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PHIL. 001-001 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY PUST M W 1:00-2:00
(REGISTER FOR LECTURE AND RECITATION)
RECITATION 201 STAFF F 1:00-2:00
WATU-RECITATION 202 STAFF F 11:00-12:00
An introduction to such topics as our knowledge of the material world,
the relation of mind and body, the existence of God, and the nature of
morality. Readings from both historical and contemporary sources.
WATU FULFILLS 1/2 OF COLLEGE WRITING REQUIREMENT
*GENERAL REQUIREMENT II: HISTORY & TRADITION*
PHIL. 001 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
SEMINAR 301 STAFF T TH 9:00-10:30
SEMINAR 302 STAFF T TH 10:30-12:00
An introduction to such topics as our knowledge of the material world,
the relation of mind and body, the existence of God, the nature of morality.
*GENERAL REQUIREMENT II: HISTORY & TRADITION*
PHIL. 002-001 ETHICS KUMAR T TH 10:30-12:00
An investigation of some central philosophical questions about the
nature of morality and its content: Are moral judgments objective and justifiable?
Can moral disagreements be resolved rationally? How are we to understand
the idea of a good life, and what is the relationship between a good life
and morality? To what extent can we be held responsible for our conduct?
What is the ethical significance of death? What do we owe to those less
fortunate than ourselves, and to future generations who have yet to be
conceived? Readings will be from both contemporary and historical sources,
and will concern both theoretical and practical issues.
*GENERAL REQUIREMENT I: SOCIETY*
PHIL. 004-001 HISTORY OF MODERN PHILOSOPHY DOWNING M W 11:00-12:00
(REGISTER FOR LECTURE AND RECITATION)
RECITATION 201 F 11:00-12:00 WATU-RECITATION 202 F 1:00-2:00
RECITATION 203 F 11:00-12:00
WATU-RECITATION 204 F 1:00-2:00
An introduction to philosophical thought in the western tradition extending
from Descartes through Kant. Our focus will be on epistemology and metaphysics.
Topics addressed will include: the nature of physical reality, the relation
between mind and body, the role of ideas in perception, the place of sense
perception vs. Intellection in our knowledge of the world, the scope and
limits of human knowledge, causation, the question of God's existence.
WATU-FULFILLS 1/2 OF COLLEGE WRITING REQUIREMENT
*GENERAL REQUIREMENT II: HISTORY AND TRADITION*
PHIL. 005-401 FORMAL LOGIC I WEINSTEIN M W F 1:00-2:00
(CROSSLISTED W/PHIL 505)
Systematic development of the formal systems of classical first order
propositional and predicate logic, including identity, descriptions, definitions,
and functional calculus. Study of syntax and semantics of these systems
with special regards to their consistency, completeness and decidability.
Hands-on application of classical logic to translation and analysis of
natural language arguments, scientific inferences, informal fallacies,
and logical puzzles.
Special attention is being paid to the development of basic skills and
techniques, used in formulating and assessing deductive arguments.
*GENERAL REQUIREMENT IV: REASONING AND ANALYSIS*
PHIL. 006-401 FORMAL LOGIC II WEINSTEIN M W F 10:00-11:00
(CROSSLISTED W/PHIL. 506)
This year Phil. 6/506 will study a group of classical metamathematical results that have been central to philosophical reflection on logic. The first half of the course will be a detailed study of Godel's incompleteness theorem and associated results. We will then consider Turing's explication of computability, Church's thesis, and some elementary undecidability results, including Church's theorem (undecidability of quantificational validity.) The course will conclude with Tarski's definition of truth and, time permitting, a comparison of first-and second-order logic. Grades for the course will be based on problem sets, a mid-term, and a final exam.
PHIL. 008-401 THE SOCIAL CONTRACT FREEMAN M W 12:00-1:00
(CROSSLISTED W/PPE 008)
(REGISTER FOR LECTURE AND RECITATION)
RECITATION 402 STAFF F 12:00-1:00
RECITATION 403 STAFF F 10:00-11:00
RECITATION 404 STAFF F 12:00-1:00
RECITATION 405 STAFF F 2:00-3:00
This course examines the role of the social contract doctrine in Western
thought and culture. We will focus on the political writings of the major
proponents of social contract theory: Thomas Hobbes, John Locke. J.J. Rosseau,
and John Rawls. We will contrast their views with the utilitarian tradition,
as represented by the political and economic philosophy of David Hume and
Adam Smith. The relationship between social contract doctrine and the theory
of rational choice is also discussed, as well as contemporary libertarianism.
The course is designed to provide an introduction to some of the main issues
in modern political philosophy. It is a requirement for the PPE major.
*GENERAL REQUIREMENT I: SOCIETY*
PPE. 008-401 THE SOCIAL CONTRACT FREEMAN M W 12:00-1:00
(CROSSLISTED W/PHIL. 008)
(REGISTER FOR LECTURE AND RECITATION)
RECITATION 402 STAFF F 12:00-1:00
RECITATION 403 STAFF F 10:00-11:00
RECITATION 404 STAFF F 12:00-1:00
RECITATION 405 STAFF F 2:00-3:00
This course examines the role of the social contract doctrine in Western thought and culture. We will focus on the political writings of the major proponents of social contract theory: Thomas Hobbes, John Locke. J.J. Rosseau, and John Rawls. We will contrast their views with the utilitarian tradition, as represented by the political and economic philosophy of David Hume and Adam Smith. The relationship between social contract doctrine and the theory of rational choice is also discussed, as well as contemporary libertarianism. The course is designed to provide an introduction to some of the main issues in modern political philosophy. It is a requirement for the PPE major. *GENERAL REQUIREMENT I: SOCIETY*
PHIL. 009-301 WRITING ABOUT MORAL ISSUES STAFF T TH 9:00-10:30
WATU
009-302 WRITING ABOUT MORAL ISSUES STAFF T TH 3:00-4:30
WATU
009-303 WRITING ABOUT MORAL ISSUES STAFF M W 3:00-4:30
WATU
ENROLLMENT RESTRICTED TO FRESHMEN & SOPHOMORES
FULFILLS COLLEGE WRITING REQUIREMENT
Discussion of several contemporary ethical topics such as limitations
on freedom of expression, civil disobedience, affirmative action, privacy
rights, treatment of animals, euthanasia, health care distribution, informed
consent, and obligations to future generations. (May not be counted toward
a Philosophy major)
Readings from philosophical and non-philosophical sources.
PHIL. 035-301 PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY KAHN T TH 10:30-12:00
GENERAL HONORS STUDENTS
NON-HONOR STUDENTS NEED PERMISSION
A study of historical knowledge, including examples of different
types of historical writing (political history, intellectual history, social
history). Topics will include the problems of objectivity, relativism,
and the role of moral judgments in writing about the past. Do historians
discover general lawas? Is there a meaningful pattern in history? Is historical
knowledge different in kind from scientific knowledge? (BF Scholarly, etc.
as in 1996 announcement)
PHIL. 044-401 INTRODUCTION TO COGNITIVE SCIENCE
STEEDMAN/CLARK T TH 1:30-3:00
CROSSLISTED W/CSE 140,LING 105,PSYC 107
The course will introduce the view of the mind that is embodied in
cognitive science, exemplified in discussions of some principal concepts,
mechanisms, and problems. It is intended to serve both as a self-contained
survey of the field, and as an introduction to more advanced and more specialized
courses in the parent disciplines. In the latter role, it acts as the introduction
to the approved Minor in Cognitive Science, and to the joint SAS/SEAS Computer
and Cognitive Science dual degree program. Prerequisites: An introductory
course in computer science, linguistics, neuroscience, philosophy, and
or psychology.
GENERAL REQUIREMENT IV: FORMAL REASONING & ANALYSIS
PHIL. 077-001 PHILOSOPHY OF LAW ROSS M W 2:00-3:00
(REGISTER FOR LECTURE AND RECITATION)
201-RECITATION STAFF F 2:00-3:00
202-RECITATION STAFF F 12:00-1:00
203-RECITATION STAFF F 2:00-3:00
204-RECITATION STAFF 11:00-12:00
205-RECITATION STAFF F 12:00-1:00
By a study of some key judicial cases (some invented) we explore (1) foundations
of law and jurisdiction, including positivism, natural law, legal realism,
etc) (2) the bases of constitutional protection of "unennumerated"
liberties and the basis for "compelling public interests" (e.g.
forced sterilization of the confined insane, criminalization of homosexual
conduct, and assisted suicide); (3) the insanity defense and status of
sociopathy; (4) the obligations of the state to its prisoners and some
other issues. Readings will be based on a bulk-pack, with perhaps, Corwin's
The Constitution, as background.
There will be four short (3-pp papers on the first four sections and
one longer (10-12 pp) paper pm on one issue (say, principles of statutory
interpretation, or different systems of criminal prosection), requiring
library research, and a take-home final exam on the readings. This is a
2-lecture one discussion section format, through "lectures" will
consist largely in questions and problems addressed directly to students
by name. The discussion sections will be led by second and third year law
school teaching assistants.
*GENERAL REQUIREMENT I: SOCIETY*
PHIL. 209-301 PLATO MEYER T TH 3:00-4:30
An exploration of major themes in the moral philosophy, political theory,
metaphysics, and epistemology of Plato's early and middle dialogues. While
we will pay some attention to issues of literary interpretation, our primary
goal will be to appreciate the reasons and arguments for the positions
that Plato uses these dialogues to explore. Readings will probably include,
apology, chamides, Laches, Euthypuro, Gorgias, Protogeras, Meno, Phaedrus,
Symposiun, and Republic. No knowledge of greek or background in philosophy
is required. All texts will be read in English translation.
*DISTRIBUTION II: HISTORY & TRADITION*
PREREQUISITE: PHIL 003
PHIL. 225-301 PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE DOWNING M W 3:00-4:30
A critical survey of philosophical conceptions of science from Aristotle
through contemporary philosophers of science. Issue will include the following:
Should scientific theories be understood as providing true descriptions
of the world, or just as useful devices for making predictions? What is
proper scientific method? Are there connections between science and metaphysics?
What bearing does the history of science have on the philosophy of science?
How do scientific theories change?
*GENERAL REQUIREMENT VII: SCIENCE STUDIES*
PHIL. 255-301 HEIDEGGER BOWMAN T TH 1:30-3:00
Heiddegger's Being and Time has been many things to many people:
a continuation of the phenomenological project initiated by Edmund Husserl,
the foundation of modern existentialism, the work that rehabilitated the
ancient discipline of hermeneutics and gave rise to post-structuralism
and deconstruction, and perhaps even a convert defence of Nazism. In this
course we will explore these various readings through a close reading of
the text.
Being and Time is an historically sensitive work that draws
on the history of Western philosophy on every page. We will try to capture
some of theis bzckground by reading Descartes' Discourse on Method
and Meditations on First Philosophy. Doing so will be especially
helpful in understanding the so-called "metaphysics of presence"
that Heidegger combats throughout the book in his efforts to estbalish
a satisfactory philosophical anthropology, i.e., a philosophical account
of what it is to be a human being.
PHIL. 259-301 AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY MCGEE T TH 1:30-3:00
PHIL. 331-301 TOPICS IN THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE PUST T TH 10:30-12:00
PHILOSOPHY MAJORS ONLY
A discussion of some contemporary work in epistemology. After a
survey of current theories of knowledge and justified belief, we will engage
in a detailed investigation of some of the following topics: contemporary
responses to skepticism, the nature of a priori knowledge, the externalism-internalism
debate, social epistemology, and "naturalized" epistemology.
Readings will be largely from contemporary sources.
PHIL. 342-301 METAPHYSICS ROSS T 2:00-5:00
Explorations of some issues concerning properties, qualities, holes,
truth, necessity and impossibility, the human mind and animal perception,
with a manuscript (by the teacher) and further reading from a recent collection
and from Duns Scvous and William of Ockham (c.1300). There are three short
papers (3-5 p.s.), one 12-15 page paper on a book or problem to be selected
by the student with teacher's advice, with a take-home final exam based
on the assigned readings. Seminar style discussion. Limit 20 students.
PHILOSOPHY MAJORS ONLY
PHIL. 344-301 WITTGENSTEIN ON LANGUAGE & MIND RICKETTS M W 10:30-12:00
A close study of important sections of Wittgenstein's Philosophical
Investigations with special attention to Wittgenstein's treatment of
privacy and other minds. There will be some readings from secondary literature
on Wittgenstein and some readings in philosophy of mind. Written work for
the course will be a series of 5 or so short papers.
PHILOSOPHY MAJORS ONLY
PHIL. 443-301 LOGICAL POSITIVISM RICKETS M W F 11:00-12:00
A study of the logical positivist movement with special attention to
Rudolf Carnap and W. V. Quine. The course will meet for two lectures a
week plus separate graduate and undergraduate sections. Written work will
be two 7-10 page papers and a final exam.
*DISTRIBUTION II: HISTORY & TRADITION*
PREREQUISITE: PHIL 005
PHIL. 460-301 CONTINENTAL RATIONALISM HATFIELD T TH 10:30-12:00
A careful reading of the primary metaphysical works of Descartes, Spinoz
and Leibniz. We will consider the philosophical motivations, methodologies,
and arguments of each author. Thus, we will examine the way in which Descartes
hoped his philosophy would provide the foundations for his new vision of
nature and natural science; we will attempt to understand how Spinoza hoped
his metaphysics would lead him to a knowledge of the ultimate good for
humankind; and we will investigate Leibniz's attempt to reconcile human
freedom with the idea that there is a fully determined casual structure
to the world.
*DISTRIBUTION II: HISTORY & TRADITION*
PREREQUISITE: PHIL 004 OR PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR
PHIL. 465-301 KANT I GUYER T TH 1:30-3:00
This course is an intensive study of Immanuel Kant's Critique of
Pure Reason (1781), in which Kant tried to secure the certainty of
the foundations of the modern scientific world-view while at the same time
leaving room for human autonomy by means of his doctrine of "transcendental
idealism; the relation between determinism as a scientific assumption and
the possibility of human freedom; and his account of both the excesses
and proper role of human reason. Readings will include most of the Critique
of Pure Reason as well as Kant's attempt at both popularizing and defending
the doctrines of the Critique in the Prolegomena to any
future Metaphysics (1783).
*DISTRIBUTION II: HISTORY & TRADITION*
PPE. 475-401 PHILOSOPHY, POLITICS & ECONOMICS BARON T
TH 1:30-3:00
(CROSSLISTED W/PSYCH 475)
(PHILOSOPHY MAJORS ONLY)
PPE CAPSTONE SEMINAR
PHIL. 480-401 TOPICS IN AESTHETICS GUYER M 3:00-6:00
This course will focus on debate about the nature and value of art in the
last two centuries. We will begin by examining the most widely discussed
theory of art in recent decades, that offered by Arthur Danto in The
Transfiguration of the Commonplace (1981), which is a sophisticated
variant of his approach suggested by Peter Kivy's new book Philosophies
of Arts (1997). We will then consider the most influential statement
of the alternative expressivist theory of art in the twentieth century,
R. G. Collingwood's The Principles of Art (1938). To set the stage
for discussion of the political context of Collingwood's argument, we will
flank it with discussions of Leo Tolstoy's What is Art?(1898) and
Noel Carroll's new The Philosophy of Mass Art(1998). Finally, we
will look for systematic foundations for the insights of our various recent
authors in the eighteenth century aesthetic writings of Moses Mendelssohn,
newly available in English translation, and Immanuel Kant, who transformed
the substantive content of Mendelssohn's theory into his own philosophical
framework in the Critique of Judgement(1790).
*DISTRIBUTION III: ARTS & LETTERS*
PHIL. 505-401 FORMAL LOGIC I WEINSTEIN M W F 1:00-2:00
(CROSSLISTED W/PHIL 005-401)
Systematic development of the formal systems of classical first order propositional
and predicate logic, including identity, descriptions, definitions, and
functional calculus. Study of syntax and semantics of these systems with
special regards to their consistency, completeness and decidability.
Hands-on application of classical logic to translation and analysis of natural language arguments, scientific inference, informal fallacies, and logical puzzles.
Special attention is being paid to the development of basic skills
and techniques, used in formulating and assessing deductive arguments.
UNDERGRADUATES NEED PERMISSION
PHIL. 506-401 FORMAL LOGIC II WEINSTEIN M W F 10:00-11:00
(CROSSLISTED W/PHIL 006-401)
This year Phil. 6/506 will study a group of classical metamathematical
results that have been central to philosophical reflection on logic. The
first half of the course will be a detailed study of Godel's incompleteness
theorem and associated results. We will then consider Turing's explication
of computability, Church's thesis, and some elementary undecidability results,
including Church's theorem (undecidability of quantificational validity).
The course will conclude with Tarski's definition of truth and, time permitting,
a comparison of first-and second-order logic. Grades for the course will
be based on problem sets, a mid-term, and a final exam.
UNDERGRADUATES NEED PERMISSION
PHIL. 510-301 LATE PLATO KAHN T 3:00-6:00
Plato's Parmenides and Sophist. A close reading of the
entire Parmenides, with a survey of recent literature on this dialogue.
We will also consider those passages in the Sophist that suggest
a revision of the Theory of Forms (Sophist 240-260). *DISTRIBUTION
II: HISTORY & TRADITION*
UNDERGRADUATES NEED PERMISSION
PHIL. 572-301 CONTEMPORARY ETHICS KUMAR TH 3:00-6:00
Thomas Nagel is widely recognized and admired as being amongst the
most provocative and innovative philosophers working in contemporary ethics.
In this course, we will study Nagel's most influential writings in meta-ethics,
normative moral theory, and the theory of value, starting with a detailed
examination of the argument of his path breaking monograph The Possibility
of Altruism, through to the consideration of his most recent views on value
and justification in The Last Word. Though the focus will be on Nagel's
writings, particularly his understanding of the different points of view
on the world persons are capable of occupying, and there importance for
understanding practical thought.
*DISTRIBUTION I: SOCIETY*
UNDERGRADUATES NEED PERMISSION
PHIL. 578-301 CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY FREEMAN W
3:00-6:00
The topic of this seminar is Some Contemporary Theories of Justice.
We will focus on Utilitarianism, Justice as Fairness, and Libertarianism.
The main texts for the course will be Henry Sidgwick's Methods of Ethics,
John Rawls' A Theory of Justice, and Robert Nozick's Anarchy,
State, and Utopia.
UNDERGRADUATES NEED PERMISSION
*DISTRIBUTION I: SOCIETY*
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UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
COLLEGE OF GENERAL STUDIES
SPRING 1998
PHIL. 001-601 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY STAFF T
TH 5:00-6:15
This course will introduce students to both classic and contemporary
philosophical theories concerning the nature of human knowledge, the mind-body
relation, the relation between artificial and natural intelligence and
a number of related issues. The main goals of the course will be (I) to
clarify the philosophical problems in question, (II) to understand how
various philosophers proposed to solve these problems and (III) to evaluate
the strength of the proposed solutions for their internal coherence and
their compatibility with the rest of our knowledge. The classic texts used
in this course will include the writings of Plato, Descartes and Hume,
among modern texts, we will read material selected from writings of Turing,
Chomsky, Searle, and Dennett.
*GENERAL REQUIREMENT II: HISTORY & TRADITION*
PHIL. 003-601 HISTORY OF ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY NOUJAIN T 6:30-9:10
A survey of classical Greek approaches to questions about knowledge,
the nature of the world, the soul, ethics, and politics. We will focus
primarily on Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.
*GENERAL REQUIREMENT II: HISTORY & TRADITION*
PHIL. 026-601 PHILOSOPHY OF SPACE AND TIME AKHUNDOV M
W 5:00-6:15
This course will present a detailed introduction to Einstein's special
theory of relativity and will examine its historical development and philosophical
significance. No previous physics or philosophy will presupposed, and only
high school mathematics will be used.
*GENERAL REQUIREMENT VII: SCIENCE STUDIES*
PHIL. 028-601 FEMINIST PHILOSOPHY M. MEYER M 6:30-9:10
(CROSSLISTED W/COML 028 & WSTD 028)
Feminist philosophy is as wide-ranging as philosophy itself. Feminist philosopher
have articulated radical views of philosophy of science, aesthetics, ethics,
political philosophy and epistemology. What all have in common is the belief
that each of these traditional areas of philosophy has been deformed by,
at best, ignoring women and, at worst, actively devaluing women and women's
experience. In this introduction to feminist philosophy we will focus on
issues in feminist ethical and political theory, though given the nature
of the feminist outlook we will also get glimpses of feminist epistemology,
social theory and philosophy of science. Feminist political and ethical
theories are richly diverse. But all such theories have three common functions.
First, the theories attempt to explain the causes and consequences of that
oppression. And finally they attempt to prescribe strategies for ending
women's oppression. We will investigate suggested answers to all three
of these types of questions using contemporary sources on issues such as
sexuality, sexual harassment, abortion, and pornography.
*DISTRIBUTION I: SOCIETY*
PHIL. 072-601 BIOMEDICAL ETHICS FREEMAN TH 6:30-9:10
A survey of moral problems in medicine and biomedical research. Problems
discussed include: genetic manipulation, informed consent, infanticide,
abortion, euthanasia, and the allocation of medical resources. Moral theory
is presented with the aim of enabling students to think critically and
analytically about moral issues. The need for setting biomedical issues
in broader humanistic perspective is stressed.
*DISTRIBUTION I: SOCIETY*
PHIL. 079-601 ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS BOWMAN W 6:30-9:10
The course offers a survey of ethical and policy issues relating to the environment. Topics to be discussed include, the moral standing of the non human environment and its habitants, environmentalist concerns about the adequacy of traditional philosophical and economic conceptions of value and specific environmental problems, such as population pressures and bio diversity.
PHIL. 227-601 CONCEPTS OF SELF ROTH M W 5:00-6:15
What makes for self-identity? What is the relation between self-identity
and morality? In this course we will explore questions of personhood and
morality, using both historical and contemporary readings.
*DISTRIBUTION I: SOCIETY*
PHIL. 228-601 RUSSIAN PHILOSOPHY AND SCIENCE AKHUNDOV
T TH 5:00-6:15
(CROSSLISTED W/PHIL 515)
An introduction to the central figures in Russian philosophy and science,
including their basic theoretical conceptions and their "world views,"
from the time of the Peter the Great and Catherine the Great up to the
present day. Will introduce students to recent and current problems and
issues in the relation between philosophy and science in Soviet and contemporary
Russian culture, in the relations among science, philosophy, and ideology
in Russia and the USSR. Readings in translation.
*DISTRIBUTION II: HISTORY & TRADITION*
PHIL. 515-601 RUSSIAN PHILOSOPHY AND SCIENCE AKHUNDOV
T TH 5:00-6:15
(CROSSLISTED W/PHIL 228)
An introduction to the central figures in Russian philosophy and science,
including their basic theoretical conceptions and their "world views,"
from the time of the Peter the Great and Catherine the Great up to the
present day. Will introduce students to recent and current problems and
issues in the relation between philosophy and science in Soviet and contemporary
Russian culture, in the relations among science, philosophy, and ideology
in Russia and the USSR. Readings in translation.
*DISTRIBUTION II: HISTORY & TRADITION*
UNDERGRADUATES NEED PERMISSION
PHIL. 674-601 TOPICS IN BIOETHICS WHITE M 4:00-6:40
The course will focus on the core ethical debates that characterize
personal choice, clinical decision making and public policy in matters
of human reproduction. Recent advances in assisted reproduction such as
vitro fertilization, embryo cryopreservation, micromanipulation techniques
and current and near future applications of cloning techniques will serve
as the pivot points to understanding debates about: 1) the moral status
of the embryo; 2) procreative freedom; 3) research versus therapy; and
4) the best interests of the child including the debate about the familiarity
with assisted reproductive technologies and advances in prenatal testing.
PERMISSION NEEDED FROM INSTRUCTOR
11-10-97
Last Modified June 29, 1997