Course Descriptions

PHIL 114 East Asian Philosophy (1)
This course will introduce the three major philosophical systems of East Asian thought: Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism through their canonical texts. This historical approach will be supplemented by contemporary readings in each tradition. When taught as a component of the Japan Term, this course will pay special attention to the development of Japanese Buddhism, specifically Pure Land Buddhism (Amida Buddhism), Esoteric Buddhism (Shingon Buddhism) and Zen Buddhism (Soto and Rinzai). Cross Listing : RELS 114; W.Young;

PHIL 115 Introduction to Philosophy (1)
An exploration of the enduring philosophical questions regarding the nature of reality, the existence of the external world, the extent of human freedom, the existence of God, the definition of the Good and its relevance to the moral life, and the principles of social and political organization. HUM; Staff

PHIL 118 Environmental Ethics (1)
An examination of the contested frameworks that govern our environmental policies. Critical questions are: Is there a land ethic? Do animals have rights? Do we have ethical obligations to natural objects? Special attention is given to the major arguments of libertarian, utilitarian, and liberal-pluralist social philosophies and to the policies and practices of contemporary environmental activists. HUM; L.Factor;

PHIL 120 Critical Reasoning (1)
A study of the logical principles in deductive and inductive reasoning with emphasis on the methods of identifying the strengths and weaknesses of arguments. Emphasis is on the identification and classification of fallacies, the formation of scientific hypothesis, the methods of confirmation and falsification, legal reasoning, and problem solving. Examples are taken from the arguments of journalists, lawyers, scientists and philosophers. HUM; Staff

PHIL 125 Philosophy and Fantasy (1)
This course approaches philosophical issues through science fiction. Among the issues discussed are: 1) Is scientific progress human progress? 2) Can machines think? 3) Are thinking machines persons? 4) Can human society be perfected? 5) Does history have an overriding goal for human development? 6) Is human perception relative to human biology? social community? 7) Are social power, scientific practice, exploitation, and the concept of the 'the natural' linked? In other words, is nature a social construct? HUM; W.Young;

PHIL 130 Ethics and Business (1)
In this course we read, write and think about the nature of business and its relation to a good human life. We consider such questions as: Is anybody who provides a good to other people involved in a business? Could a society have businesses if it didn't also have money? In what sense does one have to do what one has contracted to do? Do businesses owe anything to those who create the conditions in which they flourish? Is there anything objectionable about asking as much as the market will bear for some product?D.Wack;

PHIL 153 Tragedy and Comedy (1)
Life without comedy is unbearable; life without tragedy is unlikely. The tragic and comic aspects of life as well as the artistic and theatrical representations of tragic and comic visions of the human situation have been enduring sources for philosophic reflection on how we should live our lives. This course examines philosophical theories about the nature of comedy and tragedy with special emphasis on what those art forms reveal about the human condition. Readings are taken from Plato, Aristotle, Lao-Tzu, Hegel, Kierkegaard, Camus, and Nietzche. Examples are taken from film versions of famous comedies and tragedies.L.Factor;

PHIL 202 Symbolic Logic (1)
A detailed study of the principles of deductive logic with emphasis on the identification of valid and invalid arguments, the methods of constructing proofs, the fundamentals of the syllogism, propositional logic, and quantification theory. Prereq : sophomore standing or permission of the instructor; B.Polite;

PHIL 205 Buddhism and Japanese Buddhism (1)
This course is an introduction to Buddhism, with specific emphasis on Japanese Buddhism. To these ends, it will canvass the principal tenets of Buddhism, namely, the four noble truths, the eight-fold path, dependent originations, the no-self, karma, etc., in the Theravada and Mahayana traditions. It will then consider the development of Japanese Buddhism from the Asuka (552-645 CE) through the Kamakura Periods (1185-1332 CE) by examining the rise of particular sects within Japanese Buddhism (Nara Schools, Tendai, Shingon, Pure Land, and Zen). Cross Listing : ASIA 205, RELS 205; W.Young;

PHIL 210 Ethics (1)
Lying, murder and cheating at checkers are all species of injustice-what do they all have in common that makes them all injustices? Which is better, being just or appearing just? Must one care about being a just (or a good) person? It is easier to answer these questions than to explain why the right answers are right, although both tasks are challenging. We think about what the right answers are, and why they are right, through careful reading of some of the great moral philosophers, including Plato, Aristotle, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, David Hume and Immanuel Kant. D.Wack;

PHIL 211 Philosophy of Art (1)
An exploration of the problems found in the analysis and criticism of the visual and performing arts. Topics include the analysis of an aesthetic experience, the tension between subjective and objective evaluations, the definition of beauty and the problem of the ugly, the problems of creativity and expression, the role of the artist in contemporary society, the ethical issues of censorship, forgery, and artist's rights. Prereq : sophomore standing or permission of the instructor; D.Wack; L.Factor;

PHIL 215 Philosophy of Education (1)
A critical examination of some assumptions about education embraced by historical and contemporary philosophers, and the relevance of these assumptions to U.S. schooling. Philosophical questions are considered, such as "What does it mean to teach?" and "What is knowledge?" HUM; Prereq : sophomore standing or permission of the instructor; Cross Listing : EDUC 203; J.Helfer;

PHIL 218 Philosophy of Mind (1)
This course examines the relationship between the mind and the natural world. Accordingly, it will consider the following topics: 1) What is the relationship between the mind and the body? 2) Given that cognitive processes are rule-bound processes, are these rules learned or innate? 3) Do these rules permit objective knowledge, i.e., knowledge of the world as it is in and of itself? 4) What explains the semantic content of cognitive states? 5) What is consciousness? 6) what is the status of computer intelligence?W.Young;

PHIL 220 Contemporary Moral Theory (1)
Contemporary moral philosophy is largely concerned with providing an objective basis for morals. A central challenge for contemporary moral philosophy is to show that morals are not entirely subjective, not entirely relative to a particular person's desires or beliefs or goals, and not even entirely relative to a particular culture's practices. This course examines the two most prevalent contemporary moral theories: Utilitarianism and Kantianism. We consider central contemporary discussions of subjectivism and relativism regarding morals and then read John Stuart Mill and Immanuel Kant, as well as several contemporary discussions of their doctrines. Prereq : one philosophy course, sophomore standing, or permission of the instructor; D.Wack;

PHIL 228 Death and Life (1)
In this course, we articulate the concepts of life and death by surveying a variety of ancient and modern philosophical accounts of them in order to see the role such an understanding of these concepts can play in helping us think about our relations to ourselves and to others. In exploring both ancient philosophical practices designed to cultivate ways of thinking about death and more modern attempts to grapple with these two concepts, we investigate the conceptual difficulties and rewards in thinking of death and life.D.Wack;

PHIL 230 Philosophy and Liberal Democracy (1)
This course is an historical introduction to political philosophy focusing especially on the ideas of liberalism and democracy. Our own form of government is (perhaps only ideally) a realization of both of these values and is an important source of their currency as ideals in much of the contemporary world. But what is liberalism? What is democracy? What forms can liberalism and democracy take? Are some forms preferable to others? What is so valuable about liberalism and democracy anyway? Can both be realized by a state? If there is a conflict, which value should take precedence? Offered alternate years.D.Wack;

PHIL 240 Morality and the Law (1)
The course deals with the general problem of the relations between morality and the law. In what ways has the law been influenced by morals and morals by the law? Should a judge be allowed to use his or her own moral discretion in deciding tough cases? The course also emphasizes problems concerning the legal enforcement of morality. Certain specific problem areas are examined. Staff

PHIL 243 Philosophies of Feminism (1)
This course explores the theoretical frameworks by which feminists explain the exploitation and oppression of women. The aim of this course is to understand how feminists conceive of sexism, how they model a nonsexist society, and the manner in which they believe this society may be established. We proceed historically, beginning with Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of A Woman, ending with contemporary feminist issues. Among the varieties of feminist thought covered are Enlightenment feminism, cultural feminism, Marxist feminism, psychoanalytic feminism, radical feminism and contemporary French feminism. HUM; Prereq : sophomore standing; Cross Listing : GWST 243; W.Young;

PHIL 246 Philosophy of Film (1)
Philosophers argue that movies have a transparent relation to the physical world, and hence can show us the world as it really is, as opposed to how it merely appears to us. Philosophers claim that movies can turn space into time and time into space, thereby shedding new light on these fundamental concepts. Some philosophically minded social critics think that movies are a rich medium of social change and improvement, although others worry that films are enormously powerful devices for controlling people's understanding of themselves and their place in society. Are any of these claims true? Cross Listing : FILM 246; D.Wack;

PHIL 247 Moral Life in Literature (1)
Literature raises two different types of moral questions: those concerned with the moral parameters guiding the creative process and those dealing with the moral issues raised from within the literary work itself. This course examines both issues. Regarding the former, we ask: Must good literature be moral or can an accomplished work of art be immoral? If there are moral guidelines for the production of literature, what are they? Regarding the latter, we use literature to better understand particular moral issues. What, for example, can literature add to our understanding of friendship, courage, community and the pursuit of individuality? Cross Listing : ENG 247; B.Polite;

PHIL 248 Teaching Assistant (1/2 or 1)
Prereq : Permission of instructor; May be graded S/U at instructor's discretion; Staff

PHIL 250 Independent Study (1/2 or 1)
Staff

PHIL 270 Greek Philosophy (1)
The development of Greek philosophy from its origins in the pre-Socratic fragments through Sophists to the major systematic works of Plato and Aristotle. Special attention is given to the enduring character of the topics raised in ancient philosophy; namely the nature of reality, the definition of the Good, the apprehension of beauty, and the basis for social and political life. Prereq : sophomore standing or permission of the instructor; Cross Listing : CLAS 270; L.Factor; B.Polite;

PHIL 273 American Philosophy and Postmodernism (1)
A study of the idealist, naturalist, and pragmatist trends in American thought as exemplified in the works of Jonathan Edwards, C.S. Peirce, William James, and John Dewey with special emphasis on their relationship to contemporary trends in postmodernism. Prereq : one course in philosophy or permission of the instructor; Cross Listing : AMST 273; L.Factor; B.Polite;

PHIL 276 Existentialism (1)
An exploration of Existentialism through both philosophical and literary texts. Authors may include: Dostoevsky, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Jaspers, Heidegger, Sartre, Merleau-Ponty, and de Beauvoir. Prereq : one course in philosophy or permission of the instructor; W.Young;

PHIL 283 Philosophy of Religion (1)
An examination of the rational basis of theistic belief including a study of the teleological, cosmological, moral, and ontological arguments for the existence of God. Special attention is given to the problems of religious knowledge, the differences between evidentialists and reliabiliasts accounts of religious experience, the nature and description of mysticism, religious experience, and religious authority. Prereq : sophomore standing or permission of the instructor; Cross Listing : RELS 283; B.Polite;

PHIL 285 Black Philosophy (1)
An introduction to the Black philosophical tradition from its origins in ancient Egyptian myth and ritual to contemporary African American thinkers. Authors read include, among others, W.E.B. Du Bois, C.L.R. James, bell hooks, Kwame Nkrumah, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., Angela Davis and Cornel West. Alternate years. HUM; Prereq : one course in Black Studies or one course in Philosophy; DV; Cross Listing : BKST 285; F.Hord;

PHIL 290 Agents, Actions, Ends (1)
This course aims, first, to be an introduction to moral psychology-the area of philosophy that straddles the philosophy of mind, the philosophy of action and the theory of value. Moral psychology asks "In virtue of what is some event an intentional action?" "In virtue of what is something-an animal, a person, an institution-an agent?" "Does aiming at something entail viewing it as something good?" This course aims, second, to equip students with an especially fruitful way to think about various sorts of actions and agents-the approach we study is well-suited to navigating substantive ethical debates, and to appreciating the insights of some strands of post-structuralism, post-colonial theory, and feminism. Offered alternate years. Prereq : sophomore standing or consent of the instructor; D.Wack;

PHIL 295 Special Topics (1/2 or 1)
Courses offered occasionally to students in special areas of Philosophy not covered in the usual curriculum.Staff

PHIL 302 Modern Philosophy from Descartes to Kant (1)
The development of philosophy in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, with stress on the growth of rationalist and empiricist trends which culminate in Kant. Philosophers studied include Descartes, Leibniz, Locke, and Hume, as well as Kant. Prereq : one course in philosophy or permission of the instructor; W.Young;

PHIL 303 Modern Philosophy From Kant to Marx (1)
Concentration on a critical analysis of Kant, Hegel, and Marx. The course emphasizes the complex interrelation between theory and practice. Prereq : one course in philosophy or permission of the instructor; W.Young;

PHIL 315 Seminar in Educational Thought (1)
This course will introduce students to a select number of essential texts in the field. Education will be considered in the contexts of schools, homes, other institutional settings and informal social relations. The course will focus upon the deep reading of texts from various educational epochs and perspectives. We will emphasize the connection of central ideas within a text to the larger philosophical frames utilized when the text was constructed, the connection of the ideas with the then current educational contexts, and the development and application of these central ideas in current educational environments. Prereq : EDUC 203/PHIL 215, or one 200-level course in Philosophy, or permission of the instructor; Cross Listing : EDUC 303; J.Helfer;

PHIL 317 Philosophy of Science (1)
This course investigates the nature of scientific reasoning, the defining characteristics of theory, law, experimentation, normal and revolutionary science, the conflict between realist, positivist and instrumentalist views of science, and some of the tensions between science and society. Prereq : PHIL 202 or equivalent of MATH 151 or above; L.Factor;

PHIL 348 Teaching Assistant (1/2 or 1)
Prereq : Permission of instructor; May be graded S/U at instructor's discretion; Staff

PHIL 350 Independent Study (1/2 or 1)
Staff

PHIL 395 Special Topics (1/2 or 1)
Courses offered occasionally to students in special areas of Philosophy not covered in the usual curriculum.Staff

PHIL 399 Senior Seminar in Contemporary Philosophy (1)
Selected studies in contemporary philosophy. While the topic varies from year to year, emphasis is on recent books and articles of special importance in current philosophical debate. Required of all philosophy majors. Prereq : junior standing or permission of the department; May be repeated once for credit; W; O; Staff

PHIL 400 Advanced Studies (1/2 or 1)
See College Honors Program. Staff