Programs by Campus
Indianapolis
Philosophy
Courses
Curriculum
Courses
Faculty
- PL-P 503 The Semiotics of C. S. Peirce (3 cr.) A general introduction into the semiotics of C. S. Peirce.
- PL-P 507 American Philosophy and the Analytic Tradition (3 cr.) An overview of the development of American philosophy with a special focus on its contribution to and influence on the American analytic tradition. This course discusses the views of such philosophers as C. I. Lewis, Rudolph Carnap, W. V. O. Quine, Donald Davidson, Hillary Putnam, and Susan Haack.
- PL-P 514 Pragmatism (3 cr.) This course examines what pragmatism stood for in its formative years and what it has become; then, after studying some conflicting views of well-known pragmatists, it considers what pragmatism might become. Part of the course is devoted to the contributions of pragmatism to different areas within philosophy.
- PL-P 520 Philosophy of Language (3 cr.) Advanced study of selected topics.
- PL-P 525 Topics in the History of Philosophy (3 cr.) An advanced study of important themes or major figures in the history of philosophy. May be repeated for credit if topics vary.
- PL-P 540 Contemporary Ethical Theories (3 cr.) Fundamental problems of ethics in contemporary analytic philosophy from G. E. Moore’s Principia Ethica to the present.
- PL-P 542 The Ethics and Values of Philanthropy (3 cr.) An inquiry into the ethics and values of philanthropy rooted in a general understanding of philanthropy, as voluntary action for the public good, as an ethical ideal. A consideration of philanthropic activity in light of this ideal.
- PL-P 543 Contemporary Social and Political Philosophy (3 cr.)
- PL-P 547 Foundations of Bioethics (3 cr.) A rigorous examination of bioethical theory and practice. Stress is placed on moral and conceptual issues embedded in biomedical research, clinical practice, and social policy relating to the organization and delivery of health care.
- PL-P 548 Clinical Ethics Practicum (3 cr.) Application of the methods of philosophical analysis to current ethical issues arising in IU-affiliated hospitals and clinics. The practicum gives students firsthand experience of clinical ethics problems in “real time,” showing them both the need for conceptual frameworks and the difficulties associated with them.
- PL-P 549 Bioethics and Pragmatism (3 cr.) A survey of recent contributions of American philosophy to bioethics. The course strongly focuses on a growing group of philosophers and ethicists who seek their inspiration in Dewey, James, Peirce, Royce, and Mead, while dealing with contemporary issues in medical ethics.
- PL-P 553 Philosophy of Science (3 cr.) A study of theories with regard to the nature, purpose, and limitations of science. Attention is given to the cognitive significance of theories, the scientific method (hypothesis formation, theory construction, and testing), research paradigms, reductionism, and social epistemology.
- PL-P 555 Ethical and Policy Issues in International Research (3 cr.) Examines ethical and policy issues in the design and conduct of transnational research involving human participants. Topics discussed include economic and political factors; study design; the role of ethics review committees; individual and group recruitment/informed consent; end of study responsibilities; national and international guidelines.
- PL-P 558 American Philosophy (3 cr.) General introduction to American philosophy.
- PL-P 560 Metaphysics (3 cr.) In-depth discussion of representative contemporary theories.
- PL-P 562 Theory of Knowledge (3 cr.) Advanced study of selected topics.
- PL-P 590 Intensive Reading (1-4 cr.) A tutorial course involving in-depth consideration of a specific philosophical area or problem or author. May be repeated for credit.
- PL-P 600 Topics in Philosophy (3 cr.) A detailed examination of a specific topic in philosophy.
- PL-P 650 Topics in Semiotic Philosophy (3 cr.) An examination of various historical and theoretical issues arising from the philosophical study of semiosis—the general phenomenon of representation, objectification, signification, and interpretation—through the work of mostly American philosophers from the late nineteenth century to the present, with an emphasis on the impact of Peirce’s semiotic philosophy.
- PL-P 696 Topics in Biomedical Ethics (3 cr.) Selected topics in bioethics, such as international research ethics; ethical issues in pediatrics; ethical issues in genetics.
- PL-P 701 Peirce Seminar (3 cr.) This course is designed to give students a firm and broad understanding of the philosophy of Charles S. Peirce.
- PL-P 730 Seminar in Contemporary Philosophy (3 cr.) Selected topics on the works of twentieth-century philosophers. May be repeated for credit.
- PL-P 748 Seminar in American Philosophy (3 cr.) Different topics course that students can take repeatedly for credit. Sample topics include American Phenomenology (De Tienne), American Realism (De Waal), Emerson (Hanson), James (Nagy), Royce (De Tienne), Dewey (Nagy), and Mead (De Waal).
- PL-P 803 Master’s Thesis in Philosophy (arr cr.)
