Philosophy
7 courses · Evergreen Valley College · 2025-2026 Catalog
Classes: Summer 2026
PHIL 010 Introduction to Philosophy
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 3
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- PHIL 100
This course introduces philosophical ideas and methods concerning knowledge, reality, and values from diverse, world philosophical traditions. Expected topics will include the sources and limits of knowledge, and the nature of reality. Other topics that may be examined from a philosophical perspective include the nature of the self, truth, ethics, religion, science, language, beauty and art, political theory, and the mind.
PHIL 030 History of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 3
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- PHIL 130
This course addresses ancient philosophy with emphasis on the historical development of ancient Chinese, Greek, and Indian traditions, and medieval philosophy with a focus on the Islamic world and philosophers from diverse religious backgrounds. Students will assess ancient and medieval philosophical questions and ideas, compare the central themes of the diverse philosophical traditions, and then apply concepts learned in this course to one's own existence in this world.
PHIL 040 History of Modern Philosophy
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 3
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- PHIL 140
This course examines the major philosophers and philosophical movements from the 16th to 18th centuries in several regions of the world, including Africa, South Asia, East Asia, and Europe.
PHIL 060 Logic and Critical Thinking
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 3
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This is an introductory course in informal fallacies and critical reasoning. The course will focus on critical thinking strategies and skills, the elements of an argument, distinctions between deductive and inductive logic, and comparing the strength of arguments. Students will study causal relations and scientific, statistical, moral, and legal reasoning. The course will present techniques for analyzing arguments used in political rhetoric, advertisements, editorials, scientific claims, social media and social commentary. There is a strong emphasis on the written expression and the application of critical thinking in a series of presentations, compositions, or a term paper.
PHIL 065 Introduction to Ethics
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 3
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- PHIL 120
This course examines the nature of moral reasoning and fundamental moral concepts. Students will compare various approaches to, and theories of, ethics from diverse philosophical traditions. This study will be applied to practical, contemporary moral issues such as social justice, genetic engineering, gender and sexuality, euthanasia, animal rights, and the environment. Sources will include readings from philosophical and scholarly writings, and popular media (such as film and television).
PHIL 070 Comparative Religions
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 3
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This is an introductory philosophical survey of living religions, including Daoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Native American, Indigenous, and African religious traditions. Students use comparative study that focuses on the meaning of religious experience, the forms its expression may take, and what it may offer humanity.
PHIL 090 Introduction to Logic
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 3
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- PHIL 110
This course introduces principles and methods of formal logic for analyzing and evaluating arguments. Topics include argument components, argument structure, types of reasoning, rules of inference, categorical syllogisms, and natural deductions using propositional and predicate logic.