PHL 101: Problems of Philosophy       2 Credits

This course introduces students to the subject matter of philosophy. Three main branches of the discipline – metaphysics, epistemology and ethics – will each be introduced in the form of a problem. Questions such as the following will be raised for discussion. What is the nature of being? How do we determine when a knowledge claim is true and when it is false? Do moral statements refer to any objective states of affairs or are they mere emotional outbursts? Students will also be introduced to the rudiments of logical reasoning.

PHL 102: INTRODUCTION TO MORAL PHILOSOPHY           2 Credits

The course examines the major questions raised in the history of ethics from Plato to Sartre. Issues to be examined include questions about the foundations and justifications of morality, its subjective and objective nature, and its relation to emotion and reason.

PHL 201: INTRODUCTION TO LOGIC 3 Credits

It examines the nature of arguments, truth and validity. Students will be introduced to notations in logic, truth-functional logic and the deductive methods of evaluating arguments. The goal is to guide students to acquire tools for critical thinking.

PHL 202: INTRODUCTION TO METAPHYSICS            3 Credits

It examines the nature of existence and being. Topics to be examined include: substance, quality, relation; pluralism and monism; appearance and reality; the identities of things and persons; universals and particulars; space and time.

PHL 203: THE PRESOCRATICS & SOPHISTS   3 Credits

It studies the history of western philosophy from its foundations in the 6th century to the end of the 5th century BC in Greece. Notable thinkers whose ideas are to be examined include: the Milesians, the Eleatics, the Atomists, and the Sophists: Gorgias, Protagoras and Hippias.

PHL 204: PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE I   3 Credits

It studies the major questions about the nature and scope of philosophy of science from Aristotle to Karl Popper. It examines the ontological status of scientific facts, the cognitive status of scientific laws and analyses the procedures and logic of scientific explanation.

PHL 301: ETHICS I            3 Credits

The course seeks to deepen students’ knowledge of the dominant issues in moral philosophy. Topics to be examined include: the arguments for moral realism; moral scepticism; utilitarianism; normative ethics. The works of notable exponents of the various positions will be studied.

PHL 302: EPISTEMOLOGY   3 Credits

First, the course studies dominant problems associated with knowledge claims, including the arguments from illusion. Second, some main theories of knowledge: viz., common sense realism, representative theory, phenomenalism, idealism and rationalism are critically examined. The goal is to deepen students' awareness of the problematic nature of human knowledge and the efforts philosophers have been making to grapple with the quandary.

PHL 303 INTERMEDIATE LOGIC            3 Credits

This course builds upon the skills acquired in logic at level 200. It focuses on the techniques of predicate logic and acquaints students with key concepts in philosophical logic, including quantification theory, the logic of relations, meaning and reference.

PHL 304: EARLY MODERN PHILOSOPHY        3 Credits

It adopts a historical approach to the study of some main European philosophers from the 17th century to the end of the 19th century. Selected texts from Descartes, Leibniz, Kant and Frege will be subject to critical study. The themes to be examined include their metaphysical and epistemological views, and philosophy of language.

PHL 305: AFRICAN SOCIAL & POLITICAL THOUGHT         3 Credits

The course studies elements of African social and political thoughts and their applications.  It spans two broad historical periods: the pre-colonial and the post-colonial.  The focus of the study in the pre-colonial period is on indigenous thought systems.  The study of the phenomenon in the post colonial period shows African appropriation of thought systems from various horizons in the struggle against colonialism, and in the reconstruction efforts in the aftermath of colonialism.

PHL 306: GREEK & ROMAN POLITICAL THOUGHT              &n 3 Credits

The course involves a critical study of the ideas (both popular and philosophical) that influenced and shaped Greek and Roman political institutions and practices in the classical period. The principles underpinning Greek and Roman constitutions and laws as well as the political thoughts of the prominent thinkers of the period will be studied.

PHL 307: PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION         3 Credits

It examines some main theories about the aims of education, the values of education and their relation to the purpose of life and the ends of society. In addition, certain recurrent themes in education, such as ‘liberal education’, ‘moral education’, ‘freedom’, and ‘authority’ will be subject to critical study.

PHL 308: PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION                  3 Credits

It examines the standard conceptions of God and his attributes, evaluates the main arguments for the existence of God, and assesses the theistic world-view and its implications for human behaviour

PHL 399: RESEARCH METHODS 3 Credits

It maps out the goals and scope of research, exposes the factors taken into account in the selection of research topics, and teaches how to gather research material, do literature review, draft and produce research work.

PHL 401: TOPICS IN METAPHYSICS              3 Credits

It seeks to deepen students’ awareness of the philosophical problems associated with forms of being and their relationships. Some main metaphysical theories such as Materialism, Idealism, Phenomenalism and Scientific Realism will be subject to critical appraisal. In addition, Theories of Causation (physical/mental causation), including Occasionalism, will be examined.

PHL 402: LATE MODERN PHILOSOPHY              3 Credits

It seeks to deepen students’ knowledge of the philosophy of language. It examines the concept of language and its place in nature. Some of the topics to be examined include problems of translation, language and thought, meaning and reference, and linguistic theories. The works of Frege, Wittgenstein, Quine and Donald Davidson will constitute the main literary source for the study.

PHL 403: TOPICS IN EPISTEMOLOGY               3 Credits

It is a critical study of the main theories of knowledge, including the theories of truth. Amongst these theories are: Rationalism and Innatism; Empiricism and Idealism; Common Sense Realism and Phenomenalism. The works of key exponents of the various theories will be closely examined.

PHL 404: ETHICS II                             3 Credits

It appraises the main theories of ethics and examines the ethical implications of certain developments in medical science. Topics for study will include: Theistic versus Naturalistic theories of ethics; Ethical implications of Darwinism; Issues in Bioethics (viz., genetic engineering, abortion and euthanasia).

PHL 405: PHILOSOPHY OF MIND           &nb 3 Credits

It examines the main issues in the philosophy of mind. Amongst these issues are: the conceptual distinction between body and mind; Dualism; Mentalism/Idealism; Materialism/Physicalism; Knowledge of Other Minds; Artificial Intelligence.
PHL 406: PHILOSOPHY OF NATURE              3 Credits

It examines our estimate of the human being and the place of human kind in the universe. It adopts a historical approach for the study. First, it looks at the orthodox religious views about the nature of man as a free, rational and moral agent. Next, it examines the naturalistic views of human nature espoused by ancient and modern materialists, including social Darwinists. This will be followed by an appraisal of dominant issues in Gender relations, Sexism and Feminism. The philosophical implications of the differing views are to be exposed in seminars.

PHL 407: AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY                 3 Credits

The course studies dominant issues in debates about the nature and scope of African Philosophy. Two broad questions are of particular interest. (1) Are African indigenous thought and value systems of any philosophical interest/value? (2) What is the place of African Philosophy in World Philosophy? To answer these questions, the first part of the programme requires students to do an in-depth and critical study of indigenous value and thought systems as are revealed in African arts and socio-political institutions and practices. The second component involves a critical appraisal of the arguments in the current debates concerning the authenticity of African Philosophy.

PHL 408: RATIONALIST AND EMPIRICIST PHILOSOPHERS                        3 Credits

It involves a close study of some selected works of notable rationalist and empiricist philosophers. These include Descartes, Leibniz, Spinoza, Kant, Locke, Berkeley, and Hume. Their theories of knowledge will be examined against the backdrop of contemporary debates in epistemology.

PHL 409: STUDY OF A MAJOR PHILOSOPHER            3 Credits

It is a close study of the main works of a notable philosopher with the view to examining and assessing the philosopher’s contribution to issues in philosophy.

PHL 410: AESTHETICS                         3 Credits

It examines the nature of a work of art, the criteria for interpretation and evaluation of a work of art, the distinction between form and content of art, and the function of metaphor in art.

PHL 411: PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE II               3 Credits

It seeks to deepen students’ knowledge of the nature and scope of scientific knowledge. Topics to be treated include: the nature of scientific laws, scientific explanations, hypotheses, theories, paradigms, and the experimental method. The views of Carnap, Russell and Popper will receive especial attention.

PHL 412: PLATO AND ARISTOTLE                    3 Credits

It examines the main contributions of Plato and Aristotle to the development of western philosophy. Topics to be treated will include: Plato’s hypothetical method, theory of knowledge, concept of justice, and Aristotle’s concept of the soul, concept of substance, theory of change, and ethics.

PHL 413: STOICISM AND EPICUREANISM       3 Credits

It exposes students to the main concerns of Stoicism and Epicureanism against the backdrop of political and social developments in Greece and Rome from the 4th to the close of 2nd century BC.  At the end of the course students should be able to demonstrate awareness of the core tenets of Stoicism and Epicureanism as well as demonstrate familiarity with the social and political effects of the conquest of Greece by Alexander and Philip and later by Rome.

PHL 499: LONG ESSAY                     3 Credits

It is meant to be an outcome of a research work undertaken by the student under the supervision of a lecturer. The topic for research is to be proposed by the student and must fall within the domain of philosophy.