Fall 2009 Courses
Note: Courses numbered below 100 are primarily for undergraduates, but MA students can usually arrange to take below-100 level courses for MA credit by doing extra work and getting permission from the instructor.
PHIL 6a Introduction to Symbolic Logic
Symbolic Logic provides concepts and formal technicqes that elucidate deductive reasoning. Topics include truth functions and quantifiers, validity, and formal systems. Usually offered every semester.
Mr. Samet T, F 01:40 PM - 03:00 PM
PHIL 22b Philosophy of Law
Examines the nature of criminal responsibility, causation in the law, negligence and liability, omission and the duty to rescue, and the nature and limits of law. Also, is the law more or less like chess or poker, cooking recipes, or the Ten Commandments?
Ms. Fray-Witzer M,W, Th 01:10 PM - 02:00 PM
PHIL 37a Philosophy of Language
Theories of meaning, reference, and methodological issues in account of language and translation. Readings from contemporary sources. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Yourgrau M, W 03:30 PM - 05:00 PM
PHIL 66b Contemporary Analytic Philosophy
Covers major figures and schools of philosophy in the twentieth century. A basic historical treatment of this period, stressing its continuity with the modern period. Emphasis on the role of logic and language in solving philosophical problems, such as the possibility of doing metaphysics, and whether there are a priori, necessary, or analytic truths. Provides both an excellent introduction to the philosophy curriculum, as well as important grounding for graduate work in philosophy. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Berger T, F 01:40 PM - 03:00 PM
Note: For undergraduate and graduate students:
PHIL 111A What Is Justice?
Prerequisite: One course in philosophy or political theory or permission of the instructor.
What is justice and what does justice require? The course examines theories of justice, both classical and contemporary. Topics include liberty and equality, "who gets what and how much," welfare- and resource-based principles of justice, justice as a virtue, liberalism, multiculturalism, and globalization. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Smiley M, W 05:10 PM - 06:30 PM
PHIL 114B Topics in Ethical Theory: Kant and Rawls
This course examines Immanuel Kant’s influence on the 20th century philosopher, John Rawls. Through a careful reading of each philosopher’s major writings, we will examine (A) meta-ethical questions concerning the source and status of moral judgment and (B) practical questions, including the philosophers’ ideas about the ideal society and their views about relationships between societies.
Ms. Moran T, F 12:10 PM - 01:30 PM
PHIL 120A Utilitarianism
Explores historical and contemporary versions of utilitarianism. Examines arguments for and against them, as well as looking at the implications of utilitarianism for our own lives.
Ms. Hewitt M, W 03:40 PM - 05:00 PM
PHIL 129A Philosophical Problems
For students already introduced to philosophy who are interested in examining an array of fundamental philosophical problems in the three main areas of philosophy--epistemology, metaphysics, and ethics and politics--at a more advanced level.
Mr. Greenberg M, W 02:10 PM - 03:30 PM
PHIL 137A Nature or Nurture? The Innateness Controversy
The question: How much of what we are--what we believe and know, what we think and feel, and how we act--is due to our environment and training and how much is a function of our inherent nature? This interdisciplinary course covers: the main answers in the history of philosophy (from Plato through Logical Positivism); the contemporary philosophical debate on this question; and current scientific research in linguistics, psychology, ethology, artificial intelligence, and evolutionary biology.
Mr. Samet T, F 10:40 AM - 12:00 PM
PHIL 145B Topics in the Philosophy of Language: Quine on Language, Logic, and Epistemology
This course will primarily discuss Quine's notion of a speech-dispositional account of language, and how he ties it in with his views in epistemology, especially with regard to the epistemology of logic. Primarily discusses his "Two Dogmas of Empiricism" paper, "Epistemology Naturalized" paper, his speech dispositional view of language and logic, and, if time permits, his notion and criteria for ontological commitment, "On What There Is", and "ontological reduction" and, if time permits, other notions, such as belief attribution, necessity, both de dicto and de re. Will be critical of all of Quine's views on these topics. These papers will be taught together with several other papers in the literature on these topics, including some of Hilary Putnam's and the instructors.
Mr. Berger T, F 03:10 PM - 04:30 PM
PHIL 148B Philosophy of the Humanities
Explores the nature of the humanities, their methods and goals, with a particular focus on the discipline of history. Is history a "science," and should it be? What is the nature of the claims to knowledge that historians (and other humanists) make? How does one know a narrative? How does one know an interpretation? And what is the role of power in legitimating the claims to knowledge advanced by scholars, teachers, and students of history?
Mr. Levisohn T, F 12:10 PM - 01:30 PM
PHIL 161A Plato
An introduction to Plato's thought through an intensive reading of several major dialogues.
Mr. Yourgrau M, W 05:10 PM - 06:30 PM
PHIL 168A Kant
An attempt to understand and evaluate the main ideas of the Critique of Pure Reason, the subjectivity of space and time, the nature of consciousness, and the objectivity of the concepts of substance and causality.
Mr. Greenberg M, W 05:10 PM - 06:30 PM
Note: For graduate students only:
PHIL 200A Graduate Proseminar
This course has two main goals. The first is to introduce you to the “greatest hits” in meta-ethical theory. By the end of the course, you should be able to engage critically on the major themes and debates in meta-ethics. The second, equally-important, goal is to hone your reading, argumentation, and philosophical writing skills. As such, frequent writing and discussion is a major element of this course.
Ms. Moran T 04:40 PM - 07:30 PM