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Catalog Archive

2015–2016

Catalog

Academics > Catalog > 2015–2016 > Courses of Instruction > PHIL

Philosophy

Professors Cummiskey (chair), Okrent, and Tracy (Philosophy and Religious Studies); Associate Professors Ashwell and Stark; Lecturers Schofield and Seeley

The practice of philosophy is a careful, in-depth study of humanity's most basic ideas, presuppositions, and beliefs. Its goal is to understand as clearly as possible one's conception of the world and humanity's place in it, and to see to what extent one's beliefs are justified. Some topics in philosophy include the nature of morality, the justification of law, the possibility of free will, the nature of beauty, the place of mind in a physical world, the nature of perception, the justification of our beliefs, the possibility of knowledge, the social construction of gender, the understanding of the self, the understanding of time and space, the possible existence of god, the nature and possibility of truth, the purpose and proper understanding of language, and the nature of emotions, as well as the point and value of philosophical inquiry. Beginning students can get a sense of the historical development of the current philosophical context by taking either CM/PL 271 (Ancient Greek Philosophy) or PHIL 272 (Philosophy from Descartes to Kant). Those beginning students interested in a more topically organized presentation of this field may take PHIL 150 (Introduction to Philosophy). Students new to philosophy are also encouraged to start out with 200-level courses that focus on particular problems of philosophical interest. Although critical reading, thinking, and writing skills are developed in all philosophy classes, PHIL 195 (Introduction to Logic) provides a more focused study of proper reasoning that is beneficial to majors and nonmajors alike. The study of philosophy, with its creative interplay of insight and reason, has ancient roots, yet the subject remains in continual ferment. The Bates philosophy curriculum emphasizes both the history of philosophical thought and the striking innovations, insights, and relevance of contemporary philosophy. More information on the philosophy curriculum is available on the website (bates.edu/philosophy).

Major Requirements

Students who major in philosophy are expected to complete eleven courses in the field. Eight of the eleven courses must meet the distribution requirements indicated below. The philosophy faculty has structured these requirements to allow students the flexibility to plan their own programs within the constraints of a broad philosophical education. Philosophy courses offered in the Short Term count toward the eleven required courses. First-year seminars taught by philosophy faculty count toward the eleven required courses. In addition, students may, with departmental approval, fulfill one of the eleven courses with a course from another field. Students arrange their programs in consultation with their departmental advisors. Those considering attending graduate or professional school are encouraged to consult with their advisors in order to design an appropriate course of study.

1) Logic.
PHIL 195. Introduction to Logic.

2) History of Philosophy. Both of the following:
CM/PL 271. Ancient Greek Philosophy.
PHIL 272. Philosophy from Descartes to Kant.

3) Ethics and Political Philosophy (the good, the right, and community). One of the following:
PHIL 112. Contemporary Moral Disputes.
PHIL 255. Human Nature and Perfectibility.
PHIL 256. Moral Philosophy.
PHIL 257. Moral Luck.

4) Metaphysics and Epistemology (being, meaning, knowledge). One of the following:
PHIL 211. Philosophy of Science.
PHIL 234. Philosophy of Language.
PHIL 235. Philosophy of Mind.
PHIL 236. Theory of Knowledge.
PHIL 245. Metaphysics.
PHIL 260. Philosophy of Religion.

5) Seminars.
Two courses at the 300 level.

6) Senior Thesis.
PHIL 457 or PHIL 458.

Students are urged to take the courses listed in 1) and 2) as soon as possible after they decide to major in philosophy.

The department encourages students to design interdisciplinary majors involving philosophy.

Pass/Fail Grading Option

Pass/fail grading may not be elected for courses applied toward the major.

Minor

The minor in philosophy consists of six courses. A coherent program for each student's minor is designed in accordance with program guidelines and in consultation with a member of the philosophy faculty who is chosen or appointed as the student's departmental advisor for the minor. Among the six courses there should be at least four courses related in a coherent group. Examples might include a group of courses relevant to philosophical reflections about the student's major field, or a group of courses on ethical and political questions, or a group of courses on a specific historical period. This group of courses should be designated, in consultation with the departmental advisor. The minor may include one first-year seminar and up to two Short Term courses in philosophy.

Pass/Fail Grading Option

Pass/fail grading may be elected for only one course applied toward the minor.

Courses
PHIL 112. Contemporary Moral Disputes.
The course focuses on particular moral issues and the ethical arguments provoked by them. Topics discussed in the course may include the death penalty, abortion, and war tactics that result in civilian casualties including the ethics of drones, torture, and terrorism. Not open to students who have received credit for FYS 309. Enrollment limited to 30 per section. D. Cummiskey, T. Tracy, P. Schofield.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 150. Introduction to Philosophy.
This course introduces students to philosophy and philosophical reasoning by examining some of the fundamental philosophical problems of human existence. Among these are the problem of doubt and uncertainty as an aspect of human knowledge; the justification and importance of religious belief; and the nature of mind, matter, and freedom. An attempt is made to establish a balance between philosophy as a vigorous and professional discipline and philosophy as a personally useful method for exploring one's own reasoning and beliefs. Readings include both historical and contemporary works. Enrollment limited to 30 per section. W. Seeley.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 195. Introduction to Logic.
An investigation of the nature of valid reasoning, coupled with training in the skills of critical thinking. Close attention is paid to the analysis of ordinary arguments. Enrollment limited to 40 per section. Normally offered every year. M. Okrent, L. Ashwell.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 211. Philosophy of Science.
Science has become our model for what counts as knowledge; the course examines that model and discusses how far its claims are justified in the light of the nature and history of science. Topics for consideration are drawn from the nature of scientific explanation, scientific rationality, progress in science, the nature of scientific theories, and the relations of science to society and to other views of the world. Readings include traditional and contemporary work in the philosophy of science. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 30. M. Okrent.
ConcentrationsInterdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

PHIL 213. Biomedical Ethics.
The rapid changes in the biological sciences and medical technology have thoroughly transformed the practice of medicine. The added complexity and power of medicine has in turn revolutionized the responsibilities and duties that accompany the medical professions. This course explores the values and norms governing medical practice; the rights and responsibilities of health care providers and patients; the justification for euthanasia; and the problems of access, allocation, and rationing of health care services. Not open to students who have received credit for FYS 362 or PHIL s26. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 30. Normally offered every year. D. Cummiskey.
ConcentrationsInterdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

ES/PL 214. Environmental Ethics.
A study of selected issues in environmental ethics, including questions about population growth, resource consumption, pollution, the responsibilities of corporations, environmental justice, animal rights, biodiversity, and moral concern for the natural world. The course explores debates currently taking place among environmental thinkers regarding our moral obligations to other persons, to future generations, to other animals, and to ecosystems and the Earth itself. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 30. T. Tracy, P. Schofield.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 227. Philosophy of Art.
An introduction to central issues in contemporary philosophy of art through the lens of artistic works and practice. Students investigate what constitutes a work of art, artistic representation, the nature of aesthetic qualities, and the relevance of artists' intentions to the evaluation of works of art, with close attention to visual, performance, literary, and experimental art forms. Not open to students who have received credit for AV/PL 226. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 30 per section. W. Seeley.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 234. Philosophy of Language.
This course is an advanced introduction to contemporary issues in the philosophy of language. Students investigate the natures of reference, meaning, and truth while reading the work of Frege, Wittgenstein, Russell, Kripke, Lewis, Putnam, and others. They address questions such as: What is it for a sign or a bit of language to be meaningful? What is it for words to represent or identify something? What is it for a statement to be truthful? What is a language, and what is it to know a language? How can you believe that Superman flies while believing that Clark Kent doesn't? Prerequisite(s): one course in philosophy. Recommended background: PHIL 195. Enrollment limited to 30. M. Okrent.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 235. Philosophy of Mind.
An inquiry into the nature of human mentality that pays special attention to the issues raised by experience and the relation between thought and language. Is mind distinct from body? If not, are mental states identical with brain states, or does the mind relate to the brain as programs relate to computer hardware? What is the connection between linguistic meaning and thought? Readings are drawn from historical and contemporary sources. Recommended background: one course in philosophy. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 40. L. Ashwell, M. Okrent.
ConcentrationsInterdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

PHIL 236. Theory of Knowledge.
Is knowledge possible, and if so, how? The course investigates how we can know the ordinary things we take ourselves to know. Students are introduced to major philosophical theories concerning when our thoughts about ourselves and the world are rationally justified. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 30. L. Ashwell.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PL/RE 243. Religion and Modern Critics.
A study of the dialogue between Western religious traditions and modern culture since the Enlightenment. Attention is given both to critical challenges (e.g., from philosophy, science, social theory, and psychology) and to religious responses that together have set the context for contemporary debates about the meaning and value of religion. Readings are drawn from thinkers such Hume, Kant, Schleiermacher, Kierkegaard, Marx, Darwin, Nietzsche, and Freud. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 40. T. Tracy.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 245. Metaphysics.
This course introduces students to some of the central issues in metaphysics. Possible questions considered include: Which kinds of things exist? What is one saying when one says that something "exists"? What does it mean to say that something causes something else? What is one saying when one says that something might possibly be other than it is? What does it mean to say that something is the same identical thing at one time that it is at another? Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 30. L. Ashwell.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 255. Human Nature and Perfectibility.
This course looks at influential theories of human nature and different conceptions of the possibility of human perfection. What is the essence of human nature? Is the capacity to improve upon itself part of its essence? What is the best possible human life and why is it so difficult to achieve? The course considers a wide range of sources from ancient philosophical and religious texts to modern and contemporary scientific and philosophical theories of human nature. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 30. D. Cummiskey.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 256. Moral Philosophy.
Is there a difference between right and wrong? Is it merely a matter of custom, convention, preference, or opinion, or is there some other basis for this distinction, something that makes it "objective" rather than "subjective"? How can we tell, in particular cases and in general, what is right and what is wrong? Is there some moral principle or method for deciding particular moral problems? Philosophers discussed include Hobbes, Hume, Kant, Mill, and the Dalai Lama. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 30 per section. Normally offered every year. D. Cummiskey, S. Stark.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 257. Moral Luck.
This course explores the relationship between luck and morality. It examines the moral and metaphysical problem of free will, determinism, and responsibility, and the related problem of moral luck. It looks at the role friendship plays in the moral life and the ways "relational goods" help to protect us from some of the exigencies of bad luck. It considers Kant's attempt to make morality "safe" from luck and the way Aristotle embraces luck in his moral outlook. It also looks at the nature of evil and the extent to which evil is under our control. Not open to students who have received credit for FYS 288 or PHIL s22. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 30 per section. S. Stark.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 258. Philosophy of Law.
What is law? What is the relationship of law to morality? What is the nature of judicial reasoning? Particular legal issues include the nature and status of liberty rights (the right to privacy including contraception, abortion, and homosexuality), the legitimacy of restrictions on speech and expression (flag burning and racist hate speech), and the justification of the death penalty. Readings include traditional and contemporary legal theory, case studies, and court decisions. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 30. Normally offered every year. D. Cummiskey.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PL/RE 260. Philosophy of Religion.
A consideration of major issues that arise in philosophical reflection upon religion. Particular issues are selected from among such topics as the nature of faith, the possibility of justifying religious beliefs, the nature and validity of religious experience, the relation of religion and science, and the problem of evil. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 30. T. Tracy.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 262. Philosophy and Feminism.
One central project of feminist philosophy is the use of philosophical methods to think carefully about important and distinctive features of the lives of women, and also about the concepts employed in the feminist political movement and similar social movements, such as those centered around race, class, disability, and sexuality. Topics include: what it is to be a woman; what it is to face discrimination or oppression; science and society, particularly genders in science; sex and sexuality; reproduction; the family; gender in popular culture; the body and appearance, including looking at the fashion and beauty industries. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 30. Normally offered every year. L. Ashwell, S. Stark.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 268. Capitalism and Its Critics.
Some consider a capitalist economy an environment ideally conducive to human flourishing, while others consider it a significant threat. Debates over the merits of capitalism have raged among philosophers for generations. This course considers some of capitalism's most able defenders, as well as some of its most incisive critics. The course also examines some hybrid views, which attempt to harness capitalism's capacity for good, while mitigating its ability to harm. Enrollment limited to 30. P. Schofield.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

CM/PL 271. Ancient Greek Philosophy.
A study of the basic philosophical ideas underlying Western thought as these are expressed in the writings of the Pre-Socratics, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Greek thought is discussed in its historical and social context, with indications of how important Greek ideas were developed in later centuries. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 30. Normally offered every year. M. Okrent, S. Stark.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 272. Philosophy from Descartes to Kant.
The problems of knowledge, reality, and morality are discussed as they developed from the time of the scientific revolution and the birth of modern philosophy until their culmination in Kant. The course considers thinkers from among the classic rationalists (Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz) and empiricists (Locke, Berkeley, Hume) as well as Kant. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 30. Normally offered every year. M. Okrent, L. Ashwell, P. Schofield.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 273. Philosophy in the Nineteenth Century.
The course follows the development of modern thought from Kant, through the rise and breakup of Hegelianism, to the culmination of nineteenth-century thought in Nietzsche. The impact of science, the relation of the individual and society, and the role of reflection in experience are examined in readings drawn from among Kant, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Feuerbach, Marx, Mill, Nietzsche, and Kierkegaard. Recommended background: two courses in philosophy or Philosophy 272. Open to first-year students. M. Okrent.
ConcentrationsInterdisciplinary Programs

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

This course counts toward the following Interdisciplinary Program(s)

PHIL 295. Logic: Possibility, Probability, and Proofs.
Philosophers use various formal tools for philosophical inquiry. In this course students consider modal logic, the logic of possibility and necessity, formal epistemology, and also some surprising metalogical results. Prerequisite(s): PHIL 195. Not open to students who have received credit for PHIL 395A. Enrollment limited to 30. L. Ashwell.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PL/RE 304. The Problem of Evil.
The presence of profound suffering and appalling injustice in the world raises some of the deepest questions that religions seek to address. Can the evils we see around us be reconciled with the classical affirmation that the world is created by a just and all-powerful God? This seminar considers the problem of evil as it arises in the theological and philosophical traditions of the West. Readings include Genesis and Job, Holocaust literature and Jewish theological responses, and contemporary writings in philosophy of religion and theology. Prerequisite(s): one course in philosophy or religious studies. Enrollment limited to 15. [W2] T. Tracy.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 310. Buddhist Philosophy.
This course explores Buddhist philosophy with a special emphasis on moral and political philosophy. Philosophical topics include the Four Noble Truths, the doctrine of impermanence and codependent arising, the doctrine of no-self, and the concept of emptiness. The relationships among Buddhist philosophy, insight meditation, and moral virtue, especially the practical social, political, and ethical implications, are a primary focus of the course. Prerequisite(s): two courses in philosophy. Enrollment limited to 15. Normally offered every other year. D. Cummiskey.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 321. Seminar: Topics in the Contemporary Philosophy of Mind and Language.
An examination of recent discussions of topics concerning language, intentionality, and what it is to be a person. Topics vary from year to year.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 321D. The Rise of Philosophical Analysis.
This course explores the history of twentieth-century philosophy by examining the methods and characteristic doctrines of two successive philosophical movements. Students first focus on the early twentieth-century attempt, pioneered by Russell and the early Wittgenstein, to apply the newly developed techniques of formal logic to the analysis of the cognitive significance of our ordinary ways of talking. The course then considers the way in which a later generation of "ordinary language" philosophers, including Ryle, Austin, and the later Wittgenstein, reacted against this attempt. Readings are taken from the works of Russell, G. E. Moore, Wittgenstein, Carnap, Quine, Ayer, Ryle, and Austin. Prerequisite(s): one course in philosophy. Recommended background: PHIL 195 or two courses in philosophy. Enrollment limited to 15. [W2] M. Okrent.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 321H. Computational Modeling: Autonomous Robots and Embodied Cognition.
This course explores current research models in embodied cognition and artificial intelligence that use simulations, robotics, and genetic algorithms to explore flexible and adaptive behaviors constitutive of our conception of intelligence. These approaches provide alternative models for intelligent behavior that challenge traditional representational and computational theories of mind. The course includes a lab in which students use hands robotics exercises to explore the ideas they encounter in the class. Topics include the nature of intelligence, the computational theory of mind, representation, embodied cognition, behavior-based robotics, biorobotics modeling, dynamic systems, neural networks, genetic algorithms, and philosophical questions surrounding the use of computer simulations and robotics as research tools in psychology and cognitive science. No prior programming experience is necessary. Recommended background: PHIL 195, 235, 237, 321G; PSYC 101, 230; or NS/PY 330. Enrollment limited to 18. W. Seeley.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 321J. Topics in the Contemporary Philosophy of Mind and Language: Self-Knowledge.
We seem to know our own minds — our beliefs, desires, intentions, feelings, and sensations — in a distinctive and particularly secure way. But although introspective self-knowledge is so familiar, it is difficult to account for. This course examines a range of philosophical problems associated with self-knowledge: What (if any) are the differences between self-knowledge and other knowledge, such as knowledge of other people's minds? Can plausible accounts of the process of introspection be reconciled with plausible accounts of the objects of self-knowledge, i.e., mental states and their contents? Do we even have knowledge of our own minds? Prerequisite(s): one 200- or 300-level course in philosophy. Enrollment limited to 15. [W2] One-time offering. L. Ashwell.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 322. Seminar: Topics in Contemporary European Philosophy.
An examination of recent developments in Continental philosophy.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 323. Seminar: Topics in Metaphysics and Epistemology.
This course focuses on advanced issues in the theory of knowledge and in the theory of ultimate reality.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 323A. Dispositions.
Paradigmatic dispositions are fragility, solubility, elasticity, and conductivity, but discussions of dispositions occur in a wider range of theories than these examples might suggest. Dispositions, also called "powers" or "tendencies" are considered in, for example, analyses of free will, color properties, mental states, natural laws, and causation. Some argue that dispositions are the only type of property there is, yet others question whether there really are such properties. In discussing these debates, students cover several core topics in metaphysics and epistemology, including possible worlds and counterfactuals, realism and anti-realism about properties, reduction, and explanation. Prerequisite(s): PHIL 195 and 211, 232, 234, 235, 236, 245, 272, or 274. [W2] L. Ashwell.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 324. Seminar: Topics in Ethics.
This course focuses on important issues in ethics and political theory. Prerequisites(s): Philosophy 256 or 257.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 324C. Liberty, Equality, and Community.
Liberty and equality are the central values of contemporary political philosophy. These values, however, seem inevitably to conflict. Unlimited freedom leads to inequalities and remedies for inequalities restrict liberty. This seminar focuses on competing accounts of the proper balance between liberty and equality. In particular, students focus on John Rawls' theory of justice and competing theories of justice, including utilitarian liberalism, Nozick's libertarian theory, communitarian theories, feminist theories, and multicultural approaches. Prerequisite(s): PHIL 255, 256, or 257. Enrollment limited to 15. [W2] D. Cummiskey.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 324E. Virtue Ethics.
Virtue ethics emerged as an important kind of moral theory during the last half of the twentieth century. There are many virtue theories, but they share a focus on the morality of character rather than the morality of individual actions. Many seek an answer to the question, "How shall I live?" rather than, "What should I do?" This course explores both the historical roots of virtue theory found in Aristotle and, according to some scholars, Kant. It also examines several contemporary theories of virtue as well as critics of this approach to moral theory. Prerequisite(s): FYS 248 or PHIL 256. Enrollment limited to 15. [W2] S. Stark.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 325. Seminar: Topics in Metaethics.
These courses consider a broad range of issues, both historical and contemporary, in metaethics and moral epistemology. Enrollment limited to 15. S. Stark.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 325B. Moral Rules and/or Particulars.
Until recently many moral philosophers have assumed that moral justification proceeds by showing that, for example, an action falls under some more general moral principle. However, the existence and epistemic value of moral generalities have increasingly come to be questioned by a group of contemporary moral philosophers, including Aristotelians, feminists, and some British moral realists. These particularists have advanced the striking metaphysical claim that there are no codifiable moral generalities, as well as the epistemological claim that moral justification need not be parasitic on a supposed metaphysical relationship between justified and justifying properties. This course investigates these claims while also investigating the role that rules may or should play in morality. Prerequisite(s): PHIL 170 or 256. Enrollment limited to 15. [W2] S. Stark.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 325C. Moral Realism.
This course examines contemporary theories on the meaning of moral language, the possibility of moral knowledge, the existence of moral facts, the nature of moral arguments, and the relationship between morality and rationality. Philosophers discussed include Moore, Ayer, Stevenson, Hare, Foot, and Mackie. Some background in moral or political theory is recommended. Enrollment limited to 15. [W2] S. Stark.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 350. Seminar on Major Thinkers.
The course examines in depth the writings of a major philosopher. Thinkers who may be discussed include Plato, Aristotle, Plotinus, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Hume, Marx, Wittgenstein, and Quine. Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 351. Kant.
This course is an intensive study of Kant's Critique of Pure Reason. Interpretations by contemporary critics are considered. Prerequisite(s): PHIL 272. Course reinstated beginning Winter 2015. [W2] M. Okrent.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 360. Independent Study.
Students, in consultation with a faculty advisor, individually design and plan a course of study or research not offered in the curriculum. Course work includes a reflective component, evaluation, and completion of an agreed-upon product. Sponsorship by a faculty member in the program/department, a course prospectus, and permission of the chair are required. Students may register for no more than one independent study per semester. Normally offered every semester. Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 365. Special Topics.
A course or seminar offered from time to time and reserved for a special topic selected by the department.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 457. Senior Thesis.
Students register for PHIL 457 in the fall semester. Majors writing an honors thesis register for both PHIL 457 and 458. [W3] Normally offered every year. Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL 458. Senior Thesis.
Students register for PHIL 458 in the winter semester. Majors writing an honors thesis register for both PHIL 457 and 458. [W3] Normally offered every year. Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

Short Term Courses
PHIL s22. Moral Luck.
This course explores the relationship between luck and morality. It examines the moral and metaphysical problem of free will, determinism, and responsibility, and the related problem of moral luck. It looks at the role friendship plays in the moral life and the ways "relational goods" help to protect us from some of the exigencies of bad luck. It considers Kant's attempt to make morality "safe" from luck and the way Aristotle embraces luck in his moral outlook. It also looks at the nature of evil and the extent to which evil is under our control. Not open to students who have received credit for FYS 288 or PHIL 257. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 30. S. Stark.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL s25. Asian and Islamic Ethical Systems.
This course provides a comparative study of Asian conceptions of ethics, including Confucian, Buddhist, and Islamic belief systems. Students carry out their own research, focusing on the beliefs, practices, and social structure of a tradition or community of their choice. The course ends with seminars in which students share the results of their research. Prerequisite(s): one course in philosophy. Enrollment limited to 15. D. Cummiskey.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL s27. Concepts of Self.
In Western philosophy, the idea of a self is central. The once dominant view held that selves were atomistic, isolated, literally individuals. Now many theorists regard selves as constituted and maintained through relationships. With this idea as a baseline, this course examines what selves or agents are, the ways in which selves are constituted and sustained, and the role of emotion in the constitution of a self. The course examines the idea of autonomy, especially in light of feminist critiques. And finally, the course explores the possibility of agency in a deterministic, scientific, though not necessarily scientistic worldview. Not open to students who have received credit for PHIL 219. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 30. S. Stark.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL s32. Teaching Philosophy: Course Design and Classroom Instruction.
The line between practicing philosophy and teaching it has always been a blurry one, enough so that being a philosopher is often thought to involve being a teacher. In this course, students assume the role of philosophy instructor. The course covers works by a number of contemporary authors writing on course design and innovative teaching methodology, and students design a week-long introductory philosophy mini-course targeted at high school students. Prerequisite(s): 3 philosophy courses. Enrollment limited to 9. Instructor permission is required. P. Schofield, S. Stark.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations

PHIL s50. Independent Study.
Students, in consultation with a faculty advisor, individually design and plan a course of study or research not offered in the curriculum. Course work includes a reflective component, evaluation, and completion of an agreed-upon product. Sponsorship by a faculty member in the program/department, a course prospectus, and permission of the chair are required. Students may register for no more than one independent study during a Short Term. Normally offered every year. Staff.
Concentrations

This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations