Department of Philosophy
Division of Humanities and Fine Arts
South Hall 5631
Telephone: (805) 893-3122
Undergraduate e-mail: ug_advisor@philosophy.ucsb.edu
Graduate e-mail: grad_advisor@ philosophy.ucsb.edu
Website: www.philosophy.ucsb.edu (will open in a new browser window)
Department Chair: Voula Tsouna
Contents:
C. Anthony Anderson, Ph.D., UC Los Angeles, Professor (logic, metaphysics, epistemology)
Anthony Brueckner, Ph.D., UC Los Angeles, Professor (epistemology, philosophy of language, metaphysics, Kant)
Kevin Falvey, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Associate Professor (philosophy of mind, philosophy of language)
Matthew Hanser, Ph.D., UC Los Angeles, Associate Professor (ethics, theory of action, philosophy of mind)
Thomas Holden, Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Assistant Professor (history of modern philosophy, metaphysics, epistemology)
Christopher McMahon, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, Professor (moral philosophy, political and social philosophy)
Michael Rescorla, Ph.D., Harvard University, Assistant Professor (philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, logic, philosophy of science)
Nathan Salmon, Ph.D., UC Los Angeles, Professor (philosophy of language, philosophy of logic, metaphysics)
Voula Tsouna, Ph.D., Université de Paris X, Professor (ancient philosophy)
Burleigh T. Wilkins, Ph.D., Princeton University, Professor (philosophy of history, political philosophy, philosophy of law)
Aaron Zimmerman, Ph.D., Cornell University, Assistant Professor (epistemology, philosophy of mind, moral psychology, action theory)
Donald W. Crawford, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison, Professor Emeritus (aesthetics, environmental aesthetics, 18th-century philosophy)
Francis W. Dauer, Ph.D., Harvard University, Professor Emeritus (epistemology, Hume, philosophical psychology)
Herbert Fingarette, Ph.D., UC Los Angeles, Professor Emeritus (philosophy of psychology, philosophy of law, Chinese philosophy)
Noel Fleming, D. Phil., Oxford University, Professor Emeritus (philosophy of mind, history of philosophy, aesthetics)
J. William Forgie, Ph.D., Cornell University, Professor Emeritus (philosophy of religion, epistemology, Wittgenstein)
Alexander Sesonske, Ph.D., UC Los Angeles, Professor Emeritus (aesthetics[film], ethics, classical philosophy, philosophy of language)
Robert Renehan, Ph.D. (Classics)
Philosophy deals with the kinds of questions that engage all reflective people, but which seemingly cannot be dealt with by any of the empirical sciences: Is everything material? Is human behavior determined or is free choice possible? Are there objective standards for deciding what is right and wrong, or is morality merely a subjective matter, a matter of individuals’ feelings? Is there a moral obligation to obey the law? Can we justify our claims to know anything? Can we objectively distinguish rational from irrational beliefs? How does language relate to the world?
The study of philosophy encourages rigorous and disciplined habits of mind. Because the major in philosophy emphasizes and enhances analytical skills, it is useful for the large number of careers that require these skills or as general humanistic training at the undergraduate level. Two concentrations within the major accommodate differences in student needs and interests and reflect the two central concerns of philosophy. (1) The core philosophy concentration is designed for students who seek thorough training in philosophy, either as a way of acquiring reasoning and analytical skills and mastering a discipline at the undergraduate level or as preparation for graduate study. (2) The ethics and public policy concentration focuses on moral and legal problems confronting the community and on the responsibilities of various professions. It is intended for a wide variety of students, including particularly those who plan careers in law (where early specialized training is discouraged), the public sector, or medicine (where it would be a useful adjunct).
Students with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy who are interested in pursuing a California Teaching Credential should contact the credential advisor in the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education as soon as possible.
Undeclared students should consult with the College of Letters and Science. There are two faculty advisors and one staff advisor in the department who have authority on such matters as substitutions and exceptions. The Information Sheet for Undergraduate Philosophy Majors is available at the department office at all times; a list of courses to be offered each quarter, with specific descriptions and required texts, is available on the website shortly before registration time at: www.philosophy.ucsb.edu.
Each academic year, one or more Ralph W. Church undergraduate fellowships may be awarded for outstanding scholarship in philosophy. To be eligible for this award a student must be a philosophy major and complete a minimum of 16 upper-division units in philosophy at UCSB. This fellowship is based on academic merit. During spring quarter the department recognizes the outstanding graduating senior by awarding the Harry Girvetz Memorial Prize. This award is included in the commencement program.
Students who meet either of the following requirements may apply to join the philosophy department honors program:
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Membership in the Letters and Science Honors Program.
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Completion of at least 12 units of philosophy at UCSB, a philosophy grade point average of 3.5 or better, and an overall grade-point average of 3.3 or better.
Students are urged to apply as early as possible so that a meaningful honors curriculum can be developed at an early stage of their work in the major. Students in the honors program are expected to meet quarterly with the undergraduate advisor to discuss their progress and to plan their subsequent coursework in philosophy; in order to remain in the honors program, students are normally expected to maintain a 3.5 GPA in philosophy.
In order to graduate with distinction in philosophy, the following requirements must be met:
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Being a member of good standing in the philosophy department honors program for at least the last three quarters prior to graduation.
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Completion of at least two upper-division philosophy honors courses to be contracted by petition between the honors student and the instructor.
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Completion of a senior thesis that is judged to be of honors quality by the thesis supervisor.
Undergraduate Program
The philosophy major requires a total of 48 units, at least 36 of which must be upper-division, distributed in one of the following two concentrations. The specific concentration selected will not be formally acknowledged on the student’s official transcript or diploma.
Preparation for the major. Philosophy 3 or 183. Philosophy 183 applies to the 36 upper-division units required.
Recommended preparation for the major: Philosophy 20A-B-C (up to 4 units of this may be substituted for the one course under upper-division Requirement B below but such units will not count toward the 36 upper-division units required).
Upper-division major. At least 36 upper-division units in philosophy, which must include:
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Three courses from Philosophy 100A-B-C-D-E-F, 116;
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Three courses from Philosophy 151, 152, 153, 156, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166A, 176;
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Additional philosophy electives to make 36 upper-division units, and a total of 48 for the major. Up to 4 units may be taken from courses in a cognate department, subject to the approval of the undergraduate advisor.
Students preparing for graduate study are encouraged to supplement this program with additional courses in individual historical figures and/or courses from Philosophy 150A-E and 184.
Ethics and Public Policy Concentration
Preparation for the major. Philosophy 3 or 183. Philosophy 183 applies to the 36 upper-division units required.
Recommended preparation for the major: Philosophy 4, 6, or 7.
Upper-division major. At least 36 upper-division units in philosophy, which must include:
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Philosophy 100A;
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One course from Philosophy 100B-C-D-E-F, 116;
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At least four courses from Philosophy 108, 121, 122, 126, 129, 131, 133, 134, 138, 139, 140, 141, 143, 144, 145, 150A, 188;
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Additional philosophy electives to make 36 upper-division units and a total of 48 for the major. Up to 8 units may be taken from courses in a cognate department, subject to the approval of the undergraduate advisor.
The philosophy minor consists of a total of 24 units, at least 20 of which must be upper-division, with courses distributed according to the listing below. Note that if lower-division courses are chosen to fulfill an upper-division requirement, additional upper-division elective courses will be needed. All courses to be applied to the minor must be completed on a letter-grade basis. This includes both courses offered in philosophy and those offered by other departments and applied to the minor.
Preparation for the minor. Philosophy 3 or 183 (4 units). Philosophy 183 applies to the 20 upper-division units required.
Upper-division minor. Three courses (12 units) from option A or B:
Option A. Two courses from Philosophy 100A-B-C-D-E-F, 116, and one course from Philosophy 20A-B-C, 151, 152, 153, 156, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166A, 176
Option B. Three courses from Philosophy 100A, 108, 121, 122, 126, 129, 131, 133, 134, 138, 139, 140, 141, 143, 144, 145, 150A, 188.
Elective upper-division philosophy courses to bring the upper division unit total to 20.
Note: Substitutions and waivers are subject to approval by the chair of the department. Please see "Academic Minors" for special conditions governing minors in the College of Letters and Science.
Graduate Program
In addition to departmental requirements, candidates for graduate degrees must fulfill the university requirements described in the section "Graduate Education at UCSB."
Admission
In addition to fulfilling the departmental requirements for admission, applicants must also meet the university requirements for admission described in the section "Graduate Education at UCSB.” The applicant for admission to the Ph.D. program in philosophy should have completed an undergraduate philosophy major, or a sufficiently close equivalent in the judgment of the graduate admissions committee. Exceptions are occasionally made for outstanding students. A full description of the Ph.D. program is available from the department office, or at: www.philosophy.ucsb.edu.
The graduate program in philosophy is a Ph.D. program. Only in special circumstances will the department accept students whose aim is limited to earning the M.A. degree. However, provision is made within the Ph.D. program for awarding the M.A. degree when the student has demonstrated the requisite level of competence.
To be awarded the M.A. degree, the student must complete the course requirements listed under the Ph.D. program below, and either write an acceptable M.A. thesis or pass a comprehensive examination. Information about the thesis and examination options is available from the department graduate advisor.
Doctor of Philosophy - Philosophy
Course and seminar requirement. A total of fourteen graduate courses and seminars must be taken (for letter grades, not S/U) and these courses must be distributed as follows:
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Philosophy 284G (Intermediate Modern Logic);
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At least five seminars;
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At least three courses in the history of philosophy;
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At least three courses chosen from metaphysics, epistemology, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of language;
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At least two courses from ethics, social and political philosophy, and value theory (broadly construed).
Requirements C-E may be satisfied by either graduate seminars or lecture courses; however, a given course may only be used to satisfy one area. A student may be exempted from requirement (A) by passing an examination (given only at the time of entrance into the Ph.D. Program) designed to demonstrate training in logic equivalent to that provided by 283G and 284G. A maximum of one independent study course (Philosophy 596) may count towards the fourteen-course requirement provided that the content of the independent study does not significantly overlap the content of any other course used to satisfy the fourteen-course requirement. Undergraduate courses cannot be used to fulfill the course requirements. Details on the distribution requirements and the deadline for the completion of the course requirements are available from the department.
Qualifying paper. A student must write a successful qualifying paper of at most 10,000 words. The paper is to be an original work and should present a philosophical thesis and defend it by argument. A successful qualifying paper is a paper that is judged by a majority of the faculty to demonstrate the ability to write a successful dissertation. The faculty will meet at the end of each term to evaluate the papers submitted that term. To be eligible for consideration in a given term, a paper must be submitted by the end of the ninth week of the term. Any paper written while its author was a student in the graduate program may be submitted as a qualifying paper, and the paper may be submitted at any time after enrolling. However, a student is allowed no more than two submissions. A student whose qualifying paper is passed, and who has satisfied the Graduate Division requirements for the M.A., will be awarded the M.A. degree. Deadlines for the paper and other details of the requirement, such as the possibility of submitting a second paper if the first one is failed, are available from the department.
Oral examination. The final step in advancement to candidacy is successful completion of an oral qualifying examination. Information about the nature and scheduling of the oral exam is available from the department.
Dissertation. Satisfactory completion of a dissertation, including an oral defense, is required.
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Philosophy Courses
1. Short Introduction to Philosophy
(4) Staff
An introductory course in western philosophy. (F,W,S)
3. Critical Thinking
(4) Staff
Practical reasoning, argumentation, and the analysis of language as instruments of sound thinking in everyday life. (F,W,S)
4. Introduction to Ethics
(4) Staff
An examination, at an introductory level, of such ethical issues as: why be moral, moral relativism, the nature of virtues and vices; and possibly consideration of practical ethical problems such as abortion or war.
6. Professional and Business Ethics
(4) Staff
Studies important ethical problems that arise in modern professions and business practice in light of traditional theories in moral and political philosophy. Issues such as medical ethics, ethics in law, codes of conduct for business, preferential treatment of minorities, and responsibility to the environment are studied in light of such theories as utilitarian and deontological moral theories, Classical, Liberalism, and Marxism.
7. Biomedical Ethics
(4) Staff
An examination of philosophical thinking about moral issues raised by the practice of medicine. Traditional ethical theories and problems will serve as background to, and in turn be illuminated by, such issues as informed consent, paternalism, abortion, euthanasia, and genetic engineering.
12. Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion
(4) Anderson, Forgie
An introduction to several traditional philosophical problems connected with religious belief.
20A-B-C. History of Philosophy
(4-4-4) Staff
A. From Thales to Aristotle.
B. From Medievals to Rationalists.
C. From the Empiricists to Kant.
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With the exception of Philosophy 130, 143, 145, and 183, at least one prior course in philosophy or consent of instructor is required for upper-division courses. See individual course prerequisites for more specific information.
100A. Ethics
(4) Hanser, McMahon
Prerequisite: one prior course in philosophy; or Philosophy 3 (may be taken concurrently).
An examination of the fundamental concepts, theories, and problems of moral or political philosophy.
100B. Theory of Knowledge
(4) Rescorla, Zimmerman
Prerequisite: one prior course in philosophy.
Recommended preparation: Philosophy 3 or 183.
Investigates fundamental questions surrounding the nature of human knowledge and human justification, such as: What do I know? What am I justified in believing? What is it to know something? What is it to hold a justified belief?
100C. Philosophy of Language
(4) Brueckner, Falvey, Salmon
Prerequisite: one prior course in philosophy.
Recommended preparation: Philosophy 3 or 183.
Introduction to philosophical problems and theories concerning the nature of language. Topics typically include the notion of linguistic structure, theories of meaning and reference, names and descriptions, the relations between language and thought, necessity and analytic truth, and conversational norms.
100D. Philosophy of Mind
(4) Brueckner, Rescorla, Zimmerman
Prerequisite: one prior course in philosophy.
Recommended preparation: Philosophy 3 or 183.
A discussion of some central questions about the mind: Are people identical to their bodies? What is it to feel, believe or desire something? What distinguishes intelligent thinking from a computer’s activities? What is the connection between language and thought?
100E. Metaphysics
(4) Anderson, Brueckner, Falvey
Prerequisite: one prior course in philosophy.
Recommended preparation: Philosophy 3 or 183.
Introduction to the philosophical study of the most general and fundamental features of reality. Topics vary, but may include universals, particulars, identity and individuation, substance, the nature of persons, causation, and the nature of time.
100F. Introduction to the Philosophy of Science
(4) Rescorla
Prerequisite: one prior course in philosophy; or a major in physics, chemistry, or biology.
An introduction to the philosophical analysis of the concepts and methods of science, treating such topics as: explanation, confirmation, causation, scientific laws, the interpretation, meaning and reference of scientific theories, theory reduction and theory change, and scientific revolutions.
102A-B. Applied Analytical Reasoning
(4-4) Forgie
Prerequisite: Philosophy 3.
A. The development of skills in analyzing material drawn from a variety of philosophical and nonphilosophical concerns. Emphasis will be placed on disambiguating hidden ambiguities, making relevant distinctions, abstracting the central issues, and the analysis of increasingly complex arguments.
B. The study and application of specialized forms of reasoning such as legal reasoning, reasoning concerning means and ends, reasoning involved in problem-solving situations, and scientific and inductive reasoning.
108. Philosophy of Social Sciences
(4) Falvey, Mcmahon
Prerequisite: one prior course from Philosophy 100B-C-D-E; or two prior upper-division philosophy courses.
Questions and problems in the methodology of the social sciences, including whether the social sciences have distinctive methods of explanation; models of rationality employed in the social sciences; and whether the social sciences can or should be value-neutral.
112. Philosophy of Religion
(4) Anderson, Forgie
Prerequisite: one prior course in philosophy.
A study of some of the following topics: religious language, the existence and nature of God, the problem of evil, religious experience, religion and morality, the rationality of religious belief.
116. Meaning and Reference
(4) Salmon
Prerequisite: Philosophy 183 (may be taken concurrently).
An examination of the classical theories of meaning and reference: John Stuart Mill, Gottlob Frege, Bertrand Russell, and the theory of direct reference. Investigation of solutions to the classical puzzles of meaning and reference.
121. Political Philosophy
(4) Wilkins
Prerequisite: a major in philosophy, law & society, political science, or global and international studies.
Analysis of fundamental political conceptions; the state, sovereignty, political obligation, natural rights, natural law, etc.
122. Theories of Justice
(4) Wilkins
Prerequisite: a major in philosophy, law & society, political science, or global and international studies.
An examination, in detail, of one or more influential philosophical theories of justice.
124A. Philosophy of Science
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: a prior course in philosophy.
May be repeated for credit up to 8 units with consent of instructor.
Recommended preparation: a strong background in science.
What is science? How does it differ from non-science? Course examines both the history of science and the history of philosophy of science in an effort to discover just what science is and what it has to offer.
124B. Philosophy of Physics
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: a prior course in philosophy.
May be repeated for credit up to 8 units with consent of instructor.
Recommended preparation: a strong background in physics.
Emphasizes the role that philosophical considerations played in both the evolution and actual practice of science. The major emphasis is on the creation and development of the watersheds of twentieth-century physics: relativity and quantum mechanics.
124C. Philosophy of Space and Time
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: a prior course in philosophy.
May be repeated for credit up to 8 units with consent of instructor.
Recommended preparation: a strong background in physics.
Is space a thing or a series of relations holding between objects? Does time pass differently for different observers, or in different parts of the universe? Consideration of these and other questions lead to an examination of contemporary physics.
124D. Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: a prior course in philosophy.
May be repeated for credit up to 8 units with consent of instructor.
Recommended preparation: a strong background in physics.
Examines the history of the development of quantum mechanics, focusing on the philosophical conundrums that arose from the tortured process of finding a theory that “worked.” This is done at the conceptual level, with minimal reliance on mathematical techniques.
126. Social Philosophy
(4) McMahon
Prerequisites: Philosophy 100A; or, two prior courses in philosophy.
This course examines moral problems associated with economic activity; for example, economic justice and the moral basis of property rights.
129. Philosophy of International Relations
(4) Holden, Wilkins
Prerequisite: a major in philosophy, law & society, political science, or global and international studies.
Study of philosophical problems in international relations.
130. Freedom and Determinism
(4) Brueckner
For nonmajors and majors.
Determinism is the doctrine that the laws of nature plus the past necessitate the future. Is determinism compatible with the view that we often act freely and are often morally responsible for what we do?
131. Advanced Topics in Applied Ethics
(4) Hanser, Holden
Prerequisite: Philosophy 100A; or two prior courses in philosophy.
133. History of Political Thought
(4) Holden, Mcmahon, Wilkins
Prerequisite: a major in philosophy, law & society, political science, or global and international studies.
A study of one or more important figures from the history of political thought.
134. Moral Psychology
(4) Falvey, Zimmerman
Prerequisites: Philosophy 4 or 100A; and Philosophy 100B or 100C or 100D or 100E.
An examination of the nature of desires, emotions, the imagination and other aspects of human psychology, and of the ways these bear on the moral evaluation of people and actions.
135. Contemporary Philosophy
(4) Salmon, McMahon
Prerequisite: Philosophy 100B or 100D or 100E.
Systematic investigation of topics drawn from contemporary analytic or continental philosophy.
137. Aesthetic Theory
(4) McMahon
Prerequisite: one prior course in philosophy.
A study of some major works in the philosophy of art from Plato to the present, with emphasis on the development and analysis of the basic concepts employed in criticism of the arts.
138. Normative Ethics
(4) Hanser, McMahon
Prerequisite: Philosophy 100A; or two prior courses in philosophy.
May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 8 units.
An examination of what makes actions morally right or wrong and people morally good or bad.
139. Meta-ethics
(4) Anderson, Hanser
Prerequisite: Philosophy 100A; or two prior courses in philosophy.
May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 8 units.
An examination of problems concerning the meaning and justification of moral judgments.
140. History of Ethics: Ancient
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: Philosophy 100A; or two prior courses in philosophy.
A study of one or more important moral philosophers from the ancient period.
142. Advanced Topics in Philosophy of Religion
(4) Anderson, Forgie
Prerequisites: Philosophy 112, or two prior upper-division courses in philosophy; and one additional course in philosophy.
May be repeated to a maximum of 8 units with the consent of the instructor.
Advanced topics in the philosophy of religion. Specific subject matter is selected by the instructor and descriptions are available in the department office before each quarter.
143. Philosophy of Law
(4) Holden, Wilkins
An introduction to some of the main issues generated by the philosophical question, “What is Law?” In what sense is conduct made obligatory by the existence of law? What, if any, is the relationship between law and morals? What are rules? What does it mean to say that a rule exists? Do courts really apply rules or merely pretend to do so?
144. Advanced Topics in the Philosophy of Law
(4) Wilkins
Prerequisite: a major in philosophy, law & society, political science, or global and international studies.
Study of advanced topics in the philosophy of law.
145. Punishment and Responsibility
(4) Wilkins
An examination of some of the philosophical problems of punishment and responsibility: the rationale of punishment and the legal doctrine of mens rea; the analysis of conditions of responsibility, relations between punishment, responsibility, retribution, guilt, shame, etc.
149. Action Theory
(4) Falvey, Hanser, McMahon, Zimmerman
Prerequisites: one prior course from Philosophy 100B-C-D-E; or, two prior courses in philosophy.
May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 8 units.
An examination of philosophical topics connected with human action, e.g., the role of intentions and desires in the explanation and justification of action and the nature of practical reason.
150A. Advanced Topics in Ethical Theory
(4) McMahon, Hanser
Prerequisite: Philosophy 100A or 100B or 100C or 100D or 100E or 100F.
May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 12 units with consent of instructor.
Advanced topics in ethical theory. Specific subject matter is selected by the instructor and descriptions are available in the department office before each quarter.
150B. Advanced Topics in Theory of Knowledge
(4) Brueckner
Prerequisite: Philosophy 100A or 100B or 100C or 100D or 100E or 100F.
May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 8 units with consent of instructor.
Advanced topics in theory of knowledge. Specific subject matter is selected by the instructor and descriptions are available in the department office before each quarter.
150C. Advanced Topics in Philosophy of Language
(4) Salmon, Falvey
Prerequisite: Philosophy 100A or 100B or 100C or 100D or 100E or 100F.
May be repeated up to 8 units with consent of instructor.
Specific subject matter selected by the instructor. Descriptions available in the department office before each quarter.
150D. Advanced Topics in Philosophy of Mind
(4) Falvey, Forgie
Prerequisite: Philosophy 100A or 100B or 100C or 100D or 100E or 100F.
May be repeated up to 8 units with consent of instructor.
Advanced topics in philosophy of mind. Specific subject matter is selected the instructor and descriptions are available in the department office before each quarter.
150E. Advanced Topics in Metaphysics
(4) Brueckner, Forgie, Salmon
Prerequisite: Philosophy 100A or 100B or 100C or 100D or 100E or 100F.
May be repeated up to 8 units with consent of instructor.
Advanced topics in metaphysics. Specific subject matter is selected by the instructor and descriptions are available in the department before each quarter.
151. Pre-Socratics
(4) Hanser, Tsouna
Prerequisites: a prior upper-division course in philosophy and one additional course in philosophy.
A study of the pre-Socratic philosophers.
152. Plato
(4) Tsouna
Prerequisites: a prior upper-division course in philosophy and one additional course in philosophy.
The philosophy of Plato.
153. Aristotle
(4) Hanser, Tsouna
Prerequisites: a prior upper-division course in philosophy and one additional course in philosophy.
The philosophy of Aristotle.
156. Hellenistic Philosophy
(4) Tsouna
Prerequisites: a prior upper-division course in philosophy and one additional course in philosophy.
An examination of the thought of major Greek philosophers of the Hellenistic period.
160. Descartes
(4) Forgie, Holden
Prerequisite: Philosophy 20B or 100B or 100D or 100E.
162. Leibniz
(4) Anderson
Prerequisite: Philosophy 100B or 100D or 100E.
163. Locke
(4) Holden
Prerequisite: Philosophy 20B or 100B or 100D or 100E.
164. Berkeley
(4) Holden
Prerequisite: Philosophy 20B or 100B or 100D or 100E.
165. Hume
(4) Holden
Prerequisites: a prior upper-division course in philosophy and one additional course in philosophy.
The philosophy of David Hume.
166A. Kant
(4) Holden, Brueckner
Prerequisites: two prior courses from Philosophy 20B, 100B-D-E, or 160.
An examination of the philosophy of Kant with special attention to the Critique of Pure Reason.
170. Wittgenstein
(4) Falvey, Forgie
Prerequisite: Philosophy 100B or 100C or 100D or 100E.
The philosophy of Wittgenstein.
173. Frege
(4) Rescorla
Prerequisite: Philosophy 183 and another previous course in philosophy.
An examination of the work of the German philosopher and logician, Gottlob Frege.
174. Early Analytic Philosophy
(4) Hanser, Salmon
Prerequisite: Philosophy 100B or 100C or 100D or 100E.
May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 8 units.
A study of one or more major philosophers from the early stages of the analytic tradition (e.g. Frege, Moore, Russell, Wittgenstein, and the logical positivists.)
176. Historical Philosophers
(4) Holden
Prerequisite: Philosophy 100A or 100B or 100D or 100E.
May be repeated with consent of department provided course content is different.
Examination of historical philosophers beyond those covered in Philosophy 106 and 151-166.
180. Philosophical Psychology
(4) Hanser
Prerequisite: a prior upper-division course in philosophy.
An examination of some of the concepts of the mind such as those of desire,intention, action, perception, sensation, and the unconcious.
183. Beginning Modern Logic
(4) Salmon
An introduction to the concepts and methods of modern symbolic logic. Emphasis is placed on problems of translating English expressions into logical symbols and on the development of skills in using the formal proof procedures of sentential and predicate logic.
184. Intermediate Modern Logic
(4) Salmon
Prerequisite: Philosophy 183.
Further application and development of the predicate calculus, including the calculi of identity and description. An introduction to the metalogical questions of completeness, consistency, and decidability.
185. Advanced Modern Logic
(4) Anderson. Falvey
Prerequisite: Philosophy 184 or Mathematics 109A.
Topics from the theory of formal systems, set theory, recursive function theory, and automata theory.
186. Philosophical Logic
(4) Anderson, Salmon
Prerequisite: Philosophy 184.
May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 8 units.
Topics in logical theory and the philosophy of logic: intensional logics and other non-standard logics (such as modal logic); discussion of results of modern logic and their philosophical implications.
187. Philosophy of Mathematics
(4) Anderson, Rescorla
Prerequisite: Philosophy 183 or Mathematics 108A.
Logistic, formalist, and intuitionist views of the nature of mathematics. Epistemological problems of applied mathematics.
188. Theory of Value
(4) Anderson
Prerequisite: a prior course in philosophy.
Study of theories of the nature and structure of the good and of value judgments generally.
192. Internship in Philosophy
(1-12) Staff
Prerequisite: upper-division standing in philosophy; consent of instructor and department.
Students must have a 3.0 overall grade-point average. May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 12 units but only 4 units may count toward the major.
Practical experience and application of analytical and ethical skills learned in philosophy as interns with agencies and business. Periodic and final reports required under faculty direction.
197A-B. Senior Honors Thesis
(2-2) Staff
Prerequisites: senior philosophy majors, by consent of instructor, and departmental approval.
A continuous two-quarter research and writing tutorial designed for senior honors majors. The first term will be spent mainly in selecting and researching a topic for the thesis. The second term will be spent mainly in the writing of the thesis. (W,S)
197P. Senior Project for Majors with Ethics and Public Policy Emphasis
(2-4) Staff
Prerequisites: upper-division standing in philosophy and consent of department.
May be repeated up to 8 units with consent of instructor.
A research and writing tutorial in some topic relevant to issues in ethics and public policy. A written proposal of the project must be approved by the undergraduate advisor and the instructor.
199. Independent Studies in Philosophy
(1-5) Staff
Prerequisites: upper-division standing; completion of two upper-division courses in philosophy.
Students must have a minimum 3.0 grade-point average for the preceding three quarters and are limited to 5 units per quarter and 30 units total in all 98/99/198/199/199AA-ZZ courses combined. Philosophy 199 may be repeated to a maximum of 12 units. No more than 12 units may be applied to the major.
Written statement of the proposed program of study must be presented to the instructor for his or her approval before the student signs up for the course. (F,W,S)
199RA. Independent Research Assistant
(1-5) Staff
Prerequisite: upper-division standing.
Students must enroll under instructor number and have a minimum 3.0 grade-point average for the preceding three quarters. Students are limited to 5 units per quarter and 30 units total in all 98/99/198/199/199AA-ZZ courses combined. Philosophy 199RA may be repeated for credit to a maximum of 5 units
Course work shall consist of faculty supervised research.
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Graduate standing is a prerequisite for all graduate courses. All graduate seminars (with the exception of Philosophy 200) may be repeated for credit with consent of instructor, and may be taken for 1 to 4 units of credit as determined by consultation with the instructor. Specific topics for seminars will be available at the department office at the time registration counseling begins.
208G. Philosophy of the Social Sciences
(4) Falvey, McMahon
Questions and problems in the methodology of the social sciences, including whether the social sciences have distinctive methods of explanation; models of rationality employed in the social sciences; and whether the social sciences can or should be value-neutral.
212G. Philosophy of Religion
(4) Anderson, Forgie
Study at the graduate level of topics in the philosophy of religion.
216G. Meaning and Reference
(4) Salmon
An examination of the classical theories of meaning and reference: John Stuart Mill, Gottlob Frege, Bertrand Russell, and the theory of direct reference. Solutions to the classical puzzles of meaning and reference are investigated.
221G. Political Philosophy
(4) Wilkins
222G. Theories of Justice
(4) Wilkins
A study at the graduate level of an examination, in detail, of one or more influential philosophical theories of justice.
224A. Philosophy of Science
(1-4) Staff
What is science? How does it differ from non-science? Course examines both the history of science and the history of philosophy of science in an effort to discover just what science is and what it has to offer.
224B. Philosophy of Physics
(1-4) Staff
Emphasizes the role that philosophical considerations played in both the evolution and actual practice of science. The major emphasis is on the creation and development of the watersheds of twentieth-century physics: relativity and quantum mechanics.
224C. Philosophy of Space and Time
(1-4) Staff
Is space a thing or a series of relations holding between objects? Does time pass differently for different observers, or in different parts of the universe? Consideration of these, and other questions leads to an examination of contemporary physics.
224D. Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics
(1-4) Staff
Examines the history of the development of quantum mechanics, focusing on the philosophical conundrums that arose from the tortured process of finding a theory that “worked.” This is done at the conceptual level, with minimal reliance on mathematical techniques.
226G. Social Philosophy
(4) McMahon
A study at the graduate level of moral problems associated with economic activity, for example, economic justice and the moral basis of property rights.
229G. Philosophy of International Relations
(4) Holden, Wilkins
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
The study of philosophical problems in international relations.
230G. Freedom and Determinism
(4) Brueckner
A study at the graduate level of the problem of whether human action is free or determined.
231G. Advanced Topics in Applied Ethics
(4) Hanser, Holden
233G. History of Political Thought
(4) Holden, McMahon, Wilkins
A study of one or more important figures from the history of political thought.
234G. Moral Psychology
(4) Falvey, Zimmerman
An examination of the nature of desires, emotions, the imagination, and other aspects of human psychology, and of the ways these bear on the moral evaluation of people and actions.
235G. Contemporary Philosophy
(4) Salmon, McMahon
A study at the graduate level of selected topics in contemporary philosophy.
237G. Aesthetic Theory
(4) Staff
A study at the graduate level of the development and analysis of the basic concepts employed in criticism of the arts.
238G. Normative Ethics
(4) Hanser, McMahon
An examination of what makes actions morally right or wrong and people morally good or bad.
239G. Meta-ethics
(4) Anderson, Hanser
An examination of problems concerning the meaning and justification of moral judgments.
240G. History of Ethics: Ancient
(4) Staff
A study of one or more important moral philosophers from the ancient period.
242G. Topics in the Philosophy of Religion
(4) Forgie, Anderson
A study at the graduate level of topics in the philosophy of religion.
243G. Philosophy of Law
(4) Holden, Wilkins
An introduction to some of the main issues generated by the philosophical questions, “What is Law?” (1) In what sense is conduct made obligatory by the existence of law? (2) What, if any, is the relationship between law and morals? (3) What are rules? What does it mean to say that a rule exists? Do courts really apply rules or merely pretend to do so?
244G. Advanced Topics in the Philosophy of Law
(4) Wilkins
245G. Punishment and Responsibility
(4) Wilkins
An examination of some of the philosophical problems of punishment and responsibility: the rationale of punishment and the legal doctrine of mens rea; the analysis of conditions of responsibility, relations between punishment, responsibility, retribution, guilt, shame, etc.
249G. Action Theory
(4) Hanser, Falvey, McMahon, Zimmerman
An examination of philosophical topics connected with human action, e.g., the role of intentions and desires in the explanation and justification of action and the nature of practical reason.
250B. Topics in Theory of Knowledge
(4) Brueckner
250C. Topics in Philosophy of Language
(4) Salmon, Falvey
250D. Topics in Philosophy of Mind
(4) Forgie, Falvey
250E. Topics in Metaphysics
(4) Forgie, Salmon, Brueckner
251G. Pre-Socratics
(4) Hanser, Tsouna
252G. Plato
(4) Tsouna
253G. Aristotle
(4) Hanser, Tsouna
256G. Hellenistic Philosophy
(4) Tsouna
260G. Descartes
(4) Forgie, Holden
262G. Leibniz
(4) Anderson
263G. Locke
(4) Holden
264G. Berkeley
(4) Holden
265G. Hume
(4) Holden
266A. Kant
(4) Brueckner, Holden
270G. Wittgenstein
(4) Forgie, Falvey
273G. Frege
(4) Rescorla
An examination of the work of the german philosopher and logician, Gottlob Frege.
274G. Early Analytic Philosophy
(4) Hanser, Salmon
A study of one or more major philosophers from the early stages of the analytic tradition (e.g. Frege, Moore, Russell, Wittgenstein, and the logical positivists.)
276G. Historical Philosophers
(4) Holden
May be repeated with consent of department provided course content is different.
Examination of historical philosophers beyond those covered in Philosophy 106 and 151-166.
280G. Philosophical Psychology
(4) Hanser
A study at the graduate level of selected problems in philosophical psychology.
283G. Beginning Symbolic Logic
(4) Salmon
An introduction to symbolic logic at the graduate level.
284G. Intermediate Symbolic Logic
(4) Salmon
A continuation of the study of symbolic logic.
285G. Advanced Symbolic Logic
(4) Anderson, Falvey
An advanced study of symbolic logic.
286G. Philosophical Logic
(4) Anderson, Salmon
Prerequisites: Philosophy 183 and 184.
Topics in logical theory and the philosophy of logic: intensional logic and other non-standard logics (such as modal logic); discussion of results of modern logic and their philosophical implications.
287G. Philosophy of Mathematics
(4) Rescorla
288G. Theory of Value
(4) Anderson
296A. Seminar in Ethics
(1-4) Staff
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
296B. Seminar in Epistemology
(1-4) Staff
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
296C. Seminar in the Philosophy of Language
(1-4) Staff
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
296D. Seminar in the Philosophy of Mind
(1-4) Staff
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
296E. Seminar in Metaphysics
(1-4) Staff
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
297A. Seminar in the History of Philosophy
(1-4) Staff
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
297B. Seminar on Contemporary Figures in Philosophy
(1-4) Staff
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Graduate seminar on contemporary figures in philosophy. Specific subject matter is selected by the instructor and descriptions are available in the department office before each quarter.
298A. Seminar in Aesthetics
(1-4) Staff
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
299A. Seminar in the Philosophy of Logic
(1-4) Staff
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
299C. Seminar in the Philosophy of Science
(1-4) Staff
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Graduate seminar in the philosophy of science. Specific subject matter is selected by the instructor and descriptions are available in the department office before each quarter.
500. Apprentice Teaching in Philosophy
(2-4) Staff
Prerequisite: teaching assistantship in philosophy.
No unit credit allowed toward degree.
A teaching practicum involving the study and development of effective teaching techniques in philosophy. Each student will be responsible for and teach a class section in an undergraduate course in philosophy. One meeting per week with instructor and one or more discussion section meetings, and attendance in the lecture of the assigned course are required.
501. Teaching Assistant Training
(2) Staff
Prerequisite: teaching assistant in philosophy.
No unit credit allowed toward degree.
Instructional training. Orientation in professional conduct and responsibilities; observation of student’s teaching (in the form of faculty visits or videotaping) and follow-up conferences; discussion of teaching evaluations and workshops on pedagogical problems.
594. Special Topics
(1-4) Staff
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
Special seminar on research subjects of current interest.
596. Directed Reading and Research
(1-12) Staff
Prerequisites: graduate student in philosophy; consent of instructor.
A written proposal must be approved by the instructor and the department chair.
597. Individual Study for Master’s and/or Ph.D. Examinations for Advancement to Candidacy
(1-12) Staff
No unit credit allowed toward degree.
Individual preparation for the doctoral qualifying examination.
599. Ph.D. Dissertation Research and Preparation
(1-12) Staff
