Courses

Explores philosophy as a way of life accessible to all, in order to think more truthfully, act more justly, and live more faithfully. This course focuses on critical thinking as an invaluable ethical tool for interpreting current events. Students will learn to analyze and evaluate the claims of contemporary culture and religious faith.

An analysis of the use of reasoning in ordinary language. Students are introduced to deductive logic by learning how to recognize arguments by identifying some common fallacies and by learning several methods of assessing the quality of arguments. Both traditional and modern methods of determining deductive validity, including a formal theory of inference, are studied. In the process, students will apply logical reasoning to their own ideas and assumptions.

This course introduces some of the major questions about existence and what it is to be human while providing some of the foundational philosophical responses to these questions. Topics to be discussed include: the relation between perception and knowledge (appearance and reality); the existence and nature of God; human freedom and determinism; the meaning of human existence; the nature of moral judgments; the mind-body problem; artificial intelligence; feminist philosophy; the problem of suffering; and whether humans are capable of selfless motivation. Students will be encouraged to interpret and reflect upon the meaning of the relation between reason and faith as the joint foundation for addressing these questions in a logical and ethical manner.

An historical overview of the western philosophical tradition from Socrates to the present day. Considerable discussion will be devoted to the distinct approaches of ancient, medieval, and modern thinkers to the relation between reason and faith. Additionally, there will be extensive attention devoted to the history of logical and ethical reasoning as we evaluate the impact of these ideas on the present day. Throughout the course, students will be encouraged not only to analyze but also interpret these ideas in a respectful yet critical manner.

An introduction to critical thinking/writing and informal logic in practical settings. This course examines the value of rational thinking in the face of everyday challenges, e.g., problem solving, making informed decisions, and evaluating whether a statement is true. Students dissect examples of good and poor reasoning, analyze informal fallacies, detect hidden assumptions and irrelevant premises in arguments, determine where an argument's burden of proof lies, and practice transferring critical thinking skills to their writing skills. Socratic method and Socratic dialogue is employed as a tool to assist students with their inquiry-based learning.

A survey of the teachings of the great philosophers of the West, from the discovery of physics by the Pre-Socratics, to the culmination of medieval Scholasticism (i.e. in John of St. Thomas), with a special emphasis upon developments in the philosophy of religion.

An examination of key contributions to Greek philosophy, especially the writings of Plato and Aristotle. In the process of dialoguing about these ideas, we shall also study the importance of ancient Greek philosophy in the history of thought as well as the original intent of the philosophers in question with attention to their historic context. We shall also assess the enduring relevance of ancient Greek philosophy to the modern age.

A critical study of some of the most influential philosophies originating from South and East Asia, including but not limited to Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism. Students will analyze selected writings of significant Asian philosophers from these philosophical traditions, including both primary texts and commentaries, with a particular focus on metaphysics, philosophical anthropology, and ethics for the purpose of exploring and evaluating these authors’ approaches to philosophical questions about reality, happiness, wisdom, the soul, morality, and the Divine. Understanding the historical importance of these Asian philosophies will help students to evaluate their ongoing contributions to the contemporary world.

An introduction to the philosophy of society and law in Canada and around the world. In this exploration of the relation between society and the law, the first half of the course begins with an historic survey of the debates over the meaning of the law from antiquity to the present. The second half of the course reviews legal cases which have provoked, or are still provoking, debates over the meaning of law and society.