http://www.umsl.edu/~philo/
Faculty
Ronald Munson, Professor, Chairperson*
Ph.D., Columbia University
Stephanie A. Ross, Professor*
Ph.D., Harvard University
Paul A. Roth, Professor*
Ph.D., University of Chicago
Lawrence H. Davis, Associate Professor*
Ph.D., University of Michigan
Jon McGinnis, Assistant Professor*
Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
Thaddeus H. Metz, Associate Professor*
Ph.D., Cornell University
Eric Wiland, Assistant Professor*
Ph.D., University of Chicago
Andrew Black, Affiliate Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Massachusetts-Amherst
James G. Buickerood, Affiliate Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Rutgers University
Kimberly A. Maricic, Affiliate Assistant Professor
Ph.D. Washington University
Donald W. Mertz, Affiliate Associate Professor
Ph.D., Saint Louis University
David J. Griesedieck, Senior Lecturer
M.A., Princeton University
Robert M. Gordon, Research Professor
Ph.D. Columbia University
Peter Fuss, Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., Harvard University
John E. Clifford, Associate Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., University of California-Los Angeles
David A. Conway, Associate Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., Princeton University
Henry L. Shapiro, Assistant Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., Columbia University
* members of Graduate Faculty
Philosophy continues to keep alive the tradition begun by Socrates, Plato,
and Aristotle of critically examining one’s most cherished assumptions.
Moreover, it deals with questions that are common to several areas of
inquiry, such as art, ethics, the social sciences, the natural sciences,
and the various professions. The study of philosophy also encourages logical
precision, a heightened awareness of assumptions used in any discussion,
and an attitude of both open-mindedness and responsible criticism toward
new and unusual ideas. These skills are particularly useful for students
planning careers in law, business, computer science, writing, or other
fields requiring such discipline of mind. For these reasons, many students
have found it useful to combine a major in another field with a major
in philosophy. To accommodate such students, the department has a special
program for double majors.
The philosophy faculty has an unusually wide range of research interests.
Faculty members have written books and articles addressing not only the
classical and traditional concerns of philosophy, but also contemporary
controversies in the fields of law, psychology, sociology, political theory,
biology, medical ethics, theology, logic, and philosophy of history as
well. For their research in some of these areas, members have been awarded
a number of national research grants, including fellowships from the American
Council of Learned Societies and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
In keeping with this emphasis on diversity, the department is represented
by scholars trained in widely different approaches to philosophy, such
as the analytic tradition, Continental idealism and existentialism, Marxist
dialectic, and Asian modes of thought.
General Information
Degrees and Areas of Concentration
The department offers two options leading to the B.A. degree in philosophy.
The first is for students intending to enter graduate school in philosophy;
the second is for students seeking a general liberal arts education as
their ultimate academic objective or preparing for professional degrees
such as law. Each option offers a balance among training in the techniques
of logical analysis, study of philosophical classics, and examination
of selected problems in philosophy. The department also offers a minor
in philosophy for students wishing to pursue a particular interest in
philosophy in an organized way.
Undergraduate Studies
General Education Requirements
Majors must meet the university and college general education requirements.
Philosophy 1120(120): Asian Philosophy and Philosophy 1125(125): Islamic
Philosophy satisfy the college cultural diversity requirement. Majors
may not count philosophy courses taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory
basis toward the degree requirements.
Degree Requirements
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
Students must complete one of the following programs. At least 30, but
not more than 45, hours are required for a major. A minimum of 18 hours
including all courses for the major at or above the 3000(200) level must
be taken in residence in the UM-St. Louis Department of Philosophy.
Option One: The Major in Philosophy
30 hours of course work are required:
1) Philosophy 3360(160), Formal Logic
2) History of Philosophy
12 hours in history of philosophy, at least 6 hours of which must be at
the 4000(300) level. Choose from the sequences Philosophy 3301-3307 (101-107)
Philosophy 4401(301) and 4407(322) Philosophy 1110(10) and 1111(11) together
count as one three-hour history course.
3) Normative Philosophy
Choose one course from the following:
Philosophy 4430(330): Social and Political Philosophy
Philosophy 4435(335): Classical Ethical Theories
Philosophy 4438(338): Recent Ethical Theory
Philosophy 3374(274): Philosophy in Art
Philosophy 4474(374): Topics in Aesthetics
Philosophy 4474(374) cannot be used to satisfy both the normative requirement
and requirement 5), the "other disciplines" requirement.
4) Core Requirement
Choose one course from the following:
Philosophy 4440(340): Theories of Knowledge
Philosophy 4445(345): Metaphysics
5) Philosophy and Other Disciplines
Choose one course from the Philosophy 4470(370) – 4490(390) sequence.
6) Philosophy 4491(391): Senior Seminar
7) Other than the courses specified above, only courses at the
3000(200) level or above satisfy the course work requirement for the major.
Video courses cannot be used to satisfy course requirements
for this program.
When appropriate, Philosophy 4451(351): Special Topics in Philosophy
may be used to satisfy 3), 4), or 5).
Students in this program should take Greek, Latin, French, or German
to satisfy the foreign language requirement.
Option Two: The Double Major
The Double Major is intended for students who plan to complete a major
in another discipline as well as in philosophy. 24 hours of course
work in philosophy are required:
1) Logic
Choose one of the following two courses:
Philosophy 3360(160): Formal Logic
Philosophy 1160(60): Logic and Language (Formal Logic is strongly
recommended)
2) History of Philosophy
Six hours in history of philosophy, at least three hours of which must
be at the 4000(300) level. Choose from the sequences Philosophy 3301-3307(101-107);
Philosophy 4401-4422(301-322) and Philosophy 1110 and 1111(10 & 11)
together count as one 1000(100)- level history course.
3) 4000(300)-level Courses
A total of nine hours or more at the 4000(300) level other than courses
used to satisfy 2) and 4). Video courses cannot be used to satisfy
course requirements for this program.
4) Philosophy 4491(391): Senior Seminar
Departmental Honors
Majors with a 3.2 or higher grade point average in all courses may, with
the department's consent, earn departmental honors by:
- Completing at least six but not
more than nine hours of Philosophy 4450(350): Special Readings in Philosophy;
- Submitting an acceptable thesis
before the end of the senior year; and
- Passing an oral examination.
In such cases, the 30 hours required for the major will include the credit
earned in Philosophy 4450(350): Special Readings for the senior thesis.
Related Area Requirements
Majors are urged to acquire a familiarity with some other field above
the introductory level.
Transfer students planning to major in philosophy should consult their
undergraduate advisors as soon as possible in order to have their transcripts
evaluated.
The Minor
15 hours of course work in philosophy are required. All course
work for the minor except Philosophy 3360(160) must be taken in residence
in the UM-St. Louis Department of Philosophy.
- Philosophy 3360(160): Formal Logic
- A total of 12 hours at or above the 3000(200) level, at least six
of which must be at the 4000(300) level. Video courses cannot be
used to satisfy course requirements for this program.
- Minors are strongly encouraged, though not required, to take Philosophy
4491(391): Senior Seminar.
A GPA of 2.0 or better is required in courses presented for the minor.
Prospective minors are encouraged to consult with members of the department
for advice in planning an appropriate sequence of courses.
Graduate Studies
2+3 B.A. and M.A. in Philosophy
The Combined B.A./M.A. Program in Philosophy provides an opportunity for
students of recognized academic ability and educational maturity to fulfill
integrated requirements of undergraduate and master’s degree programs
in three years from the beginning of their junior year. When all the requirements
of the B.A./M.A. program have been completed, students will be awarded
both the B.A. and M.A. degrees. With a carefully designed program, a student
can earn both degrees within as few as ten semesters.
The Combined Program requires a minimum of 138 credit hours, of which
at least 36 must be at the upper-division- level course numbers in the
4000(300)-5999(499) range. In qualifying for the B.A. students must meet
all university and college requirements, including all the requirements
of the regular undergraduate major in Philosophy described above. Students
will normally take philosophy 3360(160): Formal Logic and two courses
in the 3301-3307(101-107): History of Philosophy sequence in their junior
years, along with electives. Any courses still needed to satisfy college
foreign language and expository writing requirements would also be taken
during this year. Philosophy 4491(391): Senior Seminar and more specialized
courses are taken in the senior year. In the fifth year, students take
advanced electives and such required courses as are needed to fulfill
remaining university, Graduate School, and departmental requirements for
the M.A. This includes satisfactory completion of 36 graduate credit hours,
at least 18 of which must be in courses numbered above 5000(400) and among
which must be at least three in each of the four subject areas listed
above for the regular M.A. program. Students are also required to earn
a passing grade in comprehensive exams in each of two of these areas.
See description below. Up to 12 graduate credit hours may be applied simultaneously
to both the B.A. and M.A. requirements. Also, students may elect to write
a thesis, in which case up to 6 of the 36 hours may be taken in Philosophy
5495(495) Thesis Research.
Students should apply to the Graduate Committee for admission to the
Combined B.A./M.A. Program in Philosophy the semester they will complete
60 undergraduate credit hours or as soon thereafter as possible. It is
also recommended that students complete the foreign language requirement
and the junior-level writing requirement before applying. A cumulative
grade point average of 3.0 or higher and three letters of recommendation
from faculty are required for consideration.
Students will be admitted to the Combined Program under provisional status
until they have completed 15 credit hours in it with a grade point average
of 3.0 or higher. After completion of the provisional period, and with
the recommendation of the Graduate Committee, students can be granted
full admission into the program. Students must maintain a grade point
average of 3.0 or higher throughout the Combined Program. Students who
officially withdraw from the Combined Program who have successfully completed
all the requirements for the B.A. degrees will be awarded their B.A. degree.
PHILOSOPHY REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS IN THE 2+3 PROGRAM
- To be taken in the junior year:
Choose four courses (12 credit hours) from the following:
- Philosophy 3360(160): Formal Logic
- Two courses in the History of Philosophy, each at the 2000(100)
level or above.
- One additional Philosophy course at the 2000(100) level or above.
- To be taken in the senior year:
Choose six courses (18 credit hours) from the following:
- 4491(391): Senior Seminar
- Either Philosophy 4445(345) Metaphysics or Philosophy
4440(340): Theories of Knowledge.
- Two History courses, each at the upper division
- One course from the sequence 4470-4490(370 to 390)
- Choose one of the following courses:
Philosophy 4430(330): Social and Political Philosophy
Philosophy 4435(335): Classical Ethical Theory
Philosophy 4438(338): Recent Ethical Theory
- To be taken in the final year of the program:
Six courses (18 credit hours)
- At least 5 of these courses must be at or above the 5000(400)
level.
- Courses must be selected so that the student has taken at least
one from each of the four subject areas in the course of completing
the 2 + 3 program:
- History of Philosophy
- Value Theory
- Logic/Philosophy of Science
- Epistemology/Metaphysics
- Graduate Exit Requirements
Each student must pass a comprehensive exam in two of the four subject
areas listed in C above.
Master of Arts in Philosoph
To earn a M.A. in philosophy, students must complete at least
36 hours of graduate-level work and pass two comprehensive exams. Entering
students must demonstrate a competence in logic, either by having passed
the relevant course(s) prior to admission or by passing a departmental
exam. Students may elect to write a thesis, in which case up to 6 of the
36 hours may be devoted to research and writing. Two-thirds (24 credit
hours) of the degree program, including the thesis for students taking
that option, must be completed in residence at UM-St. Louis. In addition,
the courses taken are subject to two distribution requirements:
- At least half of the courses must be at the 5000(400) level
- At least one course (3 credit hours) must be chosen from each of
the following four subject areas:
- epistemology/metaphysics;
- history of philosophy;
- value theory (including aesthetics courses only with departmental
approval); and
- logic/philosophy of science.
Cooperative arrangement with Saint Louis University
The strengths of the UM-St. Louis Department of Philosophy are complemented
by those of the Saint Louis University Philosophy Department, which has
strengths in the history of philosophy as well as in philosophy of religion.
To enhance students' opportunities for instruction and expertise, the
two departments have worked out a cooperative arrangement that permits
graduate philosophy students on each campus to take up to four courses
at the partner institution. In any given semester, UM-St. Louis graduate
students must take at least half of their courses at their home institution.
Students admitted to the M.A. program on a probationary basis must take
all their courses at UM-St. Louis during their first semester.
Course Descriptions
Students who have earned 24 or more semester hours of credit at any accredited
post-secondary institutions(s) before the start of the fall 2002 semester
must meet the general education requirements stipulated in the UM-St Louis
2001-2002 Bulletin. The following courses fulfill the Humanities breadth
of study requirements as described in that Bulletin: 1110(10), 1111(11),
1130(30), 1150(50), 1160(60),1185(85),1090(90),1091(91), 3301(101), 3302(102),
3303(103), 3304(104), 3305(105), 3307(107), 1120(120), 1125(125), 2250(150),
2252(152), 2253(153), 2254(154), 2256(156), 2258(158), 3360(160), 2274(174),
2275(175), 2280(180), 3380 (183), 3385(185), 4458(258), 3369(269), 3374(274),
3380(280), 4401(301), 4402(302), 4405(305), 4406(306), 4407(307), 4408(308),
4409(309), 4410(310), 5515(315), 4420(320), 4421(321), 4430(330), 4435(335),
4438(338), 4439(339), 4440(340), 4445(345), 4450(350), 4451(351), 4452(352),
4453(353), 4457(357)), 4460(360), 4465(365), 4469(369), 4470(370), 4474(374),
4476(376), 4478(378), 4479(379), 5580(380), 2281(381), 4482(382), 4483(383),
4484(384), 4485(385), 4487(387), 4490(390), 4491(391).
Phil 1120(120),1125(125) fulfill the Cultural Diversity requirement [CD].
Courses marked [CV] or [H] fulfill the valuing and humanities requirements,
respectively.
1090(90) Telecourse: Philosophy and Other Disciplines (3) [V,H]
Video course offering. General introduction to philosophy examines its
connections to works of art and related areas. Course does not satisfy
any requirements for philosophy major or minor.
1091(91) Telecourse: Significant Figures in Philosophy [V,H]
Video course introduces philosophy through a survey of the ideas of some
of the important figures in the history of the discipline. Course cannot
be used to satisfy any requirements for philosophy major or minor.
1110(10) Western Philosophy I: Antiquity to the Renaissance (3) [V,H]
Lectures and discussions tracing the development of Western philosophy
from its beginnings among the pre-Socratics through the Middle Ages and
Renaissance. Philosophical ideas will be examined in the cultural and
historical context: the Greek city-state, the rise of Christianity, etc.
1111(11) Western Philosophy II: Descartes to the Present (3) [V,H]
Lectures and discussions on the development of Western philosophy from
Descartes (1596-1650) to the present. Philosophical ideas will be examined
with an eye to their historical and cultural setting: the rise of modern
science, the industrial revolution, the rise of capitalism, etc.
1120(120) Asian Philosophy (3) [CD,V,H]
Critical study of selected philosophical classics of India and China.
1125(125) Islamic Philosophy (3) [CD,V,H]
Introduction to Arabic philosophy in the Islamic classical period (roughly
from mid-9th through 12th centuries). Considers
philosophical and theological background and examines the thought of such
notable Islamic philosophers as al-Kindi, Ibn Sina, al-Ghazali, and Ibn
Rushd. Topics include proofs for the existence of God, whether the world
is eternal or had a beginning, the nature of the soul and whether it is
immortal, and distinction between essence and existence.
1130(30) Approaches to Ethics (3) [V,H]
A study and discussion of representative topics in moral philosophy such
as moral skepticism, moral objectivity, theories of obligation and value,
evaluation of social institutions, and the relation between morality and
science. Traditional and contemporary writers will be considered.
1150(50) Major Questions in Philosophy (3) [V,H]
A study and discussion of representative topics in philosophy such as
free will and determinism, concepts of mind and body, the basis of value
judgments, knowledge and belief, and the possibility of constructing a
world view.
1160(60) Logic and Language (3) [V,H]
An introduction to the language and logical structure of arguments, the
principles of sound reasoning, and application of these principles in
a variety of contexts.
1185(85) Philosophy of Religion (3) [V,H]
A philosophical investigation of such problems as the nature of religious
faith and experience, the relation of faith and reason, alternative concepts
of deity, and the problem of evil.
2250(150) Philosophy and Current Issues (3)
A careful examination of such current social controversies as women's
liberation, the ethics of abortion, public accountability of holders of
high offices, and the subtler forms of racism and other prejudices. Although
there is no formal prerequisite, it is recommended that students have
taken, or be concurrently enrolled in, at least one other philosophy course
2252(152) Philosophical Foundations of Criminal Justice (3) [V,H]
(Same as CCJ 2252(152). Addresses fundamental conceptual and ethical issues
that arise in the context of the legal system. Questions may include:
How does punishment differ from pre-trial detention? How, if at all, can
it be justified? Is the death penalty ever justified? When is it morally
permissible for juries to acquit defendants who are legally guilty? Is
plea bargaining unjust? Why might people be morally obligated to obey
the laws? Are laws restricting civil liberty (e.g., laws against abortion,
homosexuality, or drug use) permissible?
2253(153) Philosophy and Feminism (3) [V,H]
A critical examination of what various philosophers have said about issues
of concern to women. Sample topics include oppression, racism, women's
nature, femininity, marriage, motherhood, sexuality, pornography, the
ethics of care.
2254(154) Business Ethics (3) [V,H]
A critical survey from the perspective of moral theory of businesses and
business practices. Topics vary but usually include some of the following:
whether the sole moral obligation of businesses is to make money; whether
certain standard business practices, e.g., the creation of wants through
advertising, are moral; whether businesses ought to be compelled, e.g.,
to protect the environment or participate in affirmative action programs.
2256(156) Bioethics (3) [V,H]
Same as Gerontology 2256(156). An examination of ethical issues in health
care practice and clinical research and in public policies affecting health
care. Topics include abortion, euthanasia, health care, experimentation,
informed consent, and the right to health care.
2258(158) Medicine, Values, and Society (3) [V,H]
Social, conceptual, and policy issues connected with medicine form the
focus of the course. Topics may include: role played by race and gender
in design of research and distribution of care; whether diseases are socially
constructed categories reflecting the values of society; development of
social policies that offer universal access to health care; the legitimacy
of using Psychotropic drugs to enhance life, rather than treat disease.
The course differs from Bioethics by emphasizing policy issues and their
conceptual basis. Content of this course may vary.
2274(174) Philosophy and Literature (3)
Critical reading and discussion of selected literary works in terms of
the philosophical problems they present.
2275(175) Philosophy and Film (3)
Study of selected films with emphasis on philosophical problems they address.
Attention will be paid to film as an artistic medium and the capacities
that distinguish it from other visual, and narrative, arts.
2280(180) Minds, Brains, and Machines (3) [V,H]
Introduction to basic philosophical issues in cognitive science. General
topics include minds as computers; computers as minds, or the possibility
of artificial intelligence that is truly intelligent; relationship between
mental function and brain function. Some areas of current research, such
as reasoning, vision, and emotion.
2281(381) The Darwinian Heritage (3)
Prerequisites: Six hours of philosophy preferably including Phil 3380(280),
Philosophy of Science, as 3 of these, graduate standing, or consent of
instructor. Examines contributions to science made by Darwin's Origin
and Descent, reception of Darwinism by scientists, and its
continuing influence in biological, bio-behavioral, and social sciences.
Also considers public reactions to Darwinism, including ways in which
Darwin's views, and contemporary research in evolutionary theory and genetics,
have been regarded as challenging long-held beliefs about "meaning
and purpose" of human life.
3301(101) Ancient Philosophy (3)
Freshmen admitted by consent of department. The principal philosophical
doctrines of the ancient world, with special emphasis on the philosophies
of Plato and Aristotle. Although there is no formal prerequisite, it is
recommended that students have taken at least one other philosophy course.
3302(102) Medieval Philosophy (3)
A critical study of the important philosophies of the period from Augustine
to the Renaissance. Although there is no formal prerequisite, it is recommended
that students have taken at least one other philosophy course.
3303(103) Early Modern Philosophy (3)
Principal figures in the development of rationalism, empiricism and skepticism
in early modern Europe, from Descartes through Hume. Although there is
no formal prerequisite, it is recommended that students have taken at
least one other philosophy course.
3304(104) Kant and Nineteenth-Century Philosophy (3)
A study of Kant and such major nineteenth-century figures as Hegel and
Nietzsche, Mill, and Peirce. Although there is no formal prerequisite,
it is recommended that students have taken at least one other philosophy
course.
3305(105) Twentieth-Century Philosophy (3)
Representative topics in contemporary philosophy, with readings selected
from pragmatism, logical positivism, linguistic analysis, and existentialism.
Although there is no formal prerequisite, it is recommended that students
have taken at least one other philosophy course.
3307(107) American Philosophy (3)
Prerequisite: Six hours of philosophy or consent of instructor. A study
of selected American philosophers.
3360(160) Formal Logic (3)
An introductory study of logical truth and deductive inference, with emphasis
on the development and mastery of a formal system.
3369(269) The Marxist Heritage (3)
Same as Political Science 3690(269) and Interdisciplinary 3690(269).
Study of Marx and leading Marxists. Designed to evaluate their influence
on recent political, economic, and social thought and institutions.
3372(272) Philosophical Issues in Education (3)
A critical study and discussion of selected topics in education, including
the distinctive features of education as an activity and achievement,
concepts of teaching and learning, relations between education and values,
and the functions of a university.
3374(274) Philosophy of Art (3)
Same as Art 3374(274). A study of issues concerning the definition of
art, meaning and truth in the arts, aesthetic experience, and criticism.
3380(280) Philosophy of Science (3)
An examination of logical and methodological problems related to the sciences,
including the structure of scientific explanations, laws and theories;
methods of concept formation; and confirmation and the problem of induction.
3383(183) The History of Science in Philosophical Perspective (3)
Course explores philosophical underpinnings of science, including assumptions
about the nature of reality and about scientific methods, the role of
logic and mathematics in science, and revolutions in science. These issues
will be studied by exploring concrete examples of science, and tracing
developments and changes in understandings of science. Content will vary,
but the particular periods of science studied will typically include two
or three of the following: ancient science, medieval science, early modern
science, 19th century science, and/or 20th century
science.
3385(185) Issues in Philosophy of Religion (3)
Prerequisite: Philosophy 1185(85) or Philosophy 1150(50) or consent of
instructor. A careful examination of a selected topic in philosophy of
religion or of philosophical issues arising in a selected religion. The
topic or religion to be considered will be announced prior to registration.
This is a variable content course and may be taken again for credit with
consent of instructor and department chair.
4401(301) Plato (3)
Prerequisite: Six hours of philosophy, a course in Ancient Philosophy
recommended, graduate standing, or consent of instructor. A study of selected
Platonic dialogues.
4402(302) Aristotle (3)
Prerequisite: Six hours of philosophy, a course in Ancient Philosophy,
recommended, graduate standing, or consent of instructor. A selective
study of Aristotle's major works.
4405(305) The Rationalists (3)
Prerequisite: Six hours of philosophy, a course in Ancient Philosophy
recommended, graduate standing, or consent of instructor. An examination
of the philosophies of such major figures as Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz.
4406(306) The British Empiricists (3)
Prerequisite: Six hours of philosophy, a course in Early Modern Philosophy
recommended, graduate standing, or consent of instructor. An examination
of the philosophies of such major figures as Locke, Berkeley, and Hume.
4407(307) Kant (3)
Prerequisite: Six hours of philosophy, Phil 3304(104) or equivalent recommended,
graduate standing, or consent of instructor. A systematic study of the
Critique of Pure Reason.
4408(308) Hegel (3)
Prerequisite: Six hours of philosophy, Phil 3304(104) or equivalent recommended,
graduate standing, or consent of instructor. A critical study of the writings
and influence of Hegel.
4409(309) Phenomenology and Existentialism (3)
Prerequisites: Six hours of philosophy, Phil 3305(105) or equivalent recommended,
graduate standing, or consent of instructor. A study of some major representatives
of these schools from Kierkegaard to the present.
4410(310) Significant Figures in Philosophy (3)
Prerequisite: Nine hours of philosophy, graduate standing, or consent
of instructor. Examination of the work of an important twentieth-century
philosopher or philosophical movement. The philosopher or movement to
be studied will be announced prior to registration. This is a variable
content course that may be taken again for credit with approval of instructor
and department chair..
4420(320) Topics in Non-Western Philosophy (3)
Prerequisites: Philosophy 1120(120), graduate standing, or consent of
instructor. An extensive exploration of issues in some particular non-Western
traditions (Islamic, Indian, or Chinese). This is a variable content course
and may be taken again for credit with consent of instructor and department
chair.
4421(321) The Analytic Tradition I: Origins to Logical Positivism
(3)
Prerequisites: Six hours of philosophy, graduate standing, or consent
of instructor. Philosophy 3305(105) and Philosophy 3360(160) strongly
recommended. Course studies in depth the development of analytic philosophy
through about 1950. Topics include key philosophical writings in this
tradition beginning with Frege, Moore, and Russell and concluding with
basic texts in logical positivism, with emphasis on Carnap, Schlick, Neurath
and Hempel.
4422(322 )The Analytic Tradition II: Post-Positivism to Present (3)
Prerequisites: Six hours of philosophy, graduate standing, or consent
of instructor. Phil 3305(105) and Phil 3360(160) strongly recommended.
Study of reactions and responses to basic analytic techniques and positivist
doctrines beginning with Wittgenstein, Quine, and Sellars. Implications
of these critiques for style and substance of analytic philosophy are
studied, including such contemporary developments as reassessment of positivism,
revival of naturalism, and "death" of philosophy.
4430(330) Social and Political Philosophy (3)
Prerequisites: Six hours of philosophy, graduate standing, or consent
of instructor. An analysis of some fundamental concepts and assumptions
involved in the theory and practice of social and political organization.
4435(335) Classical Ethical Theories
Prerequisites: Six hours of philosophy, graduate standing, or consent
of instructor. Significant contributions to moral philosophy from Plato
and Aristotle to Bentham and Mill.
4438(338) Recent Ethical Theory (3)
Prerequisite: Six hours of philosophy, graduate standing or consent of
instructor. A study of major contributions to twentieth-century ethics,
including works by such writers as Moore, Dewey, Ross, Stevenson, Hare,
and Rawls.
4439(339) Topics in Ethical Theory (3)
Prerequisite: Philosophy 4435(335), 4438(338), nine hours of philosophy,
graduate standing, or consent of instructor. Formulation and evaluation
of major theories in normative ethics, metaethics, and axiology. Topics
include egoism, moral realism, act and rule utilitarianism, and varieties
of naturalism and non-naturalism in ethics. This is a variable content
course and can be taken again for credit with consent of instructor and
department chair.
4440(340) Theories of Knowledge (3)
Prerequisite: Six hours of philosophy, graduate standing, or consent of
instructor. An examination of concepts and problems involved in the characterization
of knowledge. Specific topics will vary, but will usually include knowledge,
belief, skepticism, evidence, certainty, perception, truth, and necessity.
4445(345) Metaphysics (3)
Prerequisite: Six hours of philosophy, graduate standing, or consent of
instructor. An examination of selected metaphysical topics such as substance,
universals, causality, necessity, space and time, free will, being, and
identity.
4450(350) Special Readings in Philosophy (3)
Prerequisite: Special consent required. Independent study through readings,
reports, and conferences. This is a variable content course and may be
taken again for credit with consent of instructor and department chair.
4451(351) Special Topics in Philosophy (3)
Prerequisite: Six hours of philosophy, graduate standing, or consent of
instructor. A critical study of classical and/or contemporary contributions
to a selected topic in philosophy. The topic to be considered will be
announced prior to registration. This is a variable content course and
can be taken again for credit with the consent of the instructor and department
chair.
4452(352) Feminism and Science (3)
Prerequisite: Six hours of philosophy, graduate standing, or consent of
instructor. This course will explore major themes and issues in feminist
science scholarship, a body of research that focuses on the relationship
between science and gender. Feminist research in the philosophy and history
of science, and in the biological sciences, are emphasized. Issues include:
the nature of objectivity, evidence, and truth; the factors that contribute
to the acceptance or rejection of research hypotheses and theories; the
nature and consequences of science's cognitive authority; and the relationship
between science and values.
4453(353) Feminist Ethical Theory (3)
Prerequisite: Philosophy 2253(153), six hours of philosophy, or consent
of instructor. Examines two classic 18th century statements of sympathy-based
moral theory in the works of Adam Smith and David Hume. The course, then
looks at a number of contemporary works that attempt to delineate a decisively
feminist ethical theory, e.g., the work of Carol Gilligan, Nel Nodding,
and Virginia Held. The course explores as well differences among female,
feminist, and lesbian ethical standpoints.
4457(357) Media Ethics (3)
Prerequisite: nine hours of philosophy or nine hours of communication
or consent of instructor. (Same as Communication 3357(357). This course
is concerned with some of the issues that arise from the intersection
of ethics and modern media communications. Attention is given to some
of the more specific concerns of media ethics, such as truth, honesty,
fairness, objectivity and bias; personal privacy and the public interest;
advertising; conflicts of interest; censorship and offensive or dangerous
content (pornography, violence). Particular attention will be given to
problems posed by the development of personal computer communications
through bulletin boards, on-line services, and the Internet.
4458(258) Ethics and the Computer
Prerequisites: 6 hours of course work above the level of Math 1030(30)
in Math/Computer Science or at least 6 hours of philosophy or consent
of instructor. Examination of ethical issues concerning the use of computers
generally and software engineering in particular. Aims at developing awareness
of these issues and skills for ethical decision making regarding them
through careful, analytical methods. Typical issues include privacy, intellectual
property, computer fraud, and others.
4460(360) Advanced Formal Logic (3)
Prerequisite: Philosophy 3360(160), graduate standing, or consent of instructor.
Rigorous study of major developments in contemporary logic. Emphasis is
given to theoretical problems and some attention is devoted to philosophical
issues arising from logic.
4465(365) Theory of Decisions and Games (3)
Prerequisite: Six hours of Philosophy and junior standing, PolSci 6401(401)
(or the equivalent) or consent of instructor. Same as PolSci 4060(306).
A study of rational decision making, including games against nature, zero-sum
games and social choices. Topics will include the following: expected
utility maximization, the Prisoner's Dilemna, Nash equilibria, and Arrow's
theorem on the impossibility of a social welfare function. Parts of the
course are technical in nature; a prior course in mathematics e.g., finite
mathematics, calculus, statistics or an economics course with a mathematical
component, symbolic logic, or some other course with comparable mathematical
content is strongly recommended.
4469(369) Topics in Political Philosophy (3)
Prerequisite: Nine hours of philosophy, graduate standing, or consent
of instructor. Critical examination of philosophical theories of democracy,
individual autonomy, political community, social justice, and other selected
issues in political philosophy.
4470(370) Topics in Philosophy of Language (3)
Prerequisite: Six hours of philosophy, graduate standing, or consent of
instructor. Intensive examination of selected problems encountered in
developing philosophical accounts of truth, reference, propositional attitudes,
and related concepts. This is a variable content course and may
be taken again for credit with consent of instructor and department chair.
4474(374) Topics in Aesthetics (3)
Prerequisite: Philosophy 3374(274), graduate standing, or consent of instructor.
Selected topics, such as vision and representation, musical aesthetics,
and recent theorists. This is a variable content course and may be taken
again for credit with consent of instructor and department chair.
4476(376) Philosophy of History (3)
Prerequisites: Six hours of philosophy, graduate standing, or consent
of instructor. Discussion and analysis of some philosophical problems
raised by historical inquiry, such as subjectivity, relativism, the role
of value judgments, and the nature of historical explanations.
4478(378) Topics in Philosophy of Mind (3)
Prerequisite: Six hours of philosophy, graduate standing, or consent of
instructor. An examination of selected topics at the interface of philosophical
and psychological research. This is a variable content course and can
be taken again for credit with consent of instructor and department chair.
4479(379) Philosophy of Cognitive Science (3)
Prerequisite: Philosophy 4478(378), nine hours of philosophy, or consent
of instructor. An exploration of the philosophical foundations and implications
of cognitive science, a cooperative effort of philosophers, cognitive
Psychologists, brain scientists, computer scientists, and others to understand
the relationship between the mind and the brain.
4482(382) Philosophy of Social Science (3)
Prerequisite: Six hours of philosophy or consent of instructor. An intensive
examination of selected topics such as the nature of explanation in social
science versus natural science, interpretation theory, and the postmodernism
debate e.g., Habermas, Foucault, Clifford. This course may be repeated
for credit on approval by the department.
4483(383) Topics in History and Philosophy of Science (3)
Prerequisites: Six hours of philosophy, Phil 3380(280); Philosophy of
Science strongly recommended, graduate standing, or three hours of history,
or consent of the instructor. Course begins by exploring research methods
and interpretative approaches in the history of science and problems and
schools of thought in the philosophy of science. It then turns to recent
developments in which links have deepened between the two disciplines
through shared research tools, assumptions, and projects. This is a variable
content course and may be taken again for credit with consent of instructor
and the department chair.
4484(384) Topics in History and Philosophy of Medicine (3)
Prerequisites: Six hours of philosophy, graduate standing, or consent
of instructor. Focuses on the rise of philosophical issues associated
with scientific medicine, including the emergence of physiology; identification
of infectious and genetic diseases; development of effective drugs; rise
of diagnostic and therapeutic technologies. Topics may include: disease
concepts, the classification of diseases, logic of clinical diagnosis,
medical explanation, and clinical decision-making. Topics may also include
development of special medical areas such as immunology, cancer treatments,
or organ transplantation. This is a variable content course and may be
taken again for credit with consent of instructor and the department chair.
4485(385) Topics in Philosophy of Religion (3)
Prerequisite: Philosophy 3385(185), nine hours of philosophy, or consent
of instructor. An intensive study of problems arising out of traditional
and contemporary philosophical theology. This is a variable content course
and may be taken again for credit with the consent of the instructor and
the department chair.
4487(387) Topics in Philosophy of Law (3)
Same as CCJ 4487(233). Prerequisite: CCJ 1100(010) and 3 hours of philosophy,
graduate standing or consent of instructor. An intensive study of recent
philosophical debate about such issues as the authority of law, legal
equality and justice, legal responsibility, self-determination and privacy,
and legal punishment. This is a variable content course and may be taken
again for credit with consent of the instructor and the department chair.
4490(390) Philosophical Issues in Other Disciplines (3)
Prerequisite: Nine hours in philosophy, graduate standing, or consent
of instructor. An examination of selected philosophical issues in a discipline
other than philosophy. One or more such disciplines as history, political
science, psychology, sociology, biology, chemistry, physics, or mathematics
will be chosen, and philosophical issues selected and announced prior
to registration, usually in consultation with the other department concerned.
This course is normally taught as a seminar and attempts to serve advanced
students in other departments with or without previous background in philosophy.
This is a variable content course and may be taken again for credit with
the consent of the instructor and the department chair.
4491(391) Senior Seminar (3)
Prerequisites: Senior standing; at least 12 hours of philosophy at the
1000(100) level or above; or consent of instructor. Intensive study of
a central philosophical problem. The course emphasizes the fundamentals
of philosophical writing and scholarship. Students will write a major
paper to be evaluated by two members of the Philosophy Department and
the course instructor.
5478(478) Seminar in Philosophy of Mind (3)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing. Topics may include functionalism and
physicalism; representation and nature of propositional attitudes such
as belief, desire, and various emotions; folk psychology and knowledge
of other minds; introspection and knowledge of one's own mind; conscious
and unconscious mental states and processes. This is a variable content
course and may be taken again for credit with consent of instructor and
department chair.
5495(495) Thesis Research (3)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. May be repeated
once for credit with consent of instructor and department chair.
5515(315) Ethics in Criminology and Criminal Justice (3)
Same as Criminology and Criminal Justice 5515(315), Prerequisite: CCJ
1110(110), 1120(120), 1130(130), 2110(210), 2220(220), Philosophy 2253(153),
2254(154), 2256(156), 4430(330), 4435(335), 4438(338), or consent of instructor.
Examination of major ethical issues encountered in criminology and criminal
justice research and practice.
5530(430) Seminar in Social and Political Philosophy (3)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. An intensive
study of contemporary philosophical debate about such issues such as civil
liberty, economic justice, political decision-making, and state authority.
Variable content course and may be taken again for credit with consent
of instructor and department chair.
5531(431) The Nature of Punishment (3)
Same as CCJ 5531(431). Prerequisite: Graduate standing. The historical
development of punishment philosophies and techniques. Topics include
the emergence of the modern prison, the joining of medical and legal treatment,
and rationales for alternative forms of punishment.
5533(433) Philosophy of Law (3)
Same as CCJ 5533(433). Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor.
Examination of origins of law and the basis for legal obligation. Specific
consideration of the justification of punishment, morality and law, and
legal reasoning.
5538(438) Seminar in Ethical Theory (3)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. Answers questions
from normative ethics or metaethics, which may include the following:
What do all morally wrong actions have in common? What does the word "wrong"
mean? How, if at all, can we verify moral judgements? Are any moral judgements
valid for all societies? Do we always have good reason to be moral?
5540(440) Seminar in Epistemology (3)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. Close study
of selected topics, texts, or individuals in epistemology. Topics may
include (but are not limited to) theories of justification, naturalism
in epistemology, and conceptions of knowledge. This is a variable content
course and may be taken again for credit with consent of instructor and
department chair.
5545(445) Seminar in Metaphysics (3)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing. Intensive study of a selected topic
or problem area in metaphysics, e.g., mind-body identity, nature of the
self, or conception of time. This is a variable content course and may
be taken again for credit with consent of instructor and department chair.
5551(451) Special Readings in Philosophy (1-3)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing, written consent of instructor. Independent
study through readings, reports, and conferences. This is a variable content
course and may be taken again for credit with consent of instructor and
department chair.
5555(455) Ethical and Legal Issues in Criminal Justice (3)
Same as Criminology and Criminal Justice 5555(455). Prerequisite: Graduate
standing or consent of instructor. Examination of the moral and legal
aspects of the policies and practices of criminal justice agencies and
agents. Issues may include treatment of offenders, the role of technology,
and research and professional ethics.
5560(460) Seminar in Logic (3)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing. Focused study of topics in logic and/or
its history. Representative topics include Aristotelian logic, modal logic,
Gödel incompleteness theorems, relevance logic, paraconsistent logic,
free logic. This is a variable content course and may be taken again for
credit with consent of instructor and department chair.
5579(479) Seminar in Philosophy of Cognitive Science (3)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing. General topics include role of computation
in cognitive science, merits of symbolic computation and connectionism,
aims and methods of artificial intelligence, and relationship between
cognitive science and our everyday understanding of people. Specific topics
may include perception, reasoning, consciousness, language, emotion, and
will. This is a variable content course and may be taken again for credit
with consent of instructor and department chair.
5580(480) Seminar in Philosophy of Science (3)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. Focus on recent
issues and controversies. Topics may include theories and observation,
models of explanation, confirmation, realism and antirealism, empiricism
and naturalism, "social construction" and feminist views of
science. This is a variable content course and may be taken again for
credit with consent of instructor and department chair.
5582(482) Seminar in Philosophy of Social Science (3)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing of consent of instructor. Intensive examination
of selected topics, e,g., nature of explanation in social science, postmodernism
debate (e.g., Habermas, Foucault, Clifford), or relation of social to
natural sciences. This is a variable content course and may be taken again
for credit with consent of instructor and department chair.
5590(490) Philosophical Issues in Other Disciplines (3)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. Examination
of selected philosophical issues in disciplines other than philosophy.
One or more such disciplines as history, political science, psychology,
sociology, biology, chemistry, physics, or mathematics will be chosen.
The discipline(s) and issues selected will be announced prior to registration.
This is a variable content course and may be taken again for credit with
consent of instructor and department chair.
6421(473) Philosophy of Education (3)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. Same as Educational
Foundations 6421(421). Critical examination of selected issues in education
from the perspective of Western philosophy. Topics may include the distinctive
features of education as an activity and achievement, concepts of teaching
and learning, relations between education and values, and the role of
public educational institutions.
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