Philosophy
Kenneth and Peggy Monroe Chair of Philosophy M. Nelson
Professor J. Taylor (chair)
Associate Professor D. Vander Laan
Description of the Major. Philosophy is a thorough and systematic examination of the most fundamental questions facing human beings. At Westmont, the program in philosophy is designed to foster the ability to think critically and analytically, communicate clearly and logically, interact with the philosophic tradition, and explore the relationship between
philosophy and the Christian faith.
The program also provides a philosophical framework for specific academic disciplines (such as philosophy of science and philosophy of religion), and it helps students acquire the intellectual skills needed in integrating knowledge. Philosophy courses provide an exposure to the ideas essential in understanding our political, literary, and religious heritage.
Distinctive Features. Philosophy at Westmont is a serious attempt to find answers to crucial questions of human existence, knowledge, values, and society that do justice to the Christian faith. Whereas Christian philosophers are not committed to specific answers on all philosophic issues by virtue of the Christian position, they are aware that the Christian faith has important, and at times crucial, implications.
The Westmont chapter of Phi Sigma Tau, a national honor society in philosophy, invites speakers to talk on a variety of topics. It also provides an active forum for student discussion. In addition, students may join the Society of Christian Philosophers, which holds a West Coast regional conference and brings well-known Christian philosophers to the area.
Career Choices. Besides having an integrity of its own, a major in philosophy provides a foundation for graduate work in philosophy and valuable preparation for professional training in such fields as law, management, and the ministry. Philosophy majors consistently excel in their performance on graduate admissions tests in law (LSAT), in management (GMAT) and on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Given the variety of student objectives, the major is offered in five tracks: standard, pre-law, pre-M.B.A., pre-seminary and off-campus.
Requirements for a Major: 36 units
Required Basic Core
(for all tracks except the individualized tracks): 20 units
PHI 6 Philosophical Perspectives (4)
PHI 12 Critical Reasoning and Logic (4)
PHI 101 Ancient and Medieval Philosophy (4)
PHI 102 Modern and Contemporary Philosophy (4)
PHI 195 Senior Seminar (4)
A. Standard Track: 36 units
Required Basic Core: 20 units
Required Upper-Division Courses: 16 units
PHI 104 Ethics (4)
PHI 170 Epistemology (4)
PHI 175 Metaphysics (4)
Upper-Division PHI Elective (4)
B. Pre-M.B.A. Track: 36 units
Required Basic Core: 20 units
Required Upper-Division Courses: 8 units
One of the following: (4)
PHI 104 Ethics (4)
PHI 113 Contemporary Moral Problems (4)
PHI 133 Political and Legal Philosophy (4)
One of the following: (4)
PHI 130 Philosophical Theology (4)
PHI 135 Philosophy of Language (4)
PHI 163 Philosophy of Religion (4)
PHI 170 Epistemology (4)
PHI 175 Metaphysics (4)
Required Supportive Courses: 8 units
EB 11 Principles of Macroeconomics (4)
One of the following: (4)
EB 131 Corporate Financial Management (4)
EB 160 Marketing (4)
EB 180 Principles of Management and Organization (4)
Note: Students are also strongly encouraged to take EB 3 Principles of Accounting I (4)
C. Pre-Law Track: 36 units
Required Basic Core: 20 units
Required Upper-Division Courses: 12 units
Two of the following: (8)
PHI 104 Ethics (4)
PHI 113 Contemporary Moral Problems (4)
PHI 133 Political and Legal Philosophy (4)
One of the following: (4)
PHI 130 Philosophical Theology (4)
PHI 135 Philosophy of Language (4)
PHI 163 Philosophy of Religion (4)
PHI 170 Epistemology (4)
PHI 175 Metaphysics (4)
Required Supportive Course: 4 units
One of the following: (4)
POL 104 Constitutional Law (4)
POL 121 Marxism: Theory & Practice (4)
POL 130 Political Theory (4)
D. Pre-Seminary Track: 36 units
Required Basic Core: 20 units
Required Upper-Division Courses: 12 units
Two of the following: (8)
PHI 104 Ethics (4)
PHI 170 Epistemology (4)
PHI 175 Metaphysics (4)
One of the following: (4)
PHI 130/RS 130 Philosophical Theology (4)
PHI 163/RS 163 Philosophy of Religion (4)
Required Supportive Course: 4 Units
One of the following: (4)
RS 103 Christian Apologetics (4)
RS 121 Modern Christianity (4)
RS 122 Contemporary Christianity (4)
RS 126 Doctrine of the Word (4)
RS 127 Doctrine of God (4)
RS 128 Doctrine of Creation (4)
RS 142 World Religions (4)
E. Social Issues and the Human Condition
(Off-Campus Track): 36 units
Required Basic Core: 20 units
Required Upper-Division Courses: 12 units
Two of the following: (8)
PHI 104 Ethics (4)
PHI 113 Contemporary Moral Problems (4)
PHI 133 Political and Legal Philosophy (4)
One of the following: (4)
PHI 130 Philosophical Theology (4)
PHI 135 Philosophy of Language (4)
PHI 163 Philosophy of Religion (4)
PHI 170 Epistemology (4)
PHI 175 Metaphysics (4)
Off-Campus Program (spring or fall): 4 units
The off-campus semester’s work will be planned in consultation with the philosophy department. On the San Francisco Urban Program and the American Studies Program in Washington, D.C., four units of philosophy credit will be given for a philosophically-oriented internship that focuses on social issues and the human condition. On the Oregon Extension Program, four units of philosophy credit will be given for the courses “Social Issues in Philosophical Perspective,” “Philosophical Perspectives on the Human Condition” and “Selected Topics in the Philosophy of Religion.”
Requirements for a Minor: 20 units
Required upper-division PHI courses (12)
Additional required PHI courses (8)
Lower-Division Course Descriptions
PHI 6 Philosophical Perspectives (4) An introduction to the main ideas and methods of philosophy and central problems, significant figures in the philosophic tradition, and some of the significant schools of thought. Attention is given to the assessment of world and life views and to the development of a Christian world and life view.
PHI 6H Introduction to Philosophy: Honors (4) Prerequisite: By invitation only. An advanced introduction to philosophy and its main ideas and methods.
PHI 12 Critical Reasoning and Logic (4) A study of correct reasoning. Emphasizes ability to detect fallacious arguments and construct sound ones. Analyze informal argumentation in everyday discussions. Substantial attention to formal logical skills. Highly recommended for pre-law students.
Upper-Division Course Descriptions
PHI 101 Ancient and Medieval Philosophy (4) A critical survey of major Western philosophers from ancient Greeks to philosophers of the late medieval period. Includes emphasis on historical context.
PHI 102 Modern and Contemporary Philosophy (4) A critical survey of major Western philosophers from Descartes to the present. Includes emphasis on historical context.
PHI 104 Ethics (4) Prerequisites: One course in philosophy. Emphasizes the full variety of normative ethical theories; addresses current issues in meta-ethics, including moral skepticism, justification of ultimate norms, and the question of justice and rights.
PHI 113 Contemporary Moral Problems (4) Prerequisite: One course in philosophy. Addresses moral issues such as abortion, animal rights, euthanasia, suicide, the death penalty, war, life-boat ethics, marriage and sexual integrity, homosexuality, pornography, and women’s issues.
PHI 130/RS 130 Philosophical Theology (4) Prerequisites: PHI 6 and RS 10. A philosophical analysis of such theological topics as: the attributes of God; the relation of time to eternity; the doctrine of the Trinity; God’s foreknowledge and human freedom; morality and God’s Will; and the logic of the Incarnation.
PHI 133 Political and Legal Philosophy (4) Prerequisite: One course in philosophy. The basis and justification of political authority; individual rights and the common good, freedom, equality, and democracy; concepts used in law: punishment, insanity, negligence, strict liability, liberty, and tolerance.
PHI 135 Philosophy of Language (4) Prerequisite: One course in philosophy. An investigation of philosophical questions about language raised by both analytic and continental philosophers. Potential topics: the nature of language, philosophical hermeneutics, meaning, truth, reference, analyticity and synonymy, propositions, speech acts, metaphor and religious language. Various interdisciplinary connections.
PHI/HIS 149 Philosophy of History (4) Speculative and critical philosophy of history. Evaluates attempts to discern a pattern of meaning in history. Attention given to the problems of historical understanding and objectivity.
PHI 150 Topics in Philosophy (2,4) Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Exploration of a selected philosophical problem, school, figure or subject.
PHI 163/RS 163 Philosophy of Religion (4) Prerequisites: PHI 6 and RS 10. A study of the veracity of religious beliefs, with special scrutiny of the relation of philosophy and theology, the possibility of religious knowledge, the meaning of religious language, the existence of God, and the problem of evil.
PHI 170 Epistemology (4) Prerequisites: PHI 6 and PHI 12. Origin, nature, scope and structure of knowledge, including a survey of the main problems and positions.
PHI 175 Metaphysics (4) Prerequisites: PHI 6 and PHI 12. Theories of reality and its most general features. Potential topics include the nature of time, identity, constitution of material objects, causation, freedom, the mind/body problem, universals, possibility and necessity.
PHI 189 Aesthetics (4) A critical survey of the various ways, both historical and contemporary, in which people have understood art and the aesthetic experience.
PHI 195 Senior Seminar (4) Prerequisite: Philosophy majors only. To be taken by all philosophy majors during their last spring semester on campus. A writing-intensive capstone seminar course designed to help students to: (a) integrate their major, (b) prepare for transition to life after graduation, and (c) reconnect with fellow graduating philosophy majors.