The philosophy minor covers ethics, epistemology, logic, and metaphysics. It addresses historical and contemporary views on philosophical questions, such as: Does God know the future? How could God be absolutely sovereign and people be free? Since there is evil, what sense can be made of the claim that “God is good”?
One of the most important lectures that I remember was why philosophy is important… I've talked about metaphysics with a pizza delivery guy, I've talked about theism with agnostics, I've talked about the nature of reality with atheists. The encouragement and teaching of UNW philosophy professors have really made an impression on me. I now try to do the same with others.
What will I learn?
You will learn to communicate effectively, think deeper, and analyze key philosophical concepts. Select 16 credits of philosophy courses to complete this minor.
PHI 3145
The Nature of Knowledge
This course examines the question, When does a belief count as knowledge? It addresses the relevance of the knower in knowing, the role of proof and evidence, and the major historical and contemporary theories of epistemology such as skepticism, relativism, and empiricism.
PHI 2016
Ethics
A comparative introduction to normative social theory. An examination and critique of alternative grounds for claiming that an action, attitude, social rule, or social institution is morally right or wrong.
PHI 2006
Fundamentals of Logic
In this course students learn the basic principles of propositional and first-order logic. Emphasis is on developing understanding and skill in constructing valid deductive arguments and recognizing fallacious reasoning. Informal and inductive logic will also be introduced with a survey of common informal fallacies.
PHI 2055
Introduction to Theological Philosophy
This course explores the implications of the biblical doctrines of creation, fall, redemption and providence for the academic study of philosophy. It stresses the Christocentric nature of the world in which we live, the relationship between the inclination of the heart and the human ability to know and the utter dependence of the created order upon the providential activity of the Creator from one moment to the next. Particular attention will be given to topics such as the Creator/creature distinction, the noetic effects of sin and regeneration, the inherently theological nature of all knowledge and the relationship between general and special revelation.
PHI 3035
Metaphysics
This course surveys metaphysics as the study of the nature of reality and is concerned with identifying and understanding the fundamentally distinct sorts of things that exist such as properties, relations, time, causality, freedom, mind, numbers, sets and possible worlds. The course attempts to relate these things to the doctrine of creation and to the dynamics of God’s acting according to his plan for his purposes in Christ. This is a course in worldview integration for those majoring in physical and social science, mathematics, or in any of the humanities.
PHI 3165
Political Thought
This course considers how individuals have thought and written about politics from a philosophical perspective. It seeks to understand both Ancient and Modern perspectives, and it will emphasize Christian political thought. It will also consider normative considerations about justice and the nature of political rights.
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