UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG 2002–2003
 Brigham Young University
Back Philosophy

   

Dennis F. Rasmussen, Chair
3196 JKHB, (801) 422-2721

College of Humanities Advisement Center
3078 JKHB, (801) 422-4789

Admission to Degree Program

All degree programs in the Department of Philosophy are open enrollment.

The Discipline

From its first appearance in ancient Greece down to the present, philosophy has sought to understand the world and the place of human beings within it. As it frames ideas by means of which to clarify and explain experience, philosophy discloses its faith in the ultimate lucidity of things. Philosophy's respect for the authority of intelligence fosters a preference for persuasion that is fundamental to personal growth and democratic society.

Students who study philosophy will find that it not only provides insight into life's fundamental concerns, it also helps them develop their capacity for clear thinking and perceptive judgment. Such competence will serve them well as they pursue further education or begin their careers.

Career Opportunities

Philosophy offers excellent career preparation, but not in the way that, say, accounting does. The value of a major in philosophy resides in the intellectual development it promotes. It lays a foundation on which more specialized study may build. In various standardized tests, philosophy majors tend to do extremely well on the verbal aptitude and on the analytic thinking sections. So philosophy can prepare a student for any type of work that requires highly developed reading and writing skills. Students who elect to major in philosophy should look beyond their bachelor's degree right from the start. For example, philosophy is an excellent background for the study of law or medicine. Those who intend to enter graduate school will need to start early on the foreign-language requirement.

General Information

The Department of Philosophy strongly recommends that StDev 317, a 1-credit-hour course, be taken at the end of the sophomore year or the beginning of the junior year. Because liberal arts degrees provide preparation in a variety of useful fields rather than a single career track, this course is recommended to help liberal arts students focus on specific educational and occupational goals and to identify the career options or educational opportunities available to them. The course will introduce them to the resources needed for accessing information about graduate schools, internships, careers, and career development. Students will learn basic employment strategies, including the steps necessary for obtaining employment related to their own specialty.

Graduation Requirements

To receive a bachelor's degree a student must fill three groups of requirements: (1) general education requirements; (2) university requirements; and (3) major requirements.

General Education Requirements

Students should contact their college advisement center for information about general education courses that will also fill major requirements.

Languages of Learning

Precollege Math (zero to one course)
(or Math ACT score of at least 22)
0–3.0 hours
First-Year Writing (one course) 3.0
Advanced Writing (one course) 3.0
Advanced Languages/Math/Music
(one to four courses)
3–20.0

Liberal Arts Core

Biological Science (one to two courses) 3–6.0
Physical Science (one to two courses) 3–7.0
American Heritage (one to two courses) 3–6.0
Wellness (one to three courses) 1.5–2.0
Civilization (two courses) 6.0

Arts and Sciences Electives

Arts and Letters (one course) 3.0
Natural Sciences (one course) 3–4.0
Social and Behavioral Sciences (one course) 3.0

Note 1: For a complete list of courses that will fill each GE category, see the General Education section of the current class schedule.

Note 2: Additional information about general education requirements can be found in the General Education section of the current class schedule or this catalog.

Minimum University Requirements

Religion 14.0
Residency 30.0
Hours needed to graduate 120.0

Cumulative GPA must be at least 2.0.

Note: See the Graduation section of this catalog for more information.

Major Requirements

Complete the major requirements listed under one of the following undergraduate degree programs.

Undergraduate Programs and Degrees

BA Philosophy
Minors Philosophy
Logic

Students should see their college advisement center for help or information concerning the undergraduate programs.



BA Philosophy (42 hours*)

Major Requirements

  1. No D credit is allowed in major courses.

  2. Complete the following sources and methods courses:
    Phil 201, 202, 205, 305, 311.

  3. Complete two of the following historical periods courses (should not be in the same period):
    Phil 320R, 330R, 340R, 350R.

  4. Complete one of the following values and conduct courses:
    Phil 213, 214, 215, 218, 413, 414, 416.

  5. Complete two of the following knowledge and reality courses:
    Phil 405, 415, 420, 421, 422, 423.

  6. Complete 12 additional hours (excluding 499R). Students must have a total of 27 300-level or above hours (with no more than 3 hours of 449R).

*Hours include courses that may fulfill GE or university requirements.



Minor Philosophy (18 hours*)

Minor Requirements

  1. No D credit is allowed in minor courses.

  2. Complete the following:
    Phil 201, 202, 205.

  3. Complete three other philosophy courses.

*Hours include courses that may fulfill GE or university requirements.



Minor Logic (15 hours*)

Minor Requirements

  1. No D credit is allowed in minor courses.

  2. Complete the following:
    Phil 205, 305, 405.

  3. Complete two other approved courses.

  4. No more than 9 hours may double count for the philosophy major and the logic minor.

*Hours include courses that may fulfill GE or university requirements.



Philosophy (Phil)

Class Schedule Major Academic Plan (MAP)

Undergraduate Courses

105. Reasoning and Writing. (3:3:0) Honors also.

Informal grammar, logic, and rhetoric as tools for reading and writing. Library research. Recommended for philosophy majors and minors. Fulfills GE First-Year Writing requirement. No course challenges accepted.

110. Introduction to Philosophy. (3:3:0) Honors and Independent Study also.

Articulating, assessing, and defending fundamental positions on topics such as reason, knowledge, science, education, ethics, politics, and religion.

201. History of Philosophy 1. (3:3:0) Honors also.

Western civilization from Greek antiquity to Renaissance, primarily from perspective of philosophy; exploring fundamental questions in human experience; examining formative events in history; understanding value of important texts.

202. History of Philosophy 2. (3:3:0) Honors also. Prerequisite: Phil 201.

Western civilization from Renaissance to present, primarily from perspective of philosophy; exploring fundamental questions in human experience; examining formative events in history; understanding value of important texts.

205. Deductive Logic. (3:3:0) F, W, Sp, Su Independent Study also.

History and use of syllogistic and propositional logic; evaluating arguments with Venn diagrams, truth tables, and Copi-style proofs and proof strategies.

210. Science and Civilization 1. (3:3:0) Honors also.

History of Civilization from Greek antiquity to scientific revolution; methods in early science and their philosophical significance; exploring fundamental questions in human experience; examining formative events in history; understanding value of important texts.

211. Science and Civilization 2. (3:3:0) Honors also. Prerequisite: Phil 210.

History of Civilization from scientific revolution to present; concepts and methods in modern science and their philosophical significance; exploring fundamental questions in human experience; examining formative events in history; understanding value of important texts.

213. Introduction to Ethics. (3:3:0)

Nature and justification of moral standards, beliefs, and decisions.

214. Introduction to the Philosophy of Art. (3:3:0)

The experience of beauty in nature, in literature, and in the arts.

215. Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion. (3:3:0)

Existence and nature of God, God's foreknowledge and man's free will, faith, immortality, and religious experience and language.

218. Science and Religion. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: one philosophy course.

Epistemological and metaphysical similarities and differences undergirding historical problems in science and religion. Nature and effects of past reconciliations; possibility and desirability of current reconciliations.

305. Predicate Logic. (3:3:0) W, Su Prerequisite: Phil 205.

History and use of predicate logic; evaluating arguments with counterexamples and proofs; informal mathematical proofs. Fulfills GE Language/Mathematics requirement.

311. Philosophical Writing. (3:3:0) F, W Honors also. Prerequisite: Phil 105 or 205.

Writing philosophical papers about philosophical texts or problems. Research methods in philosophy. Library research paper. Fulfills GE Advanced Writing requirement. No course challenges accepted.

320R. Studies in Ancient Philosophy. (3:3:0 ea.) Prerequisite: Phil 201.

Selected figures or topics.

330R. Studies in Medieval Philosophy. (3:3:0 ea.) Prerequisite: Phil 201.

Selected figures or topics.

340R. Studies in Modern Philosophy. (3:3:0 ea.) Prerequisite: Phil 202.

Selected figures or topics.

350R. Studies in Contemporary Philosophy. (3:3:0 ea.) Prerequisite: one philosophy course.

Selected figures or topics.

405. Metalogic. (3:3:0) Alt. yr. Prerequisite: Phil 305.

Completeness and undecidability of predicate logic; incompleteness of arithmetic and set theory; treatment of related philosophical topics and of nonclassical topics as time permits.

413. Ethics. (3:3:0) Alt. yr. Prerequisite: one philosophy course.

Selected figures or problems.

414. Philosophy of Art. (3:3:0) Alt. yr. Prerequisite: one philosophy course.

Selected figures or problems in aesthetics.

415. Philosophy of Religion. (3:3:0) Alt. yr. Prerequisite: one philosophy course.

Selected figures or problems.

416. Philosophy of Law. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: one philosophy course.

The relation between natural and enacted law; theories of punishment; utilitarian and nonutilitarian theories of law; liberty.

420. Philosophy of Language. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: one philosophy course.

Meaning and reference, synonymy, metaphor, exemplification, translation; linguistic, artistic, and perceptual symbol systems.

421. Metaphysics. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: one philosophy course.

Basic categories of being: appearance and reality, law, causality, space, time, eternity, deity.

422. Epistemology. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: one philosophy course.

Meaning, limits, and justification of knowledge.

423. (Phil 423-Hist 311-Phscs 314) History and Philosophy of Science. (3:3:0) Honors also. Prerequisite: PhyS 100 or instructor's consent.

Scientific explanation, concepts, and models. Philosophical assumptions and criteria for theory selection, as exemplified by historical development of basic ideas in science.

449R. Philosophical Lecture Series. (1:1:0 ea.) F, W

Lectures on philosophical topics by faculty and advanced students.

499R. Honors Thesis. (1–6:Arr.:Arr. ea.) Prerequisite: instructor's consent.

Selected topic or figure in philosophy.



500-Level Graduate Course (available to advanced undergraduates)

501R. Graduate Seminar. (2–5:5:0 ea.) Prerequisite: instructor's consent.

Selected topic, figure, or movement in philosophy, as announced in current class schedule.



Philosophy Faculty

Professors

Carter, K. Codell (1973) BS, MA, U. of Utah, 1963, 1964; PhD, Cornell U., 1968.

Faulconer, James E. (1981) BA, Brigham Young U., 1972; MA, PhD, Pennsylvania State U., 1975, 1977.

Graham, Daniel W. (1986) AB, Davidson Coll., 1970; MA, Brigham Young U., 1975; PhD, U. of Texas, Austin, 1980.

Packard, Dennis Jay (1974) AA, Miracosta Coll., 1966; BA, PhD, Stanford U., 1968, 1974.

Paulsen, David L. (1973) BS, Brigham Young U., 1961; JD, U. of Chicago, 1964; PhD, U. of Michigan, 1975.

Rasmussen, Dennis F. (1970) BS, U. of Utah, 1966; MPhil, PhD, Yale U., 1968, 1970.

Warner, C. Terry (1967) BA, Brigham Young U., 1963; MA, PhD, Yale U., 1965, 1967.

Associate Professors

Anderson, Travis T. (1991) BFA, BA, Brigham Young U., 1985, 1985; MA, PhD, U. of Loyola, Chicago, 1989, 1991.

Grandy, David A. (1999) BS, Brigham Young U., 1973; MA, PhD, Indiana U., 1990, 1994.

Wrathall, Mark A. (1996) BA, Brigham Young U., 1988; MA, Boston Coll., 1991; JD, Harvard U., 1991; PhD, U. of California, Berkeley, 1996.

Assistant Professors

Hedengren, Paul C. (1981) BA, MA, Brown U., 1971, 1973; PhD, U. of Toronto, Canada, 1983.

Siebach, James L. (1994) BA, Brigham Young U., 1982; PhD, U. of Texas, 1994.

Emeriti

Madsen, Truman G. (1957) BS, MS, U. of Utah, 1951, 1952; MA, PhD, Harvard U., 1957, 1960.

Nielsen, Fred Kent (1956) BA, MA, Harvard U., 1954, 1955.

Riddle, Chauncey C. (1952) BS, Brigham Young U., 1947; MA, PhD, Columbia U., 1951, 1958.

Yarn, David H. (1950) BA, Brigham Young U., 1946; MA, EdD, Columbia U., 1949, 1958.






Back
Catalog Homepage
BYU Homepage


Please report any errors to web_ugrad_cat@byu.edu