The University of Texas at Arlington Undergraduate Catalog
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A major in philosophy is built on the central texts in the history of Western thought. Philosophy focuses on the perennial problems raised by the encounter of human beings with their history, culture, and the world. It emphasizes methods of analysis and clarity of argumentation. Students who major in philosophy have the broadest possible preparation in the liberal arts. Students who complete a major in philosophy are prepared to enter either graduate programs or the world of work. In addition to providing vocational skills and a solid foundation for graduate work in the discipline, a major in philosophy constitutes appropriate and strong preparation for graduate work in other academic disciplines as well as in professional programs in a broad variety of fields. The Department of Philosophy and Humanities is prepared to work with students who are interested in postgraduate professional education to assure that their preparation meets disciplinary and/or professional criteria and expectations in areas including law, business administration, and theology. The faculty of the Department of Philosophy and Humanities also work with advisors in the Health Professions Advising Office of the College of Science to ensure that philosophy majors pursuing a pre-medical curriculum are kept abreast of required and recommended courses outside the major. Requirements for Admission to a
The undergraduate advisor must certify that these requirements have been satisfied. Admission to the philosophy major may take place at any time that the requirements have been satisfied consistent with the requirements of the University. Requirements for
a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy
Requirements for
a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy
Requirements for
a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy (Pre-Law Option) Undergraduate Advising
Department of Philosophy and Humanities
Faculty Philosophy (PHIL) I. INTRODUCTIONS TO
PHILOSOPHY: Any of the following courses may be taken as
an introduction to Philosophy. No sequence or difference in difficulty
is implied by the numbers. Any of the courses will satisfy degree
requirements in philosophy, art, or music set by many departments
for their majors. HUMA 2301. HUMANITIES I (3-0) 3 hours credit. An interdisciplinary study of the basic cultural patterns and traditions that inform our thinking. Provides a cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary introduction to the humanities, including literature, history, and philosophy. Credit may not be received for both PHIL 2301 (the predecessor course) and HUMA 2301. II. INTERMEDIATE AND
ADVANCED COURSES IN PHILOSOPHY: These courses are designed
for students with specific interests in some philosophical area
or with a background in philosophy or a related discipline. Unless
specified, the courses do not have explicit prerequisites.2311.
LOGIC (3-0) 3 hours credit. The development of formal and symbolic
systems for the analysis of arguments. The scope of the course will
be basically modern logic: truth-functional analysis, propositional
calculus, and some predicate calculus. 2312. ETHICS (3-0)
3 hours credit. An inquiry into the basic principles of the
moral life through a critical examination of traditional and current
theories of value, right and wrong, good and evil, happiness, duty,
and freedom. 2313. PHILOSOPHY OF
THE ARTS (3-0) 3 hours credit. Problems in the philosophy
of art and art criticism; the history of aesthetic theory. 3301. HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY:
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY (3-0) 3 hours credit. The beginning and
the early developments of the western philosophic tradition. Ancient
Greek philosophy, basically the Pre-Socratics, Socrates, Plato and
Aristotle. 3302. HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY:
ROMAN AND MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY (3-0) 3 hours credit. Post-Aristotelians
(e.g., the later Stoics, the Epicureans, Neo-Platonists); philosophy
of the early Church Fathers through Aquinas and later Scholastics. 3303. HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY:
RENAISSANCE AND EARLY MODERN EUROPEAN PHILOSOPHY (3-0) 3 hours credit.
The philosophical views of Galileo, Newton, Bacon, and Hobbes, the
Continental Rationalists and British Empiricists, and a brief introduction
to the philosophy of Immanuel Kant. 3304. HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY:
NINETEENTH AND EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY PHILOSOPHY (3-0) 3 hours
credit. Major philosophers from Kant to the early 20th century. 3307. SEMINAR IN RESEARCH
METHODS AND PHILOSOPHICAL WRITING (3-0) 3 hours credit. Examination
of philosophical methodology; philosophical analysis, philosophical
writing, discipline-specific bibliographic tools, etc. Students
write a series of short papers on topics of interest. 3315. ORIENTAL PHILOSOPHY
AND RELIGION (3-0) 3 hours credit. Some of the major Eastern
traditions including Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.
The ancient roots and developments of these traditions and some
of their modern and contemporary manifestations. 3316. PHILOSOPHY OF
RELIGION (3-0) 3 hours credit. Problems that engage philosophy
of religion (e.g., the existence of God, theodicy, religious language)
and the way these problems have been treated by some outstanding
Western thinkers. 3317. INTERMEDIATE
LOGIC (3-0) 3 hours credit. Begins with predicate calculus
and includes such topics as soundness and completeness theorems,
definite descriptions, identity, modal logic, and others. Prerequisite:
PHIL 2311 or equivalent. 3318. THE PHILOSOPHY
OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (3-0) 3 hours credit. The method
and goals of scientific scholars and inquiry. The distinction between
formal and empirical sciences, laws and theories, measurement, the
role of observation and experiment, and probability. Formerly listed
as 4315. Credit cannot be received for both 4315 and 3318. 3390. HONORS COLLOQUIUM
(3-0) 3 hours credit. An interdisciplinary course designed
to meet the needs of advanced undergraduates in the Honors College.
Prerequisite: participation in the Honors College and/or permission
of instructor. 4318. PHILOSOPHY AND
LITERATURE (3-0) 3 hours credit. The role of ideas in literature
and an analysis of the actual contacts between philosophy and the
dominant world views of the great writers of literature. 4385. THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Problems which arise from attempts
to give an account of human knowledge. Skepticism, perception, induction,
or the nature of truth. 4386. METAPHYSICS
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Problems which arise from attempts
to give an account of reality and its manifestations. Possibility
and necessity, causality, the nature of events, mind-body, and universals. 4387. TOPICS IN VALUE
THEORY (3-0) 3 hours credit. In-depth treatment of an issue
or topic within value theory, which is broadly construed to include
moral philosophy (and its subfields, such as moral epistemology
and moral psychology), social philosophy, political philosophy,
philosophy of law, aesthetics, philosophy of religion, and feminist
philosophy. May be repeated for credit with permission of the department. 4388. TOPICS IN THE
HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY (3-0) 3 hours credit. In-depth treatment
of a single important philosophical writer, a related group of writers,
or an extended tradition. May be repeated for credit with permission
of the department. 4389. TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY
AND THE SOCIAL SCIENCES (3-0) 3 hours credit. In-depth treatment
of one or more of the social sciences from a philosophical perspective:
may include the philosophy of history, social philosophy, political
philosophy, philosophy of the social sciences, or any specific subject
therein. Credit may not be granted for 4311 or 4317 (no longer offered)
and 4389. May be repeated for credit with permission of the department. 4391. UNDERGRADUATE
CONFERENCE COURSE (3-0) 3 hours credit. Topics assigned on
an individual basis covering research of individual students or
study in designated areas. May be repeated for credit. 4394. SENIOR THESIS
(3-0) 3 hours credit. During the senior year, the student
completes a thesis under the direction of a faculty member in the
major department. Required of all pre-professional track philosophy
majors and of all philosophy majors who are members of the University
Honors College. Humanities (HUMA) 2301. HUMANITIES I
(3-0) 3 hours credit. An interdisciplinary study of the basic
cultural patterns and traditions that inform our thinking. Provides
a cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary introduction to the humanities,
including literature, history, and philosophy. Credit may not be
received for both PHIL 2301 (the predecessor course) and HUMA 2301. 3301. INTERDISCIPLINARY
RESEARCH METHODS (3-0) 3 hours credit. Research methods required
for reading and writing across disciplinary lines in the humanities.
Background information and reading in authors (for example, A.O.
Lovejoy, Josiah Royce, LeRoy Ladurie, and Kenneth Burke) who have
taken a wide cultural perspective; bibliographical and research
methods; and techniques for writing major term papers and undergraduate
theses involving more than one discipline. 4301. CULTURE AND
IDEAS (3-0) 3 hours credit. The way basic ideas of culture
have been analyzed and applied in the humanities, recognizing that
cultural analysis is not limited to a single discipline or perspective.
Authors from the Classical and Renaissance periods who have sought
to understand the interrelation of cultural development, the production
of cultural artifacts (the fine arts, literary and dramatic arts,
history), and philosophy. The work of major cultural analysts in
a critical and historical context. 4302. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL THEORY (3-0) 3 hours credit. Examination of the major social and political theories that have shaped Western thought. Topics may include the concept of the social, the role of the individual, the public/private distinction, and gender relations. Focus on particular theorists as well as issues. --- |