Philosophy

2215 Angell Hall
764-6285

Professor Louis Loeb, Chair

May be elected as a departmental concentration program

Professors

Frithjof Bergmann, Existentialism, Nineteenth Century Philosophy, Social Philosophy

Edwin Curley, History of Modern Philosophy

Stephen Darwall, Moral and Political Philosophy, History of Ethics

Allan Gibbard, Ethics, Social Choice Theory, Decision Theory, Metaphysics, Philosophy of Language

Louis Loeb, History of Modern Philosophy

Jack Meiland, Metaphysics, Philosophy of Mind, Continental Philosophy, Philosophy of History and Social Science

Peter Railton, Ethics, Philosophy of Science, Political Philosophy,

Lawrence Sklar, Philosophy of Physics, Philosophy of Science, Epistemology

J. David Velleman, Ethics, Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy of Action, Pragmatism

Kendall Walton, Aesthetics, Philosophy of Mind, Wittgenstein

Associate Professors

Elizabeth Anderson, Ethics, Political Philosophy, Philosophy of Economics and of the Social Sciences

Mark Crimmins, Philosophy of Language, Philosophy of Mind, Philosophical Logic, Metaphysics

Sally Haslanger, Metaphysics, Epistemology, Ancient Philosophy, Feminist Theory

Stephen Yablo, Metaphysics, Epistemology, Philosophy of Mind, Philosophical Logic

Assistant Professors

Stephen Everson, Ancient Philosophy

James Joyce, Decision Theory, Philosophy of Science

Eric Lormand, Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy of Cognitive Science, Epistemology

Ian Rumfitt, Philosophy of Language, Philosophical Logic, Philosophy and Linguistics

Adjunct Assistant Professor

David Hills, Aesthetics, History of Modern Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind

Professors Emeriti Richard Brandt, Arthur Burks, George Mavrodes, Donald Munro

Philosophy is an attempt to consider systematically various general topics such as forms of argument, kinds of knowledge, the nature of reality, systems of individual and social values and standards of conduct, and the nature of religion and art. Philosophy cuts across other academic disciplines by examining their assumptions or by analyzing their concepts and methods. The main value of philosophy lies in its contributions to a liberal education. Its vocational value (except for teachers of philosophy) is always indirect and depends upon its associations with other fields. A brochure, "The Undergraduate Program in Philosophy," is available from the Department Office. It is intended to provide information and advice about courses in philosophy, both for present and prospective concentrators, and for those who are interested in taking a course or two in the subject.

• Humanities Distribution for Philosophy Courses. It is possible, with Departmental approval, to receive humanities distribution credit for philosophy courses that do not automatically qualify. Students should consult the Philosophy Department Office.
  
  
• Prerequisites to Concentration. Philosophy 151-158, 181, 182, 196, 202, 232, or 297. None of these courses counts toward the concentration requirement, except that a student who takes a 150-level introduction in addition to another introduction may count that 150-level course toward concentration.
  
  
• Concentration Program. 24 credits of philosophy are required, including one course from each of the following groups:
  1. logic (Philosophy 303, 296, or 414);
  2. history of ancient philosophy (Philosophy 388, 405, or 406);
  3. history of modern classical philosophy (Philosophy 389, 461, or 462);
  4. either Philosophy 361 (Ethics) or 385 (Continental Philosophy since 1900);
  5. either Philosophy 345 (Language and Mind) or 383 (Knowledge and Reality);
  6. one 400-level course in addition to any that are used to satisfy the foregoing requirements. This requirement must be met with a 400-level course other than 401, 402, 419, 455, 498, or 499.

The courses needed to satisfy these requirements are not always offered every term. Concentrators should plan their programs so that they can be sure to take the courses they need before they intend to graduate.

• Honors Concentration. Qualified students who are interested in an Honors concentration in philosophy should consult a concentration advisor as early as possible. Except in cases where special permission is granted, students must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 and a 3.5 average in completed courses in philosophy in order to be eligible for admission. Honors concentrators are required to complete 27 (rather than 24) credits in the concentration, including 401 and 498 or 499, which is taken in the senior year. Before enrolling in 498 or 499, students must submit a thesis proposal for the department's approval. Only students who have written an Honors thesis will be considered for graduation with Honors degrees. Students are admitted to the Honors concentration at the beginning of the junior year (or later) by permission of the Honors concentration advisor.
  
  
• Advising. Prospective concentrators, especially students contemplating graduate work in philosophy, should consult a concentration advisor as early as possible in order to work out an appropriate, unified program. Appointments are scheduled at the Academic Advising Center. Honors students schedule appointments at the Honors Program Office. Regular consultation hours of departmental faculty can be obtained from the departmental office.
  
  
• Frankena Prize. The William K. Frankena Prize, which carries a stipend of $500, is awarded yearly in the spring for excellence in the concentration.
  
  
• Introductory Philosophy Courses and the Philosophy Concentration. As mentioned under "Prerequisites to the Concentration" above, 150-level philosophy courses, and any of 181, 182, 196, 202, 232, or 297, can be counted as a concentration prerequisite. None of these courses, however, counts toward the concentration requirements, except that a student who takes a 150-level introduction in addition to another introduction may count that 150-level introduction (but only one) toward the concentration.
  
  
• Introductory Logic Courses and the Philosophy Concentration. Only introductions to symbolic logic, i.e., Philosophy 303 and 296, can be counted toward the concentration (these satisfy the logic requirement, as does Philosophy 414).
  
  
• Half-Term Information. Courses are offered in half terms for 2 or 3 credits.

Courses in Philosophy (Division 442)

151. Philosophical Dimensions of Personal Decisions. Students are strongly advised not to take more than two Philosophy Introductions. (3). (HU).

152. Philosophy of Human Nature. Students are strongly advised not to take more than two Philosophy Introductions. (3). (HU).

153. Philosophy and the Arts. Students are strongly advised not to take more than two Philosophy Introductions. (3). (Excl).

155. The Nature of Science. Students are strongly advised not to take more than two Philosophy Introductions. (3). (HU). (BS).

157/Great Books 157. Great Books in Philosophy. Students are strongly advised not to take more than two Philosophy Introductions. (3). (HU).

158. Philosophy and Narrative. Students are strongly advised not to take more than two Philosophy Introductions. (3; 2 in the half-term). (HU).

180. Introductory Logic. Credit is granted for only one of Phil. 180 or 201. (3; 2 in the half-term). (N.Excl). (BS).

181. Philosophical Issues: An Introduction. No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in 182, 202, 231, 232, 234, or 297. (3; 2 in the half-term). (HU).

182. Philosophical Issues: An Introduction. No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in 181, 202, 231, 232, 234, or 297. (3 in the half-term). (HU).

183. Critical Thinking. (3). (N.Excl).

196. First Year Seminar. First year students; second year students with permission of instructor. (3). (HU).

201. Introduction to Logic. Credit is granted for only one of Phil. 180 or 201. (3). (N.Excl). (BS).

202. Introduction to Philosophy. No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in 181, 182, 231, 232, 234, or 297. (3). (HU).

230/Buddhist Studies 230/Asian Studies 230/Rel. 230. Introduction to Buddhism. May not be included in a concentration plan in philosophy. (4). (HU).

232. Problems of Philosophy. No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in 181, 182, 202, 231, 234, or 297. (4). (HU).

296. Honors Introduction to Logic. Honors students or permission of instructor. Credit is granted for only one of Phil. 203, 303, or 296. (3). (N.Excl). (BS). (QR/1).

297. Honors Introduction to Philosophy. Honors students or permission of instructor. No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in 181, 182, 202, 231, 232, or 234. (3). (HU).

303. Introduction to Symbolic Logic. No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in Phil. 203, 296 or 414.(3). (N.Excl). (BS).

319. Philosophy of the Arts. Phil. 202 or equivalent. No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in Phil. 419. (3). (HU).

320. The World-View of Modern Science. (3). (HU). (BS).

322(362). Science, Culture, and Social Values. (3; 2 in the half-term). (HU).

340. Mind, Matter, and Machines. (3; 2 in the half-term). (Excl).

344. Ethics and Health Care. Inteflex 101, 201, or 301, or an introductory philosophy course. (3; 2 in the half-term). (HU).

345. Language and Mind. One philosophy course. (3). (HU).

355. Contemporary Moral Problems. No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in 455. (4; 3 in the half-term). (HU).

356. Issues in Bioethics. No prerequisites; one Philosophy Introduction is recommended. (4; 3 in the half-term). (HU).

359. Law and Philosophy. (4; 3 in the half-term). (HU).

361. Ethics. One Philosophy Introduction. (4; 2 in the half-term). (HU).

363/RC Hums. 363. Philosophical Bases of Communism, Fascism, and Democracy. One Philosophy Introduction. (4). (HU).

365/Rel. 365. Problems of Religion. (4; 3 in the half-term). (HU).

366. Introduction to Political Philosophy. One Philosophy Introduction. (4). (HU).

369. Philosophy of Law. One philosophy introduction. (3). (Excl).

370. Philosophical Aspects of Literature. (3; 2 in the half-term). (HU).

371. Existentialism. One Philosophy Introduction. (3; 2 in the half-term). (HU).

372. Philosophical Topics in the Study of Gender. One course in philosophy or women's studies, or permission of instructor. (3). (HU).

375. Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche, and Freud. (3). (HU).

383. Knowledge and Reality. One course in philosophy. (3; 2 in the half-term). (HU).

385. Continental Philosophy Since 1900. One course in philosophy. (3). (HU).

388/Class. Civil. 388. History of Philosophy: Ancient. One Philosophy Introduction. A knowledge of Greek or Latin is not required. (4). (HU).

389. History of Philosophy: Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries. One Philosophy Introduction. (4). (HU).

399. Independent Study. One Philosophy Introduction and permission of instructor. (1-4). (Excl). (INDEPENDENT). May be elected twice for a total of 8 credits with permission of concentration advisor.

401. Undergraduate Honors Seminar. Open to Honors concentrators in Philosophy and others by permission of instructor. (3). (Excl).

402. Undergraduate Seminar in Philosophy. Open to junior and senior concentrators and to others by permission of concentration advisor. (3). (Excl).

403/Amer. Cult. 403/Rel. 403. American Philosophy. One Philosophy Introduction. (3). (Excl).

405. Philosophy of Plato. One Philosophy Introduction. (3). (Excl).

406. Aristotle. One Philosophy Introduction. (3). (Excl).

409. Philosophy of Language. One Philosophy Introduction or permission of instructor. (3). (Excl).

411. Philosophy of Social Science. One philosophy course or social science background. (3). (Excl).

414. Mathematical Logic. (3). (Excl). (BS). (QR/1).

419. Philosophy of the Arts. No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in Phil. 319. Will not satisfy 400-level course requirement for concentration in philosophy. Not open to philosophy graduate students. (3). (Excl).

420. Philosophy of Science. A course in logic or permission of instructor. (3). (Excl). (BS).

422. Philosophy of Physics. One Philosophy Introduction or Logic Introduction or 12 credits of science. (3). (Excl). (BS).

423. Problems of Space and Time. One Logic Introduction and either one other philosophy course or 12 credits of science; or permission of instructor. (3). (Excl). (BS).

425. Philosophy of Biology. One course in philosophy or biology. (3). (Excl).

428/Pol. Sci. 428/Asian Studies 428/Soc. 426. China's Evolution Under Communism. Upperclass standing or permission of instructor. (4; 3 in the half-term). (Excl).

429. Ethical Analysis. Phil. 361, 363, or 366. (3). (Excl).

431. Normative Ethics. One Philosophy Introduction. (3). (Excl).

433. History of Ethics. Phil. 361 or permission of instructor. (3). (Excl).

437/MHM 437. Philosophy of Music. An introductory course in philosophy; or previous course work in music; or permission of the instructor. (3). (Excl).

439. Aesthetics. One Philosophy Introduction or permission of instructor. (3). (Excl).

440. Camera Arts. One previous course in philosophy at the 300 level or above, or one course in History of Art, or one course in Film and Video Studies, or the permission of the instructor. (3). (Excl).

442. Topics in Political Philosophy. Phil. 363, 366, or 441; or permission of instructor. (3). (Excl).

450. Philosophy of Cognition. Two courses in Philosophy. (3). (Excl).

455. Contemporary Moral Problems. Not open to graduate students in philosophy. No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in Phil. 355. (4). (Excl).

457/Asian Studies 480/Buddhist Studies 480/Rel. 480. Problems in Buddhism. Phil. 230 or the equivalent. May not be included in a concentration plan in philosophy. (3). (Excl).

458. Philosophy of Kant. Phil. 389, 461, or 462, or permission of instructor, or concentration advisor. (3). (Excl).

460. Medieval Philosophy. One Philosophy Introduction or permission of instructor. (3). (Excl).

461. Continental Rationalism. One Philosophy Introduction. (3). (Excl).

462. British Empiricism. One Philosophy Introduction. (3). (Excl).

463. Topics in the History of Philosophy. Phil. 388 or 389, or permission of the instructor. (3). (Excl).

465. Contemporary Continental Philosophy. One of philosophy 371, 375, 385, or 389. (3; 2 in the half-term). (Excl).

466. Topics in Continental Philosophy. One of Phil. 371, 375, 385, or 389, or permission of instructor. (3). (Excl).

468/Chinese 468. Classical Chinese Thought (To A.D. 220). Upperclass standing; no knowledge of Chinese required. (3). (HU).

469/Chinese 469. Later Chinese Thought (A.D. 220-1849). Upperclass standing; no knowledge of Chinese required. (3). (HU).

474. Nineteenth-Century Philosophy: Hegel and Marx and the Origin of Social Science. Phil. 389 or permission of instructor. (3). (Excl).

475/Chinese 475/Hist. of Art 487/RC Hums. 475/Asian Studies 475. The Arts and Letters of China. May not be included in a concentration plan in philosophy. (4). (HU).

477. Theory of Knowledge. One Philosophy Introduction. (3). (Excl).

480. Philosophy of Religion. One Philosophy Introduction. (3; 2 in the half-term). (Excl).

481. Metaphysics. One Philosophy Introduction. (3). (Excl).

482. Philosophy of Mind. One Philosophy Introduction. (3). (Excl).

485. Philosophy of Action. Two philosophy courses, or permission of instructor. (3). (Excl).

486/WS 486. Topics in Feminist Philosophy. Two courses in either Philosophy or Women's Studies, or permission of instructor. (3). (Excl).

492. Frege, Russell, and Wittgenstein. Phil. 414 or the equivalent, or permission of instructor. (3). (Excl).

498. Senior Honors in Philosophy. By departmental permission only. (3; 2 in the half-term). (Excl). (INDEPENDENT).

499. Senior Honors in Philosophy. By departmental permission only. (3). (Excl). (INDEPENDENT).

505/Chinese 505. Modern Chinese Thought. Permission of instructor. (3). (Excl).