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, and 297); (B) introductions that focus on a particular branch of philosophy or area of human concern – e.g., the mind and consciousness, the law, and literature – designed for students who, having no previous background in philosophy, want to study these areas in a philosophical way (340, 359, and 370); and (C) introductions to logic and reasoning (180, 201, and 303).
(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, a faculty member delivers a lecture two hours per week, and students divide into groups of 25 for discussion sections led by graduate students. Finally, Philosophy 297, “Honors Introduction”, is taught by a faculty member to a group of 25 students.
(B) Winter courses not carrying prerequisites that focus on a specific area of human concern or philosophical thought include “Mind, Matter, and Machines” (340), “Law and Philosophy” (359), and “Philosophical Aspects of Literature” (370). These courses do not require previous work in philosophy. Philosophy 370 is taught by a member of the faculty, in a combination lecture/discussion format, limited to 30 students. In Philosophy 340 and 359, 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 Winter 300-level courses require only a single philosophy introduction as a prerequisite: “Language and Mind” (345), “Continental Philosophy” (385), and “History of Philosophy: Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century” (389). All of these courses 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 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; students considering an Honors concentration should consult with the Philosophy advisor for the Honors concentration. 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.
Prerequisites & Distribution: (4). (HU). May not be included in a concentration plan in philosophy.
Credits: (4).
Course Homepage: https://coursetools.ummu.umich.edu/2000/winter/lsa/buds/230/001.nsf
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Prerequisites & Distribution: Open to junior and senior concentrators and to others by permission of concentration advisor. (3). (Excl).
Credits: (3; 2 in the half-term).
Course Homepage: No Homepage Submitted.
Some ancient Greek skeptics thought of their skepticism not as a doctrine about knowledge, but as a method for attaining psychological health. By contrast, moderns tended to think of skepticism as a darkness which must be pierced, and skeptical arguments as tools for producing in the philosopher the self-image of an uncouth monster. In this course, we will consider the goals and methods of ancient and modern skepticism. Should skepticism be understood along ancient or modern lines? Should we embrace it, or do all we can to defeat it? Authors to be read include Sextus Empiricus, Descartes, and Hume. Students will be asked to write papers and give a seminar presentation.
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Prerequisites & Distribution: A course in logic. (3). (Excl). (BS).
Credits: (3).
Course Homepage: No Homepage Submitted.
This course provides upper-level undergraduates and beginning graduate students with a broad overview of the philosophy of science. It seeks to clarify the nature of the "scientific method" and to explain its success. Topics to be covered include: the process by which scientific hypotheses are confirmed by empirical evidence, the nature of scientific laws and their role in explanation, the logical and semantic structure of scientific theories, the "realism/anti-realism debate" concerning the nature of unobservable entities and processes, the objectivity of science, the distinction between science and nonscience. Students will be asked to read about 50 pages of material per week, to write two 10-12 page papers, and to take a midterm examination and a final.
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Prerequisites & Distribution: Phil. 263 or another introductory philosophy course is recommended. (3). (Excl).
Credits: (3).
Course Homepage: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~ivanhoe/phil456.htm
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Prerequisites & Distribution: Phil. 230. (3). (Excl). May not be included in a concentration plan in philosophy.
Credits: (3).
Course Homepage: No Homepage Submitted.
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Prerequisites & Distribution: (4). (HU). May not be included in a concentration plan in philosophy.
Credits: (4).
Course Homepage: No Homepage Submitted.
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This page was created at 8:11 AM on Wed, Jan 19, 2000.