SPRING 2007

1. Problems of Philosophy
A study of selected problems in philosophy, from such areas as ethics, philosophy of religion, theory of knowledge, and metaphysics. Classical and contemporary readings. Lecture and discussion.

» Thielke » Mo/We 2:45–4 » PR 203

5. Gods, Humans and Justice in Ancient Greece
Focus on the fundamental questions in ancient Greek moral thinking, such as the following: What is the best kind of life for a human? Should I be good? Can I be good? Is morality objective, subjective or relative to one’s society? What is the relation between gods and humans? Are we at the mercy of fate?

» McKirahan » Mo/We 1:15–2:30 » PR 203

31. History of Ethics

Introduction to the major writings of several leading figures in the history of moral philosophy. Focuses primarily on moral philosophy of the modern period. Lecture and discussion.

» Birondo » Mo/We 2:45–4 » PR 202

34. Philosophy of Law
This course consists of two components. The first focuses on specific issues in the philosophy of law, e.g., Should we punish to incapacitate? To cure? To deter? To exact revenge? To exact retribution? The second component surveys main theories of what, more generally, the law is and ought to be.

» Green » Tu/Th 9:35–10 » PR 202

36. Environmental Ethics

Concerned with humans’ place in and responsibility for the ‘natural world.’ Topics will include: the moral status of non-human animals and non-animate beings, the environmental consequences of our reliance on industrialized agriculture and biotechnology, the social and psychological factors that stand in the way of our making ‘green’ choices, the desirability and possibility of our formulating a coherent and compelling ‘global ethic.’

» Birondo » Mo/We 11–12:15 » PR 102

42. Modern Philosophy
Major philosophers of the 17th and 18th centuries (e.g., Descartes, Locke, Berkeley, Leibniz, and Hume), emphasizing their views on metaphysics, epistemology, and philosophy of mind. Lecture and discussion.

» Thielke » Mo/We 1:15–2:30 » PR 202

43. Continental Thought
Beginning with a review of Kant, German idealism (Fichte through Hegel), Kierkegaard, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Foucault, and Derrida will be considered.

» Erickson » Mo/We 11–12:15 » PR 202

60. Logic

Introduction to mathematical logic through the development of proof techniques (natural deduction and semantic tableaux) and model theory for sentential logic and quantification theory. Properties of logical systems, such as consistency, completeness, and decidability. Identical to Linguistics 60.

» Sabean » Mo/We 2:45–4 » ML 134

81. Epistemology: Truth, Justification, Knowledge
The facts seem to matter: Does the movie start at seven? Do the brakes on the school bus work? Should we teach evolution, creationism or both? But how do we know what the truth is? What makes some of our beliefs justified and others unjustified? Can we have any objective grasp on the truth?

» Kung » Tu/Th 2:45–4 » PR 202

185L. Topics in Epistemology, Metaphysics, and the Philosophy of the Mind
An examination of various issues in contemporary epistemology, metaphysics, and philosophy of mind. Topics may include the nature of consciousness, mental causation, the relationship between the mental and the physical, the nature of epistemic justification, and the status of testimony as a source of knowledge.

This year's seminar will focus on philosophy of psychology and philosophy of computation.

» Kung & Yamada (CGU) » We 7:00 p.m.–9:50 p.m. » PR 203

course website

PZ 185N. Topics in Neurophilosophy
Selected examination of issues at the intersection of contemporary philosophy and neuroscience. Topics include the philosophical and theoretical bases of cognitive neuroscience, the neurobiology of belief attribution, the metaphysical relationship between mind and brain and the nature of sensory modalities. Topics will be addressed from an interdisciplinary perspective, including not only philosophy and neuroscience, but also psychology, cognitive science and others.

» Keeley (Pitzer) & Scott-Kakures (Scripps) » Tu/Th 12–1:10 p.m. » Pitzer BD 208

185S. Topics: Value Theory
Addresses topics such as the nature of rights in general and human rights in particular; the historical evolution of a concept such as justice; and intensive study of a classic in the field, such as Hobbes’ Leviathan.

» Green » Tu/Th 1:15–2:30 » LNED 2114

186E. Heidegger and the Tradition
A selective examination of Heidegger’s understanding of poetry, tradition, and truth. Comparisons with Hegel, Nietzsche, Wittgenstein, and Derrida. Discussion.

» Erickson » Mo 7:00 p.m.–9:50 p.m. » PR 202

188A, B. Tutorial in Philosophy
Offered in the tutorial style to a few qualified students on a topic of the instructor’s choosing. 188A, full course; 188B, half course. May be repeated.

Permission of the chair required for registration.

» Sontag » by arrangement

191. Senior Thesis
Senior exercise for the Philosophy major. A year-long sequence leading to the completion of a thesis supervised by faculty members. Students must enroll in 191 both in the fall and spring semester. A prospectus of the project as well as a substantial annotated bibliography will be due in early December; the final thesis must be submitted to the department in late April. Each semester.

» by arrangement

senior project webpage

198. Summer Research Projects
Summer reading and research on a topic agreed to by the student and the instructor. Normally, such study involves a set of short papers and/or culminates in a research paper of substantial length. Course or half-course.

Independent Study
Independent reading and research on a topic agreed to by the student and the instructor. Normally, such study involves a set of short papers and/or culminates in a research paper of substantial length. Course or half-course. Each semester.