Curriculum
Courses
Faculty

• PHIL-P 503 The Semiotics of C. S. Peirce (3 cr.) A rigorous initiation to Peirce's logic of sign, including his theory of knowledge, his categorially, his definitions and classification of signs, the three branches of semiotics, with an applied research component.
• PHIL-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.
• PHIL-P 514 Pragmatism (3 cr.) This course examines what pragma¬tism 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.
• PHIL-P 520 Philosophy of Language (3 cr.) In-depth treatment of central issues, problems, theories (both classical and contemporary), such as linguistic reference, vague terms, and contextualism
• PHIL-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.
• PHIL-P 540 Contemporary Ethical Theories (3 cr.) In-depth treatment of classical and contemporary normative and meta-ethical theories, such as consequentialism, deontology, and non-cognitivism.
• PHIL-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.
• PHIL-P 543 Social and Political Philosophy (3 cr.) Advanced study of central issues, theories, and topics in social/political philosophy, such as property rights, distributive justice, political liberty, and the limits and foundations of state authority.
• PHIL-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.
• PHIL-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.  PHIL-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.
• PHIL-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.
• PHIL-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 dis¬cussed include economic and political factors; study design; the role of ethics review committees; individual and group recruit¬ment/informed consent; end of study responsibilities; national and international guidelines.
• PHIL-P 558 American Philosophy (3 cr.) A general overview of the most significant contributions of American philosophers, such as Emerson, Thoreau, Peirce, James, Dewey, Santayana, Mead, JAne ADdams, Alain Locke.
• PHIL-P 560 Metaphysics (3 cr.) In-depth treatment of central issues, problems, and theories (both classical and contemporary), such as persistence of identity, freedom and determinism, and nominalism.
• PHIL-P 562 Theory of Knowledge (3 cr.) In-depth treatment of central issues, problems, and theories (both classical and contemporary), such as epistemic warrant, Gettier examples, and foundationalism.
• PHIL-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.
• PHIL-P 600 Topics in Philosophy (3 cr.) A detailed examination of a specific topic in philosophy. May be repeated for credit if topics vary.
• PHIL-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 interpreta¬tion—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. This course is currently not offered.
• PHIL-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.
• PHIL-P 701 Peirce Seminar (3 cr.) This seminar is devoted to a critical examination of the general structure and development of Peirce's systematic philosophy with a special emphasis on those tensions in the development of his thought that led to modifications in his philosophy, and on the nature and significance of those changes.
• PHIL-P 730 Seminar in Contemporary Philosophy (3 cr.) Selected topics in contemporary philosophy. May be repeated for credit if topics vary. May be repeated for credit.
• PHIL-P 748 Seminar in American Philosophy (3 cr.) Advanced study of a principal philosopher or a set of selected topics in classical American philosophy. May be repeated for credit if topics vary.
• PHIL-P 803 Master’s Thesis in Philosophy (arr cr.)
• PHIL-P 522 Topics in the History of Modern Philosophy (3 cr.) Selected topics from key movements, figures, or controversies in modern (17th/18th century) Western philosophy. May be repeated for credit (twice) when topics vary.
• PHIL-P 515 Medieval Philosophy (3 cr.) Selected study of key medieval philosophers, including Augustine and/or Aqinas.
• PHIL-P 561 Philosophy of Mind (3 cr.) In-depth treatment of central issues, problems, and theories (both classical and contemporary) in philosophy of mind, such as mental causation, the nature of consciousness and dualism.