Academic Catalogs

Philosophy

Philosophy trains students in the essential critical-thinking skills of analysis, synthesis, and argumentation (articulating, formulating, and assessing arguments in both written and oral form). Some philosophy graduates go on to further study in philosophy. Related areas of interest include politics, literature, ethics, law, religion, and sociology. For careers in law, lecturing, and teaching, you'll need further qualifications. In areas such as journalism and advertising, you may find a postgraduate qualification useful, but relevant work experience is essential. Research the careers that interest you to find out if you'll need further study.

Department Contact Information

Charles Otwell 
cotwell@occ.cccd.edu

Philip Simpkin
psimpkin@occ.cccd.edu

Jessica Gonzalez
jgonzalez581@cccd.edu

Philosophy Department Website

Credit Courses

PHIL A1003 Units (54 lecture hours)  
Introduction to Philosophy  
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.
A survey of the fundamental problems of philosophy: ethics and aesthetics, logic, philosophy of religion, metaphysics, persons and personal identity, freedom and/or determinism, theory of knowledge, society, and political issues. Basic questions asked about the universe and our place in it. Enrollment Limitation: PHIL A100H; students who complete PHIL A100 may not enroll in or receive credit for PHIL A100H. C-ID: PHIL 100.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing PHIL A100

PHIL A100H3 Units (54 lecture hours)  
Introduction to Philosophy Honors  
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.
A survey of the fundamental problems of philosophy: ethics and aesthetics, logic, philosophy of religion, metaphysics, persons and personal identity, freedom and/or determinism, theory of knowledge, society, and political issues. Basic questions asked about the universe and our place in it. Enrollment Limitation: PHIL A100; students who complete PHIL A100H may not enroll in or receive credit for PHIL A100.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing PHIL A100H

PHIL A1153 Units (54 lecture hours)  
Philosophy of Religion  
Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass
Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.
An examination of key issues and problems of religion, including the nature and significance of religion and religious experience, arguments for and against the existence of God, the nature of God, the problem of evil, and the relation between science and religion. Enrollment Limitation: RLST A115; students who complete PHIL A115 may not enroll in or receive credit for RLST A115.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing PHIL A115

PHIL A1183 Units (54 lecture hours)  
Aesthetics/Philosophy of Art  
Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass
Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.
A philosophical approach to a critical evaluation of works of art (literary, musical, visual).

Catalog Program Pages Referencing PHIL A118

PHIL A1203 Units (54 lecture hours)  
Ethics  
Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass
Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.
An introduction to ethical theories and problems. An analysis of the theories and principles on which moral judgments are based and the way these judgments are used in moral problems such as abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, sexual equality, discrimination, censorship, and economic justice. Special attention will be given to the kinds of arguments used in ethical discussion. C-ID: PHIL 120.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing PHIL A120

PHIL A1253 Units (54 lecture hours)  
History of Ancient Philosophy  
Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass
Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.
This introductory course surveys ancient philosophy. It explains the philosophical positions of the ancients, their religious attitudes, and the cultural milieu out of which ancient philosophical thought arose. Recommended for philosophy majors, historians, and those interested in the roots of modern civilization. C-ID: PHIL 130.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing PHIL A125

PHIL A1403 Units (54 lecture hours)  
History of Modern Philosophy  
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.
This course addresses 16th through 18th century European philosophy with emphasis on broad epistemological and/or metaphysical developments of empiricism and rationalism in philosophical thought from Descartes to Kant. It may include immediate precursors and/or successors.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing PHIL A140

PHIL A1503 Units (54 lecture hours)  
Critical Reasoning & Writing  
Prerequisite(s): ENGL A100 or ESL A100.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass
Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.
An introduction to the critical analysis and rational evaluation of argument and other forms of expression. Covers the uses of language, distinctions between deductive and inductive reasoning, and practice in detecting formal and informal fallacies. Develop tools for distinguishing between and evaluating beliefs, opinions, claims, explanations, and arguments. A strong emphasis is instruction in writing which models the critical thinking knowledge and skills examined in the course.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing PHIL A150

PHIL A1553 Units (54 lecture hours)  
Introduction to Logic  
Advisory: Eligibility for ENGL A100.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass
Transfer Credit: CSU.
An introductory general education course focusing on the use of argumentation in both ordinary and academic discourse, with a particular focus on deductive logic. Emphasis on the role of formal and informal logic in the basic skills of oral communication (speech/listening) and written communication (reading/writing). Various deductive and inductive reasoning techniques will be identified, distinguished and evaluated for logical correctness and logical mistakes. Recommended for all humanities, social science, business and natural science majors, and for those planning to transfer to four-year colleges or universities. C-ID: PHIL 110.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing PHIL A155

PHIL A1653 Units (54 lecture hours)  
The Theory of Knowledge  
Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass
Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.
A critical survey of theories of truth, knowledge and belief, perception, and related problems. An evaluation of the limits and extent of human reasoning. The survey includes the mathematic-deductive method, the problem of induction, and an assessment of the conditions of the possibility of experience. Assess how evidence is assembled, interpreted and evaluated, and addresses what counts as a good reason to believe, i.e. the problems of justifying evidence.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing PHIL A165

PHIL A1853 Units (54 lecture hours)  
Contemporary Philosophy  
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.
Methods and problems of contemporary philosophy. Continental European and Anglo-American philosophy since 1900. Problems of the self, freedom, time, choice and action, language, thought and interpretation, science, evidence, and justification.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing PHIL A185

PHIL A2203 Units (54 lecture hours)  
Introduction to Symbolic Logic  
Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass
Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.
Students learn to translate simple, quantified, and multiply-quantified English sentences into symbolic form in both sentence logic and predicate logic with quantifiers. Truth tables are used to both classify and compare symbolic sentence's properties. Proof techniques for determining validity or invalidity of arguments containing simple sentences, compound sentences, and sentences containing quantifiers in sentence and predicate logic systems are learned including truth tables, truth trees, and natural deduction style proofs with inference, replacement and quantifier rules. Enrollment Limitation: MATH A220; students who complete PHIL A220 may not enroll in or receive credit for MATH A220. C-ID: PHIL 210.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing PHIL A220