Undergraduate
Minors
Minor in Philosophy
Philosophic inquiry aims, ultimately, at a general understanding of the whole of reality. It draws on the insights of the great historical philosophers, on what has been learned in all other major fields of study, and on the rich perspectives embodied within ordinary ways of thinking. Philosophers address a diverse array of deep, challenging, and profoundly important questions. Examples include the nature of the self and of personal identity; the existence or nonexistence of God; the nature of time, mind, language, and science; the sources and limits of human knowledge; the nature of the good life; the foundations of state authority; the requirements of social justice; and the nature of art, beauty, and aesthetic experience. Philosophical questions are addressed not by reference to empirical information alone, but by means of analysis, synthesis, argument, and the construction and evaluation of philosophical theories.
What attracts students to philosophy is the intrinsic interest of its subject matter. But the study of philosophy has practical benefits as well. Students in philosophy are practiced in the close reading of complex texts, in the careful analysis and evaluation of arguments, in original and creative thinking, and in the clear, precise, and persuasive communication of ideas. The skills thus acquired are not only a source of deep personal satisfaction, but a strong asset in any profession.
A minor in Philosophy (PHIL) requires satisfactory completion of the following requirements:
- completion of properly distributed credit hour requirements for the baccalaureate degree in effect when the student was admitted to their home school,
- completion of 15 credit hours, with a minimum grade of C in each course,
- completion of 6 credits from IU Indianapolis,
- to declare the minor, complete the School of Liberal Arts online declaration form here.
Minor Requirements:
One course from each of at least two of these three groups of basic courses (6 credits)
- PHIL-P 110: Introduction to Philosophy OR PHIL-S 110: Introduction to Philosophy – Honors
- PHIL-P 120: Ethics OR PHIL-S 120: Ethics – Honors
- PHIL-P 162: Logic OR PHIL-P 265: Introduction to Symbolic Logic
A minimum of 6 credit hours at the 300-400 level:
- PHIL-P 307: Classical Philosophy
- PHIL-P 385: Metaphysics
- PHIL-P 314: Modern Philosophy
- PHIL-P 393: Biomedical Ethics
- PHIL-S 314: Philosophy and Modern Times- Honors
- PHIL-P 394: Feminist Philosophy
- PHIL-P 316: Twentieth-Century Philosophy (variable title)
- PHIL-P 414: Philosophy and Culture
- PHIL-P 317: Nineteenth-Century Philosophy
- PHIL-P 418: Seminar in the History of Philosophy (variable title)
- PHIL-P 322: Philosophy of Human Nature
- PHIL-P 433: Social Origins of Philosophy
- PHIL-P 323: Society and State in the Modern World
- PHIL-P 448: Seminar in American Philosophy
- PHIL-P 325: Social Philosophy (variable title)
- PHIL-P 458: American Philosophy
- PHIL-P 326: Ethical Theory
- PHIL-P 468: Seminar in the Philosophy of Mind
- PHIL-P 328: Philosophies of India
- PHIL-P 488: Research in Philosophy I
- PHIL-P 330: Marxist Philosophy
- PHIL-P 489: Research in Philosophy II
- PHIL-P 331: Philosophy of Science
- PHIL-P 334: Buddhist Philosophy
Additional Electives to reach the minimum 15 credits for the minor:
- PHIL-P 262: Practical Logic
- PHIL-P 335: Phenomenology and Existentialism
- PHIL-P 348: Philosophy and Literature
- PHIL-P 349: Philosophies of China
- PHIL-P 208: Causality and Evidence
- PHIL-P 355: Philosophy of Film
- PHIL-P 237: Environmental Ethics
- PHIL-P 356: American Indian Philosophies
- PHIL-P 280: Philosophical Problems (topics vary)
- PHIL-P 360: Philosophy of Mind
- PHIL-P 365: Intermediate Symbolic Logic
- PHIL-P 367: Philosophy of Art
- PHIL-P 368: Philosophy of Language
- PHIL-P 369: Epistemology
- PHIL-P 371: Philosophy of Religion
- PHIL-P 374: Early Chinese Philosophy
- PHIL-P 375: Philosophy of Law
- PHIL-P 381: Religion and Human Experience
- PHIL-P 382: Philosophy of History
- PHIL-P 383: Topics in Philosophy (topics vary)
All courses are three credits unless otherwise noted.
