Philosophy
12 courses · Gavilan College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Summer 2026 · Fall 2026 · Spring 2027
PHIL 1 Introduction to Philosophy
- Units
- 3
- Advisory
- Eligible for English C1000
- C-ID
- PHIL 100
Philosophy 1 examines significant questions about existence (Why is there something instead of nothing?), identity (Who am I?), knowledge (How do I know what I know?), reality (What is real?), ethics (What is the right thing to do?), value (What is value?), society (What are the social forces that control me?), and justice (What is justice?). Students will read texts by thinkers from contemporary, modern, and ancient times. Students will discuss current events and apply philosophical questions and concepts to their personal experiences, social issues, literature, and film. (C-ID: PHIL 100) ADVISORY: Eligible for English C1000.
PHIL 2 Introduction to Logic
- Units
- 3
- C-ID
- PHIL 110
Logic is the study of how we reason. This course explores two important types of reasoning: deduction and induction. We will cover the form and matter of arguments by examining the importance of facts, observations, and assumptions. This course will cover formal and informal fallacies, which are mistakes in reasoning that apply to every part of life, education, and understanding of the self. Practical application of logic outside the classroom will be emphasized. (C-ID PHIL 110)
PHIL 3A Ethics
- Units
- 3
- Advisory
- Eligible for English 1A
- C-ID
- PHIL 120
This course examines the central theories and perennial issues in ethics. The ethical systems of Aristotle, Kant, and the utilitarians will be investigated. These systems will be applied to contemporary moral problems. Questions about objective morality, the ideal society, social justice, and moral agency will be pursued. (C-ID: PHIL 120) ADVISORY: Eligible for English 1A.
PHIL 3B Moral Issues
- Units
- 3
Moral Issues examines applied ethical problems that students are interested in learning about from a philosophical perspective. In the past, students have directed the course content to cover abortion, euthanasia, race and ethnicity, racism, personal and social identity, sexism, pornography, world hunger, environment, animal rights, and social justice.
PHIL 4 Critical Thinking and Writing
- Units
- 3
- Prerequisite
- English 1A
This course is designed to introduce the relationship between critical thinking and critical writing in a way that will be both enjoyable to the student and helpful in other aspects of life. The student will learn techniques of critical thinking, playing close attention to the current events, movies and popular media, music lyrics, as well as the textbook. Students will learn to identify deductive and inductive arguments and be able to evaluate their strength, create a strong argument of their own on a given topic, as well become experts in the area of critical analysis. The goal is to enable students to become strong, well informed, articulate members of the community as well as individuals with an empowered sense of self as an agent of change. Students will write a minimum of 6,000 words. PREREQUISITE: English 1A
PHIL 6 Comparative Religions
- Units
- 3
- Advisory
- Eligible for English 1A
Religion is a topic that ignites controversy -- most societies engage in religious practices, believe strongly in that tradition, and find a sense of identity within it. The controversy arises when differences are misunderstood, misrepresented, or placed in a hierarchy of assumed supremacy of one religion as superior to others. In this class, students explore the underlying commonality of various religious traditions, explore the uniqueness of the religions with which they are unfamiliar, and learn to see that diversity among beliefs doesn't have to create hostility. Students will explore religions from Indigenous Peoples throughout the world, East Asia (e.g. India), China, the Middle East, as well as some more recent trends in religion. Previously known as PHIL 6A. ADVISORY: Eligible for English 1A.
PHIL 7A Ancient Philosophy
- Units
- 3
- C-ID
- PHIL 130
This course takes students on a historical and philosophical adventure through ancient philosophy. The class covers questions like "What is everything?" and "What is real?" by analyzing what thinkers such as Thales, Pythagoras, Diotima, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus, Epictetus, Plotinus, and Hypatia thought about existence and what it means. Through such major figures, students will read and understand concepts of reality, truth, right and wrong, value, and even basic ideas of motion with questions like "What is movement?" (C-ID: PHIL 130)
PHIL 7B Modern Philosophy
- Units
- 3
- C-ID
- PHIL 140
This course is a historical survey of modern European thought and examines its influence on important philosophical disciplines such as Latin American Philosophy and Existentialism. The course starts with René Descartes ("I think, therefore I am") and ends with Friedrich Nietzsche ("What does not kill me makes me stronger"). We will also examine the famous divide between rationalism (truth based on reason) and empiricism (truth based on experience). (C-ID: PHIL 140)
PHIL 9 Philosophy of Religion
- Units
- 3
- Advisory
- Eligible for English 1A
In this course we will systematically explore religious claims. The issues to be investigated include: Does God exist? What is God's nature? Can the existence of God be reconciled with human suffering? Can faith and reason be reconciled? Can conflicting religions simultaneously be true? Other topics include: the afterlife, religious experience, miracles, freedom and divine foreknowledge, and the relationship of religion and science. ADVISORY: Eligible for English 1A.
PHIL 12 Introduction to Political Thought
- Units
- 3
This course provides students with an introduction to and grounding in classical and modern political thought. Students will be introduced to theorists such as Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, and Marx. Students will also examine such timeless questions as: "What is justice?" "What is the good life?" and "What is power?" among others. This course is also listed as POLS 12.
PHIL 15 Asian Philosophies
- Units
- 3
- Advisory
- Eligible for English 1A
This course is designed to introduce the student to the major Asian philosophical traditions. This will consist of reviewing major East, South East, and South Asian philosophical traditions (e.g. Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism) and the non-Western approach to epistemology, ethics, metaphysics, and logic. We shall attempt to evaluate, examine, and compare many important theoretical principles and the ways they have influenced each other as well as Asian and Asian-American cultures and societies. ADVISORY: Eligible for English 1A.
PHIL 23 Independent Study
- Units
- 1-2
Designed to afford selected students specialized opportunities for exploring areas at the independent study level. The courses may involve extensive library work, research in the community, or special projects. May be repeated until six units of credit are accrued. This course has the option of a letter grade or pass/no pass. REQUIRED: The study outline prepared by the student and the instructor must be filed with the department and the dean.