UW Bothell Course Descriptions
UW Tacoma Course Descriptions
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PHIL 100 Introduction to Philosophy (5) SSc
Major philosophical questions relating to such matters as the existence of God, the foundations of knowledge, the nature of reality, and the nature of morality. Approach may be either historical or topical. Course equivalent to: BIS 193 and T PHIL 101. Offered: AWSpS.
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PHIL 102 Contemporary Moral Problems (5) SSc/A&H
Philosophical consideration of some of the main moral problems of modern society and civilization, such as abortion, euthanasia, war, and capital punishment. Topics vary.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 102
PHIL 110 Introduction to Social and Political Philosophy (5) SSc
An introduction to political theories such as conservatism, liberalism, and socialism and their treatment of select social issues.
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PHIL 114 Philosophical Issues in the Law (5) SSc
Analysis and critical assessment of various philosophical issues in law and legal reasoning. Material drawn from actual law cases, as well as writings by contemporary philosophers of law and lawyers. Topics include criminal responsibility, civil disobedience, abortion, enforcement of morals. Special legal or philosophical training not required.
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PHIL 115 Practical Reasoning (5) SSc, RSN
Introduction to logic emphasizing concepts and methods useful for practical analysis of arguments in everyday contexts; meaning, syllogisms, logical diagrams, inductive and statistical inference, informal fallacies, argument structure, perhaps some beginning symbolic logic. Offered: AWSpS.
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PHIL 118 The Ethics and Psychology of Persuasion (5) SSc
Examines the psychology of persuasion through an ethical lens. Answers questions such as: When is persuasion effective? When is it respectful versus immoral? Is using psychological insight manipulative or just good people skills? How do biases shape persuasion, and how should we navigate them? Assessments focus on real-world applications, helping students improve as persuaders.
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PHIL 120 Introduction to Logic (5) SSc/NSc, RSN
Elementary symbolic logic. The development, application, and theoretical properties of an artificial symbolic language designed to provide a clear representation of the logical structure of deductive arguments. Offered: AWSpS.
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PHIL 149 Existentialism and Film (5) A&H/SSc
What makes life worth living? Is morality just a convenient fiction? What is the nature of the human condition? Is God dead, or just playing hard to get? Investigates the works of several existentialist philosophers, including Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, and Beauvoir, and uses their works to interpret and analyze the philosophical content of angst-ridden cinema of the French New Wave and Hollywood film noir.
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PHIL 160 Why Do We Believe in Quarks, Evolution, and Other Crazy Things? Perspectives on Science, Reason, and Reality (5) NSc/SSc
Study of how scientific theories are justified and why they are accepted, using selected examples from the history of science.
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PHIL 201 Topics in Philosophy (2-5, max. 10) SSc
A study of philosophical topics at the introductory level. The content of the course is entirely at the discretion of the instructor.
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PHIL 205 Philosophy for Children (5) SSc
Introduction to the methods of "doing" philosophy with young people. Stresses the development of a community of inquiry in which budding philosophers are encouraged to ask their own relevant questions, develop views and articulate reasons for them, and to listen and learn from one another.
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PHIL 206 Philosophy of Feminism (5) SSc, DIV
Philosophical analysis of the concepts and assumptions central to feminism. Theoretical positions within the feminist movement; view of the ideal society, goals and strategies of the movement, intersections of the sex-gender system with other systems of oppression. Offered: jointly with GWSS 206/POL S 212.
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PHIL 207 Issues of Global Justice (5) SSc, DIV
Introduces issues of global justice. Topics include: global poverty and aid, immigration, transnational governance, gender in global relations, climate change, and cultural relativism. Offered: jointly with ETHICS 207/POL S 217.
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PHIL 240 Introduction to Ethics (5) SSc/A&H
Critical introduction to various philosophical views of the basis and presuppositions of morality and moral knowledge. Critical introduction to various types of normative ethical theory, including utilitarian, deontological, and virtue theories. Course equivalent to: T PHIL 240.
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PHIL 241 Topics in Ethics (5, max. 10) A&H/SSc
Introduction to ethics through in-depth study of one or more selected topics (e.g., limits of moral community, animal rights, moral education, and freedom). Topics vary.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 241
PHIL 242 Introduction to Medical Ethics (5) A&H/SSc
Introduction to ethics, primarily for first- and second-year students. Emphasizes philosophical thinking and writing through an in-depth study of philosophical issues arising in the practice of medicine. Examines the issues of medical ethics from a patient's point of view. Course overlaps with: T PHIL 270.
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PHIL 243 Environmental Ethics (5) A&H/SSc
Focuses on some of the philosophical questions that arise in connection with environmental studies. Topics to be considered include: the ideological roots of current issues, values and the natural world, public policy and risk assessment, intergenerational justice, and social change. Offered: jointly with ENVIR 243.
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PHIL 267 Introduction to Philosophy of Religion (5) SSc
Consideration of the sources of religious ideas and practices, the main kinds of religious views and the problems they raise, and the different forms that spirituality can take. Issues concerning the relations of religion to science and morality also treated.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 267
PHIL 291 Ethics in Science (5) A&H/SSc
Provides an introduction to ethics and research ethics issues in the non-medical sciences. Possible topics include: publication and peer review, intellectual property, and the social responsibilities of scientists. Offered: jointly with ETHICS 291.
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PHIL 301 Intermediate Topics in Philosophy (3-5, max. 10) SSc
Philosophical topics at the intermediate level. Content varies each quarter, depending on instructor.
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PHIL 307 Justice Across Disciplinary Boundaries (5) SSc
What is justice? One of the oldest questions in philosophy and also one of the most current. A multi-disciplinary approach to understanding justice.
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PHIL 314 Philosophy of Crime and Punishment (5) SSc
Examination of philosophical theories regarding criminal habits and punishment and the philosophical problems connected with specific topics in criminal law. Examines proper subject matter of criminal law (drug use, pornography, euthanasia); limits of criminal sanctions; crime and privilege (corporate crime, white-collar crime, blackmail); justifications for punishment; mercy; and execution. Course equivalent to: T PHIL 314.
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PHIL 320 Ancient Philosophy (5) SSc
Survey of ancient Greek philosophy, beginning with the pre-Socratics and proceeding on through Plato to Aristotle.
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PHIL 322 Modern Philosophy (5) SSc
Examination of metaphysical and epistemological problems from the works of Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, and Kant.
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PHIL 324 Classical Chinese Philosophy (5) SSc
Major works of classical Chinese philosophy (c.600-200 BCE). Focuses on Kongzi (Confucius), Mozi, Mengzi (Mencius), Zhuangzi, Laozi, Xunzi, and Han Feizi. Topics include: nature and value of morality; proper role of ritual in human life; whether human nature is good or bad; how one becomes a moral person; and proper role and function of government. Background in Chinese not required.
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PHIL 325 Nineteenth-Century Philosophy (5) SSc
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PHIL 330 History of Ancient Political Philosophy (5) SSc
Political philosophy of fourth- and fifth-century Greece, especially the Sophists, Plato, and Aristotle, stressing the connection between the political philosophy and the underlying philosophical system of each philosopher.
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PHIL 332 History of Modern Political Philosophy (5) SSc
Examination of major political philosophies from the sixteenth century to the nineteenth century, with attention to the underlying philosophical methods and foundations.
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PHIL 335 Plato's Republic (5) A&H/SSc
Designed especially for philosophy majors, but open to non-majors. Intensive study of Plato's masterpiece. Prerequisite: one PHIL course.
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PHIL 338 Philosophy of Human Rights (5) SSc
Theories of human rights and the bearing of these theories on issues of public policy such as legitimacy of war and terrorism, economic justice, and whether future generations have rights.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 338
PHIL 340 History of Ancient Ethics (5) A&H/SSc
Development of moral thought from Socrates through the Stoics. Particular emphasis on the ethical writings of Plato and Aristotle.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 340
PHIL 342 History of Modern Ethics (5) A&H/SSc
Development of moral thought from Hobbes through Nietzsche, with particular emphasis on the ethical writings of Hume, Kant, and John Stuart Mill.
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PHIL 343 Ethics and the Environment (5) SSc
Advanced introduction to environmental ethics, with an emphasis on nonanthropocentric value theory.
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PHIL 344 History of Recent Ethics (5) A&H/SSc
Study of major ethical writings in the twentieth century, with principal emphasis on the Anglo-American tradition.
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PHIL 345 Moral Issues of Life and Death (5) SSc/A&H
Examination of such topics as war and murder, famine relief, capital punishment, high-risk technologies, abortion, suicide, and the rights of future generations.
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PHIL 346 Personal Values and Human Good (5) SSc
Examination of the idea of a good human life. Emphases differ from year to year. Typical topics include happiness and prudence, rationality and life plans, personal values and the meaning of life, autonomy and false consciousness, self-respect and self-esteem, honesty and self-deception, faith and "vital lies."
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PHIL 347 Philosophy in Literature (5) A&H/SSc
Study of philosophical ideas expressed in works of literature.
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PHIL 350 Introduction to Epistemology (5) SSc
Nature, definition, and possibility of knowledge.
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PHIL 356 Introduction to Metaphysics (5) SSc
Introductory examination of some of the main problems in metaphysics, such as the nature of truth and reality, the metaphysical status of properties, the existence of free will.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 356
PHIL 360 Introductory Topics in Philosophy of Science (5, max. 10) SSc/NSc
Study of one or more current topics in philosophy of science such as scientific realism, explanation, confirmation, causation. Course overlaps with: T PHIL 364. Prerequisite: one PHIL course.
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PHIL 362 Topics in the Philosophy of Science (5) SSc/NSc
Critical study of nature of scientific knowledge, emphasizing the role of evidence in several different sciences. Topics include accounts of scientific methods; the relation of theory to observation; how theories change; and the nature of the confirmation and falsification of hypotheses and theories. Offered: Sp.
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PHIL 363 Introduction to the Philosophy of Mind (5) SSc
Various theories of the nature of mind, the relationship between mind and body, the self, introspection, and knowledge of other minds.
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PHIL 373 Introduction to Philosophy of Mathematics (5) SSc
Introduction to some of the main issues in philosophy of mathematics: to what degree are mathematical theorems justified by rational insight, sensory experience, purely symbolic computations; what is the infinite, and how can one reason about infinite sets, spaces, and numbers without becoming entangled in contradictions.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 373
PHIL 398 Philosophy for Children Practicum (2-5, max. 10)
Exploration of various methods for introducing philosophy to K-12 students with a focus on ways in which to establish "communities of philosophical inquiry" in classrooms. Students will develop an understanding of how to inspire philosophical discussions with pre-college students. Emphasis is on learning by doing, with students facilitating philosophy sessions in local public schools. Credit/no-credit only. Offered: WSp.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 398
PHIL 399 Foreign Study (2-5, max. 10)
Upper-division philosophy studies with no direct UW equivalents, taken through UW foreign study programs.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 399
PHIL 400 Honors Seminar (5) SSc
Intensive and advanced studies of philosophical topics. Topics vary. Open only to Philosophy departmental honors students. Offered: W.
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PHIL 401 Advanced Topics in Philosophy (3-5, max. 15) SSc
A study of philosophical topics at the advanced level. Topics vary.
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PHIL 405 Political Philosophy of Race (5) SSc, DIV
Explores the social and political issues that arise in the pursuit of racial justice. Topics include: racial reparations, affirmative action, neighborhood integration, education reform, racial profiling, criminal justice reform, and civil disobedience as means to achieve racial justice. Recommended: coursework in philosophy.
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PHIL 406 Philosophical Topics in Feminism (5) SSc, DIV
Detailed examination of questions raised by recent feminist scholarship in particular areas of philosophy, such as political theory, ethics, epistemology, or philosophy of science. Emphasis varies.
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PHIL 407 International Justice (5)
Examines issues through investigation of the moral foundations of international politics. Issues include: What moral duties constrain the relationships between states? Is international poverty a matter of moral concern? Are we justified in preferring the interest of our fellow nations? Prerequisite: one course in philosophy.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 407
PHIL 408 Philosophy of Diversity (5) SSc, DIV
Must a liberal political community respect all claims made on behalf of minority cultural groups? Are there moral limits to the forms of diversity compatible with just governance? Examines modern philosophical writings on these topics. Prerequisite: One philosophy course.
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PHIL 409 Philosophy of Disability (5) SSc, DIV
Rethinks the non-disabled assumption at the heart of much of western moral and political philosophy. Explores concepts of autonomy, opportunity, personhood, and dependence in regard to disability. Issues may include prenatal testing and reproduction, special education, requirements of accommodation, and social and legal interpretations of disability. Prerequisite: one philosophy course or LSJ 332/CHID 332, LSJ 433/CHID 433, or LSJ 434/CHID 434.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 409
PHIL 410 Social and Political Philosophy (5) SSc
An examination of topics pertaining to social and political structures and institutions such as liberty, distributive justice, equality and race, and human rights. Course equivalent to: T PHIL 410.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 410
PHIL 411 Justice in Health Care (5) SSc/A&H
Examination of the ethical problem of allocating scarce medical resources. Emphasizes the fundamental principles of justice that support alternative health policies. Offered: jointly with B H 474.
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PHIL 412 Ethical Theory (5) SSc
Studies the major normative ethical theories, including both teleological and deontological approaches. Emphasizes moral philosophy during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, as well as contemporary commentary. Offered: jointly with B H 402.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 412
PHIL 413 Metaethical Theory (5) SSc
Studies the major metaethical theories, including both cognitivist and noncognitivist approaches. Emphasizes moral philosophy during the twentieth century, as well as contemporary commentary. Offered: jointly with B H 404.
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PHIL 414 Philosophy of Law (5) SSc
Nature and function of law. Relation of law to morality. Legal rights, judicial reasoning. Course equivalent to: T PHIL 414.
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PHIL 415 Advanced Topics in Animal Welfare (5) SSc
Critical examination of issues in the philosophy of animal welfare and animal rights. Prerequisite: one philosophy course.
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PHIL 416 Ethics and Climate Change (5) SSc
Critical examination of the ethical issues surrounding climate change. Prerequisite: either one philosophy or one environmental studies course. Offered: jointly with ENVIR 416.
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PHIL 417 Advanced Topics in Environmental Philosophy (5) SSc
Critical examination of issues in environmental philosophy. Topics vary. Prerequisite: one philosophy course. Offered: jointly with ENVIR 417.
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PHIL 418 Jewish Philosophy (5) SSc
Introduces the central concepts and themes of Jewish philosophy. Focuses either on debates within a particular historical period - e.g., medieval or modern; or on a topic - e.g., reactions to the Enlightenment or to the Holocaust. Offered: jointly with JEW ST 418.
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PHIL 419 Latin American Philosophy (5) SSc
Historical survey of Latin American philosophy. Includes key texts and authors. Ranges from Mesoamerican period to the present. Recommended: coursework in philosophy.
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PHIL 422 Studies in Continental Rationalism (5, max. 15) SSc
Study of one or more of the major continental rationalists: Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz.
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PHIL 426 Twentieth-Century Philosophy (5) SSc
A study of development of contemporary analytic philosophy, the revolt against idealism, and the linguistic turn in philosophy.
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PHIL 430 Hellenistic Philosophy (5) SSc
Survey of the Epicurean, Stoic, and Skeptic philosophy of the Hellenistic period. Emphasis may vary. Prerequisite: either PHIL 320, PHIL 330, PHIL 335, PHIL 340, PHIL 431, or PHIL 433.
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PHIL 431 Philosophy of Plato (5) SSc
Study of selected dialogues.
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PHIL 433 Philosophy of Aristotle (5) SSc
Study of several major Aristotelian treatises.
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PHIL 436 British Empiricism (3) SSc
Examination of the metaphysical and epistemological views of Locke and Berkeley, with perhaps some attention also to Hume. Prerequisite: either PHIL 322 or PHIL 350.
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PHIL 437 Philosophy of Hume (3) SSc
Hume's analyses of knowledge, the passions, and morals.
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PHIL 438 Philosophy of Kant (5) SSc
Systematic study of The Critique of Pure Reason.
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PHIL 440 Ethics (5) SSc
Critical examination of the concepts and judgments of value, including an analytical treatment of the notions of good and bad, right and wrong, and obligation. Emphasis varies from quarter to quarter.
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PHIL 441 Public Health Ethics (5) SSc
An in-depth study of the philosophical issues arising in the practice and policy of public health. Material consists mainly of texts from philosophy and ethics, but, due to the course's interdisciplinary nature, also includes papers from epidemiology, newspaper articles, and current public health regulations and campaigns.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 441
PHIL 442 Neuroethics (5) SSc
Neurotechnological advances offer novel ways to address problems of movement, mood, and communication, but also call into question fundamental philosophical assumptions about the kinds of creatures we are. Explores questions of personal identity, moral and legal responsibility, privacy, security, normality, and justice in the context of neurotechnologies.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 442
PHIL 445 Philosophy of Art (5) A&H/SSc
Critical examination of various accounts of the nature of art, artistic activity, the aesthetic experience. Problems in interpretation and evaluation of works of art.
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PHIL 446 Development of Aesthetic Theory (5) A&H/SSc
Historical development of aesthetics, emphasizing such major figures as Plato, Aristotle, Hume, Kant, Hegel, and Goodman.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 446
PHIL 448 Philosophy and Video Games: I Play Therefore I Am (5) SSc
Examines video games and game studies from a philosophical perspective. What is a video game? Do video games necessarily involve both gameplay and fiction? Are video games art? Is there an art of agency in games? Do players identify with characters in a game? Do video games elicit real emotions or merely simulated ones? Can video games be moral or immoral? What is ethical game design? Can video games serve as philosophical thought experiments?
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 448
PHIL 449 Philosophy of Film (5) A&H/SSc
Examines films and film theory from a philosophical perspective. Topics may include the nature of film, whether films have "authors", how films engage our emotions, whether films are vehicles of ideology, whether video games are "interactive" cinema, and whether films and video games themselves can do philosophy.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 449
PHIL 450 Epistemology (5) SSc
Systematic study of some of the main problems of the theory of knowledge, such as: the definition of "knowledge"; a priori knowledge; perception and knowledge of the external world; and whether knowledge has or requires a foundation. Emphasis varies from quarter to quarter.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 450
PHIL 452 Statistics and Philosophy of Voting (3)
Considers topics relevant to modern voting and elections through statistical and social choice lenses. Topics include the purpose and limits of democratic decision-making; social choice theory and the associated theorems; judgement aggregation; voting procedures; election case studies; election polling and forecasting; electoral redistricting and gerrymandering; fairness aspects in voting; voting in contexts other than elections. Prerequisite: either STAT 311, STAT 390, STAT 391, or CSE 312.
; recommended: familiarity with reading and writing proofs; at least one introductory statistics course; and beginner ability with data programming at the level of either CSE 121, CSE 160, or STAT 302. Offered: jointly with CS&SS 452/STAT 452; A, even years.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 452
PHIL 453 Philosophy of Language (5) A&H/SSc
Current theories of meaning, reference, predication, and related concepts. Offered: jointly with LING 476.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 453
PHIL 455 Nature of Race and Racism (5) SSc, DIV
Metaphysical and ontological issues related to investigating concepts of race and racism. Addresses questions such as: What is race? Do races exist? What sorts of things can be racist (e.g., persons, acts, beliefs, feelings, places, institutions)? Is there 'unintentional' racism? What counts as 'structural' racism? Recommended: coursework in philosophy.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 455
PHIL 456 Metaphysics (5) SSc
Examination of such topics as freedom of the will, the nature of persons and personal identity, the existence of God, time, necessary truth, and universals. The emphases vary from year to year.
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PHIL 458 Phenomenology (5) SSc
Contributions of phenomenology to selected topics in the theory of meaning, philosophy of mind, ontology, and epistemology.
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PHIL 459 Philosophy of Medicine (5) SSc
Familiarizes students with central issues in the philosophy of medicine. Focuses on the nature of medical knowledge, the connection between theory and observation, the meaning of medical concepts, and the relationship between theories and the world. Offered: jointly with B H 440.
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PHIL 460 Philosophy of Science (5) SSc/NSc
Critical study of the nature of scientific knowledge. Topics include the relation of theory to observation, the use of mathematics, how theories change, the requirements for the meaningfulness of a theory, and nature of confirmation.. Prerequisite: one PHIL course.
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PHIL 462 Social Structure of Science (5) SSc
Critical study of how social structure and power in science contribute to its content and practices.
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PHIL 463 Philosophy of Mind (5) SSc
Examination of current theories of the nature of the mind and mental processes.
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PHIL 464 Philosophical Issues in the Cognitive Sciences (5) NSc/SSc
Philosophical problems connected with research in psychology, artificial intelligence, and other cognitive sciences. Topics vary. Readings from both philosophical and scientific literature. Accessible to nonphilosophers with suitable interests and backgrounds.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 464
PHIL 465 Philosophy of History (3) SSc
Analyses of basic concepts employed in historical interpretation, and study of some of the principal philosophers of history, such as Plato, Saint Augustine, Hegel, Marx, Spengler, Toynbee.
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PHIL 466 Philosophy of the Social Sciences (5) SSc
Examination of fundamental issues in the foundations, methodology, and interpretation of the social sciences. Topics include value orientation and objectivity, methodological individualism, functionalism, reductionism, and the status of idealized models, including models involving idealized conceptions of individual rationality. Emphasis varies from quarter to quarter.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 466
PHIL 467 Philosophy of Religion (5) SSc
Study of selected topics and problems in the philosophy of religion, such as: arguments for the existence of God; the problem of evil; atheism; faith; religious experience and revelation; the attributes of God; miracles; immortality; and the relation between religion and morality. Readings from historical and contemporary authors. Course equivalent to: TRELIG 467.
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PHIL 470 Intermediate Logic (5) SSc/NSc, RSN
An introduction to the concepts and methods of metatheory and their application to the sentential calculus.
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PHIL 471 Advanced Logic (5) SSc/NSc
Study of the first-order predicate calculus with identity and function symbols. Consistency, soundness, completeness, compactness. Skolem-Lowenheim theorem. Formalized theories. Prerequisite: PHIL 470.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 471
PHIL 472 Axiomatic Set Theory (5) SSc/NSc
Development of axiomatic set theory up to and including the consistency of the Axiom of Choice and Continuum Hypothesis with the Zermelo-Fraenkel Axioms.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 472
PHIL 473 Philosophy of Mathematics (5) SSc/NSc
Study of the traditional accounts of the nature of mathematical entities and mathematical truth given by logicism, intuitionism, and formalism, and the impact of Godel's incompleteness theorems on these accounts.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 473
PHIL 474 Modal Logic (5) SSc/NSc
Notions of necessity and possibility, using the classical systems T, S4, and S5, and the syntax and the semantics (Kripke models) of these systems.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 474
PHIL 479 Semantics II (3) A&H/SSc/NSc
Formal characterization of linguistic meaning. Emphasis on nature and purpose of formal semantics and on its relation to formal syntax. Prerequisite: LING 478 Offered: jointly with LING 479.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 479
PHIL 481 Philosophy of Biology (5) NSc/SSc
Study of several current topics in philosophy of biology, which may include the logical structure of evolutionary theory, fitness, taxonomy, the concept of a living thing, reductionism, the concept of a biological species, evolutionary explanations, and philosophical consequences of sociology. Prerequisite: one PHIL course.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 481
PHIL 482 Philosophy of Physical Science (5, max. 10) SSc/NSc
Study of philosophical issues raised by theories in physics or chemistry, such as whether space (time) is a substance, how causation and locality are treated in quantum mechanics, temporal anistropy and time travel, the nature of a field of force, the reduction of chemistry to physics. Prerequisite: one PHIL course.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 482
PHIL 483 Induction and Probability (5) NSc/SSc
Introduction to current accounts of evidence and observation, the confirmation of scientific theories, the logic of inductive reasoning, and the metaphysics and epistemology of chance. High school-level math used. Specific topics vary from year to year. Prerequisite: PHIL 120.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 483
PHIL 484 Reading in Philosophy (1-5, max. 15)
Individual study of selected philosophical works.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 484
PHIL 486 Philosophy of Game Theory (5) SSc
Decision theory and game theory. Includes either applications to philosophical problems or philosophical critiques of expected utility theory and orthodox equilibria concepts. Applications may include decision rules in defenses of utilitarian and Rawlsian principles of justice, bargaining theory and moral contractarianism, and evolutionary game theory and the emergence of morality and/or norms.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 486
PHIL 490 Advanced Topics in Epistemology (5, max. 15) SSc
Intensive study of a particular topic or area in epistemology. Prerequisite: either PHIL 350 or PHIL 450.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 490
PHIL 495 Philosophical Inquiry in Schools (5) SSc
Explores methods for introducing philosophy to K-12 students, focusing on ways to establish "communities of philosophical inquiry." Students learn how to inspire philosophical discussions with pre-college students, and work in pairs with the instructor to lead philosophy sessions in the seminar and in local schools. Prerequisite: one PHIL course. Offered: A.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 495
PHIL 498 Undergraduate Internship (1-5, max. 10)
Independent fieldwork under the supervision of a faculty member. Individual experiences vary but could include an off-campus practicum or being trained as study group leader or tutor. Credit/no-credit only. Offered: AWSp.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 498
PHIL 500 Proseminar in Philosophy (5)
Introduces incoming graduate students to topics representative of the field and the faculty's interest. Each class session is devoted to a separate topic taught by a different member of the faculty. In addition to reading and short written assignments, students prepare a term paper on a topic presented. Offered: A.
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PHIL 502 Pre-Dissertation Workshop I (5)
Introduces cognitive, emotional, and physical labor of writing a dissertation. Topics may include cultivation of productive work habits, identifying a dissertation project, and forming the dissertation committee. Students complete the literature review requirement. Prerequisite: philosophy graduate student standing. Credit/no-credit only.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 502
PHIL 503 Pre-Dissertation Workshop II (5, max. 10)
Doctoral students develop a piece of academic writing (prospectus draft, dissertation chapter, or conference paper), polish their CV, and continue developing the skill of giving and receiving critical feedback. Prerequisite: philosophy graduate student standing; recommended: PHIL 502. Credit/no-credit only.
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PHIL 504 Topics in Teaching Philosophy I (1, max. 5)
Provides first-year graduate students materials and support needed to begin teaching at the college level, with focus on role of teaching assistant. Investigates empirical work and best practices in pedagogy. Topics may include beginning and leading classroom discussions; grading philosophical assignments and time management; fostering and maintaining an inclusive classroom environment. Prerequisite: philosophy graduate student standing. Credit/no-credit only.
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PHIL 505 Topics in Teaching Philosophy II (1, max. 5)
Investigates how to develop and design effective courses in philosophy, and how to lead and teach these courses at the university level. Topics include assignment scaffolding, just-in-time teaching, equity in the classroom, backward course design, active learning, Bloom's taxonomy, time management, and teaching statements. Prerequisite: graduate standing in philosophy; PHIL 504. Credit/no-credit only.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 505
PHIL 510 Seminar in Social and Political Philosophy (5, max. 20)
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PHIL 514 Seminar in Legal Philosophy (5, max. 20)
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PHIL 520 Seminar in Ancient Philosophy (5, max. 20)
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PHIL 522 Seminar in Modern Philosophy (5, max. 20)
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PHIL 526 Seminar in Recent Philosophy (5, max. 20)
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PHIL 538 Philosophy of Human Rights (5, max. 20)
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PHIL 540 Seminar in Ethics (5, max. 20)
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PHIL 545 Seminar in the Philosophy of Art (5, max. 20)
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PHIL 550 Seminar in Epistemology (5, max. 20)
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PHIL 556 Seminar in Metaphysics (5, max. 20)
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PHIL 560 Seminar in the Philosophy of Science (5, max. 20)
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PHIL 562 Seminar in the Social Structure of Science (5, max. 20)
Critical study of how social structure and power in science contribute to its content and practices.
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PHIL 563 Seminar in the Philosophy of Mind (5, max. 20)
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PHIL 564 Seminar in Philosophy of the Cognitive Sciences (5)
Examines philosophical questions raised in and by cognitive sciences, including the nature of explanation, the role of models in explanation, and debates about reductionism versus pluralism in the face of diverse research paradigms.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 564
PHIL 565 Seminar in the Philosophy of History (5, max. 20)
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PHIL 566 Seminar in Philosophy of the Social Sciences (5, max. 20)
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PHIL 570 Seminar in Logic (5, max. 20)
Prerequisite: PHIL 470.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 570
PHIL 574 Meta-archaeology: Philosophy and Archaeology (1-5, max. 5)
Examines philosophical issues raised in and by archaeology, including theories of explanation and model building, analyses of evidential reasoning and hermeneutic interpretation, debates about ideals of objectivity and about science and values. Offered: jointly with ARCHY 574.
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PHIL 584 Reading in Philosophy (1-5, max. 12)
Intensive reading in philosophical literature. Prerequisite: permission of Graduate Program Coordinator.
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PHIL 587 Contemporary Analytic Philosophy (5, max. 20)
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PHIL 595 Philosophical Inquiry in Schools (5)
Explores methods for introducing philosophy to K-12 students, focusing on ways to establish "communities of philosophical inquiry." Students learn how to inspire philosophical discussions with pre-college students, and work in pairs with the instructor to lead philosophy sessions in the seminar and in local schools. Offered: A.
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 595
PHIL 600 Independent Study or Research (*-)
Prerequisite: permission of Graduate Program Coordinator.
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PHIL 800 Doctoral Dissertation (*-)
View course details in MyPlan: PHIL 800
