Steve Naragon

Professor of Philosophy
Dept. of Religion and Philosophy
Manchester College

Phone: 260.982.5041
ssnaragon@manchester.edu

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COURSES

Introduction to Philosophy (PHIL 201)  3 hrs.  [recent syllabus]

An introduction to the philosophical tasks of (a) reflective thinking about life and the universe as a totality; (b) critical examination of presuppositions, words, and concepts; (c) examination of ways in which we gain knowledge; (d) the quest for criteria that determine our value judgments of the good and the beautiful. Fall. Spring. GE-I2.

Logic (PHIL 230)  3 hrs.  [recent syllabus]

A study of various deductive logics (categorical, propositional, and predicate), inductive logics and common informal fallacies. The aim of this course is to improve abilities: 1) to identify arguments from other kinds of discourse and separate what is relevant to an argument from what is not, 2) to evaluate arguments in a reasoned and constructive way, and 3) to construct your own arguments, such that they are clearly stated and free of fallacies. 

Ancient and Medieval Western Philosophy (PHIL 316)  3 hrs.  [recent syllabus]

A study of Western philosophy from the Presocratics to William of Ockham. Prerequisite: ENG 110; PHIL 201. Fall, odd years. [cp]

17th and 18th Century Western Philosophy (PHIL 318)  3 hrs.[recent syllabus]

A study of Western philosophy from Hobbes and Descartes to Kant. Prerequisite: PHIL 201. Spring, even years.

19th Century Western Philosophy (PHIL 320)  3 hrs.  [recent syllabus]

A study of Western philosophy from the German Idealists to Kierkegaard and Nietzsche. Prerequisite: PHIL 201. Fall, even years.

20th Century Western Philosophy (PHIL 423)  3 hrs.

A study of Western philosophy from C.S. Peirce to Sartre and Quine. Prerequisite: PHIL 201. Spring, odd years.

Environmental Philosophy (PHIL 425)  3 hrs.  [recent syllabus]

A study of: 1) competing theories of distributive justice and their implications for various environmental issues (land use, famine relief, population control, pollution abatement, etc.), 2) animal liberation and animal rights, 3) the possibility of a land ethic, and 4) the relation between one’s religious beliefs and one’s attitudes towards nature. Prerequisite: one course in philosophy or consent of instructor. Spring, even years. GE-L.