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1013/001 Introduction to Philosophy MWF, 9:30-10:20 Thurmond
This course is an introduction to philosophy as both an academic discipline and an activity. We will study major philosophical works and popular movies with themes that include appearance and reality, good and right, freedom and determinism, the existence of God and human nature. This course aims to promote a better understanding of these important philosophical subjects as well as encourage students to reflect on their own philosophical views. [ IV-WC ]
1013/002 Introduction to Philosophy MWF, 10:30-11:20 Jones
This course serves as an introduction to the study of philosophy. Philosophy is a very broad and diverse field, and so we will have to selectively choose some of its highlights. Among other things, then, we will examine answers to the following questions: What is knowledge and what can we know? What is “the self”? Do we have free will, or are our lives completely determined from the outset? Is there a God? If so, what is God like? Which methods of reasoning are good ones? How should we live our lives? Is there a certain ethical code we should follow? We will examine these questions by reading what recent authors have to say about them, as well as by reading just a few of the most important philosophical works of the last 2400 years. All along, though, the primary goal is not simply to learn about what other philosophers have said, but to begin to think philosophically ourselves. To that end, classes will consist of a mixture of lecture and discussion. Reading assignments should be completed before each class. Grades will be based on, among other things, short writing assignments and exams. Texts: Simon Blackburn’s Think ( Oxford 1999) and Steven M. Cahn’s (ed.) Exploring Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology, 2nd ed. (Oxford 2005). [ IV-WC ]
1013/003 Introduction to Philosophy MWF, 11:30-12:20 Seachris
This course offers a survey of the central problems and questions in philosophy. After motivating the subject (i.e. What is philosophy? Why study philosophy?), we will consider perennial philosophical problems and questions like: Can we know anything? What does it mean to say we know something? Does God exist? Is the existence of pain and suffering evidence against God’s existence? How are the mind and brain/body related? Do we have free will and, if we do, what might it look like? What is morally right and wrong? How should we understand the question, “What is the meaning of life?”? Does this question have an answer(s)? The goal of our studies will be at least threefold. First, the primary aim of this course is to promote a fuller understanding of the central issues in Western philosophical history. Second, this course will help you better appreciate how your current beliefs and ideas about the world are set in the larger context of this history. And, third, upon successfully completing this course you will have further developed your capacity to think critically and carefully, which will profit you regardless of your field of study or future vocational goals. Texts: Lawhead, The Philosophical Journey, and a few supplementary readings provided by the instructor [ IV-WC ]
1013/004 Introduction to Philosophy TR, 9:00-10:15 Osmundsen
The purpose of this course is to learn how to think critically and responsibly about some important human questions. Rather than studying the history of philosophy and learning who the major philosophers are, this course will look at the major issues both classical and contemporary philosophers have wrestled with. This course is structured broadly and topically to deal with issues comprising some of the major fields in philosophy. Consequently, we will think analytically about the following questions: What is knowledge and is it obtainable? What does it mean for something to exist? Is the mind identical to the brain? Are human actions free or unfree? Does God exist? Is the good based on what’s right or is what’s right based on the good? In addition, this class will provide the basic tools for how to evaluate a philosophical argument. Text(s): Tamar Szabo Gendler, Susanna Siegal, and Steven M. Cahn (Eds.), The Elements of Philosophy: Readings from Past and Present, and James Rachels, Problems from Philosophy. [ IV-WC ]
1013/005 Introduction to Philosophy TR, 9:00-10:15 Swoyer
This section requires permission of the Honor’s Office for Enrollment
We will read several works by major Western philosophers. Although we will devote some time to each of the main areas of philosophy, the field is much too vast for us to probe all its nooks and crannies. We will have to concentrate on just a few sub areas, and we will focus on the questions: 1) What sorts of human lives--what ways of living--are best? 2) What sorts of social and political institutions are most suited to making such lives possible, particularly in the modern, global world? 3) What is the relationship between mind and body? Are they one and the same, or are they somehow separate? 4) What methods (if any) are best calculated to help us gain knowledge? 5) What is rationality, and what is it good for? 6) Does God exist? 7) How can we justify our answers to questions like these?
Classes will consist primarily of discussion rather than lecture. It is expected that students will arrive at every meeting ready to discuss the material. Grades will be based on papers and at least one examination. In their written work, students will be expected to show a clear understanding of the views of the authors we read and to develop and defend their own views on the topics discussed.
[ IV-WC ]
Readings:
1013/900 Introduction to Philosophy TR, 4:30-5:45 CANCELLED
1013/901 Introduction to Philosophy W, 6:30-9:20 Southworth
This course offers a broad survey of fundamental philosophical problems, and some of the answers which have been proposed for them. These problems include: Is there a God? If he exists why does he allow evil? What do we know? What is the nature of knowledge? What is the nature of minds? Do we have free will? What is the nature of language and how do words get their meaning? What is the good life and what actions are morally right and wrong? What is justice? What is the nature of art? What makes something a good work of art? Students should expect to have their views about the world (whatever those may be) challenged by the material. Upon completion of this course, students will be prepared to take upper-division philosophy classes and will have, perhaps for the first time, examined questions important to living their lives. [ IV-WC ]
1103/001 Critical Reasoning MWF, 10:30-11:20 Cook
This is not a typical philosophy course. It has the purely practical goal of developing skills in thinking critically in such a way that you will actually apply them outside this particular class. Accordingly, we won’t stress facts or complicated formulas that you will quickly forget and never use. (What facts we do discuss will be fascinating—and therefore hard-to-forget—discoveries in psychology about ways in which people reason badly. Awareness of common errors in reasoning, coupled with some practice in avoiding them, will make you a better reasoner.) We will stress developing techniques that you can expect to employ in other classes and in everyday life (and on tests like the Law School Admission Test and the Graduate Management Admission Test). Coursework: three one-hour examinations, quizzes, and short homework assignments. Text: Swoyer, The Critical Reasoning Course Manual, available at King Kopy. [ III-SS ]
1103/002 Critical Reasoning TR, 9:00-10:15 Hussain
This is not a typical philosophy course. It has the purely practical goal of developing skills in thinking critically in such a way that you will actually apply them outside this particular class, e.g., in philosophy classes, political science classes, and practical situations at work or home. Accordingly, we won’t stress facts or complicated formulas that you will quickly forget and never use. We will stress developing good reasoning techniques and skills, and techniques to guard oneself against fallacious, but sometimes persuasive, reasoning. You can expect to employ these skills in other classes and in everyday life (and on tests like the Law School Admission Test and the Graduate Management Admission Test). Coursework will consist of a quiz, a final exam, and some in-class and take-home exercises. [ III-SS ]
1113/001 Introduction to Logic MWF, 1:30-2:20 Franks
Prerequisite: Math 0123 or satisfactory score on Math Placement Test.
This course is designed to help students to increase their ability to analyze and critically evaluate arguments in ordinary language from a logical point of view. This involves both learning the logical principles which underlie good reasoning and becoming skilled in applying those principles to arguments which are expressed in everyday English. This will be accomplished mostly by studying the elements of symbolic logic and seeing how they apply to informal reasoning. [ I-Math ]
1113/002 Introduction to Logic TR, 1:30-2:45 Hawthorne
Prerequisite: Math 0123 or satisfactory score on Math Placement Test
This course introduces you to the central concepts of Deductive Logic, which is the logic by which the premises of an argument, if they are true premises, may guarantee that the conclusion of the argument is also true. This kind of logic is a central component of human reasoning, and plays an especially important role in the sciences and in mathematics. We will also briefly study Inductive Logic, which is the logic through which evidence may support (but not guarantee) the truth of a hypothesis – which is the logic by which evidence supports scientific theories. The course will conclude with an brief investigation of the role of logic in human knowledge. The only graded work will consist of a quiz every two weeks. Quizzes will be announced well in advance, and a "practice quiz" will be given during the class meeting before the day of an actual quiz. [ I-Math ]
1113/900 Introduction to Logic M, 6:30-9:20 Oakes
Prerequisite: Math 0123 or satisfactory score on Math Placement Test.
This course is designed to introduce the student to some basic principles of logic. We will cover both informal and modern symbolic logic. The class will begin by examining the nature of arguments—what they are and how they function. We then will study formal deductive logic, including translating English sentences into logical form, testing formal arguments for the validity of their structure and using logical forms in proofs. By better understanding informal logic and mastering some of the basic skills of symbolic logic, students will better understand good reasoning processes and develop skills in formulating and evaluating arguments. [ I-Math ]
1213/001 Introduction to Ethics MWF, 9:30-10:20 Smith
This course will serve as an introduction to major ethical theories, but will focus on how ethical thinking reaches beyond mere abstract theorizing and impacts our everyday lives. The semester will be structured into two parts. In the first, we’ll examine foundational ethical concepts, and in the second, we’ll examine examples of real life ethical applications, such as arguments about pornography, censorship, war, terrorism, and affirmative action. The content covered in the second half of the semester will be shaped largely by student interest. The requirements for this course will include weekly reading quizzes and two to three examinations. There is one textbook: Vaughn’s Doing Ethics. [ IV- W.Cult ]
1213/002 Introduction to Ethics MWF, 2:30-3:20 Purinton
This course is an introductory survey of moral philosophy. There are two required textbooks: Rachels, The Elements of Moral Philosophy (5th edn.) and Mappes and Zembaty, Social Ethics: Morality and Social Policy (7th edn.). The former offers an overview of the major ethical theories. The latter is a collection of readings on ethical problems like abortion and euthanasia. Classes will be a mixture of lecture and discussion. Grades will be determined by exams and daily quizzes. [ IV- W.Cult ]
1213/900 Introduction to Ethics TR, 4:30-5:45 Taylor
This course is designed to introduce students to theoretical and applied ethics. During the semester we will encounter a diversity of moral viewpoints and develop skills needed to evaluate moral positions and problems. We will consider where our moral concepts come from, and what might motivate us to act morally. Some possibilities include: religion, individual perception, self-interest, consequences, individual character, and personal duty. These ethical theories are going to be tested on some actual issues we face in the 21st century; issues like animal rights, euthanasia, and environmental ethics. Our inquiry will proceed with a multicultural approach by incorporating both Western and non-Western thinkers. Students are to be evaluated by way of reading quizzes, in-class writings, exams, and formal essays. Text: Judith Boss, Ethics for Life, 4th ed. [ IV- W.Cult ]
1223/001 Introduction to Asian Philosophy TR, 10:30-11:45 Olberding
This course surveys some of the most important philosophies and philosophical texts from Asia. While the traditions of Asia are often grouped together under the rubric “Eastern Philosophy,” we shall see that there are many diverse traditions and will pay particular heed to their differences in both content and method. We will attend in particular to the Indian traditions of Hinduism, Jainism, and early Buddhism; the Chinese traditions of Confucianism and Daoism; and Japanese varieties of Buddhism. Students will be expected to complete short essays and tests with short answer and essay questions. [ IV- NW.Cult ]
2403/001 Introduction to Philosophy of Religion MWF, 11:30-12:20 Tallman
In this class, we will examine questions such as: Can we prove the existence (or nonexistence) of God? Is it ok to hold beliefs based on faith alone? What is God’s nature (is he all-powerful, all-good, all-knowing, etc.)? Why should we believe in one god, rather than many? Why does God allow evil to exist in the world? Why should we pray? Does God tell us how we ought to act? Why are my religious beliefs better than those of people of different faiths? We will look at answers offered by devotees of the major world religions – Hinduism, Confucianism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam – as well as their critics. Students will be asked to critically examine their own beliefs, and should be willing to consider contradictory viewpoints with an open mind. The required text is a course pack, available from King Kopy, on the corner of Boyd and Jenkins.
UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, THE PREREQUISITE FOR COURSES NUMBERED 3000-3900 IS SIX HOURS OF PHILOSOPHY OR JUNIOR STANDING.
3023/100 Aesthetics & Philosophy of Art MWF, 11:30-12:20 Irvin
In this course, we’ll consider a variety of questions about art: What is art’s purpose? What makes one artwork better than another? How do we decide which is better, and do some people’s judgments carry more authority than others’? Do artworks have an overriding value for society? What’s the right way to interpret an artwork? We will look at some particular art forms, including photography, fashion and popular music. To keep the texture of real art in mind, we will look at images, listen to music, etc. We will consider aesthetics (traditionally, the study of beauty) in relation to our understanding of nature and of everyday experience. Students will complete several short (2-page) writing assignments, a midterm essay, and a final exam consisting of essay questions provided in advance. Text: photocopied course pack including a mixture of historical and contemporary works by philosophers and art theorists. [ IV- W.Cult ]
3113/001 Reason, Judgment, & Decision-Making TR, 1:30-2:45 Swoyer
This course is concerned with several facets of good decision-making. We begin by considering what makes a good decision. We will then look at various inputs to decision-making (beliefs, values, understandings, etc.), common impediments to good decision-making (with an eye toward developing decision skills), and the relation between decision-making and morality. In order to examine these topics, we will be drawing on suggestions from both philosophers and social scientists. Basic competence with basic mathematics (especially all levels of high-school
algebra) will be assumed.
Readings:
Chris Swoyer,
Critical Reasoning: A User's Manual
(available free on the web)
Jonathan Baron, Thinking and
Deciding, 3rd ed. (4th, if available by then)
Nassim Nicholas
Taleb, The Black Swan
3253/001 History of Ethics (slashlisted with 3853) TR, 10:30-11:45 Badhwar
Prerequisite: 1213 + one of the following (1013, 1103, 1113, 1203, 2023, 2403, 2900)
The history of ethics tells us almost as much about our present as about our past. It shows us the genesis of many of our present concerns, reintroduces us to valuable ideas that we may have lost sight of, and shows us where we have made progress. In this course we will study some of the most influential works in the history of ethics, from Ancient and Modern times, with the aim of identifying some themes and styles of thought of enduring insight. The texts we will study continue to have an enormous influence on contemporary philosophical thought, and have the power to clarify everyday ethical reflection. To gain facility in philosophical analysis and argument it is important to express what you have read and thought verbally and in writing. Hence there will be frequent class discussions and frequent short written assignments, as well as two or three exams (depending on grading help) and an essay for all majors. [ IV- W.Cult ]
Readings: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics (ed. T. Irwin), Hume, An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals (Hackett), Kant, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals (ed. Paton), Mill, Utilitarianism (Hackett), Nietzsche, Twilight of the Idols (Penguin); Coursepack from King Kopy (includes Sartre’s “Existentialism is a Humanism”).
3273/001 Ethics in Business MWF, 2:30-3:20 Ellis
This course looks at more than how businesses can “play nice.” We will start with the ethical presuppositions of business behavior in a capitalist system. After examining issues such as the moral importance of economic efficiency and the legitimacy of the profit motive, we will draw some lessons about the general rights and responsibilities of businesses. We will then consider some specific topics in light of those lessons: government intervention in markets, labor relations, environmental concerns, etc. Texts: Hausman and McPherson, Economic Analysis, Moral Philosophy, and Public Policy; additional readings will be on reserve. [ IV- W.Cult ]
3313/001 History of Ancient Phil (slashlisted with 3813) MWF, 12:30-1:20 Purinton
Prerequisite: 1013 + one of the following (1103, 1113, 1203, 1213, 2023, 2403)
In this course we will study the history of ancient philosophy from its beginnings through the Hellenistic era, with readings from the pre-Socratics, Plato, Aristotle, and Epicurus, and from Cynics, Stoics, and Skeptics, among others. Grading will be based on three tests, a paper on Socrates, and short quizzes given at the start of each class. Text(s): Plato, Five Dialogues: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo (2nd edn.; Grube, trans.); Plato, The Republic (2nd edn.; Grube, trans.); Aristophanes, Clouds (Meineck, trans.); Plato, Gorgias (Zeyl, trans.); Aristotle, Introductory Readings (Irwin and Fine, trans.); Epicurus, The Epicurus Reader: Selected Writings and Testimonia (Inwood and Gerson, trans.).
[ IV- W.Cult ]
3393/001 20th-Century Anglo-American Phil MWF, 12:30-1:20 Cook
We will survey some of the highlights of 20th-century Anglo-American philosophy by discussing some of its key movements and some of its key essays. We will examine movements that tried to solve or dissolve philosophical problems by examining language and meaning: logical atomism, logical positivism, Oxford ordinary language philosophy, Wittgensteinianism, and the late 20th-century appeal to possible worlds. And we will examine such key essays as Moore’s “A Defence of Common Sense,” Austin’s “A Plea for Excuses,” Gettier’s “Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?,” Frankfurt’s “Alternate Possibilities and Moral Responsibility,” Nagel’s “What Is It Like to Be a Bat?,” and Putnam’s “Brains in a Vat.”
[ IV- W.Cult ]
3443/001 Contemporary Issues in Philosophy of Religion TR, 12:00-1:45 Judisch
Lots of intellectual activity takes place under the umbrella of ‘philosophy of religion’. Some philosophers want to show that God doesn’t exist or that it isn’t rational to believe that He does. Others want to show that He does exist and that it’s eminently rational to believe it. Others contend that we shouldn’t try to prove any of these things anyway, since it is faith, and not objective certainty in some set of propositions, that puts us into a right relation with God. Still others are primarily interested in using the tools of philosophy in order to get a clean grasp on important religious doctrines and their implications, without trying to show whether the doctrines in question are in fact true.
In this class we’ll examine examples of all of the above. We will explore, primarily, the work of contemporary philosophers of religion concerned with issues arising in the context of the Western theistic tradition (Christianity, Judaism and Islam). Issues to be discussed include: miracles; immortality and resurrection; the problem of evil; arguments for the existence of God; the relation between human freedom and certain divine attributes (omniscience and sovereignty among them); faith and reason, and the conditions under which theistic belief is warranted or rationally justified. [ IV- W.Cult ]
3533/001 Language, Communication and Knowledge TR, 3:00-4:15 Montminy
This course inquires into the nature of languages, and how they allow us to communicate. We will be interested mainly in the phenomenon of meaning: how words acquire meaning, and how we use words to mean something. We will also try to understand how speakers use language in communication. Among other things, we will focus on context sensitivity, that is, the idea that the same words can be used in different contexts to communicate very different things. We will also examine questions such as how much of language is innate, to what extent language influences thought and vice versa, and the phenomena of metaphor and vagueness. The main requirements will consist of take-home examinations. [ IV- W.Cult ]
3633/001 The Nature of Science TR, 3:00-4:15 Riggs
As the name suggests, this course will cover issues related to the nature and scope of science. Among other things, we will discuss the difference between real science and so-called “pseudo-sciences,” such as astrology or phrenology. The goal will be to come to an understanding of what makes science special, or different from other ways of investigating the nature of reality. In the course of pursuing this goal, we will discuss the method and content of science in general, and in some special sciences like biology and physics. We will also investigate to what extent science is objective, and whether science can be said to make progress toward an ever more accurate and comprehensive picture of the world.
3743/001 Feminist Philosophy T, 6:30-9:20 Olberding
This course surveys a variety of approaches to feminist philosophy. We begin our study with an historical overview of efforts to frame philosophy in a feminist idiom, identifying and distinguishing the most prominent schools of feminist thought. In the last part of the course, we will study themes of particular interest and import within feminism. We will examine what significance feminism has for treatments of traditional arenas of philosophical inquiry, e.g., epistemology and personal identity. Students will be expected to complete short essays, midterm and final exams, and one longer essay. [ IV- W.Cult ]
3811/001 Philosophy Writing Workshop R, 9:00-10:15 Olberding
Prerequisite: student must be simultaneously enrolled in 3813, 3833 or 3853
This one credit hour philosophy course will focus intensively on how to write a high-quality philosophy paper. Students will receive additional instruction in philosophical writing that will apply directly to their assigned writing in the target course (3813, 3833 or 3853) in which they are simultaneously enrolled. All students will need special permission to enroll. This course will provide one-on-one attention to students’ writing, small peer-based evaluations, strategies for critical reading in philosophy, practice in effectively structuring philosophy arguments, and instruction in drafting, revising, and editing philosophy papers. The course will be letter graded.
3813/001 History of Ancient Phil for Majors (slashlisted with 3313) MWF, 12:30-1:20 Purinton
Prerequisite: 1013 + one of the following (1103, 1113, 1203, 1213, 2023, 2403, 2900). Target course for 3811.
In this course we will study the history of ancient philosophy from its beginnings through the Hellenistic era, with readings from the pre-Socratics, Plato, Aristotle, and Epicurus, and from Cynics, Stoics, and Skeptics, among others. Grading will be based on three tests, a paper on Socrates, and short quizzes given at the start of each class. Text(s): Plato, Five Dialogues: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo (2nd edn.; Grube, trans.); Plato, The Republic (2nd edn.; Grube, trans.); Aristophanes, Clouds (Meineck, trans.); Plato, Gorgias (Zeyl, trans.); Aristotle, Introductory Readings (Irwin and Fine, trans.); Epicurus, The Epicurus Reader: Selected Writings and Testimonia (Inwood and Gerson, trans.).
3853/001 History of Ethics for Majors (slashlisted with 3253) TR, 10:30-11:45 Badhwar
Prerequisite: 1213 + one of the following (1013, 1103, 1113, 1203, 2023, 2403, 2900). Target course for 3811.
The history of ethics tells us almost as much about our present as about our past. It shows us the genesis of many of our present concerns, reintroduces us to valuable ideas that we may have lost sight of, and shows us where we have made progress. In this course we will study some of the most influential works in the history of ethics, from Ancient and Modern times, with the aim of identifying some themes and styles of thought of enduring insight. The texts we will study continue to have an enormous influence on contemporary philosophical thought, and have the power to clarify everyday ethical reflection. To gain facility in philosophical analysis and argument it is important to express what you have read and thought verbally and in writing. Hence there will be frequent class discussions and frequent short written assignments, as well as two or three exams (depending on grading help), an essay for all majors, and a longer essay for those enrolled in 3853/001. [ IV- W.Cult ]
Readings: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics (ed. T. Irwin), Hume, An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals (Hackett), Kant, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals (ed. Paton), Mill, Utilitarianism (Hackett), Nietzsche, Twilight of the Idols (Penguin); Coursepack from King Kopy (includes Sartre’s “Existentialism is a Humanism”).
UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, THE PREREQUISITE FOR COURSES NUMBERED 4000-4900 IS EIGHT HOURS OF PHILOSOPHY. OTHER SPECIFIC PREREQUISITES ARE SO INDICATED.
4133/001 Symbolic Logic I TR, 12:00-1:45 Riggs
This course is an introduction to the techniques and results of modern symbolic logic. We will focus on the syntax and the semantics of first-order logic, with an emphasis on constructing proofs in the logical system and an even heavier emphasis on working with its semantics. The course will prepare interested students for the more detailed study of logic the following spring in Symbolic Logic II, but many students who don't plan to pursue logic beyond this course should find the current material useful.
4513/001 Metaphysics (slashlisted with 5513) R, 7:00-10:00 Judisch
Metaphysics as Aristotle conceived it concerns the investigation of being qua being. We shall take a somewhat broader approach to the discipline (as has been common since the modern era) so as to include philosophical questions that arise in connection with particular features of reality – the physical, the psychological, the active, and so on – under the aspect of those features, and not strictly under the aspect of being as such. That is to say, we’ll be roaming beyond the traditional boundaries of first philosophy and poaching upon the preserves of physics, philosophy of mind and the like with a view toward considering not only what there is, but also how things “work” according to their own peculiar natures and how it all “hangs together.”
4533/900 Philosophy of Language (slashlisted with 5533) R, 7:00-10:00 Montminy
This course will explore central issues in the philosophy of language. Our main focus will be on meaning and reference: What is meaning? Can meaning skepticism be refuted? What makes it the case that our words mean what they do? How is meaning related to reference? Is reference indeterminate? We will examine issues in pragmatics such as speech acts, context sensitivity and metaphor. We will also discuss vagueness and two-dimensional semantics. Throughout the semester we will attend to connections between the philosophy of language and other areas of philosophy, especially metaphysics and the philosophy of mind.
4543/001 Philosophy of Mind (slashlisted with 5543) R, 3:00-6:00 Hawthorne
What is the relationship of the mental to the physical? Perhaps the dominant contemporary scientific view is that the mind is a feature of the brain, and so mental states are reducible to brain activity – e.g. systems of neuron firings. Several prominent philosophers think that although this physicalist view is basically right, there are deep problems with trying to see how this can really work, especially in accounting for the “hard problem” of the basis of mental experiences, sensations and subjective awareness. The most prominent contemporary philosophers who raise such problems are John Searle, David Chalmers, and Jaegwon Kim. We will explore their views in detail.
4623/900 Philosophy of Social Science (slashlisted with 5623) W, 7:00-10:00 Ellis
This course is concerned with the philosophical issues at the heart of the social sciences. We will start with some foundational questions: are social sciences directed primarily at predictive (causal) or interpretive theories? is the basic unit of analysis the individual or the group? can social science be objective? We will then delve into some methodological issues: what sorts of models/accounts are appropriate for social sciences? how should those models/accounts be evaluated? what are the ethical obligations of social scientists? Time permitting, we will also consider social science as a tool for philosophers (in ethics, political philosophy, philosophy of science, etc.). The precise issues covered will depend, in large part, on student interest. Texts: Rosenberg, Philosophy of Social Science; Elster, Nuts and Bolts for the Social Sciences. Additional materials will be placed in the Philosophy office and on reserve through the Bizzell Library reserve system.
UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, THE PREREQUISITE FOR COURSES IN PHILOSOPHY NUMBERED 5000 AND ABOVE IS TWELVE HOURS OF PHILOSOPHY. OTHER SPECIFIC PREREQUISITES ARE SO INDICATED.
5513/001 Metaphysics (slashlisted with 4513) T, 3:00-6:00 Judisch
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing.
Metaphysics as Aristotle conceived it concerns the investigation of being qua being. We shall take a somewhat broader approach to the discipline (as has been common since the modern era) so as to include philosophical questions that arise in connection with particular features of reality – the physical, the psychological, the active, and so on – under the aspect of those features, and not strictly under the aspect of being as such. That is to say, we’ll be roaming beyond the traditional boundaries of first philosophy and poaching upon the preserves of physics, philosophy of mind and the like with a view toward considering not only what there is, but also how things “work” according to their own peculiar natures and how it all “hangs together.”
5533/900 Philosophy of Language (slashlisted with 4533) R, 7:00- 10:00 Montminy
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing.
This course will explore central issues in the philosophy of language. Our main focus will be on meaning and reference: What is meaning? Can meaning skepticism be refuted? What makes it the case that our words mean what they do? How is meaning related to reference? Is reference indeterminate? We will examine issues in pragmatics such as speech acts, context sensitivity and metaphor. We will also discuss vagueness and two-dimensional semantics. Throughout the semester we will attend to connections between the philosophy of language and other areas of philosophy, especially metaphysics and the philosophy of mind.
5543/900 Philosophy of Mind (slashlisted with 4543) R, 3:00-6:00 Hawthorne
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing.
What is the relationship of the mental to the physical? Perhaps the dominant contemporary scientific view is that the mind is a feature of the brain, and so mental states are reducible to brain activity – e.g. systems of neuron firings. Several prominent philosophers think that although this physicalist view is basically right, there are deep problems with trying to see how this can really work, especially in accounting for the “hard problem” of the basis of mental experiences, sensations and subjective awareness. The most prominent contemporary philosophers who raise such problems are John Searle, David Chalmers, and Jaegwon Kim. We will explore their views in detail.
5623/001 Philosophy of Social Science (slashlisted with 4623) W, 7:00-10:00 Ellis
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing.
This course is concerned with the philosophical issues at the heart of the social sciences. We will start with some foundational questions: are social sciences directed primarily at predictive (causal) or interpretive theories? is the basic unit of analysis the individual or the group? can social science be objective? We will then delve into some methodological issues: what sorts of models/accounts are appropriate for social sciences? how should those models/accounts be evaluated? what are the ethical obligations of social scientists? Time permitting, we will also consider social science as a tool for philosophers (in ethics, political philosophy, philosophy of science, etc.). The precise issues covered will depend, in large part, on student interest. Texts: Rosenberg, Philosophy of Social Science; Elster, Nuts and Bolts for the Social Sciences. Additional materials will be placed in the Philosophy office and on reserve through the Bizzell Library reserve system
5900/900 Philosophy as a Profession M, 7:30-9:00 Benson
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing.
6203/001 Seminar in Ethics: W, 3:00-6:00 Badhwar
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing.
Happiness is all the rage now among philosophers and psychologists, and even economists. They share a common interest in the question of the nature of happiness and the sources or causes of happiness, and can learn from each other’s approaches. Since a good philosophical theory of happiness must be descriptively adequate, we will read some of the relevant psychological literature in addition to the philosophical. We will focus on two main issues: the nature of happiness, and the relationship, if any, between virtue/moral principles and happiness.
I.) Both in ordinary and in philosophical discourse, “happiness” can be used to refer to different things: a positive feeling, a positive attitude towards one’s life, or the highest prudential good possible to a human being - well-being or eudaimonia. Controversy over its nature focuses on happiness understood as well-being. We will study both subjective and objective theories of happiness (well-being), taking into account the empirical research on people’s conceptions of happiness. The main difference between subjective and objective theories is that the former, unlike the latter, hold that there are no objective standards for well-being. How good are the arguments given by subjectivists for dismissing objective standards as implausible and, maybe, even impossible? How plausible are the various objective theories? Which of the many theories offered best satisfies the formal criteria of the highest prudential good? And how do we justify these criteria? Some conception of human nature seems necessary for doing so. But can we have a value-free conception of human nature, or is the determination of human nature itself, in part, a normative enterprise? And if it is, does it matter?
II.) What is the relationship between, on the one hand, virtue/moral principles and happiness and, on the other, the requirements of survival and happiness? What must happiness – and morality – be like to hold out hope of a causal or conceptual connection?
Readings: selections from Julia Annas, The Morality of Happiness (reprint ed.); L.W. Sumner, Welfare, Happiness, and Ethics; James Griffin, Well-Being; Valerie Tiberius, The Reflective Life (2008); Dan Haybron, The Pursuit of Unhappiness (2008); Martin Seligman, Authentic Happiness; David Lykken, Happiness; and others.
6393/900 Seminar in History of Philosophy: Plato T, 7:00-10:00 Benson
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing.
This course will focus primarily on the philosophical method of Plato’s classical dialogues – the Meno, Phaedo, Republic, Symposium, and Phaedrus – traditionally known as dialectic. My primary concern will be to come to terms with dialectic, but to do so we will need to spend considerable time addressing the epistemological and metaphysical assumptions which underlie it. This examination of Platonic dialectic will touch on nearly every aspect of Plato’s philosophical perspective, especially his epistemology, metaphysics, and ethics. In addition to a considerable amount of primary reading, students will be expected to become familiar with a portion of the vast secondary literature devoted to this topic. I will also be distributing drafts of portions of chapters of a manuscript tentatively titled Cleitophon’s Challenge: Platonic Method in the Classical Dialogues which I hope to complete in the next year.
The course presupposes some previous exposure to Plato, although the graduate survey course in Plato is not required. The requirements for the course will likely be one or two fairly substantial research papers (10-20 pages), class presentations, and class participation. Text: Plato: The Complete Works (Cooper, ed.)
6523/001 Seminar in Epistemology M, 3:00-6:00 Zagzebski
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing, 5523 or permission.
I will be giving the Wilde Lectures in Natural Theology in Oxford in Spring 2010, and this seminar will focus on the topic of those lectures. The theme of the seminar will be Epistemic Trust, Epistemic Autonomy, and Epistemic Authority. One of the most important issues in modern philosophy is the relationship between authority and autonomy. This is widely addressed in political and moral philosophy, but not as frequently in epistemology, and even less in the epistemology of religion. My interest is in the relationship between epistemic authority and epistemic autonomy, with particular emphasis on the epistemology of moral and religious beliefs. Some questions we will investigate are these:
(a) Is there a coherent notion of epistemic autonomy that does not reduce to epistemic egoism?
(b) If there is a coherent notion of epistemic autonomy, what is religious epistemic autonomy?
(c) What are the norms and virtues of an ideal epistemic community?
(d) How does a religious epistemic community differ from other epistemic communities, particularly moral and scientific communities?
(e) Is there a place for epistemic authority in a religious epistemic community?