Humanities and Philosophy Courses with Joo Heung Lee

Philosophy 105: Logic

Logic has to do with the structures (or rules) that make thinking possible. It is so much a part of our daily lives that we usually obey the laws of logic without acknowledging their presence. For example, if it is true that “John is in Chicago ,” one could logically infer that “John is not in New York .” This seems obvious, but this is only because of the overriding power of the logical principle of non-contradiction (to be both in Chicago and New York would be a contradiction, and all contradictions are necessarily false).

More concretely, logic has to do with arguments. There are two main types of arguments, inductive (which, based on experience, can never be 100% certain) and deductive (which, based on the rules of thought, are always 100% certain). Informal logic addresses primarily inductive arguments, whereas formal logic addresses deductive arguments. In this course, we will investigate both of these branches of logic, focusing on the latter. Formal logic is designated as such because its concern is not truth but validity, which is a function of the argument's form—irrespective of the content. Because of this, students often fail to appreciate logic's relevance to their daily lives (very similar to general attitudes towards higher mathematics). One of the goals of this course is to make students aware of how the apparently abstract rules of logic are in fact operative in very concrete ways.

Philosophy 106: Ethics

All of us have ideas about good and evil. Most of us assume without questioning the truth of statements like "murder is evil" or "generosity is good." But things get complicated with issues like abortion or capital punishment. Issues like these force us to ask about the ultimate basis of morality. Moreover, even if we can come to some agreement about this basis, this still leaves open the question of "why be moral?" From a religious point of view, one might argue that moral laws come from God, and that we should obey them because God said so. But philosophers are typically not satisfied with this kind of response. In this course, we will examine some of the most influential moral philosophers of the Western tradition. We will begin with the ancients, Plato and Aristotle. We will continue our discussion with more modern philosophers, most notably Mill and Kant, who have almost diametrically opposite views on the basis of morality. Finally, we will conclude with thinkers like Nietzsche and Sartre, who suggest that we need a radically new perspective on the good life. Hopefully, by standing on the shoulders of these giants, students will gain a better understanding of the principles that should guide us in living an ethical life.

Philosophy 205: World Religions (Honors)

Throughout history, religious beliefs have had an enormous impact on the course of human events. This impact has been both positive and negative. Religious differences are often the source of violent conflict. The most striking example of this today is the turmoil in the Middle East . At the same time, religion has also inspired such seminal figures as Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King. In this course, we will discuss the core principles of the world's major religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Confucianism, & Daoism). Throughout our discussion, we will look for connections between the philosophical foundations of these religions and the cultural values that they shape. For example, the separation of religious and secular life characteristic of American culture (politically reinforced by the doctrine separating Church and State) is inseparable from our Protestant roots. Similarly, the Chinese work ethic and respect for authority can be linked to Confucianism. The hope is that by critically examining various religious belief systems, students will gain a better appreciation of the practical implications of religion—both socially and personally.

Especially as an Honors course, great emphasis will be placed on student contributions to our discussion. These discussions should be lively, as we are going to ask the questions people are often afraid to ask: Is there something about Islam that lends itself to extremism? Are Christians saying that morally good people who do not acknowledge Christ as their savior are condemned to eternal damnation? Are Hindu gods so fantastic that they become ridiculous? We will take the risk of offending religious sensibilities in order to arrive at the truth—which, after all, is the goal of all religions.

Philosophy 240: Philosophy of Religion

Philosophy and religion share a preoccupation with the big questions: What is the meaning of life? What is the source of values? Why is there something rather than nothing? But whereas religion (especially in the West) often answers these questions through faith, philosophers insist upon rational explanations—even if these explanations ultimately lead us beyond reason. In this course, we will investigate fundamental religious ideas philosophically. For example, we will look at some of the classic arguments for the existence of God to see if they are reasonable. We will go on to ask if it is reasonable to believe in an all-good, all-powerful being in light of the problem of evil. We will conclude with the religions of the East (Daoism and Buddhism), which ask us to radically rethink our conception of the divine. It is my hope that by the end of the course, students will have developed their ability to think critically about the most important ideas that shape their lives.

For more information contact Joo Heung Lee

Click here to read more about Joo Heung Lee

If you have questions about the Department web pages, please contact Hollace Graff
Please direct questions or comments about the web site to the Ananda Spike