Philosophy (PHI) | CSUDH | Carson, CA

• Skip to Content
• AZ Index
• Catalog Home
• CSUDH Home

• Home›
• Courses›
• Philosophy (PHI)

Print Options Academic Catalog 2025-2026 Expand Menu Search catalog Submit search

• General InformationToggle General Information
  • About the Catalog
  • The California State University
  • CSU Dominguez Hills
  • Division of Academic AffairsToggle Division of Academic Affairs
    • College of Arts and Humanities
    • College of Business Administration and Public Policy
    • College of Continuing and Professional Education
    • College of Education
    • College of Health, Human Services, and Nursing
    • College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences
    • University Library
    • Academic Advising
    • Career Center
    • Program Advisory Boards
  • Current Faculty
  • Emeriti Faculty &​ Staff
  • Campus Life
  • Academic Integrity
  • Academic Programs
  • Answers To Your Questions
  • Baccalaureate Degrees and Undergraduate StudiesToggle Baccalaureate Degrees and Undergraduate Studies
    • Academic Skills Requirements for Undergraduate Students
    • GWAR Certifying Courses
    • General Education Requirements for Undergraduate Students
    • General Education Certification
    • Double Counting General Education Courses
    • Credit for Remediation
    • General Education
    • Major and Minor
    • Unit Requirements
    • Undergraduate Academic Advisement
    • Undergraduate Enrollment Policies
    • Scholastic Probation and Disqualification
    • Academic Renewal
    • Continuing Students
    • Full-​Time Status
    • University Graduation Requirements
    • Application for Graduation -​ Undergraduate
  • Campus Services
  • Fees
  • Financial Aid
  • Graduate Degrees
  • Postbaccalaureate Credentials and Certificates
  • Pre-​Admission Disclosure for Academic Programs Leading to Licensure or Credentialing
  • Program Advisory Boards
  • Second Baccalaureate Degrees
  • University Regulations
• Financial Information
• General Education
• Academic ProgramsToggle Academic Programs
  • AccountingToggle Accounting
    • Accounting, Master of Science
  • Advertising and Public RelationsToggle Advertising and Public Relations
    • Advertising and Public Relations, Bachelor of Arts
  • Africana StudiesToggle Africana Studies
    • Africana Studies, Bachelor of Arts
    • Africana Studies, Minor
  • AnthropologyToggle Anthropology
    • Anthropology, Bachelor of Arts
    • Anthropology, Minor
    • Cultural Resource Management, Certificate
    • Indigenous Peoples of the Americas, Minor
  • Art Toggle Art
    • Art, Bachelor of Arts
    • Art, Minor
    • Ceramics, Minor
  • Art HistoryToggle Art History
    • Art History, Bachelor of Arts
    • Art History, Minor
  • Arts and HumanitiesToggle Arts and Humanities
    • Arts and Humanities, Master of Arts
  • Asian-​Pacific StudiesToggle Asian-​Pacific Studies
    • Asian-​Pacific Studies, Bachelor of Arts
    • Asian-​Pacific Studies, Minor
  • Audio EngineeringToggle Audio Engineering
    • Audio Engineering, Bachelor of Arts
  • Behavioral ScienceToggle Behavioral Science
    • Behavioral Science, Bachelor of Arts
    • Behavioral Science, Minor
  • BiochemistryToggle Biochemistry
    • Biochemistry, Bachelor of Science
  • BiologyToggle Biology
    • Biology, Bachelor of Arts
    • Biology, Bachelor of Science
    • Biology, Master of Science
    • Biology, Minor
    • Biology, Subject Matter Preparation
    • Microbiology, Minor
  • BiophysicsToggle Biophysics
    • Biophysics, Bachelor of Science
  • Business AdministrationToggle Business Administration
    • Accounting, Certificate
    • Business Administration, Bachelor of Science
    • Business Administration, Minor
    • Data Analytics, Minor
    • Economics, Minor
    • Executive Management Certificate
    • Information Systems Security, Minor
    • Information Systems, Certificate
    • Information Systems, Minor
    • Logistics Management, Post-​MBA Certificate
    • Management, Minor
    • Marketing, Certificate
    • Marketing, Minor
    • Marketing, Post-​MBA Certificate
    • Sports Management, Certificate
  • ChemistryToggle Chemistry
    • Chemistry, Bachelor of Arts
    • Chemistry, Bachelor of Science
    • Chemistry, Subject Matter Authorization
    • Organic/​Biochemistry, Minor
  • Chicana/​Chicano StudiesToggle Chicana/​Chicano Studies
    • Chicana/​Chicano Studies, Bachelor of Arts
    • Chicana/​Chicano Studies, Minor
  • Child DevelopmentToggle Child Development
    • Child Development, Bachelor of Science
    • Child Development, Minor
    • Early Child Development and Education, Minor
  • Clinical ScienceToggle Clinical Science
    • Clinical Science -​ Cytotechnology, Post-​Baccalaureate Certificate
    • Clinical Science -​ Medical Technology, Post-​Baccalaureate Certificate
    • Clinical Science, Bachelor of Science
  • CommunicationsToggle Communications
    • Advertising, Minor
    • Communications, Minor
  • Computer ScienceToggle Computer Science
    • Computer Science, Bachelor of Science
    • Computer Science, Certificate
    • Computer Science, Master of Science
    • Computer Science, Minor
  • Computer TechnologyToggle Computer Technology
    • Computer Technology, Bachelor of Arts
    • Computer Technology, Certificate
    • Computer Technology, Minor
  • Continuing &​ Professional Education ProgramsToggle Continuing &​ Professional Education Programs
    • Alcohol and Drug Counseling, Certificate
    • American Language and Culture Program
    • Assistive Technology, Specialist Certificate
    • Communication Sciences and Disorders, Certificate
    • Community College Teaching, Certificate
    • Designated Subjects Adult Education, Teaching Credential
    • Human Resources Management, Certificate
    • Mediation and Conflict Resolution, Certificate
    • Production and Inventory Control, Certificate
    • Purchasing, Certificate
    • Sport and Fitness Psychology, Certificate
  • CounselingToggle Counseling
    • Child Welfare and Attendance Authorization
    • College Counseling, Certificate
    • Counseling, Master of Science
    • School Counseling, Pupil Personnel Credential
  • Criminal Justice AdministrationToggle Criminal Justice Administration
    • Criminal Justice Administration, Bachelor of Science
    • Criminal Justice Administration, Minor
  • Cyber SecurityToggle Cyber Security
    • Cyber Security, Master of Science
  • DanceToggle Dance
    • Dance, Bachelor of Arts
    • Dance, Minor
  • DesignToggle Design
    • Design, Bachelor of Arts
    • Design, Minor
    • Digital Graphics, Minor
    • Photography, Minor
  • Digital Media ArtsToggle Digital Media Arts
    • Audio Technology, Certificate
    • Digital Media Arts, Bachelor of Arts
    • Television Arts, Certificate
  • Earth ScienceToggle Earth Science
    • Earth Science, Bachelor of Science
    • Earth Sciences, Minor
  • Educational Leadership JusticeToggle Educational Leadership Justice
    • Educational Leadership Justice, Doctorate
  • EnglishToggle English
    • Creative Writing, Minor
    • English, Bachelor of Arts
    • English, Master of Arts
    • English, Minor
    • English, Subject Matter Preparation
    • Language and Linguistics, Bachelor of Arts
    • Linguistics, Minor
    • Professional and Creative Writing, Certificate
    • Rhetoric and Composition, Certificate
    • Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Master of Arts
    • Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Certificate
  • Environmental ScienceToggle Environmental Science
    • Environmental Science, Master of Science
  • Exercise ScienceToggle Exercise Science
    • Exercise Science, Bachelor Science
  • Film and Television ProductionToggle Film and Television Production
    • Film and Television Production, Bachelor of Arts
  • Film, Television, and MediaToggle Film, Television, and Media
    • Film, Television, and Media, Bachelor of Arts
  • GeographyToggle Geography
    • Geography, Bachelor of Arts
    • Geography, Minor
    • Geotechniques, Certificate
  • Graduate EducationToggle Graduate Education
    • Administrative Services Credential
    • Higher Education Administration and Leadership (HEAL), Graduate Certificate
  • Health HumanitiesToggle Health Humanities
    • Health Humanities, Minor
  • Health ScienceToggle Health Science
    • Health Science, Bachelor of Science
    • Health Science, Master of Science
    • Health Science, Minor
  • HistoryToggle History
    • History, Bachelor of Arts
    • History, Minor
    • Specific History Subject Matter Authorization
  • Human ServicesToggle Human Services
    • Human Services, Bachelor of Arts
    • Mental Health Recovery, Certificate
  • Humanities External DegreeToggle Humanities External Degree
    • Humanities External, Master of Arts
  • Information TechnologyToggle Information Technology
    • Information Technology, Bachelor of Science
  • Interdisciplinary StudiesToggle Interdisciplinary Studies
    • Environmental Studies, Minor
    • Global Studies, Minor
    • Interdisciplinary Studies, Bachelor of Arts
    • Interdisciplinary Studies, Minor
  • Japanese
  • JournalismToggle Journalism
    • Journalism, Bachelor of ArtsToggle Journalism, Bachelor of Arts
      • Journalism: Latinx Concentration, Bachelor of Arts
  • KinesiologyToggle Kinesiology
    • Coaching, Minor
    • Education: Physical Education Administration, Master of Arts
    • Fitness Instructor, Certificate
    • Physical Education, Bachelor of Arts
    • Physical Education, Subject Matter Preparation
    • Teaching, Minor
  • Labor StudiesToggle Labor Studies
    • Labor Studies, Bachelor of Arts
    • Labor Studies, Certificate
    • Labor Studies, Minor
  • Language and LinguisticsToggle Language and Linguistics
    • Language and Linguistics, Bachelor of Arts
  • Liberal StudiesToggle Liberal Studies
    • Liberal Studies, Bachelor of Arts
  • Library
  • Marital and Family TherapyToggle Marital and Family Therapy
    • Marital and Family Therapy, Master of Science
  • Mathematics Toggle Mathematics
    • Introductory Mathematics, Subject Matter Authorization
    • Mathematics, Bachelor of Science
    • Mathematics, Minor
  • Military Science
  • Modern Languages
  • MusicToggle Music
    • Bachelor of Music
    • Introductory and Specific Music, Subject Matter Authorization
    • Music Education, Minor
    • Music, Bachelor of Arts
  • Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and PeacebuildingToggle Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding
    • Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Post-​Master's Certificate
    • Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding, Bachelor of Arts
    • Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding, Master of Arts
  • NursingToggle Nursing
    • Clinical Nurse Specialist, Post-​Master's Certificate
    • Neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist, Post-​Master's Certificate
    • Nursing Administration, Post-​Master's Certificate
    • Nursing Education, Post-​Master's Certificate
    • Nursing, Bachelor of Science
    • Nursing, Master of Science
  • Occupational TherapyToggle Occupational Therapy
    • Occupational Therapy, Master of Science
    • Occupational Therapy, Doctorate
  • Organizational Leadership StudiesToggle Organizational Leadership Studies
    • Organizational Leadership Studies , Bachelor of Science
  • PhilosophyToggle Philosophy
    • Philosophy, Bachelor of Arts
    • Philosophy, Minor
    • Religious Studies, Minor
  • PhysicsToggle Physics
    • Physics, Bachelor of Science
    • Physics, Minor
  • Political ScienceToggle Political Science
    • Political Science, Bachelor of Arts
    • Political Science, Minor
  • Pre-​Health Professions Program
  • Pre-​Law
  • PsychologyToggle Psychology
    • Psychology, Bachelor of Arts
    • Psychology, Master of Arts
    • Psychology, Minor
  • Public AdministrationToggle Public Administration
    • Criminal Justice Administration, Minor
    • Public Administration, Bachelor of Science
    • Public Administration, Master of Public Administration
    • Public Administration, Minor
  • Quality AssuranceToggle Quality Assurance
    • Quality Assurance, Bachelor of Science
    • Quality Assurance, Master of Science
  • Radiologic &​ Imaging SciencesToggle Radiologic &​ Imaging Sciences
    • Radiologic and Imaging Sciences, Master of Science
    • Radiologic Imaging Sciences, Certificate
  • School LeadershipToggle School Leadership
    • School Leadership, Master of Arts
  • Social WorkToggle Social Work
    • Social Work, Master of Social Work
  • SociologyToggle Sociology
    • Community Organizing, Certificate
    • Social Research, Certificate
    • Social Research, Graduate Certificate
    • Sociology, Bachelor of Arts
    • Sociology, Master of Arts
    • Sociology, Minor
  • SpanishToggle Spanish
    • Pre-​Service Teacher Bilingual Authorization in Spanish, Certificate
    • Spanish Culture, Minor
    • Spanish Grammar and Writing, Minor
    • Spanish Linguistics, Minor
    • Spanish Literature, Minor
    • Spanish, Bachelor of Arts
    • Spanish, Subject Matter Preparation
  • Special EducationToggle Special Education
    • Assistive Technology Specialist, Certificate
    • Early Childhood Special Education Authorization
    • PK-​3 ECE Specialist Instruction Credential
    • Preliminary Education Specialist: Early Childhood Special Education, Intern Option, Credential
    • Preliminary Education Specialist: Early Childhood Special Education, Student Teaching Option, Credential
    • Preliminary Education Specialist: Extensive Support Needs, Intern Option, Credential
    • Preliminary Education Specialist: Extensive Support Needs, Student Teaching Option, Credential
    • Preliminary Education Specialist: Mild to Moderate Support Needs, Intern Option, Credential
    • Preliminary Education Specialist: Mild to Moderate Support Needs, Student Teaching Option, Credential
    • Special Education, Master of Arts
    • Teacher Induction Program (Clear Credential)
  • Special Major
  • Systems EngineeringToggle Systems Engineering
    • Systems Engineering, Master of Science
  • Teacher EducationToggle Teacher Education
    • Dual Language Learning, Certificate
    • Education, Master of Arts
    • Multiple Subject Preliminary: Student Teaching Option, Credential
    • Multiple Subject Preliminary: University Intern Option, Credential
    • Pre-​Service Teacher Bilingual Authorization in Spanish, Certificate
    • Single Subject Preliminary: Student Teaching Option, Credential
    • Single Subject Preliminary: University Intern Option, Credential
    • Subject Matter Authorizations
    • Transitional Kindergarten, Certificate
  • Teaching English to Speakers of Other LanguagesToggle Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
    • Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Certificate
    • Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Master of Arts
  • Theatre ArtsToggle Theatre Arts
    • Speech, Minor
    • Theatre Arts, Bachelor of Arts
    • Theatre Education, Minor
    • Theatre Performance, Minor
  • Women's StudiesToggle Women's Studies
    • Women's Studies, Bachelor of Arts
    • Women's Studies, Minor
• CoursesToggle Courses
  • Accounting (ACC)
  • Africana Studies (AFS)
  • Anthropology (ANT)
  • Art (ART)
  • Art History (ARH)
  • Arts Administration (AAD)
  • Asian-​Pacific Studies (APP)
  • Behavioral Science (BEH)
  • Biology (BIO)
  • Biophysics (BPH)
  • Business (BUS)
  • Chemistry (CHE)
  • Chicano/​Chicana Studies (CHS)
  • Child Development (CDV)
  • Clinical Science (CLS)
  • Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD)
  • Communications (COM)
  • Computer Information Systems (CIS)
  • Computer Science (CSC)
  • Computer Technology (CTC)
  • Criminal Justice (CJA)
  • Curriculum &​ Instruction (CUR)
  • Cyber Security (CYB)
  • Dance (DAN)
  • Design (DGN)
  • Digital Media Arts (DMA)
  • Dual Language Learning (DLL)
  • Early Start English (ESE)
  • Early Start Mathematics (ESM)
  • Earth Sciences (EAR)
  • Economics (ECO)
  • Education (EDU)
  • Educational Leadership Justice (ELJ)
  • English (ENG)
  • Environmental Science (ENV)
  • Finance (FIN)
  • French (FRE)
  • GED Multicultural Option (MUL)
  • Geography (GEO)
  • Gerontology (GRN)
  • Graduate Education (GED)
  • Health Science (HEA)
  • Health Sciences (HSC)
  • History (HIS)
  • Human Resources Management (HRM)
  • Human Services (HUS)
  • Humanities (HUM)
  • Humanities External Degree (HUX)
  • Information Technology (ITC)
  • Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS)
  • Italian (ITA)
  • Japanese (JPN)
  • Kinesiology (KIN)
  • Labor Studies (LBR)
  • Law (LAW)
  • Liberal Studies (LBS)
  • Library (LIB)
  • Management (MGT)
  • Marital &​ Family Therapy (MFT)
  • Marketing (MKT)
  • Masters in Social Work (MSW)
  • Mathematics (MAT)
  • Military Science (MSL)
  • Modern Languages (MLG)
  • Music (MUS)
  • Negotiation&​Conflict Res (NCR)
  • Nursing -​ Graduate (MSN)
  • Nursing -​ Undergraduate (BSN)
  • Occupational Therapy (OTR)
  • Operations Management (OMG)
  • Organizational Leadership Studies (OLS)
  • Philosophy (PHI)
  • Photography (PHT)
  • Physics (PHY)
  • Political Science (POL)
  • Portuguese (POR)
  • Psychology (PSY)
  • Public Administration (PUB)
  • Pupil Personnel Services (PPS)
  • Quality Assurance (QAS)
  • Radiologic Imaging Sciences (RIS)
  • Reading (RDG)
  • Recreation &​ Leisure Studies (REC)
  • School Leadership (SLP)
  • Science, Math and Tech (SMT)
  • Social &​ Behavioral Sciences (SBS)
  • Sociology (SOC)
  • Spanish (SPA)
  • Special Education (SPE)
  • Sports, Ent., Hospitality (SEH)
  • Systems Engineering (SEE)
  • Teacher Education (TED)
  • Technology Based Education (TBE)
  • Theatre Arts (THE)
  • Transitional Kindergarten (TKK)
  • University Courses (UNV)
  • Women's Studies (WMS)
• Search CoursesToggle Search Courses
• Catalog Archive

PHI 101.  Moral Problems.  (3 Units)  

The role of morals as motivations and goals in our lives. General knowledge of what values are and how they influence us on individual and societal levels. Students will construct solutions to moral problems, for example, problems of justice.

Offered Fall, Spring, All terms

PHI 102.  Humanity, Nature & God.  (3 Units)  

Critical examination of perennial philosophical issues such as the nature of philosophy, the existence of God, free will, truth. Both Western and non-Western perspectives are discussed. Gives student general understanding of his/her societal context. Essays as well as exams.

Offered Fall, Spring

PHI 120.  Critical Reasoning.  (3 Units)  

Introduction to methods of critical thinking including the nature of arguments, formal and informal fallacies, deductive and inductive arguments. Provides student with critical skills in both academic and non-academic context. A-C-/NC grading.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer, All terms

PHI 201.  The Good Life.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: ENG 110 is recommended. Explores philosophical approaches to the art of living. Readings will focus on ancient Greek and Roman philosophy as a way of life, along with a selection of religious and non-Western philosophies of the good life.

Offered Spring

PHI 202.  The Devil You Don't Know.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: ENG 110 is recommended. The development of the idea of the Devil and related ideas such as sin, evil, temptation, and the nature of the human. Investigates the Devil in scripture, philosophy, literature, and film. Includes Jewish, Christian and Muslim sources.

Offered Fall, Spring

PHI 220.  Symbolic Logic.  (3 Units)  

Introduction to symbolic logic and its relation to everyday language. Students study deductive and inductive reasoning, the logical content and consistency of statements, truth-functional operations, analysis of arguments for validity and invalidity, logical fallacies, and elementary quantification theory.

Offered Fall, Spring

PHI 300.  Proseminar.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: 6 units in LD Philosophy or department consent. An introduction to philosophical methods, research and dialogue in order to improve students' skills at writing and analysis. Topics to be covered will address some central area or areas of philosophy and will vary from year to year.

Offered Fall, Spring

PHI 301.  Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy.  (3 Units)  

A critical study of the foundations of Western civilization as found in ancient Greek and Roman thought.

Offered Fall

PHI 302.  Medieval Philosophies: Jewish, Christian and Muslim.  (3 Units)  

Offered Spring even

PHI 303.  Modern Philosophy: Descartes To Kant.  (3 Units)  

Western thought as manifest through the evolution of the philosophical systems of Rationalism, Empiricism and Critical Philosophy.

Offered Spring

PHI 304.  19th Century Philosophy: Hegel To Nietzsche.  (3 Units)  

A study of nineteenth century European philosophy focusing on thinkers such as Hegel, Kierkegaard, Marx and Nietzsche.

Offered Fall

PHI 305.  Contemporary Philosophy.  (3 Units)  

Study of contemporary American and European philosophical concepts, movements, or key figures. Specific topic indicated in class schedule. Repeatable for credit.

Offered Spring odd

PHI 308.  Existentialism.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite(s): PHI 101 or PHI 102 is recommended. Examines key existential philosophers, such as Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Marcel, Sartre, de Beauvoir, and Camus. Also explored are existentialist themes in the history of philosophy, literature, poetry, and film such as Dostoyevsky, Rilke, Bergman, Kurosawa, and Woody Allen.

Offered Fall odd

PHI 316.  Ethical Theories.  (3 Units)  

A critical inquiry into the groundwork of ethics by exploring such basic questions in ethics as the nature of good, the criteria for right action, the language of moral discourse, ontology and morality, and religion and ethics.

Offered Fall

PHI 321.  The Nature of Beauty: Aesthetics.  (3 Units)  

A critical examination of our beliefs about the nature of beauty in the context of art, music, literature and film. Topics include artistic creativity, aesthetic experience, criticism and evaluation. Specific topic indicated in class schedule. Repeatable course.

Offered Spring even

PHI 331.  Social & Political Philosophy.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: PHI 300 is highly recommended. Historical and contemporary theories on the scope and legitimacy of political authority: discussion of various contract theories of the state and of the relationships between rights of individuals and rights of states. Repeatable course.

Offered Fall odd

PHI 340.  Environmental Ethics.  (3 Units)  

Inquiry into philosophical theories and methods that assess how humanity should relate to Earth, how we view ourselves ecologically, whether consumption practices are logical and moral. Topics include deep ecology, Eco-feminism, anthropocentric v. non-anthropocentric Ethics, animal rights and sustainability.

Offered Spring

PHI 350.  Theories of Cognition.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: PHI 120 or equivalent. PHI 300 is highly recommended. This course will approach the question of mind from disciplines in humanities, sciences, and social sciences. Several standpoints such as: classical philosophy, cognitive science, neurology, computer science and artificial intelligence, cognitive ethology, and evolutional linguistics will be discussed.

Offered Infrequent

PHI 351.  Death and Dying.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite(s): Students must complete Areas 1 & 2 before enrolling in upper division GE courses.. Introduction to psychological, medical, cultural, and ethical aspects of death and dying. A cross-cultural approach to perceptions of death and dying, how and why they have changed over time, how various authors, poets, and artists represent death and dying.

Offered Fall, Spring

PHI 352.  Myth as Reality.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite(s): Students must complete Areas 1 & 2 before enrolling in upper division GE courses.. Explores the nature of myth, its relationship to ritual, dream, and folktale, and its manifestations in literature and the individual. Although the course will have a primary literary focus, it will draw on the disciplines of philosophy, religious studies, anthropology, and psychology.

Offered Fall, Spring

PHI 353.  Age of Revolt.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite(s): Students must complete Areas 1 & 2 before enrolling in upper division GE courses.. Investigation of the spirit of revolt in the historical period of the Spanish Conquest; the American, French, Haitian, Russian and Algerian revolutions; Black Power and Zapatista: through history, philosophy and the arts.

Offered Fall, Spring

PHI 365.  Mind, World and Language.  (3 Units)  

A critical examination of the relation between knowledge and reality, with a particular interest in the role of language. Readings include a variety of historical and contemporary perspectives, such ans analytic philosophy, pragmatism, and phenomenology.

Offered Spring even

PHI 370.  Philos of Africa & Diaspora.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: PHI 300 is highly recommended. A critical study of African and afrocentric philosophies, including Bantu, Akan, and Yoruba traditions. African American philosophers such as Alain Locke and other third world African peoples are also covered in depth. Topics include personhood, time, causality, value theory, black aesthetics, and black feminist epistemologies.

Offered Spring

PHI 371.  African World Religions.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: PHI 300 is recommended A critical study of traditional religious experience and expression among peoples of the African continent including the Akan, Yoruba and Ibo as well as manifestations of Christianity and Islam as expressed both in Africa and in the Americas .

Offered Fall

PHI 378.  Philosophy of Religion.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: PHI 300. A critical, comprehensive study of the nature and value of religion. Includes such issues as the relationship between Religion, Philosophy, Theology, and Science; the existence of a deity, revelation(s), faith, the problem of evil, scriptural myths, and religious experience and language.

Offered Spring

PHI 379.  Contemporary Moral Issues.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: PHI 300 is highly recommended. Philosophical inquiry into basic moral problems relevant today such as morality versus non-morality, human responsibility, individual versus societal values, morality versus legality, ethnic identity versus social conformity, abortion versus right to life, and the euthanasia decision. Repeatable for Credit.

Offered Fall

PHI 383.  Comparative Religions.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite(s): PHI 300 is highly recommended. Students must complete Areas 1 & 2 before enrolling in upper division GE courses.. A study of the relationship of the various religious perspectives of the world, their rituals, their influence on society and their philosophical implications.

Offered Fall

PHI 384.  Philosophies of India, China and Japan.  (3 Units)  

The evolution and meaning of various non- Western traditions will be discussed. Selected topics will include Hinduism, Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, Shintoism, Confucianism. Emphasis on significance in India, China and Japan . Repeatable course.

Offered Spring

PHI 386.  Analytical Methods of Biblical Study.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: PHI 300 is highly recommended. The Bible in light of modern scholarship; principles and methods of its interpretation. Emphasis is given to the Pentateuch, the Gospels, and other key portions for their philosophical and theological views.

Offered Fall odd

PHI 480.  Religion and Violence.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: PHI 383 is recommended. A critical examination of fundamentalist movements in various religious traditions. Explores the intrinsic relationship among four key variables: religion, secularization, fundamentalism, and the consequences of religious fundamentalization. Finally, we will ask whether fundamentalist principles legitimate new forms of religious violence.

Offered Fall odd

PHI 490.  Seminar.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: PHI 300. A critical analysis and interpretation of a major philosophical or religious system or issue in respect to its presuppositions, task, method, problems and solutions. Repeatable course. Course is writing intensive. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Spring

PHI 494.  Independent Study.  (1-3 Units)  

Prerequisite: PHI 300 is highly recommended. Study of a particular philosophical or religious problem, individually or as a team or group, under the direction of a faculty member. Only three units may be used for Philosophy major and minor requirements.

Offered Fall, Spring

PHI 495.  Special Topics:.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: PHI 300 is highly recommended. An intensive study of a concept, movement or individual in Philosophy. Intended for students with senior standing and having fulfilled major requirements. Specific topic listed in class schedule. Repeatable course. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Infrequent

PHI 580.  Religion and Violence.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: PHI 383 is recommended. A critical examination of fundamentalist movements in various religious traditions. Explores the intrinsic relationship among four key variables: religion, secularization, fundamentalism, and the consequences of religious fundamentalization. Finally, we will ask whether fundamentalist principles legitimate new forms of religious violence.

Offered Fall odd

PHI 595.  Special Topics:.  (3 Units)  

Prerequisite: PHI 300 is highly recommended. An intensive study of a concept, movement or individual in Philosophy. Intended for students with senior or graduate standing. Specific topic listed in class schedule. Repeatable course. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Infrequent

Close this window

Print Options

• Send Page to Printer

  Print this page.

• Download Page (PDF)

  The PDF will include all information unique to this page.

• 2024-25 Catalog

  The PDF will include all pages for the 2024-25 Catalog.