Hum/Pl 8
Right and Wrong
9 units (3-0-6)
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offered by announcement
This course addresses questions such as: Where do our moral ideas come from? What justifies them? How should they guide our conduct, as individuals and as a society? What kind of person should one aspire to be? Topics the course may deal with include meta-ethical issues (e.g., What makes an action right or wrong? When is one morally responsible for one's actions? How should society be organized?) and normative questions (e.g., Is eating meat morally acceptable? What should we tolerate and why? What are society's obligations toward the poor?). In addition, the psychological and neural substrates of moral judgment and decision making may be explored. The course draws on a variety of sources, including selections from the great works of moral and political philosophy (e.g., Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics, Hobbes's Leviathan, Kant's Groundings for a Metaphysics of Morals, and Rawls's A Theory of Justice), contemporary discussions of particular moral issues, and the science of moral thought.
Instructors:
Cowie, Quartz
Hum/Pl 9
Knowledge and Reality
9 units (3-0-6)
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offered by announcement
The theme of this course is the scope and limitations of rational belief and knowledge. Students will examine the nature of reality, the nature of the self, the nature of knowledge, and how we learn about the natural world. Students will be introduced to these issues through selections from some of the world's greatest philosophical works, including Descartes's Meditations, Pascal's Pensees, Hume's Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Berkeley's Principles of Human Knowledge, and Kant's Prolegomena to any Future Metaphysics. A variety of more contemporary readings will also be assigned.
Instructors:
Manning, Hitchcock, Velasco
Pl 90 ab
Senior Thesis
9 units (1-0-8)
Required of students taking the philosophy option. To be taken in any two consecutive terms of the senior year. Students will research and write a thesis of 10,000-12,000 words on a philosophical topic to be determined in consultation with their thesis adviser. Limited to students taking the philosophy option.
Instructor:
Staff
Pl 98
Reading in Philosophy
9 units (1-0-8)
Prerequisites: instructor's permission.
An individual program of directed reading in philosophy, in areas not covered by regular courses.
Instructor:
Staff
Pl/Law 99
Causation and Responsibility
9 units (3-0-6)
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third term
This course will examine the interrelationships between the concepts of causation, moral responsibility, and legal liability. It will consider legal doctrines of causation and responsibility, as well as attempts within philosophy to articulate these concepts. Questions to be addressed include: Can you be morally or legally responsible for harms that you do not cause? Is it worse to cause some harm, than to unsuccessfully attempt it? Is it justified to punish those who cause harm more severely than those who attempt harm? When, if ever, can the ends justify the means? What constitutes negligence? Is it worse to cause some harm, than to allow it to happen (when you could have prevented it)?
Instructor:
Hitchcock
Pl 102
Selected Topics in Philosophy
9 units (3-0-6)
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offered by announcement
Prerequisite: Hum/Pl 8 or Hum/Pl 9 or instructor's permission.
Pl 103
Medieval Philosophy
9 units (3-0-6)
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third term
This course examines the philosophy of Western Europe from the decline of pagan culture to the Renaissance, roughly 400-1400 C.E. Material covered will vary, but will likely include a thorough introduction to Late Greek neo-Platonic philosophy as background to reading figures such as Augustine, Boethius, Avicenna, Abailard, Averroes, Maimonides, Anselm, Albert the Great, Aquinas, Olivi, Scotus, and Ockham. Not offered 2012-13.
HPS/Pl 120
Introduction to Philosophy of Science
9 units (3-0-6)
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first term
An introduction to fundamental philosophical problems concerning the nature of science. Topics may include the character of scientific explanation, criteria for the conformation and falsification of scientific theories, the relationship between theory and observation, philosophical accounts of the concept of "law of nature," causation, chance, realism about unobservable entities, the objectivity of science, and issues having to do with the ways in which scientific knowledge changes over time.
Instructor:
Glynn
HPS/Pl 121
Causation and Explanation
9 units (3-0-6)first term
; An examination of theories of causation and explanation in philosophy and neighboring disciplines. Topics discussed may include probabilistic and counterfactual treatments of causation, the role of statistical evidence and experimentation in causal inference, and the deductive-nomological model of explanation. The treatment of these topics by important figures from the history of philosophy such as Aristotle, Descartes, and Hume may also be considered. Not offered 2012-13.
HPS/Pl 122
Probability, Evidence, and Belief
9 units (3-0-6)
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first term
Philosophical and conceptual issues arising from the study of probability theory and how it relates to rationality and belief. Topics discussed may include the foundations and interpretations of probability, arguments for and against the view that we ought to have personal degrees of belief, rational change in beliefs over time, and the relationship between probability and traditional epistemological topics like evidence, justification, and knowledge.
Instructor:
Velasco
HPS/Pl 124
Philosophy of Space and Time
9 units (3-0-6)
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third term
This course will focus on questions about the nature of space and time, particularly as they arise in connection with physical theory. Topics may include the nature and existence of space, time, and motion; the relationship between geometry and physical space (or space-time); entropy and the direction of time; the nature of simultaneity; and the possibility of time travel. Not offered 2012-13.
HPS/Pl 125
Philosophical Issues in Quantum Physics
9 units (3-0-6)
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second term
This course will focus on conceptual issues that arise within quantum physics. Topics may include determinism and indeterminism; Einstein's critiques of quantum theory; the interpretation of quantum measurement; and quantum logic. Not offered 2012-13.
HPS/Pl 128
Philosophy of Mathematics
9 units (3-0-6)
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third term
An examination of conceptual issues that arise in mathematics. The sorts of issues addressed may include the following: Are mathematical objects such as numbers in some sense real? How do we obtain knowledge of the mathematical world? Are proofs the only legitimate source of mathematical knowledge? What is the relationship between mathematics and the world? How is it possible to apply abstract theory to the world? Views of major historical figures such as Plato, Hume, Kant, and Mill, as well as of contemporary writers are examined. The course will also examine philosophical issues that arise in particular areas of mathematics such as probability theory and geometry.
Instructor:
Hitchcock
HPS/Pl 129
Introduction to Philosophy of Biology
9 units (3-0-6)
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first term
Philosophical and conceptual issues relating to the biological sciences. Topics covered may include the logical structure of evolutionary theory, units of selection, optimization theory, the nature of species, reductionism, teleological and functional reasoning, and ethical issues arising from contemporary biological research. Not offered 2012-13.
HPS/Pl 130
Philosophy and Biology
9 units (3-0-6)
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second term
A selection of philosophical issues arising in the biological sciences. Topics will vary by term. The focus for 2012-2013 is Probability, Causation, and Laws in Biology. Questions to be examined include whether natural selection, drift, migration, etc. can be considered "forces" or "causes" of evolution, how to interpret probabilistic claims that appear in fitness models or in other kinds of ecology or evolution models, and what constitutes acceptable biological explanations and how this relates to the question of whether there are any biological laws.
Instructor:
Velasco
HPS/Pl 132
Introduction to Philosophy of Mind and Psychology
9 units (3-0-6)
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offered by announcement
An introduction to the mind-body problem. The course attempts, from the time of Descartes to the present, to understand the nature of the mind and its relation to the body and brain. Topics to be addressed may include dualism, behaviorism, functionalism, computationalism, neurophilosophy, consciousness and qualia, scientific psychology vs. "folk" psychology, the nature of emotion, knowledge of other minds. Not offered 2012-13.
HPS/Pl 133
Philosophy and Neuroscience
9 units (3-0-6)
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second term
This course will examine the impact of recent advances in neuroscience on traditional philosophical problems. Topics may include the nature of free will in light of work on the neural basis of decision making; the nature of consciousness, knowledge, or learning; the mind/brain from the perspective of neural computation; and the neural foundations of cognitive science.
Instructor:
Quartz
HPS/Pl 134
Current Issues in Philosophical Psychology
9 units (3-0-6)
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second, third terms
An in-depth examination of one or more issues at the intersection of contemporary philosophy and the brain and behavioral sciences. Topics may include the development of a theory of mind and self-representation, theories of representation and neural coding, the nature of rationality, the nature and causes of psychopathology, learning and innateness, the modularity of mind. Not offered 2012-13.
HPS/Pl 138
Human Nature and Society
9 units (3-0-6)
This course will investigate how assumptions about human nature shape political philosophy, social institutions, and social policy. The course will begin with a historical perspective, examining the work of such political philosophers as Plato, Locke, Rousseau, and Marx, along with such psychologists as Freud and Skinner. Against this historical perspective, it will then turn to examine contemporary views on human nature from cognitive neuroscience and evolutionary psychology and explore their potential implications for political philosophy and social policy. Among topics to be discussed will be the nature of human sociality and cooperation; economic systems and assumptions regarding production and consumption; and propaganda, marketing, and manipulation. Not offered 2012-13.
Pl 150
17th-Century Philosophy: Bacon to Leibniz
9 units (3-0-6)
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first, third terms
The course will examine the work of one or more philosophers active during the so-called Century of Genius. Although we will focus on the arguments each author brings to bear in support of his or her philosophical position, historical background will be introduced to provide scientific, religious, and political context. The topics will include the limits of human knowledge, the existence and nature of mind, matter, and God, and the relationship between science and philosophy. Philosophers discussed are selected from Bacon, Mersenne, Descartes, Gassendi, Hobbes, Digby, Spinoza, Malebranche, Arnauld, More, Cudworth, Locke, Newton, and Leibniz.
Instructor:
Manning
Pl 151
18th-Century Philosophy: Locke to Kant
9 units (3-0-6)
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second term
The course will examine the work of one or more philosophers active during the so-called Age of Enlightenment. Although we will focus on the arguments each author brings to bear in support of his or her philosophical position, historical background will be introduced to provide scientific, religious, and political context. The topics will include ideas and perception, belief and knowledge, passion and reason, matter and mind, causation and free will, and the relationship between science and philosophy. Philosophers discussed are selected from Locke, Huygens, Leibniz, Newton, Wolff, Berkeley, Rousseau, Hume, Reid, and Kant.
Instructor:
Manning
Pl/HPS 157
Leibniz vs. Newton: Philosophers at War
9 units (3-0-6)
This course takes up a fascinating exchange between Leibniz and Newton, two towering figures at the dawn of modern physical science. It centers on the correspondence between Leibniz and Newton's disciple Samuel Clarke. Their letters (1714-1716) address foundational issues of 17th century dynamics: the existence of space and time; the architecture of matter; God and his agency in the world; miracles and laws of nature; free will and divine choice. A detailed overview of the scientific, philosophical, and religious background to the debate will serve to introduce the debate. Not offered 2012-13.
HPS/Pl 169
Selected Topics in Philosophy of Science
9 units (3-0-6)
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offered by announcement
Instructors:
Staff, visiting lecturers
HPS/H/Pl 173
History of Chemistry
9 units (3-0-6)
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first term
This course examines developments in chemistry from medieval alchemy to the time of Lavoisier. It will examine the real content of alchemy and its contributions to modern science, as well as how to decode its bizarre language; chemistry's long quest for respect and academic status; the relations of chemistry with metallurgy, medicine, and other fields; and the content and development of the chemical theories and the chemical laboratory and its methods. Not offered 2012-13.
Pl/HPS 183
Bioethics
9 units (3-0-6)
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offered by announcement
A survey of issues in bioethics. Topics may include: abortion and reproductive rights; euthanasia; cloning; genetic modification of organisms (including humans); moral status of chimeras; stem-cell research; organ transplantation, distribution and sale; cure vs. enhancement; use of human subjects in research; the concept of informed consent; research on non-human animals. Pre-med students may want to consider taking HPS/Pl 191 instead of this course. Students will not be permitted to take both HPS/Pl 183 and HPS/PL 191 for credit
Instructor:
Cowie
Pl/HPS 184
Science, Ethics, and Public Policy
9 units (3-0-6)
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offered by announcement
This course discusses some moral and social issues concerning research in the sciences (chiefly, biomedicine, with special attention to stem-cell research.) We will begin by discussing attempts to find a framework within which the issues can be addressed, and then we will discuss some specific topics. In most cases we will not so much seek answers to moral questions as attempt to identify helpful questions, clarify the issues involved, and analyze the moral status of the protagonists. We will also pay special attention to issues of public policy, and ask how scientific research should be organized and funded in a democracy. Not offered 2012-13.
Pl 185
Moral Philosophy
9 units (3-0-6)
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third term
A survey of topics in moral philosophy. The emphasis will be on metaethical issues, although some normative questions may be addressed. Metaethical topics that may be covered include the fact/value distinction; the nature of right and wrong (consequentialism, deontological theories, rights-based ethical theories, virtue ethics); the status of moral judgments (cognitivism vs. noncognitivism, realism vs. irrealism); morality and psychology; moral relativism; moral skepticism; morality and self-interest; the nature of justice. The implications of these theories for various practical moral problems may also be considered. Not offered 2012-13.
Pl 186
Political Philosophy
9 units (3-0-6)
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offered by announcement
This course will address one or more issues in contemporary political theory and/or the history of political thought. Topics may include the nature of democracy; liberalism; distributive justice; human rights; the moral and legal regulation of warfare; the status of positive law; social choice theory; the relations between the market and the state. The work of figures such as Plato, Aristotle, Locke, Hobbes, Mill, Machiavelli, and Rawls will be discussed. Not offered 2012-13.
Pl 187
Natural Justice
9 units (3-0-6)
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third term
This course examines the unorthodox view that morality is a natural phenomenon-the product of a combination of biological and cultural evolution. It reviews and criticizes the traditional arguments used to deny both moral natu-ralism and moral relativism, notably the Naturalistic Fallacy. It assesses the success of the approach advocated by evolutionary biologists and psychologists. It examines the evidence from laboratory experiments on fairness and justice. Finally, it attempts to synthesize all these strands using the theory of games as a unifying framework. Not offered 2012-13.
HPS/Pl 188
The Evolution of Cognition
9 units (3-0-6)
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second term
By many measures, Homo sapiens is the most cognitively sophisticated animal on the planet. Not only does it live in a huge variety of habitats, and not only has it transformed its environment in unprecedented ways, but it is also responsible for such cultural artifacts as language, science, religion, and art. These are achievements that other species, however successful they may be in other respects, have not accomplished. This course investigates the cognitive, behavioral, and environmental bases for humans' surprising cultural dominance of our planet. Possible topics include the evolution of language, the evolution of morality, the evolution of religion, the evolution of cooperation, and the advent of technology, math, science, and the Internet. Contact the instructor to find out what the topic in any given term is. Not offered 2012-13.
Pl/HPS 191
Biomedical Ethics
9 units (3-0-6)
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offered by announcement
A survey of issues in bioethics, tailored for pre-med students (though non-premeds are welcome to attend UNLESS they have previously taken Pl 183, in which case they may not). General topics in bioethics will be covered in the first part of the course (may include issues like: abortion and reproductive rights, cloning, stem-cell research, organ transplantation and sale, informed consent, euthanasia, research ethics - human and animal). The second part of the course will focus on issues of particular concern to students intending to pursue a career in medicine, including: professional ethics, doctor-patient confidentiality, the 'therapeutic privilege' and truth-telling, informed consent, participation in biomedical research.
Instructor:
Cowie
Published Date:
July 28, 2022