Academic Catalog

Philosophy (PHIL)

PHIL 1  •  CRITICAL THINKING & WRITING

PHIL 1 Details
Units: 5
Hours: 5 lecture per week (60 total per quarter)
Prerequisite: One of the following: ENGL 1A or ENGL 1AH or ESLL 26.
Degree and Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Area V: Communication & Analytical Thinking
Transferable: CSU/UC
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Develops understanding of informal logic and practical reasoning skills necessary for academic success, including tools needed to analyze information from a variety of sources such as academic essays, philosophic literature, news media and advertising. Focus on skills of argumentation including, but not limited to, elements of an argument, deductive and inductive forms of argumentation, the evaluation of arguments and the recognition of a variety of fallacies. Skills developed through a series of written assignments of increasing scope and difficulty culminating in a sophisticated argumentative essay.

PHIL 2  •  INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL & POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY

PHIL 2 Details
Units: 4
Hours: 4 lecture per week (48 total per quarter)
Degree and Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Area I: Humanities
Transferable: CSU/UC
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Social and political philosophies of classical, modern and contemporary thinkers. Issues of concern to include the justification and structure of the political state, constitution of government, individual rights and distribution of wealth.

PHIL 4  •  INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY

PHIL 4 Details
Units: 4
Hours: 4 lecture per week (48 total per quarter)
Degree and Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Area I: Humanities
Transferable: CSU/UC
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Introductory survey of writings, principles, and concerns of philosophy. Primarily examines major topics in the study of metaphysics and epistemology through reading and critical examination of the writings of major figures in the history of philosophy. Related topics of concern to include ethics, theology, and political philosophy.

PHIL 7  •  INTRODUCTION TO SYMBOLIC LOGIC

PHIL 7 Details
Units: 5
Hours: 5 lecture per week (60 total per quarter)
Degree and Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Area V: Communication & Analytical Thinking
Transferable: CSU/UC
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

The use of logic as a tool for constructing, analyzing and evaluating arguments. Topics to be covered will be the basic construction of premises and conclusion to form arguments, common formal and informal fallacies, categorical propositions and syllogisms, propositional logic, natural deduction and predicate logic.

PHIL 8  •  ETHICS

PHIL 8 Details
Units: 5
Hours: 5 lecture per week (60 total per quarter)
Degree and Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU/UC
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Analysis and application of competing conceptions of the good. Course focuses on ethical theory (utilitarianism, duty-oriented ethics, virtue ethics, egoism, relativism, etc.) and various topics in applied ethics.

PHIL 11  •  INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF ART & AESTHETICS

PHIL 11 Details
Units: 4
Hours: 4 lecture per week (48 total per quarter)
Degree and Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Area I: Humanities
Transferable: CSU/UC
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Analysis of the nature of art and aesthetics as an aspect of philosophic discourse. Engagement with historical and contemporary philosophic literature regarding central topics of aesthetic concern. Topics include the possibility of defining and delineating art from other related fields of endeavor (craft, mass entertainment, video games, etc.); examination of the reasons and qualities that make some sensory experiences specifically artistic; the possibility, or otherwise, for defining objective standards of beauty and taste; the potential for deriving meaning, value and knowledge regarding the human condition from artistic endeavor. Topics illustrated through examples from classical through contemporary visual art, architecture, music, and film.

PHIL 20A  •  HISTORY OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY FROM SOCRATES THROUGH ST. THOMAS

PHIL 20A Details
Units: 4
Hours: 4 lecture per week (48 total per quarter)
Degree and Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Area I: Humanities
Transferable: CSU/UC
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Examination of Western philosophy with an emphasis on Greek philosophy from Thales through Aristotle and selected medieval philosophers from Augustine to St. Thomas Aquinas.

PHIL 20B  •  HISTORY OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY FROM THE RENAISSANCE THROUGH KANT

PHIL 20B Details
Units: 4
Hours: 4 lecture per week (48 total per quarter)
Degree and Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Area I: Humanities
Transferable: CSU/UC
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Examination of the major European philosophers and philosophic movements of the 17th and 18th centuries. Particular attention to paid to the transition out of the medieval period into the Age of Enlightenment.

PHIL 24  •  COMPARATIVE WORLD RELIGIONS: EAST

PHIL 24 Details
Units: 4
Hours: 4 lecture per week (48 total per quarter)
Advisory: Demonstrated proficiency in English by placement via multiple measures OR through an equivalent placement process OR completion of ESLL 125 & ESLL 249.
Degree and Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Area I: Humanities
Transferable: CSU/UC
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Origin, history and significant ideas of the world's major Eastern religions. Particular focus on practice and concepts in Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Zen.

PHIL 25  •  COMPARATIVE WORLD RELIGIONS: WEST

PHIL 25 Details
Units: 4
Hours: 4 lecture per week (48 total per quarter)
Degree and Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Area I: Humanities
Transferable: CSU/UC
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Explores the origin, history and significant ideas of the world's Western religions. Compares the fundamental insights, ideals and contributions toward the human moral heritage and wisdom of the early religions, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Islam.

PHIL 70R  •  INDEPENDENT STUDY IN PHILOSOPHY

PHIL 70R Details
Units: 1
Hours: 3 laboratory per week (36 total per quarter)
Degree and Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Provides an opportunity for the student to expand their studies in Philosophy beyond the classroom by completing a project or an assignment arranged by agreement between the student and instructor. The student is required to contract with the instructor to determine the scope of assignment and the unit value assigned for successful completion. Students may take a maximum of 6 units of Independent Study per department.

PHIL 71R  •  INDEPENDENT STUDY IN PHILOSOPHY

PHIL 71R Details
Units: 2
Hours: 6 laboratory per week (72 total per quarter)
Degree and Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Provides an opportunity for the student to expand their studies in Philosophy beyond the classroom by completing a project or an assignment arranged by agreement between the student and instructor. The student is required to contract with the instructor to determine the scope of assignment and the unit value assigned for successful completion. Students may take a maximum of 6 units of Independent Study per department.

PHIL 72R  •  INDEPENDENT STUDY IN PHILOSOPHY

PHIL 72R Details
Units: 3
Hours: 9 laboratory per week (108 total per quarter)
Degree and Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Provides an opportunity for the student to expand their studies in Philosophy beyond the classroom by completing a project or an assignment arranged by agreement between the student and instructor. The student is required to contract with the instructor to determine the scope of assignment and the unit value assigned for successful completion. Students may take a maximum of 6 units of Independent Study per department.

PHIL 73R  •  INDEPENDENT STUDY IN PHILOSOPHY

PHIL 73R Details
Units: 4
Hours: 12 laboratory per week (144 total per quarter)
Degree and Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Provides an opportunity for the student to expand their studies in Philosophy beyond the classroom by completing a project or an assignment arranged by agreement between the student and instructor. The student is required to contract with the instructor to determine the scope of assignment and the unit value assigned for successful completion. Students may take a maximum of 6 units of Independent Study per department.