Courses
All philosophy courses are classified into three sub-fields, reflecting the basic branches of the subject:
- history of philosophy
- value theory
- metaphysics and theories of knowledge
Descriptions and Distributions
- You can find a description of each sub-field here.
- You can see which courses fall into which sub-field here.
- You can see how these subfields relate to the department's Major / Minor requirements here.
- You can see which courses satisfy which College-level distribution requirements here.
Current Courses
View the list below to see all courses currently offered by the philosophy department.
AFR 202/PHIL 202
Intro to African Philosophy
PHIL 202/AFR 202 Introduction to African Philosophy Initiation into basic African philosophical concepts and principles. The first part of the course deals with a systematic interpretation of such questions as the Bantu African philosophical concept of Muntu and related beliefs, as well as Bantu ontology, metaphysics, and ethics. The second part centers on the relationship between philosophy and ideologies and its implications in Black African social, political, religious, and economic institutions. The approach will be comparative. Students may register for either PHIL 202 or AFR 202 and credit will be granted accordingly. Prerequisite: Open to first-year students who have taken one course in philosophy and to sophomores, juniors, and seniors without prerequisite.
Intro to African Philosophy
PHIL 202/AFR 202 Introduction to African Philosophy Initiation into basic African philosophical concepts and principles. The first part of the course deals with a systematic interpretation of such questions as the Bantu African philosophical concept of Muntu and related beliefs, as well as Bantu ontology, metaphysics, and ethics. The second part centers on the relationship between philosophy and ideologies and its implications in Black African social, political, religious, and economic institutions. The approach will be comparative. Students may register for either PHIL 202 or AFR 202 and credit will be granted accordingly. Prerequisite: Open to first-year students who have taken one course in philosophy and to sophomores, juniors, and seniors without prerequisite.
PHIL 103
Self&World:IntroMetaphy&Epist
PHIL 103 Self and World: Introduction to Metaphysics and EpistemologyThis course introduces basic philosophical methods and concepts by exploring a variety of approaches to some central philosophical problems. Topics covered include the existence of God, the relation between reason and faith, skepticism and certainty, theories of knowledge, the relation between mind and body, and the compatibility of free will and causal determination. Readings are drawn from historical and contemporary texts. Discussions and as-signments encourage the development of the student’s own critical perspective on the problems discussed.
Self&World:IntroMetaphy&Epist
PHIL 103 Self and World: Introduction to Metaphysics and EpistemologyThis course introduces basic philosophical methods and concepts by exploring a variety of approaches to some central philosophical problems. Topics covered include the existence of God, the relation between reason and faith, skepticism and certainty, theories of knowledge, the relation between mind and body, and the compatibility of free will and causal determination. Readings are drawn from historical and contemporary texts. Discussions and as-signments encourage the development of the student’s own critical perspective on the problems discussed.
PHIL 106
Intro to Moral Philosophy
A study of central issues in moral philosophy from ancient Greece to the present day. Topics include the nature of morality, conceptions of justice, views of human nature and their bearing on questions of value, and competing tests of right and wrong.
Intro to Moral Philosophy
A study of central issues in moral philosophy from ancient Greece to the present day. Topics include the nature of morality, conceptions of justice, views of human nature and their bearing on questions of value, and competing tests of right and wrong.
PHIL 201
Ancient Greek Philosophy
Study of writings of Plato and Aristotle that are particularly influential still today, including Plato’s Symposium and Republic and Aristotle’s Nico-machean Ethics. In addition to studying the “essentialist” approach to nature and to ethics that Aristotle accepted from his teacher Plato, we will consider differences between Plato and Aristotle. For Plato, this will include his “theory of forms,” his presentation of Socrates and the dialogue form of his writ-ings. For Aristotle, it will include his development of the philosophical vocabulary that became standard for subsequent Western philosophy up until the Renaissance. We will discuss how Plato’s and Aristotle’s views relate to contemporary questions such as “stereotyping” in social thought, whether women and men are or are not essentially different, and whether scientific and ethical reasoning are fundamentally the same or different.
Ancient Greek Philosophy
Study of writings of Plato and Aristotle that are particularly influential still today, including Plato’s Symposium and Republic and Aristotle’s Nico-machean Ethics. In addition to studying the “essentialist” approach to nature and to ethics that Aristotle accepted from his teacher Plato, we will consider differences between Plato and Aristotle. For Plato, this will include his “theory of forms,” his presentation of Socrates and the dialogue form of his writ-ings. For Aristotle, it will include his development of the philosophical vocabulary that became standard for subsequent Western philosophy up until the Renaissance. We will discuss how Plato’s and Aristotle’s views relate to contemporary questions such as “stereotyping” in social thought, whether women and men are or are not essentially different, and whether scientific and ethical reasoning are fundamentally the same or different.
PHIL 203
Philosophy of Art
PHIL 203/CAMS 223 Philosophy of Art What makes an object an art object? How does art reflect on the human condition? Why is there art rather than not, expression rather than silence, a gesture rather than stillness? A philosophical approach to art is primarily interested in clarifying the problem of aesthetic value, the special activities that produce art, and the claim to truth which finds expression through artistic creation. The aim of this course is to explore these questions, among others, by examining the positions of major philosophers and twentieth-century artists. Aesthetic issues in new media such as film and photography willa lso be discussed. Students may register for either PHIL 203 or CAMS 223 and credit will be granted accordingly.
Philosophy of Art
PHIL 203/CAMS 223 Philosophy of Art What makes an object an art object? How does art reflect on the human condition? Why is there art rather than not, expression rather than silence, a gesture rather than stillness? A philosophical approach to art is primarily interested in clarifying the problem of aesthetic value, the special activities that produce art, and the claim to truth which finds expression through artistic creation. The aim of this course is to explore these questions, among others, by examining the positions of major philosophers and twentieth-century artists. Aesthetic issues in new media such as film and photography willa lso be discussed. Students may register for either PHIL 203 or CAMS 223 and credit will be granted accordingly.
PHIL 204
Philosophy & Literature
PHIL 204 Philosophy and LiteratureNOT OFFERED IN 2010-11. This course considers the questions: what sort of object is the literary text and what are the ontological issues raised by acts of literary interpretation? It also examines the complex relationship between fiction and fact, and between fiction and morality. The treatment of commitment to self and others, of self-knowledge and self-identity, and of individual and social ideals will also be explored. We end the course by look-ing at poetry—how it has meaning despite an inbuilt element of ambiguity and how it succeeds not only in shaping, but also healing the world.
Philosophy & Literature
PHIL 204 Philosophy and LiteratureNOT OFFERED IN 2010-11. This course considers the questions: what sort of object is the literary text and what are the ontological issues raised by acts of literary interpretation? It also examines the complex relationship between fiction and fact, and between fiction and morality. The treatment of commitment to self and others, of self-knowledge and self-identity, and of individual and social ideals will also be explored. We end the course by look-ing at poetry—how it has meaning despite an inbuilt element of ambiguity and how it succeeds not only in shaping, but also healing the world.
PHIL 207
Philosophy of Language
PHIL 207 Philosophy of Language NOT OFFERED IN 2010-11. This course will explore a variety of philosophical issues concerning language: the different ways in which spoken lan-guage functions and conveys information, the alleged difference between speech and action and how it relates to freedom of speech issues (e.g., pornog-raphy and hate speech), the general problem of how words get attached to their referents, and criticisms of traditional conceptions of meaning and refer-ence.
Philosophy of Language
PHIL 207 Philosophy of Language NOT OFFERED IN 2010-11. This course will explore a variety of philosophical issues concerning language: the different ways in which spoken lan-guage functions and conveys information, the alleged difference between speech and action and how it relates to freedom of speech issues (e.g., pornog-raphy and hate speech), the general problem of how words get attached to their referents, and criticisms of traditional conceptions of meaning and refer-ence.
PHIL 208
Theories of Knowledge
PHIL 208 Theories of Knowledge NOT OFFERED IN 2010-11. We usually assume that we know a lot about the world around us. But how can we be sure that our beliefs reflect what the world is really like? In this course, we will investigate the nature of knowledge and the conditions under which we can be said to have any. We will explore answers to the following questions: What distinguishes knowledge from mere opinion? What makes someone justified in holding a particular belief? What is the connection between what we do believe and what we should believe? How is self-deception possible? We will conclude by examin-ing the contributions of feminism and cognitive science to the discussion of these questions.
Theories of Knowledge
PHIL 208 Theories of Knowledge NOT OFFERED IN 2010-11. We usually assume that we know a lot about the world around us. But how can we be sure that our beliefs reflect what the world is really like? In this course, we will investigate the nature of knowledge and the conditions under which we can be said to have any. We will explore answers to the following questions: What distinguishes knowledge from mere opinion? What makes someone justified in holding a particular belief? What is the connection between what we do believe and what we should believe? How is self-deception possible? We will conclude by examin-ing the contributions of feminism and cognitive science to the discussion of these questions.
PHIL 211
Philosophy of Religion
PHIL 211 Philosophy of Religion This course undertakes a critical and philosophical study of central topics in the philosophy of religion, including the questions of the nature and exis-tence of god, the problem of evil, the relation between morality and the divine, the relation between faith and reason, the problems of personal identity involved in the doctrines of incarnation and resurrection, and a consideration of the origins and value of religion in life. Readings will draw from the rich heritage of philosophical discourse, including Plato, Anselm, Aquinas, Leibniz, Pascal, Kant, Nietzsche, Freud, and others, including some contemporary work.
Philosophy of Religion
PHIL 211 Philosophy of Religion This course undertakes a critical and philosophical study of central topics in the philosophy of religion, including the questions of the nature and exis-tence of god, the problem of evil, the relation between morality and the divine, the relation between faith and reason, the problems of personal identity involved in the doctrines of incarnation and resurrection, and a consideration of the origins and value of religion in life. Readings will draw from the rich heritage of philosophical discourse, including Plato, Anselm, Aquinas, Leibniz, Pascal, Kant, Nietzsche, Freud, and others, including some contemporary work.
PHIL 212
Technology and Human Values
PHIL 212 Technology and Human Values As the pace of technological advancement continues to increase, concern that technology is transforming basic human values grows as well. In this course, we will discuss general topics regarding technology: the nature of technology, whether the morality of technology depends on how it is used or if it is already imbued with values, how technology changes our relationship to nature and whether technology is a form of social control. To bring these general topics down to earth, we will discuss (for example) disputes within biotechnology over reproductive technology, genetic manipulation or whether it is possible to become something "more than human" and within information technology over surveillance and privacy of personal informa-tion.
Technology and Human Values
PHIL 212 Technology and Human Values As the pace of technological advancement continues to increase, concern that technology is transforming basic human values grows as well. In this course, we will discuss general topics regarding technology: the nature of technology, whether the morality of technology depends on how it is used or if it is already imbued with values, how technology changes our relationship to nature and whether technology is a form of social control. To bring these general topics down to earth, we will discuss (for example) disputes within biotechnology over reproductive technology, genetic manipulation or whether it is possible to become something "more than human" and within information technology over surveillance and privacy of personal informa-tion.
PHIL 213
Social & Political Philosophy
PHIL 213 Social and Political PhilosophyWhy should we obey the government? Are there limits to what the state may demand of us? Does social justice require equality? Is taxation—or wage labor—theft? This course addresses these and other questions of social and political morality, through the lens of the major theories of Western philoso-phy. Topics will include Bentham and Mill on the general welfare and the importance of liberty, Locke and Nozick on individual rights, Rawls and Dworkin on distributive justice and Marx and Cohen on equality. We will study the structure and justification of each of these theories, as well as apply them to contemporary issues such as gay marriage, affirmative action, campaign finance and welfare policy.
Social & Political Philosophy
PHIL 213 Social and Political PhilosophyWhy should we obey the government? Are there limits to what the state may demand of us? Does social justice require equality? Is taxation—or wage labor—theft? This course addresses these and other questions of social and political morality, through the lens of the major theories of Western philoso-phy. Topics will include Bentham and Mill on the general welfare and the importance of liberty, Locke and Nozick on individual rights, Rawls and Dworkin on distributive justice and Marx and Cohen on equality. We will study the structure and justification of each of these theories, as well as apply them to contemporary issues such as gay marriage, affirmative action, campaign finance and welfare policy.
PHIL 215
Philosophy of Mind
PHIL 215 Philosophy of MindWhat is a mind? How is it related to a person’s brain and body? These two questions have driven centuries of work in the philosophy of mind, and we will take them as our starting point. After considering a variety of answers, we will pursue several topics that challenge our best accounts of the mind: consciousness, mental representation, the emotions, free will, and the possibility of thinking machines. Our goal will be to connect central philosophical perspectives on these issues with contributions from psychology, cognitive science, and neuroscience.
Philosophy of Mind
PHIL 215 Philosophy of MindWhat is a mind? How is it related to a person’s brain and body? These two questions have driven centuries of work in the philosophy of mind, and we will take them as our starting point. After considering a variety of answers, we will pursue several topics that challenge our best accounts of the mind: consciousness, mental representation, the emotions, free will, and the possibility of thinking machines. Our goal will be to connect central philosophical perspectives on these issues with contributions from psychology, cognitive science, and neuroscience.
PHIL 216
Logic
PHIL 216 LogicAn introduction to formal logic. Students will learn a variety of formal methods—methods sensitive only to the form of arguments, as opposed to their content—to determine whether the conclusions of arguments follow from their premises. Discussion of the philosophical problems that arise in logic, and of the application of formal logic to problems in philosophy and other disciplines. Some consideration of issues in the philosophy of language.
Logic
PHIL 216 LogicAn introduction to formal logic. Students will learn a variety of formal methods—methods sensitive only to the form of arguments, as opposed to their content—to determine whether the conclusions of arguments follow from their premises. Discussion of the philosophical problems that arise in logic, and of the application of formal logic to problems in philosophy and other disciplines. Some consideration of issues in the philosophy of language.
PHIL 217
Philosophy of Science
PHIL 217 Philosophy of Science: Traditional and Feminist Perspectives
Philosophy of Science
PHIL 217 Philosophy of Science: Traditional and Feminist Perspectives
PHIL 218
Gender, Knowledge and Science
PHIL 218 Gender, Knowledge & ScienceWhat, if anything, does gender have to do with knowledge? This course investigates ways in which gender might influence our conception of knowledge and our practices of seeking it. We will examine how gender situates and affect a knower, in order to investigate ways in which our practices of inquiry have systematically disadvantaged or excluded women (and other subordinated groups). We will consider three proposals for reforming those practices: feminist empiricism, feminist standpoint epistemology, and feminist postmodernism. Questions we will discuss include: Do feminist (or any other) val-ues have a legitimate role to play in scientific inquiry? Is our conception of objectivity or of rationality gendered? Is science inherently sexist or is it a feminist’s ally?
Gender, Knowledge and Science
PHIL 218 Gender, Knowledge & ScienceWhat, if anything, does gender have to do with knowledge? This course investigates ways in which gender might influence our conception of knowledge and our practices of seeking it. We will examine how gender situates and affect a knower, in order to investigate ways in which our practices of inquiry have systematically disadvantaged or excluded women (and other subordinated groups). We will consider three proposals for reforming those practices: feminist empiricism, feminist standpoint epistemology, and feminist postmodernism. Questions we will discuss include: Do feminist (or any other) val-ues have a legitimate role to play in scientific inquiry? Is our conception of objectivity or of rationality gendered? Is science inherently sexist or is it a feminist’s ally?
PHIL 222
American Philosophy
PHIL 222 American PhilosophyThe development of American philosophy from colonial times to the present. Among the topics: European justifications of colonization and conquest; the spiritualist metaphysics of Berkeley and Jonathan Edwards; philosophical underpinnings of the revolution and the republic; slavery and abolition; transcendentalism (Emerson, Thoreau); justice and civil disobedience; feminism. We will concentrate in particular on pragmatism, America’s unique contribution to world philosophy, with readings from Peirce, James, Dewey, Quine, Richard Rorty, and Cornel West. The course is intended for students of history, literature, and American Studies as well as for students of philosophy.
American Philosophy
PHIL 222 American PhilosophyThe development of American philosophy from colonial times to the present. Among the topics: European justifications of colonization and conquest; the spiritualist metaphysics of Berkeley and Jonathan Edwards; philosophical underpinnings of the revolution and the republic; slavery and abolition; transcendentalism (Emerson, Thoreau); justice and civil disobedience; feminism. We will concentrate in particular on pragmatism, America’s unique contribution to world philosophy, with readings from Peirce, James, Dewey, Quine, Richard Rorty, and Cornel West. The course is intended for students of history, literature, and American Studies as well as for students of philosophy.
PHIL 224
Existentialism
PHIL 224 ExistentialismThis course will study basic themes in existentialism by focusing on the theoretical and theatrical works of key existentialist writers such as Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Antonin Artaud, Samuel Beckett, Albert Camus, and Eugene Ionesco. In taking the human condition as its primary ques-tion, existentialism redefines the meaning of theory as a philosophical reflection or “seeing” of the human condition, as well as the significance of theatre as a “seeing” or “manifestation” of features of the human condition that otherwise remain hidden from view. Special emphasis will be placed on the themes of boredom, death, bad faith, anxiety, suffering, freedom, and inter-subjective relationships.
Existentialism
PHIL 224 ExistentialismThis course will study basic themes in existentialism by focusing on the theoretical and theatrical works of key existentialist writers such as Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Antonin Artaud, Samuel Beckett, Albert Camus, and Eugene Ionesco. In taking the human condition as its primary ques-tion, existentialism redefines the meaning of theory as a philosophical reflection or “seeing” of the human condition, as well as the significance of theatre as a “seeing” or “manifestation” of features of the human condition that otherwise remain hidden from view. Special emphasis will be placed on the themes of boredom, death, bad faith, anxiety, suffering, freedom, and inter-subjective relationships.
PHIL 233
Environmental Ethics
PHIL 233 Environmental Ethics Do non-human animals, plants, species, ecosystems or wilderness have moral value beyond their relation to human interests? Do we have moral duties to refrain from harming the natural world or to preserve it for future generations? How should we weigh up environmental concerns against other concerns (such as the elimination of poverty or economic growth) in cases where they come into conflict? How should the benefits of the environment, and the burdens of conserving it, be shared across individuals or countries? Does recognition of the importance of the environment call for a brand new kind of moral philosophy or merely a more sophisticated application of an old one? This course will examine a variety of philosophical answers to these ques-tions and apply those answers to a set of pressing current issues, including global climate change; population policy and reproductive freedom; the local food movement; and the use of non-human animals for food, research and entertainment.
Environmental Ethics
PHIL 233 Environmental Ethics Do non-human animals, plants, species, ecosystems or wilderness have moral value beyond their relation to human interests? Do we have moral duties to refrain from harming the natural world or to preserve it for future generations? How should we weigh up environmental concerns against other concerns (such as the elimination of poverty or economic growth) in cases where they come into conflict? How should the benefits of the environment, and the burdens of conserving it, be shared across individuals or countries? Does recognition of the importance of the environment call for a brand new kind of moral philosophy or merely a more sophisticated application of an old one? This course will examine a variety of philosophical answers to these ques-tions and apply those answers to a set of pressing current issues, including global climate change; population policy and reproductive freedom; the local food movement; and the use of non-human animals for food, research and entertainment.
PHIL 235
Democracy
PHIL 235 DemocracyNOT OFFERED IN 2010-11. This course provides an introduction to past and present work on the normative theory of democracy, and discusses how that work bears on some important issues in current affairs. We will explore significant historical contributions to democratic thought; consider contem-porary work on issues such as procedural versus substantive accounts of democracy, democratic deliberation, democratic participation, legislative repre-sentation and constitutionalism; and address present public debates concerning campaign finance reform, democracy at the supra-state level and the “exporting” of democracy overseas.
Democracy
PHIL 235 DemocracyNOT OFFERED IN 2010-11. This course provides an introduction to past and present work on the normative theory of democracy, and discusses how that work bears on some important issues in current affairs. We will explore significant historical contributions to democratic thought; consider contem-porary work on issues such as procedural versus substantive accounts of democracy, democratic deliberation, democratic participation, legislative repre-sentation and constitutionalism; and address present public debates concerning campaign finance reform, democracy at the supra-state level and the “exporting” of democracy overseas.
PHIL 236
Intro to Global Justice
PHIL 236 Introduction to Global Justice NOT OFFERED IN 2010-11. An introduction to recent work in political philosophy on the ethics of international relations. The course will begin with a survey of some of the main theoretical approaches to the topic: realism, cosmopolitan egalitarianism, political liberalism, utilitarianism and national-ism. We will then consider how these different approaches might be applied to some specific moral controversies in international politics, such as those relating to global poverty, human rights and humanitarian intervention, immigration, climate change, and global governance.
Intro to Global Justice
PHIL 236 Introduction to Global Justice NOT OFFERED IN 2010-11. An introduction to recent work in political philosophy on the ethics of international relations. The course will begin with a survey of some of the main theoretical approaches to the topic: realism, cosmopolitan egalitarianism, political liberalism, utilitarianism and national-ism. We will then consider how these different approaches might be applied to some specific moral controversies in international politics, such as those relating to global poverty, human rights and humanitarian intervention, immigration, climate change, and global governance.
PHIL 239
Kant and German Idealism
PHIL 239 The Owls of Minerva: Kant and German IdealismNOT OFFERED IN 2010-11. Perhaps no other period in the history of philosophy since its Greek origins has witnessed as much creativity and sub-stance as the years spanning the bloom of German Idealism (1781–1832). Beginning with Kant’s “Copernican Revolution” of the Critique of Pure Rea-son, this course critically explores the diverse veins of German Idealism and Romanticism: Fichte, Schelling, F. Schlegel, Novalis, Hölderlin, and Hegel. Themes will include: the relation between philosophy and poetry; the problem of idealism and the reality of the external world; the constitution of self-consciousness in its relation to Others; the relation between nature and aesthetics; the emergence of language as a primary philosophical concern; the relationship between faith and knowledge; and the significance of historical consciousness and the formation of culture. In addition to exploring the impact of German Idealism on nineteenth-century English Romanticism, we will also consider engagements with the legacy of German Idealism among contemporary European and American philosophy.
Kant and German Idealism
PHIL 239 The Owls of Minerva: Kant and German IdealismNOT OFFERED IN 2010-11. Perhaps no other period in the history of philosophy since its Greek origins has witnessed as much creativity and sub-stance as the years spanning the bloom of German Idealism (1781–1832). Beginning with Kant’s “Copernican Revolution” of the Critique of Pure Rea-son, this course critically explores the diverse veins of German Idealism and Romanticism: Fichte, Schelling, F. Schlegel, Novalis, Hölderlin, and Hegel. Themes will include: the relation between philosophy and poetry; the problem of idealism and the reality of the external world; the constitution of self-consciousness in its relation to Others; the relation between nature and aesthetics; the emergence of language as a primary philosophical concern; the relationship between faith and knowledge; and the significance of historical consciousness and the formation of culture. In addition to exploring the impact of German Idealism on nineteenth-century English Romanticism, we will also consider engagements with the legacy of German Idealism among contemporary European and American philosophy.
PHIL 245
Agency and Motivation
PHIL 245 Agency and Motivation NOT OFFERED IN 2010-11. An examination of the capacities important to moral agency, drawing on work in philosophy as well as research in social psychology, evolutionary biology, and cognitive science. Topics to be examined include: theories of motivation; the moral significance of sympathy and empathy; guilt, shame, regret, and other traits central to moral accountability; differing conceptions of free will and the nature of autonomy; and issues involving self-control and self-knowledge.
Agency and Motivation
PHIL 245 Agency and Motivation NOT OFFERED IN 2010-11. An examination of the capacities important to moral agency, drawing on work in philosophy as well as research in social psychology, evolutionary biology, and cognitive science. Topics to be examined include: theories of motivation; the moral significance of sympathy and empathy; guilt, shame, regret, and other traits central to moral accountability; differing conceptions of free will and the nature of autonomy; and issues involving self-control and self-knowledge.
PHIL 249
Medical Ethics
PHIL 249 Medical Ethics A philosophical examination of some central problems at the interface of medicine and ethics. Exploration of the social and ethical implications of cur-rent advances in biomedical research and technology. Topics discussed will include psychosurgery, gender surgery, genetic screening, amniocentesis, and euthanasia.
Medical Ethics
PHIL 249 Medical Ethics A philosophical examination of some central problems at the interface of medicine and ethics. Exploration of the social and ethical implications of cur-rent advances in biomedical research and technology. Topics discussed will include psychosurgery, gender surgery, genetic screening, amniocentesis, and euthanasia.
PHIL 301
Seminar in Early Modern Philo
PHIL 301 Seminar. Early Modern Philosophy: Spinoza, Mind, and NatureThis seminar will investigate the thought of Baruch Spinoza, a seventeenth-century Dutch rationalist. Our focus will include Spinoza’s mechanistic view of mind, its embodiment, and the relationship between the individual and society. We will explore Spinoza’s striking claim that mind and body are one, his views on the possibility of action against one’s better judgment, and his reflections on the nature of human virtue and well-being. Readings will in-clude several of Spinoza’s works, a few excerpts from his contemporaries, and the interpretive work of some recent commentators.
Seminar in Early Modern Philo
PHIL 301 Seminar. Early Modern Philosophy: Spinoza, Mind, and NatureThis seminar will investigate the thought of Baruch Spinoza, a seventeenth-century Dutch rationalist. Our focus will include Spinoza’s mechanistic view of mind, its embodiment, and the relationship between the individual and society. We will explore Spinoza’s striking claim that mind and body are one, his views on the possibility of action against one’s better judgment, and his reflections on the nature of human virtue and well-being. Readings will in-clude several of Spinoza’s works, a few excerpts from his contemporaries, and the interpretive work of some recent commentators.
PHIL 310
Sem: Ancient & Medieval Phil.
PHIL 310 Seminar. Ancient and Medieval Philosophy Topic for 2010-11: Medieval Political Theory, Old and New. The modern era often contrasts itself with the Medieval, what we call "The Dark Ages". However, there is reason to believe that the Medieval period is not as unmodern as we believe. In this course we will return to the original texts, exploring the medieval political thought of Augustine, Abu Nasr al-Farabi, and Thomas Aquinas and their platonic, Aristotelian, scriptural and Stoic roots. Topics will include the idea of natural law, the relation between temporal and eternal authority (that is, state and church), the extent to which mod-ern political thought is grounded in theological ideas and whether contemporary anti-modernists are truly 'New Medievals'.
Sem: Ancient & Medieval Phil.
PHIL 310 Seminar. Ancient and Medieval Philosophy Topic for 2010-11: Medieval Political Theory, Old and New. The modern era often contrasts itself with the Medieval, what we call "The Dark Ages". However, there is reason to believe that the Medieval period is not as unmodern as we believe. In this course we will return to the original texts, exploring the medieval political thought of Augustine, Abu Nasr al-Farabi, and Thomas Aquinas and their platonic, Aristotelian, scriptural and Stoic roots. Topics will include the idea of natural law, the relation between temporal and eternal authority (that is, state and church), the extent to which mod-ern political thought is grounded in theological ideas and whether contemporary anti-modernists are truly 'New Medievals'.
PHIL 313
Sem:Adv Topics in Metaphysics
PHIL 313 Seminar. Metaphysics NOT OFFERED IN 2010-11. Constructionism. This course will survey various ways in which we make facts about our world. That certain facts are constructed (e.g., speed limits and checkmates) is uncontroversial. Substantive philosophical issues arise, however, when delineating the precise manner in which such facts are constructed and drawing a defensible line between that which is constructed and that which is not. Constructionist speech, the social construction of gender and certain global constructionist theses will be considered. The diverse work of such contemporary analytic philosophers as Elgin, Goodman, Haslanger, Hacking, Lewis, Putnam, and Searle will be discussed.
Sem:Adv Topics in Metaphysics
PHIL 313 Seminar. Metaphysics NOT OFFERED IN 2010-11. Constructionism. This course will survey various ways in which we make facts about our world. That certain facts are constructed (e.g., speed limits and checkmates) is uncontroversial. Substantive philosophical issues arise, however, when delineating the precise manner in which such facts are constructed and drawing a defensible line between that which is constructed and that which is not. Constructionist speech, the social construction of gender and certain global constructionist theses will be considered. The diverse work of such contemporary analytic philosophers as Elgin, Goodman, Haslanger, Hacking, Lewis, Putnam, and Searle will be discussed.
PHIL 325
The Free Will Problem
PHIL 325 The Free Will Problem Do we ever act with freedom of the will? To address this question, philosophers typically start by analyzing the concept of free will. Some conclude that a choice that is caused by antecedent states or is causally determined could not be an instance of free will. This approach can lead to skepticism about whether free will actually exists. Others start with the assumption that free will must exist because it is the trait that explains and justifies our practice of holding people responsible for what they do. This approach leaves it open what free will might turn out to be. Variations on these two strategies in the work of philosophers, psychologists, and neuroscientists will be scrutinized and evaluated as we formulate our own positions in the free will debate.
The Free Will Problem
PHIL 325 The Free Will Problem Do we ever act with freedom of the will? To address this question, philosophers typically start by analyzing the concept of free will. Some conclude that a choice that is caused by antecedent states or is causally determined could not be an instance of free will. This approach can lead to skepticism about whether free will actually exists. Others start with the assumption that free will must exist because it is the trait that explains and justifies our practice of holding people responsible for what they do. This approach leaves it open what free will might turn out to be. Variations on these two strategies in the work of philosophers, psychologists, and neuroscientists will be scrutinized and evaluated as we formulate our own positions in the free will debate.
PHIL 326
Philosophy of Law
PHIL 326 Philosophy of Law A systematic consideration of fundamental issues in the conception and practice of law such as the nature and function of law, the limits of law, the na-ture of judicial reasoning, and the relationship of law to morality. We will assess how alternative theories of law explain rights, duties, liability and re-sponsibility. We will also focus on philosophical issues raised in court cases associated with liberty, privacy, justice, responsibility, causation and pun-ishment. Readings include selections from legal theory and a variety of contemporary court decisions.
Philosophy of Law
PHIL 326 Philosophy of Law A systematic consideration of fundamental issues in the conception and practice of law such as the nature and function of law, the limits of law, the na-ture of judicial reasoning, and the relationship of law to morality. We will assess how alternative theories of law explain rights, duties, liability and re-sponsibility. We will also focus on philosophical issues raised in court cases associated with liberty, privacy, justice, responsibility, causation and pun-ishment. Readings include selections from legal theory and a variety of contemporary court decisions.
PHIL 340
Moral Philosophy Seminar
PHIL 340 Seminar. Moral Philosophy NOT OFFERED IN 2010-11. Well-being and morality. Some of the oldest and most perplexing questions in ethics concern the nature of well-being and its relationship to our moral duties. What is it that makes a life go well for a person? What role does well-being play in morality? What role should it play in social policy? What difficulties arise in measuring welfare across time and across persons? This seminar will consider a range of recent answers to these questions, including those of Sumner, Sen, Hurka, Railton, Parfit, Broome, and Scanlon. We will also consider the ancient antecedents of these views, and discuss how contemporary empirical work on the sources of happiness might shed light on them.
Moral Philosophy Seminar
PHIL 340 Seminar. Moral Philosophy NOT OFFERED IN 2010-11. Well-being and morality. Some of the oldest and most perplexing questions in ethics concern the nature of well-being and its relationship to our moral duties. What is it that makes a life go well for a person? What role does well-being play in morality? What role should it play in social policy? What difficulties arise in measuring welfare across time and across persons? This seminar will consider a range of recent answers to these questions, including those of Sumner, Sen, Hurka, Railton, Parfit, Broome, and Scanlon. We will also consider the ancient antecedents of these views, and discuss how contemporary empirical work on the sources of happiness might shed light on them.
PHIL 342
Political Philosophy
PHIL 342 Seminar. Political PhilosophyTopic for 2010-11: Justice and International Trade. This course will consider how norms of justice and fairness might apply to the contemporary system of international trade in goods, capital, services and ideas. International trade raises deep philosophical issues about the relationship of principles of justice to coercion, cooperation, shared values and fair procedures. It also raises specific moral concerns about such matters as national self-determination, the environment, labor standards, intellectual property, and global poverty and inequality. We will draw on recent work by moral and political philosophers, as well as empirical research and case studies relating to the WTO.
Political Philosophy
PHIL 342 Seminar. Political PhilosophyTopic for 2010-11: Justice and International Trade. This course will consider how norms of justice and fairness might apply to the contemporary system of international trade in goods, capital, services and ideas. International trade raises deep philosophical issues about the relationship of principles of justice to coercion, cooperation, shared values and fair procedures. It also raises specific moral concerns about such matters as national self-determination, the environment, labor standards, intellectual property, and global poverty and inequality. We will draw on recent work by moral and political philosophers, as well as empirical research and case studies relating to the WTO.
PHIL 345
Adv Tpcs: Phil Psych & Soc Sci
PHIL 345 Seminar. Advanced Topics in Philosophy of Psychology and Social ScienceTopic for 2010-11: Innate Knowledge. Do we have any knowledge we have not derived from experience? Following the seminal work of Noam Chomsky in linguistics, the claim that we have ‘innate knowledge’ has undergone a resurgence in popularity and now emerges regularly in explanations of ‘human nature’. In this seminar, we will investigate the arguments for and against claims about innate knowledge. We will begin with the historical disagreement about ‘innate ideas’ between Rationalists and Empiricists as represented by Descartes and Locke. We will then examine four specific do-mains in which recent claims about innate knowledge have been made: language, concepts, mathematics, and morality. We will draw on readings from philosophy, linguistics, and psychology, including work by Chomsky, Fodor, Cowie, Spelke, Carey, and Hauser.
Adv Tpcs: Phil Psych & Soc Sci
PHIL 345 Seminar. Advanced Topics in Philosophy of Psychology and Social ScienceTopic for 2010-11: Innate Knowledge. Do we have any knowledge we have not derived from experience? Following the seminal work of Noam Chomsky in linguistics, the claim that we have ‘innate knowledge’ has undergone a resurgence in popularity and now emerges regularly in explanations of ‘human nature’. In this seminar, we will investigate the arguments for and against claims about innate knowledge. We will begin with the historical disagreement about ‘innate ideas’ between Rationalists and Empiricists as represented by Descartes and Locke. We will then examine four specific do-mains in which recent claims about innate knowledge have been made: language, concepts, mathematics, and morality. We will draw on readings from philosophy, linguistics, and psychology, including work by Chomsky, Fodor, Cowie, Spelke, Carey, and Hauser.
PHIL 349
Sem: Speech Acts
PHIL 349 Seminar. Speech Acts NOT OFFERED IN 2010-11. This seminar will survey various philosophical issues and applications of speech act theory. Particular attention will be paid to utterances that enact facts about what is permissible for others, the role of authority in this, and indirect speech acts. Recent applications of speech act theory to free speech (e.g., hate speech and pornography) will also be discussed.
Sem: Speech Acts
PHIL 349 Seminar. Speech Acts NOT OFFERED IN 2010-11. This seminar will survey various philosophical issues and applications of speech act theory. Particular attention will be paid to utterances that enact facts about what is permissible for others, the role of authority in this, and indirect speech acts. Recent applications of speech act theory to free speech (e.g., hate speech and pornography) will also be discussed.
