Courses

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Not all courses are offered every year. For current course offersings see below. To search all U of S graduate course offerings consult the University Course Calendar.

PHIL 808.3 – Topics in Greek and Roman Philosophy 1/2(3S)
PHIL 813.3 – Topics in 17th- and 18th-Century Philosophy 1/2(3S)
PHIL 814.3 – Kant 1/2(3S) 
PHIL 815.3 – Topics in 19th-Century Philosophy 1/2(3S)
PHIL 816.3 – Topics in Contemporary European Philosophy 1/2(3S)
PHIL 817.3 – Topics in Contemporary Analytic Philosophy 1/2(3S)
PHIL 818.3 – Topics in Contemporary American Pragmatism 1/2(3S)
PHIL 819.3 – Wittgenstein 1/2(3S)
PHIL 820.3 – Philosophical Texts 1/2(3S) 
PHIL 826.3 – Seminar in Philosophy of Mind 1/2(3S)
PHIL 833.3 – Seminar in Ethics 1/2(3S)
PHIL 842.3 – Topics in Philosophical Logic 1/2(3S)
PHIL 844.3 – Seminar in Epistemology 1/2(3S)
PHIL 845.3 – Seminar in Metaphysics 1/2(3S)
PHIL 846.3 – Seminar in the Philosophy of Language 1/2(3S)
PHIL 851.3 – Seminar in the Philosophy of Science 1/2(3S)
PHIL 862.3 – Seminar in Social and Political Philosophy 1/2(3S)
PHIL 871.3 – Seminar in Aesthetics 1/2(3S)

PHIL 990 Seminar
This seminar meets every two weeks throughout both terms of the regular academic year. Under the direction of a faculty member of the department, graduate students study current literature on selected topics and also present papers on their research projects. All graduate students in Philosophy are required to attend this seminar throughout their program and are expected to present at least one paper to the seminar every year. 

PHIL 994 Research
All Masters' students taking the thesis-based option must register for this course in every term.

Maintenance of Status
All Masters' students taking the course-based option must register for "Maintenance of Status" for every term in which they are not registered in a course for credit.

GSR 960 Introduction to Ethics and Integrity
All graduate students are required to register for this short online course upon commencing their programs. The purpose of this course is to discuss ethical issues that graduate students may face during their time at the university. The five modules in GSR 960 look at general issues for graduate students including integrity and scholarship, graduate student–supervisor relationships, conflict of interest, conflict resolution, and intellectual property and credit.

 

Graduate Courses for 2012-2013

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Term 1

PHIL 846  Seminar in the Philosophy of Language

TTH 10:00 -11:20
Sarah Hoffman
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PHIL 820 Topics in Contemporary American Pragmatism

MWF 9:30 - 10:20
Eric Dayton

For Pragmatism knowledge is not a fact or event but a human achievement created through the act of inquiry. In this course we will look at the classical writings of Charles S. Peirce and William James, and the subsequent development of its various strands in the works of John Dewey, George Herbert Mead and C.I. Lewis in the first half of the twentieth century.  The course concludes with a discussion of the relationship between Pragmatism and logical empiricism, its role in the emergence of the of contemporary analytic philosophy, and its current varieties.

PHIL 990 Graduate Seminar (T1 & T2)

T 4:00 - 5:20 PM (bi-weekly)
Faculty

This seminar meets every two weeks throughout both terms of the regular academic year. Under the direction of Karl Pfeifer, graduate students study current literature on selected topics, and in Term 2 present some of their own work or research in progress.

GSR 960 Introduction to Ethics and Integrity

All first year graduate students are required to complete this online course

 

Term 2

PHIL 833 Seminar in Ethics

TTH 11:30 - 12:50
Emer O'Hagan

Kant’s ethical theory is grounded on the thesis that autonomy is the source of value – value exists because rational nature (the capacity to set ends according to reason) exists and is an end in itself; morality is possible because we can be moved by principles of reason.  In this course we will examine Kant’s ethical theory, studying his Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, as well as relevant discussions from some of his other works in practical philosophy, such as The Metaphysics of Morals.  As we proceed, we will consider the interpretations of several influential contemporary Kantian philosophers on a variety of issues.  Our analysis will cover: the nature and value of dutiful action, the nature of self-respect and its relation to morality, the question of whether Kantian ethics can support duties to non-human animals, and the role of self-knowledge in moral development.

PHIL 844 Seminar in Epistemology

MWF 11:30 - 12:20
Robert Hudson

An investigation into recent work in analytic, post-Gettier epistemology, focusing on the issues of epistemic justification, reliable processes, internalism vs. externalism, and the legitimacy of skepticism. Text: to be determined.

PHIL 871 Philosophy of Literature

MW 9:30 – 10:50
Karl Pfeifer

In this seminar we will look at various attempts to define literature and to specify what sort of thing a literary work might be; in addition to the more entrenched philosophical approaches, we will also look at some recent writings on the nature of the book. Next, we will take up various issues pertaining to fiction, such as the notion of truth as it relates to fiction and the role of emotion in fiction. We will then go on to examine theories of that ubiquitous literary device, the metaphor. Finally, we will consider questions regarding interpretation and literary value. The readings for this class will comprise relevant selections from the below-mentioned anthology, as well as a few online articles.

Eileen John and Dominic Lopes (eds.), The Philosophy of Literature:- Contemporary and Classic Readings: An Anthology (Wiley-Blackwell, 2004)

PHIL 990  Graduate Seminar (T1 & T2)

T 4:00 - 5:20 PM (bi-weekly)
Faculty