Philosophy (PHIL)
Subject-area course lists indicate courses currently active for offering at the University of Louisville. Not all courses are scheduled in any given academic term. For class offerings in a specific semester, refer to the Schedule of Classes.
500-level courses generally are included in both the undergraduate- and graduate-level course listings; however, specific course/section offerings may vary between semesters. Students are responsible for ensuring that they enroll in courses that are applicable to their particular academic programs.
Course Fees
Some courses may carry fees beyond the standard tuition costs to cover additional support or materials. Program-, subject- and course-specific fee information can be found on the Office of the Bursar website.
PHIL 205. Introduction to Philosophy - AH3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Prerequisite(s): ENGL 101.
Description: Selected writings by important philosophers (e.g., Plato, Aristotle), illustrating their problems, methods, and conclusions.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 206. Intoduction to Philosophy through Literature and Film - AH3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Description: Study of central philosophical problems using literary and cinematic works, as well as traditional philosophical texts.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 207. Introduction to Philosophy through Cultural Diversity - D2, AH3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Description: Survey of historical canonical contributions to western philosophy juxtaposed with minority voices to understand how social, economic, and cultural situatedness affect bodies of knowledge.
Note: Cross-listed with WGST 207 and PAS 207.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 208. Science Fiction and Philosophy - AH3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Description: Introduction to philosophical problems, philosophers, and methods through works of science fiction.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 209. The Good Life - AH3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Description: Introduction to philosophical problems, philosophers, and methods through an investigation into the good life.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 211. Critical Thinking - AH3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Description: Introduction to and practice in methods of critical thinking, including argument identification, construction and revision; assessment of evidence; and critique of reasoning.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 219. Sex and Values - D1, AH3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Critical studies of the treatment of sex in various moral philosophies, including a survey of classical viewpoints, but emphasizing contemporary writings.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 220. Readings in Ethics1 Unit
Grading Basis: Pass/Fail
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Prerequisite(s): Permission of Department.
Description: Students in this course will develop and exercise their critical thinking capacity and knowledge of ethics as understood in western philosophy through exploring history, topics, and ways of thinking about ethics.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 222. Contemporary Moral Problems - AH3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Description: Moral aspects of current medical, legal, political, environmental and social problems and of the presuppositions contained in their various solutions.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 225. Business Ethics3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Description: Analysis of moral problems that arise in contemporary business practice and of the different ethical frameworks proposed to resolve them.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 300. Philosophy in Dialogue1 Unit
Grading Basis: Pass/Fail
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Description: A course where philosophy majors can engage in dialgue about the nature of philosophy, the practice of philosophy, and how philosophy can promote life-long success and well being.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 301. Ancient Philosophy3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: Greek and Roman philosophy from the pre-Socratics through the neo-Platonists.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 302. Medieval Philosophy3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: European philosophy from Augustine to the Renaissance.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 303. Modern Philosophy3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: European philosophy from the Renaissance through Kant.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 304. Recent Philosophy3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Developments in philosophy from Kant to the present.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 305. Selected Topics3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or faculty consent; other prerequisites determined by the instructor, depending on topic.
Description: Examination of a selected topic in Philosophy.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 306. Nineteenth-Century Philosophy3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: Major developments in European philosophy in the nineteenth century.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 307. Twentieth-Century Philosophy3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: Major developments in European philosophy in the twentieth century.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 308. Social and Political Philosophy3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Classical and contemporary philosophies of society and the state, individual in society, and social change. Philosophical analysis of such concepts as justice, revolution, freedom, and duty.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 311. Introduction to Logic3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Description: Introduction to formal and informal techniques of argument analysis, with emphasis on applications to ordinary language.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 315. Asian Philosophy - AH, D23 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: This course explores a variety of philosophical questions as discussed in work by Indian, Chinese, and Japanese philosophers (as well as their commentators), including: What is real, what is the nature of things, and what is the self?; How do we know what we know?; What is right, and what is wrong?; What is human nature like, and how fixed is it?; How should we live, especially in light of human morality?
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 318. Philosophy and Feminism - D1, AH3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: An examination of philosophical issues involved in feminism, including classical, but emphasizing contemporary discussions.
Note: Cross-listed with WGST 360.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 319. Philosophy of Race and Racism - AH, D13 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring, Summer
Description: A critical examination of philosophical issues involved in interdisciplinary inquires into race and racism.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 320. Death3 Units
Description: Critical studies of the treatment of death in major philosophies, including a survey of classical viewpoints, but emphasizing contemporary writings.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 321. Ethics3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Description: Main theoretical frameworks for systematically addressing questions about moral obligation and the good life. Additional topics may include responsibility, virtue, justice, law and morality, relativism, evil, and reasons to be moral.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 323. Medical Ethics3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Description: Analysis of codes of ethics and concepts of ethical practice in the profession of medicine; historical developments, contemporary problems, and case studies.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 325. Feminist Medical Ethics3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Description: Analysis of codes of ethics and concepts of ethical practice in the profession of medicine through a feminist framework; historical developments, contemporary problems, and case studies.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 328. Environmental Ethics3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Odd Years
Description: Examination of the moral status of the natural environment and ethical problems of human/environment interaction.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 331. Philosophy of the Arts3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Description: The nature of art, appreciation, and criticism, with emphasis on contemporary discussions.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 341. Philosophy of Language - WR3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: Philosophical problems concerning language, such as meaning, use, reference, private language, and their interrelation.
Note: Cross-listed with LING 341.
Note: Approved for the Arts and Sciences upper-level requirement in written communication (WR).
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 345. Philosophy of Religion3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Description: Problems concerning religious knowledge, the existence and nature of God, and human destiny.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 350. Philosophy of Law3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Theory of law and philosophical problems arising from the existence and practice of law as developed in the major philosophical traditions in the West.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 356. Metaphysics - WR3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Prerequisite(s): Two courses in philosophy or faculty consent.
Description: Study of such fundamental concepts as being, essence, existence, substance, process, change, space, time, eternity, matter, mind, self, value, and cause.
Note: Approved for the Arts and Sciences upper-level requirement in written communication (WR).
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 357. Personal Identity and the Self3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Philosophical analysis of metaphysical, existential, social and postmodern concepts of personal identity, drawing from classical and contemporary sources.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 358. Mind and Brain3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Introduction to the philosophy of cognitive science, esp. cognition and intelligence, synthesizing research from cognitive psychology, computer science, linguistics, neuroscience and contemporary philosophy.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 360. Humanizing Technology - AH3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Description: This course will explore the philosophical dimensions of technology by analyzing the nature of technology through multiple critical lenses.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 385. Introduction to Existentialism3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: A broad survey of existential thought as expressed in philosophical and literary sources.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 398. Senior Honors Seminar3 Units
Prerequisite(s): Junior standing; admission to department Honors Program.
Description: Seminar devoted to the intensive investigation of a major substantive or theoretical area within the field of philosophy.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 399. Senior Honors Seminar - WR3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring, Summer
Prerequisite(s): Junior standing; admission to department Honors Program.
Description: Seminar devoted to the intensive investigation of a major substantive or theoretical area within the field of philosophy.
Note: Approved for the Arts and Sciences upper-level requirement in written communication (WR).
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 401. Philosophy Internship3 Units
Grading Basis: Pass/Fail
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Description: Application of academic training in an organizational context. Faculty consent required.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 412. Symbolic Logic3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: Semantic and syntactic methods for first-order propositional and predicate logic.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 499. Senior Honors Thesis - WR3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Prerequisite(s): Senior standing; admission to department Honors Program.
Description: An intensive examination of a topical area in philosophy undertaken with a designated faculty director.
Note: Approved for the Arts and Sciences upper-level requirement in written communication (WR).
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 501. Independent Study1-3 Units
Description: Opportunity for the student, under the supervision of a sponsoring faculty member, to pursue individualized study related to research or practice that is not included in regular courses in the curriculum.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 502. Philosophy Capstone Seminar - CUE3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Prerequisite(s): 24 hours of PHIL courses; major in Philosophy.
Description: Seminar with variable content consisting in sustained and rigorous primary philosophical study and reflection; required of all philosophy majors as close to graduation as feasible.
Course Attribute(s): CUE - This course fulfills the Culminating Undergraduate Experience (CUE) requirement for certain degree programs. CUE courses are advanced-level courses intended for majors with at least 90 earned credits/senior-level status.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 505. Selected Topics3 Units
Prerequisite(s): To be determined by instructor, in the light of the topic chosen for that semester.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 512. Advanced Symbolic Logic3 Units
Prerequisite(s): PHIL 412 or consent of instructor.
Description: Topics in the theory and application of modern logic.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 516. African-American Philosophy3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Prerequisite(s): PHIL 205 or PHIL 303 or PHIL 304.
Description: Analysis of works and theories of major recent and contemporary African-American philosophers within the themes of Pan-African debates.
Note: Cross-listed with PAS 516.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 518. Feminist Philosophical Literature3 Units
Prerequisite(s): Junior standing.
Description: Examination of central works by feminist philosophers in such subdisciplines as ethics, political philosophy, and epistemology.
Note: Cross-listed with WGST 560.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 519. Topics in Philosophy of Race and Racism3 Units
Description: Focused examination of philosophical issues involved in interdisciplinary inquires into the nature and functioning of race and racism.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 521. Ethical Theory - WR3 Units
Prerequisite(s): One course in ethics or consent of instructor.
Description: Recent developments in ethical theory, such as examinations of the status of moral facts; moral realism; impartiality and personal attachments; or moral agency.
Note: Approved for the Arts and Sciences upper-level requirement in written communication (WR).
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 528. Philosophy of Mind3 Units
Prerequisite(s): Two semesters of philosophy or consent of instructor.
Description: Philosophical analysis of contemporary theories about the mind.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 529. Philosophy of Emotions3 Units
Prerequisite(s): One course in philosophy or consent of instructor.
Description: Philosophical studies in the nature, interrelations, and moral and aesthetic value of specific emotions, such as pride, shame, guilt, regret, jealousy, envy, resentment, anger, hate, contempt, love, joy, happiness, contentment.
Note: Cross-listed with PHIL 629.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 531. Aesthetics3 Units
Description: An examination of philosophical theories of art, works of art, creative activity, and aesthetic experience, from Plato to the present.
Note: Credit may not be earned for both PHIL 531 and PHIL 631.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 535. Political Philosophy3 Units
Prerequisite(s): Two courses in philosophy and/or political science.
Description: The main concepts of contemporary political thought: rights, law, power, ideology, legitimacy, democracy, tyranny, the state, and justice, with the focus on the topic of political action in both its individual and collective forms.
Note: Credit may not be earned for both PHIL 535 and PHIL 635.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 536. Philosophy of Science3 Units
Prerequisite(s): Two courses in philosophy and two courses in biology, chemistry, physics, or geology or consent of instructor.
Description: Philosophical problems connected with scientific explanation, laws, theories, concepts, goals and methods.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 537. Philosophy of the Social Sciences3 Units
Prerequisite(s): One philosophy course and one upper-level course in political science, psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, or geography; or consent of instructor.
Description: Critical analysis of methodological, valuational, and metaphysical problems in the social sciences.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 538. Critical Social Theory3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: A critical examination of interdisciplinary theories that seek to understand and explain social formations while at the same time uncovering ways that such formations can be unjust and irrational.
Note: Cross-listed with SCHG 538.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 540. Epistemology - WR3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or consent of instructor.
Description: Conceptual and historical background to analysis of knowledge claims; intensive study of theoretical approaches to knowledge, such as naturalized epistemology; socialized epistemology, feminist epistemology, postmodern critiques of normative conceptions of knowledge.
Note: Approved for the Arts and Sciences upper-level requirement in written communication (WR).
Note: Credit may not be earned for both PHIL 540 and PHIL 640.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 545. Topics in Philosophy of Religion3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Odd Years
Description: Philosophy of religion is the branch of philosophy that discusses the nature and existence of transcendent being and its implications for us. What can reason alone tell us about such matters? Various issues for discussion: what religious belief is, religious experiences, relation of faith and reason, divine attributes, evidence for/against existence of God, possibility of miracles, immortality, language about God, religion and science, religious diversity, religion and morality.
Note: Cross-listed with PHIL 645.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 553. Plato and Platonism3 Units
Prerequisite(s): PHIL 301 or consent of instructor.
Description: Plato's dialogues, and the course of Platonist thought through Plotinus and the Christian philosophers, to modern times.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 554. Aristotle and Aristotelianism3 Units
Prerequisite(s): PHIL 301 or consent of instructor.
Description: Aristotle's basic works and their influence on St. Thomas Aquinas and others in the Middle Ages.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 557. African Philosophy3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Prerequisite(s): PHIL 301, or PHIL 302, or PHIL 303, or PHIL 304.
Description: Descriptive and analytical introduction to the ideas and themes in African philosophy through careful readings of texts which address a cluster of topics.
Note: Cross-listed with PAS 557.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 572. Phenomenology3 Units
Prerequisite(s): PHIL 303 or consent of instructor.
Description: The development of the phenomenological method and its use from Husserl to the present.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 573. Existentialism3 Units
Prerequisite(s): Two semesters of philosophy or consent of instructor.
Description: The thought of Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Jaspers, Sartre, Marcel, and others, and its significance.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 580. Foundations of Bioethics3 Units
Prerequisite(s): One Philosophy course at 300-level or above, or consent of instructor.
Description: Grounding in the major theories and methods of bioethical decision-making, including contemporary controversies about the role of theory, principles, cases, narrative, and virtues.
Note: Cross-listed with BETH 680.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 581. Current Controversies in Health Care Ethics3 Units
Prerequisite(s): One Philosophy course at 300-level or above, or consent of instructor.
Description: Topics in health care ethics currently attracting the most attention in both professional and public discussions. A variety of viewpoints on these topics will be considered.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 582. Gender, Race, and Culture in Health Care3 Units
Prerequisite(s): One Philosophy course at 300-level or above, or consent of instructor.
Description: Examines ways social groupings and systems affect the kind of health care needed and the kind people receive. Addresses both biases and stereotypes, and empirical claims about biologically-based differences.
Note: Cross-listed with WGST 582.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 583. Health Care, Justice & Community3 Units
Prerequisite(s): One Philosophy course at 300-level or above, or consent of instructor.
Description: Examines theories of justice and equality as they apply to issues in health care delivery, considers explanations for why disparities exist, and the practical ways that communities have addressed inequalities.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHIL 590. Fundamentals of Diversity3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
Description: This course will provide an overview of the theory and practice of diversity. Diversity is understood as the many sociocultural differences between individuals and the differences that those differences make for those individuals. In this course, we will explore the historical context of oppression, the oppression framework for understanding diversity, privilege, social identity, the role of the body in diversity, stereotypes, and the personal experiences of both those who are oppressed and those who are privileged. Students will also have a substantial opportunity to examine how these general themes impact their particular area of study, work, or interest.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
