# Philosophy (PHIL) courses

Merced College · 2026-2027 Catalog · 10 courses

Source: https://catalog.mccd.edu/schools/programs/school-humanities-liberal-arts/courses/phil-courses

"Offered" lists sections in this catalog year's class schedules: Fall 2026, Spring 2027.

### PHIL-01 — Introduction to Philosophy

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 3 hours lecture
- **Advisory:** ENGL-C1000 (Formerly ENGL-01A)
- **C-ID:** PHIL 100
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/merced-college/schedule/fall-2026/phil.md); Spring 2027, 2 sections (/c/merced-college/schedule/spring-2027/phil.md)
- (Cal-GETC area 3B)
- (CSU breadth area C2) (IGETC area 3B) [CSU-GE and IGETC are only for 2024-25 catalogs or earlier]

This course introduces philosophical ideas and methods concerning self-identity, knowledge, reality and values. These topics will be discussed through reading primary philosophical texts taken from the traditional and modern Western philosophical canon, as well as from non-canonical sources. (04/20)

### PHIL-01H — Honors Introduction to Philosophy

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 3 hours lecture
- **Prerequisite:** ENGL-C1000 (Formerly ENGL-01A)
- **C-ID:** PHIL 100
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Spring 2027 schedules
- (Cal-GETC area 3B)
- (CSU breadth area C2) (IGETC area 3B) [CSU-GE and IGETC are only for 2024-25 catalogs or earlier]
- Limitation on enrollment: Enrollment in the Honors program

This course introduces philosophical ideas and methods concerning self-identity, knowledge, reality and values. These topics will be discussed through reading primary philosophical texts taken from the traditional and modern Western philosophical canon, as well as from non-canonical sources. There will be an emphasis on philosophical research and writing. Students taking this class must be enrolled in the Honors Program. See the college catalog for a description of enrollment requirements. (04/19)

### PHIL-02 — Social and Political Philosophy

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 3 hours lecture
- **Advisory:** ENGL-C1000 (Formerly ENGL-01A)
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/merced-college/schedule/spring-2027/phil.md)
- (Cal-GETC area 3B/4)
- (CSU breadth area C2, D) (IGETC area 3B/4) [CSU-GE and IGETC are only for 2024-25 catalogs or earlier]

This course examines philosophical issues concerning the nature of society and justifications for the authority of government. Concepts to be discussed include liberty, equality, justice, the common good, and the legitimate use of state power. (04/20)

### PHIL-03 — Ancient Philosophy

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 3 hours lecture
- **Advisory:** ENGL-C1000 (Formerly ENGL-01A)
- **C-ID:** PHIL 130
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/merced-college/schedule/fall-2026/phil.md)
- (Cal-GETC area 3B)
- (CSU breadth area C2) (IGETC area 3B) [CSU-GE and IGETC are only for 2024-25 catalogs or earlier]

This course presents an introduction to the history of philosophy from the ancient world through the Middle Ages, with emphasis on the development of Greek philosophy from the Pre-Socratics through Aristotle. (04/20)

### PHIL-04 — Modern Philosophy

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 3 hours lecture
- **Advisory:** ENGL-C1000 (Formerly ENGL-01A)
- **C-ID:** PHIL 140
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/merced-college/schedule/spring-2027/phil.md)
- (Cal-GETC area 3B)
- (CSU breadth area C2) (IGETC area 3B) [CSU-GE and IGETC are only for 2024-25 catalogs or earlier]

This course presents an introduction to the history of philosophy from the Renaissance to the present, with emphasis on Descartes through Kant. (04/20)

### PHIL-05 — Contemporary Ethical Issues

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 3 hours lecture
- **Advisory:** ENGL-C1000 (Formerly ENGL-01A)
- **C-ID:** PHIL 120
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/merced-college/schedule/fall-2026/phil.md); Spring 2027, 2 sections (/c/merced-college/schedule/spring-2027/phil.md)
- (Cal-GETC area 3B)
- (CSU breadth area C2) (IGETC area 3B) [CSU-GE and IGETC are only for 2024-25 catalogs or earlier]

This course examines the concept of morality and values, representative ethical theories, and their application to contemporary ethical issues such as capital punishment, abortion, war, animal rights and economic justice. (04/20)

### PHIL-06 — Introduction to Feminist Philosophy

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 3 hours lecture
- **Advisory:** ENGL-C1000 (Formerly ENGL-01A)
- **Transfers to:** CSU
- **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Spring 2027 schedules

Introduction to Feminist Philosophy introduces students to how gender shapes human experience, knowledge, and society through a social and behavioral science lens. Students will explore how gender, power, and identity influence individual behavior and shape social institutions. Topics include feminist theories like intersectionality and social constructivism, as well as feminist approaches to identity, knowledge, language, and ethics. The course also examines the philosophical foundations of key feminist movements. Emphasis is placed on theoretical frameworks, research methods, and diverse perspectives, with a focus on understanding the social dynamics that influence behavior across historical and cultural contexts. (12/25)

### PHIL-10 — Critical Thinking

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 3 hours lecture
- **Advisory:** ENGL-C1000 (Formerly ENGL-01A)
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Spring 2027 schedules
- (CSU breadth area A3) [CSU-GE and IGETC are only for 2024-25 catalogs or earlier]

This is a practical course in sound and logical reasoning. The focus of this course is to develop the abilities to analyze, to criticize, and to reach reasoned conclusions. This includes the ability to recognize and avoid common fallacies in reasoning, and to construct cogent arguments and essays. (04/20)

### PHIL-12 — Introduction to Logic

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 3 hours lecture
- **Prerequisite:** ENGL-C1000 (Formerly ENGL-01A)
- **C-ID:** PHIL 110
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/merced-college/schedule/fall-2026/phil.md); Spring 2027, 2 sections (/c/merced-college/schedule/spring-2027/phil.md)

This course explores symbolic logic, focusing on translating natural language arguments into formal symbolic form and evaluating their validity. Topics include deductive reasoning, truth tables, formal proofs, quantifiers, and rules of inference. Alongside formal exercises, students will write essays analyzing arguments, explaining logical methods, and reflecting on broader applications, with an emphasis on clarity, structure, and revision. (11/25)

### PHIL-15 — Comparative Religions

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 3 hours lecture
- **Advisory:** ENGL-C1000 (Formerly ENGL-01A)
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/merced-college/schedule/fall-2026/phil.md); Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/merced-college/schedule/spring-2027/phil.md)
- (Cal-GETC area 3B)
- (CSU breadth area C2) (IGETC area 3B) [CSU-GE and IGETC are only for 2024-25 catalogs or earlier]

This course surveys the historical background and fundamental philosophical concepts of the major religions of the world, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and some typical basic religions. (02/20)