PHIL 20100. Elementary Logic. 100 Units.

This course will examine historical and contemporary approaches to the relation of ontological dependence, focusing on Aristotle, Descartes, and among more recent authors, Kit Fine.  Questions to be discussed will include: What is ontological dependence and how does it differ from other dependence relations, e.g., causation or priority in definition? How does this relation bear on notions such as substance and essence, and vice versa? What is the historical trajectory from Aristotle onwards concerning these questions?

Instructor(s): M. Malink     Terms Offered: Autumn
Note(s): Course not for field credit.
Equivalent Course(s): CHSS 33500,HIPS 20700,PHIL 30000

PHIL 20120. Wittgenstein’s Philosophical Investigations. 100 Units.

 We'll read and discuss Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations. Our central concerns will include: (1) Wittgenstein's metaphilosophy, (2) meaning and rule-following, (3) privacy and expression.

Instructor(s): D. Finkelstein     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Two previous courses in the Philosophy Department required; Philosophical Perspectives does not qualify. 
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 30120

PHIL 20640. Ontological Dependence. 100 Units.

 This course will examine historical and contemporary approaches to the relation of ontological dependence, focusing on Aristotle, Descartes, and among more recent authors, Kit Fine. Questions to be discussed will include: What is ontological dependence and how does it differ from other dependence relations, e.g., causation or priority in definition? How does this relation bear on notions such as substance and essence, and vice versa? What is the historical trajectory from Aristotle onwards concerning these questions? (B)

Instructor(s): M. Malink, A. Schechtman     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 30640

PHIL 20721. Dynamic Semantics. 100 Units.

 An introduction to the foundations and applications of dynamic approaches to natural language semantics. We will study the formal details and empirical motivations of various major dynamic semantic frameworks such as File Change Semantics, Discourse Representation Theory, Dynamic Predicate Logic, and Update Semantics, and see how they address a number of puzzling natural language phenomena such as donkey anaphora and presupposition projection. In parallel to the formal component, the empirical and theoretical advantages and drawbacks of dynamic semantics will come under scrutiny, and we will also pay close attention to the philosophical repercussions of a dynamic approach to discourse and reasoning. (B)

Instructor(s): M. Willer     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): Knowledge of first-order logic with identity strongly recommended. Students will benefit most if they have taken classes in semantics or philosophy of language before.
Equivalent Course(s): LING 20721,LING 30721,PHIL 30721

PHIL 20725. Semantics of Counterfactuals. 100 Units.

This course will provide a general introduction to the most widely discussed proposals for how to analyze the meaning of counterfactual (or subjunctive) conditional claims, such as “If Oswald had not shot Kennedy, then somebody else would have.” In addition to the standard Stalnaker-Lewis “possible worlds” semantics for counterfactuals, we will also examine epistemic interpretations of counterfactuals, such as those proposed by Ramsey and Ginsberg. Readings for the course will include works by Goodman, Adams, Lewis, Fine, and Bennett, among others. (B)  

Instructor(s): A. Vasudevan     Terms Offered: Winter

PHIL 21000. Introduction to Ethics. 100 Units.

In this course, we will read, write, and think about central issues in moral philosophy. This survey course is designed to give a rapid introduction to philosophical ethics (largely in the Anglo-North American tradition (although not entirely as a product of Anglo-North American philosophers). We will begin with work by Immanuel Kant and Henry Sidgwick and conclude with important twentieth century work in metaethics and normative ethics (one thing that we will consider is the distinctions between metaethics, normative ethics, and the various fields united under the rubric "applied ethics"). This course is intended as an introductory course in moral philosophy. Some prior work in philosophy is helpful, but not required. (A)

Instructor(s): C. Vogler     Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): HIPS 21000

PHIL 21006. What Is Civic Knowledge? 100 Units.

What is civic knowledge? Although civic rights and duties are supposedly universal to all citizens in a "democratic" nation, their implementation often depends on the strength of community connections and the circulation of knowledge across racial, class, and social boundaries. Focusing on the city of Chicago, we ask how citizens (in their roles as citizens) forge communities, make urban plans, and participate in civic affairs. How does the city construct the public spheres of its residents? Are the social practices of Chicagoans truly "democratic?" Could they be? What does "Chicago" stand for, as a political and cultural symbol? For both Chicagoans and their representatives, the circulation of knowledge depends not only on conventional media but also on how the city is constructed and managed through digital media.

Instructor(s): R. Schultz, M. Browning     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Third- or fourth-year standing
Equivalent Course(s): BPRO 21500,HUMA 24906,PBPL 21500

PHIL 21210. Philosophy and Literature. 100 Units.

This course is a reading of works by a variety of contemporary authors who deal with the question of whether, and how, fiction and philosophy are related to one another. (A) 

Instructor(s): T. Cohen     Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 31210

PHIL 21300. Tutorial. 100 Units.

Instructor(s): Staff     Terms Offered: Winter, Spring

PHIL 21314. The Presocratics. 100 Units.

This is an advanced survey course on the Presocratics. The figures covered will include but will not be limited to Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes, Heraclitus, Parmenides, Anaxagoras, Empedocles, and the Atomists. The focus will be primarily on issues of metaphysics, epistemology, and natural philosophy, though other topics will be discussed as they arise. (B)

Instructor(s): C. Frey     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 31314

PHIL 21390. Philosophy of Poverty. 100 Units.

 Global poverty is a human tragedy on a massive scale, and it poses one of the most daunting challenges to achieving a just global order.  In recent decades, a significant number of philosophers have addressed this issue in new and profoundly important ways, overcoming the disciplinary limitations of narrowly economic or public policy oriented approaches.  Recent theories of justice have provided both crucial conceptual clarifications of the very notion of ‘poverty’—including new measures that are more informed by the voices of the global poor and better able to cover the full impact of poverty on human capabilities and welfare—and vital new theoretical frameworks for considering freedom from poverty as a basic human right and/or a demand of justice, both nationally and internationally.  Moreover, these philosophers have pointed to concrete, practical steps, at both the level of institutional design and the level of individual ethical/political action, for effectively combating poverty and moving the world closer to justice.   The readings covered in this course, from such philosophers as Peter Singer, Thomas Pogge, David Graeber, and Martha Nussbaum, will reveal, not only the injustice of global poverty, but also what is to be done about it.

Instructor(s): B. Schultz     Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): HMRT 21390,PBPL 21390,PLSC 21390

PHIL 21503. Ancient Metaphysics. 100 Units.

 In this course we shall study some of the very different accounts of the world developed by the ancient Greek philosophers. In particular we shall consider the following: Aristotle’s ontology of form and matter, actuality and potentiality; Epicurean atomism; the Stoic strange combination of rationalism and thoroughgoing physicalism of all-pervading pneuma; Platonic theories of a transcendent realm.    

Instructor(s): E. Emilsson
Equivalent Course(s): CLAS 37112,CLCV 27112,PHIL 31503

PHIL 21505. Wonder, Magic, and Skepticism. 100 Units.

In the course of discussing how it is that a philosophical problem arises in the first place, Wittgenstein says, “The decisive movement in the conjuring trick has been made, and it was the very one that we thought quite innocent.” This isn’t the only place where Wittgenstein speaks as if being gripped by philosophical problems is a matter of succumbing to illusions--as if a philosophers are magicians who are taken in by their own tricks. In this course, we’ll discuss philosophy and magical performance, with the aim of coming to a deeper understanding of what both are about. We’ll be particularly concerned with Wittgenstein’s picture of what philosophy is and does. Another focus of the course will be the passion of wonder. In the Theatetus, Plato has Socrates say, “The sense of wonder is the mark of the philosopher. Philosophy indeed has no other origin.” And when magicians write about their aesthetic aims, they almost always describe themselves as trying to instill wonder in others. Does magic end where philosophy begins? And what becomes of wonder after philosophy is done with it? (B)

Instructor(s): D. Finkelstein     Terms Offered: Spring

PHIL 21590. Disagreement. 100 Units.

This course will examine three central areas of philosophy—epistemology, ethics, and political philosophy—through the lens of issues raised by persistent disagreement. We will consider questions such as the following. What is the connection between the possibility of disagreement and objective truth? When should disagreement with our peers lead us to doubt what we think we know? What is the line between intellectual arrogance and having the courage of our convictions? Does the persistence of moral disagreement show that morality is subjective? Should the political community be neutral between parties that disagree on basic questions of morality, religion and justice? When is and isn’t it acceptable to just agree to disagree? No prior knowledge of philosophy is necessary for this course. (A)

Instructor(s): B. Laurence     Terms Offered: Spring

PHIL 21605. Justice. 100 Units.

This course will explore a tradition of thought about justice extending from Plato to Kant. We will read selections from Plato’s Gorgias and Republic, Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics and Politics, Aquinas’ Summa Theologica, Rousseau’s On the Social Contract, and Kant’s Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. Open to College and graduate students. (A) 

Instructor(s): A. Ford     Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 31605

PHIL 21610. Medical Ethics: Who Decides and on What Basis? 100 Units.

Decisions about medical treatment take place in the context of changing health care systems, changing ideas about rights and obligations, and among doctors and patients who have diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. By means of historical, philosophical, and medical readings, this course examines such issues as paternalism, autonomy, the commodification of the body, and the enhancement of mental and/or physical characteristics.

Instructor(s): D. Brudney, J. Lantos, L. Ross, A. Winter     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): Third- or fourth-year standing
Note(s): This course does not meet requirements for the biological science major.
Equivalent Course(s): BPRO 22610,BIOS 29313,HIPS 21911,HIST 25009,HIST 35009,PHIL 31610

PHIL 21713. Aristotle on Virtue. 100 Units.

Examination of Aristotle’s theory of moral virtue as it is developed in the Nicomachean Ethics, Eudemian Ethics, and Politics.  How does virtue differ from self-control? In what way is virtue a perfection of both our capacity for non-rational desire and our reason?  What does Aristotle mean by saying that virtuous people act for the sake of the beautiful?  How is virtue promoted and sustained by political community?  What is the relation between virtue and natural flourishing? (A)

Instructor(s): G. Lear     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): FNDL 21715,PHIL 31713

PHIL 22000. Introduction to the Philosophy of Science. 100 Units.

The natural sciences aim at discovering and explaining truths about the world. This enterprise gives rise to various philosophical questions, among them are: What distinguishes science from other forms of enquiry? Is there anything unique about the scientific method—in both its conceptual and experimental elements—that enables the discovery of different aspects of reality? Is science a progressive enterprise advancing towards uncovering truths about the world, or does it consist of one theory arbitrarily replacing its predecessor, without ever coming closer to a final truth? Is there such a thing as scientific objectivity, or are scientists trapped in their preexisting theoretical assumptions? What are the criteria for a scientific explanation? What are scientific laws? In discussing these questions, we will engage with some of the most influential views in the philosophy of science, and critically examine their arguments in light of important case-studies from the history of science. (B)

Instructor(s): C. Bloch     Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): CHSS 33300,HIST 25109,HIST 35109

PHIL 22200. Philosophy of Cognitive Science. 100 Units.

Cognitive science is an interdisciplinary field in which theories and methods from psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, artificial intelligence, and philosophy are used to study cognition. Computational models play an increasingly significant role in the understanding of cognitive phenomena such as perception, categorization, concept formation, and problem solving. In this course, students will become familiar with some of the methods and models used in cognitive science, and discuss philosophical issues pertaining to the methodology and basic premises of cognitive science. (B)

Instructor(s): C. Bloch     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): CHSS 34914,HIST 24914,HIST 34914,PHIL 32200

PHIL 22209. Philosophies of Environmentalism and Sustainability. 100 Units.

  What does “going green” really mean? What is “sustainability?” How do different fundamental ethical and political perspectives yield different approaches to and understandings of “environmentalism,” “conservation,” “stewardship,” and “sustainable development”? This course uses a combination of classic environmentalist texts (e.g., Thoreau, Leopold, Carson) and contemporary works to clarify and address the most hotly contested and urgent philosophical issues dividing the global environmental movement today. Various field trips and guest speakers help us philosophize about the fate of the earth by connecting the local and the global.

Instructor(s): B. Schultz     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): HMRT 22201

PHIL 22500. Biological and Cultural Evolution. 100 Units.

Core background in evolution and genetics strongly recommended. This course draws on readings and examples form linguistics, evolutionary genetics, and the history and philosophy of science. We elaborate theory to understand and model cultural evolution, as well as explore analogies, differences, and relations to biological evolution. We also consider basic biological, cultural, and linguistic topics and case studies from an evolutionary perspective. Time is spent both on what we do know, and on determining what we don't. (B)

Instructor(s): W. Wimsatt, S. Mufwene     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): NCDV 27400,PHIL 32500

PHIL 22810. History and Philosophy of Psychology. 100 Units.

This lecture-discussion course will trace the development of psychology from the early modern period through the establishment of behaviorism. In the early period, we will read Descartes and Berkeley, both of whom contributed to ideas about the psychology of perception. Then we will jump to the nineteenth centruy, especially examining the perceptual psychology of Wundt and Helmholtz. Next, we will turn to the origins of experimental psychology in the laboratory of Wundt, and follow some threads of the development of cognitive psychology in the work of William James. The course will conclude with the behavioristic revolution inaugurated by Chicago's own John Watson and expanded by B. F. Skinner.

Instructor(s): R. Richards     Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): HIST 25302,CHSS 36901,HIPS 26901,HIST 35302,PHIL 32810

PHIL 23000. Introduction to Epistemology and Metaphysics. 100 Units.

In this course we will explore some of the central questions in epistemology and metaphysics. In epistemology, these questions will include: What is knowledge? What facts or states justify a belief? How can the threat of skepticism be adequately answered? How do we know what we (seem to) know about mathematics and morality? In metaphysics, these questions will include: What is time? What is the best account of personal identity across time? Do we have free will? We will also discuss how the construction of a theory of knowledge ought to relate to the construction of a metaphysical theory—roughly speaking, what comes first, epistemology or metaphysics? (B)

Instructor(s): B. Callard     Terms Offered: Winter

PHIL 23002. Paradox. 100 Units.

 A paradox is a piece of reasoning that proceeds from reasonable assumptions and seems to be valid but which yields a conclusion that cannot be accepted. The analysis of paradoxes often teaches us something about what exists, what we can say, and how we should reason. In this course, we will explore some famous paradoxes of both deductive and non-deductive logic in order to see what we may learn from them about the nature and limits of deductive and non-deductive reasoning. Possible topics include the liar paradox, the paradox of the unexpected hanging, the so-called semantic paradoxes, the sorites paradox, Russell's paradox and some of the paradoxes associated with the concept of probability. (B)

Instructor(s): K. Davey     Terms Offered: Autumn

PHIL 23015. Darwin's "Origin of Species" and "Descent of Man" 100 Units.

This lecture-discussion class will focus on a close reading of Darwin's two classic texts.  An initial class or two will explore the state of biology prior to Darwin's Beagle Voyage, and then consider the development of his theories before 1859.  Then we will turn to his two books.  Among the topics of central concern will be: the logical, epistemological, and rhetorical status of Darwin's several theories, especially his evolutionary ethics; the religious foundations of his ideas and the religious reaction to them; and the social-political consequences of his accomplishment.  2009 is the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth and the 150th of the publication of the "Origin."

Instructor(s): R. Richards     Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): HIST 24905,CHSS 38400,HIPS 24901,HIST 34905,PHIL 33015

PHIL 23305. History of Aesthetics. 100 Units.

  Readings from Plato, Aristotle, Hume, Kant, Nietsche, and Collingwood among others. (A)

Instructor(s): T. Cohen     Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 33305

PHIL 23502. Introduction to the Philosophy of Mind. 100 Units.

 Among the principal tasks of philosophy is to understand the position of our minds and our mental activities within the increasingly detailed account of the world that the physical and biological sciences provide. We will survey and critically examine the developments of this philosophical program in the twentieth century. Special emphasis will be given to the nature of consciousness and of mental content. (B)

Instructor(s): C. Frey     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 33502

PHIL 23900. Austin. 100 Units.

 Our readings are in the works of J. L. Austin, mainly How to Do Things with Words, and essays related to those lectures. If time permits, we consider later developments in the works of Grice and Cavell, among others. (B)

Instructor(s): T. Cohen     Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 33900

PHIL 24099. Kierkegaard and Nietzsche: Character, Agency, and Fate. 100 Units.

In this course, we will read selected texts by Kierkegaard and Nietzsche with an eye toward broaching certain fundamental questions in ethics and the metaphysics of human agency, such as: What are the limits of rational reflection? What consequences might these limits have for our notion of moral responsibility, and our understanding of how to live well? Is ethical persuasion possible, and if so, how? What does it mean to be a person, an agent—and in what sense are personhood and agency something valuable? We will be particularly interested in determining how the stylistic peculiarities of Kierkegaard’s and Nietzsche’s respective authorships afford us a distinctive way of approaching these questions.

Instructor(s): T. McKinney     Terms Offered: Winter

PHIL 24800. Foucault and The History of Sexuality. 100 Units.

 This course centers on a close reading of the first volume of Michel Foucault’s The History of Sexuality, with some attention to his writings on the history of ancient conceptualizations of sex. How should a history of sexuality take into account scientific theories, social relations of power, and different experiences of the self? We discuss the contrasting descriptions and conceptions of sexual behavior before and after the emergence of a science of sexuality. Other writers influenced by and critical of Foucault are also discussed.

Instructor(s): A. Davidson     Terms Offered: Autumn
Note(s): One prior philosophy course is strongly recommended.
Equivalent Course(s): CMLT 25001,FNDL 22001,GNSE 23100,HIPS 24300

PHIL 25000. History of Philosophy I: Ancient Philosophy. 100 Units.

This is a course in Ancient Greek Philosophy.  We will study major works by Plato and Aristotle, ones that introduced the philosophical questions we struggle with to this day: What are the goals of a life well-lived?  Why should we have friends? How do we explain weakness of will? What makes living things different from nonliving things? What is the difference between knowledge and belief? What is definition and what is capable of being defined?

Instructor(s): A. Callard     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): Completion of the general education requirement in humanities
Equivalent Course(s): CLCV 22700

PHIL 25111. Judaism and Philosophy of Religion in Contemporary Thought. 100 Units.

How do distinctive elements in the Jewish tradition contribute to more general issues in the philosophy of religion?  We will approach this question through a study of three major twentieth-century Jewish thinkers:  Joseph Soloveitchik, Yeshayahu Leibowitz and Emmanuel Levinas.  Topics to be discussed include the role of practice in religion, the nature of faith, the relations between ethics and law and between religion and politics, prayer and divine service, the status of tradition and sacred texts.  Attention will be given both to debates within the Jewish tradition and to the framework of philosophical and theological issues that characterizes contemporary thought. Priority will be given to students with reading knowledge of French.  The course will alternate between lectures and discussions.

Instructor(s): A. Davidson     Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 35111

PHIL 25705. Plato’s Philebus. 100 Units.

This class will be a close reading of Plato’s Philebus. We will divide our attention between the problem of unity in multiplicity—of what it is for an individual to belong to a general class—that structures the first part of the dialogue, and the problem of the nature and value of pleasure that dominates the second half. We will, in the end, try to think about the dialogue as a whole, and how these two problems might be connected.

Instructor(s): A. Callard     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): History of Philosophy I
Equivalent Course(s): CLAS 35512,CLCV 25512,FNDL 21208,PHIL 35705

PHIL 26000. History of Philosophy II: Medieval and Early Modern Philosophy. 100 Units.

This course is an introduction to some of the major thinkers and movements in the philosophy of the medieval and early modern periods. This course will aim at providing a broad overview, with special attention to developments in metaphysics, epistemology and the philosophy of mind. Figures discussed will include Augustine, Anselm, Aquinas, Descartes, Leibniz, Locke and Hume.

Instructor(s): M. Kremer     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): Completion of the general education requirement in humanities required; PHIL 25000 recommended
Equivalent Course(s): HIPS 26000

PHIL 26100. The Philosophical Interpretation of Scripture in the Middle Ages: The Problems of Evil and the Book of Job. 100 Units.

An important genre of philosophical writing during the Middle Ages was the commentary, both commentaries on canonical philosophical works (e.g., Aristotle) and on Scripture. This course is an introduction to medieval philosophical exegesis of Scripture, concentrating on the Book of Job and the philosophical problems of evil and suffering. Authors will include Saadiah, Maimonides, and Aquinas, and readings will include both their commentaries on Job and their systematic philosophical discussions of the problems of evil.

Instructor(s): J. Stern     Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): HIJD 36100,JWSC 26250,PHIL 36100,RLST 25902

PHIL 27000. History of Philosophy III: Kant and the19th Century. 100 Units.

This course attempts to provide a broad survey of German philosophy from the time of Kant into the nineteenth century. Topics include Kant's transcendental idealism, Herder's philosophy of language, Romantic theories of interpretation and translation, Hegel's project in the "Phenomenology of Spirit," Marx's theory of ideology and critique of religion, and Nietzsche's critiques of religion and traditional morality. The course consists mainly of lectures, but discussion is also encouraged.

Instructor(s): M. Forster     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Completion of the general education requirement in humanities

PHIL 28900. Introduction to History and Philosophy of Biology. 100 Units.

In this course we (1) use the history of biological science to help us identify and solve philosophical problems in biology, and (2) use the tools of philosophical analysis to help us understand the importance of particular episodes in the history of biology. Among other things, we examine historical and philosophical issues associated with the theory of natural selection, macroevolution, and developmental biology.

Instructor(s): C. Haufe     Terms Offered: Spring
Note(s): This course does not meet requirements for the biological sciences major. This course meets the distribution requirement for field (B) in the philosophy major.
Equivalent Course(s): BIOS 29320,CHSS 38901,HIPS 28903,PHIL 38900

PHIL 29100. Reading Course: Philosophy. 100 Units.

Instructor(s): Staff     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor and director of undergraduate studies
Note(s): Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form

PHIL 29200. Junior Tutorial. 100 Units.

Terms Offered: Autumn, Winter, Spring
Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor
Note(s): Topics for this small, discussion-oriented seminar vary. No more than two tutorials may be used to meet program requirements. Course meets with PHIL 29300.

PHIL 29300. Senior Tutorial. 100 Units.

Terms Offered: Autumn, Winter, Spring
Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor
Note(s): Topics for this small, discussion-oriented seminar vary. No more than two tutorials may be used to meet program requirements. Course meets with PHIL 29200.

PHIL 29400. Intermediate Logic. 100 Units.

In this course, we will prove the soundness and completeness of standard deductive systems for both sentential and first-order logic. We will also establish related results in elementary model theory, such as the compactness theorem for first-order logic, the Lӧwenheim-Skolem theorem and Lindstrӧm’s theorem. (B)

Instructor(s): A. Vasudevan     Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): CHSS 33600,HIPS 20500

PHIL 29405. Advanced Logic. 100 Units.

In this course we will prove the Undecidability of Predicate Logic, and both Gödel’s First and Second Incompleteness Theorems. We will also examine the concept of interpretability, and will make some connections with broader issues in mathematics. Finally, we will discuss some uses and abuses of Gödel’s Theorems that can be found outside logic and mathematics. For instance, do Gödel’s Theorems entail that the mind is not a machine? (B)

Instructor(s): K. Davey     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Elementary Logic or equivalent
Equivalent Course(s): CHSS 39405

PHIL 29601. Intensive Track Seminar. 100 Units.

Descartes' Meditations. This course will consist in a close reading and discussion of Descartes' Meditations. Our main aims will be to understand what Descartes attempts to achieve in this work, and to consider how successful he is in doing so. Topics to be discussed are doubt and certainty, the nature and existence of external objects, truth and error, and the alleged Cartesian circle. We will also study proofs for God's existence and veracity, the real distinction between mind and body, and the notion of mind-body union. 

Instructor(s): A. Schechtman     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): Open only to third-year students who have been admitted to the intensive track program.

PHIL 29700. Reading Course: Philosophy. 100 Units.

Instructor(s): Staff     Terms Offered: Autumn

PHIL 29901. Senior Seminar I. 100 Units.

Students writing senior essays register once for PHIL 29901, in either the Autumn or Winter Quarter, and once for PHIL 29902, in either the Winter or Spring Quarter. (Students may not register for both PHIL 29901 and 29902 in the same quarter.) The senior seminar meets all three quarters, and students writing essays are required to attend throughout.

Instructor(s): M. Kremer, Staff     Terms Offered: Autumn, Winter
Prerequisite(s): Consent of director of undergraduate studies
Note(s): Required of fourth-year students who are writing a senior essay.

PHIL 29902. Senior Seminar II. 100 Units.

Students writing senior essays register once for PHIL 29901, in either the Autumn or Winter Quarter, and once for PHIL 29902, in either the Winter or Spring Quarter. (Students may not register for both PHIL 29901 and 29902 in the same quarter.) The senior seminar meets all three quarters, and students writing essays are required to attend throughout.

Instructor(s): Staff     Terms Offered: Winter, Spring
Prerequisite(s): Consent of director of undergraduate studies
Note(s): Required of fourth-year students who are writing a senior essay.

PHIL 30000. Elementary Logic. 100 Units.

This course will examine historical and contemporary approaches to the relation of ontological dependence, focusing on Aristotle, Descartes, and among more recent authors, Kit Fine.  Questions to be discussed will include: What is ontological dependence and how does it differ from other dependence relations, e.g., causation or priority in definition? How does this relation bear on notions such as substance and essence, and vice versa? What is the historical trajectory from Aristotle onwards concerning these questions?

Instructor(s): M. Malink     Terms Offered: Autumn
Note(s): Course not for field credit.
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 20100,CHSS 33500,HIPS 20700

PHIL 30120. Wittgenstein’s Philosophical Investigations. 100 Units.

 We'll read and discuss Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations. Our central concerns will include: (1) Wittgenstein's metaphilosophy, (2) meaning and rule-following, (3) privacy and expression.

Instructor(s): D. Finkelstein     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Two previous courses in the Philosophy Department required; Philosophical Perspectives does not qualify. 
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 20120

PHIL 30640. Ontological Dependence. 100 Units.

 This course will examine historical and contemporary approaches to the relation of ontological dependence, focusing on Aristotle, Descartes, and among more recent authors, Kit Fine. Questions to be discussed will include: What is ontological dependence and how does it differ from other dependence relations, e.g., causation or priority in definition? How does this relation bear on notions such as substance and essence, and vice versa? What is the historical trajectory from Aristotle onwards concerning these questions? (B)

Instructor(s): M. Malink, A. Schechtman     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 20640

PHIL 30721. Dynamic Semantics. 100 Units.

 An introduction to the foundations and applications of dynamic approaches to natural language semantics. We will study the formal details and empirical motivations of various major dynamic semantic frameworks such as File Change Semantics, Discourse Representation Theory, Dynamic Predicate Logic, and Update Semantics, and see how they address a number of puzzling natural language phenomena such as donkey anaphora and presupposition projection. In parallel to the formal component, the empirical and theoretical advantages and drawbacks of dynamic semantics will come under scrutiny, and we will also pay close attention to the philosophical repercussions of a dynamic approach to discourse and reasoning. (B)

Instructor(s): M. Willer     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): Knowledge of first-order logic with identity strongly recommended. Students will benefit most if they have taken classes in semantics or philosophy of language before.
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 20721,LING 20721,LING 30721

PHIL 31210. Philosophy and Literature. 100 Units.

This course is a reading of works by a variety of contemporary authors who deal with the question of whether, and how, fiction and philosophy are related to one another. (A) 

Instructor(s): T. Cohen     Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 21210

PHIL 31314. The Presocratics. 100 Units.

This is an advanced survey course on the Presocratics. The figures covered will include but will not be limited to Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes, Heraclitus, Parmenides, Anaxagoras, Empedocles, and the Atomists. The focus will be primarily on issues of metaphysics, epistemology, and natural philosophy, though other topics will be discussed as they arise. (B)

Instructor(s): C. Frey     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 21314

PHIL 31503. Ancient Metaphysics. 100 Units.

 In this course we shall study some of the very different accounts of the world developed by the ancient Greek philosophers. In particular we shall consider the following: Aristotle’s ontology of form and matter, actuality and potentiality; Epicurean atomism; the Stoic strange combination of rationalism and thoroughgoing physicalism of all-pervading pneuma; Platonic theories of a transcendent realm.    

Instructor(s): E. Emilsson
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 21503,CLAS 37112,CLCV 27112

PHIL 31605. Justice. 100 Units.

This course will explore a tradition of thought about justice extending from Plato to Kant. We will read selections from Plato’s Gorgias and Republic, Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics and Politics, Aquinas’ Summa Theologica, Rousseau’s On the Social Contract, and Kant’s Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. Open to College and graduate students. (A) 

Instructor(s): A. Ford     Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 21605

PHIL 31610. Medical Ethics: Who Decides and on What Basis? 100 Units.

Decisions about medical treatment take place in the context of changing health care systems, changing ideas about rights and obligations, and among doctors and patients who have diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. By means of historical, philosophical, and medical readings, this course examines such issues as paternalism, autonomy, the commodification of the body, and the enhancement of mental and/or physical characteristics.

Instructor(s): D. Brudney, J. Lantos, L. Ross, A. Winter     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): Third- or fourth-year standing
Note(s): This course does not meet requirements for the biological science major.
Equivalent Course(s): BPRO 22610,BIOS 29313,HIPS 21911,HIST 25009,HIST 35009,PHIL 21610

PHIL 31713. Aristotle on Virtue. 100 Units.

Examination of Aristotle’s theory of moral virtue as it is developed in the Nicomachean Ethics, Eudemian Ethics, and Politics.  How does virtue differ from self-control? In what way is virtue a perfection of both our capacity for non-rational desire and our reason?  What does Aristotle mean by saying that virtuous people act for the sake of the beautiful?  How is virtue promoted and sustained by political community?  What is the relation between virtue and natural flourishing? (A)

Instructor(s): G. Lear     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 21713,FNDL 21715

PHIL 32000. Introduction to the Philosophy of Science. 100 Units.

The natural sciences aim at discovering and explaining truths about the world. This enterprise gives rise to various philosophical questions, among them are: What distinguishes science from other forms of enquiry? Is there anything unique about the scientific method—in both its conceptual and experimental elements—that enables the discovery of different aspects of reality? Is science a progressive enterprise advancing towards uncovering truths about the world, or does it consist of one theory arbitrarily replacing its predecessor, without ever coming closer to a final truth? Is there such a thing as scientific objectivity, or are scientists trapped in their preexisting theoretical assumptions? What are the criteria for a scientific explanation? What are scientific laws? In discussing these questions, we will engage with some of the most influential views in the philosophy of science, and critically examine their arguments in light of important case-studies from the history of science. (B)

Instructor(s): C. Bloch     Terms Offered: Autumn

PHIL 32200. Philosophy of Cognitive Science. 100 Units.

Cognitive science is an interdisciplinary field in which theories and methods from psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, artificial intelligence, and philosophy are used to study cognition. Computational models play an increasingly significant role in the understanding of cognitive phenomena such as perception, categorization, concept formation, and problem solving. In this course, students will become familiar with some of the methods and models used in cognitive science, and discuss philosophical issues pertaining to the methodology and basic premises of cognitive science. 

Instructor(s): C. Bloch     Terms Offered: Spring

PHIL 32500. Biological and Cultural Evolution. 100 Units.

Core background in evolution and genetics strongly recommended. This course draws on readings and examples form linguistics, evolutionary genetics, and the history and philosophy of science. We elaborate theory to understand and model cultural evolution, as well as explore analogies, differences, and relations to biological evolution. We also consider basic biological, cultural, and linguistic topics and case studies from an evolutionary perspective. Time is spent both on what we do know, and on determining what we don't. (B)

Instructor(s): W. Wimsatt, S. Mufwene     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 22500,NCDV 27400

PHIL 32810. History and Philosophy of Psychology. 100 Units.

This lecture-discussion course will trace the development of psychology from the early modern period through the establishment of behaviorism. In the early period, we will read Descartes and Berkeley, both of whom contributed to ideas about the psychology of perception. Then we will jump to the nineteenth centruy, especially examining the perceptual psychology of Wundt and Helmholtz. Next, we will turn to the origins of experimental psychology in the laboratory of Wundt, and follow some threads of the development of cognitive psychology in the work of William James. The course will conclude with the behavioristic revolution inaugurated by Chicago's own John Watson and expanded by B. F. Skinner.

Instructor(s): R. Richards     Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): HIST 25302,CHSS 36901,HIPS 26901,HIST 35302,PHIL 22810

PHIL 33015. Darwin's "Origin of Species" and "Descent of Man" 100 Units.

This lecture-discussion class will focus on a close reading of Darwin's two classic texts.  An initial class or two will explore the state of biology prior to Darwin's Beagle Voyage, and then consider the development of his theories before 1859.  Then we will turn to his two books.  Among the topics of central concern will be: the logical, epistemological, and rhetorical status of Darwin's several theories, especially his evolutionary ethics; the religious foundations of his ideas and the religious reaction to them; and the social-political consequences of his accomplishment.  2009 is the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth and the 150th of the publication of the "Origin."

Instructor(s): R. Richards     Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): HIST 24905,CHSS 38400,HIPS 24901,HIST 34905,PHIL 23015

PHIL 33305. History of Aesthetics. 100 Units.

  Readings from Plato, Aristotle, Hume, Kant, Nietsche, and Collingwood among others. (A)

Instructor(s): T. Cohen     Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 23305

PHIL 33502. Introduction to the Philosophy of Mind. 100 Units.

 Among the principal tasks of philosophy is to understand the position of our minds and our mental activities within the increasingly detailed account of the world that the physical and biological sciences provide. We will survey and critically examine the developments of this philosophical program in the twentieth century. Special emphasis will be given to the nature of consciousness and of mental content. (B)

Instructor(s): C. Frey     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 23502

PHIL 33900. Austin. 100 Units.

 Our readings are in the works of J. L. Austin, mainly How to Do Things with Words, and essays related to those lectures. If time permits, we consider later developments in the works of Grice and Cavell, among others. (B)

Instructor(s): T. Cohen     Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 23900

PHIL 35111. Judaism and Philosophy of Religion in Contemporary Thought. 100 Units.

How do distinctive elements in the Jewish tradition contribute to more general issues in the philosophy of religion?  We will approach this question through a study of three major twentieth-century Jewish thinkers:  Joseph Soloveitchik, Yeshayahu Leibowitz and Emmanuel Levinas.  Topics to be discussed include the role of practice in religion, the nature of faith, the relations between ethics and law and between religion and politics, prayer and divine service, the status of tradition and sacred texts.  Attention will be given both to debates within the Jewish tradition and to the framework of philosophical and theological issues that characterizes contemporary thought. Priority will be given to students with reading knowledge of French.  The course will alternate between lectures and discussions.

Instructor(s): A. Davidson     Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 25111

PHIL 35705. Plato’s Philebus. 100 Units.

This class will be a close reading of Plato’s Philebus. We will divide our attention between the problem of unity in multiplicity—of what it is for an individual to belong to a general class—that structures the first part of the dialogue, and the problem of the nature and value of pleasure that dominates the second half. We will, in the end, try to think about the dialogue as a whole, and how these two problems might be connected.
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Instructor(s): A. Callard     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): History of Philosophy I
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 25705,CLAS 35512,CLCV 25512,FNDL 21208

PHIL 36100. The Philosophical Interpretation of Scripture in the Middle Ages: The Problems of Evil and the Book of Job. 100 Units.

An important genre of philosophical writing during the Middle Ages was the commentary, both commentaries on canonical philosophical works (e.g., Aristotle) and on Scripture. This course is an introduction to medieval philosophical exegesis of Scripture, concentrating on the Book of Job and the philosophical problems of evil and suffering. Authors will include Saadiah, Maimonides, and Aquinas, and readings will include both their commentaries on Job and their systematic philosophical discussions of the problems of evil.

Instructor(s): J. Stern     Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 26100,HIJD 36100,JWSC 26250,RLST 25902

PHIL 38900. Introduction to History and Philosophy of Biology. 100 Units.

In this course we (1) use the history of biological science to help us identify and solve philosophical problems in biology, and (2) use the tools of philosophical analysis to help us understand the importance of particular episodes in the history of biology. Among other things, we examine historical and philosophical issues associated with the theory of natural selection, macroevolution, and developmental biology.

Instructor(s): C. Haufe     Terms Offered: Spring
Note(s): This course does not meet requirements for the biological sciences major. This course meets the distribution requirement for field (B) in the philosophy major.
Equivalent Course(s): BIOS 29320,CHSS 38901,HIPS 28903,PHIL 28900