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Home > Current Students > Academic Information > Course Catalogs > Philosophy
Philosophy
Kevin Zanelotti, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Philosophy;
kzanelotti@mckendree.edu; (618) 537-6892; CAR 105
Philosophy, the oldest and most basic of the liberal arts disciplines, continues to provide
the broad intellectual foundation essential to assuming leadership roles within a
quickly changing society. Additionally, a major or minor in philosophy serves to balance
the increasingly narrow specialization typical of many of today’s majors in professional
areas. The abilities to analyze and synthesize ideas are developed; one’s
critical thinking skills are sharpened; and moral and aesthetic sensitivities are given
greater depth. A major in philosophy serves as a most appropriate pathway to law
school, divinity school and various graduate programs in management and administration,
as well as the graduate study of philosophy itself. A major or minor in philosophy,
in tandem with a major in a narrower professional field, will serve the student well as
career advancement comes to require flexibility of mind, and insight into the essentials
of a situation, as well as technical skills.
Among specific objectives, the study of philosophy is intended to develop in the student
familiarity with a basic philosophical vocabulary through which discussion of central
questions has occurred, as well as an ability to recognize relationships between past
philosophies and basic presuppositions of Western culture today, and an ability to analyze
and discuss primary source material. Philosophy also seeks to develop the sensitivity
to recognize philosophical issues and to critically assess the response of various
individuals or schools to those issues, while developing empathic skills in entering the
“mind set” of given thinkers after examining historical and intellectual settings. Majors
will emerge with the tools and experience in diagnosing their own intellectual presuppositions
and those of their culture, thus moving them to develop and express their own
careful thinking about central philosophical questions.
To major in philosophy, the student must complete 32 credit hours in philosophy.
(Only one course from PHI 206 and 332 and one from PHI 390 and 391 will count
toward the major.) In addition, the student must complete a minimum of six semester
hours of a single foreign language or equivalent (calculated at two semesters of high
school language equal to one semester of college language). A student must earn a
grade better than D in each of the required courses in the major as well as in each of
the electives counted toward the minimum credit hours for the major.
To minor in philosophy, the student must complete 16 credit hours in philosophy to
include PHI 201. (Only one course from PHI 390 and 391, and one course from PHI
206 and 332, will count toward the minor.) A student must earn a grade better than D
in each of the required courses in the minor as well as in each of the electives counted
toward the minimum credit hours for the minor.
It is suggested that the student consider a major or minor in a second field. The following
courses, many of which also fulfill core curriculum requirements, are suggested but not
required for the major in philosophy: ART 111 and/or 112; ECO 211 and/or 212; ENG
212; HIS 161, 162; PSI 202; PSY 153, 401; REL 320; SOC 149, 150, 407; SPC 210.
PHILOSOPHY MAJOR REQUIREMENTS 32 crs.
PHI 201 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY (4)
PHI 204 LOGIC (4)
PHI 363 HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY: ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL (4)
PHI 364 HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY: (4)
RENAISSANCE AND MODERN
And at least 16 credits from among the following:
PHI 206 INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS (3)
PHI 325 PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION (3)
PHI 331 SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY (3)
PHI 332 ETHICAL THEORY (3)
PHI 333 METAPHYSICS AND HUMAN NATURE (3)
PHI 334 PHILOSOPHY OF ART (3)
PHI 336 EXISTENTIALISM (3)
PHI 345 PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE (3)
PHI 390 ETHICS AND PUBLIC POLICY (3)
PHI 391 BIOMEDICAL ETHICS (3)
PHI 480 INDEPENDENT STUDY IN PHILOSOPHY (1-4)
PHI 490 SEMINAR IN PHILOSOPHY (1-4)
any PHI topics course (1-4)
PHI 201 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY (4)
This is an introductory course dealing with the purposes, problems and methods of philosophical
thinking. It aims to lead students to organize their own world-view and life-view in the light of a critical
examination of their own ideas and of typical philosophical positions. Each semester.
PHI 204 LOGIC (4)
The aim of this course is to give the student a general knowledge of the fundamental laws of correct
deductive and inductive reasoning. Emphasis is placed on practical exercise and the detection of formal and informal fallacies. Annually, Spring.
PHI 206 INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS (3)
This course is an introduction to thinking about the ethical life from the perspective of philosophy.
Ethical principles, virtues, and rights are linked to concrete situations of everyday moral decisionmaking. Each semester.
PHI 280-89 TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY (1-4)
Studies in topical or specialized areas of Philosophy not included in the regular curriculum. As needed.
PHI 325 PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION (W) (3)
This course explores traditional and recent, philosophical and theological thinking in such areas as arguments for the existence of God, the nature of religious knowledge, the problem of evil, the question of human destiny, and the nature of religious language, etc. Same as REL 325. Alternate years, Spring ‘07.
PHI 331 SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY (W) (3)
This course examines a number of critical issues at the intersection of ethical theory, political thought
and social life. Among the subjects of special concern are the concepts of political freedom, the grounds of coercion, the acceptability of the “harm principle,” the notion of legal rights, the concept of human rights and theories of social justice. Same as PSI 331. Alternate years, Fall ‘07.
PHI 332 ETHICAL THEORY (W) (3)
This course explores major questions in the area of ethical theory including ethical relativism and moral objectivism, what is intrinsically good, consequentialist and deontological thinking about right actions, virtue ethics, the relation of religion and ethics and other issues. Alternate years, Spring ‘08.
PHI 333 METAPHYSICS AND HUMAN NATURE (W) (3)
This course focuses upon some recent answers to the question ‘What is a human being?’ noting questions about such concepts as ‘person,’ ‘body,’ ‘freedom,’ ‘determinism,’ ‘causation’ and matters such as the relation of mind and body, as these issues are raised in the thinking of prominent natural and social Scientists.’ Alternate years, Fall ‘07.
PHI 334 PHILOSOPHY OF ART (W) (3)
This course is an occasion for reflection on what it is one does when one ‘does art.’ It will focus on such issues as the nature of art, the relations of the various ‘arts,’ the relevance of such notions as ‘expression,’ ‘creativity,’ ‘truth,’ ‘form,’ to the doing of art and problems in interpreting and criticizing art. Alternate years, Spring ‘08.
PHI 336 EXISTENTIALISM (W) (3)
This course centers upon representative members of that group of modern philosophical thinkers called ‘existentialists,’ and upon the themes which these thinkers have made central to their work. As needed.
PHI 345 PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE (W) (3)
This course explores major philosophical problems raised by modern science including such issues as the distinction between science and non-science, the nature of scientific explanation, the confirmation and acceptance of hypotheses and the relevance of values to scientific inquiry. Fall ‘06.
PHI 363 HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY: GREEK AND MEDIEVAL (W) (4)
This course is a historical survey of the great movements of philosophic thought from the Greek period to Scholasticism. The great philosophers of history are studied from the point of view of their own particular pilosophy and their influence on the thinking of their own and subsequent periods. Alternate years, Fall ‘06.
PHI 364 HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY:
RENAISSANCE AND MODERN (W) (4)
This course presents a survey of the period of thought from Scholasticism to modern critical philosophy. Special attention will be given to Descartes, Spinoza, Locke, Kant, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Nietzche, Kierkegaard and major twentieth century thinkers. Alternate years, Spring ‘07.
PHI 380-389 TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY (W) (1-4)
Studies in topical or specialized areas of Philosophy not included in the regular curriculum. As needed.
PHI 390 ETHICS AND PUBLIC POLICY (W) (3)
This course examines recent philosophical thinking about such fundamental ethical and social issues as racial and sexual discrimination, criminal punishment and the death penalty, civil disobedience, the morality of war, the enforcement of morals and abortion. Alternate years, Fall ‘07.
PHI 391 BIOMEDICAL ETHICS (W) (3)
This course explores the ethical implications of recent developments in biological research and medical practice, including experimentation with human subjects, biological engineering, death, transplantation and resource allocation, behavior control, and health care delivery. Alternate years, Fall ‘06.
PHI 480 INDEPENDENT STUDY IN PHILOSOPHY (1-4)
PHI 490 SEMINAR IN PHILOSOPHY (1-4)
Prerequisite: junior or senior standing as a philosophy major.
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