107 Critical Reasoning
4, x Hanrahan
Focuses on principles and standards applicable to thinking critically on any topic. Arguments and their analyses, the nature and use of evidence, fallacies both formal and informal, are included in the matters addressed in the course. Intended for freshmen and sophomores; open to juniors and seniors by consent only.
109 Symbolic Logic
x, 4 Frierson
An introduction to the methods of symbolic logic, including the propositional calculus, quantification theory, the logic of relations, and elementary modal logic. This course is quantitative and relies on reasoning similar to that in mathematics. Prerequisite: Philosophy 107 or Mathematics 125 or consent of instructor.
117 Problems in Philosophy
4, x Clearfield
An introductory study of some of the major problems of philosophy. Among those general problems considered will be the nature of philosophy, problems of knowledge (epistemological questions concerning the origin, nature, and limits of knowledge), and the problem of a world view (metaphysical questions concerning materialism, idealism, and naturalism). Other problems will be considered as time permits. Requirements will include written assignments, a mid-term, and a final. This course is intended for freshmen and sophomores; open to juniors and seniors by consent only.
127 Ethics
4, x Frierson
Consists of the careful reading and discussion of several classical texts of moral philosophy. For freshmen and sophomores; juniors by consent only; not open to seniors.
148 Philosophy of Religion
4; not offered 2009-10
An introduction to some of the central arguments in the philosophy of religion, focusing on proofs for and against the existence of God and discussions of the nature of religious belief. For first-year students and sophomores. This course is open to juniors and seniors by consent only.
177 Special Topics: Contemporary Problems for Thought
4
How is philosophy a necessary resource for responding to the most complex personal and social problems facing us today? The temptation, most especially for “pragmatic” Americans, is to see philosophy as a mildly interesting but ultimately abstract self-indulgence, and certainly not to see it as a necessary resource for, first, understanding, and then adequately addressing the most important problems we face. This course will explore the philosophical response to one such problem.
177A Special Topics: Punishment and Responsibility
x, 4 Clearfield
Nationwide, over two million people are now in prison, including over 2,000 at the Washington State Penitentiary here in Walla Walla, and those number continue to grow rapidly. Yet as a society, there is no clear consensus regarding the goal(s) or purpose(s) of sending someone to prison. How can it be right to cause someone suffering? What kind of suffering can be justified, and under what circumstances? And what is the connection between having done wrong and being made to suffer? In this course we will critically examine some of the ultimate philosophical justifications of punishment, such as retribution, deterence, incapacitation, and rehabilitation. We will also examine importantly related questions about personal responsibility and the conditions necessary for punishment to be appropriate. Finally, we will consider the relevance and impact of excuses and mitigating factors like age, socioeconomic background, addiction, and mental illness. Priority given to first- and second-year students. Distribution: humanities.
177B Special Topics: Evil and Nonviolence
x, 4 Davis
How does evil work and is there a non-violent response to the way it works? To answer we'll closely read selections from Luke, Augustine's Confessions and the Bhagavad-Gita.
201 Readings in the Western Philosophical Tradition: Ancient
4, 4 Fall: Davis; Spring: Ireland
A close reading of selected texts from Plato and Aristotle. May be elected as Classics 201.
202 Readings in the Western Philosophical Tradition: Modern
x, 4 Frierson
A survey of key 17th and 18th century European philosophers and texts, from Descartes' Meditations through key works by Hume and Kant.
207 Foundations of American Romanticism
4, x Davis
Is there an American difference in philosophy? We will examine the roots of American Romanticism in Coleridge and Wordsworth to prepare reading selected essays by Emerson and Thoreau and then Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter. Prerequisite: One prior course in Philosophy or consent of instructor.
209 Contemporary American Romanticism
x, 4 Davis
Is there an American difference in philosophy? We will examine contemporary developments of the founding of American thought in Emerson and Thoreau through a close reading of selected essays, autobiography, and short fiction by Stanley Cavell and Barry Lopez. Prerequisite: Philosophy 207 or consent of instructor.
210 Epistemology
4, x Hanrahan
This course focuses critically on theories of knowledge, truth, and justification, and the issues and problems they severally raise.
218 Language and Meaning
4, x Clearfield
This course is an introduction to the philosophy of language. The focus will be on the nature of linguistic meaning and the relationship between words and the world. We will also consider some of the implications of those issues on the nature of cognition and on our understanding of reality through language.
220 Philosophy and Literature
4
We will use texts from philosophy and literature
to explore specific problems.
221 Phenomenology of Religious Experience
4; not offered 2009-10
We will examine the experiential dynamics of specific religious phenomena, for example, the actions of forgiveness, of surrender in "conversion," and of "turning the other cheek." Readings will be taken from: Luke, Paul's letters, Augustine's Confessions, Kant's Religion within the Limits of Reason Alone, William James' Varieties of Religious Experience, Heidegger's The Phenomenology of Religious Life, and essays by Levinas.
222 Education and Autonomy
4; not offered 2009-10
225 Critical Race Theory
4; not offered 2009-10
This course is a philosophical consideration of race and recognition, focusing specifically on the African-American experience. It seeks to guide students towards the creation of what bell hooks terms a “critical consciousness” as itself a form of critical thinking. Distribution area: humanities or alternative voices.
230 History and Philosophy of Science
4; not offered 2009-10
An historical look at the philosophical development of method and at philosophical issues in conflicts (theoretical, evidentiary, and social) in science.
235 Philosophy of Feminism
4; not offered 2009-10
This course will introduce students to some of the questions explored within the philosophy of feminism, such as: What is it to be a woman? Are women oppressed? How do institutions of motherhood, marriage, and sex shape the lives of women? To answer these questions, we will read works by Marilyn Frye, bell hooks, Andrea Dworkin, Susan Bordo and Christina Hoff-Summers.
239 Aesthetics
4; not offered 2009-10
After developing a critical vocabulary through an examination of Hume’s notion of taste, Kant’s “reflective judgment,” and Heidegger’s reconceptualization of the work of art in “Building Dwelling Thinking,” we apply this vocabulary to architecture using Karsten Harries, The Ethical Function of Architecture, to help us critically assess the “aesthetic” governing Whitman’s Penrose Library renovation project. Then moving from the “public” to the “private,” we consider the sense of “aesthetics” at work in building your own home, using as a guide Witold Rybczynski’s The Most Beautiful House in the World. May be elected as ArtH 249.
241 Environmental Aesthetics
4; not offered 2009-10
Beginning with an examination of the claim of the beautiful in Elaine Scarry's On Beauty and Being Just, we will turn to experiment with the perception of sculpture in space working with reflections by Kant and Heidegger and public artworks on campus. This will lead to an examination of architecture in Karsten Harries' The Ethical Function of Architecture, and the Japanese garden in Marc Keane's The Art of Setting Stones. Beyond the opening exercises in the aesthetic perception, you will design your own home with a garden. May be elected as Art History 241.
255 Environmental Ethics
x, 4 Hanrahan
Does the non-human world have any intrinsic value or is it valuable only because of its relation to human interests? That is, does anything besides humanity have “moral standing”? If so, what is its basis? Should we, for instance accord rights to all those creatures that are sentient? If we do, will we have gone far enough, morally speaking? What about those creatures that lack sentience? What about the environment in which all creatures, human and nonhuman, live? Does it have moral standing? In answering these questions, we will consider the works of Aldo Leopold, Peter Singer, Karen Warren, Arne Naess, and Julian Simon, among others.
270 Metaphysics
4; not offered 2009-10
Metaphysics studies the nature of reality. In this course, we will focus on the metaphysics of the person. We will critically examine such topics as: the problem of free will, the nature of the mind/self, and how someone can change but still remain the same person.
318 Hannah Arendt as Political Thinker
4, x Ireland
Hannah Arendt disavowed the title of philosopher, instead describing herself as a "political thinker." This seminar will investigate what Arendt means by this description, focusing in particular on the notions of "world," "natality," and what she calls the vita activa. Texts will include Between Past and Future, The Human Condition, and Eichman in Jerusalem as well as selections from Arendt's work on Kant and aesthetics and cultural theory. Biweekly seminar papers and a final research paper will be required. Prerequisite: one course in Philosophy 300 level or above, or consent of instructor.
322 Kant’s Moral Philosophy
4; not offered 2009-10
This course explores Kant’s moral theory and recent appropriations of that moral theory in contemporary neo-Kantian ethics. Prerequisite: Philosophy 127 or consent of instructor.
332 Reproduction
4; not offered 2009-10
In this class, we will be exploring the ethical and metaphysical questions associated with reproduction. So, for example, do we have the right to have a child? If we do, is there ever a situation when we should forego acting on that right? What obligations do we have to our offspring? Do those obligations change as our offspring grows? What relationship should heterosexual sex have to reproduction? Does this relationship shape when and whether two people engage in this activity? Finally, how does reproduction impact our understanding of our genders?
337 Philosophy of Mind
x, 4 Hanrahan
A study of the nature and function of mind and consciousness and their place in the world of physical stuff. Readings will include classical as well as recent and contemporary work. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
338 Special Topics: Philosophers and Philosophical Movements
4
An examination of a philosopher or philosophical movement.
338A Special Topics: Hegel’s Moral and Political Philosophy
x, 4 Frierson
Hegel was one of the most insightful and original moral and political philosophers of all time, and his aproach to moral and political philosophy is both radically different than most contemporary approaches and deeply influential on current trends of thought. This course will consist in a close reading of Hegel's Philosophy of Right, in the context of which students will be expected to work to understand Hegel's own complex and important theory, apply that theory to think creatively about contemporary issues, and criticize that theory. Distribution: humanities.
338B Special Topics: Wittgenstein
x, 4 Clearfield
Ludwig Wittgenstein was not one but two of the most important and original philosophers of the 20th century. In 1921 he published the brief and cryptic Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, which he beleived definitively resolved all the main problems of philosophy. He then left philosophy altogether. A decade later, he began to doubt his earlier work, and over the next 20 years developed a radically different approach to philosophy, most fully expounded in his posthumously published Philosophical Investigations. Throughout his career, Wittgenstein emphasized the importance of understanding the nature of language, through which he addressed issues across the philosophical spectrum, including logic, epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of mind, and ethics. We will begin with a brief introduction to the writings of Frege and Russell that most influenced Wittgenstein, and then work carefully through both the Tractatus and the Investigations, supplemented by relevant secondary sources. It is strongly recommended that students have at least two prior courses in philosophy. Distribution: humanities.
340 Special Topics: Philosophical Problems
4
An examination of a philosophical problem
340A Special Topics: What is the Human Being?
4, x Frierson
In a set of lectures to his students, Kant claimed that all of philosophy could be reduced to the question, What is the Human Being? This course focuses on that question. Almost half of the course will be spent exploring Kant's answer to this question, which will also provide an opportunity to explore Kant's philosophy as whole. The rest of the course will look at several contemporary approaches to the problem (including, for example, existentialism and scientific--especially evolutionary-- accounts of human beings). Distribution: humanities.
345 Animals and Philosophy
4; not offered 2009-10
Many people’s lives are intertwined with animals. But while animals are clearly very important, few wonder about what kinds of creatures they are. Are they merely organic machines or are they conscious in some way? Do they think? Do they feel pain? Can they have beliefs? Moreover, do animals have rights that oblige us to protect them from harm? These are the questions we will be addressing in this class. Prerequisite: At least one other course in a related field.
400 Values
4; not offered 2009-10
A substantive consideration of one or more values (such as justice, happiness, or charity), based on primary sources from Western philosophy. Prerequisite: Philosophy 127 or consent of instructor.
408 Studies in American Philosophy: Thoreau
4
A close reading of a text from the classic American philosophic tradition.
410 Topics in Continental Philosophy
4
An examination of a text or problem from the Continental philosophical tradition.
410A Special Topics: Nietzsche and Heidegger
x, 4 Davis
We will examine Nietzsche's concept of self-overcoming in Thus Spake Zarathustra and Heidegger's response to it in What is Called Thinking?
483, 484 Independent Study
1-4, 1-4 Staff
Study of selected philosophies or philosophic problems. Prerequisite: consent of and arrangement with instructor.
498 Honors Thesis
4, 4 Staff
A course designed to further independent research or projects resulting in the preparation of an undergraduate honors thesis and including an oral defense of the central issues of the thesis to be taken during the second term of the student’s senior year. Required of and limited to senior honors candidates in philosophy. Prerequisites: admission to honors candidacy.