Philosophy is about as broad a subject as one can find in a university curriculum. It addresses a wide array of questions, some quite familiar (Does God exist? Why be moral? What is art?), others less so (What is a thing? Is space a substance?). Philosophy includes the examination of its own methods, and its own history. It also falls within philosophy to examine the methods and practices of virtually all academic disciplines. Because of this breadth, a person can study philosophy in ways involving the styles and techniques of thought of most other fields of inquiry. For example, the work of a philosopher concentrating in logic is much like that of the student of mathematics. A philosopher primarily interested in the philosophy of religion will often be doing much the same things as a theologian or a student of the history of religion. Political philosophy is regarded by some as including political activity itself. Many other such examples exist. In addition, Philosophy examines the practices of other activities, such as the fine arts, that are sometimes thought of as different from typical academic disciplines. However, for the most part the activities characteristic of philosophy are peculiar to the discipline. The only way to know what it's really like is to give it a try.
The Department offers a number of courses that do not carry prerequisites: (A) general introductions designed to acquaint students with a representative sample of philosophical problems (181, 202, 232, 234, and 297); (B) introductions that focus on a particular branch of philosophy or area of human concern – e.g., the human mind, religion, substantive moral problems, and modern art (focusing on film) – designed for students who, having no previous background in philosophy, want to study these areas in a philosophical way (340, 355, 365, and 368); and (C) introductions to logic and reasoning (180, 201, 303, and 414).
(A) The general introductions deal, for example, with questions concerning the nature of reality, knowledge, the self and the mind, freedom, morality, society, and religion, but they differ in their instructional format and staffing. Philosophy 202 is taught by advanced graduate students in independent sections of 25 students. Philosophy 181 is taught by faculty, in a combination lecture/discussion format, limited to 50 students. In Philosophy 232 and 234, a faculty member delivers a lecture two hours per week, and students divide into groups of 25 for discussion sections led by graduate students. These two courses differ in that 232 is structured around the discussion of philosophical problems, whereas 234 is focused on major figures in the history of philosophy. Finally, Philosophy 297, "Honors Introduction," is taught by a faculty member to a group of 25 students.
(B) Fall courses not carrying prerequisites that focus on a specific area of human concern or philosophical thought include "Mind, Matter, and Machines" (340), "Contemporary Moral Problems" (355), "Problems of Religion" (365), and "Philosophy of Film" (368). These courses do not require previous work in philosophy. Philosophy 340 and 368 are taught by members of the faculty, in a combination lecture/discussion format, limited to 50 and 30 students, respectively. In Philosophy 355 and 365, a faculty member delivers a lecture two hours per week, and students divide into groups of 25 for discussion sections led by graduate students.
A number of Fall 300-level courses require only a single philosophy introduction as a prerequisite: "Language and Mind" (345), "Ethics" (361), "Existentialism" (371), and "History of Philosophy: Ancient" (388). Of these, 345, 361, and 388 meet requirements for the concentration.
(C) Among the introductions to logic, Philosophy 180 is designed both to improve critical reasoning skills, and to provide an introduction to formal logic. Philosophy 201 is designed to improve critical reasoning skills, through an introduction to informal logic. Philosophy 303 is an introduction to formal or symbolic logic. Philosophy 414 is a more advanced course in formal logic, and is approved for (QR/1). Philosophy 180 and 303 are taught by faculty, in a combination lecture/discussion format, limited to 50 students. Philosophy 201 is taught by advanced graduate student teaching assistants in independent sections of 25 students.
There is additional information about the Department's curriculum in "The Undergraduate Program in Philosophy." This brochure contains information intended for students interested in taking philosophy courses, whether or not they are considering a Philosophy concentration. The Department also maintains a home page (http://www.lsa.umich.edu/philosophy/). Students considering a concentration in Philosophy are encouraged to make an appointment with a Philosophy concentration advisor. To request a copy of the undergraduate brochure, or to schedule an appointment with a concentration advisor, contact the Department Office (2215 Angell Hall, 764-6285). The Office can also provide information about the Department's Undergraduate Philosophy Club and undergraduate e-mail group.
180. Introductory Logic. Credit is granted for only one of Phil. 180 or 201. (3). (HU). (BS).
This course is designed both to improve critical reasoning
skills that could be of use in a wide range of disciplines and careers, and to provide an introduction to formal logic. The course
examines some of the problems and fallacies which arise in informal
reasoning, some of the elements of formal (symbolic) logic, and logical concepts used in the analysis and criticism of arguments.
The course gives some attention to issues in branches of philosophy
germane to logic, for example, the theory of knowledge, philosophy
of language, and metaphysics. There will be lectures, demonstrations
of problem-solving techniques, and a variety of exercises. The
course is limited to 50 students, which should permit opportunity
for discussion. Texts and methods of evaluation to be determined.
WL:4
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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). (HU).
Sections 001 and 002. This course examines some of the main
problems of philosophy, such as: How do we know that anything
exists, other than ourselves? Are minds immaterial spirits, or
are minds brains and hence nothing but complex physical objects?
If human actions are causally determined by heredity and environment, is there any free will or moral responsibility? Is abortion, or
euthanasia, or suicide, morally permissible? Is the nature and extent of our moral obligations determined by our feelings, self-interest, social convention, Divine commands, or something else? What are the different kinds of social, political, and economic organization, and what reasons are there for preferring one to another? How
should one live one's life? What is the meaning of life, and what
does this question mean? Are there good reasons for believing that God exists? Students will write papers discussing a number
of these topics. WL:4
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196. First Year Seminar.
First year students; second year students with permission
of instructor. (3). (HU).
Section 001 – Philosophy and the Future of Work. What will
work be like in the next century? What jobs will have been automated
away by then, and in what areas will the new ones be created?
And what is happening to work overall? Is there an alternative
to work becoming ever more frenetic and demanding? Is it conceivable that the brilliant inventions of Hi-technology could be used not
to create ever greater pressures and more unemployment, but instead
a culture in which work for a far greater number could become
more nearly a vocation or a calling? What movements in various
countries have already taken steps in this direction? This course
will address these and similar questions quite directly, but it
will also, and in large part, ask these questions in the light
of major philosophic writings. These will include philosophers
like Hegel, Nietzsche and Marx, but also Max Weber's The Protestant
Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism, Henry David
Thoreau's Walden, and Paul Goodman's Growing Up Absurd.
One paper, one oral presentation and final examination. WL:1
(Bergmann)
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201. Introduction to Logic. Credit is granted for only one of Phil. 180 or 201. (3). (HU). (BS).
This course aims to give students a thorough understanding
of the fundamental forms of reasoning and rational argument, and to improve critical reasoning skills that could be of use in a
wide range of disciplines and careers. The course examines some
of the problems and fallacies which arise in informal reasoning
and logical concepts used in the analysis and criticism of arguments.
Some elements of formal (symbolic) logic might be introduced.
Though students will be expected to master some technical detail, the course emphasizes informal logical techniques applicable to
problem solving and argument in any area of inquiry. Both deductive
and inductive patterns of argument will be examined. The small
sections size (usually about 25 students) is conducive to informality
and considerable student participation. There will also be lectures, demonstrations of problem-solving techniques, and a variety of
exercises. Normally, there are weekly assignments, and short, periodic quizzes. WL:4
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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).
This course introduces students to philosophy through an examination
of some central philosophical problems. Topics might include:
Are minds immaterial spirits, or are minds brains and hence nothing
but complex physical objects? If human actions are causally determined
by heredity and environment, is there any moral responsibility?
Is abortion, or euthanasia, or suicide, morally permissible? Is the nature and extent of our moral obligations determined by our
feelings, self-interest, social convention, Divine commands, or
something else? What are the reasons for preferring one kind of
social, political, and economic organization to another? Are there
good reasons for believing that God exists? How do we know that
anything exists, other than ourselves? In addressing these questions, some sections focus on major historical figures, e.g.,
Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Hume, and Kant; others focus on writings
of twentieth century philosophers. Requirements usually include
a number of short, critical papers. WL:4
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230/Buddhist Studies 230/Asian Studies 230/Rel. 230. Introduction to Buddhism. (4). (HU). May not be included in a concentration plan in philosophy.
See Buddhist Studies 230. (Lopez)
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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).
This is a first course in philosophy assuming no background
in the subject; it is open to students from all areas of the University
at any stage in their studies. The course has two main goals.
First, to provide a sense of what philosophers think about and why. This will be done through consideration of several historically
important issues: the existence of God, skepticism about the external
world, personal identity, freedom vs. determinism, moral relativism, and moral responsibility. The second goal is to assist those enrolled
in developing their critical and argumentative skills. Philosophy
232 has two discussion meetings per week, and requires three short
papers and a final exam. The course has two texts: Anthony Weston, Rulebook for Arguments (Hackett) and Joel Feinberg's
anthology Reason and Responsibility (Dickenson). Cost:2 WL:4
(Haslanger)
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234. Introduction to Philosophy: Types of Philosophy. No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in 181, 182, 202, 231, 232, or 297. (4). (HU).
This course is an introduction to philosophy through aspects
of its history. Participants will be introduced to philosophical
problems and theories via the close study of central passages
from at least some of Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, and Kant. The emphasis will be equally on trying to discover
what these writers were arguing, and whether their arguments are
cogent. The topics that will be covered will be selected from
a list including among others: the nature of human knowledge; the freedom of the will; the relationship between mind and body; the nature of the good life; the source of authority of the state.
The mode of instruction will be lectures with attendance at discussion
sections. Students will be expected to write two short papers
and to take midterm and final examinations. WL:4
(Rumfitt)
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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).
Section 001. This is an Honors introduction to a sampling
of contemporary philosophical problems. Topics might include determinism, freedom, and moral responsibility; skepticism and the problem
of induction; mind and body; the nature of morality; the existence
of God; perception and the physical world; and meaning, verification, and the possibility of metaphysics. Extensive and very careful
reading will be required. There will be little lecturing, and we will expect to benefit from active discussion on the part of
everyone. The other requirements for the course are four short
papers (c. 5 pp. each) and a final exam. WL:4
(Gibbard)
Section 003. This course serves as an introduction
to three of the perennial issues on which the finest minds in
history have exercised their intelligence. The first topic is
philosophical scepticism: the thesis that you are never correct
if you say you know something. As with many philosophical issues, this one is hard to believe, but also difficult to refute. The
second topic is the relationship of the mind to the body and its
physical activity. Are mental events just physical events such
as states of the nervous system, or do they have a distinctive
nature of their own? Finally, we will take up the question of
how (if at all) we can rightly be said to act on rational decisions, or on choices made by our free will when we are apparently physical
organisms in a universe governed by brute, unreasoning laws of
nature. There will be three short papers. WL:4
(Tappenden)
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303. Introduction to Symbolic Logic. No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in Phil. 203, 296 or 414. (3). (MSA). (BS).
Symbolic logic is the application of formal, mathematical methods
to human reasoning. Its goal is to determine which forms of reasoning
must produce true conclusions when applied to true premises. This
course will introduce students to the two simplest, but most important
systems of formal logic: the propositional calculus, which classifies
forms of reasoning that involve the truth-functional operations
of negation, disjunction, and conjunction ("not," "or"
and "and"); and the monadic predicate calculus, which
characterizes inferences involving the quantifiers "all"
and "some." The first half of the course will focus
on the propositional calculus. A system of inference rules will
be developed, and students will be shown how it can be applied
both to the evaluation of ordinary arguments and to problems as
"practical" as the design of computer chips and the
simplification of electric circuitry in houses. A series of "metatheorems"
will then be proved to show that the system developed indeed captures
all and only the valid truth-functional inferences. During this
portion of the course, students will also be asked to master proofs
by mathematical induction. The second half of the course will
be dedicated to the study of first-order logic. Basic concepts
of the proof theory and model theory for first-order monadic languages
will be discussed, and the important metatheorems theorems will
be stated, among them the completeness, compactness, and Lowenheim
Skolem theorems. There will be regular homework assignments, assigned
weekly, as well as a midterm examination and a final. WL:1
(Joyce)
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340. Mind, Matter, and Machines. (3). (HU).
This course is about the mind/body problem and related philosophical
challenges to our understanding of human minds. The main aim is
for students to understand the difficulties with a number of initially
attractive models of mind – as brain, computer, soul, and social
construct – and why this matters to our conceptions of ourselves.
Each of these models has been the subject of some of the most
lively and accessible works in contemporary philosophy; we will
supplement these with some ingenious science fiction short stories.
Some questions considered are: Could the brain be the seat of
feelings? Could nonbiological beings think? Could machines have
free will, creativity, or consciousness? Could souls interact
with the physical world? Could talk of the mind be merely a useful
fiction? We will also try to sketch a design for an intelligent
robot. Your grade will depend on several short papers and class
participation. WL:4
(Lormand)
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344. Ethics and Health Care. Inteflex 101, 201, or 301, or an introductory philosophy course. (3). (HU).
Designed specifically for students who plan to practice medicine; the course provides a forum for discussion of problems in medical
ethics within the wider context of philosophical ethics. Class
meetings are a combination of lecture and informal discussion.
In addition, students are required to do a term paper which explores
in depth one of the topics under consideration and to take a final
exam. The purpose of this course is two-fold: (1) to provide a
general introduction to philosophical ethics drawing on both contemporary
and historical courses; and (2) to investigate the problems and debates in contemporary medical ethics using tools of philosophical
analysis. With regard to the first, the topics covered will be
drawn from the following; the nature of moral reasoning, moral
relativism, deontological and utilitarian theories of obligation, the nature of moral responsibility, theories of the intrinsically
good, the distinction between facts and values, and metaethical theories concerning the nature of ethical justification. With
regard to the second, the problems in medical ethics covered will
typically include euthanasia, truth telling and confidentiality, paternalism, experimentation on human subjects, and problems of
justice in health care policy. A general introduction to ethics
will be assigned along with historical and contemporary selections
from anthologies of writings on both philosophical and medical
ethics. WL:4 (Noble)
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345. Language and Mind. One philosophy course. (3). (HU).
This course is an introduction to some problems which overlap the philosophy of mind and the philosophy of language. The theme
will be the general nature of intentional action, and the more
particular characteristics of those actions in the course of which
we speak to one another, write to one another, etc. We
shall also see how the philosophy of language might contribute
to solving the mind-body problem. The course will involve the
study of a number of classic texts in philosophy of mind and philosophy
of language, notably J.L. Austin's How To Do Things with Words,
J.R. Searle's Speech Acts, Saul Kripke Naming and Necessity, the papers on intending and meaning by Paul Grice, and those by Donald Davidson on action. While these texts are
not easy, we shall discuss them carefully, and every effort will
be made to avoid unnecessary technicalities. The mode of instruction
will be lectures, but with plenty of time for questions and discussion.
Students will be expected to produce two 12-page papers, and to
sit a final examination. A previous logic course would helpful.
WL:1 (Rumfitt)
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355. Contemporary Moral Problems. No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in 455. (4). (HU).
Contemporary life faces us with many questions that have moral
dimensions, some obvious, some less so. In this course, we will
explore the moral dimensions of a range of contemporary issues, including abortion, equality, affirmative action, freedom of expression, justice across national boundaries and across generations, and the treatment of animals. In the process, we will also be examining
competing conceptions of morality and justice, and the presuppositions
about human nature, society, and value that underlie them. In
one unit of the course we will focus on questions about race and gender, looking first at conceptual and empirical issues concerning these two categories – including the various real or alleged
differences and inequalities associated with them – and then
at the moral issues they raise for contemporary society. Three
papers and a final examination. Cost:3
(est.) WL:4 (Railton)
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361. Ethics. One Philosophy Introduction. (4). (HU).
This is a course in philosophical ethics. We will be concerned
to see whether there is anything to be said in a principled way
about what is valuable and what is right and wrong. But we shall
also ask philosophical questions about ethics – metaethical questions, as they are called. Here we will ask, not what is valuable, but
what is value? And where do fundamental standards of right and wrong "come from"? The core of the course will be an
examination of three central traditions in ethical philosophy
in the west, typified by Aristotle, Immanuel Kant, and John Stuart
Mill. We will also do a section on metaethics with readings from
classical and contemporary sources, including the existentialists.
And we shall end the course by considering a recent critique of
traditional moral philosophy inspired by the work of the psychologist
Carol Gilligan on gender and moral development. Lecture and discussion, with an emphasis on student participation. Two papers of 5-7 pages
in length, a midterm, and a final exam. Cost:2
WL:1 (Darwall)
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365/Rel. 365. Problems of Religion. (4). (HU).
This course will focus primarily on doctrines common to the
major monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam): that there is one God, a personal being who created the universe, who has revealed himself to his creatures, and who requires certain
conduct of them. We will explore various questions these doctrines
raise: Are there good reasons to believe in such a god? Can his
existence be reconciled with the existence of evil? Can we expect
a life after this life? Is belief in such a god essential to morality?
And how ought believers to treat those who hold very different
religious beliefs? There will be some attention to non-western
religions, of which Buddhism will be taken as representative.
WL:4 (Curley)
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368. Philosophy of Film. (3). (HU).
A philosophically careful exploration of the nature and significance
of film art, informed by a viewing of memorable films from a variety
of styles and periods. Film is one of our major modern
arts; we need to examine its relation to older forms of drama, older forms of storytelling, and older forms of picture-making. Filming is a family of technologies for recording and reproducing sights and sounds; we need to examine the history
of these technologies and their roots in commonsense thinking
about seeing and hearing as such. Moviegoing is a pervasive
and influential popular pastime; we need to look into its distinctive
appeal and distinctive impact on private fantasy, personal aspiration, and communal custom. Written work for the course will consist
of three short papers, due at intervals during the term. Some
assignments will call for careful critical assessment of very
general claims and distinctions; others will call on you to account
for the power and interest of specific bits of business in specific
films. WL:4 (Hills)
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371. Existentialism. One Philosophy Introduction. (3). (HU).
Although you very probably have read one or the other of the
texts for this course (surely, at least, The Stranger),
no previous acquaintance with any will be strictly speaking presupposed.
Among the authors on which we will focus are Dostoevsky (The
Notes from Underground and chapters from The Brothers
Karamazov), Nietzsche (Zarathustra and On the
Genealogy of Morals), Sartre (Nausea and Being and Nothingness)
and Camus' most famous works. Writers like Heidegger, Kafka, Rilke, and Hesse will also be discussed, but more briefly, and we will
beyond this look for the expression of Existentialist themes and ideas in contemporary literature, as well as in film and more
generally in art. Several short exercises leading up to one longer
paper and the usual examinations. WL:4
(Bergmann)
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388/Class. Civil. 388. History of Philosophy: Ancient. One Philosophy Introduction. A knowledge of Greek or Latin is not required. (4). (HU).
This course is a survey of philosophical thought through the
Hellenistic period. Though the course focuses on the philosophical
systems of Plato and Aristotle, some attention might be paid to
pre-Socratic thinkers, Epicurus, the Stoics, and the Sceptics.
Stress is laid not only on the doctrines of these philosophers, but also on their arguments for holding them. Requirements will
include a number of critical papers. WL:1
(Everson)
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397. Topics in Philosophy. Permission of concentration advisor and instructor. (3-4). (Excl). May be elected for credit twice with permission of concentration advisor.
This course number is designed to permit philosophy concentrators, upon recommendation of a concentration adviser, to elect a course
a second time for credit when it has a different instructor and covers substantially different material.
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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.
Independent study of a topic not otherwise available through
a regular departmental offering.
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401. Undergraduate Honors Seminar. Open to Honors concentrators in Philosophy and others by permission of instructor. (3). (Excl).
A seminar which is conceived for the purpose of assisting students
in writing an Honors thesis in Philosophy. The seminar begins
with several weeks discussing fundamental methodological issues
in philosophy, and then enters a sequence of stages, each lasting
several weeks, in which students successively (1) propose a general
area for a thesis, (2) develop and explore a list of basic reading
in that area, (3) write and present a brief prospectus of the thesis, and (4) write a term paper dealing with some central ideas
for the thesis. The aim of the seminar is to provide advice, discussion, and support for thesis writers, so that they will be able (1)
to identify and begin a thesis project that genuinely engages them and (2) to enter the Winter Term in an excellent position
to write a successful thesis. Cost:1
WL:1 (Railton)
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414. Mathematical Logic. (3). (Excl). (BS). (QR/1).
A mathematical study of formal languages, with an eye to their
philosophical relevance. We will study artificial "languages"
whose logical features are rigorously defined, and which are intended
to distill logical characteristics of natural languages like English.
These will include propositional, predicate, and modal logics.
We will explore proof algorithms and model-theoretic semantics
for these languages, and prove various adequacy results about the proof algorithms, including soundness and completeness theorems.
This course provides useful background for advanced study in linguistics
and in nearly all fields of analytic philosophy, including especially
philosophy of language and metaphysics. Written work will consist
of extensive problem sets and midterm and final exams, and will
require detailed mathematical proofs. WL:1
(Crimmins)
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418. Philosophy of Mathematics. Phil. 414. (3). (Excl). (BS).
This course will chart a path through some less-discussed topics
in the philosophy of mathematics: What is it about mathematics that makes it such a powerful aid in both theoretical physics
and also engineering applications, like the mechanics of moving
parts or the strength of building materials? How can mathematics
promote the unification of apparently diverse subjects, and what
constitutes a "good" and "fruitful" unification?
What is the significance of the apparent distinction between different
"styles" (e.g., "algebraic" or "geometric")
of mathematical reasoning? Students will have to pick up some
mathematics as the course unfolds, but every effort will be made
to keep examples (mostly drawn from the more elementary parts
of Euclidean and projective geometry and straightforward parts
of abstract algebra) accessible. Students should have taken at
least one philosophy course and one course in mathematics or formal
logic. Others should obtain permission from the instructor. WL:1 (Tappenden)
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423. Problems of Space and Time. One Logic Introduction and either one other philosophy course or 12 credits of science. (3). (Excl). (BS).
Traditional philosophical questions about the nature of time
and space have been strikingly influenced in the twentieth century
by the results of contemporary physical science. At the same time, the important current physical theories of space and time rest
explicitly or implicitly on deep-rooted philosophical assumptions.
The purpose of this course is to study the mutual interaction
between science and philosophy as illustrated in problems about
space and time. Typical topics to be considered include the status
of knowledge about the structure of space and time, substantial
versus relational theories of space-time, spatio-temporal order
and causal order, and the so-called problem of the direction of
time. This course can be appreciated by students who have either
a background in philosophy – especially logic and philosophy
of science, metaphysics, epistemology – or background in physical
science or mathematics. An attempt is made in this course to introduce the fundamental ideas of both philosophy and science at a level
which can be understood by those without extensive background
so students need not be proficient in both science and philosophy
to benefit from the course. The primary text is L. Sklar Space, Time, and Spacetime. There are additional readings from such
authors as Reichenbach, Poincaré, Grunbaum, Smart, Wheeler, and others. Cost:2
WL:1 (Sklar)
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428/Pol. Sci. 428/Asian Studies 428/Soc. 426. China's Evolution Under Communism. Upperclass standing. (4). (Excl).
See Political Science 428.
(Lieberthal)
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430. Topics in Ethics. Phil. 361. (3). (Excl). May be repeated twice for a total of 6 credits.
This course will study three topics in ethics. (1) Consequentialism
and its critics: do we have a moral obligation to make the world
as good as possible? Does morality constrain what we may do toward this end? (2) Reasons for action and for morality. What, exactly, are our reasons to be moral, and how do these reasons fit with
nonmoral reasons for action? (3) The moral significance of the
place of humans in nature. What is the moral significance of the
fact that we are animals? What is the moral standing of animals
and nature as a whole? Readings will draw primarily from contemporary
sources. Classes will consist in lectures with discussion encouraged.
The course is designed to be at the level of someone who has some
substantial prior background in moral philosophy. Philosophy 361
is an excellent background. Anyone taking the course is in for
a lot of difficult and demanding reading. There will be three
papers and a final examination. WL:1
(Anderson)
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450. Philosophy of Cognition. Two courses in Philosophy. (3). (Excl).
In philosophy, science, and everyday life we continually form
educated guesses (theories, hypotheses) about conditions we cannot
literally demonstrate by indubitable observation or indubitable
deduction. This course is about a central method of educated guessing, "inference to the best explanation." This method involves
weighing competing guesses in terms of various "virtues"
such as comprehensiveness (how much "data" a guess would
explain if true), simplicity (with how little a guess would do
so), conservatism (how little change would accepting the guess
involve), and analogy (how similar the guess is to previously
accepted guesses). We will ask which virtues there are, why they
are virtues, exactly how they should be understood, and what their
relative weights, trade-offs, and priorities are. According to the interests of the class, we may extend the discussion into
such topics as abduction, certainty, history of science, holism, irrationality, observation, paradoxes of induction, reflective
equilibrium, and skepticism. WL:1
(Lormand)
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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). Does not meet the Philosophy Department's 400-level course requirement for Philosophy concentrators.
Intended primarily for graduate students outside the Philosophy
Department. Course content and requirements are the same as Philosophy 355 (see above), except that the papers of those enrolled in Philosophy 455 are expected to
be more substantial. Cost:3
(est.) WL:4 (Railton)
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486/WS 486. Topics in Feminist Philosophy. Two courses in either Philosophy or Women's Studies. (3). (Excl).
The topics for this term are feminist epistemology and philosophy
of science. Is rationality gendered? Are scientific conceptions
of objectivity "masculine"? What could it mean to make
such claims, and how could they be justified? What should a feminist
conception of knowledge look like? In addressing these questions
we'll explore the numerous ways that gender, gender roles, and gender identity influence the construction of knowledge and the
representation of objectivity. We will investigate competing views
about knowledge construction – specifically, empiricism, standpoint theory, and postmodernism – by considering, among other things, how they have informed empirical research in the social sciences, biology, and medicine. There will be a research paper, two short
papers, and a final examination. Classes will be conducted as
interactive lecture/discussions. Students should have a background
(at least 2 courses) in either philosophy or women's studies.
Cost:3 WL:1
(Haslanger)
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498. Senior Honors in Philosophy. By departmental permission only. (3). (Excl). (INDEPENDENT).
This course number is to be used for those students who are
in the process of writing a philosophy Honors thesis. Anyone wishing
to write an Honors thesis in philosophy should consult the Philosophy
Honors Advisor.
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Times, Location, and Availability
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