Graduate Studies

Philosophy
2023-2024

Some academic departments, colleges, and other areas do not provide a major at the graduate level. However, these areas do offer courses for graduate credit. Permission to use these courses in a degree program must be obtained from the appropriate Departmental Graduate Committee.

Office:  Morgan Hall 446
Telephone: (309) 298-2326
Email: mathphil@wiu.edu
Website: wiu.edu/mathphil

Course Descriptions

Philosophy (PHIL)

400G Social and Political Philosophy. (3) An investigation of some of the philosophical problems arising from political society, such as authority and obligation, freedom and rights, justice and equality, coercion and punishment. Prerequisites: One 100- or 200-level Philosophy course or permission of the instructor.

405G (cross-listed with REL 405G) Philosophy of Religion. (3) A critical examination of the philosophical issues arising from religious beliefs, utilizing historical and contemporary writings. Topics may include the existence of God, evil, faith, religious pluralism, and the relation between religious beliefs and ethics. Not open to students with credit in REL 405G. Prerequisites: One 100- or 200-level Philosophy course or permission of the instructor.

415G Philosophy of Science. (3) An examination of philosophical problems arising from the natural sciences such as the nature of scientific explanation and the justification of scientific theories. Prerequisites: One 100- or 200-level Philosophy course or permission of the instructor.

420G Philosophy of Law. (3) An examination of philosophical problems raised by law including the nature and aims of law, the relation of law and morality, the rationale of legal responsibility and punishment, and legal obligation and the rule of law. Prerequisite: One 100- or 200-level Philosophy course or permission of the instructor.

425G Philosophy of Mind. (3) A critical study of selected topics in the philosophy of mind such as consciousness, intentionality, dualism, the varieties of materialism, functionalism, and artificial intelligence. Prerequisite: One 100- or 200-level Philosophy course or permission of the instructor.

440G Legal Reasoning. (3) An investigation into judicial decision making and legal reasoning focusing on case precedent, logical coherence, and the role of interpretation in the reasoning process. Prerequisites: One 100- or 200-level Philosophy course or permission of the instructor.

499G Directed Readings. (1–3) Individual study of particular philosophical texts or problems. May be repeated, provided topics vary. Prerequisites: Two courses in philosophy and permission of the instructor.