Mar 29, 2024  
2016-2017 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2016-2017 Undergraduate Catalog [Not Current Academic Year. Consult with Your Academic Advisor for Your Catalog Year]

Phronesis Politics and Ethics Minor


Phronesis is the ancient Greek word for prudence, or practical wisdom. Aristotle identified it as the distinctive characteristic of political leaders and citizens in adjudicating the ethical and political issues that affect their individual good and the common good. As an Honors Program in Politics and Ethics, Phronesis aims to cultivate practical intelligence. Students in this program develop their capacities to engage difficult moral and political issues confronting our world today. Building on the Honors College’s signature course, “The Human Situation,” the curriculum of Phronesis introduces students to major works in ethics, political theory, classics and history. In their courses, students discuss fundamental questions and problems of political and moral concern from a wide range of perspectives.

For the minor in Phronesis, a student must complete 19 semester hours of approved coursework; all courses must be Honors sections. Classes may be approved for credit by the Phronesis director by means of a general petition.

Course Requirements:


I. Foundational course:


The Human Situtation: Modernity (4 hours) HON 2101   ENGL 236H

[Prerequisite- The Human Situation: Antiquity. For eligible students not in the Honors College, this prerequisite may be waived with the permission of the Phronesis director.]

II. One course each from POLS and PHIL (6 hours)


  • POLS 3310H, 3342H, 3349H
  • PHIL 3350H, 3351H, 3355H, 3358H, 3375H

III. Two 3000-level courses from approved list (6 hours)


IV. One 4000-level course from approved list (3 hours; seminar on a core issue in Politics and Ethics, with a substantial writing component)


V. Average GPA of 3.0 for all courses in the minor


VI. 6 hours of coursework may count toward the major


Approved Electives:


POLITICAL THEORY COURSES:

  • POLS 3310H: Introduction to Political Theory
  • POLS 3340H: Classical Political Thought
  • POLS 3341H: Early Modern Political Thought
  • POLS 3342H: Democratic Theory
  • POLS 3349H: American Political Thought
  • POLS 4395H: Civil War Politics (Lence Seminar)

PHILOSOPHY COURSES:

  • PHIL 3305H: 18th-Cnetury Philosophy
  • PHIL 3351H: Contemporary Moral Issues
  • PHIL 3356H: Feminist Philosophy
  • PHIL 3357H: Punishment
  • PHIL 3358H: Classics in the History of Ethics
  • PHIL 3382H: Medieval Philosophy
  • PHIL 3383H: Ancient Philosophy
  • PHIL 3386H: 19th-Century Philosophy

CLASSICS COURSES:

  • CLAS 3341H: The Roman Republic & Political Thought
  • CLAS 3375H: Roman, Jew, Christian

HISTORY COURSES:

  • HIST 3395H: Ideology and Empire: Russia
  • HIST 3395H: Enlightenment Stories

HONORS COLLOQUIA:

  • HON 4397H: Archeology & Politics of Ancient Israel

Contact:

Dr. Jeremy Bailey, Director: jbailey@central.uh.edu

Dr. Dustin Gish, Associate Director: dgish@central.uh.edu