Philosophy asks some of the most fundamental questions: Why do human beings exist? What does it mean to live a good life? Do humans have free will? Does everything have a cause? What is consciousness? In this class, we will engage with these questions and more in conversation with philosophers from the ancient to the contemporary, through class discussion and argumentative writing.

In this course we will view films with philosophical themes and pair them with readings that help us to consider those themes more deeply. Readings will be at the introductory level; and films will include everything from the artsy to the absurd.

Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-Superior course.

How can we act ethically? Why should we be good, and what does it mean to be good? Should everyone follow the same moral rules? Do we need God to tell us how to behave? Should all living creatures be treated equally? In this course, we will consider questions like these as we apply moral theories to a selection of contemporary issues (such as human rights, environmental ethics, biomedical ethics, the death penalty). A key concern will be our ethical responsibilities in the contemporary global theater.

This course will study the works of major philosophers from ancient Greece. Philosophers will include Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle; as well some of the Hellenistic schools such as the Epicureans and Stoics. The driving question of the course will be the hallmark question of the Ancient Greek Philosophical world: "What is a Good life? ". In investigating this question we will find our way into many other important philosophical questions. Some examples include questions surrounding the nature of the human being, the nature of a just state, or what it means to live a pleasurable life.

In this course, we will ask questions about the nature of mind, consciousness, selfhood, and the possibility of artificial minds and artificial intelligence. What is consciousness? What makes you the same person over time? What is the relationship between mind and body? Can a machine think? Can a machine be conscious? To engage with these questions, we will read, discuss, and construct arguments in conversation with ancient, early modern, and contemporary work in the philosophy of mind, philosophy of consciousness, and philosophy of artificial intelligence.

This course explores different ethical and philosophical approaches to human-environment relations, and their implications for long-term ecological sustainability. Topics include wilderness, climate ethics and politics, food ethics, individual vs. collective action, indigenous relationships to the land, pets, and consumption.

Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-Superior course.

Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-S course.

Philosophy Elective: Environmental Science UST

Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-S course.

Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-S course.

Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-S course.

Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-S course.

Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-S course.

Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-S course.

Field trips designed by the department faculty to give students direct experiences in foreign countries. Each program includes preparatory reading, orientation meetings, a faculty-supervised study tour, and a detailed written evaluation of learning situations associated with the course. With consent of the relevant program and content adaptation, programs provided by other agencies can be considered for this credit. Students must obtain approval for taking these courses prior to participation. Otherwise the course may not count. Also, for specific degree requirements, please consult your advisor. Course can be repeated only if the content is different.

What is disease? What does it mean to be unhealthy, or have a physical or mental disorder? Are the concepts of health and disease purely naturalistic, or are they in some ways socially constructed? What is “mental illness,” and how might it be different from physical illness? In this course, we’ll explore an analytic philosophical perspective on these questions, diving into the philosophy of science, medicine, and disorders. We will also explore why the answers to these questions might matter for our healthcare system and our sense of ourselves, through philosophical analysis, discussion, and formal and informal writing.

What is knowledge? Do we know anything at all? When do we have good reasons? When can we rely on someone or something as a source of information? How does misinformation and disinformation affect our ability to trust others, and our own analysis of traditionally reliable sources of information? How does the existence of the internet and the availability of vast amounts of evidence affect our answers to these questions? In this class, we will analyze the way that social reality affects how and whether we can have well-justified beliefs, and what we can know. Topics covered will include misinformation and conspiracy theories, expertise and trust in experts, the epistemology of testimony, skepticism about knowledge, and the nature of evidence and justification.

This course focuses on providing students a background in ethical theory, and primarily explores and applies these ethical theories as they pertain to specific ethical issues raised by the professions. For example: when making ethical decisions, are intentions or consequences more important? When might the value of progress take precedence over safety? What are our duties to tell the truth? When ought we engage in whistleblowing? This course will incorporate case studies, discussion, and argumentative writing, as well as projects that allow students to apply the ethical concepts and theories discussed in class to particular professional fields. This course also gives students an opportunity to engage in depth with possible ethically complicated scenarios that may arise in the specific professional setting in which they aspire to work.

Can Buddhism rightly be considered a science, or theory of the minds? Is there a self? What is consciousness? Are there different kinds of consciousness? How can a theory of conscious experience be explained within a purely physicalist paradigm? What role can Buddhist thought play in phenomenological approaches to the mind? We will attempt to find answers to these and other questions in this course. We begin by reading foundational texts in the Theravada Buddhist tradition. Then, we investigate topics in philosophy of mind and cognitive science, with a special emphasis on whether Buddhist approaches to the mind and consciousness can shed light on contemporary theoretical disputes.

This course introduces students to some of the major figures and topics of the existentialist movement. Among other things, we will explore the notions of meaning, absurdity, finitude, authenticity, faith, reason, and purpose. We will do so by reading the work of those such as Nietzsche, Sartre, de Beauvoir, Kierkegaard, Dostoevsky, Camus, Heidegger, and Arendt. Special attention will be given to works of philosophy, but will also engage with short stories, novels, plays and films.

This course will consist in a philosophical exploration into the nature of art. Questions we will address include: What is an artwork? What is the role of the artist? What is the relation between art and meaning? What does it mean to appreciate something aesthetically? What are aesthetic properties? What makes art good? Can an artwork be good if it portrays immoral things? Visual art will be emphasized, but there will also be discussion of musical, literary, performance, and other arts.

In-depth study of a particular problem, philosopher or period of current interest. May be repeated for up to nine credits provided topics are different.

Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-Superior course.

Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-S course.

Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-Superior course.

Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-S course.

Philosophy Elective: Environmental Science UST

Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-S course.

Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-S course.

Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-S course.

Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-S course.

Individually supervised reading and study of a topic or problem of student interest. A paper is required.