100 Introduction to Philosophy
(AL) Schaffer, 359 Bartlett
Two lectures, one discussion per week. In this course we
will discuss philosophical issues that are historically important
in the development of the Western philosophical tradition, and
that continue to be important in the ongoing conversation of
contemporary philosophy. These topics include: the nature
and extent of human knowledge, the existence of god and the status
of religious belief, the relationship between mind and body,
and the nature and extent of human freedom. Requirements:
participation in weekly discussion sections, several papers and/or
exams.
100 Introduction to Philosophy
(AL) Perin, 357 Bartlett
Two lectures, one discussion per week. An introductory
survey of some basic problems in philosophy. Readings will
include texts by Plato, Descartes, Berkeley, Hume, and others.
Requirements: participation in weekly discussion sections, several
papers and/or exams.
100 4N Introduction to Philosophy
(AL) Rosental
In this course we examine seriously the question, "What
is Philosophy?" We will look at answers given to this question
over four major philosophical time periods: ancient, medieval,
early modern (17th century) and contemporary (20th century).
Readings include historically significant works in philosophy
that also help provide insight into the nature of philosophy
itself. Requirements: quizzes and exams.
110 Introduction to Logic
(R2) Klement, 353 Bartlett
Introduction to Symbolic Logic. Two logical systems are
examined: (1) Sentential Logic, (2) Predicate Logic. Work is
equally divided between: (a) translating English sentences into
symbolic notation, and (b) constructing formal derivations. Text: Hardegree, Symbolic Logic: A First Course, 3rd ed.
160 Introduction to Ethics
(AT) Feldman, 362 Bartlett
Two lectures, one discussion per week. Consideration of
some of the most important theories about right and wrong, good
and evil, and virtue and vice. In each case, one focus
will be on clear and accurate formulation of the theory.
Another focus will be on understanding and evaluating classic
objections to the theory. Readings from Plato, Aristotle,
Epicurus, Bentham, Mill, Kant, Ross, Moore, and others.
Text: Feldman, Introduction to Ethics. Requirements:
three quizzes; no papers, no final exam. Each student will
be permitted to take one quiz over again at the end of the semester.
161 Problems in Social Thought
(SB) Ferguson, 370 Bartlett
A survey of theories of the ideal relation between citizens and
states, particularly focusing on theories of democracy, citizenship,
and gender, and on problems of globalization. We will consider
classic defenses and critiques of the state (ancient, liberal,
Marxist, anarchist) and views of civil disobedience. Some
contemporary feminist and critical race theories of the state
and its relation to the family, civil society, and the emerging
global economy will also be covered. Texts: Social
and Political Philosophy, ed. Somerville and Santoni; Lummis, Radical Democracy; and a xeroxed collection of readings.
Requirements: class participation, 3 short thought papers, a
mid-term take-home exam, and a 5-8 page term paper.
164 Medical Ethics
(AT) Staff, 352 Bartlett
Introduction to ethics via issues in medicine and health care.
Topics may include abortion, euthanasia, truth telling, medical
experimentation, and the allocation of scarce medical resources.
Texts: to be determined. Requirements: quizzes, short papers,
hour exams, final exam. Prerequisite: none, but some background
in philosophy or biology is desirable.
310 Intermediate Logic
Hardegree, 363 Bartlett
Continuation of Philosophy 110. Three logical systems are
examined: (1) Function Logic, (2) Identity Logic, (3) Description
Logic. Work is equally divided between translating English
sentences into symbolic notation, and constructing formal derivations.
Requirements: seven exams. Prerequisite: Philosophy 110,
or consent of the instructor.
321 History of Modern Philosophy
(HS) Chappell, 380 Bartlett
Lectures and discussion. Close critical study of works by Descartes,
Leibniz, Locke, and Hume. Texts: to be announced. Requirements:
short writing assignments; midterm exam; final exam; term paper
(10 pages). Prerequisites: none. Note: This course, when taken
in conjunction with Philosophy 398W, satisfies the Junior Year
Writing Requirement for Philosophy Majors.
331 British Empiricism
Brown, 358 Bartlett
An examination of the metaphysical and epistemological theories
of some central figures -- Locke, Berkeley, Hume -- in the British
Empiricist movement of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Texts: Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding,
ed. Winkler (Hackett, 1996); Berkeley, A Treatise Concerning
the Principles of Human Knowledge, ed. Dancy (Oxford, 1998);
Berkeley, Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous,
ed. Dancy (Oxford, 1998); Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature,
ed. Norton and Norton (Oxford, 2000); Hume, An Enquiry Concerning
Human Understanding, ed. Beauchamp (Oxford, 1999).
Requirements: midterm exam, final exam, and 12-15 page
term paper on a topic approved by the instructor. Prerequisites:
one course in philosophy.
336 Existential Philosophy
Matthews, 368 Bartlett
An introduction to the main themes of Existentialism (such as
authenticity, angst, meaning, and death) through a careful reading
of Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling and Nietzsche's Thus
Spoke Zarathustra, plus much of Sartre's Being and Nothingness and Heidegger's Being and Time. Requirements: hour
exam, term paper, take-home final exam. Prerequisite: one
course in philosophy. (Students with a good reading knowledge
of French, German, or Spanish may, if they choose, sign up for
a one-credit Independent Study course and read a text in the
original language by Sartre, Nietzsche, or Unamuno.)
361 Philosophy of Art
(AT) Aune, 360 Bartlett
Basic issues in the philosophy of art. We will begin by
studying excerpts from classic writers in the history of aesthetics:
Plato, Aristotle, Burke, Hume, Kant, Hegel, Schopenhauer, and
Nietzsche. We will then move up to the contemporary period
and study essays by writers of two contrasting traditions, Anglo-American
analytic philosophy and Continental "Theory."
The course will be conducted in a way designed to encourage responsible
class discussion. Text: Contextualizing Aesthetics, ed. Blocker and Jeffers (Wadsworth, 1999). Requirements:
midterm and final take-home essay exams, which will be graded
for quality of writing as well as for mastery of the material
studied. Regular attendance is also required--not more
than five cuts without penalty. Prerequisites: none,
but students should have some familiarity with at least one art
form: poetry, painting, or music, for example.
382 Philosophical Approaches to Science
Hardegree, 363 Bartlett
Introduction to the logic and methodology of science, and to
various scientific concepts, including theory, law, causation,
and explanation. Requirements: several short papers.
Prerequisite: Philosophy 110, or consent of the instructor.
394F Seminar--Free Will
CANCELLED
550 Epistemology
Perin, 357 BartlettA survey
of recent work in the theory of knowledge with special focus
on problems of skepticism and justification. Requirements:
several short papers or exams. Prerequisites: three courses
in philosophy, or permission of the instructor.
551 Metaphysics
Schaffer, 359 Bartlett
In this course we will discuss reduction, emergence, and supervenience.
We will try to articulate the relationship between the levels
of nature. Requirements: a class presentation and a seminar
paper. Restricted to graduate philosophy students and upper-level
philosophy majors.
592S Metaphysics of Motion
Brown, 358 Bartlett
Debates about the nature and cause of motion were central to
the scientific revolution of the 17th and 18th centuries.
These debates raised profound questions in metaphysics and natural
philosophy. This course will involve a critical examination
of these questions and the answers that they provoked from the
major scientific and philosophical figures of the period.
Among the figures we will discuss are Galileo, Descartes, Malebranche,
Huygens, Wallis, Wren, Leibniz, and Newton. Texts:
to be determined. Requirements: midterm exam, final exam,
15-20 page term paper on a topic approved by the instructor.
Prerequisites: three courses in philosophy.
592T Seminar: Hume's Treatise
Chappell, 380 Bartlett
Critical study of Hume's Treatise of Human Nature.
Emphasis on topics of current interest, e.g. causation, free
will, personal identity, skepticism, motivation, and morality.
Text: Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature, ed. Norton
and Norton (Oxford: 2000). Requirements: several short
papers, class presentation, term paper; no final exam.
Prerequisite: three courses in philosophy, or consent of the
instructor.
594S Seminar: Space and Time
Bricker, 356 Bartlett
Selected topics in the philosophy of space and time, including
Zeno's paradoxes (and infinity machines); substantial vs. relational
views of space and time (Newton, Leibniz, Mach); the epistemology
of geometry (Poincare, Reichenbach); the foundations of special
relativity (space vs. spacetime, the twin paradox, conventionality
of simultaneity); and the possibility of time travel. Texts:
to be determined. Requirements: take-home midterm and final
exams, and three short papers. Prerequisites: two courses
in philosophy and high school algebra and physics, or consent
of instructor. |
