PHIL 110 - Beyond Belief? Exploring the Fringe and the Paranormal

Description:
The class will examine beliefs in fringe phenomena, such as ghosts, ESP, and alien abduction. Students will learn to consider evidence and how to recognize sources of bias in their own and others’ beliefs. Course will be offered every year. Course will not have an established scheduling pattern.

Credits: (5)

Learner Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Analyze reports of paranormal and fringe phenomena from an objective, scientific perspective; and in particular, use inference to the best explanation to evaluate such reports.
Identify and evaluate the evidence that a phenomenon did (or did not) occur, rather than demanding proof that it did (or did not) occur; and explain why demanding proof is obstructive and unnecessary.
Read texts about paranormal and fringe phenomena critically and rhetorically, and summarize them objectively, accurately, and ethically.
Recognize when various cognitive biases and errors might be influencing someone’s (including your own) thinking about a reported paranormal or fringe phenomenon.
Express ideas in clear and coherent academic prose, and cite and document sources precisely and effectively.

Learner Outcomes Approval Date:
1/4/18