The philosophy minor covers ethics, epistemology, logic, and metaphysics. It addresses historical and contemporary views on philosophical questions, such as: Does God know the future? How could God be absolutely sovereign and people be free? Since there is evil, what sense can be made of the claim that “God is good”?
What will I learn?
You will learn to communicate effectively, think deeper, and analyze key philosophical concepts. Select 16 credits of philosophy courses to complete this minor.
PHI3145
The Nature of Knowledge
This course examines the question, When does a belief count as knowledge? It addresses the relevance of the knower in knowing, the role of proof and evidence, and the major historical and contemporary theories of epistemology such as skepticism, relativism, and empiricism.
PHI2016
Ethics
A comparative introduction to normative social theory. An examination and critique of alternative grounds for claiming that an action, attitude, social rule, or social institution is morally right or wrong.
PHI2006
Fundamentals of Logic
In this course students learn the basic principles of propositional and first-order logic. Emphasis is on developing understanding and skill in constructing valid deductive arguments and recognizing fallacious reasoning. Informal and inductive logic will also be introduced with a survey of common informal fallacies.
PHI2055
Introduction to Theological Philosophy
This course explores the implications of the biblical doctrines of creation, fall, redemption and providence for the study of philosophy. It stresses the Christ-centered nature of creation, the moral and theological nature of knowledge, and the dependence of the created order upon the providential activity of God. Particular attention will be given to topics such as the Creator/creature distinction, the effects of sin and regeneration on the mind, and the relationship between general and special revelation.
PHI3035
The Nature of Reality
This course surveys metaphysics as the study of the nature of reality and is concerned with identifying and understanding the fundamentally distinct sorts of things that exist such as properties, relations, time, causality, freedom, mind, numbers, sets and possible worlds. The course attempts to relate these things to the doctrine of creation and to the dynamics of God’s acting according to his plan for his purposes in Christ. This is a course in worldview integration for those majoring in physical and social science, mathematics, or in any of the humanities.
PHI3165
Political Thought
Course also listed as POS3165. This course considers how individuals have thought and written about politics from a philosophical perspective. It seeks to understand both Ancient and Modern perspectives. It will also consider normative considerations about justice and the nature of political rights.
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