101L Intro. to Philosophy
MWF 10:00
Lambros
This course will serve to introduce students to philosophy through a study of selected classical problems in philosophy. The course is a survey of some of the main areas of philosophy, but is not a historical survey of any particular period in the development of philosophy. a number of perennial "classic" problems in philosophy are discussed, with some attention devoted to the particular form in which such problems occur in modern society.
Some typical questions: What is a good life? What should one expect to get from life, or what should we strive for in life? Should life be lived for the sake of happiness? Do we have duties and obligations to other people, or only to ourselves? If there are such things as duties and obligations, what is their source, and how can we know what they are?
What do "right" and "wrong" mean? Are these notions relative to the society in which one happens to live? Or is there an absolute meaning to these terms, which holds for all people at all times?
What can philosophy teach us about the nature of man? Is he a selfish creature? A loving creature? A creature of God?
Do we, or can we, know that God exists?
In most cases such questions reflect traditional problems in philosophy. Assigned readings will be from the works of philosophers who have attempted to answer these questions. But no attempt will be made to impose any particular answers upon students. Instead it is intended that the student get from the course a heightened appreciation of the seriousness and complexity of these problems.
The course is intended to be a training in philosophic method and technique both for the students personal use, and as a foundation for further study in philosophy. Such training, involving practice in thinking clearly, analysis of concepts, and evaluation of evidence, should prove valuable to the student regardless of his/her major.
The course is open to all undergraduates. There are no prerequisites.
101B Intro. to Philosophy
MWF 9:00
Bross
This course will introduce students to some problems in Philosophy: Does God exist?, What is the good life?, What is knowledge?, and many others. The emphasis of the course will be reading primary texts and learning to write critically and clearly.
101 Intro. to Philosophy
M TuTh 9:30
T TuTh 11:00
Thalos
What is philosophy? What is it to do the right thing? Can human behavior said to be right or wrong, independently of our feelings and opinions about the subject? What is the good life? What is justice? What is knowledge? In what does a person's identity consist?
These are a few of the questions we take up in this course. Serious examination of questions like these is an integral part of moral and intellectual development. It is an essential part of the examined life, which, according to Socrates, is the only kind worth living.
107H Ethics
MWF 8:00
Hare
Historical and contemporary readings on ethical topics will be studied. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the many ways in which moral problems arise in ordinary living. Questions of ethical theory will be firmly linked to everyday life.
The central aim of the course is to improve each student's ability to think and write clearly, rigorously and sensitively about moral problems. Such improvement can be achieved only thorugh practice. Included in the practice will be exams and a term paper. Students will be expected to revise their term papers in response to critiques by the instructor.
Text: James E. White, Contemporary Moral Problems, 5th edition.
107C Ethics
MWF 9:00
Csaki
This course is designed to introduce students to the most commonly studied traditional ethical theories in Western philosophy. In addition to this, many contemporary problems and issues in ethics will be examined.
107D Ethics
MWF 2:00
De Greiff
This course is designed to give students an overview of basic questions and theoretical positions in ethics. It will cover the basic elements of Utilitarian, Kantian, and Virtue-based ethical systems. Additionally, it will examine some concrete problems in social and personal ethics including affirmative action, capital punishment, freedom of expression, surrogacy, sexual preferences, and suicide.
Prerequisites: This course is an introduction with no prerequisites.
Teaching Method: lectures and in-class discussions.
Evaluation: a mid-term and a final exam, plus one paper.
Readings: We will use a collection of essays by different authors published in Social and Personal Ethics. William H. Shaw, ed. (Wadswroth, Belmont, Ca 1996).
107S Ethics
TuTh 11:00
Smith
How should we behave? How can we lead a good life? Is there objective right and wrong? Are some ways of living better than others? The course will provide an introduction to the study of these and other major ethical questions, and to the treatment of ethical problems facing contemporary society, including abortion, welfare, crime, drug abuse, affirmative action, pornography, sexual harassment, smoking, and the right to carry deadly weapons. The primary aim of the course is to encourage clear thinking about moral issues. Students will have the opportunity to participate actively in class discussion.
Text: Daniel Bonevac, Today's Moral Issues, 2nd ed., Mayfield, 1996
107K Ethics
TuTh 11:00
Korsmeyer
The goal of this course is to offer a thorough grounding in philosophical approaches to ethics and to develop skills of critical reasoning about issues of ethics, values, and responsibilty. We shall examine the theories of several major philosophers and their attempts to deal with practical moral problems. Texts will include historical and contemporary writings, and the semester will conclude with an extended consideration of truth-telling and lying.
The format of the course is lecture with discussion. Probable written requirements: three tests and a short paper.
115e Critical Thinking
MWF 10:00
Erion
As an introduction to logic, this course will focus on the analysis and evaluation of claims and the arguments that support them. After developing skills for identifying claims and arguments, the bulk of the course will be devoted to such topics as evidence, truth, soundness, validity, and fallacies. Whenever possible, contemporary, interesting, real-life examples will be discussed. Methods of applying the lessons of logic to research paper writing will also be explored. final grades will be determined by two or three examinations, regular homework assignments, a short research project, and class participation.
Required Text: Moore and Parker, Critical Thinking
Recommended Text: Schick and Vaughn, How to Think About Weird Things
115S Critical Thinking
MWF 3:00
Kirwan
As the title indicates, this course will teach the student to examine everyday arguments with a keen eye. Topics will include: giving reasons, identifying faulty reasoning and fallacies, validity and soundness, and inductive and deductive reasoning. Examples will be taken primarily from everyday discourse, and students will be encouraged to seek out further examples from their own experience (newspapers, magazines, television, etc.). Readings and exercises from the text will be assigned regularly.
The student's grade will consist of a mid-term exam, a final exam, and homework assignments.
115R Critical Thinking
TuTh 12:30
Radner
Techniques of problem-solving, decision-making, and evaluating pros and cons of an issue. Topics treated include: comparing, giving reasons, simple inductive reasoning and statistical fallacies, blocks to clear thinking, and strategies for making decisions, the difference between scientific and pseudoscientific reasoning. Examples will be drawn from a number of different fields to show how the techniques can be applied to specific subject matter.
Requirements: Two examinations and final paper. The paper will apply the techniques to a specific problem reflecting the student's own interests.
115B Critical Thinking
TuTh 12:30
Smith
This course is designed to teach students how to argue. It will teach critical thinking skills using the law as starting point. Students will be shown how to develop and analyse arguments in relation to specific legal cases (such as the O. J. Simpson case) and also in relation to broad issues such as free speech, abortion rights, drug abuse, school prayer, and sexual harassment. The course will focus on giving students practical experience in formulating and using arguments. Students will participate in court simulations and mock debates and it is intended that the course should be especially useful for those students who may be considering a career in the law. The capacity for clear thinking and rigorous argument are however valuable skills which can be of advantage in all walks of life.
Prerequisites: No prior knowledge of philosophy or of the U.S. legal system is required.
Required text: Anthony Weston, A Rulebook for Arguments, Hackett, Indianapolis, 1996 (2nd edition).
117 Professional Ethics
TuTh 8:00
Hull
This course begins with an analysis of the concept of the profession. It proceeds to explore values and ethics of such professions as engineering, medicine, law, the news media, environmental protection, education, corporations with an eye toward identifying their commonalities as professions. Of special interest are the case studies presented in film and written form, several of which are studies of the phenomenon of whistleblowing.
6-8 short papers, midterm, final, and in-class debates.
154 Asian Wisdom
TuTh 11:00
Shin
The course will help beginners gain the easiest access to classical ideals of humanity fostered and cherished primarily in Indian and China. The main purpose of this course is to make a striking contrast between the modern technological science of the objective world and the ancient philosophical wisdom of human existence such that the contrast may be shown to be a beautiful harmony of balanced complement to each other. At the turn of the post-modern era, it may sound simply anachronistic to care about the idea of Oriental Wisdom. Some one can make fun of the idea itself. But the love of wisdom, the Greek idea of philosophy, could be so much fun if only you are tuned in for a completely new beginning.
The course will cover the main substance of Asian philosophy with equal emphasis on Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism, implying that Taoism here will receive much more attention than usual. Major topics to be discussed at some length would be the two kinds of attitudes towards, and views of, reality and truth (science or knowledge) regarding the universe and human being.
Each lecture will serve as introductory remarks for a brief outline of subjects scheduled and a literary guide to further studies in homework assigned. There are no prerequisites but attentive meditations and diligent class participation in search for love of Wisdom. It is only to serve this purpose that frequent homework and four short papers are assigned in lieu of exams.
Textbook for lectures: J. M. Koller, Oriental Philosophies;
Source book for
homework: Koller, ed., A Sourcebook in Asian Philosophy.
211 American Pluralism (UGC)
TuTh 9:30
Smith
By means of debates and special guest lectures a variety of strands in the tapestry of American pluralism will be subjected to rigorous examination. Topics will include: Should women be allowed to serve in front-line combat units? Did Europeans steal America from its original inhabitants? Does affirmative action benefit minorities? Are women in the labor force treated unfairly? Does America have a different system of justice for rich and poor? Does pornography empower women? Should same-sex marriage be allowed? Is Interracial adoption wrong? Should the consumption of drugs be legalized? Should gangster rap be banned? Does the fetus have rights? Do "Hispanics" exist?
Prerequisites: None
Required Text: Annette T. Rottenberg, Elements of Argument. a Text and Reader, Boston: St. Martin"s Press, 4th ed., 1994.
215S Intro. to Ded. Logic
MWF 9:00
Kim, S.W.
One of the most important benefits we can expect from the study of logic is the acquisition of skills for constructing and evaluating arguments. This course will provide a chance to improve these skills by both instruction and practice.
We will first clear up ambiguities in various logical terms, and then the main focus will be on the relations between propositions, from which we will move to evaluating arguments and syllogisms. Symbolic logic will also be introduced at a basic level.
Requirements: Homework. Quizzes, a final.
Texts: Ronald Pine, Essential Logic
Cohen & Nagel, An Introduction to Logic (2nd ed.) with an introduction by J. Corcoran.
215R Intro. to Ded. Logic
TuTh 11:00
Radner
How to construct an argument, how to tell whether an argument is valid and how to recognize fallacies. Various types of arguments will be considered, but the main emphasis will be on categorical syllogisms.
Text: Hurley, A Concise Introduction to Logic
Requirements: three exams and a final
101c Intro. to Philosophy
MWF 9:00
Cho
The course combines problem oriented approach with an overview of important phases of history. Classic beginning, early modern period, contemporary highlights will be examined against the historical background, but also with a view to identify certain issues that are our own, here and now.
Text: Samuel Enoch Stumpf, Philosophy (McGraw-Hill)
Requirements: 2 quizzes, midterm paper and the final exam
101T Intro. to Philosophy
MWF 10:00
Thalos
What is philosophy? Why is it important? How do we justify our beliefs? What is a person? In what does a person's identity consist? Can human behavior said to be right or wrong independently of our feelings about it? What is the good in life? What is justice?
These are (a few of) the questions we take up in this course. Serious consideration of these issues is an integral part of moral and intellectual development; it is an essential part of the examined life. (According to Socrates, the unexamined life is not worth living.) Warning: while we will consider a number of candidate answers to these questions, not all questions will be settled by semester's end.
101s Intro. to Philosophy
MWF 11:00
Smith
The Basic Concepts of Philosophy
The present course will seek to provide an introduction to such basic concepts of philosophy as: life, death, freedom, power, beauty, meaning, necessity, art, objectivity, value, sincerity, justice, evil, duty, authority, reality, existence, non-existence, truth. No prior knowledge of philosophy is presupposed. Instructions as to reading material and grading will be supplied in class.
107K Ethics
MWF 11:00
Korsmeyer
The goals of this course are to offer a thorough grounding in philosophical approaches to Ethics; to stimulate thinking on the complexity of situations we call moral or immoral, good or evil; and to develop skills of critical reasoning about issues of ethics, values, and responsibility. We shall examine the theories of several major philosophers and their attempts to deal with practical moral problems and the realities of human nature. Basic texts will include a selection of historical works and the writings of a contemporary philosopher.
The format of the class will be lecture and discussion. Probable written requirements: Three tests: combination essay and short-answers.
107H Ethics
TuTh 9:30
Hull
This course begins with an examination of the common forms of relativism arising both from our pluralistic culture, and from the pluralism in contemporary ethical theory. The course focuses on the question of what elements of relativism are justifiable and what elements must be rejected. We shall examine in particular the view that there is "a core of universal ethical principles which, however, do not fully determine the morality of action in particular circumstances; this view has it that either special features of particular circumstances, or that structures of values "chosen" by individuals, complete that determination. In the course of the semester, traditional theories will be considered both in abstraction and in application to concrete moral issues, such as the acceptability of homosexuality, our obligations to starving populations, whether to recognize animal rights, civil disobedience, IVF, GIFT, and surrogate mothers, and the justifiability of punishment.
Requirements: Several short papers, three examinations, class attendance and participation in debates, lots of hard thinking.
115Z Critical Thinking
MWF 10:00
Strom
The ability to think clearly and critically is invaluable in the processes of making decisions and forming beliefs. We will learn critical thinking skills through the analysis of claims and arguments, the examination of common fallacies, and an introduction to some basic principles of logic. The focus of the course will be on homework problems drawn from everyday sources such as newspaper and magazine articles.
115C Critical Thinking
TuTh 11:00
Corcoran
Critical thinking begins with two virtues: objectivity and impartiality. Objectivity requires the presence of a commitment to truth. Impartiality requires the absence of any commitment to one's own beliefs. Over the years our intellectual predecessors have devised theory and practice which helps to foster objectivity and impartiality, to understand objectivity and impartiality in theory and to put objectivity and impartiality into practice. This lecture- workshop course is a modest attempt to help students to teach these things to themselves. The examined life is more worth living.
Requirements: Attendance is mandatory, weekly assignments, tests, two half-term exams. The second half-term exam must be passed in order to pass the course. No term paper.
Required books: Cohen-Nagel Introduction to Logic; Meiland, College Thinking; Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary Tenth Edition.
Optional books: to be assigned later.
215b Intro. to Ded. Logic
MWF 9:00
Barber
This course is an introduction to the principles of logical reasoning. The notions of validity, truth, inference, and soundness will be examined in both traditional Aristotelian logic and in elementary propositional logic.
There will be three examinations in the course.
215l Intro. to Ded. Logic
TuTh 9:30
Lambros
This course is an introduction to principles of logical reasoning. Two main areas will be covered: The analysis of arguments in everyday life (for example, as given in newspaper editorials); and the development of a minimal symbolic language for the expression and testing of various simple forms of argument. Aristotelian logic will be studied, as will an elementary introduction to the logic of propositions.
221 Phil. of Science
TuTh 12:30
Lambros
This course is a basic introduction to the logic and methodology of natural science, and to the nature of theories in natural science. Questions to be discussed include: what is science, and what is nonscience? What is the nature of scientific explanation? What is the logic of confirmation? What occurs when a new theory replaces an accepted theory (or, what is the nature of so-called "scientific revolutions")?
Discussion of these and related problems, in the readings and course lectures, will draw
upon
examples and episodes in the history of science, mainly physics, mathematics, and chemistry.
239 Law and Morality
MWF 12:00
Brady
There are many different relations between law and morality. This course will focus on the question of the enforcement of morals by law. Is the fact that something is viewed as immoral a sufficient reason for making it also a crime? For example, should pornography and consensual homosexual conduct be made criminal if they are viewed by the community as violating its moral code? The format of the course will be lecture and discussion.
101C Intro. to Philosophy
MWF 8:00
Csaki
This course introduces philosophy by way of examing four particular areas of philosophy: ethics, epistemology and philosophy of mind. Work by Plato, David Hume, Descartes, and others will frame the course and open many questions for discussion.
The basic framework will be a combination of lecture and class discussion. Although just the above four areas will be studied in depth it is important to note that philosophic questions which appear to be specific to one area often overlap into others.
101S Intro. to Philosophy
MWF 4:00
Zaibert
This course is a comprehensive survey of the most important branches of philosophy: metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and logic. These four branches are mainly concerned with reality, knowledge, approval or disapproval for our actions, and correct reasoning, respectively. By studying these branches of philosophy, we should learn about certain peculiar characteristics of the philosophical enterprise. Philosophy is different from science in respect to its methods, object of study, and aims. Understanding these differences should be of considerable importance for the understanding and enjoyment of some of the problems we shall analyze.
107D Ethics
MWF 10:00
De Greiff
This course is designed to give students an overview of basic questions and theoretical positions in ethics. It will cover the basic elements of Utilitarian, Kantian, and Virtue-based ethical systems. Additionally, it will examine some concrete problems in social and personal ethics including affirmative action, capital punishment, freedom of expression, surrogacy, sexual preferences, and suicide.
Prerequisites: This course is an introduction with no prerequisites.
Teaching Method: lectures and in-class discussions. Evaluation: a mid-term and a final exam, plus one short paper and a group project.
Readings: We will use a collection of essays by different authors published in Social and Personal Ethics. William H. Shaw, ed. (Wadsworth, Belmont, CA., 1989)
107E Ethics
TuTh 11:00
Smith
An introduction to the principal ethical theories from Aristotle to feminist ethics, and to the philosophical treatment of the major ethical problems facing contemporary society, including abortion, capital punishment, drug abuse, pornography, and sexual harassment. The primary aim of the course is to encourage clear thinking and rational argument about these and related issues.
Evaluation will be based on a series of four quizzes, with two optional make-up quizzes at the end of the semester. Students attending less than 75% of the sessions will have their grade reduced. Students may elect to have participation in official class debates taken account of in the determination of the final grade.
Text: James E. White, Contemporary Moral Problems, 4th edition, West Publishing Company.
112B World Civ. (UGC)
TuTh 11:00
Baumer
The developments of societies from 1500 Ad through the present are surveyed in this approach to World Civilization II. The course considers interactions of politics, economics, technology, knowledge, and religion in shaping societies and their interrelations. Lectures are supported by discussions in recitation sections; the basic text is augmented with supplemental readings. Grades are determined by scores on three exams, each covering one-third of the course, a term paper, and recitation section participation.
112L World Civ. (UGC)
TuTh 2:00
Lawler
Not available. Please see the instructor.
115S Critical Thinking
MWF 12:00
Schwartz
This is a course in the assessment of everyday claims and arguments. In assessing claims the focus will be on distinguishing good and bad reasons for accepting or rejecting a claim. In assessing arguments the focus will be on recognizing informal fallacies in reasoning. This course will also cover the difference between deductive and inductive arguments and the difference between validity and soundness of an argument. A large part of the class time will be spent doing examples.
117 Professional Ethics
TuTh 12:30
Baumer
This course introduces some of the ethical issues and problems of various professions, e.g., health care, engineering, law, government, business, and the sciences. The course will use case studies and essays presenting and discussing these issues. Course sessions will combine lectures and discussion. Students will write three position papers on selected topics, as well as three essay exams. Grades will be based upon the papers, exams, and class participation.
211 American Pluralism (UGC)
TuTh 9:30
Smith
On Wasps, Latinos, Blacks, Lawyers and Other Stereotypes; on Racist Sexist Homophobe Cops and Italian Lesbian Libertarian feminists; on Nations, Empires, federalists and the Rights of Man; on Columbus, Aboriginal Populations, Slavery, Emancipation and the Economics of Racism; on England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales; on Poles and Germans, Jews and Catholics; on Sex and Language, Gun-Nuts, Branch Davidians, Crackheads and Other Sects; on the Ethics and Politics of Abortion. By means of philosophical debates, special guest lectures, and writing seminars, these and other strands in the tapestry of American pluralism will be explored in detail.
Recommended background reading:
Steven Fraser, ed., The Bell Curve Wars, New York: Basic Books, 1995.
Camille Paglia, Sex, Art and American Culture, New York: Vintage Books, 1992.
Thomas Sowell, Race and Culture. a World View, New York: Basic Books, 1995.
Further lists of reading material will be supplied in class.
215S Intro. to Ded. Logic
TuTh 8:00
Herreid
BACKGROUND: The process of acquiring new knowledge on the basis of prior knowledge is a basic human activity. One often learns that a proposition is true by deducing it from other propositions already known to be true. Deduction rests on logical implication. It is also human to err, and one often thinks that a relation of implication holds when in fact it does not. Sometimes we are able to detect a fallacy and correct our reasoning. These and related practices were carried out long before the science of logic began the attempt to describe them. Practice precedes theory, but attention to theory makes practice more efficient and reliable.
CONTENT: Correct usage of logical terminology (truth, knowledge, hypothesis, implication, inference, argument, argumentation, deduction, proof, contradiction, inconsistency, identity, etc.); methods for establishing validity and invalidity; identification of types of propositions expressed by sentences of regimented English (negations, disjunctions, conjunctions, conditionals, universals, existentials, etc.); other topics including ambiguity, ellipsis, necessary and sufficient conditions, use-mention, existential import, universe of discourse, squares of opposition, etc.
FORMAT: This is a lecture course with collateral reading from Cohen and Nagel's classic text. Many examples used in class are from arithmetic and use only the "simplest" concepts already familiar to students (even, odd, prime, square, addition, etc.); reminders will be given. This is not a "symbolic logic" course, but some symbols will be used to save time and energy. All symbols wil be thoroughly explained.
BOOKS: The primary text is Cohen and Negel's An Introduction to Logic a quality, full-size college dictionary is recommended (e.g. Merriam-Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary). Optional: (1) Quine, Quiddities, (2) Ogilvy & Anderson, Excursions into Number Theory. Copies will be placed on reserve.
REQUIREMENTS: Attendance. Weekly reports. Homework. Notes. Quizzes (announced and unannounced). Two (2) half-term exams (no final). To pass the course it is necessary to pass the second exam. No PREREQUISITES, but it is assumed that students are able to identify material that is presupposed yet unfamiliar to them, and that they are mature enough and willing to ask for instruction about that material. This course is sometimes considered as preceding PHI315 and following PHI115.
101C Intro. to Philosophy
MWF 10:00
Cho
Highlighting the classical philosophers and their problems is essential for an introduction. We thereby note that not the solutions are offered as ages pass by, but rather that old problems are sighted and formulated under new lights. Which, for instance, of the manners of presenting the issues between Plato and Aristotle is more relevant to today's philosophical consciousness: dialogue or an impersonal, objective style of essay? Are ultimate values written in the sky, or do we have to console ourselves in just trying and seeking, without attaining any firm goals? What did the great minds of the earlier centuries think of nature, a partner or an object to be conquered, resources to be tapped? Are we really "thinking being", or the factor of rational thinking is exaggerated to conceal something else?
Text: Samuel Stumpf, History of Philosophy from Socrates to Sartre.
107L Ethics
TuTh 12:30
Lambros
The main topics in this course are the notions of moral rightness, duty, obligation, the "good life", happiness, and selfishness vs. altruism. Readings will be from the ethical theories of some of the major philosophers in the western tradition.
108 Knowledge & Reality
TuTh 8:00
Clune
This course is organized so as to introduce the student to important philosophical topics such as theory of knowledge, mind, personal identity, social and political philosophy, ethics, and more. The student should expect to learn what philosophical problems are like and how to produce good arguments in favor and against the different views that center around such problems. There are no special prerequisites for taking this course.
11 Phil. & Profess. Ethics
TuTh 11:00
Hull
This course is designed as a first exposure of students to ethical issues encountered in the professions: Medicine, engineering, law, government, the media, business, social services, environmental issues, science, neonatal intensive care nursing, accounting and finance. It introduces students to a special concentration in Professional Ethics-a specialized track for those intending careers in one of the professions who wish a minor, major or second major in Professional Ethics.
Attendance required. One 10-15 page paper, or three 5-page papers, two essay exams, one or more in-class group activities.
101S Intro. to Philosophy
MWF 11:00
Smith
The course will treat a series of classic philosophical questions, paying special attention to the development of habits of clear thinking in relation to such questions of contemporary import as: the nature of democratic values, pro- choice vs. pro-life in the abortion debate, what is justice?, what is freedom?, what is truth?, and so on. The course will seek also to define the meanings of philosophical terms in general usage, terms such as: realism, idealism, minism, pluralism, relativism, absolutism, determinism, libertarianism, liberalism, hermeneutics, deconstruction, and so on.
The course is open to all undergraduates. There are no prerequisites.
There will be three examinations.
110 Phil. of Human Nature (Hon. Sem.)
TuTh 9:30
Lambros
Different views of human nature lead to different conclusions about what one ought to be doing in life and how it can be done. In this seminar we will read selected classic conceptions of human nature, from Plato and the Bible, to more recent views, such as behaviorism and existentialism. No prior knowledge of philosophy will be presumed.
115K Critical Thinking
TuTh 11:00
Kearns
This course focuses on recognizing and understanding arguments that are encountered in what we hear and what we read. We will uncover the structures of arguments, determine what are the different kinds of arguments and the different functions that arguments can serve in discourse, and consider criteria for evaluating arguments. The understanding of arguments will be applied to arguments found in newspapers and magazines, and will be used as the basis for constructing effective arguments of our own.
215C Intro. to Ded. Logic
MWF 10:00
Corcoran
Human beings exercised inherent ability to reason correctly and to detect fallacies long before logic was a science. Logic is an ongoing attempt to describe and to reduce to theory a set of human"practices" (methods and skills). Practice necessarily preceded theory, but practice can be made more efficient and more reliable by attention to theory. Logic can be seen to emerge through pursuit of two questions: What is proof? How can a "proof" go wrong?
CONTENT: The nature and origin of logic; correct usage of logical terminology (truth, knowledge, implication, inference, proof, deduction, contradiction, inconsistency, etc.); methods of establishing validity and invalidity; development of traditional logic; applications (text interpretation, reading comprehension, belief formation, argumentation, improvement of writing skills).
No "symbolic logic" but some symbols will be used to save time and energy. All symbols will be thoroughly explained.
NO PREREQUISITES.
This is a lecture course with collateral readings mainly from Cohen and Nagel Intro. to Logic. (Talking Leaves and University Bookstore). Every student will need a quality full-size college dictionary, e.g. Merriam-Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary. Optional: (1) Quine, Quidditties, (2) Ogilvy & Anderson, Excursions into Number Theory.
Weekly reports. Homework. Notes. Quizzes (announced and unannounced). Two (2) half-term exams (no final exam).
101L Intro. to Philosophy
MWF 10:00
Inada
With no prerequisites this course fulfills the general education requirement. It will focus on the principal areas in philosophy: epistemology, metaphysics and ethics. It will also add another dimension to philosophy by treating at the very end the discussion of a Chinese natural way of life, Taoism.
Three exams plus a term paper.
101K Intro. to Philosophy
TuTh 9:30
Korsmeyer
This course is designed to introduce students to different types of philosophical investigation. We shall study several classic texts of the western tradition (e.g. by Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Hobbes), comparing their approaches to some philosophies from Asian traditions.
Some of the issues to be covered include ethical concerns about a good and moral life and how to live it; what knowledge is and how it can be attained; and the sources of political order and disorder.
There will be probably two exams and two papers.
107u Ethics
MWF 10:00
Lawler
What does it mean to be a moral person, and why be one? What is goodness? What is evil? Is there a pattern of moral development? What is moral education? Is there a fundamental difference between Western and Eastern and other non-Western moralities? Is there a difference between the morality of men and women? What is the relation between morality and religion? between morality and society? Such general questions will be examined through a variety of short essays and selections from classical and contemporary moral thinkers. Specific issues will also be addressed, such as whether abortion is immoral, whether divorce is immoral, whether social inequality is immoral. The course will aim at formulating a general rational strategy for examining the nature of morality and for solving moral problems.
10 Soc. & Political Phil.
MWF 11:00
De Greiff
(Honors)
This seminar will attempt to shed light on recent theoretical controversies surrounding liberalism by focusing on how the different positions in these debates cope with three pressing social and political issues: human rights, the rising tide of nationalism all over the world, and the debate about pluralism and multiculturalism.
These three issues are fundamental, in the sense that they have to do with the most basic questions about our identity both at the individual and at the communal level. Ultimately they are related to the role of particular commitments in the constitution of our "selves." Opponents of Liberalism insist that the theory is inadequate for dealing with the importance of community and tradition, exemplified in this course by the claims of nationalism and particularism. Defenders of Liberalism argue that in articulating a universalistic conception of human rights, liberalism in fact creates a political space within which particular identities can flourish and coexist. Instead of concentrating on the "Liberal/Communitarian" debate exclusively at the theoretical level, this seminar will try to shed light on it by giving attention to the three concrete issues mentioned above.
Requirements. Short class presentations, active participation, two papers, and a final exam.
115K Critical Thinking
TuTh 12:30
Kearns
This course focuses on recognizing and understanding arguments that are encountered in what we hear and what we read. We will analyze the structures of arguments, determine what are the different kinds of arguments and the different functions that arguments can serve in discourse, and consider criteria for evaluating arguments. Our understanding of arguments will be applied to arguments encountered in newspapers and magazines, and will be used in constructing effective arguments of our own.
137 Reproductive Ethics (Hon. Sem.)
TuTh 2:00
Hull
This course seeks to bring philosophical analysis and argumentation to bear on a range of questions and issues relating to human sexuality and reproduction. No particular moral position is taken by the instructor; rather, the goal is for each student to develop a reflective and critically defensible set of beliefs regarding sex and reproduction, including contraception, pre and extra-marital affairs, abortion, homosexuality, the reproductive technologies, adoption, family size, obligations to future generations, and vision of the future of sex and reproduction.
Class activities will include numerous short position papers, discussion of readings, debates. There is no lab section associated with this course!
154 Asian Wisdom (Hon. Sem.)
MWF 11:00
Inada
This course is limited to students in the Honors Seminar Program. It will cover the philosophy of Zen Buddhism and its impact on far Eastern culture. The format will be reading and discussing the several texts, beginning with the basic ideas in Indian Buddhism and moving on the Mahayana Buddhism and the development of Zen (Ch'an) in China. Then, the several cultural forms will be discussed to exhibit the influence of Zen ideas.
215H Intro. to Ded. Logic
MWF 9:00
Herreid
This course is an introduction to basic elements of deductive logic. Our primary focus will be on the notions of validity, truth and soundness in both traditional Aristotelian logic and in elementary propositional logic. In covering Aristotelian logic, we will be examining arguments taking the form of categorical syllogisms. Consider the following two arguments.
I. All mammals are animals. All dogs are mammals. Therefore, all dogs are animals.
II. All Russians were revolutionists. All Anarchists were revolutionists. Therefore, Anarchists were Russians.
The first argument is valid, whereas the second is invalid. Why? We will address this question by developing and using methods that will enable us to tell the difference.
In studying elementary propositional logic, we will concentrate on the logical role that simple connective (words like "and," "or," "if...,then....") play in compound propositions. Consider these two arguments.
I. If my car starts, then the battery is working. But my battery is dead, so my car won't start.
II. If I'm the president, then I'm famous. But I'm not the president, so I'm not famous.
Again, the first argument is valid and the second is not. Why? How can you tell?
Time permitting, we will also cover material on fallacies. We will be using Irving M. Copi's and Carl Cohen's Introduction to Deductive Logic. Grades will be determined by performance on homework, quizzes and three examinations.
221 Philosophy of Science
MWF 2:00
Thalos
This course takes up the deep (epistemological) questions: how does-and should-experience inform our scientific theories about the world, and how does our (scientific) knowledge of the world differ from mathematical knowledge? Two-thirds of this course will be devoted to surveying three distinct schools of thought on these questions: empiricism, rationalism and conventionalism. In connection with each we will ask: what sort of account of theory confirmation does the philosophical position require? We will make a case study of the evolution of cosmology in the Renaissance from Copernicus to Newton in an attempt to test each of the three accounts. In the last third of the course we will turn to some contemporary critiques of science, arising from mainstream philosophy, from the sociology of science movement and from some contemporary schools of feminism. The questions we address in the major portion of the course apply to all scientific enterprises. If time permits we may look at some questions that are specific to one subdiscipline in science, perhaps physics or psychology.
225 Language & Meaning
TuTh 11:00
Corcoran
This course combines three goals: 1) to understand philosophical problems that arise from reflection on the nature, function, and origin of language, 2) to become acquainted with the central role of philosophy of language in the historical development of Western thought, 3) to improve speaking, writing and reading skills by focusing on linguistic phenomena that have been studied by philosophers, linguists and logicians. The theoretical, historical, and practical goals of the course will be seen to be mutually supportive. We can become more effective users of language by attending to theoretical and historical aspects of language. We can gain a better understanding of historical philosophy of language by reliving the practical issues that arise in trying to become more effective language users and by reexamining the linguistic deliberations of important thinkers from the past. And we can understand philosophical problems concerning language by seeing how they emerge from reflecting on actual use of language and how they have emerged historically. Lectures, workshops, close reading of short texts, content analysis, exercises. No prerequisites but some background in logic, linguistics, and history useful. Short papers, quizzes, short-answer mid-term, short-answer final, ten-page term paper due immediately after thanksgiving break (clean draft for suggestions due by end of October).
265 Topics: Ancient Philosophy
TuTh 12:30
Gracia
Western philosophy begins in the Ancient world, with the Greeks. It is in this period of Western thought that philosophical thinking separates itself clearly from religious thinking for the first time and that the basic issues of metaphysics, ethics, and political theory are raised. Hence, the need to give this period special attention in any course of studies which tries to uncover the basic assumptions which guide Western thought and its view of knowledge and the world.
In this course we shall attempt to uncover the causes behind the appearance of philosophy in the West, trying at the same time to understand the exact nature of philosophy and the philosophical quest. This will be done through reading and discussion of the major thinkers of the period. Pre-Socratics, Plato, Aristotle and Plotinus primarily.
The grade shall be determined on the basis of two examinations and a paper.
Texts:
J. M. Robinson, An Introduction to Early Greek Philosophy
Plato, The Trial and Death of Socrates, trans. G. M. A. Grube
Plato, Republic, trans. G. M. A. Grube
R. McKeon (ed.) Introduction to Aristotle
J. Saunders (ed.) Greek and Roman Philosophy After Aristotle
101I Intro. to Philosophy
MWF 10:00
Inada
This is an introductory course in philosophy that fulfills the general education requirement. The course will be a multi-cultural experience in terms of reading and discussing selections from throughout the world, although a good portion of the selections will come from the Western tradition.
Three essay type exams and a term paper.
101D Intro. to Philosophy
MWF 12:00
De Greiff
This course is meant to expose students to different areas of philosophy, through an examination of both classical and contemporary texts. We will concentrate most of our attention on questions in epistemology and philosophy of science, ethics, and political philosophy. The aim is not so much to reach final positions, but to provide an understanding both of the complexity of the questions, and of their worth. Among other problems, we will deal with questions about the nature of knowledge, the possibility of universal standards of morality, and issues of distributive justice.
Prerequisites: This course is an introduction with no prerequisites, but since it will require very close reading of texts, the course is intended to foster active, critical reading.
Teaching method: lectures and in-class discussions.
Evaluation: a mid-term and a final exam, plus two short papers.
101H Intro. to Philosophy
TuTh 3:30
Hull
This course will introduce the student without previous background in philosophy to some of the classics of the Western philosophical tradition. The nature of justice, of knowledge, whether there is a god, whether there is an external world, the ground of morality, have all been the subject of philosophical inquiry. Moreover, certain philosophers and their ideas have emerged as enormously influential in generating the ideas and institutions which are commonplace today. In this course we will read several of these philosophers" works.
Three exams, two short papers, lots of class discussion and debate.
Texts: Plato, The Meno, The Republic
Descartes, Discourse on Method and Meditations
Berkeley, Dialogs between Hylas and Pholonius
Hume, Dialogs Concerning Natural Religion
Mill, On Liberty
215K Intro. to Deductive Logic
MWF 9:00
Kearns
This course aims at increasing our understanding of the English language, and improving our ability to use language effectively. Procedures are developed for determining when statements entail a further statement, when statements are incompatible, and when arguments are (deductively) valid. This helps us to be precise and accurate in using language, to know what are the consequences of a claim or a position, and to support the claims we make. The strategy of the course is to develop and investigate artificial logical languages, and to use these for analyzing and evaluating ordinary statements and arguments. The course covers syllogistic logic and a small portion of symbolic logic.
236 Business Ethics
TuTh 2:00
Baumer
This course considers basic issues in business ethics, starting from the question: "What are the ethical rules or principles applicable to happiness principle, the categorical imperative, ethical egoism, and ethical relativism. These are examined using case studies illustrating their applications to business ethics issues such as varying moral codes from one society to another and whether bluffing as lying is an acceptable practice. The second section of the course addresses private property and the "profit motive", studying selections from the writings of Adam Smith, John Locke, Karl Marx, Antony Flew, Milton Friedman, John Rawls, and Friedrich von Hayek, and illustrative case studies. The third section, again using case studies and essays, addresses current major business ethics issues: employee rights, equal opportunity and affirmative action, environmental responsibilities, advertising, and corporate governance. Grades are based on three essay exams and a term paper.
115 Critical Thinking
TuTh 9:30
Herreid
The focus of this course is on arguments, the very backbone of critical thinking. The goal is to improve skills in identifying, constructing and evaluating arguments as they occur in ordinary language. The following are among the issues that will be addressed: the difference between an argument and a "mere" opinion, acceptability of premises, cogency and soundness of arguments, the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning, simple fallacies (e.g. begging the question, appealing to authority), types of definitions, and general features of language (e.g. ambiguity, vagueness, euphemism, emotionally charged vs. neutral language). Grades are determined by frequent unannounced quizzes, homework, two examinations and a term paper.
101i Intro. to Philosophy
MWF 9:00
Inada
This is a course which introduces the student to the nature and function of philosophy. It will cover the main fields of philosophy, i.e., epistemology, metaphysics, ethics and the philosophy of religion.
No prerequisites. Three exams and a term paper.
101fs Intro. to Philosophy
TuTh 9:30
Hare
An introduction to perennial problems of philosophy: 1) Can religious belief be rationally justified? 2) Can our beliefs about other people and about material objects be justified? 3) What is the nature of scientific explanation? 4) What is the relation between mind and body? 5) Is survival of death possible? 6) Are human actions free or causally necessitated? 7) What moral principles should be used to decide what acts to perform? 8) Does morality have an objective basis? a primary goal of the seminar will be to help students clarify their own thinking processes and develop their own reasoning powers.
Each student will be expected to lead the discussion in one seminar meeting. Debates and open-book exams will be scheduled. A term paper will be required, and there will be a final examination.
Text: John Perry and Michael Bratman (eds.). Introduction to Philosophy: Classical and Contemporary Readings.
116fS Recovery of Past
MWF 1:00
Gracia
Philosophical Ideas
The primary aim of this course is to acquaint students with the difficulties involved in the recovery of past philosophical ideas. This involves an exploration and understanding of history, the history of ideas, the philosophy of history, and the nature of texts and their interpretation. a secondary aim will be to give students an understanding of some of the basic concepts involved in historical discourse that deals with ideas. Among the various problems to be discussed are the following: the role of truth in historical accounts, the value of the history of ideas, the method of the history of ideas, the question of progress, the nature of texts and their relation to ideas, and the nature, purpose and validity of interpretations.
Requirements:
Two five-page papers-some of these will be presented and discussed in class. (25%)
Two oral presentations. (25%)
Two take home tests. (25%)
Class participation. (25%)
Texts: Articles from a variety of recent authors, including Rorty, Passmore, Garber, Ricoeur, Margolis, Goodman and Gracia.
215b Intro. to Deductive Logic
TuTh 9:30
Baumer
This course presents basic elements of deductive and inductive logic. Opening with an examination of what logic is, the course next considers the uses of language to inform, express values, and evince emotions. Presentation of deductive logic begins with the analysis of arguments whose components are sentences, e.g., if it is raining, then the sidewalks will be wet; it is raining, therefore the sidewalks will be wet. The analysis of deductive arguments includes patterns of valid and invalid arguments, establishing validity of complex arguments by chaining simple arguments, and determining invalidity by showing an argument"s conclusion may be false while its premisses are true. further analysis of deductive arguments considers those whose components are descriptive phrases, e.g., all men are mortal; Socrates is a man; therefore Socrates is mortal. Analysis of everyday statements and arguments is a major element throughout the presentation of deductive logic. The third major section of the course addresses common fallacies, patterns of definition, arguments by analogy, inductive inference and testing of hypotheses, and some basic elements of probabilities. Extensive exercises are assigned. Grades are determined by three examinations and a term paper.
22 Intro. to Phil. of Science
TuTh 3:30
Kearns
In this course we will consider different attempts to understand and explain the basic character of scientific knowledge. We begin with David Hume, who presents the classical Empiricist understanding of knowledge, scientific and otherwise. Next we consider A. J. Ayer, who provides an updated version of Hume"s views. Then we turn to critics of the Empiricist position: Karl Popper and Thomas Kuhn (who is also a critic of Popper). There will be numerous short written assignments for the course, a mid term exam, a final exam, and a term paper.
101fs Intro. to Philosophy
TuTh 12:30
Lambros
As an introductory course in philosophy, there are no pre-requisites. We will read original works by some of the great thinkers of the past, including Plato, Aristotle, J. S. Mill, and Ayer. Many topics in philosophy will be discussed, with an emphasis on Ethics and the Theory of Knowledge (Epistemology).
In addition to introducing philosophical thought, a main aim of the seminar will be to help the student develop clear thinking and reasoning.
There will be weekly reading assignments. Each student will be expected to lead the discussion in one of the seminar meetings. The other requirements are a term paper, and a take-home final examination.
215B Intro. to Deductive Logic
TuTh 3:30
Baumer
This course presents basic elements of deductive and inductive logic. Opening with an examination of what logic is, the course next considers the uses of language to inform, express values, and evince arguments whose components are sentences, e.g., if it is raining, then the sidewalks will be wet; it is raining, therefore the sidewalks will be wet. Patterns of valid and invalid arguments, establishing validity of complex arguments by chaining simple arguments, and determining invalidity are included here. The second section addressing deductive logic analyzes arguments whose components are descriptions, e.g., all men are mortal; Socrates is a man; therefore Socrates is mortal. Again patterns of valid and invalid arguments and proof of validity or invalidity are included. Throughout the consideration of deductive logic the analysis of everyday statements and arguments is a major component. The third major section of the course addresses common fallacies, patterns of definition, arguments by analogy, inductive inference and testing of hypotheses, and some basic elements of probabilities. Extensive exercises are assigned. Grades are determined by three examinations.
162 Law, Morality and Authority
TuTh 12:30
Brady
There are many different relations between law and morality. This course will focus on the question of the enforcement of morals by law. Is the fact that something is viewed as immoral a sufficient reason for making it also a crime? for example, should pornography and consensual homosexual conduct be made criminal if they are viewed by the community as violating its moral code? The format of the course will be lecture and discussion.
101fs Intro. to Philosophy
TuTh 9:30
Korsmeyer
(fr. Seminar)
This course is designed to introduce the student with little or no background in philosophy to some of the central ideas of the western intellectual tradition. The readings will be drawn from major philosophers from ancient times to the present (for example, Plato, Descartes, Hobbes, Kant). We shall study such questions as: How do we achieve knowledge about the world? How should we conduct our lives? What is a moral choice?
There are several goals of the course: to attain an understanding of and familiarity with some classic philosophical texts; to place theories in their historical contexts and thus see how ideas are influenced by change; to develop students" abilities to comprehend and express ideas. The seminar format will allow students to practice reading and interpreting texts, to develop skills of critical appreciation, and to learn to formulate their own theoretical ideas.
The instructor will lecture sometimes in order to provide background or explain difficult ideas, but students will also be expected to participate actively in discussion. Written assignments will include 2 or 3 short papers and a test.
115c Critical Thinking
TuTh 11:00
Corcoran
This course focuses on objectivity, intellectual integrity and intellectual independence. It concerns concepts, principles, methods, and skills which contribute to people's ability to arrive for themselves at beliefs capable of withstanding objective critical evaluation. Thinking critically involves application of criteria (standards and testing procedures) to conclusions (whether ones own or those of others) as well as to the procedures by which those conclusions became established as beliefs. Critical Thinking helps people to avoid fallacies in their own thinking, to identify fallacies in the thinking of others, to confidently appreciate their own intellectual successes and to identify and benefit from the intellectual achievements of others. Critical thinking is inseparable from critical reading and critical writing. Basic topics: definition and criterion, persuasion and proof, truth and knowledge, certainty and cautious confidence, convention and fact, education and indoctrination, suspension of belief and jumping to conclusions, deduction and induction, prediction and postdiction, hypothesis and theorem, implication and inference, evidence and proof, consistency and truth, lexical and structural ambiguity, fallacies of acceptance and fallacies of rejection, false positives and false negatives, metaphor and analogy, effective and inept uses of redundancy, paradox and reductio ad absurdum, heuristics and apodictics, precision and vagueness, syntax and semantics, object language and metalanguage, use and mention, direct and indirect reasoning, hypothetico-deductive method, semiotic triangle, intension and extension.
Prerequisites: NONE
Required Books: 1) Meiland College Thinking, 2) Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary
101G Intro. to Philosophy
TuTh 11:00
Garver
The plan of this section is to introduce philosophy namely in connection with the lives of a few significant thinkers. During the first eight weeks the thinkers considered, together with the main facts of their lives, will be Marcus Aurelius, John Stuart Mill, Ernest Renan, and Henry Sidgwick. Special attention will be given to what it means to be a reasonable person, and to the connection between rationality and conscience. At the end of the semester we will look at problems about security, vulnerability, cooperation, and control. These problems arise in the work of Thomas Hobbes, and continue in modern Game Theory, which we will explore through Robert Axelrod's The Evolution of Cooperation. The other main text is Brand Blanshard's Four Reasonable Men.
There will be two midterm exams and a final. There will in addition be three short papers, which will not be accepted for credit if they contain substantial errors or infelicities in writing. It is not possible to learn philosophy without having an exact and subtle mastery of the language; this principle is implicit in the standards for the course.
101fs Intro. to Philosophy
(freshman Seminar)
MWF 11:00
Lambros
This course is an introduction to philosophy adapted to a seminar format. We will read about and discuss problems and theories in some of the traditional areas of philosophy: Epistemology (The Theory of Knowledge), Metaphysics (Theories about the nature and structure of existence and reality), and Ethics (the study of foundations of morality, value, the good life, and so on.) Class meetings will usually be discussion of readings which are assigned weekly. Class attendance and participation in discussion are important, and will be considered in determining course grades. Other requirements are two five page term papers, and a written three hour final exam. No prior work in philosophy will be presupposed.
13 Freedom & Necessity (Fr. Sem.)
TuTh 9:30
Lawler
The problem of the relation of freedom and necessity--of the relation between the purposeful will of human beings, on the one hand, and natural, social and political laws, on the other--is one of the fundamental problems of philosophy. Usually the problem of freedom is divided into two parts: the "metaphysical" problem of the possibility of free will, and the "political" question of individual freedom and state power. Both of these aspects, as well as the relation between them, will be explored in this course.
This problem will be examined historically, through the discussion of relatively short texts and essays beginning with the seventeenth century work of Thomas Hobbes, and concluding with twentieth century authors Jean- Paul Sartre and Karl Popper.
To bring home the practical and theoretical relevance of this issue, two interrelated applications of the various theories of freedom will be examined. During this period of commemoration of the two hundred years since the formation of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights (1787-91) the issue of the real meaning of the Constitution is widely and sharply debated--as recently was the case during the Senate confirmation hearings of Judge Bork. Hence we will consider what conception or conceptions of freedom are embedded in the Constitution as a consequence of the deep philosophical culture of the framers of the Constitution.
Secondly, as the United States, together with the entire world, enters into a period of re-evaluating the policy of a constantly escalating arms race which has ruled the course of international relations since the end of World War II, we will raise the questions: What laws, what necessities, have governed the course of world events during these past fateful forty or so years? And what possibility do individuals and states have of purposefully changing the course of history? While such questions cannot be explored in detail in this course, the basic focus of this course will be on the question: what value do the philosophical theories of freedom have in answering these questions?
The course format will consist in alternating lectures by the professor and student-led discussions centered on a series of relatively short readings from the history of thought on the question of freedom and necessity.
Evaluations will be based 1) on student participation in organized discussions: student "panels" will prepare and lead discussions, and each student will participate in such panels three or four times during the semester; 2) on periodically assigned short (ten-minute) essays during class time related to material that was previously presented and discussed; 3) on a final paper of ten or so pages. There will be no mid-term or final exams.
Short readings, about one per week, will be distributed in connection with the works of Hobbes, Spinoza, Hume, Rousseau, Kant, Jefferson, Hegel, Marx, Sartre and Popper. a short "dialogue", free Will and Determinism, by Clifford Williams, will be used to introduce many of the issues.
215 Intro. to Deductive Logic
TuTh 11:00
Barber
This course is an introduction to the principles of logical reasoning. The notions of validity, truth, inference, and soundness will be examined in both traditional Aristotelian logic and in elementary propositional logic.
There will be three examinations in the course.
101 Intro. to Philosophy
MWF 2:00
Gracia
This course is designed as an introduction to the history of western thought from ancient times to the present. It will include discussions of the theories of ancient Greeks, medieval theologians, Renaissance scientists and modern and contemporary philosophers.
Texts: W. T. Jones, A History of Western Philosophy, first three volumes J. J. E. Gracia, Latin American Philosophy in the XXth Century
Requirements: 10 short quizzes, 1 mid-term and a final, 2 three-page papers.
107 Ethics
MWF 9:00
Inada
There are no pre-requisites for this introductory course.
Ethics is basically understanding human behavior. The course will examine the seminal ideas of the Greeks and work through the contributions by medieval, modern and contemporary thinkers. If time permits, we shall examine one Chinese system, Taoism, as a viable alternative or supplement to Western perspectives.
Lecture-discussions. Three essay type exams. In addition, a contemporary oriented paper is due at the end of the lecture period.
120 Honors Topics: Methodology in Science & Philosophy.
TuTh 7:00-8:20p.m.
Gracia
One of the most pervasive and fundamental concerns of both philosophers and scientists has to do with the development of a method that would yield objective and certain knowledge. In the quest for this method different thinkers have stressed different things. Some have thought that criteria founded on reason alone best fits these aims, while others have emphasized experience and empirical evidence. Still others have thought that all scientific procedures follow, explicitly or implicitly, a deductive model of demonstration, while others believe that induction alone reveals the structure of scientific discovery. In short, there is no consensus on the proper method of science, even though philosophers and scientists have been discussing such a method for more than 2000 years. In this course, we will be going through some of the most important landmarks in the West"s search for the scientific method. We will begin with the Greeks, who first explicitly posed the issue and set down some expectations that philosophers and scientists are still trying to satisfy today. We will also read landmarks from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Modern period, finishing with a couple of recent texts.
Readings:
Plato, Sophist
Aristotle, Posterior Analytics
Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae
Roger Bacon, Opus maius
Descartes, Discourse on Method
Francis Bacon, Novum Organum
J. S. Mill, A System of Logic
A. J. Ayer, Language, Truth and Logic
K. Popper, The Logic of Scientific Discovery
162 Law, Morality & Authority (Fr. Seminar)
TuTh 3:30
Brady
This course will focus on the question of the enforcement of morals by law. Is the fact that something is viewed as immoral a sufficient reason for making it a crime? for example, should pornography or consensual homosexual conduct be made criminal if they are viewed by the community as violating its moral code? The more general question of the proper authority of the state or society over the individual will be discussed. This course begins with a consideration of actual legal cases. We then will turn to the philosophical debate to see whether an adequate theory can solve the issue raised by these cases. Finally, we shall return to other legal cases. The format will be primarily class discussion.
Requirements: two short papers and a longer final paper
Grading will be on plus-minus option.
Texts: T. C. Grey, The Legal Enforcement of Morality
J. S. Mill, On Liberty (Library of Liberal Arts)
Richard Wasserstrom, Morality and the Law (Available at the University Bookstore)
215 Intro. to Deductive Logic
TuTh 12:30
Gracia
This course will introduce students to traditional logic: the study of correct and incorrect ways of thinking. Samples of topics to be discussed: validity, truth, principles of reasoning, implication, definition, fallacies, etc. There will be weekly quizzes and mid term and final examinations. An indispensable course for those who want to learn to organize their thoughts. No prior work in philosophy required.
23 Ethics of Survival
Simpson
Ethics of Survival is a course about world problems and what we can do about them. The problems discussed include: ecology, energy, population, limits to growth, hunger and poverty, human rights, the relationship of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd world countries, war, and the threat of total war posed by the continuing nuclear arms race. Innovative teaching methods are used such as role playing, simulations, and value clarification. In addition, there will be lectures, discussions, and occasional movies and guest speakers.
115 Critical Thinking
MWF 9:00
Hull
This course in critical thinking techniques and their application seeks to improve the student"s ability to read and write critically and effectively, through introduction to elements of logic with extensive exercises. a wide range of issues in many fields are examined to see how disputes over their central issues may be adjudicated through the processes of critical evaluation of arguments.
The class format involves assigned readings and exercises in preparation for class discussion, two in-class and two take-home examinations, almost daily homework, and an assigned term paper of 5-10 pages. The final is optional.
Text: Cedarblom & Paulsen, Critical Thinking.
107 Ethics
MWF 9:00
Inada
This is an introductory course in ethics. No prerequisites. The course will cover the whole Western ethical tradition, from the classical & medieval periods to the modern & contemporary times. Many theories on ethics will be presented in the textual readings and the emphasis will be on open class discussion.
111 Intro. to Philosophy
MWF 10:00
Hare
The chief aim of the course is to teach the student what it is like to think philosophically in a clear and rigorous manner. Practice in such thinking will, it is hoped, increase the student"s inclination and ability to think philosophically in subsequent life experiences, non-academic as well as academic.
To begin, the lives and thoughts of four historical philosophers will be explored. What it takes to be a reasonable person (as revealed in Blanshard's Four Reasonable Men) will be discussed. Next, a variety of philosophical problems (Are human beings nothing more than extremely complicated machines? Are we free?, etc.) will be examined in readings taken from science fiction. Finally, we will explore in depth the moral problem of secrets (Bok, Secrets: On the Ethics of Concealment and Revelation).
111 Intro. to Philosophy
TuTh 12:30
Garver
This course will serve to introduce students to philosophy through a study of selected classical problems in philosophy. It will not be a historical survey of any particular period in the development of philosophy. a number of perennial or "classic" problems of philosophy will be discussed in their traditional form, but also in the particular form in which they occur in modern society. No prerequisites. Gen. Ed. writing component: two 500-word papers and one 2000-word paper. Exams: two midterms plus a final.
115 Critical Thinking
MWF 10:00
Hull
The central aim of this course is to teach students how to employ the elemental structures of formal and informal logic to strengthen critical reading, listening and writing skills as they are employed in almost every discipline.
As such, the course seeks to fill a gap in the educational development of thinking and associated skills of the typical undergraduate. The subject matter of the course is widely believed in the university setting to be essential as skills for virtually any adequate professional preparation. Furthermore, a strong case can be made that critical thinking skills are important in a democracy for the intelligent exercise of the duties of citizenship. Finally, critical thinking skills provide the individual with personal resources for decision making, guarding against mistaken inferences, avoiding unproductive strategies, evaluating the claims of others, and generating a coherent and workable understanding of the world of his/her experience.
The course requires almost daily homework exercises, frequent in-class examinations, take-home exercises, and the production of a final paper of 10 pages. Text is currently under active selection, but will cost less than $20. Attendance is strongly advised but not required; it is possible to do well in this course using only the textbook. However, doing so will deprive the non-attendee of the benefit of the instructor's jokes.
111 Intro. to Philosophy
MWF 9:00
Inada
The course will cover the three major fields of epistemology, metaphysics and ethics. It will attempt to instill critical thinking and evaluation of the various problems in philosophy.
No prerequisites.
107 Ethics
MWF 10:00
Cho
The course pursues two major objectives: to get acquainted with major classical viewpoints of ethical science and to survey some salient modern moral problems. The first part will discuss the status of ethics centering on "cultural relativism," "reason and human nature," "utility and deontology," and "language of ethics." The second part will include such contemporary topics as "punishment," "ethics of work and leisure," "just distribution and social good."
Text: K. J. Struhl and P. R. Struhl, Ethics in Perspective