Philosophy
Overview
Philosophy is the logical examination of fundamental issues regarding the nature and limits of human knowledge, ultimate reality, moral value and obligation, correct reasoning, beauty, and art. Students of philosophy learn to generate, understand, and evaluate arguments, express themselves clearly and carefully, and see things from multiple points of view.
- Dean Emilie Mitchell
- Department Chair Richard Schubert
- Career and Academic Community Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Phone (916) 691-7142
- Email mitchee@crc.losrios.edu
Philosophy (PHIL) Courses
PHIL 300 Introduction to Philosophy
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area II(b); CSU Area A3; CSU Area C2; IGETC Area 3B
- C-ID:C-ID PHIL 100
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
In this course, students will apply the critical thinking techniques of analysis, evaluation, and synthesis to areas of philosophical inquiry including meta-philosophy, epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, political philosophy, philosophy of religion, history of philosophy, and existentialism. Students will practice distinguishing fact from opinion, employing inductive and deductive reasoning, identifying logical errors and fallacies, and developing oral and written arguments to support their own philosophical perspectives or challenge the perspectives of others. The quality and quantity of the course's required writing will reflect the standards of a second semester composition course.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- SLO #1: Identify important questions and conceptions within a range of traditional subfields of Philosophy (Epistemology, Metaphysics, Logic, Ethics, and Aesthetics), distinguish from among divergent interpretations those that are better supported and those that are less well supported, construct well supported interpretations of diverse viewpoints and reason well about written and oral discourse.
- Objective 1a: Evaluate information concerning central issues within a range of traditional subfields of Philosophy for quality, validity and bias to determine if it is objective and reliable.
- Objective 1B: Evaluate the relationship of language to logic and analyze, criticize and rationally justify points of view concerning central issues within a range of traditional subfields of Philosophy.
- SLO #2: Reason inductively and deductively, reach conclusions concerning central issues within a range of traditional subfields of Philosophy based on sound or cogent inferences drawn from unambiguous statements of knowledge or belief.
- Objective 2a: Distinguish fact from non-factual judgment, belief from knowledge and fallacious reasoning from correct (invalid or weak) reasoning in respect to central issues within a range of traditional subfields of Philosophy.
PHIL 304 Introduction to Asian Philosophy
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area I; AA/AS Area VI; CSU Area A3; CSU Area C2; IGETC Area 3B
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course provides an introduction to the philosophical traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism focusing on metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- SLO #1: Identify important questions and conceptions within a range of traditional subfields of Philosophy (Epistemology, Metaphysics, Logic, Ethics, and Aesthetics) as they are addressed within a range of classical Asian philosophical traditions (Hindu, Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist), distinguish from among divergent interpretations those that are better supported and those that are less well supported, construct well supported interpretations of diverse viewpoints and reason well about written and oral discourse.
- Objective 1a: Evaluate information concerning central issues within a range of traditional subfields of Philosophy as they are addressed within a range of classical Asian philosophical traditions for quality, validity and bias to determine if it is objective and reliable.
- Objective 1b: Evaluate the relationship of language to logic and analyze, criticize and rationally justify points of view concerning central issues within a range of traditional subfields of Philosophy as they are addressed within a range of classical Asian philosophical traditions.
- SLO #2: Reason inductively and deductively, reach conclusions concerning central issues within a range of traditional subfields of Philosophy as they are addressed within a range of classical Asian philosophical traditions based on sound or cogent inferences drawn from unambiguous statements of knowledge or belief.
- Objective 2a: Distinguish fact from non‐factual judgment, belief from knowledge and fallacious reasoning from correct (invalid or weak) reasoning in respect to central issues within a range of traditional subfields of Philosophy as they are addressed within a range of classical Asian philosophical traditions.
- Objective 2b: Distinguish between philosophy and religion, philosophical views and religious views.
- SLO #3: Demonstrate the ability to engage in ethical reasoning necessary to exercise responsibility as an ethical individual, professional, local, and global citizen.
- Objective 3a: Apply ethical reasoning skills to ethical issues addressed within a range of classical Asian philosophical traditions and work toward a personal resolution of ethical issues.
- Objective 3b: Express an appreciation of ethical principles addressed within a range of classical Asian philosophical traditions as applied to personal and civic choices.
- Objective 3c: Realize and apply the responsibility to use knowledge wisely.
PHIL 310 Introduction to Ethics
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area I; CSU Area C2; IGETC Area 3B
- C-ID:C-ID PHIL 120
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
The application of theories developed by traditional and contemporary moral philosophy to the ethical problems, dilemmas, and issues of today.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- SLO #1: identify important questions and conceptions within Ethics, distinguish from among divergent interpretations those that are better supported and those that are less well supported, construct well supported interpretations of diverse viewpoints and reason well about written and oral discourse.
- Objective 1a: evaluate information concerning central issues within Ethics for quality, validity and bias to determine if it is objective and reliable.
- Objective 1b: evaluate the relationship of language to logic and analyze, criticize and rationally justify points of view concerning ethical issues.
- SLO #2: reason inductively and deductively concerning ethical issues, reach conclusions about ethical issues based on sound or cogent inferences drawn from unambiguous statements of knowledge of belief.
- Objective 2a: distinguish fact from non-factual judgment concerning ethical issues, belief from knowledge and fallacious reasoning from correct (invalid or weak) reasoning concerning ethical issues.
- Objective 2b: apply ethical reasoning skills to ethical issues and work toward a personal resolution of ethical issues.
- SLO #3 (PSLO #3): demonstrate the ability to engage unethical reasoning necessary to exercise responsibility as an ethical individual, professional, local, and global citizen.
- Objective 3a: show an appreciation of ethical principles as applied to personal and civic choices.
PHIL 315 Contemporary Moral Issues
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:Eligibility for ENGWR 300.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area II(b); AA/AS Area I; CSU Area C2; IGETC Area 3B
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course investigates some of the moral issues our society presently faces. These issues may include abortion, euthanasia, genetic engineering, individual liberty and the collective good, sexuality/gender and society, war and terrorism, capital punishment, hunger/poverty and moral obligation, discrimination, and affirmative action.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- SLO #1: Critically evaluate views concerning abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, or other topics addressed in the course.
- SLO #2: Compare and contrast differing theories concerning abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, or other topics addressed in the course.
- SLO #3: Analyze and evaluate arguments from primary sources concerning abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, or other topics addressed in the course.
- Assess presuppositions underlying various views concerning abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, or other topics addressed in the course.
- SLO #4: Formulate reasons to justify one’s beliefs concerning abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, or other topics addressed in the course.
PHIL 320 Logic and Critical Reasoning
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area II(b); CSU Area A3
- C-ID:C-ID PHIL 110
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course provides an introduction to basic principles of good reasoning with an emphasis on deductive logic. It examines the functions of language, the nature of arguments, common fallacies committed in communication, definitions, the logic of categorical statements, sentential logic, and types of inductive reasoning. Emphasis is placed on developing analytical skills and applying principles of valid reasoning to the arguments encountered in everyday life.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- SLO #1: Identify, distinguish, and evaluate deductive and inductive patterns of reasoning.
- Analyze text to find inferences and to determine whether they are invalid or unsound.
- SLO #2: Explain and apply the basic evaluative concepts of logic, including validity, strength, soundness, and cogency.
- Construct arguments with various properties, such being valid but unsound.
- SLO #3: Identify various formal and informal fallacies of reasoning in multiple contexts.
- Evaluate information in speeches, newspapers, books, and scholarly journals to find examples of reasoning that include affirming the consequent, denying the antecedent, false dilemmas, equivocation, and ambiguity.
- SLO #4: Analyze patterns of sentential logic using formal techniques such as truth tables and natural deduction.
- Determine whether a conclusion is a logical consequence of a set of premises, by using the truth conditions for negations, disjunctions, conjunctions, and conditionals.
PHIL 325 Symbolic Logic
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area II(b); CSU Area A3
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course introduces sentential and predicate logic by introducing logical symbolism, truth tables, methods of formal analysis and methods of formal proof including natural deduction. It is recommended for students in the sciences, computer programming, mathematics, linguistics, law, and philosophy.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- distinguish an argument from a description, explanation, or report.
- distinguish deductive from inductive arguments.
- recognize the logical form of an argument or argument type.
- symbolize arguments in the languages of propositional and predicate logic.
- evaluate the validity of arguments using truth tables.
- evaluate the consistency and equivalence of sets of sentences using truth tables.
- evaluate the validity of arguments using natural deduction.
- comprehend the distinction between semantic and syntactical methods of argument evaluation.
PHIL 330 History of Classical Philosophy
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area I; CSU Area C2; IGETC Area 3B
- C-ID:C-ID PHIL 130
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course is a survey of the origin and development of Western (Anglo-European) Philosophy during the period of ancient Greece and Rome. This course may be required for the completion of a degree in philosophy and is especially recommended for all philosophy, history and humanities majors.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- SLO #1: Identify important questions and conceptions within the history of classical (or ancient) philosophy, distinguish from among divergent interpretations those that are better supported and those that are less well supported, construct well supported interpretations of diverse viewpoints and reason well about written and oral discourse.
- Objective 1a: Evaluate information concerning central issues within the history of classical philosophy for quality, validity and bias to determine if it is objective and reliable.
- Objective 1b: Evaluate the relationship of language to logic and analyze, criticize and rationally justify points of view concerning central issues within the history of classical philosophy in the context of reading ancient primary texts critically
- SLO #2: Reason inductively and deductively, reach conclusions concerning central issues within the history of classical philosophy based on sound or cogent inferences drawn from unambiguous statements of knowledge or belief.
- Objective 2a: Distinguish fact from non-factual judgment, belief from knowledge and fallacious reasoning (invalid or weak) from correct reasoning in respect to central issues within the history of classical philosophy.
PHIL 331 History of Modern Philosophy
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area I; CSU Area C2; IGETC Area 3B
- C-ID:C-ID PHIL 140
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course is a survey of the development of Western (Anglo-European) Philosophy from the period of the Renaissance through the period of modern Europe and America. This course is especially recommended for all Philosophy, History and Humanities majors.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- SLO #1: identify important questions and conceptions within the history of modern philosophy, distinguish from among divergent interpretations those that are better supported and those that are less well supported, construct well supported interpretations of diverse viewpoints and reason well about written and oral discourse.
- Objective 1a: evaluate information concerning central issues within the history of modern philosophy for quality, validity and bias to determine if it is objective and reliable.
- Objective 1b: evaluate the relationship of language to logic and analyze, criticize and rationally justify points of view concerning central issues within the history of modern philosophy in the context of reading primary texts critically
- SLO #2: reason inductively and deductively, reach conclusions concerning central issues within the history of modern philosophy based on sound or cogent inferences drawn from unambiguous statements of knowledge or belief.
- Objective 2a: distinguish fact from non-factual judgment, belief from knowledge and fallacious reasoning (invalid or weak) from correct reasoning in respect to central issues within the history of modern philosophy.
PHIL 338 Contemporary Philosophy
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area I; CSU Area C2; IGETC Area 3B
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
A comprehensive study of the basic ideas of pragmatists, twentieth century metaphysicians, philosophy of language, and existentialists. Special attention will be given to relevance of their ideas to modern life
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- SLO #1: identify important questions and conceptions within contemporary philosophy, distinguish from among divergent interpretations those that are better supported and those that are less well supported, construct well supported interpretations of diverse viewpoints and reason well about written and oral discourse.
- Objective 1a: evaluate information concerning central issues within contemporary philosophy for quality, validity and bias to determine if it is objective and reliable.
- Objective 1b: evaluate the relationship of language to logic and analyze, criticize and rationally justify points of view concerning central issues within contemporary philosophy.
- SLO #2: reason inductively and deductively, reach conclusions concerning central issues within contemporary philosophy based on sound or cogent inferences drawn from unambiguous statements of knowledge or belief.
- Objective 2a: distinguish fact from non-factual judgment, belief from knowledge and fallacious reasoning (invalid or weak) from correct reasoning in respect to central issues within contemporary.
PHIL 350 Philosophy of Religion
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area I; CSU Area C2; IGETC Area 3B
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course is a historical and topical survey of the questions, problems, and theories philosophers have developed in attempts to understand religion as a fundamental impulse within human experience and as a major cultural force. Rather than survey the different religions, this course considers the basic philosophical beliefs and concepts that seem auxiliary to religion. Topics include the possibility of religious knowledge, faith versus reason, theistic arguments, conceptions of God, religious language, atheism, agnosticism, mysticism, the problem of evil, immortality, the challenge of science, and religion's influence on ethics and politics.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- SLO #1: identify important questions and conceptions within Philosophy of Religion, distinguish from among divergent interpretations those that are better supported and those that are less well supported, construct well supported interpretations of diverse viewpoints and reason well about written and oral discourse.
- Objective 1a: evaluate information concerning central issues within Philosophy of Religion for quality and bias to determine if it is objective and reliable.
- Objective 1b: evaluate the relationship of language to logic and analyze, criticize and rationally justify points of view concerning central issues within Philosophy of Religion.
- SLO #2: reason inductively and deductively, reach conclusions concerning central issues within Philosophy of Religion based on sound or cogent inferences drawn from unambiguous statements of knowledge or belief.
- Objective 2a: distinguish fact from non-factual judgment, belief from knowledge and fallacious reasoning (invalid or weak) from correct reasoning in respect to central issues within Philosophy of Religion.
- Objective 2b: distinguish between philosophy and religion, philosophical views and religious views.
PHIL 352 Introduction to World Religions
- Same As:RLST 301
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area I; AA/AS Area VI; CSU Area C2; IGETC Area 3B
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course will introduce students to the major world religious traditions, including indigenous sacred ways, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Students will study the practices and beliefs of each tradition and will read selected material from the sacred writings of each tradition. Also, the influence of these religions on contemporary issues in the United States including ethnicity, ethnocentrism, racism, ageism, class differences, and sexual orientation is considered. This course fulfills Cosumnes River College's Ethnic/Multicultural requirement for the Associates Degree. This course is the same as RLST 301. This course, under either name, may be taken only one time for credit.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- SLO #1: identify important questions and conceptions concerning world religions, distinguish from among divergent interpretations those that are better supported and those that are less well supported, construct well supported interpretations of diverse viewpoints and reason well about written and oral discourse.
- Objective 1a: evaluate information concerning central issues within world religions for quality and bias to determine it if is objective and reliable.
- Objective 1b: criticize and rationally justify points of view concerning central issues within world religions.
- Objective 1c: reach conclusions about central issues concerning world religions based on accurate interpretations of religious doctrines.
- Objective 1d: distinguish amongst philosophy, religious studies, and religion.
- SLO #2 (PSLO #3): demonstrate the ability to engage in ethical reasoning necessary to exercise responsibility as an ethical individual, professional, local, and global citizen.
- Objective 2a: demonstrate the ability to engage in rational discourse regarding issues in world religion in an ethically responsible manner.
- Objective 2b: demonstrate a critical appreciation of the role world religion has played in human spirituality and morality.
PHIL 356 Introduction to the Bible
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area I; CSU Area C2; IGETC Area 3B
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
In this course, students survey the literary, historical, ethical, theological and philosophical themes of the Bible. Students will read extensive passages from the Hebrew and Christian scriptures with special focus on textual exegesis and analysis. Topics from the Hebrew scriptures include the Law, the development of monotheism, the social justice tradition of the Prophets, and the Writings. Topics from the New Testament scriptures include the investigation of the Gospels and the "Jesus Problem" and the examination of the early development of the Christian Church.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- SLO #1: identify important questions and conceptions concerning Biblical Studies, distinguish from among divergent interpretations those that are better supported and those that are less well supported, construct well supported interpretations and reason well about written and oral discourse.
- Objective 1a: demonstrate skills in text criticism, exegesis, and hermeneutics.
- Objective 1b: evaluate interpretations within Biblical Studies for quality and bias to determine if it is objective as opposed to faith-based.
- Objective 1c: criticize and rationally justify interpretations within Biblical Studies.
- SLO #2: reach conclusions concerning interpretations within Biblical Studies based on accurate methods of text criticism, exegesis, and hermeneutics.
- Objective 2a: distinguish amongst philosophy, biblical studies, and religion.
- SLO #3 (PSLO #3): demonstrate the ability to engage in ethical reasoning necessary to exercise responsibility as an ethical individual, professional, local, and global citizen.
- Objective 3a: demonstrate the ability to engage in rational discourse regarding Biblical Studies in an ethically responsible manner.
- Objective 3b: demonstrate appreciation of the influence of the bible on humanity's literary, moral, and philosophical traditions.
PHIL 360 Social/Political Philosophy
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area V(b); CSU Area D7; IGETC Area 3B
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
A historical, methodological, and topical survey of significant themes of social and political philosophy from Plato to our present times: authority, freedom, government, justice, law, rights, society and the state.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- understand and appreciate the nature and methods of social science.
- grasp certain important content of the history and topical areas of social and political philosophy.
- develop general and transferable critical thinking abilities that accompany rigorous study of philosophy.
- analyze methodologically the presuppositions and criteria used in solutions.
- cultivate a critical habit of mind enabling one to recognize, reflect, analyze, and then appropriately accept or reject one's institutional systems and alternatives.
PHIL 485 Honors Seminar: Philosophy of the Martial Arts
- Same As:HONOR 364
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Enrollment Limitation:Enrollment is limited to Honors Program students. Details about the Honors Program can be found in the Cosumnes River College Catalog and on the CRC website.
- Transferable:CSU; UC (Reaffirmed 08/01/2023)
- General Education:AA/AS Area II(b); AA/AS Area I; CSU Area C2; IGETC Area 3B
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course provides an introduction to the philosophical views that have traditionally been associated with the practice of martial arts and explores the interplay between those views and that practice. It also provides an introduction to those contemporary philosophical issues that arise in the context of present day analytic philosophical reflection on the nature and practice of martial arts. The course thus provides both the opportunity to appreciate the eastern philosophical underpinnings of an activity that has become part of mainstream American Culture and the opportunity to experience the rigorous application of contemporary analytic academic philosophical methodology. As an honors course, this is a full hands-on course with advanced teaching methods focusing on extensive research of selected philosophical theory and its analytic application to the nature and practice of martial arts. This is a seminar course requiring students to create sophisticated academic products, complete major writing, reading, and research assignments, make presentations, and engage in extensive group discussions. Distinguishing features include: deep focus on research, analysis, application, strong communication and complex critical thinking. Enrollment is limited to Honors Program students. Details about the Honors Program can be found in the front of the Catalog and on the CRC website. This course is the same as HONOR 364 and only one may be taken for credit.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Employ the general and transferable critical thinking and communication abilities developed by the rigorous study of academic philosophy (SLO 1).
- Demonstrate the ability to engage in upper-division work in the discipline of Philosophy.
- Apply the basic methodology of contemporary analytic philosophy (e.g. assess, critique, deduce, evaluate, research, support, justify, analyze, debate, defend, detect, distinguish, examine, etc.) to understand traditional Asian, as well as contemporary American, martial arts.
- Recognize and explain the fundamental ethical, metaphysical, and epistemological tenets of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism (SLO 2).
- Describe and explain the influence of the fundamental ethical, metaphysical, and epistemological tenets of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism on the traditional study of (Asian) martial arts.
- Demonstrate the ability to navigate a seminar environment (SLO 3).
PHIL 486 Honors Seminar in Critical Thinking and Composition: Philosophy of Happiness
- Same As:HONOR 363
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:ENGWR 300 (College Composition), ENGWR 480 (Honors College Composition), or HONOR 375 (Honors College Composition) with a grade of "C" or better, or the equivalent
- Enrollment Limitation:Enrollment is limited to Honors Program students. Details about the Honors Program can be found in the CRC Catalog and on the CRC website. This course is the same as PHIL 486, and only one may be taken for credit.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area II(b); CSU Area A3; CSU Area C2; IGETC Area 1B; IGETC Area 3B
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This seminar-style course provides instruction in critical thinking and advanced composition while addressing philosophical issues concerning the existence, nature, and attainment of happiness from a diversity of cultural perspectives. This course is designed for students who have successfully completed ENGWR 300 (or its equivalent) and provides further instruction in the techniques of effective critical thinking as expressed in written argument and in the major principles of advanced composition. A sequence of essays totaling a minimum of 8,000 words is required. These essays shall be evaluated for their quality in both critical thinking and composition. This honors course offers rigorous preparation in analytic reading and writing skills for students intending to transfer to a four-year college or university. It provides opportunity to engage philosophical issues about the existence, nature, and attainment of happiness through a structured sequence of papers requiring higher-level thinking tasks and collaborative projects. As an honors course, this is a full hands-on course with advanced teaching methods focusing on extensive research of selected philosophical theory and its analytic application. This is a seminar course requiring students to create sophisticated academic products, complete major writing, reading, and research assignments, make presentations, and engage in extensive group discussions. Distinguishing features include: deep focus on research, analysis, application, strong communication and complex critical thinking. Enrollment is limited to Honors Program students. Details about the Honors Program can be found in the CRC Catalog and on the CRC website. This course is the same as HONOR 363, and only one may be taken for credit.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- SLO 1: Demonstrate understanding of philosophical issues concerning the existence, nature, and attainment of happiness from a diversity of cultural perspectives.
- SLO 2: Compose argumentative essays concerning the philosophy of happiness, which demonstrate an understanding of the relationship of language to logic; to analyze, criticize, and advocate ideas, to reason inductively and deductively, and to identify the assumptions upon which particular conclusions depend.
- Distinguish fact from judgment, knowledge from belief, truth from falsehood.
- Use elementary inductive and deductive processes.
- Recognize common logical errors or fallacies of language and thought.
- SLO 3: Write effective abstracts and responses, stance/position papers, proposals, evaluations and analyses of cause concerning the philosophy of happiness in which they demonstrate an understanding of the diction and structural differences between the Upper, Middle and Lower styles in English, and demonstrate an ability to determine which of these styles is appropriate to the tone, purpose and audience of their essay.
- Demonstrate an ability to use the advanced principles of clarity (agent-action-goal) and coherence (concatenation, focus maintenance, clear orientation and subject control), concision and emphasis to develop more sophisticated writing skills appropriate to upper-division college essays.
- Demonstrate a highly-developed ability to use the thoughts, facts, and experiences of other to support their own assertions effectively and to cite those thoughts, facts and experiences when appropriate to the Upper Middle Style.
- Demonstrate the ability to limit the topic appropriately to a scope that can be developed appropriately in the length of the composition • demonstrate an ability to select examples, details, data and other evidence to support a thesis.
- Demonstrate (in taking stances or criticizing the arguments of others) an ability to rephrase written argument accurately, producing a faithful distillation of the central meaning of the text or the writer’s ostensible intention.
- Demonstrate a clear awareness of the specific audience of the essay and of any special limitations or opportunities imposed or provided by the rhetorical situation, and demonstrate an ability to respond to those limitations and opportunities appropriately by adjusting the arguments and the language of the essay appropriately.
- SLO 4: Read analytically and evaluate ideas concerning the philosophy of happiness in focused class discussion and in written techniques, read competing points of view of concerning the philosophy of happiness and determine their own stance on the subject and be able to express that stance logically and effectively, demonstrating an ability to identify and state the main idea, thesis or unifying theme in expository or argumentative discourse; to point out instances of inferential reasoning and deductive and inductive logic.
- Distinguish between opinion, judgment and what may be taken as a fact, and describe an appropriate process of verification in establishing whether an utterance is factual or not.
- Recognize and articulate assumptions (including unstated assumptions) in an argument.
- Draw and justify inferences made about the intention of the writer and point out logical fallacies or slanted or propagandist use of language.
- SLO 5: Demonstrate in writing about the philosophy of happiness more sophisticated structure, coherence and emphasis; demonstrate their understanding of the elements of style, with particular emphasis placed on the role of grammar as an element of style.
- Demonstrate an understanding of some of the principles of classical rhetoric and of the Upper Middle Style found in most American journals-of-record.
- Demonstrate an understanding of opposing viewpoints on issues and develop their own stances on those issues.
- Demonstrate an ability to argue cogently in a number of modes, including but not limited to making proposals, making evaluations and positing the existence of causal relationships.
- SLO 6: Demonstrate the ability to engage in upper-division work in the discipline of Philosophy.
- SLO 7: Demonstrate the ability to navigate a seminar environment.
PHIL 495 Independent Studies in Philosophy
- Units:1 - 3
- Hours:54 - 162 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
An independent studies project involves an individual student or small group of students in study, research, or activities beyond the scope of regularly offered courses. See the current catalog section of "Special Studies" for full details of Independent Studies.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- SLO #1: Actively engage in intellectual inquiry beyond that required in order to pass a course of study (College Wide Learning Outcome – Area 4).
- Discuss and outline a proposal of study (that can be accomplished within one semester term) with a supervising instructor qualified within the discipline.
- Design an independent study (to be completed individually or by collaboration of a small group) to foster special knowledge, skills, and experience that are not available in any one regularly scheduled course.
- Use information resources to gather discipline-specific information.
- SLO #2: Utilize modes of analysis and critical thinking to apply theoretical perspectives and/or concepts in the major discipline of study to significant problems and/or educational activities (College Wide Learning Outcome – Area 3).
- Analyze and apply the knowledge, skills and experience that are involved in the independent study to theoretical perspectives and/or concepts in the major discipline of study.
- Explain the importance of the major discipline of study in the broader picture of society.
- SLO #3: Communicate a complex understanding of content matter of the major discipline of study (College Wide Outcome – Area 3).
- Demonstrate competence in the skills essential to mastery of the major discipline of study that are necessary to accomplish the independent study.
- SLO #4: Identify personal goals and pursue these goals effectively (College Wide Outcome – Area 4).
- Utilize skills from the “academic tool kit” including time management, study skills, etc., to accomplish the independent study within one semester term.
PHIL 499 Experimental Offering in Philosophy
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This is the experimental courses description.
Religious Studies (RLST) Courses
RLST 299 Experimental Offering in Religious Studies
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Prerequisite:None.
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This is the experimental courses description.
RLST 301 Introduction to World Religions
- Same As:PHIL 352
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area I; AA/AS Area VI; CSU Area C2; IGETC Area 3B
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This course will introduce students to the major world religious traditions, including indigenous sacred ways, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Students will study the practices and beliefs of each tradition and will read selected material from the sacred writings of each tradition. Also, the influence of these religions on contemporary issues in the United States including ethnicity, ethnocentrism, racism, ageism, class differences, and sexual orientation is considered. This course fulfills Cosumnes River College's Ethnic/Multicultural requirement for the Associates Degree. This course is the same as PHIL 352. This course, under either name, may be taken only one time for credit.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- SLO #1: identify important questions and conceptions concerning world religions, distinguish from among divergent interpretations those that are better supported and those that are less well supported, construct well supported interpretations of diverse viewpoints and reason well about written and oral discourse.
- Objective 1a: evaluate information concerning central issues within world religions for quality and bias to determine it if is objective and reliable.
- Objective 1b: criticize and rationally justify points of view concerning central issues within world religions.
- Objective 1c: reach conclusions about central issues concerning world religions based on accurate interpretations of religious doctrines.
- Objective 1d: distinguish amongst philosophy, religious studies, and religion.
- SLO #2 (PSLO #3): demonstrate the ability to engage in ethical reasoning necessary to exercise responsibility as an ethical individual, professional, local, and global citizen.
- Objective 2a: demonstrate the ability to engage in rational discourse regarding issues in world religion in an ethically responsible manner.
- Objective 2b: demonstrate a critical appreciation of the role world religion has played in human spirituality and morality.
RLST 499 Experimental Offering in Religious Studies
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Prerequisite:None.
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2025
This is the experimental courses description.