BA in Philosophy

Philosophy begins in wonder. To study philosophy is to plumb the depths of the mysteries in the worlds around us and within us. It is to think about what is real, what is good, what is beautiful, and how we can know.

The LCU philosophy program leads students to think critically and creatively about the classic problems of Western philosophy within the context of a Christian worldview. Such a setting allows you to explore the relationship between philosophy and theology from “both sides.”

Many of the courses in LCU’s philosophy major are taught in a tutorial format that combines seminar-type discussion, independent reading and reflection, one-on- one consultation, and oral examinations. In this intensive format, you will learn not only about Plato and Nietzsche, but you will learn how to learn—how to read and to teach yourself new things.

In Romans, Paul urges his audience “to be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” The LCU philosophy program takes his charge seriously. Our goal is to provide students with the knowledge and critical skills, coupled with appropriate compassion, to excel in developing a Christian mind and to do so for God. A philosophy degree will help you prepare deeply and richly for a life that is successful, meaningful, and faithful.

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Course List

PH 201

Introduction to Logic

An introduction to the critical reasoning and the nature of informal and formal logic. Attention is given to argument analysis, inductive and deductive fallacies, translation into formal logic, categorical syllogisms, propositional logic, the use of logic diagrams and truth-tables, and a general orientation to predicate logic. Examples will incorporate material from Christian theology and Biblical hermeneutics.

PH 303

Ancient Philosophy

A tutorial-style course in which the student will read and come to understand the primary texts and the central questions in the ancient western (largely Greek) philosophical tradition. Readings will include (but are not limited to) selected works of Plato and Aristotle.

PH 304

Medieval Philosophy

A tutorial-style course in which the student will read and come to understand the primary texts and the central questions in the medieval western (largely Christian) philosophical tradition. Readings will include (but are not limited to) selected works of Augustine and Thomas Aquinas. Prerequisite: LA 111.

PH 305

Modern Philosophy

A tutorial-style course in which the student will read and come to understand the primary texts and the central questions in the modern philosophical tradition. Readings range may include (but are not limited to) the works of Descartes, Spinoza, Locke, Hume, Kant, Hegel, and Nietzsche.

PH 306

Contemporary Philosophy

A tutorial-style course in which the student will read and come to understand the primary texts and the central questions in philosophy in the 20th century. Readings range may include (but are not limited to) works by Peirce, Husserl, Heidegger, Sartre, Wittgenstein, Searle, Levinas, Derrida and Deleuze. Prerequisite: LA 111.

PH 314

Metaphysics and Epistemology

This course examines the basic issues and major positions in the fields of metaphysics (which asks about the nature of reality, of being, of the world) and epistemology (which asks how we come to know what is real, what is true).

PH 482

Ethics

A survey and critical examination of various philosophical and theological approaches to ethics. Attention is typically given to Relativism, Egoism, Behaviorism, Utilitarianism, Situation Ethics, Natural Law Ethics, Virtue Ethics, Kantian Ethics, Divine Command Ethics, and different versions of theological absolutism (e.g. Unqualified, Qualified, and Graded Absolutism). Application is also given to representative contemporary moral issues. Prerequisite: LA 111.

PH 487

Philosophy of Religion

An examination of some classic problems in the philosophy of religion (e.g. the relationship between faith and reason and between science and religion, God’s existence, the problem of evil, miracles). Consideration is also given to the claims and criticisms of Christianity on the nature of God, the identity of Christ, the nature of revelation, and the reliability of scripture.

Philosophy Electives (choose 2 from the following)

ID 318

Kierkegaard

This course examines the life, thought, and writings of the 19th century Danish philosopher/theologian/author Søren Kierkegaard and his work within the philosophical, theological, social, and literary contexts of 19th century Europe and Golden Age Denmark. This course also looks at the relevance of Kierkegaard’s thought and writings in the present postmodern (philosophical, theological, social, and literary) context(s). We will look at topics in Kierkegaard’s thought, such as: the nature of human existence, the nature of communication, the nature of a person’s relation to God, the relation between faith and reason, the relation between ethics and religion, Christology, and what it means to be a Christian.

ID 320

Theology and Postmodernity

This course examines some of the possible relationships that Christian theology can have with postmodern thought. While looking at some of the basics of postmodern thought and some basic interdisciplinary streams of postmodernity (such as literary and social theory), we will focus primarily on various attempts by contemporary theologians/philosophers to appropriate and interact with this kind of postmodern thought. This class is a more in-depth examination of the question of if (and if so what kind of) postmodern thought can be responsibly appropriated for use in Christian theology. As such, it contributes toward addressing the perennial issue of the proper relation between secular thought, or philosophy (Athens or Paris), and Christian theology (Jerusalem or Grand Rapids).

PH 316

Christianity and Science

This course examines the interactions of science, theology, and philosophy in the context of modern history. Deliberation is given to the relationship between science and religion, the relevance of philosophy of science, prominent historical and legal conflicts, key considerations in cosmology (e.g. chemical and biological evolution), different paradigms of Biblical interpretation, and controversies over creationism, evolutionism, and Intelligent Design.

PH 499

Readings in Philosophy

Faculty-guided individual study of primary and secondary texts in a given period in the history of philosophy or on a specific thinker or topic.

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