Graduate Program

Fall Term Schedule

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Fall 2024

Number	Title	Instructor	Time
PHIL 415-01 Intermediate Logic Zeynep Soysal MW 2:00PM - 3:15PM
This course is an introduction to metalogic. Topics covered include basic elements of set theory, and the model-theoretic treatment of sentential and first-order logic (completeness, compactness, and Lwenheim-Skolem theorems). Location Morey Room 502 (MW 2:00PM - 3:15PM)
PHIL 420-01 Recent Ethical Theory Earl Conee TR 2:00PM - 3:15PM
The course will be a study of the work of major twentieth century philosophers on fundamental questions in ethics, such as: What is really meant by value terms like 'good', 'evil', 'right', and 'wrong'? How could we ever know what has value and what we morally ought to do? Are there any universally applicable ethical norms, or is morality subjective or otherwise relativized? Readings from Moore, Ross, Ayer, Stevenson, etc. This course may be taken for upper-level writing credit. Location Wilmot Room 116 (TR 2:00PM - 3:15PM)
PHIL 421-01 Philosophical Foundations of the American Revolution Richard Dees TR 2:00PM - 3:15PM
Particularly in n an election year, we should think carefully about the meaning and justification of the American Republic. In this course, we will study the founding of the United States by examining the political theory which sparked the revolution itself and which lay behind the writing of the Constitution. We will look at some of the key works that were read by the Founders, particularly the works of John Locke, the Baron de Montesquieu, and David Hume. But we will also look at important works that from the period surrounding the revolution and the writing of the Constitution, like those by Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton, and we also look at writers that were sometimes ignored at the time, like those from Black authors and women. The eighteenth century was a time of remarkable intellectual activity in the West, and the Americans played a central role in it, both reflecting the thought in Europe and influencing the course of thoughts and events there. Although it was over 200 years ago, the eighteenth century was a modern period: their concerns are largely our concerns. But since they come from a different background, they approach these concerns in a different and (I hope) illuminating way. So we want to examine these ideas in their context, but we also want to see what these thinkers can tell us about the role and nature of government and of society. Location Dewey Room 2110D (TR 2:00PM - 3:15PM)
PHIL 423-01 Social & Political Philosophy Rosa Terlazzo MW 3:25PM - 4:40PM
An inquiry into the nature of human society, the role of the state, and relation of moral to legal obligations. Location Gavett Hall Room 202 (MW 3:25PM - 4:40PM)
PHIL 428-1 Public Health Ethics Richard Dees TR 9:40AM - 10:55AM
Most health care ethics focuses on the individual decisions about health care, but many ethical questions have implications for society at large. The demands that individual health decisions make on the system may create collective problems, and conversely, the needs of society may limit the freedoms that individuals think they should have. Public health ethics then, lie at the intersection of medicine, political philosophy, and public policy. This course will examine the values of health, social needs, and freedom through a systematic examination of situations in which these conflicts arise. Location Goergen Hall Room 108 (TR 9:40AM - 10:55AM)
PHIL 431-01 Philosophy of Race and Gender Rosa Terlazzo MW 12:30PM - 1:45PM
In this course, we will explore several main questions: What are race and gender? What do we want race and gender to be? How might our treatment of applied issues in race- and gender-related areas change if we reimagined the concepts? When we look at the world around us, it seems clear that race and gender are real categories – after all, some people are obviously disadvantaged by their race or gender, and other people are obviously advantaged. But just how should we think about these categories? Are they biological realities? Are they “mere” social realities? Or are we mistaken, and do they not meaningfully exist at all? In this course, we will explore the roles that these concepts play in the real world and how these concepts could be reimagined as effective tools for changing our world for the better. Location Morey Room 525 (MW 12:30PM - 1:45PM)
PHIL 438-01 Moral Psychology Randall Curren TR 11:05AM - 12:20PM
Moral psychology is a subfield of philosophy that addresses ethically significant states, aspects, and attributes of human beings and their lives, such as conscious agency, motivation, meaning in life, moral perception and judgment, relationships between reasoning and emotion, responsibility, virtues, valuing, well-being, happiness, friendship, and love. It is a very active arena of research in which philosophers and psychologists influence each other’s work and sometimes collaborate. We will read both traditional philosophical works and cutting-edge research at the interface of philosophy and psychology. Location Wilmot Room 116 (TR 11:05AM - 12:20PM)
PHIL 442-01 Metaphysics Paul Audi TR 11:05AM - 12:20PM
Investigates topics in contemporary metaphysics, including questions about the existence and persistence conditions of abstract and material objects; the nature of space and time; the possibility of time travel; the status of quantum mechanics. No prior courses in science required. Location Morey Room 525 (TR 11:05AM - 12:20PM)
PHIL 443-1 Theory of Knowledge Ur Staff MW 10:25AM - 11:40AM
The course addresses major questions in epistemology using a textbook, Richard Feldman's Epistemology, and recent philosophical readings. The questions include: What is knowledge? Do context or practical concerns affect what we know? Do we really know anything about the world around us? What makes a belief justified? When is disagreement rational? Location Lechase Room 104 (MW 10:25AM - 11:40AM)
PHIL 447-1 Philosophy of Language Jens Kipper TR 9:40AM - 10:55AM
General nature of language and specific puzzles about language: the nature of truth and meaning, speech acts, reference, propositional attitudes, metaphor, understanding, interpretation, indeterminacy, etc. (PHIL 110 is recommended prior to taking this course.) Location Dewey Room 2110E (TR 9:40AM - 10:55AM)
PHIL 457-1 PHL/Artificial Intelligence Jens Kipper TR 12:30PM - 1:45PM
Many people believe that very soon, artificial intelligence is going to be everywhere. Artificial systems will steer cars, ships, and planes, care for the sick, fight fires and fight wars for us, organize our schedules, order our food, etc. But what exactly is an artificial intelligence? And can there be artificial systems that truly think, or feel? In this course, we will address questions like these from a philosophical perspective. In doing so, we will encounter some of the most fundamental issues in the philosophy of mind‹for example, what are thoughts and feelings, and how might they relate to physical states of our brains, or to computational states? We will then examine how artificial systems, such as artificial neural networks, function, and discuss what they might teach us about the mind in general and about human minds in particular. Finally, we will consider the consequences that the development and application of artificial intelligence might have for humanity. Location Meliora Room 221 (TR 12:30PM - 1:45PM)
PHIL 464-1 Philosophical Readings in Ancient Greek Lawrence Philpot 7:00PM - 7:00PM
This course will function as a kind of ancient philosophy proseminar. We'll meet weekly and divide our time roughly in half: Half of our time will be devoted to studying ancient Greek philosophy in translation, and we'll adjust the format and topic to fit whatever the group would find most useful. We could, for example: cover commonly-taught core texts (Phaedo? Physics II?); fill in gaps (presocratics? Hellenistics?); or do a careful reading of some text(s) of special interest to the group. The other half of our time will be devoted to the study of Ancient Greek, with the aim of helping beginners in the language to acquire the kind of familiarity needed to teach ancient philosophy confidently. Students are welcome and encouraged to attend only one half or the other. Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 491-1 Master's Readings in PHL Mark Povich 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 491-2 Master's Readings in PHL Zeynep Soysal 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 517-1 Selected Topics in Ethics William FitzPatrick W 2:00PM - 4:40PM
Critical exploration of work in contemporary metaethics and normative ethical theory and its applications. Location Lattimore Room 531 (W 2:00PM - 4:40PM)
PHIL 560-1 Writing Seminar Randall Curren 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Study of recent articles; writing short commentaries, replies, criticisms. Covers various topics under guidance of several faculty members. Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 560-2 Philosophical Writing Paul Audi 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Study of recent articles; writing short commentaries, replies, criticisms. Covers various topics under guidance of several faculty members. Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 560-3 Philosophical Writing Alison Peterman 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Study of recent articles; writing short commentaries, replies, criticisms. Covers various topics under guidance of several faculty members. Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 581-1 Supervise Instruct:Lec to Un Randall Curren 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Continuation of PHL 580, with practice lecturing to the undergraduate classes. Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 581-2 Supervise Instruct:Lec to Undg Jens Kipper 7:00PM - 7:00PM
8/29/23 - CK created section for instructor Jens Kipper Continuation of PHL 580, with practice lecturing to the undergraduate classes. Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 581-3 Supervise Instruct:Lec to Undg Zeynep Soysal 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Continuation of PHL 580, with practice lecturing to the undergraduate classes. Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 591-1 PhD Readings in PHL Paul Audi 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 591-11 PhD Readings in PHL Jens Kipper 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 591-2 PhD Readings in PHL Earl Conee 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 591-3 PhD Readings in PHL Randall Curren 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 591-4 PhD Readings in PHL Richard Dees 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 591-5 PhD Readings in PHL William FitzPatrick 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 591-6 PhD Readings in PHL Alison Peterman 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 591-7 PhD Readings in PHL Zeynep Soysal 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 591-8 PhD Readings in PHL Rosa Terlazzo 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 591-9 PhD Readings in PHL Richard Feldman 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 595-1 PhD Research in PHL Paul Audi 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 595-2 PhD Research in PHL Earl Conee 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 595-3 PhD Research in PHL Randall Curren 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 595-4 PhD Research in PHL Richard Feldman 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 595-5 PhD Research in PHL William FitzPatrick 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 595-6 PhD Research in PHL Alison Peterman 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 595-7 PhD Research in PHL Zeynep Soysal 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 595-8 PhD Research in PHL Rosa Terlazzo 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 595A-1 PhD Research in Absentia – 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 895-1 Cont of Master's Enrollment Paul Audi 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 897-1 Master's Dissertation Paul Audi 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 986V-1 Full Time Visiting Student Richard Feldman 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 995-1 Cont of Doctoral Enrollment Paul Audi 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 997-1 Doctoral Dissertation Paul Audi 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)
PHIL 999-1 Doctoral Dissertation Paul Audi 7:00PM - 7:00PM
Blank Description Location ( 7:00PM - 7:00PM)

Number	Title	Instructor	Time
Monday and Wednesday
PHIL 443-1 Theory of Knowledge Ur Staff
The course addresses major questions in epistemology using a textbook, Richard Feldman's Epistemology, and recent philosophical readings. The questions include: What is knowledge? Do context or practical concerns affect what we know? Do we really know anything about the world around us? What makes a belief justified? When is disagreement rational?
PHIL 431-01 Philosophy of Race and Gender Rosa Terlazzo
In this course, we will explore several main questions: What are race and gender? What do we want race and gender to be? How might our treatment of applied issues in race- and gender-related areas change if we reimagined the concepts? When we look at the world around us, it seems clear that race and gender are real categories – after all, some people are obviously disadvantaged by their race or gender, and other people are obviously advantaged. But just how should we think about these categories? Are they biological realities? Are they “mere” social realities? Or are we mistaken, and do they not meaningfully exist at all? In this course, we will explore the roles that these concepts play in the real world and how these concepts could be reimagined as effective tools for changing our world for the better.
PHIL 415-01 Intermediate Logic Zeynep Soysal
This course is an introduction to metalogic. Topics covered include basic elements of set theory, and the model-theoretic treatment of sentential and first-order logic (completeness, compactness, and Lwenheim-Skolem theorems).
PHIL 423-01 Social & Political Philosophy Rosa Terlazzo
An inquiry into the nature of human society, the role of the state, and relation of moral to legal obligations.
Tuesday and Thursday
PHIL 428-1 Public Health Ethics Richard Dees
Most health care ethics focuses on the individual decisions about health care, but many ethical questions have implications for society at large. The demands that individual health decisions make on the system may create collective problems, and conversely, the needs of society may limit the freedoms that individuals think they should have. Public health ethics then, lie at the intersection of medicine, political philosophy, and public policy. This course will examine the values of health, social needs, and freedom through a systematic examination of situations in which these conflicts arise.
PHIL 447-1 Philosophy of Language Jens Kipper
General nature of language and specific puzzles about language: the nature of truth and meaning, speech acts, reference, propositional attitudes, metaphor, understanding, interpretation, indeterminacy, etc. (PHIL 110 is recommended prior to taking this course.)
PHIL 438-01 Moral Psychology Randall Curren
Moral psychology is a subfield of philosophy that addresses ethically significant states, aspects, and attributes of human beings and their lives, such as conscious agency, motivation, meaning in life, moral perception and judgment, relationships between reasoning and emotion, responsibility, virtues, valuing, well-being, happiness, friendship, and love. It is a very active arena of research in which philosophers and psychologists influence each other’s work and sometimes collaborate. We will read both traditional philosophical works and cutting-edge research at the interface of philosophy and psychology.
PHIL 442-01 Metaphysics Paul Audi
Investigates topics in contemporary metaphysics, including questions about the existence and persistence conditions of abstract and material objects; the nature of space and time; the possibility of time travel; the status of quantum mechanics. No prior courses in science required.
PHIL 457-1 PHL/Artificial Intelligence Jens Kipper
Many people believe that very soon, artificial intelligence is going to be everywhere. Artificial systems will steer cars, ships, and planes, care for the sick, fight fires and fight wars for us, organize our schedules, order our food, etc. But what exactly is an artificial intelligence? And can there be artificial systems that truly think, or feel? In this course, we will address questions like these from a philosophical perspective. In doing so, we will encounter some of the most fundamental issues in the philosophy of mind‹for example, what are thoughts and feelings, and how might they relate to physical states of our brains, or to computational states? We will then examine how artificial systems, such as artificial neural networks, function, and discuss what they might teach us about the mind in general and about human minds in particular. Finally, we will consider the consequences that the development and application of artificial intelligence might have for humanity.
PHIL 420-01 Recent Ethical Theory Earl Conee
The course will be a study of the work of major twentieth century philosophers on fundamental questions in ethics, such as: What is really meant by value terms like 'good', 'evil', 'right', and 'wrong'? How could we ever know what has value and what we morally ought to do? Are there any universally applicable ethical norms, or is morality subjective or otherwise relativized? Readings from Moore, Ross, Ayer, Stevenson, etc. This course may be taken for upper-level writing credit.
PHIL 421-01 Philosophical Foundations of the American Revolution Richard Dees
Particularly in n an election year, we should think carefully about the meaning and justification of the American Republic. In this course, we will study the founding of the United States by examining the political theory which sparked the revolution itself and which lay behind the writing of the Constitution. We will look at some of the key works that were read by the Founders, particularly the works of John Locke, the Baron de Montesquieu, and David Hume. But we will also look at important works that from the period surrounding the revolution and the writing of the Constitution, like those by Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton, and we also look at writers that were sometimes ignored at the time, like those from Black authors and women. The eighteenth century was a time of remarkable intellectual activity in the West, and the Americans played a central role in it, both reflecting the thought in Europe and influencing the course of thoughts and events there. Although it was over 200 years ago, the eighteenth century was a modern period: their concerns are largely our concerns. But since they come from a different background, they approach these concerns in a different and (I hope) illuminating way. So we want to examine these ideas in their context, but we also want to see what these thinkers can tell us about the role and nature of government and of society.
Wednesday
PHIL 517-1 Selected Topics in Ethics William FitzPatrick
Critical exploration of work in contemporary metaethics and normative ethical theory and its applications.