophy of Language, such as the concepts of meaning, truth, and representation, translation, interpretation, and rule-following, the meaning of statements about the unknown past and the possibility of skepticism about meaning. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 352 - Philosophy of Mind 1 semester, 3 Credits This course deals with questions of consciousness and how the mind interacts with the body and the outside world. Questions investigated include: What is human consciousness? Is our consciousness material in nature? Can consciousness be reproduced? Do other minds exist? Can we make free choices? Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 360 - Early Modern Philosophy 1 semester, 3 Credits A survey of major philosophical themes of the 17th and 18th centuries, through an investigation of the works of British empiricists, continental rationalists, and German idealists. Emphasizes the philosophical implications of the Scientific Revolution. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 380 - Late Modern Philosophy 1 semester, 3 Credits A critical study through primary sources of the major philosophical themes from the 19th Century through the early 20th Century, which may include works from movements like Romanticism, Idealism, Materialism, Neo-Kantianism, and by authors like Fichte, Schelling, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Darwin, Comte, Mill, Stirner, Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, Windleband, Mach, and Dilthey. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 406 - The Wisdom of Augustine 1 semester, 3 Credits The Wisdom of Augustine encompasses a critical investigation of select themes and texts pertinent to the philosophy of St. Augustine of Hippo (A.D. 354-430), with a focus upon his general contribution to western thought. Uses Augustine’s philosophical anthropology as a touchstone for exploring his intellectual maturation and his efforts to harmonize the resources of faith and reason in forging his theories of human nature and personhood. Open to Juniors and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 407 - Philosophy of Art 1 semester, 3 Credits A philosophical consideration of the nature of art and beauty, their relationship, and their functions in society. Open to Juniors and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 412 - Contemporary Philosophy 1 semester, 3 Credits A survey of the principal schools of 20th- and 21st-century philosophy from both the analytic and continental traditions. Central issues may include the nature and future of philosophical inquiry and the question of communication among rival intellectual and cultural traditions. Open to Juniors and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 422 - Contemporary Existentialism 1 semester, 3 Credits An analytical study of the main themes in current existentialist thought with emphasis on Sartre, Camus, and Marcel. Open to Juniors and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 423 - Law and Morality 1 semester, 3 Credits A study of the various kinds of law and the obligations they impose in the area of morality. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 426 - Metaphysics 1 semester, 3 Credits A study of being in its primary determinations, properties, classifications, and causes. Open to Juniors and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 430 - Phenomenology 1 semester, 3 Credits Students will encounter both the descriptive method and the Continental European philosophical tradition that bear the name “phenomenology.” Begins with the foundation of phenomenology in the early 20th-century works of Edmund Husserl, then moves either chronologically or thematically from Husserl’s works through other key texts in the tradition, highlighting those of Heidegger and Merleau-Ponty. Open to Juniors and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 434 - Ethical Problems and Technology 1 semester, 3 Credits Investigates the ethical and spiritual significance of modern technology for human life and the human relationship to nature. Focuses on the significance of modern technology as such and the future prospects for technological humanity. Open to Juniors and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 460 - Tutorial 1 semester, 3 Credits Open primarily, but not exclusively, to senior Philosophy majors. Small groups of students have the opportunity to explore in depth an advanced topic in philosophy outside of the regular departmental offerings. Specific topic and meeting-time series are determined in consultation with faculty member and department chairperson. Prerequisite: Permission of department chairperson. Open to Juniors and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 470 - Special Topics in Philosophy 1 semester, 3 Credits Affords students the opportunity to study topics in philosophy which are not currently covered or not ordinarily treated in depth. The format of the course may vary with instructor and the topic chosen. Prerequisite: Open to Juniors and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 480 - Seminar 1 semester, 3 Credits A required course in special problems for all seniors majoring in philosophy. Open to Senior Philosophy majors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings
	PHL 490 - Independent Study in Philosophy 1 semester, 1-3 Credits Open primarily, but not exclusively, to senior Philosophy majors. The student is provided the opportunity to explore advanced topics in philosophy outside of the regular departmental offerings. The number of credits is determined by consultation with the faculty member responsible for the project and the chairperson. Prerequisite: Permission of the department chairperson. Open to Juniors and Seniors only. Click here for the Semester Course Offerings

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Course Descriptions

PHL 101 - Logic

PHL 103 - Introduction to Philosophy

PHL 150 - Philosophy and Literature

PHL 200 - Introduction to the Philosophy of St. Thomas

PHL 202 - General Ethics

PHL 206 - The Wisdom of Socrates

PHL 207 - Philosophy of the Human Person

PHL 300 - Ancient Philosophy

PHL 301 - Ethics, Moral Leadership, and the Common Good

PHL 304 - Current Problems in Ethics

PHL 306 - Business Ethics

PHL 309 - Biomedical Ethics

PHL 310 - Medieval Philosophy

PHL 312 - Thomistic Ethics

PHL 315 - Symbolic Logic

PHL 316 - Social and Political Philosophy

PHL 317 - Philosophy of Religion

PHL 318 - Philosophy of Science

PHL 319 - Philosophy of Knowledge

PHL 320 - Philosophy of Catholic Social Thought

PHL 321 - American Philosophy

PHL 325 - Asian Philosophy

PHL 326 - Contemporary Women Philosophers

PHL 330 - The Wisdom of Aquinas

PHL 337 - Philosophy and Globalization

PHL 339 - Environmental Philosophy

PHL 342 - Sources of Philosophical Errors

PHL 347 - Philosophy of Language

PHL 352 - Philosophy of Mind

PHL 360 - Early Modern Philosophy

PHL 380 - Late Modern Philosophy

PHL 406 - The Wisdom of Augustine

PHL 407 - Philosophy of Art

PHL 412 - Contemporary Philosophy

PHL 422 - Contemporary Existentialism

PHL 423 - Law and Morality

PHL 426 - Metaphysics

PHL 430 - Phenomenology

PHL 434 - Ethical Problems and Technology

PHL 460 - Tutorial

PHL 470 - Special Topics in Philosophy

PHL 480 - Seminar

PHL 490 - Independent Study in Philosophy