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Spring
2006 
Fall
2005
Spring
2005 Fall
2004
Spring
2004 Fall
2003
Spring 2003 Fall
2002
Fall
2006
Philosophy
PHIL 105/105G Western Philosophy
.001 TF 11:20-12:35PM Springs, J
.002 TF 3:35-4:50PM Springs, J
This course is a historical introduction to the Western philosophical tradition.
Students closely examine classic and contemporary texts on the nature of reality,
truth, morality, goodness, and justice; the possibility of knowledge; faith,
reason, and the existence of God; and the issue of freedom and determinism.
.003H TF 8:30-9:45PM Feder, E
The history of philosophy, like that of humanity, may be read as a history
of love and desire. From the famous “Platonic love” that seeks
wisdom to the historical desires that make up human consciousness for Hegel,
from the medieval passion for God to the postmodern desire for Otherness,
love and desire have been central to the philosophical constructions of human
identity, moral meaning, and the very project of understanding. In this course
we undertake a survey of Western philosophy from the perspective of love and
desire, exploring the ways in which these terms have been understood and have
in turn formed our philosophical understanding.
.004 MW 5:20-6:35PM Tschemplik,
A
This course provides a historical introduction to the Western philosophical
traditions. Students will be introduced to the three major branches of philosophy—metaphysics,
epistemology, and ethics. The course invites students to address some of the
philosophical problems, which have seized the attention of great thinkers
throughout history: What is the nature of Reality? What is the good life?
How should one live? What is justice? How do human beings achieve knowledge?
Does God exist? Do human beings have free will? The objectives of the course
are: (1) to familiarize students with some of the great philosophers' answers
to these questions and (2) to provide a background for students as they begin
to formulate their own answers to these major philosophical problems. The
format of the course will be lecture and discussion.
.005 MW 6:45-8:00PM Seng, P
This course is a historical introduction to the Western philosophical tradition.
Students closely examine classic and contemporary texts on the nature of reality,
truth, morality, goodness, and justice; the possibility of knowledge; faith,
reason, and the existence of God; and the issue of freedom and determinism.
This course is a foundation-level course in the General Education Program, Area 2, Cluster 2: "Traditions that Shape the Western World".
PHIL 200 Introduction to Logic
.001 TF 2:10-3:25PM Carr, R
This beginning course introduces students to the study of formal logic and
its relation to critical thinking and ordinary language. Logic has been an
important part of the Western philosophical tradition at least since the time
of Aristotle, and developments in the Twentieth Century have given us more
powerful logical tools than were ever available before. We will learn to recognize
“arguments” in ordinary language, to distinguish between inductive
and deductive reasoning, to identify informal fallacies, and to determine
the validity of deductive arguments through the use of truth tables, Venn
diagrams, and the construction of formal proofs using both truth-functional
and quantificational notation. The study of logic improves reasoning and analytical
abilities, and provides intellectual skills that are helpful both in the conduct
of daily affairs and as preparation for further study.
PHIL 220/220G Moral Philosophy
.001 TF 12:45-2:00PM Springs, J
.002 MTh 9:55-11:10AM Fleming, L
The theories concerning the nature of goodness found in Western philosophy.
The major discussion issues are traditional principles for evaluating goodness
and telling right from wrong; the difference between fact and value; the justification
of normative judgments; objectivity in ethics; and the relationship between
moral and nonmoral goodness.
This course is a second-level course in the General Education Program, Curricular Area 2, Cluster 2: Traditions that Shape the Western World.
Prerequisites for General Education credit: Individual Freedom vs. Authority, Work and Community, Western Legal Tradition, Western Philosophy, or Religious Heritage of the West.
PHIL 230/230G Meaning & Purpose in the Arts
.001 MW 6:45-8:00PM Erfani, F.
Leading theories of the nature, purpose, and meaning of artistic activities
and objects examined through writings of philosophers, artists, and critics
of ancient and modern times. Both Western and non-Western viewpoints are considered.
Student projects apply critical ideas to particular works in an art form familiar
to them.
This course is a second-level course in the General Education Program, Curricular Area 1, Cluster 2: The Creative Arts.
Prerequisites for General Education credit: Art: The Historical Experience, Visual Literacy, Interpreting Literature, or Critical Approach to the Cinema.
PHIL 235/235G Theories of Democracy & Human Rights
.001 MTh 3:35-4:50PM Peach, L
In this course, we will examine the classic and contemporary theories about
the nature and moral foundations of democracy and human rights, as well as
contemporary problems regarding democracy and human rights. Examples of the
former include the dangers of democracy, the problems with “free trade
democracy,” and democracies in different cultural contexts. Examples
of the latter include the debate over human rights as political and civil
only or also social, cultural and economic; group rights as human rights;
and the complications of nationality, gender, and sexuality in thinking about
the universality or cultural relativism of human rights.
This course is a second-level course in the General Education Program, Curricular Area 2, Cluster 2: Traditions that Shape the Western World.
Prerequisites for General Education credit: Individual Freedom vs. Authority, Work and Community, Western Legal Tradition, Western Philosophy, or Religious Heritage of the West.
PHIL 240/240G Ethics in the Professions
.001 MTh 9:55-11:10PM Peach, L
This course provides a framework for thinking generally about ethics in the
context of the professions. In addition, it addresses ethical dilemmas that
arise in the professions of law, politics, business, medicine, the media,
and education. We will consider ethical theories and case studies pertinent
to each of these areas.
This course is a second-level course in the General Education Program, Curricular Area 4, Cluster 1: Social Institutions and Behavior.
Prerequisites for General Education credit: Understanding Mass Media, Macroeconomics, Politics in the United States, or Global Sociology.
PHIL 300/600 Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
.001 M 8:10-10:40PM Tschemplik, A
During this course, students will learn about the history of Western philosophy
from the earliest period through the sixteenth century, about philosophers
and their general cultural milieu, and about the formation of the classical
world view and accommodation of this world picture to requirements of Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam.
Prerequisite: PHIL-105 Western Philosophy or permission of instructor.
PHIL 302/602 Nineteenth Century Philosophy
.001 W 2:10-4:50PM Stam, J
This course explores continental philosophy from Hegel through Nietzsche.
Beginning with the Kantian background, we move from Hegel to Schopenhauer,
Feuerbach, Kierkegaard, Marx, and Nietzsche. Consciousness, will, history,
freedom, religion, and different applications of the dialectical method, will
be among the major themes. Emphasis will be on concentrated reading of the
texts – some of them difficult – and the continuities and contrasts
among these thinkers.
Prerequisite: PHIL-105 Western Philosophy or permission of instructor.
PHIL 312/612 Recent and Contemporary Philosophers: Heidegger
.001 W 2:10-4:50PM Reiman, J, and Erfani,
F
Martin Heidegger's Being and Time is one of the most influential works of
20th century philosophy. In this team-taught course, we will engage in a close
reading of this great text. To set the stage, we will first read some excerpts
from the work of Heidegger's teacher, Edmund Husserl.
Prerequisite: PHIL-105 Western Philosophy or permission of instructor.
PHIL 313/613 Studies in Asian Philosophy: Buddhist Philosophy
.001 T 8:10-10:40PM Park, J
The course explores Buddhist philosophy of the mind, language, and ethics
through a close reading of major Buddhist texts. We will pay special attention
to Buddhism’s relation to metaphysics. Despite the commonly accepted
claim that Buddhist doctrine by nature rejects any type of metaphysical discourses,
questions remain how a thought system legitimatizes and sustains itself without
to some degree anchoring itself in metaphysical foundation. The course will
explore this issue and investigate how Buddhism’s position on metaphysics
is reflected in its philosophy of language and Buddhist form of ethics.
Prerequisite: one introductory course in philosophy.
PHIL 317/617 Race and Philosophy
.001 T 5:30-8:00PM Feder, E
An introduction to the emerging area of critical race theory in philosophy.
The course examines the development of “race’ as an object of
philosophy beginning in the early modern period, explores the way in which
analysis of race has brought philosophy into public conversation, and the
ways that philosophers have treated race and racism.
Prerequisite: PHIL-105 Western Philosophy or permission of instructor.
PHIL 386 Selected Topics in Philosophy: Senior Seminar: Citizenship
.001 W 11:20-2:00PM Erfani, F
This seminar is a philosophical examination of citizenship from the model
of city-state to the global one. We will read selections from classical figures,
such as Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Machiavelli, Rousseau, Tocqueville and
Marx, as well as contemporary political thinkers, such as Taylor, Mouffe,
Lefort and Dahl.
PHIL 390/590 Independent Reading Course in Philosophy
Prerequisite: permission of instructor and department chair.
PHIL 391/691 Internship in Philosophy
.001 T 8:10-10:40PM Feder, E
An internship provides the opportunity to test the claim that philosophy is
the kind of discipline that teaches transferable skills such as critical reading,
analytical problem-solving and clear and careful writing. These skills are
desirable since many research institutes, non-profit organizations, think
tanks and legal and business organizations--all of which Washington supports
in abundance--are in search of individuals with such skills. Students enrolled
in the internship will design, in consultation with the internship coordinator,
a reading list and individual syllabus appropriate to their internships. Students
will meet together throughout the semester, beginning the second week of classes.
Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
PHIL 392/692 Cooperative Education Field Experience
Prerequisite: permission of department chair and Cooperative Education office.
PHIL 486 Colloquium of Philosophy: Children: Agency and Rights
.001 Oliver, A
9/25 8:10-10:40PM; 11/03 1:00-6:00PM; 11/04 9:00-2:00PM
We will study a variety of historical and contemporary approaches to topics
such as adoption, ethics of care, education, disability, law, environmental
degradation, and poverty.
PHIL 490/690 Independent Study Project in Philosophy
Prerequisite: permission of instructor and department chair.
PHIL 498 Honors Project in Philosophy
Prerequisite: permission of department and University
Honors Director.
PHIL 693 Global Ethics
.001 Th 5:30-8:00PM Peach, L
Ethical issues of global scope and import are in serious need of systematic
and sophisticated philosophical analysis. This course uses an interdisciplinary
approach to examine a number of emerging ethical issues of global concern,
including human rights abuses, the global economy and its attendant injustices,
inequitable distribution of the world's resources, the AIDS pandemic, militarization
and peace and conflict resolution, and environmental degradation.
Although there is considerable overlap between the various topics to be
discussed, the outline for the course will covers six basic areas for in-depth
consideration and analysis: Global Governance, Subjects or Citizens in the
International System, Human Rights, Militarization and Military Intervention,
Economic Crises, and The Environment. Assignments will include problems requiring
research on the internet as well as more traditional library research and
reading and writing assignments.
PHIL 797 Master's Thesis Seminar
Prerequisite: permission of department chair.
Religion
RELG 105/105G Religious Heritage of the West
.001 TF 8:30-9:45AM TBA
The contribution of religion to Western civilization. The eastern Mediterranean
roots of Western religions, the emergence of Christianity in the Greco-Roman
world, and the rise of Islam. The mature religious synthesis of Medieval Europe.
Modern secularism’s challenge to this tradition.
This course is a foundation-level course in the
General Education Program, Curricular Area 2, Cluster 2: Traditions that Shape
the Western World.
RELG 185/185G Forms of the Sacred
.001 MTh 9:55-11:10AM Park, J
The course covers five major religious traditions in Asia: Hinduism, Buddhism
(its development in India and its transformation in East Asia), Confucianism
and Taoism (two indigenous religious traditions of China), and Shinto (an
indigenous religion of Japan). We will examine basic doctrines of each religion
and discuss different ways of understanding the relationship between life
and death, god and human beings, and the secular and the sacred. Also addressed
is religion's influence on the construction of gender, national and individual
identity, and social consciousness.
.002 TF 3:35-4:50PM Greenberg, G
.003 TF 2:10-3:25PM Greenberg, G
Since we live in both the global village and in our own national, but multicultural,
universe, some knowledge of Eastern religions can be a real asset. The course
covers three major religious traditions: the traditions developed in South
Asia which form Hinduism, Buddhism as it developed in India and is transformed
in East Asia, and the indigenous religious traditions of China and Japan.
Throughout the course, the manifestations of religion in both high and popular
culture and religion’s influence on issues of gender, social structure
and personal behaviors will be addressed.
This course is a foundation-level course in the General Education Program, Curricular Area 3, Cluster 2: Global and Multicultural Perspectives.
RELG 210/210G Nonwestern Religion
.001 MTh 2:10-3:25PM Park, J
This course investigates Buddhist tradition in four sections: doctrine, scripture,
historiography, and practice. In the doctrine section, the Buddhist concept
of no-self will be explored in connection with its theory of personhood, individuality,
and the world. In the scripture section, the class reads one of the major
Buddhist scriptures, discussing different concepts of the Buddha in the Theravada
and Mahayana Buddhist schools, devotional Buddhism, and the function of text
in Buddhist tradition. In Historiography, the class investigates the history
of Zen Buddhism, considering both its historicity and fictionality, and their
meanings in Zen Buddhist philosophy in particular and Buddhist tradition in
general. In the practice section, the class will read about life in a Buddhist
monastery and discuss the meaning of Buddhist practice in our time.
This course is a second-level course in the General Education Program, Curricular Area 3, Cluster 2: Global and Multicultural Perspectives.
Prerequisites for General Education credit: Culture: The Human Mirror, Third-World Literature, Forms of the Sacred, Cross-Cultural Communication, Views from the Third World.
RELG 371/671 Topics in Jewish Religion: Women and Judaism
.001 W 11:20-2:00PM Berner, L
Beginning with an exploration of Jewish women’s history and legal status,
we will focus on feminist theological perspective and Jewish women’s
spirituality as reflected in personal writings, ritual, liturgy, and midrash
(biblical interpretation and commentary). In this regard, the dialectic between
tradition and innovation will be examined. We will together explore underlying
meta-issues such as how the female and the feminine find their place within
Judaism, and how Jewish women engage with, challenge, and embrace Judaism.
RELG 386/686 Selected Topics in Religion: Peace and Religion
.001 Th 8:10-10:40PM Greenberg, G
This course analyzes the meaning and role of peace in Judaism, Christianity
and Islam; Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism. Drawing from the respective scriptures,
developed historically, students will gain insight into an essential theme
of religious identity and tap sources for understanding international conflicts
and peace-efforts. Taught by a scholar in the field of religious studies.
RELG 390/590 Independent Reading Course in Religion
Prerequisite: permission of department chair.
RELG 490/690 Independent Study Project in Religion
Prerequisite: permission of department chair.
RELG 498 Honors Project in Religion
Open only to students in the University Honors Program.
Prerequisite: permission of department chair and university honors director.
SUMMER 2006
PHIL 105/105G Western Philosophy
C01 TTh 9:00-12:10PM Erfani, F
May 22 – June 29
In this course, a historical introduction to the Western philosophical tradition,
students closely examine classic and contemporary texts on the nature of reality,
truth, morality, goodness, and justice; the possibility of knowledge; faith,
reason, and the existence of God; and the issue of freedom and determinism.
This course is a foundation-level course in the General Education Program, Area 2, Cluster 2: "Traditions that Shape the Western World".
PHIL 220/220G Moral Philosophy
D01 MTWTh 1:00-4:10PM Feder, E
May 22 – June 8
Ethical theory has been concerned most of all with questions about conduct:
what to do, how to act, and why. Contemporary accounts have been largely divided
between those which take results or consequences as central (and concepts
of “good” and “bad” as primary) and those which take
intentions, principles, and the kind of act as most important (and the concepts
of “right,” “wrong,” and “obligation”
as primary). These two kinds of theory—first articulated in the work
of Mill and Kant, respectively--will be the focus of this course. We will
“put these theories to work” in analysis of contemporary films
and short stories.
This course is a second-level course in the General Education Program, Curricular Area 2, Cluster 2: Traditions that Shape the Western World.
Prerequisites for General Education credit: Individual Freedom vs. Authority, Work and Community, Western Legal Tradition, Western Philosophy, or Religious Heritage of the West.
PHIL 235/235G Theories of Democracy and Human Rights
F01 TTH 9:00-12:10PM Erfani, F
July 3 – August 10
This course analyzes traditional Western theories of democracy and rights,
both separately and in relation to each other, as well as contemporary approaches
such as Habermasian, post-modern, feminist, and critical race theory. It also
considers the East-West debate on human rights.
This course is a second-level course in the General Education Program, Curricular Area 2, Cluster 2: Traditions that Shape the Western World.
Prerequisites for General Education credit: GOVT105G Individual Freedom vs. Authority, HIST115G Work and Community, JLS110G Western Legal Tradition, PHIL105G Western Philosophy, or RELG105G Religious Heritage of the West.
PHIL 386/686 Integrating Ethics
D01 MTWTh 5:30-8:40PM Feder, E
May 22 – June 8
In this course we will explore the thesis that philosophy generally, and ethics
in particular, is fundamentally pedagogical. We will undertake this study
theoretically, by analysis of selected canonical and contemporary texts, and
practically, by focusing on methods of teaching of philosophical issues both
in and outside the classroom. This course is intended for students interested
in teaching at any level.
Prerequisite: one course in philosophy.
RELG 105/105G Religious Heritage of the West
B01 TTh 5:30-8:40PM Greenberg,
G
May 22 – June 29
This course explores the contribution of religion to Western civilization,
the eastern Mediterranean roots of Western religions, the emergence of Christianity
in the Greco-Roman world, the rise of Islam, the mature religious synthesis
of Medieval Europe, and modern secularism’s challenge to this tradition.
This course is a foundation-level course in the General Education Program, Curricular Area 2, Cluster 2: Traditions that Shape the Western World.
RELG 210/210G Non-Western Religious Traditions
H01 TTH 5:30-8:40PM Greenberg,
G
July 3 – August 10
How non-Western religious traditions function as systems of symbols, how they
interact with both indigenous religious traditions and external religious
traditions such as Islam and Christianity, and how they respond to modernization
and imperialism.
This course is a second-level course in the General Education Program, Curricular Area 3, Cluster 2: Global and Multicultural Perspectives.
Prerequisites for General Education credit: Culture: The Human Mirror, Third-World Literature, Forms of the Sacred, Cross-Cultural Communication, and Views from the Third World.