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Department of Philosophy

Paul Muench, Chair

Philosophy is the search for an understanding of how the world as a whole hangs together and of how we are to assume our place in the world. Philosophy pursues its goal first of all historically. It is the trustee of the heritage of great philosophical texts, and it engages those texts in conversation with contemporary problems. Second, philosophy turns to the contemporary world directly and tries to illuminate and advance its concerns with ethics and art, with science and technology, with ecology and feminism, with law and medicine. Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees are offered. More information is available online: www.cas.umt.edu/phil/.

Special Degree Requirements

To obtain the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major or minor in philosophy, students must complete the following requirements:

1. Grade Requirements
Students must earn a C- (1.67) or better in all courses that count toward either the philosophy major or philosophy minor.

2. Credit Requirements
A. Philosophy Major: Students must complete a minimum of 33 credits in philosophy; at least 21 credits must be in courses numbered 300 and higher.
B. Philosophy Minor: Students must complete a minimum of 18 credits in philosophy; at least 6 credits must be in courses numbered 300 and higher.

3. Lower-Division Core Courses
Students who major or minor in philosophy must complete the following lower-division core courses:
PHL 210E (PHIL 300E) Moral Philosophy
PHL 233 (PHIL 210) Introduction to Logic: Deduction
PHL 261Y (PHIL 251) History of Ancient Philosophy
PHL 262Y (PHIL 252) History of Modern Philosophy

4. Foreign Language Requirement
Students who major in philosophy must complete at least three semesters of a foreign language (four semesters are recommended), with grades of C- (1.67) or better. Recommended languages for philosophy are Ancient Greek, Latin, French, and German.

5. Designated Writing Course Requirement
Students who major or minor in philosophy must satisfy the Designated Writing Course Requirement by successfully completing PHL 210E (PHIL 300E) Moral Philosophy. Students will not be eligible to take upper-division core courses until they have met this requirement.

6. Upper-Division Courses
Students are expected to complete lower-division requirements before beginning upper-division coursework.
A. Philosophy Major: Students must complete at least the following upper-division philosophy courses:
(1) four upper-division core courses (12 credits);
(2) two upper-division electives (6 credits);
(3) capstone course (3 credits).
B. Philosophy Minor: Students must complete at least the following upper-division philosophy courses: two upper-division core courses (6 credits).

7. Upper-Division Core Courses
In order to take upper-division core courses students must have satisfied the Designated Writing Course Requirement by successfully completing PHL 210E (PHIL 300E) Moral Philosophy.
A. Philosophy Major: Students must complete at least one course in each of the four core areas (History, Value Theory, Continental Philosophy, Analytic Philosophy).
B. Philosophy Minor: Students must complete at least one course in two of the four core areas (History, Value Theory, Continental Philosophy, Analytic Philosophy).

I. History
PHL 462 (PHIL 452) Early Modern Philosophy
PHL 464 (PHIL 453) Kant
PHL 465 (PHIL 461) Plato
PHL 466 (PHIL 463) Aristotle

II. Value Theory
PHL 412 (PHIL 443) Ethics and Public Affairs
PHL 422 (PHIL 427E) Environmental Philosophy
PHL 427 (PHIL 444) Topics in Philosophy of Art
PHL 429 (PHIL 441) Philosophy in Literature
PHL 450 (PHIL 422E) Contemporary Moral and Political Theory
PHL 455 (PHIL 477) Philosophy of Society and Culture

III. Continental Philosophy
PHL 467 (PHIL 465) 19th Century Continental Philosophy
PHL 468 (PHIL 467) 20th Century Continental Philosophy

IV. Analytic Philosophy
PHL 405 (PHIL 469) 20th Century Analytic Philosophy
PHL 406 (PHIL 471) Contemporary Issues in Analytic Philosophy
PHL 445 (PHIL 411) Central Issues in Philosophy of Science

Special Topics courses taught at the 400-level (PHL 491 [PHIL 495]) may count as upper-division core courses provided that they have a suitable content (consult the department advisor).

8. Upper-Division Electives
In addition to  four upper-division core courses, students who major in philosophy must complete at least two upper-division philosophy electives (6 credits). These courses may be either 300- or 400-level.

9. Capstone Course
Students who major in philosophy must complete PHL 499 (PHIL 480) Senior Seminar.  This capstone course is normally taken during the spring semester of senior year.

10. Upper-Division Writing Requirement
Students who major in philosophy must satisfy the Upper-Division Writing Requirement by successfully completing PHL 499 (PHIL 480) Senior Seminar.

Suggested Course of Study

First Year A S
PHL 101 or 102 (PHIL 100, 105) Introduction to Philosophy or Topical Introduction to Philosophy 3 -
PHL 233 (PHIL 210) Introduction to Logic: Deduction - 3
WRIT 101 (ENEX 101) College Writing I 3 -
Foreign language 5 5
HSTR 101H and 102H (HIST 104H, 105H) Western Civilization I and II 4 4
College mathematics course - 3
Total 15 15
Second Year A S

PHL 210E (PHIL 300E) Moral Philosophy (offered autumn and spring).

* Students take one semester.

3* 3*
PHL 261Y (PHIL 251Y) History of Ancient Philosophy 3 -
PHL 262Y (PHIL 252Y) History of Modern Philosophy - 3

Philosophy elective

*Students take elective in semester they do not take PHL 210E

3* 3*
Foreign language 4 -
LS 151L and 152L Introduction to the Humanities 4 4
Electives and General Education - 6
Total 14 16

Courses

U = for undergraduate credit only, UG = for undergraduate or graduate credit, G = for graduate credit. R after the credit indicates the course may be repeated for credit to the maximum indicated after the R. Credits beyond this maximum do not count toward a degree.

Philosophy (PHL)

U 101 (PHIL 100) Introduction to Philosophy 3 cr. (R-12) Offered yearly. An introduction to philosophy through examination of the thought of selected great philosophers or of traditional positions on classical philosophical problems.

U 102 (PHIL 105) Topical Introduction to Philosophy 3-4 cr. (R-9) Offered yearly. An introduction to philosophy through examination of a selected topic (such as existentialism, philosophy of film, technology and the good life, science and society, philosophy of religion).

U 110E (PHIL 200E) Introduction to Ethics 3 cr. Offered every term. An examination of the Western vision of morality through the careful study of selected writings from Aristotle, Kant and Mill. Additional works in ethics may supplement primary readings.

U 112E (PHIL 202E) Introduction to Ethics and the Environment 3 cr. Offered intermittently.  An introductory-level ethics course with a special interest in the natural environment.  The course will (a) introduce students to the three classical traditions in ethics - virtue, Kantianism, and utilitarianism, (b) ground these theories in questions about the moral status of non-humans and our moral duties to non-humans, (c) include an applied section of the course that will cover animal welfare, biotechnology, and other current topics.

U 114E (PHIL 201E) Introduction to Political Ethics 3 cr. Offered yearly. An examination of the issues of political ethics through the careful study of selected writings from the three great Western political traditions: classical natural law theory, modern individualism, and contemporary distributive justice.

U 151H (PHIL 119) Philosophical Perspectives on Women 3 cr. Offered Spring. Same as LS 119H and WGS 119H. Introduction to the discipline and scope of Western philosophy focusing on women as the subject rather than men. A chronological study following the ideological development in the West of social attitudes and scientific theses.

U 191 (PHIL195) Special Topics Variable cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

U 198 (PHIL 198) Internship 1-6 cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of faculty supervisor and the Internship Services Office. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus. A maximum of 6 credits of Internship (198, 298, 398, 498) may count toward graduation.

U 210E (PHIL 300E/PHL 311E) Moral Philosophy 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring.  Prereq., philosophy major or minor, or consent of instr.  An examination of leading approaches to moral philosophy through a careful reading of classical texts in the Western tradition.  A more thorough treatment of the material offered in PHL 110E (PHIL 200E).  Intended primarily for philosophy majors and minors.

U 220E (PHIL 223E) Business and Ethics 3 cr. Offered intermittently. An analysis of ethical conflicts that may arise in business.

U 233 (PHIL 210) Introduction to Logic: Deduction 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Understanding general principles of reasoning and the habits of clear and correct thinking. Emphasis on the analysis of the logical structure of claims in natural language and the skills of elementary deductive inference.

U 235 (PHIL 211) Introduction to Logic: Induction 3 cr. Offered yearly. Prereq., PHL 233 (PHIL 210) or equivalent, or consent of instr.  A study of the formal principles of reasoning from evidence. 

U 241H (PHIL 240H) History and Philosophy of Science 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Same as HSTR 242H (HIST 240H). The epistemological and metaphysical developments of natural philosophy or science. The origins of science in ancient Greece, and its subsequent developments during the scientific revolution. Developments in biology, especially Darwinism and genetics, and developments in physics.

U 261Y (251Y) History of Ancient Philosophy 3 cr. Offered autumn. Introduction to the central works of Plato and Aristotle, with an overview of Presocratic and Hellenistic philosophy.

U 262Y (PHIL 252Y) History of Modern Philosophy 3 cr. Offered spring. A survey of the history of philosophy from Descartes to Kant, which includes other continental rationalists and the British Empiricists.

U 291 (PHIL 295) Special Topics Variable cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

U 292 (PHIL 296) Independent Study 1-6 cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently.

U 298 (PHIL 290) Internship Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of faculty supervisor and the Internship Services office. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus. A maximum of 6 credits of Internship (198, 298, 398, 498) may count toward graduation.

U 321E (PHIL 421E/PHL 421E) Philosophy and Biomedical Ethics 3 cr. Offered intermittently.  Prereq., upper-division standing or consent of instr.  An examination of ethical problems raised by the practice of medicine and by recent developments in medically-related biological sciences.

U 324 (PHIL 325) Morality and the Law 3 cr. Offered intermittently.  Prereq., upper-division standing and lower-division course in Group VIII (E), or consent of instr.  Analysis of moral reasoning in Anglo-American law, emphasizing certain ethical and legal concepts and the role of the Supreme Court.

U 327 (PHIL 340) Aesthetics and the Arts 3 cr. Offered intermittently.  Prereq., upper-division standing or consent of instr.  This course examines the nature of aesthetic experience, the standards of art criticism, and the kinds of knowledge communicated by art.  Readings from philosophers, artists, and art critics.

U 351 (PHIL 329E/429E) Philosophy and Feminism 3 cr. Offered intermittently.  Prereq., upper-division standing and lower-division course in Group VIII (E), or consent of instr. Study of what distinguishes feminist from traditional approaches to ethics.  May also examine other relevant areas of philosophy, including epistemology, political theory, philosophy of science and environment.

U 363 (PHIL 362) Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Examination of the thought of the philosophers of Greece and Rome as expressed in original works read in English translation. Ancient philosophy studied within its historical, linguistic and cultural setting. Cannot receive credit for both PHL 363 and MCLG 362H.

U 366 The Roots of Western Ethics 3cr. Offered intermittently.  Same as MCLG 365.

U 370 (PHIL 430/PHL 470) Philosophy of Religion 3 cr. Offered intermittently.  Prereq., upper-division standing or consent of instr.  An examination of one or more of the classic problems of Western philosophy of religion, such as the traditional arguments for and against the existence of God, the relationship of faith and reason, the status of religious experience, the problem of evil, and the problem of reconciling divine omniscience with human freedom.

U 390 (PHIL 397) Research Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr.

U 391 (PHIL 393/395) Special Topics Variable cr. ( R-9) Offered intermittently.  Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

U 392 (PHIL 396) Independent Study Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr.

U 394 (PHIL 394) Seminar Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr.

U 398 (PHIL 390/398)  Internship 1-6 cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of faculty supervisor and the Internship Services office. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus. A maximum of 6 credits of Internship (198, 298, 398, 498) may count toward graduation.

UG 405 (PHIL 469) 20th Century Analytic Philosophy 3 cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently.  Prereq., upper-division standing, PHL 210E (PHIL 300E), PHL 233 (PHIL 210), and PHL 262Y (PHIL 252Y), or consent of instr.  Intensive study of the work of one or more philosophers (such as Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein) or historical introduction to the major issues and figures of 20th century philosophy in the analytic tradition (with readings from Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein, Quine and others).

UG 406 (PHIL 471) Contemporary Issues in Analytic Philosophy 3 cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Prereq., upper-division standing, PHL 210E (PHIL 300E), PHL 233 (PHIL 210), and PHL 262Y (PHIL 252Y), or consent of instr.  Examination of contemporary issues in analytic philosophy focusing on one or more of the following topics:  philosophy of language, epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of mind.

UG 412 (PHIL 443) Ethics and Public Affairs 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Prereq., upper-division standing and PHL 210E (PHIL 300E), or consent of instr. Examination of morally relevant issues in government, journalism, education and other social institutions. Issues considered may include just war theory, deception, confidentiality, conflict of interest, privacy, paternalism responsibilities in conflict with other institutions, and responsibilities across national boundaries, among others.

UG 422 (PHIL 427E) Environmental Philosophy 3 cr. Offered every other year. Prereq., upper-division standing and PHL 210E (PHIL 300E), or consent of instr. Critical exploration of selected philosophical and literary texts pertinent to the ethics of human relationships with the natural environment.

UG 427 (PHIL 444) Topics in Philosophy of Art 3-4 cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., upper-division standing and PHL 210E (PHIL 300E), or consent of instr. Examination of philosophical problems related to particular arts and discussion of the nature of the arts. Topics considered may include music, visual arts, literature, and film.

UG 429 (PHIL 441) Philosophy in Literature 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Prereq., upper-division standing and PHL 210E (PHIL 300E), or consent of instr. Philosophical thought in selected works of literature.

UG 445 ( PHIL 411) Central Issues in Philosophy of Science 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Prereq., upper-division standing and PHL 210E (PHIL 300E), or consent of instr. A consideration of philosophical issues relating to the nature of modern physical science: method, explanation, theory, progress, space/time, causality, relation of science to philosophy.

UG 450 (PHIL 422) Contemporary Moral and Political Theory 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Prereq., upper-division standing and PHL 210E (PHIL 300E), or consent of instr. Recent theories in ethics and their implications; recent work in political theory, emphasizing contemporary liberalism and its critics.

UG 455 (PHIL 477) Philosophy of Society and Culture 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Prereq., upper-division standing and PHL 210E (PHIL 300E), or consent of instr. A philosophical examination of cultural forces shaping modern society, forces such as science, technology, or domesticity.

UG 462 (PHIL 452) Early Modern Philosophy 3 cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Prereq., upper-division standing, PHL 210E (PHIL 300E), and PHL 262Y (PHIL 252Y), or consent of instr. Intensive study of the work of one or more of the major philosophers from the early modern period (Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume).

UG 464 (PHIL 453) Kant 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Prereq., upper-division standing, PHL 210E (PHIL 300E), and PHL 262Y (PHIL 252Y), or consent of instr. Reading and interpretation of selected works.

UG 465 (PHIL 461) Plato 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Prereq., upper-division standing, PHL 210E (PHIL 300E), and PHL 261Y (PHIL 251Y), or consent of instr.  Reading and interpretation of selected works.

UG 466 (PHIL 463) Aristotle 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Prereq., upper-division standing, PHL 210E (PHIL 300E), and PHL 261Y (PHIL 251Y), or consent of instr. Reading and interpretation of selected works.

UG 467 (PHIL 465) 19th Century Continental Philosophy 3 cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Prereq., upper-division standing, PHL 210E (PHIL 300E), and PHL 262Y (PHIL 252Y), or consent of instr. Intensive study of the work of one or more 19th century continental philosophers (such as Hegel, Schopenhauer, Kierkegaard, Marx, Nietzsche).

UG 468 (PHIL 467) 20th Century Continental Philosophy 3 cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., upper-division standing, PHL 210E (PHIL 300E), and PHL 262Y (PHIL 252Y), or consent of instr. Intensive study of the work of one or more 20th century continental philosophers (such as Heidegger, Husserl, Sartre, Merleau-Ponty, Ricoeur, Derrida) or several texts representing a major movement in 20th century continental thought (such as Phenomenology, Existentialism, Hermeneutics, Post-structuralism).

U 490 (PHIL 497) Research Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr.

UG 491 (PHIL 493/495) Special Topics Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

U 492 (PHIL 496) Independent Study Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr.

UG 494  (PHIL 494) Seminar Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr.

U 498 (PHIL 490/498) Internship 1-6 cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of faculty supervisor and the Internship Services office. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus. A maximum of 6 credits of Internship (198, 298, 398, 498) may count toward graduation.

U 499 (PHIL 480) Senior Seminar 3 cr. (R-9) Offered spring. Prereq., senior standing and philosophy major or philosophy minor, or consent of instr. Research in problems in philosophy.

G 501 (PHIL 501) Topics in Epistemology, Philosophy of Technology or Philosophy of Science 3 cr. (R-6) Offered every year.

G 502 (PHIL 502) Topics in Value Theory 3 cr. (R-6) Offered every year.

G 503 (PHIL 503) Topics in the History of Philosophy 3 cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently.

G 504 (PHIL 504) Topics in Environmental Philosophy 3 cr. (R-9) Offered every year. Same as EVST 504. Critical study/discussion of current (as well as benchmark) texts and issues in environmental ethics, environmental politics, and the philosophy of ecology. Interdisciplinary; open to interested students from all disciplines.

G 505 (PHIL 505) Topics in Contemporary Philosophy 3 cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently.

G 510 (PHIL 510) Philosophy Forum Colloquium 1 cr. (R-3) Offered every semester. Prereq., graduate standing. Discussion and further exploration of issues presented at the weekly Philosophy Forum.

G 521 (PHIL 521) Theory and Skills for Teaching Ethics 3 cr. Offered every summer. Exploration and critical reflection of concepts and significant issues in the teaching of practical ethics in classroom and corporate settings.

G 530 (PHIL 530) Research Ethics Online 1 cr. Offered every term. Online asynchronous instruction in ethical issues in research; interpersonal, institutional, and professional responsibility; research with animals and human participants. Interactive case studies in biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences.

G 581 (PHIL 581) Thesis Proposal Preparation Variable cr. (R-2) Offered every semester.

G 590 (PHIL 590) Research Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Directed individual research and study appropriate to the background and objectives of the student.

G 591 (PHIL 595) Special Topics Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

G 592 (PHIL 596) Independent Study Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr.

G 593 (PHIL 593) Professional Paper Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. 

G 594 (PHIL 594) Seminar Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently.

G 598 (PHIL 598) Internship 1-12 cr. (R-12) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of faculty supervisor and the Internship Services office. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus.

G 599 (PHIL 599) Thesis Variable cr. (R-9) Offered every semester. Prereq., approval of a thesis proposal by the student's thesis committee.

Faculty

Professors

Albert Borgmann, Ph.D., University of Munich, 1963

David Sherman, Ph.D., University of Texas, Austin, 1999

Deborah Slicer, Ph.D., University of Virginia, 1989; M.F.A., University of Virginia, 2000

Associate Professors

Bridget Clarke, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, 2003

Armond Duwell, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, 2004

Paul Muench, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, 2006 (Chair)

Christopher Preston, Ph.D., University of Oregon, 1999

Assistant Professors

Soazig Le Bihan, Ph.D., University of Nancy and University of Bielefeld (joint program), 2008

Matthew Strohl, Ph.D., Princeton University, 2008

Lecturers

Mark Hanson, Ph.D., University of Virginia, 1993

Sean O'Brien, Ph.D., University of Colorado, 1989

Emeritus Professors

Thomas Birch, Ph.D., University of Texas, 1969

Thomas P. Huff, Ph.D., Rice University, 1968

Ray Lanfear, Ph.D., Rice University, 1968

Fred McGlynn, M.A., Northwestern University, 1965

Burke A. Townsend, Ph.D., University of Hawaii, 1976

Richard E. Walton, M.A., Claremont Graduate School, 1970

Registrar's Office

Lommasson Center 201

Phone: (406) 243-2995

Fax: (406) 243-4807