Rochester Community and Technical College · Courses
PHIL
12 courses with the subject PHIL, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
PHIL 1010Scientific Reasoning (MnTC 02)3
2 hours lecture/week - Common Course Outline This class provides a philosophical and historical introduction to scientific reasoning, with a special emphasis on learning to think critically and methodically about everyday issues related to science. Students will learn to think carefully about what distinguishes science from non- science, the limits to scientific knowledge, and how science has changed over time. Along the way, they will be introduced to a variety of important scientific ideas and debates, both current and historical. (
PHIL 1114Introduction to Philosophy (MnTC 06, 08)3
3 hours lecture/week - Common Course Outline This course introduces students to the main problems and methods of philosophy. Significant areas of focus include ethical and aesthetic values, the nature of reality and knowledge, logic and critical reasoning, and the global history of philosophy. Students will come away with an expanded understanding of the human condition and human cultures, especially concerning behavior, ideas, and values expressed in works of philosophy. They will have ample opportunity to practice and improve their abilities to read, write, and reason critically. (
Goal 5: History/Social/Behavioral Sciences Minimum: 9 Credits with a minimum of two credits from each of three areas from MnTC Goal 5 Objective: To increase student’s knowledge of how historians and social and behavioral scientists discover, describe, and explain the behaviors and interactions among individuals, groups, institutions, events, and ideas. Such knowledge will better equip students to understand themselves and the roles they play in addressing the issues facing humanity. Student Competencies for Goal 5: • Use and critique alternative explanatory systems or theories. • Examine social institutions and processes across a range of historical periods and cultures. • Develop and communicate alternative explanations or solutions for contemporary social issues. • Employ the methods and data that historians and social and behavioral scientists use to investigate the human condition. Pg. 19
3 hours lecture/week – Common Course Outline In a world increasingly reliant on technology, the ethical implications of computing and artificial intelligence (AI) are more relevant than ever. This course seeks to bridge the gap between technology and ethical inquiry, providing students with the tools to critically evaluate and address ethical dilemmas in various domains of computing, AI, and data science. The course covers a wide range of topics, from fundamental ethical theories to futuristic considerations in AI ethics. Topics include the history of computing, AI and machine learning basics, data privacy, algorithmic bias and fairness, surveillance, security, employment in the age of AI, bioethics in computing, ethics in video games and virtual reality, AI ethics in science fiction, and future policy and design considerations. (
PHIL 1160Philosophy and World Religions (MnTC 06, 08)3
3 hours lecture/week - Common Course Outline This course will introduce students to philosophical issues arising with respect to a wide variety of religious traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Taoism, as well as indigenous traditions. Students will critically examine diverse claims about the nature of religion and religious experience, the existence of God, the character of ultimate reality, the relationship between religion and science, and other topics. This course may involve site visits to local religious communities. (
PHIL 2001Science Fiction and Philosophy (MnTC 06, 07a, 07b)3
3 hours lecture/week - Common Course Outline This course will explore philosophical themes in the context of science fiction (and fantasy) literature and film. Major topics include the relationship between mind and body, the nature of scientific inquiry, and issues concerning social and political philosophy and the philosophy of race and gender. Students will learn to apply basic methods of philosophical inquiry and will engage with work from a culturally diverse selection of authors and filmmakers. The material will be selected to expand the students’ knowledge of the human condition and cultures, especially regarding ideas, values, and institutions. Particular attention will be given to the cultivation of critical reading and writing. College-level reading and writing are recommended. (Prerequisites:
PHIL 2112Social & Political Philosophy (MnTC 06, 07a)3
3 hours lecture/week - Common Course Outline This course surveys political concepts, theories, and issues, with particular attention to how different political frameworks address questions of power, identity, and inequality. It examines theoretical support for political ideologies, power structures and social institutions, and moral concepts including rights, obligation, equality, justice, punishment, property, liberty, and authority. The course explores how these concepts intersect with race, gender, class, and other aspects of identity in the United States. College level reading and writing is recommended. (
