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Course Descriptions

Below is a list of current courses offered, together with course descriptions specific to the instructors teaching the course.

For a list of course offerings generated by the university registrar, listing rooms, times, CRNs, and generic course descriptions, please visit the Course Explorer.

For a list of all courses offered by the Philosophy Department, with information about how regularly they are offered, please visit the Course Catalog.

Block Reference

Currently Offered Courses - Fall 2024

PHIL 100 - Intro to Philosophy-ACP

Consideration of some main problems of philosophy concerning, for example, knowledge, God, mind and body, and human freedom. Course is identical to PHIL 101 except for the additional writing component. Credit is not given for both PHIL 100 and PHIL 101. Prerequisite: Completion of campus Composition I general education requirement.

PHIL 101 - Introduction to Philosophy

Consideration of some main problems of philosophy concerning, for example, knowledge, God, mind and body, and human freedom. Credit is not given for both PHIL 101 and PHIL 100.

PHIL 103 - Logic and Reasoning QR II

Practical study of logical reasoning; techniques for analyzing and criticizing arguments, with emphasis on assessing the logical coherence of what we read and write. Credit is not given for both PHIL 103 and PHIL 102.

PHIL 104 - Intro to Ethics-ACP

Some basic questions of ethics, discussed in the light of influential ethical theories and with reference to specific moral problems, such as: What makes an action morally right? Are moral standards absolute or relative? What is relation between personal morality and social morality, and between social morality and law? Course is identical to PHIL 105 except for the additional writing component. Credit is not given for both PHIL 104 and either PHIL 105 or PHIL 106. Prerequisite: Completion of campus Composition I general education requirement.

PHIL 105 - Introduction to Ethics

Some basic questions of ethics, discussed in the light of influential ethical theories and with reference to specific moral problems, such as: what makes an action morally right? are moral standards absolute or relative? what is the relation between personal morality and social morality, and between social morality and law? Credit is not given for both PHIL 105 and either PHIL 104 or PHIL 106.

PHIL 106 - Ethics and Social Policy

Examination of the moral aspects of social problems, and a survey of ethical principles formulated to validate social policy. Credit is not given for both PHIL 106 and either PHIL 104 or PHIL 105.

PHIL 107 - Intro to Political Philosophy

Introduction to core ideas in political and legal philosophy, for example, rights, equality, political obligations, legitimacy of states, nationalism, and oppression.

PHIL 108 - Religion & Society in West I

Same as ANTH 108, JS 108, and REL 108. See REL 108.

PHIL 110 - World Religions

Same as REL 110. See REL 110.

PHIL 199 - Undergraduate Open Seminar

Approved for letter and S/U grading. May be repeated.

PHIL 201 - Philosophy in Literature

Consideration of the philosophical themes implicit in a variety of important literary works, both classical and modern; may include such authors as Sophocles, Shakespeare, Goethe, Dostoevsky, and Sartre.

PHIL 202 - Symbolic Logic

Introduction to the techniques of formal logic, dealing primarily with truth-functional logic and quantification theory.

PHIL 203 - Ancient Philosophy

Introduction to ancient philosophy, concentrating on Plato and Aristotle, dealing with such topics as metaphysics, ethics, and the theory of knowledge. Same as CLCV 203.

PHIL 206 - Early Modern Philosophy

The history of philosophy from Descartes to Kant, concentrating on such topics as metaphysics, ethics, and the theory of knowledge.

PHIL 214 - Biomedical Ethics

Philosophical study of selected moral and social problems concerning medicine and biology, such as euthanasia, abortion, allocation of scarce medical resources, health care and rights, and genetic engineering.

PHIL 222 - Philosophical Foundations of Computer Science

Introduction to certain ideas and issues at the intersection of computer science and philosophy. Students will focus on foundational questions related to the birth of computer science as a discipline, philosophical issues regarding knowledge and reality that researchers face in the frontiers of contemporary computer science, and current ethical issues related to the uses of machines and computers in society.

PHIL 223 - Minds & Machines

Introduction to certain ideas and issues at the intersection of computer science and philosophy. Students will focus on the nature of human minds and brains in light of what we know about machine “minds” and “hardware” (and vice versa), as well as on philosophical considerations of the societal effects and implications of the rise of intelligent machines.

PHIL 250 - Conceptions of Human Nature

Comparative examination of important historical and contemporary conceptions of human nature.

PHIL 307 - Elmnts Semantics & Pragmatics

Same as LING 307. See LING 307.

PHIL 316 - Ethics and Engineering

Same as ECE 316. See ECE 316.

PHIL 390 - Individual Study

Readings in selected philosophical topics. Course may be taken by honors students in partial fulfillment of department honors requirements. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours in separate terms. Prerequisite: Open to juniors and seniors with a grade-point average of 3.0 only by prior arrangement with a member of the faculty and with consent of the department director of undergraduate studies or the chair.

PHIL 419 - Space, Time, and Matter-ACP

Same as PHYS 419. See PHYS 419.

PHIL 420 - Space, Time, and Matter

Same as PHYS 420. See PHYS 420.

PHIL 421 - Ethical Theories

Systematic study of selected classics in moral philosophy by such philosophers as Aristotle, Hume, Mill, Kant, and Nietzsche. 3 undergraduate hours. 3 or 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: One course in philosophy.

PHIL 425 - Philosophy of Mind

Philosophical problems arising in connection with mental phenomena; the relation of mind and body; free will and determinism; our knowledge of other minds; and the self and personal identity. 3 undergraduate hours. 3 or 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: One course in philosophy.

PHIL 426 - Metaphysics

Investigation of various metaphysical issues concerning, for example, existence, particulars and universals, causation, laws of nature, time, personal identity, material objects, and modality. 3 undergraduate hours. 3 or 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: One course in philosophy.

PHIL 430 - Theory of Knowledge

Investigation of issues concerning, for example, the nature and possibility of knowledge; its forms and limits; its relation to belief, truth, and justification; and the nature of truth. 3 undergraduate hours. 3 or 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: One course in philosophy.

PHIL 433 - Evolutionary Neuroscience

Same as IB 436, NEUR 433 and PSYC 433. See PSYC 433.

PHIL 436 - Phil of Law and of the State

Examination of issues in the philosophy of law, such as the nature of law, law and morality, justice, liberty and authority, punishment, and legal responsibility. 3 undergraduate hours. 3 or 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: One course in philosophy.

PHIL 440 - Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

Discussion of ethical, societal, and political issues related to Artificial Intelligence (AI). Topics include responsible uses of AI, the effect of AI on automation and the future of human work, ethical questions about AI (such as whether AI has moral standing, should be given rights, or should have moral or legal duties), and implications of AI for truth, trust, democracy, surveillance, privacy, safety and security, and the future of humanity. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: Either one philosophy course or at least Junior standing.

PHIL 441 - Existential Philosophy

Study of a selection of the major writings of the more important existential philosophers, e.g., Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Sartre, and de Beauvoir. 3 undergraduate hours. 3 or 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: One course in philosophy.

PHIL 442 - The AI Revolution

We are in the midst of what many have called an “Artificial Intelligence (AI) Revolution.” This revolution is comparable in scope and impact to other major transformations in human history, such as the industrial revolution. The purpose of this course is to help students understand how and why recent developments in AI have begun to challenge traditional ways of thinking, while presenting novel and pressing ethical, social, interpretive, conceptual, technological, and existential questions. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: At least one philosophy course.

PHIL 458 - Advances in Brain and Cognitive Science

Same as BCOG 458. See BCOG 458.

PHIL 477 - Philosophy of Psychology

Psychology, broadly construed, is a cluster of disciplines devoted to the study of mind and behavior, including cognitive and developmental psychology, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence. Investigates the relationships that these disciplines bear to one another and of their overall potential to resolve age-old philosophical questions about the mind. Same as PSYC 477. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: Two courses in philosophy or two courses in psychology or consent of instructor.

PHIL 492 - Thesis

Special training in philosophical investigation. Course may be taken by students pursuing graduation with distinction in partial fulfillment of those requirements. 2 to 4 undergraduate hours. No graduate credit. May be repeated to a maximum of 4 undergraduate hours. Prerequisite: Open to seniors with a grade-point average of 3.5 in all philosophy courses only by prior arrangement with a member of the faculty and with consent of the department director of undergraduate studies or the chair.

PHIL 499 - Capstone Seminar

Capstone course required for all philosophy majors. Students will explore in depth a specific topic either in the history of philosophy or in contemporary practical or theoretical philosophy and will write a substantial original essay appropriate for a senior thesis. Topics will differ by section and semester. 3 undergraduate hours. No graduate credit. Prerequisite: PHIL 202, PHIL 203, PHIL 206, PHIL 222, PHIL 223. Restricted to Philosophy and CS + Philosophy majors with Senior Standing. Philosophy majors (and CS + Philosophy majors matriculated before Fall 2020) are required to have PHIL 202 (or equivalent), PHIL 203, and PHIL 206. CS + Philosophy majors (matriculated after Fall 2020) are required to have PHIL 202 (or equivalent), PHIL 222, and PHIL 223.

PHIL 507 - Formal Semantics I

Same as LING 507. See LING 507.

PHIL 513 - Seminar Philosophy of Logic

Selected topics in contemporary logical theory. Approved for letter and S/U grading. May be repeated. Letter grading applies when offered for 4 hours of credit. For Stage 3 Philosophy PhD students this course is approved for S/U grading when offered for 2 hours of credit. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor for non-philosophy graduate students.

PHIL 514 - Seminar in Cognitive Science

Same as PSYC 514, ANTH 514, CS 549, EPSY 551, and LING 570. See PSYC 514.

PHIL 517 - Seminar Philosophy of Science

Various problems arising from specific studies in philosophy pertaining to science and vice versa. To be offered with varying topics. Approved for letter and S/U grading. May be repeated. Letter grading applies when offered for 4 hours of credit. For Stage 3 Philosophy PhD students this course is approved for S/U grading when offered for 2 hours of credit. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor for non-philosophy graduate students.

PHIL 521 - Seminar Contemporary Problems

Intensive study of selected problems or topics in contemporary philosophy. Approved for letter and S/U grading. May be repeated. Letter grading applies when offered for 4 hours of credit. For Stage 3 Philosophy PhD students this course is approved for S/U grading when offered for 2 hours of credit. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor for non-philosophy graduate students.

PHIL 583 - Individual Topics

Individual study and oral and written reports on topics not covered in other courses. Topics and plan of study must be approved by the candidate's adviser and by the staff member who directs the work. May be repeated. (Summer session, 2 to 8 hours).

PHIL 590 - Directed Research

Restricted to students satisfying requirements for the master's degree by writing a substantial essay. Approved for letter and S/U grading. May be repeated. Normally taken for 8 hours credit but may be taken for 12 hours credit with consent of department chair.