*801. Philosophical Analysis (3 cr)

Prereq: Permission from philosophy graduate adviser

Seminar for beginning graduate students whose primary goal is the development of basic philosophical skills such as the analysis of primary texts, the writing of philosophical papers, and sustained oral discussion. Readings include a significant number of important works drawn from diverse areas of philosophical inquiry. Class meetings devoted primarily to student presentations of reading materials and their own written work. Effective oral discussion on the part of the student required.

*805. Philosophy of Language (3 cr)

Critical examination of some concepts and problems involved in the philosophical study of language, e.g., truth, meaning, reference, grammaticality, speech acts, language acquisition, the relation of language to other symbol systems, and the use of language in literature.

809. Theory of Knowledge (3 cr)

Intensive study of some basic problems in the theory of knowledge: the nature of knowledge, the analysis of perception and memory, the justification of induction, the problem of how one knows other minds, and the analysis of a priori knowledge. Readings are chiefly from recent work.

811. Formal Logic (3 cr) Lec 3.

Prereq: PHIL 211 or equivalent

PHIL 811 is a second course in symbolic logic. The main metalogical results of the twentieth century. Completeness, compactness and undecidability of first-order logic; the Lowenheim-Skolem Theorem; axiomatic set theory; the Godel incompleteness theorems; and non-classical logics.

812. Modal Logic (3 cr)

Prereq: PHIL 211 or equivalent or permission

Syntax and model theory of quantified modal logic with applications to e.g., deontic logic, epistemic logic, and the philosophy of logic.

814. Philosophy of Mind (3 cr)

Main problems in the philosophy of mind, including dualism and materialism, instrumentalism and eliminativism, wide and narrow content, qualia, and mental causation.

*817. Philosophy of Science (3 cr)

Intensive study of some main problems in the philosophy of science: explanation and prediction in the sciences, the nature of scientific laws, functional explanations in the biological and social sciences, the structure of scientific theories, the ontological status of theoretical entities, the reduction of scientific theories, the confirmation of scientific hypotheses, and value judgments in the acceptance of scientific hypotheses.

818. Metaphysics (3 cr)

Intensive study of some main problems in metaphysics, especially universals and particulars, the relation of mind and matter, the categories of the real, criteria of identity, and existential propositions. Readings mainly from recent philosophers.

820. Philosophy of Social Science (3 cr) Lec 3.

Philosophical exploration of the epistemological character of the social sciences. The character and explanatory role of social scientific generalizations, various explanatory strategies for social matters, the continuity of discontinuity of the social sciences with the special sciences, the importance of interpretation, and the place of rationality.

823. Advanced Ethics (3 cr)

Critical study of some leading theories in ethics, with attention to major works, chiefly modern and contemporary. Includes naturalism, intuitionism, emotivism, utilitarianism, Neo-Kantian ethics, and various current positions.

825. Political and Social Philosophy (3 cr)

Critical study of some main problems and leading theories in social and political philosophy. Includes the origin and justification of political obligation, with emphasis on social contact theories; the nature and foundation of individual rights and the strength of these rights when they conflict with each other and with concern for the common good; the principles of social justice and the obligation to protect the welfare of others; and the concepts of personal autonomy, liberty, equality, and freedom. Readings from a combination of historical and recent work, and emphasis on relating the various issues to current problems in society.

850. Ancient Philosophy (3 cr)

Advanced survey of ancient philosophy from pre-Socrates through Aristotle, concentrating on central epistemological and metaphysical issues.

860. History of Modern Philosophy (3 cr)

Advanced survey of early European philosophy from the late renaissance through the Enlightenment, concentrating on central epistemological and metaphysical issues.

871. Kant (3 cr)

Prereq: PHIL 232 or permission

’s philosophy, and of problems in the interpretation of his writings. The primary text will be the First Critique.

889. Philosophical Themes (1-24 cr)

Library work and conferences.

*899. Masters Thesis (6-10 cr)

Prereq: Admission to masters degree program and permission of major adviser

903. Philosophy of Mathematics (1-24 cr)

905. Philosophy of Language (1-24 cr)

911. Topics in Logic (1-24 cr)

913. Advanced Epistemology (1-4 cr)

914. Philosophy of Mind (3 cr)

915. Advanced Metaphysics (1-4 cr)

917. Philosophy of Science (1-24 cr)

920. Ethical Theory (1-24 cr)

921. Aesthetics (1-4 cr)

Prereq: Graduate standing in the humanities

923. Philosophy of Psychology (1-24 cr)

925. Social and Political Philosophy (1-4 cr)

Intensive discussion of one or more of the main problems of social and political philosophy. Variable content. Possible topics are: political obligation, the concept of political authority, natural rights, the public interest, the aims of the state, and distributive justice.

952. Greek Philosophy (1-24 cr)

955. Empiricism (1-24 cr)

957. Quine (1-24 cr)

960. Rationalism (1-24 cr)

971. Kant (1-24 cr)

991. Special Studies in Philosophy I (1-24 cr)

992. Special Studies in Philosophy II (1-24 cr)

998. Dissertation Seminar (1-24 cr)

999. Doctoral Dissertation (1-24 cr, max 55)

Prereq: Admission to doctoral degree program and permission of supervisory committee chair