Philosophy
12 courses · Antelope Valley College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026 · Winter 2027 · Spring 2027
PHIL 101 Fundamental Reasoning Skills
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture hours, 54 contact hours total
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
The central goals of this course are to help students develop and improve interpretive and evaluative skills that will help them to become more competent and independent thinkers in their personal, academic, social, and professional lives, and in their life-long learning. Various aspects of language, logic, and reasoning will be studied in order to evaluate correctly concepts, claims, arguments, and explanations from a variety of contexts and disciplines.
PHIL 105 Ethics: Moral Issues in Contemporary Society
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture hours, 54 contact hours total
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- PHIL 120
An introduction into the nature of ethics and to the question as to what ethical system, if any determines right and wrong. This course will not only examine certain traditional approaches to ethical questions, but will investigate the possible application of these approaches to current ethical conflicts. An analysis of moral issues, such as violence, sex, war, abortion, capital punishment, privacy, oppression, pornography, and euthanasia will be emphasized.
PHIL 105H Ethics: Moral Issues in Society Honors
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture hours, 54 contact hours total
This honors course, intended for students in the Honors Transfer Program, is an introduction into the nature of ethics and to the question as to what ethical system, if any determines right and wrong. This course will not only examine certain traditional approaches to ethical questions, but will investigate the possible application of these approaches to current ethical conflicts. An analysis of moral issues, such as violence, sex, war, abortion, capital punishment, privacy, oppression, pornography, and euthanasia will be emphasized. The honors course provides more content and requires greater intensity and depth of study than the non-honors class. (UC, CSU, AVC) Note: Students may take either PHIL105 Ethics: Moral Issues in Society or PHIL105H Ethics: Moral Issues in Society Honors. Duplicate credit will not be awarded.
PHIL 106 Introduction to Philosophy
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture hours, 54 contact hours total
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- PHIL 100
An introductory examination of themes and issues central to both classical and contemporary philosophy. Topics will be selected from such areas as ethics, politics, metaphysics, epistemology, religion and logic.
PHIL 108 Philosophy of Religion
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture hours, 54 contact hours total
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course emphasizes the philosophical analysis of religious issues and themes. Such themes as the nature and variety of religious expression will be explored, analyzed, and evaluated. The philosophical task revolves around the effort to determine whether there is a special kind of knowledge to be called "Religious"; if so, how is it gained; if it is gained, what its implications will be for human conduct.
PHIL 109 World Religions
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture hours, 54 contact hours total
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
In this course students will examine the central beliefs, rituals, traditions, and the philosophical foundations of the major world religions, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism by studying their primary sacred texts.
PHIL 110 Introduction to Logic
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture hours, 54 contact hours total
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- PHIL 110
An introduction to both formal and informal logic. Logic includes a study of linguistic analysis, immediate and mediate inference, symbolic notation, deductive proofs and fallacies. Attention is given to both traditional and modern symbolic systems. Critical thinking is applied to both symbolic and written arguments. Argumentative writing will be explored through both formal and informal logical analysis.
PHIL 201 Critical Thinking
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture hours, 54 contact hours total
- Prerequisite
- Completion of ENGL 101.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
An introduction to the logical analysis and critical evaluation of arguments and the basic strategies of rhetoric. Different forms of writing are distinguished and examined. A strong emphasis is on formal instruction in argumentative writing that utilizes the critical thinking skills developed in the course.
PHIL 210 Symbolic Logic
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture hours, 54 contact hours total
- Transfers to
- CSU
Introduces the elements of propositional and predicate logic. Analyzes forms of reasoning and structure of language.
PHIL 230 History of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture hours, 54 contact hours total
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course introduces students to the major questions in ancient philosophy across diverse cultures and thinkers. Is there an ultimate reality? What is the nature of justice? What is the good life? How is happiness attained? Students will explore these perennial philosophical questions through the ideas of ancient Greek, Roman, African, Mesoamerican, Asian, and Medieval philosophers.
PHIL 240 History of Modern Philosophy
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture hours, 54 contact hours total
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course examines the progression of early modern philosophy in Europe from the 16th to 18th centuries. It traces debates during this period that shaped theories of knowledge, reality, and human nature. Students will study major rationalist and empiricist philosophers, analyzing their competing perspectives on epistemology and metaphysics.
PHIL 300 Bioethics
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 72 lecture hours, 72 contact hours total
- Transfers to
- CSU
This advanced-level course, mandatory for students in the Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care program, dives into the utilization of ethical theories and moral judgment in resolving dilemmas within healthcare settings. The curriculum emphasizes enhancing self-awareness, honing critical thinking skills, and refining the ability to express thoughtful, well-argued positions both verbally and in writing. Course topics span across the Hippocratic tradition, virtues of healthcare professionals, balance between paternalism and patient autonomy, informed consent, confidentiality, genetic and reproductive ethics, perspectives on disability, end-of-life care, considerations surrounding seriously ill newborns and medical errors, discussions on medical futility versus technological advancements, the value and sanctity of life, and ethical aspects of healthcare resource allocation.