The Department of Philosophy & Ethics is committed to creating an environment of dialogical inquiry both in and outside the disciplinary context.
Philosophy & Ethics
Spring 2026 Courses
We offer a wide range of courses for every level of student. None of these courses require prerequisites and our capstone course can be used for many different majors, not just ours. All of our courses have first-time philosophy students in them and our professors teach to every student in the room.
Courses Information and Descriptions
Featured Courses
#31302 (3 credits)
M/W/F 12:20 – 1:10 p.m.
Prof. Beltz
This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts and methods of modern logic. Symbolic logic applies formal, mathematical techniques to the study of reasoning, helping us understand what makes arguments valid or sound. While logic is central to philosophy, it also plays a vital role in mathematics, computer science, linguistics, and psychology. Topics include the structure of deductive arguments, logical form, validity and soundness, symbolization, truth-functional connectives, and the use of truth tables to test arguments. Most of the course will focus on developing two formal languages (sentential logic and quantificational logic) that capture the structure of reasoning in natural language. Students will learn to construct and evaluate formal proofs using these systems, gaining practical tools for analyzing and improving reasoning across disciplines.
Essential Studies: Quantitative Reasoning
#26070 (3 credits)
Asynchronous Online
Prof. Weinstein
We are a society consumed by mass media. From TV, to newspapers, to the internet, we are under a constant barrage of information, persuasion, and digital manipulation. What are the ethical issues involved in broadcasting our perspectives and evaluating others? Do the traditional ideas of journalistic objectivity still apply? How much privacy should we have? How can we tell propaganda from the truth? In this class we will explore these and related questions, including taking a deep dive into the controversies surrounding free speech.
This class requires student groups meet once per week, despite being asynchronous.
#31308 (3 credits)
M/W 4 – 5:15 p.m.
Prof. Stone
This course will cover the historical development of so-called Western philosophy from Kant through the 19th century. Students will study how philosophers responded to Kant’s Enlightenment philosophy paying special attention to the philosophy of history and the formation of the subject (consciousness) within the modern world. Thinkers covered will include Kant, Hegel, Feuerbach, Nietzsche, Marx, and Freud.
Essential Studies: Humanities
#31306 (3 credits)
T/R 2 – 3:15 p.m.
Prof. Domzal
This course is not necessarily geared towards the theological tenets of different religions but, rather, towards understanding how Western philosophers have interpreted the purpose of religion. This requires us to understand first what these thinkers understood as religion, what they thought the interaction of religion was with broader concepts in philosophy (particularly morality and narratives of human progress), and what different thinkers understood as the function of religion for humans. We will read works from canonical figures like Plato, Aquinas, Kant, and Hume, as well as from more contemporary authors like Heidegger, Weber, Weil, and Viveiros de Castro.
Essential Studies: Humanities and Diversity of Human Experience
Department Mission
Both philosophy and ethics are concerned with fundamental human questions, as well as the traditions to which they are attached. The Department of Philosophy & Ethics is committed to creating an environment of dialogical inquiry both in and outside the disciplinary context. Areas of investigation include but are not limited to questions regarding the meaning of life, the ability to live ethically, and the human quest for the sacred. These concerns form the core of liberal arts education. The department maintains a major (with two concentrations in either Philosophy or Pre-Law) and two minors (Philosophy and Ethics), but also offers a wide range of courses in the disciplines of philosophy and ethics accessible to students of many interests.
What is Philosophy?
Our Programs
Both philosophy and ethics are concerned with the fundamental human questions, as well as the traditions to which they are attached. Areas of investigation include but are not limited to questions regarding the meaning of life, the ability to live ethically, and the human quest for the sacred. These concerns form the core of liberal arts education.
Program Requirements
We offer a wide range of courses for every level of student. None of these courses require prerequisites and our capstone course can be used for many different majors, not just ours. All of our courses have first-time philosophy students in them and our professors teach to every student in the room
- Pre-Law Major Courses and Electives
- Philosophy Major Courses and Electives
- Minor in Philosophy or Ethics
Plan Ahead with our 4-year Course Schedule
We don't offer every class every semester. This chart will let you know what we're planning on teaching over the next few years, so you can plan ahead and be strategic about your courses.