|
|
| Philosophy 1 | Introduction to Philosophy | PSYCH 1902 | Session B (MTWR 12:30pm-1:35pm) + Discussion |
|
Contact instructor for details. |
Required Text(s) |
Reader |
|
|
|
|
|
| Philosophy 3 |
| |
Critical Thinking |
| |
PHELPS 3523| Session A (MTWR 11:00am-12:05pm) + Discussion |
|
|
| This course offers an introduction to logic and structured reasoning. The course will give you tools, strategies and concepts with which to identify the strength and weaknesses of arguments you encounter in classes or in daily life. Moreover, by becoming familiar with correct forms of reasoning your own arguments at school or in your time off will become clearer and more focused, and therefore having a better chance at being convincing. |
Required Text(s) |
| T.B.A. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| Philosophy 4 |
| |
Introduction to Ethics |
| |
PHELPS 1425 | Session B (MTWR 11:00am-12:05pm) + Discussion |
|
|
| The types of questions that we will consider in this course can be divided into three classes: 1) Metaethics is concerned with foundational questions in ethics. This includes questions about the nature of ethical truths (if there even are any ethical truths), what we mean when we use ethical language, how we come to know ethical truths (if we even can), and how we are motivated by ethical truths (and what this might reveal about the nature of ethical truths); 2) Normative ethics is concerned with what it is that makes something good/bad, right/wrong, etc. In particular, we will study the ethical theories of J.S. Mill, Immanuel Kant, and if time permits, Hobbes and Aristotle; 3) Applied ethics is concerned with answering particular ethical questions such as: ?When, if ever, is abortion permissible??, ?When, if ever, is terrorism/torture justified??, ?Do we have a duty to end suffering due to hunger in other countries??, ?Is euthanasia permissible??, etc. |
Required Text(s) |
Reader (Available at Grafikart in Isla Vista)
Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals (Cambridge) ISBN: 0521626951
Mill, Utilitarianism (Hackett) ISBN: 087220605X
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Philosophy 20B |
| |
History of Philosophy |
| |
PHELPS 3505 | Session A (MTWR 9:30pm-10:35pm) + Discussion |
|
|
| This course will examine medieval and early modern philosophy. Even though the main concern of the medieval thinkers we will examine is the existence and exact nature of God, there are substantial discussions of important philosophical questions, such as the nature of time or freedom of the will. The first half of the course will treat most of these topics. The second half of the course will concentrate on 17th century rationalism (Descartes,Spinoza), focusing on topics such as skepticism concerning the external world and the relationship between mind and body. Early modern political philosophy will also be discussed, if time permits. |
Required Text(s) |
| Reader |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Philosophy 100D |
| |
Philosophy of Mind |
| |
ARTS 1426 | Session B (TWR 9:30-10:50pm) + Discussion |
|
|
We have a rich mental life. It is populated in large part by our conscious waking states, beliefs, desires, plans, musings, and emotions. While we have a pretty good grasp on the nature of the physical world, the mind remains elusive. Just what is a mind, anyhow, and what is the nature of mental states? Are they states of an immaterial soul? Logical constructions out of behavior? Brain states? Computational states? How does the mind interact with the brain/body? In this course we look at the influential theories of mind over the past century and consider some problems concerning consciousness and mental content.
|
Required Text(s) |
Philosophy of Mind, 2nd edition Jaegwon Kim ISBN: 0-8133-4269-4
Readings in the Philosophy of Psychology Volume 1, ed. Ned Block ISBN: 0-674-74876-X
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Philosophy 100E |
| |
Metaphysics |
| |
GIRV 2128 | Session A (TWR 12:30pm-1:50pm) |
|
|
| Contact instructor for details. |
Required Text(s) |
T.B.A.
|
| |
| Instructor: |
|
Falvey |
| |
|
Teaching Assistant(s): |
May |
|
|
|
|
| Philosophy 112 |
| |
Philosophy of Religion |
| |
ARTS 1426| Session A (TWR 2:00pm-3:25pm) |
|
|
| An introductory survey of a number of philosophical issues connected with the concepts and beliefs making up the great monotheistic religious traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. A large portion of the course deals with the concept of God and belief in the existence of God. We will examine what have been historically the most important arguments for the existence of God—the cosmological argument, the argument from design, and the ontological argument—as well as consider the evidential value for religious belief provided by the alleged occurrence of miracles, by the variety of religious or mystical experiences and by the alleged objectivity of morality. Then we will consider grounds and arguments against the existence of God, beginning with alleged incoherencies in the very concept of God and ending with an extensive consideration of what many consider the biggest obstacle to religious belief—the problem of evil and suffering. Finally, we will stand back from our deliberations and ask: in the light of all the arguments pro and con, is belief in God rational? At each stage we will come to grips with some of the best our ancestors have contributed to these issues—works by Plato, Aquinas, Anselm, Descartes, Hume, Kant, Pascal, Freud, James and Russell—as well as important writings of contemporary philosophers. Requirements are: final exam, plus two short papers. |
Required Text(s) |
Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, ISBN-13: 9780140445367
Pojman, Philosophy of Religion, 5th ed., ISBN-13: 9780495095040
Reader |
|
|
|
|
|
| Philosophy 145 |
| |
Punishment and Responsibility |
| |
PHELPS 3523 | Session B (TWR 2:00pm-3:25pm) |
|
|
This course will focus on theories of punishment and questions of responsibility. |
Required Text(s) |
| Reader |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|