Current Courses

The undergraduate and graduate courses below are the courses offered by the Department of Philosophy for Fall 2009. Please consult the university's timetable of classes for more information.

Undergraduate Courses

Philosophy 1204: Knowledge and Reality
Prof. J.C. Pitt (MW 2:30-3:20, MCB 100, multiple sections)
We will read and discuss some imaginative literature, brief philosophical classics, and short philosophical analyses, which deal with problems about the nature of human knowledge and the constitution of reality. For example we will ask: What do you know for certain? Does God exist? Is there a difference between humans and machines? (3H,3C)

Philosophy 1204: Knowledge and Reality
M. Butera (MWF 9:05-9:55)
M. Sayball (MWF 8:00-8:50; MWF 10:10-11:00)
Examines the questions: What is the nature of reality? How do I know what is real and what is misleading appearance, error, or illusion? What is knowledge? How do I find out who I am and how I relate to the world around me? (3H,3C)

Philosophy 1304: Morality and Justice
Assoc. Prof. William FitzPatrick (MW 12:20-1:10, mulitple sections)
This course is a comprehensive introduction to moral philosophy. We will combine a survey of some classic works (by Plato, Aristotle, Kant and Mill) with an examination of prominent treatments of issues in ethical theory and applied ethics by leading contemporary philosophers. Some questions we'll explore: What should our ultimate goal in life be? Is living morally most conducive to true happiness? What in general makes something right or wrong? Is it always possible for a good enough end to justify bad means, or do considerations of justice sometimes stand in the way of this? Does morality depend on the commands of God? Are there really objective facts about right or wrong, perhaps transcending differences across cultures and times, or is morality ultimately subjective and/or "relative"? Does anyone ever really act from unselfish motives? Some more particular problems: Is it morally okay to use embryonic stem cells for research or tissue therapy? If so, is it right to deliberately create embryos just for the purpose of harvesting stem cells, as in the case of therapeutic cloning? Can abortion ever be morally justified, and if so, how? In what cases might euthanasia be morally permissible? Is capital punishment morally justifiable in principle? In practice? How far does our duty to aid distant strangers extend? Do non-human animals have moral rights? Is it morally acceptable, for example, to cause harm to them in biomedical research or to factory farm them, or are such practices in violation of their rights? (3H,3C)

Philosophy 1304: Morality and Justice
J. Gambrel (MW 4:00-5:15)
E. Lewis (TTh 8:00-9:15)
A critical survey of theories concerning human nature, the meaningful life, and the moral evaluation of actions, persons, and institutions. Theories will be applied to such issues as abortion, justice, and moral problems faced by professionals. (3H,3C)

Philosophy 1504: Language and Logic
Visiting Asst. Prof. Ted Parent (MW 11:15-12:05, multiple sections)
M. McCall (TTh 2:00-3:15; TTh 3:30-4:45)
Basic concepts in logic and critical thinking: argument, validity, deduction and induction, logical form, formal and informal fallacies.  Introduction to the logic of truth functions and of categorical statements.  Critical analysis of arguments in ordinary language. (3H,3C)

Philosophy 2115: Ancient Through Medieval Philosophy
Prof. James Klagge (TTh 12:30-1:45)
Socrates (470-399BC), Plato (427-347BC), and Aristotle (384-322BC) were philosophers in ancient Greece, in the city of Athens. They are founding thinkers in the Western philosophical tradition. We will study their ideas on ethics, knowledge, reality, the soul, and the meaning of life. We will look at how their ideas grew out of their cultural setting, and also how their ideas provoke us to think about these topics now. Among the questions to be explored: What is the basis for morality? How do we define terms like “virtue” or “knowledge”? How do we know that, say, 2+2=4? What is the soul? Is it immortal? What are the best roles for reason and for emotion in our lives? How can we lead a good and meaningful life? (3H,3C)

Philosophy 2125: History of Modern Philosophy
Assoc. Prof. Walter Ott (TTh 11:00-12:15)
History of Modern Philosophy Western philosophical thought of the 17th and 18th centuries, from Descartes to Kant.  (3H,3C)

Philosophy 2304: Global Ethics
B. Caron (MWF 1:25-2:15)
M. Rea (MWF 10:10-11:00)
J. Miller (MWF 12:20-1:15)
Ethical issues in international context.  Application of the principles of moral theory to such issues as the obligations of richer nations toward poorer ones, cultural and other forms of relativism, emigration and immigration, nationalism, war, deterrence, intervention, environmental degradation, preservation of natural diversity, and responsibilities toward future generations. (3H,3C)

Philosophy 2605: Reason and Revolution
Asst. Prof. Daniel Parker (TTH 3:30-4:45)
Study of philosophical approaches to understanding and justifying modes of human reasoning both in science and everyday life. The focus of this course is on justifying changing paradigms of human inquiry. (3H, 3C)

Philosophy 2606: Reason and Revolution
M. Rea (MW 2:30-3:45)
Study of philosophical approaches to understanding and justifying modes of human reasoning both in science and everyday life. The focus of this course is on justifying changing paradigms of human inquiry. (3H, 3C)

Philosophy 3015 (Political Science 3015): Political Theory
Asst. Prof Bettina Koch (MW 2:30-3:45)
The course provides an overview of nearly 2000 years of Western political thinking; it covers the period from the Ancient Greeks to early modern times. In this course, we investigate many different concepts, which still determine contemporary political language, with regard to their origins and transformations in political practice. What does the concept of "democracy" mean to the ancient Greeks? What determines their understanding of a well-organized commonwealth? Who is (and who not) involved in the political process? How do the Greek ideas influence later political thinking? What are the main concerns in the medieval period, how do they differ from ancient concepts, and what new meanings do they acquire during the early modern period? What is the impact of the Reformation on moral and political - thought? We address these issues by reading and discussing excerpts from the original texts (in English translation). For this purpose, the course is designed to unfold as a combination of lectures and in-class discussions of the assigned texts. (3H,3C)

Philosophy 3016 (Political Science 3016): Political Theory
Asst. Prof. Simon May (TTh 12:30-1:45)
The course is a survey of some of the major contributions to political theory in the modern era from the mid-seventeenth century to the twentieth century. Special attention is placed on the ascent of liberty as a basic principle of legitimate government. Figures studied include Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hume, Mill, and Marx. (3H, 3C)

Philosophy 3016 (Political Science 3016): Political Theory
Asst. Prof. Chad Lavin (TTh 9:30-10:45)
Analysis of the fundamental ideals in the history of political theory from the late 17th century to the present.  (3H, 3C)

Philosophy 3024: Philosophical Movements: Environmental Philosophy
J. Gambrel (MW 5:30-6:45)
Environmental philosophy is a systematic account of values carried by the natural world, coupled with an inquiry into duties toward animals, plants, species and ecosystems. A comprehensive philosophy of nature is illustrated by and integrated with numerous actual examples of ethical decisions made in encounters fauna and flora - black bears, whales, ducks, butterflies, oak trees - and with endangered sspcies and threatened ecosystems. In this course, we will examine a wide range of issues incuding air and water pollution, wildernss preservation, appropriate technology, population growth, consumption, enangered species protection, duties to future generations, and more. We will explore waht it means to live as a responsible human being in the community of ife on Earth. (3H, 3C)

Philosophy 3314: Ethical Theory
Asst. Prof. Steven Daskal (TTh 2:00-3:15)
This course is a study of ethical theory. We will cover at greater depth some of the issues addressed in Philosophy 1304, but the introductory course is not a prerequisite. The core of the course will be an examination of the ethical theories of Aristotle, Kant and Mill. This will be augmented by considering a selection of other historical writings as well as engaging with contemporary work that reacts to and builds upon these historical works. The course has two related goals. The first is for you to become familiar with the central texts and themes in the history of philosophical work on ethics. The second is for you to develop the ability to think critically about fundamental ethical questions, including questions about how to lead one's life and how to understand the demands of morality (3H, 3C)

Philosophy 3454: Philosophy of Religion
Visiting Asst. Prof. Phil Olson (MWF 11:15-12:05; MWF 12:20-1:10)
A consideration of religious belief and its justification with attention to such philosophical issues as the nature and existence of God, the problem of evil, and the notion of faith. (3H, 3C)

Philosophy 3505: Modern Logic and its Development
Prof. Deborah Mayo (TTh 9:30-10:45)
Logic and logical theory and the history of its development. Validity of arguments. Syllogistic logic from Aristotle to modern times. Deductive methods in truth functional and quantificational logic through the theory of identity. Translation from English into symbolic form. (3H,3C)

Philosophy 4214: Metaphysics
Visiting Asst. Prof. Ted Parent (MW 2:30-3:45)
Examination of some of the central problems of metaphysics. Topics may include: existence, necessary truth, the problem of universals, causation, the identity of the self through time, free will.  Attention will be given both to the historical development of these problems and to contemporary philosophical responses to them. (3H,3C)

Philosophy 4324: Business and Professional Ethics
Asst. Prof. Steve Daskal (TTh 9:30-10:45)
In this course we will investigate moral and ethical issues that arise in the context of business practices. We will begin with a brief overview of relevant ethical theories and a consideration of various approaches to ethics, and then spend the majority of the course discussing specific problems in business ethics. We will address questions such as: To what extent should considerations other than profits determine business decisions? What rights and obligations do employers and employees have with respect to one another? What obligations, if any, do businesses have to their consumers, or to the general public? To what extent should businesses adopt affirmative action measures or other policies designed to promote diversity in the workforce?  In considering these issues we will read a combination of scholarly articles and influential court cases, as well as considering concrete examples that illustrate the problems. (3H,3C)

Philosophy 4604: Philosophy of Biology
Visiting Asst. Prof. Mark Bauer (TTh 3:30-4:45)
This course is designed primarily for students of biology or philosophy students with a strong interest in biology.  Topics vary from year to year, but include the changing character of biology as a science, the special character of biological explanations and methods, and the place and value of reduction (e.g. of Mendelian to molecular genetics) in biology. (3H,3C)

Philosophy 4614: Philosophy of Science
Asst. Prof Dan Parker (TTh 11:00-12:15
The course will focus on the debate between scientific realism and anti-realism, endeavouring to explore two fundamental questions concerning science: ‘What is science’ and ‘What should science do?’ Naturally, these questions are interrelated. Does/Should science predict, explain, classify or increase our understanding of the physical world? What does one mean by each of these terms? How is scientific inquiry related to truth? Does science aim to discover “the way the world really is”, or is it merely a useful way of organizing and coordinating known facts about the observable world? (3H,3C)

Philosophy 4974: Independent Study
Philosophy 4994: Undergraduate Research
If interested in either of these options, discuss them with your adviser and the professor with whom you wish to work.

Graduate Courses

Philosophy 5204: Topics in the History of Philosophy: Locke and Berkeley
Assoc. Prof. Walter Ott (W 4:00-6:45)
The epistemology and metaphysics of John Locke and George Berkeley, with special attention to recent debates in the literature. (3H,3C)

Philosophy 5214G: Intermediate Metaphysics
Visiting Asst. Prof. Ted Parent (MW 2:30-3:45)
Examination of some of the central problems of metaphysics.  Topics may include: existence, necessary truth, the problem of universals, causation, the identity of the self through time, free will.  Attention will be given both to the historical development of these problems and to contemporary philosophical responses to them. (3H,3C)

Philosophy 5305: Philosophy of Modern Science and Technology
J. Collier (Th 5:00-7:45)
This course will address central issues in both the philosophy of science and in the philosophy of technology. These issues include the demarcation of science and pseudo-science, the nature of scientific reasoning, the formation, structure and explanatory role of scientific theories, the relationship between science and technology, and the status and character of artifacts. We will read widely within the canon of the philosophy science, including Ayer, Popper, and Laudan, and take up the burgeoning literature in the philosophy of technology, including Feenberg, Jarvie, and Simon. Our focus will be on how philosophers define problems, form questions and pose arguments regarding modern science and technology. (3H,3C)

Philosophy 5334: Normative Ethics
Assoc. Prof. Bill FitzPatrick (Th 2:00-4:45)
A systematic examination of normative ethics, the part of moral philosophy concerned with questions about what is right and good: What factors contribute to the rightness or wrongness of actions? What distinctions are important when thinking about moral issues? What general principles about rightness and goodness, if any, can we formulate and defend? How do these principles apply to various practical issues? The approach will be ahistorical, focusing on the work of many of the most prominent contemporary moral philosophers. Particular attention will be paid to the distinctions between (i) killing and letting die, and (ii) harm that is intended as a means to some good end and harm that is merely a foreseen but unintended side-effect of some means taken towards a good end (which raises broader questions about the role of intention in normative ethics). We will also look at some of their applications to current issues, such as euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, or the moral distinction between tactical bombing in war and acts of terrorism. In the course of examining the debate between consequentialists (e.g. utilitarians) and non-consequentialists, we will examine attempts to formulate and justify deontological constraints (and related claims about human rights) based on these and other distinctions, and attempts to formulate and justify non-consequentialist "prerogatives" or "options", which speaks to the question of what limits, if any, there are to the demands morality may make on our lives. Some other issues to be examined: the methodological role of `intuitions' in normative ethics and challenges from recent empirical moral psychology (e.g., in connection with `trolley problems'); the concepts of character and moral virtues, and challenges from `situationist' work in empirical psychology; the existence and nature of genuine moral dilemmas (through considerations of such cases as "Sophie's Choice"); the normativity of culture and tradition. We will also read T. M. Scanlon's new book, exploring the relations between moral permissibility, meaning, and blame. The course is designed to provide a sophisticated background in normative ethical theory, well-grounded in the contemporary literature, which can then be taken and applied to a wide variety of moral issues. (3H,3C)

Philosophy 5505: Symbolic Logic
Prof. Deborah Mayo (TTh 12:30-1:45)
Modern deductive symbolic logic and its metatheory.  Logical metatheory: consistency, completeness, and decidability of logical systems. (3H,3C)

Philosophy 5604G: Philosophy of Biology
Visiting Asst. Prof. Mark Bauer (TTh 3:30-4:45)
This course is designed primarily for students of biology or philosophy students with a strong interest in biology.  Topics vary from year to year, but include the changing character of biology as a science, the special character of biological explanations and methods, and the place and value of reduction (e.g. of Mendelian to molecular genetics) in biology. (3H,3C)

Philosophy 5614G: Intermediate Philosophy of Science
Asst. Prof. Dan Parker (TTh 11:00-12:15)
The course will focus on the debate between scientific realism and anti-realism, endeavoring to explore two fundamental questions concerning science: ‘What is science’ and ‘What should science do?’ Naturally, these questions are interrelated. Does/Should science predict, explain, classify or increase our understanding of the physical world? What does one mean by each of these terms? How is scientific inquiry related to truth? Does science aim to discover “the way the world really is”, or is it merely a useful way of organizing and coordinating known facts about the observable world? (3H,3C)

Philosophy 6014: Special Topics in Philosophy: Pragmatism
Visiting Asst. Prof. Phil Olson (M 2:00-5:00)
Pragmatism came of age during a time of extraordinary social and scientific transformation. While the United States endeavored to rediscover itself in the aftermath of the Civil War, advances in evolutionary theory and psychology were beginning to challenge and change the ways people thought of themselves in relation to nature, their fellows, and the divine. Charles Sander Peirce, William James, and John Dewey perceived that these developments posed new challenges and demanded a new way of thinking. In this seminar we will closely examine some key works written by these "classical" American pragmatists, as well as a more recent incarnation of American pragmatism, as expounded by the late Richard Rorty. Our readings will center on pragmatist engagements with science (especially evolutionary theory and psychology), and with philosophical questions pertaining to naturalism, truth, value, and inquiry. (3H,3C)

Philosophy 6014: Special Topics in Philosophy: Wilfred Sellars
Prof. Joe Pitt (T 3:30-6:15)
We will examine some of Sellars more influential writings in order to assess his impact on 20th Century philosophy.  Sellars was one of the more significant opponents of logical positivism who worked from within the analytic tradition. His critique of positivistic assumptions remains one of the most devastating attacks on the fundamentals of that influential position. Our emphasis will be on his views on language, epistemology and the philosophy of science.  Major works to be considered: selected papers from his 1963 Science, Perception, and Reality, augmented by selections from his 1968 Science and Metaphysics and other papers. (3H,3C)

ASPECT 5984: Religion in the Public Sphere
Asst. Prof. Simon May (T 6:30-9:15)
The course examines the place of religion in the politics of a liberal democracy. Instead of either a dismissive hostility towards religion in politics, or an uncritical deference to the religious convictions of citizens, we will attempt to develop a critical engagement with the specifics of religious moral argumentation as well as with secular concerns about the influence of religion in the public domain. The first part of the class concerns how and why a liberal democratic state should tolerate the religious convictions of its citizens. In this part of the class, we examine some early statements of the idea of religious toleration in the work of John Locke, Pierre Bayle, and Roger Williams, and then assess whether those statements are useful in determining the best form of religious toleration in contemporary politics. The second past of the class concerns whether religious citizens should forbear appeal to their religious convictions in the justification of their political views; i.e. whether there should be a norm of secular restraint on public deliberation. Particular questions discussed include religious exemptions from generally applicable laws (e.g. conscription, educational policies, safety regulations, etc.), the ethics of forgiveness in politics, and the politics of marriage and sexuality. Other authors discussed include Martha Nussbaum, John Rawls, and Desmond Tutu.. (3H,3C)