Philosophy Course Outcomes

PHL 170: Philosophy of Love and Sex

• Students will recognize the difference between the biological experience of infatuation and the social construction called ‘romantic love.’ Students will be able to compare and contrast different philosophical positions taken on the value of love, both within the thoughts of individual writers and between writers.
• Students will show they understand that the relationship between romance and long-term committed relationships is socially constructed, not natural.
• Students will show they recognize some of the differences among classical, medieval, renaissance and modern visions of romantic love.
• Students will be able to articulate their own philosophy of erotic/romantic love.

PHL 200: Fundamentals of Philosophy

• Understand and be able to discuss major philosophical problems in the Western Tradition.
• Assess arguments and philosophical perspectives using critical reasoning.
• Express complex thoughts logically and coherently.
• Apply knowledge of philosophical perspectives, logic, and critical reasoning to develop his or her own opinions regarding philosophical problems and issues.

PHL 201: Epistemology - Knowledge, Science and the History of Reason

• Recognize and respond to questions or problems that are characteristic of epistemology.
• Explain different philosophical positions or theories that are common to the Western tradition and articulate one’s own points of view in a clear, consistent, concise and thorough manner.
• Utilize basic tools of philosophic inquiry and argument.
• Interpret primary source material and show how historical texts may be applied to contemporary debates or dilemmas. 

PHL 202: Problems of Philosophy - Ethics

• Demonstrate understanding of major ethical theories and problems in the Western Tradition through written and oral discussion.
• Assess arguments and philosophical perspectives using critical reasoning.
• Express complex thoughts logically and coherently.
• Apply knowledge of ethical perspectives, theories, and critical reasoning to develop his or her own opinions regarding philosophical problems and issues.

PHL 203: Problems of Philosophy - Logic

• Use critical thinking and logic to answer questions.
• Identify premises and conclusions in both formal as well as informal proofs, and demonstrate an awareness of the limits of deductive forms as well as linguistic ambiguities.
• Recognize the defining constituents of an argument (as opposed to a question, command, etc.) and define or evaluate basic types.
• Argue more coherently and cogently and write more effectively and efficiently.
• Improve critical thinking, reading and writing skills.