Philosophy Courses Descriptions
University Calendar Descriptions for Philosophy Courses
1200.0 Critical Thinking
An introduction to essential principles of reasoning and critical thinking, designed to introduce students to the analysis of concepts, to enhance their ability to evaluate various forms of reasoning and to examine critically beliefs, conventions and theories, and to develop sound arguments. Emphasis will be given to decision-making and arguments in ordinary language, particularly those addressed to issues of public concern and moral debate.
1201.0 Introduction to Philosophy
Philosophy is devoted to the critical and creative examination of such fundamental questions as: What can be known? Does existence have meaning? What is a worthwhile life? What moral obligations do people have to one another? What makes a society just? Philosophy provides systematic training in the framing of these questions and in the rigorous analysis of the issues they involve.
1222.0 Ethics for Modern Life
The course examines competing moral perspectives on topics such as capital punishment, suicide, euthanasia, abortion, genetic engineering, friendship, marriage, parenthood, discrimination, inequality, poverty, foreign aid, and the environment. The aim is to help the student to develop a coherent set of principles to deal with these and other topics.
1244.1(.2) Human Freedom
The traditional problems of free will and political freedom and different concepts and conceptions of freedom and liberation are considered. In addition, there will be an examination of some contemporary thought on freedom and liberation.
1245.1(.2) Philosophies of Life
An examination of the major philosophies of life and an assessment of the reasons for and against their adoption. Consideration will be given to various forms of collectivism and individualism and to various views of what is ultimately worth striving for.
1255.1 (.2) Scientific Method
This course provides a historical and logical analysis of methods commonly used in science. Possible topics include science vs. pseudo-science, natural vs. social sciences, modes of reasoning, observation and experimentation, construction and empirical testing of theories and models, and thought experiments.
2301.1(.2) Introduction to Symbolic Logic
This course introduces the fundamentals of symbolic logic. Both the propositional and predicate calculus are covered as well as various standard proof techniques.
2302.0 Ethics
An introduction to moral philosophy designed to lead the student to examine the foundations of their moral positions. To this end historical and contemporary answers by philosophers to questions such as the following will be examined: What ought I to do morally and ultimately why I ought to do it? Are ethical positions simply relative: (a) to a person? (b) to a society? What is the relation between science and morality? Why be moral?
2305.1(.2) Environmental Ethics
The nature of the ecological crisis will be examined. Philosophical responses to it will be presented which will involve analysis of the concepts of animal rights, of the intrinsic value of nature, and of obligations to future generations. A portion of the course will be spent on the application of the theoretical concepts to specific ecological issues including population and world hunger, pollution, and the sustainable society. Part of the objective of the applied section will be to raise issues of public policy within a philosophical framework.
2311.1(.2) [6611.1(.2)] Political Philosophy: The Classic Texts
A critical examination of some of the core works in the history of political philosophy, such as those of Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Hobbes, Locke, Mill, Rousseau, Hegel, Marx, and Nietzsche.
2312.1(.2) [6612.1(.2)] Contemporary Political Philosophy
This course introduces students to the major schools of contemporary political thought, such as utilitarianism, liberal egalitarianism, libertarianism, Marxism, communitarianism, and feminism. Among the issues addressed are the justification for state power, the role of human nature in determining political arrangements, democracy and the rights of minorities, the tension between liberty and equality, and the just distribution of resources.
2318.1 (2) Science and Society
This course studies science in its social context. Contemporary and historical case studies provide a basis for examining effects of scientific and technological innovation on society, whether social values are implicated in scientific discovery and justification, and way in which social and economic institutions shape scientific practice.
2325.1(.2) Philosophical Issues in International Development
[IDST 2325.1(.2)]
Philosophical Issues in International Development: This course will examine various philosophical issues concerning international development. Among the issues addressed will be the nature of development, how to measure development, the extent to which those who are well off have a duty to aid those in need, the limits to which it is morally acceptable to place conditions on receipt of aid, the extent to which it is appropriate for developing countries to protect their cultures from the forces of globalization.
2327.1(.2) [6627.1(.2)] Philosophy of Mind: The Classic Texts
A close study of the philosophies of mind in the work of philosophers such as Plato and Descartes. Students read the original works and then move to modern critiques of these problems.
2328.1(.2) [6628.1(.2)] Philosophy of Mind: Contemporary Issues
This course is a study of contemporary theories in the philosophy of mind. Topics include Behaviorism, Mind/Brain Identity theories, Functionalism, Cognitivism, and various theories of consciousness.
2330.1(.2) Philosophy of Religion
A philosophical examination of the nature and rationality of religious belief.
2331.1(.2) Business Ethics
An examination of the extent to which business objectives can, must, or do conflict with moral objectives, and of the extent to which business organizations can be brought into harmony with moral objectives. This will involve treatment of the relevant aspects of ethical theory.
2332.1(.2) Ethics and the Law
Fidelity to the law, the distinction between moral and legal rights/duties, theories of punishment, and the legislation of morality.
2333.1(.2) Philosophy of Law
Natural Law Theory, legal positivism, separability thesis, relation between law and morality, legal interpretation, the economic analysis of the law, and legal skepticism.
2345.1(.2) [6645.1(.2)] Greek Philosophy: The Presocratics and Plato
A brief examination of Greek philosophy before the time of Socrates followed by careful readings of selected dialogues by Plato.
2346.1(.2) [6646.1(.2)] Greek Philosophy: Aristotle and The Hellenists
A study of Aristotle's views (focusing on topics in metaphysics, psychology, knowledge and ethics), together with a brief examination of several Hellenistic philosophers.
2348.1(.2) [6648.1(.2)] Aesthetics: The Classical Tradition
This course addresses issues central to the history of philosophical aesthetics, including those of representation, expression, and the cognitive aspects of art and aesthetic experience. The course will involve a survey of some of the great works of the tradition, including those of Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Collingwood, Dewey, and others.
2349.1(.2) [6649.1(.2)] Aesthetics: Contemporary Debates
This course addresses issues that dominate contemporary philosophical reflection on the arts, including those of form and content, the logic of taste, aesthetic value, art and knowledge, art and emotion, and so on.
2358.1(.2) Philosophy of Human Nature
Is there such a thing as a fixed and essential human nature? If so, what is it? What are we like as beings in the universe, on earth, in history? This course will consider a range of classical and contemporary responses to these questions. Included among the views that will be addressed are those of Aristotle, Hobbes, Rousseau, Darwin, Marx, and Freud, as well as existentialist, behaviorist, and feminist accounts.
2359.0 Philosophy of Education cross-listed with EDUC 2301.0
2362.1(.2) Philosophy and Literature
Works that have been discussed in recent years include: Shakespeare's King Lear , Marlowe's Dr. Faustus , Melville's Billy Budd , Conrad's Lord Jim , Walker Percy's The Moviegoer , Tom Stoppard's Jumpers and Richard Ford's The Sportswriter . The course may also address philosophical questions about literature. For instance, what cognitive and moral values are associated with our reading of literature? How do we explain our emotional reactions to fictional works? Why do we enjoy the experiences elicited by literary tragedy and horror?
2368.1(.2) [6668.1(.2)] Bioethics
Advancing medical technology has created moral issues that cannot be settled simply on the basis of medical facts. Both the medical profession and society as a whole must make value decisions before life and death issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and treatment of the insane can be settled. This course is intended to help the student reach reasoned conclusions on these issues through clarification and appraisal of arguments.
2375.1(.2) Philosophy and Film
This course will deal with philosophical questions concerning, or arising in, film. These include general issues of perspective, evidence, knowledge and objectivity, as well as more specific questions, such as: What is the nature of representation in film? Can film be construed as a language? What constitutes uniqueness in film? What constitutes excellence? What is the logic of film criticism? These and other questions will be addressed in an effort to clarify the nature of the relation between philosophy and film.
2380.0 [6680.0] Philosophical Issues in Feminism
[WMST 2380.0]
The course will examine the nature of the contemporary movement of feminism, and examine and evaluate arguments for and against this movement within the major traditions of political and social philosophy. To this end it will examine such basic concepts as justice, equality, freedom, rights, power and happiness, and discuss some of the practical questions raised by feminists.
3000.0[6000.0] Metaphysics
Metaphysics seeks to determine whether we can know any general truths about the world. What is it to exist? What is it to be an individual? What are the fundamental kinds of things and relations? Consideration is given to the principal metaphysical theories that form part of the Western philosophical tradition, e.g., materialism, idealism, dualism and monism. The course will also consider the major problems and concepts of metaphysics, e.g., time, space, substance, essence, free will, determinism, and causality.
3402.1(.2) [6602.1(.2)] Philosophy of Language
How is it that words and sentences mean what they do? One answer to this question is that linguistic meaning is determined by the speaker's intentions; another is that it is determined by social practices. Each answer raises issues regarding the relation of language to both thought and reality that this course will aim to address.
3404.1(.2) [6604.1(.2)] Theory of Knowledge: Foundations
This course examines the various concepts of human knowledge and attempts to find the limits of that knowledge. Traditional approaches to problems in the theory of knowledge will be considered as well as current work.
3405.1(.2) [6605.1(.2)] Theory of Knowledge: Ethics of Belief
We commonly evaluate beliefs as rational or irrational; justified or unjustified; responsible or irresponsible. But what do these terms mean and when are they correctly applied? Can beliefs be ethical? These and related questions are debated by contemporary epistemologists. This course seeks to interpret and assess the main competing views.
3413.1(.2) Intermediate Logic
Prerequisite: PHI 2301.1(.2) Introduction to Symbolic Logic
This course continues and develops the work of PHI 200.0. It offers students of all faculties opportunities for further growth in reasoning skills, in part through supervised practice in the logical appraisal of extracts from a variety of important writings. Some branches of logic are developed beyond the level of PHI 200.0. The complete predicate calculus (with identity) is applied to arguments of ordinary English. Inductive logic, and practically significant areas of logical theory, are developed considerably. Scientific method and the general methods of some other disciplines are analyzed in some depth.
3415.1(.2) [6415.1(.2)] Argumentation Theory
Prerequisite: PHI 1200.0 Critical Thinking
Contemporary argumentation theory draws upon several disciplines: philosophy of language, cognitive psychology, feminist philosophy and communications theory. This course will examine the concept of argument through the lens provided by argumentation theorists. Alternative conceptions of argument will be critically examined and an overview of the development of argumentation theory will be provided.
3442.1(.2) [6642.1(.2)] Early Modern Philosophy: The Rationalists
A critical examination of the works from this movement, focusing on the areas of metaphysics and epistemology. Descartes, Malebranche, Spinoza and Leibniz are among the philosophers typically studied.
3443.1(.2) [6643.1(.2)] Early Modern Philosophy: The Empiricists
A critical examination of the works from this movement, focusing on the areas of metaphysics and epistemology. Hobbes, Locke, Berkeley and Hume are among the philosophers typically studied.
3444.1(.2) [6644.1(.2)] Later Modern Philosophy: Kant
A lecture and seminar course on Kant's theory of knowledge.
3448.1(.2) [6652.1(.2)] Philosophy of Science
An introduction to the main problems of the philosophy of science designed to familiarize students with some of the contemporary analyses of scientific concepts and methods.
3454.1(.2) [6654.1(.2)] Philosophy of History
A critical study of the philosophical views on the course of human history (its pattern, purpose and value) and an examination of the aim, nature and validity of historical knowledge.
3455.1(.2) [6655.1(.2)] Existentialism: The 19 th Century
A lecture and seminar course examining the 19 th century origins of the existentialist movement in contemporary philosophy, with specific investigation of the writings of Kierkegaard and Nietzsche.
3456.1(.2) [6656.1(.2)] Existentialism: The 20 th Century
A lecture and seminar course examining the 20 th century expression of the existentialist movement in contemporary philosophy, through close study of the writings of Heidegger, Sartre, Camus, and others.
3471.1(.2) [6671.1(.2)] Meta-Ethics
The course investigates the moral concepts that are used in the formulation and evaluation of ethical theories, including: ‘morality', ‘moral value', ‘virtue', ‘vice', ‘moral right', ‘moral obligation', ‘justice', and ‘good'.
3472.1(.2) [6672.1(.2)] Foundation of Ethics
The course will involve the study of the nature of moral judgments and the logic of moral reasoning.
3479.0 [6679.0] Senior Seminar
The subject matter of the seminar is determined by consultation between instructor and students.
3491.0-3495.0; 3496.1(.2)-3499.1(.2); 6685.1(.2)-6689.1(.2); 6690.0-6695.0 Reading Courses in Philosophy
Prerequisite: One (1.0) credit in philosophy, consent of instructor, and permission of Chairperson.
The subject matter of this course will be determined by the student in consultation with the instructor.
4501.1(.2) [6601.1(.2)] Honors/Graduate Seminar
Prerequisite: Twelve (12) credit hours in philosophy, at least six (6) credit hours of which are above the 1000 level, and Majors or Honors standing in philosophy.
Participants will write and discuss research materials which are connected by a common theme. The aim will be to deepen students' knowledge of the topics studied, while developing effective research methods.
4502.1(.2) [6602.1(.2)] Honors/Graduate Seminar
Participants will write and discuss research materials which are connected by a common theme. The aim will be to deepen students' knowledge of the topics studied, while developing effective research methods.
4510.1(.2) [6510.1(.2)] Advanced Topics in Applied Ethics
This course will deal with advanced issues in applied or practical ethics. The course will focus on ethical issues in a particular domain (e.g., business, health care, the environment, international development) or on a particular ethical problem that might be faced in any of those domains (e.g., conflict of interest, racism, justice). Interested students should contact the Instructor to find out what this year's topic will be.
4514.1 (.2) Philosophy of Biology
The course explores methodological, conceptual, metaphysical, and epistemological questions that arise in modern biology. Possible topics include scientific revolutions, experimentation, biological laws, theoretical modeling, objectivity, reductionism, species concepts, evolution vs. creationism, human nature, and biological theories of gender, race, and sexuality.
4515.1 (.2) Philosophy of Physics
This course explores methodological, conceptual, metaphysical, and epistemological questions that arise in modern physics. Possible topics include scientific revolutions, experimentation, laws of nature, space, time, matter, causality, indeterminism, non-locality, thought experiments, and theoretical unification.
4525.1(.2) [6625.1(.2)] International Justice
[IDST 4525.1(.2)/6625.1(.2)]
This course will consider how major theories of justice such as Kantian constructivism, economic contractarianism, and utilitarianism deal with important issues in international justice such as the law of peoples, distributive justice, human rights, and democratization.
4565.0 [6665.0] Analytic Philosophy
A lecture and seminar course that examines the origins, expressions, and significance of the contemporary analytic movement in philosophy.
4599.0 Honors Thesis
Prerequisite: Honors standing in philosophy, consent of instructor, and permission of the Chairperson.
Honors students have the option of completing a thesis on an approved topic. The permission of the Chairperson of the Department and the availability of a thesis supervisor are required
6697.0 Master's Thesis
This course accommodates the thesis research and writing required by the Department for any student proceeding to the Master of Arts degree in philosophy.
This page last modified Wednesday, 02-Nov-2011 09:22:37 ADT