| PHIL 1106 |
INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY |
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2012-F/W |
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An introduction which focuses on philosophy as a rigorous problem-
solving discipline. After asking about the nature of philosophy itself,
we will tackle philosophical problems concerning language, logic,
identity, knowledge, morality, and God. We will work throughout to
master the logical skills necessary not only for good philosophizing
but for clear thinking on any topic. Students may register for no more
than 6 hours at the 1000-level.
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| PHIL 1113 |
EXAMINED LIFE IN THE INFORMATION AGE |
Yes |
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2019-F/W |
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This course offers an exploration of major philosophical themes in the
context of the emerging technological and information revolution. We
will explore subjects that include: 1) challenges to autonomy in an
age of mass culture, 2) the effects of integrated media, 3) the
philosophical shift from citizen to consumer, and 4) the moral
implications of the uses and abuses of technology. Students may register
for no more than 6 hours at the 1000-level.
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| PHIL 1413 |
GOD, ETHICS & JUSTICE |
Yes |
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2019-F/W |
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In this course, the student is introduced to philosophy through a series
of shorter philosophical excerpts from a variety of authors and periods.
The focus will be on three issues: whether a divine being exists, how to
understand the nature of ethical standards, and what constitutes
political justice. The goal throughout is to develop skills of critical
analysis and self-expression, while coming to understand some of our
culture's most influential thinkers. Students may register for no more
than 6 hours at the 1000-level.
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| PHIL 1423 |
FREEDOM, MIND & KNOWLEDGE |
Yes |
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2019-F/W |
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In this course, the student is introduced to philosophy through a series
of shorter philosophical excerpts from a variety of authors and periods.
The focus will be on three issues: whether humans genuinely exercise
free choice, how to understand the relation between body and mind, and
what constitutes human knowledge. The goal throughout is to develop
skills of critical analysis and self-expression, while coming to
understand some of our culture's most influential thinkers. Students
may register for no more than 6 hours at the 1000-level.
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| PHIL 2006 |
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY |
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2016-F/W |
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The conception of the human soul in Plato and Aristotle. Consideration
may also be given to thinkers such as Heraclitus, Parmenides, Epictetus,
Sextus Empiricus, and Plotinus. The forms of human knowledge, the human
political condition and the ultimate nature of reality will also be
topics of study.
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| PHIL 2016 |
EARLY MODERN PHILOSOPHY |
Yes |
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2019-F/W |
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The course begins with an overview of the scientific revolution and
proceeds to a comparison of the reactions of the Continental
Rationalists and the British Empiricists to the new science. Authors
to be studied include: Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley,
and Hume. The course concludes with an introduction to the philosophy
of Immanuel Kant, whose work is the culmination of early modern
philosophy.
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| PHIL 2023 |
19TH CENTURY PHILOSOPHY |
Yes |
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2017-F/W |
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Post-Kantian European philosophy, with emphasis on Hegel. Topics
considered include self-consciousness, human freedom and political
order, the grounds of knowledge, the nature of religion, and the
possibility of a systematic science of philosophy. Other figures
studied may include Fichte, Schelling, Schopenhauer, Marx, Nietzsche,
Kierkegaard.
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| PHIL 2103 |
AESTHETICS |
Yes |
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2019-F/W |
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In this introduction to aesthetics a number of philosophically important
questions provoked by art will be addressed. The course will cover both
classical and contemporary responses to these questions, and will focus
on such issues as the definition of "art", the objectivity of claims
about beauty and artistic worth, and the nature of the creative process.
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| PHIL 2223 |
EXISTENTIALISM |
Yes |
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2017-F/W |
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The Existentialist "revolt" in philosophy was an attempt to focus
attention upon the implications of modern Western society for the
individual who must live in that society. The origins of this movement,
as well as its influence in theology, psychology, and the arts will be
examined.
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| PHIL 2233 |
PHILOSOPHY & FEMINISM |
Yes |
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2019-F/W |
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Feminist philosophy became a major voice in the twentieth-century,
challenging many traditional views in areas as diverse as politics,
ethics, aesthetics, and the theory of knowledge. Drawing primarily on
writings by women, the major developments of feminist thought will be
studied. The relation of feminism to other contemporary philosophical
movements such as Marxism, Pragmatism, Existentialism, and
Post-Modernism will also be considered.
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| PHIL 2303 |
PHILOSOPHY OF THE ENVIRONMENT |
Yes |
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2019-F/W |
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This course addresses conceptions of the relationship between humans
and nature. The course will foster an analytic approach to
environmental issues while recognizing the broad range of social,
scientific, and philosophical themes involved. The aim will be to
develop a clear and comprehensive understanding of environmental
issues, an understanding which can serve as the basis for ethical
and critical evaluation of the consequences of human actions for the
environment.
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| PHIL 2306 |
ETHICS |
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2018-F/W |
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This course is a critical study of the nature and justification of
ethical judgements, with an analysis of key concepts such as contract,
justice, responsibility, welfare, rights, duty, and virtue. We will
examine selected readings by ancient, early modern and contemporary
thinkers.
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| PHIL 2403 |
PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION |
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2016-F/W |
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This course addresses philosophical issues raised by traditional belief
in God. Why care whether God exists? Why care whether belief in God is
rational? Does the rationality of belief in God depend on the evidence
for, and against, God's existence? What is the best evidence for and
against? What bearing does God have on human morality?
Prereq: One year of university study
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| PHIL 2503 |
MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY |
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- |
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A study of theoretical problems posed by the conjunction of revealed
religion and philosophy from the third century C.E. to the Renaissance.
The ideas of the central figures will be examined through selections of
original sources and discussions of themes (e.g. knowledge of God,
theory of knowing, theory of being).
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| PHIL 2713 |
BIOMEDICAL ETHICS |
Yes |
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2019-F/W |
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Recent advances in medicine and the biological sciences raise pressing
moral and legal questions as to their proper use and control:
experimentation on human subjects, organ transplants, genetic control,
behaviour modification, active and passive euthanasia, and the question
of priorities in health care, against the background of both natural
rights and utilitarian considerations.
Prereq: One year of university study.
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| PHIL 2803 |
METAPHYSICS |
Yes |
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2017-F/W |
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We will explore such metaphysical issues as the following: What is
causation? Are there non-existent things? Can there be ordinary physical
objects in spite of their vagueness? Can distinct physical things
coincide in space and time? Are there possible worlds besides the actual
world? Is time-travel possible? Is the passing of time an illusion?
Prereq: 6h of PHIL or permission of the Department.
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| PHIL 2813 |
LOGIC 1 |
Yes |
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2019-F/W |
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Introduction to logic with emphasis upon the analysis and evaluation
of non-deductive reasoning. No previous philosophy courses required.
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| PHIL 2823 |
LOGIC 2 |
Yes |
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2018-F/W |
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Introduction to symbolic logic. Symbolism is developed for the analysis
and evaluation of arguments. No previous philosophy courses required.
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| PHIL 2913 |
PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE |
Yes |
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2019-F/W |
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An introduction to the philosophical foundations of scientific theories.
Topics to be discussed include the interpretation and confirmation of
scientific theories, reduction, scientific explanation, causation
and laws. The course raises conceptual issues which fall between science
and philosophy, as well as broader epistemological issues concerning
theory change and the concept of progress in science.
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| PHIL 3013 |
EXISTENTIALISM & LITERATURE |
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1994-F/W |
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A study of the idea of human existence in philosophers such as Sartre,
Heidegger, de Beauvoir, Merleau-Ponty, Cixous, and Derrida, with the
primary focus on the place of expression within the context of human
freedom. This foundation will be used to study the nature of literature
in general while using literary works to develop these views. Selections
might be drawn from Homer, Joyce, Garcia Marquez, Kafka, Camus, Wittig,
Nin, de Sade, Kinsella.
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| PHIL 3113 |
KANT: CRITIQUE PURE REASON |
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2018-F/W |
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Students will be introduced to the foundations of Kant's critical
philosophy through close examination of selected passages in the first
Critique. An introduction to topics in the secondary literature on Kant
may also be provided.
Prereq: two previous half-courses in Phil or permission of dept
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| PHIL 3203 |
JUSTICE & LAW: RIGHTS, LAWS & JUDGES |
Yes |
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2017-F/W |
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This course explores the question of constitutional rights. What rights
should our constitution provide? Can constitutional provisions be given
a strict legal interpretation, or does constitutional interpretation
require judges to apply their own moral beliefs? Should unelected judges
have the authority to strike down legislation just because, in their
view, it violates rights such as freedom of expression and equality?
Prereq: One year of university study
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| PHIL 3213 |
JUSTICE & LAW: PRIVATE LAW |
Yes |
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2019-F/W |
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This course is a philosophical treatment of issues in the private law of
tort and contract. Tort law is concerned with personal injury. Is fault
the right way of looking at this issue? Perhaps a robust form of social
insurance provides a better approach to injuries. Moreover, which
contracts count as fair? When should contacts be reversed by the courts?
Prereq: One year of university study.
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| PHIL 3223 |
KANTIAN PRACTICAL REASON |
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2019-F/W |
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Kant aims to reveal that the demands of morality apply equally to all,
irrespective of empirical considerations such as race, ethnicity,
culture and religion, among others. In an age of moral fragmentation,
the Kantian model offers the optimistic promise of a shared moral
community, with reciprocal moral rights and obligations.
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| PHIL 3313 |
PHILOSOPHY OF MIND |
Yes |
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2019-F/W |
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An examination of some contemporary accounts of the nature of mind and
its relation to the body. Topics to be covered will include mind-body
identity theory, logical behaviourism, functionalism, and the idea of
personal identity.
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| PHIL 3513 |
PLATO |
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2005-F/W |
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An introduction to the philosophy of Plato is provided through a
detailed study of selected dialogues.
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| PHIL 3533 |
ARISTOTLE |
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2005-F/W |
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An introduction to the philosophy of Aristotle with an emphasis on his
metaphysical, ethical and epistemological writings.
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| PHIL 3553 |
CONTEMPORARY ANALYTIC PHIL |
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2015-F/W |
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A survey of major landmarks in the development of contemporary
analytic metaphysics, epistemology, and philosophy of language, and a
critical examination of some central issues.
Prereq: 6h of PHIL or permission of the Department.
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| PHIL 3613 |
CONTEMPORARY CONTINENTAL PHILOSOPHY |
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2001-F/W |
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A study of the work of three or four European thinkers, such as
Heidegger, Foucault, Derrida, Wittig, Habermas, Cixous, Gadamer,
Deleuze, Benjamin and Adorno, considering such issues as the nature of
power in society, the relation between art and politics, hermeneutics
and deconstruction, gender and self-identity, alienation and human
freedom, and feminist politics.
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| PHIL 3903 |
EPISTEMOLOGY |
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2018-F/W |
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A systematic examination of central topics in contemporary theory of
knowledge: What is it to know anything? What kinds of knowledge are
there? What are the sources of knowledge? Are there limits to what
can be known? Does knowledge require foundations? Under what conditions
are we entitled to advance knowledge-claims? What is the relation
between knowing, believing and having reasons for belief?
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| PHIL 4113 |
TOPICS:SOCIAL & POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY |
Yes |
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2019-F/W |
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This course examines selected concepts, themes, or traditions within the
field of social and political philosophy. Specific course content in any
given year will be available from the Philosophy department.
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| PHIL 4853 |
PHILOSOPHICAL TOPICS |
Yes |
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2019-F/W |
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An opportunity to do advanced study of a particular philosophical
issue, thinker or period. The content will vary yearly.
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| PHIL 4913 |
DIRECTED READINGS 1 |
Yes |
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2017-F/W |
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| PHIL 4923 |
DIRECTED READINGS 2 |
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2018-F/W |
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| PHIL 4996 |
HONOURS THESIS |
Yes |
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2018-F/W |
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