Upcoming & Current Courses in Philosophy
Here are the courses the department is offering now and next semester, along with their instructors' descriptions. General descriptions of all DePauw courses in philosophy, along with major and minor requirements, may be found under All Courses.
Philosophy courses for Fall 2012
(Spring 2012 course descriptions are below.)
PHIL 101A: INTRO TO PHILOSOPHY
Professor Jeffrey Dunn, 10:30-11:30 MWF
Does God exist? Can you tell whether you are dreaming? Are you obligated to help people who are far away as much as you are obligated to help those closer to home? In this course we will investigate these questions among others. In doing so, you will be introduced to several major themes in philosophy and works by important philosophers. We will be reading works from ancient philosophy through to contemporary philosophy, including philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Descartes, and Hume. By the end of the course you should have a better understanding of what philosophy is, and should have cultivated the ability to think and write clearly. Requirements for this course include active participation, several short paper assignments, three exams, and a term paper.
PHIL 101B: INTRO TO PHILOSOPHY
Professor Dan Shannon, 12:30-1:30 MWF
This Introduction to Philosophy course will cover several important texts in classical western philosophy. We will deal with a number of issues including the nature of reality, the mind-body problem, proving God’s existence, certainty of knowledge, among others. We will be stressing what philosophers do, and this means that we will be discussing in some detail the nature of argumentation, understanding philosophical writing, evaluating arguments and most importantly creating your own good arguments. There will be discussion and a mixture of tests and essays. The featured philosophers in this course will be Plato, Descartes, Hume, Mill, and Schopenhauer. Although some other philosophers and their arguments will also be discussed.
PHIL 101C: INTRO TO PHILOSOPHY
Professor Jeremy Anderson, 9:20-10:20 MWF
We will consider several important topics in philosophy such as our knowledge of the world outside our minds, God’s existence, human freedom, and the meaning of life. To do so we will read, discuss, and critique philosophical works from ancient times to the present. Requirements will include written responses to readings, short papers, a midterm and final exam, participation, and a presentation.
PHIL 212A: HISTORY OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY - ANCIENT
Professor Richard Cameron, 12:40-2:10 TR
We survey the origins of Western philosophy through a close textual and philosophical investigation of core texts. Themes covered include the birth of philosophical method (epistemology), the nature of being and the possibility of change (metaphysics), and how, by our own lights, we think we ought to live our lives (ethics). The survey covers thinkers from the presocratics through the Hellenistic period with special emphasis on Parmenides, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.
PHIL 213A: HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY – MEDIEVAL
Professor Dan Shannon, 9:20-10:20 MWF
This is an introductory course to Medieval Philosophy. The course will focus on five topics: Existence of God; Ethics and the Problem of Evil; God’s Foreknowledge and Free Will; the State; Knowledge and the Problem of Sensation. Major figures from the Middle Ages and Renaissance will be featured, including, among others, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, Maimonides, St. Anselm, Ibn Sina (Avicenna), and Ibn Rushd (Averroes). Christian, Jewish, and Islamic traditions will be represented. Requirements include a mixture of tests and papers. Most texts will be short selection from representative works. We will, however, consider two longer works which students will be assigned to read, comment on, and lead discussion. The first will be Maimonides, The Guide of the Perplexed, and the second will be St. Thomas Aquinas, selections from the Summa Theologica, on law, morality, and politics.
PHIL 230A: ETHICAL THEORY
Professor Jeremy Anderson, 12:30-1:30 MWF
The question, “What should I do?” is ubiquitous for us. But as soon as we try to answer it intelligently, we find ourselves led to several other questions: Are there any moral absolutes? What if I don’t want to do what’s right? How can we tell which acts are right or wrong, or what sort of life to lead? In this course we will learn about and critically evaluate a number of influential answers to these questions from classical and contemporary thinkers. If time permits we may also consider various controversial issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and war. Requirements will include exams, short papers, a presentation, and participation.
PHIL 230B: ETHICAL THEORY ‘W’
Professor Jennifer Everett, 10:30-11:30 MWF
The purpose of this course is to introduce philosophical approaches to the most fundamental question faced by human beings: how ought we to live? Each of us wants to do the right thing, live a good life, be an honorable person. We also want to live in a good and just society; thus, ethics is also an inextricable part of all of our practical political problems. To approach such matters philosophically is to confront a plethora of theoretical quandaries. We will begin with questions about the status of morality and methods of moral reasoning: How are race, class, and gender relevant to our moral understanding? Can moral questions have any objectively correct answers, or is it all “a matter of opinion”? For the remainder of the course we will explore the landscape of normative ethical theory, competing efforts to explain at a general level why certain outcomes are good or bad, why particular acts are right or wrong, or why certain ways of living are morally preferable to others.
PHIL 232A: ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
Professor Jennifer Everett, 1:40-2:40 MWF
Environmental ethics is a subfield of philosophy which studies the extent of, limits to, and grounds for our moral obligations with respect to the more-than-human world. It is also a practical, interdisciplinary field concerned with identifying and facilitating environmentally ethical behaviors, policies, and social systems. This course aims to do justice to both aspects of the field (and to advance the civic engagement goals of a liberal education) by discussing key works, concepts, and theories in environmental philosophy and by grounding these ideas in real-world environmental problems.
PHIL 251A: LOGIC ‘Q’
Professor Jeffrey Dunn, 8:10-9:10 MWF
This course is an introduction to symbolic logic. The main goal is to familiarize you with certain formal methods for representing and evaluating deductive arguments. The course covers both sentential logic and predicate logic, with work equally divided between translating sentences into formal notation, and constructing formal proofs. Time permitting, we will consider the limits of deductive logic and consider some basic inductive logic. Requirements for this class include regular homework assignments, exams, and a final project.
PHIL 342A: PHILOSOPHY OF LAW
Professor Jeremy Anderson, 10:00-11:30 TR
How should we interpret the law? What is the law’s basis? Can you attempt to murder someone who is already dead? How can punishment be justified? What duty do we have to rescue those in danger? Is it the business of law to enforce morality? We will examine legal rulings and read essays on such topics by lawyers, judges, philosophers, and others. Requirements will include written responses to readings, participation, at least one exam, some papers, and (depending on class size) presentations on topics of your choice.
PHIL 352A: EPISTEMOLOGY
Professor Jeffrey Dunn, 2:50-3:50 MWF
We seem to know various things: that the Colts had a pretty bad season last year; that there will be a presidential election in November; that 5+7=12; that DNA has a double helical structure. Maybe we don't actually know these things. Even so, we at least seem to have very good reason to believe them. But what is it to know or have a reason to believe something? Since we're often interested in evaluating the beliefs that we (or others) hold, this question seems to be important. Epistemology is the discipline that attempts to answer it. In this course we will survey the central topics within epistemology. We will read some classic work in philosophy by authors such as Plato, Descartes, and Hume, but the majority of reading will be recent work by contemporary philosophers. Topics to be considered include the structure of justification, the threat of skepticism, the nature of scientific and mathematical knowledge, and the proper relationship between epistemological theorizing and science. Requirements for this course include several short writing assignments, a term paper, and a midterm and final exam.
PHIL 469A: PHILOSOPHY OF MIND
Professor Erik Wielenberg, 2:20-3:50 TR
This course examines three issues in contemporary philosophy of mind. We assume a materialist framework, the main components of which are (i) there are no non-physical souls and (ii) every physical event that has a cause at all has a physical cause. Such a framework raises questions about various alleged mental phenomena. How does conscious experience fit into a materialist universe? How is it that mental states can represent or be about other things in such a universe? And finally, how can mental states cause behavior in such a universe? The requirements include some short writing assignments, a mid-term exam, a final exam, and a term paper. Prerequisites: Two courses in philosophy or permission of instructor.
PHIL 490A: SENIOR SEMINAR ‘S’
Professor Dan Shannon, 2:20-3:50 MW
This class is the capstone course for majors in philosophy. It covers a broad range of advanced topics in philosophy; typically three or four topics are covered during the semester. Topics may be treated historically or systematically. The students are responsible for presentations and discussions of the material. Several papers will be assigned, and the student selects one which will be the subject of a formal presentation. May not be taken pass/fail. Open only to seniors.
Philosophy courses for Spring 2012
(Fall 2012 course descriptions are above.)
PHIL 101A: INTRO TO PHILOSOPHY
Professor Jeremy Anderson, 9:20-10:20 MWF
We will consider several important topics in philosophy such as our knowledge of the world outside our minds, God’s existence, human freedom, and the meaning of life. To do so we will read, discuss, and critique philosophical works from ancient times to the present. Requirements will include written responses to readings, short papers, a midterm and final exam, participation, and a presentation.
PHIL 101B: INTRO TO PHILOSOPHY
Professor Richard Cameron, 1:40-2:40 MWF
Our course begins with critical examination of the conception of philosophy which seems to have inspired Socrates’ outrageous claim that the unexamined life is not worth living. Socratic philosophy involves the critical investigation of life-orienting and inescapable questions, questions which all of us answer and the answers to which send our lives off in dramatically different directions. The idea is illustrated through critical examination of core questions from the three main branches of philosophy: ethics (e.g., what are our obligations to the world’s poorest people?), epistemology (e.g., what can we know?), and metaphysics (e.g., is there a God?).
PHIL 101C: INTRO TO PHILOSOPHY ‘W’
Professor Dan Shannon, 12:30-1:30 MWF
This Introduction to Philosophy course will cover several important texts in classical western philosophy. We will deal with a number of issues including the nature of reality, the mind-body problem, proving God’s existence, certainty of knowledge, among others. We will be stressing what philosophers do, and this means that we will be discussing in some detail the nature of argumentation, understanding philosophical writing, evaluating arguments and most importantly creating your own good arguments. There will be discussion and a mixture of tests and essays.
PHIL 101D: INTRO TO PHILOSOPHY
Professor Jeffrey Dunn, 10:30-11:30 MWF
Does God exist? Can you tell whether you are dreaming? Are you obligated to help people who are far away as much as you are obligated to help those closer to home? In this course we will investigate these questions among others. In doing so, you will be introduced to several major themes in philosophy and works by important philosophers. We will be reading works from ancient philosophy through to contemporary philosophy, including philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Descartes, and Hume. By the end of the course you should have a better understanding of what philosophy is, and should have cultivated the ability to think and write clearly. Requirements for this course include active participation, short paper assignments, exams, and an essay.
PHIL 101E: INTRO TO PHILOSOPHY
Professor Jeremy Anderson, 12:30-1:30 MWF
We will consider several important topics in philosophy such as our knowledge of the world outside our minds, God’s existence, human freedom, and the meaning of life. To do so we will read, discuss, and critique philosophical works from ancient times to the present. Requirements will include written responses to readings, short papers, a midterm and final exam, participation, and a presentation.
PHIL 209A: TPS: ANIMAL ETHICS
Professor Jennifer Everett, 2:20-3:50 TR
Are humans the only animals with moral rights? Does the suffering of a pig or a chicken matter more than, less than, or the same, morally speaking, as the suffering of a dog, a chimpanzee, or a human? Is it wrong to eat meat? Should animals be used for research? What should we think about hunting, zoos, or rodeos? This course examines theories concerning the moral status of nonhuman animals, the ethics of certain practices of using animals for human purposes, challenges to the legal status of animals as property, and/or questions of ethical activism.
PHIL 216A: WESTERN PHILOSOPHY – EARLY MODERN
Professor Marcia McKelligan, 10:30-11:30 MWF
A survey of major figures in Continental and British philosophy in the 17th and 18th centuries, with particular attention to problems in metaphysics and epistemology. We read selections from Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume and Kant, not only for their historical interest, but also for what they have to say about perennial philosophical problems. Class discussion is encouraged.
PHIL 230A: ETHICAL THEORY ‘W’
Professor Jennifer Everett, 2:50-3:50 MWF
The purpose of this course is to introduce philosophical approaches to the most fundamental question faced by human beings: how ought we to live? Each of us wants to do the right thing, live a good life, be an honorable person. We also want to live in a good and just society; thus, ethics is also an inextricable part of all of our practical political problems. To approach such matters philosophically is to confront a plethora of theoretical quandaries. We will begin with questions about the status of morality and methods of moral reasoning: How are race, class, and gender relevant to our moral understanding? Can moral questions have any objectively correct answers, or is it all “a matter of opinion”? For the remainder of the course we will explore the landscape of normative ethical theory, competing efforts to explain at a general level why certain outcomes are good or bad, why particular acts are right or wrong, or why certain ways of living are morally preferable to others.
PHIL 230B: ETHICAL THEORY
Professor Erik Wielenberg, 9:20-10:20 MWF
This course is devoted to an examination of some of the central questions in theoretical ethics. Specifically, we will consider each of the following questions: What makes a human life good for the one who lives it? What is the nature of good (and evil) character? What makes morally right acts right? What is the relationship, if any, between living a moral life and living a life that is good for you? We will critically examine both historical and contemporary attempts to answer each of these questions. The readings include some classics of ethical philosophy, such as Plato’s Laches, Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Immanuel Kant’s Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals, and John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism, some works of fiction, such as Anthony Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange, and Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, plus a smattering of shorter philosophical writings, including some contemporary articles. The requirements include tests, a paper, and unannounced reading quizzes.
PHIL 233A: ETHICS & BUSINESS
Professor Richard Lynch, 10:30-11:30 MWF
Our examination of Ethics and Business (not simply “business ethics”) will be accomplished through three principal approaches: we'll consider the ethical frames for our business decisions; we'll discuss a number of particular ethical dilemmas that managers and executives face; and we'll try to situate these frames and cases with a broader perspective on markets and human nature. Along the way we will get to discuss examples of "bad business" (think Enron), "good business" (perhaps Johnson & Johnson or Cummins), and some hard cases where a "right answer" isn't necessarily apparent. This course is a part of the Management Fellows Program core curriculum, but is open to all students interested in the ethics of business.
PHIL 240A: PHILOSOPHY OF ART
Professor Dan Shannon, 2:20-3:50 MW
This course deals with both classical and contemporary theories on the philosophy of art. “Art” will be considered broadly, including painting, music, photography, poetry, and dance. We will begin with the question “what is art?” and look at examples where there is a dispute about how to classify it. Most of the class, however, will focus on how we evaluate art, either emotionally or intellectually. Some of the traditional theories covered concern arts as “craft” and as “representation.” We will look at the theories of art that advocate Expressionism, the Instrumental View, and the Institutional View. Some of the contemporary theorists who we will read include Croce and Collingwood for Expressionism; Goodman for the Instrumental View; and Danto and Dickie for the Institutional View. We will also consider a contemporary perspective that makes the case for art as an understanding of the world. We will supplement the readings with a course packet, handouts, and on-line sources. The requirements for the course include participation, tests, and papers. The greater weight is on papers.
PHIL 251A: LOGIC
Professor Jeffrey Dunn, 8:10-9:10 MWF
This course is an introduction to symbolic logic. The main goal is to familiarize you with certain formal methods for representing and evaluating deductive arguments. The course covers both sentential logic and predicate logic, with work equally divided between translating sentences into formal notation, and constructing formal proofs. Time permitting, we will consider the limits of deductive logic and consider some basic inductive logic. Requirements for this class include regular homework assignments, exams, and a final project.
PHIL 309A: TPS: FEMINISM AND FAMILY
Professor Claudia Mills, 12:40-2:10 TR
This course will look at how recent philosophers have critiqued traditional moral and political theory and practice in regard to the family. Giving special attention to feminist critiques of the family, we will rethink concepts such as autonomy and justice as we examine the issues of marriage, reproduction and family creation, child-rearing, and domestic work. We will explore such contemporary policy issues as gay marriage, contract motherhood, interracial adoption, and state intervention regarding child abuse via the foster care system. Readings for the course may include selections from: Eva Kittay, Love's Labor; Hilde Lindemann Nelson, Feminism and Families; Amy Mullin, Reconceiving Pregnancy and Childcare; Uma Narayan and Julia J. Bartkowiak, Having and Raising Children; Cheshire Calhoun, Feminism, the Family, and the Politics of the Closet; Sally Haslanger and Charlotte Witt, Adoption Matters; and Mary Lyndon Shanley, Making Babies, Making Families.
PHIL 309B: TPS: WAR & TERRORISM
Professor Jeremy Anderson, 12:40-2:10 TR
We will look at activities that, despite our protestations of dislike for them, we engage in a lot: war and terrorism. Specifically, we will critically examine (a) realism, i.e., the view that morality is irrelevant to international relations, (b) pacifism, (c) traditional ideas concerning the morality of war and some recent innovations, (d) the nature of terrorism and responses to it. Assignments will include lots of readings, an exam or two, short papers and a long paper, and presentations.
PHIL 309C: TPS: FOUCAULT ‘S’
Professor Richard Lynch, 12:30-1:30 MWF
Michel Foucault (1926-1984) is emerging as one of the most important philosophers of the 20th Century, and his work integrated history, psychology, sociology, and activism into philosophy. Though he is perhaps best known for radically altering our understanding of how power works in modernity, Foucault's later work turned to a reexamination of ancient Greek, Roman, and Christian texts as he himself began (but left unfinished) a project to articulate an ethics that could emerge out of this new analysis of power. Along with tracing this trajectory, will also try to situate Foucault in some contemporary debates (such as feminism, gay activism, philosophical debates about freedom), and will consider some of his most important critics. This course will be a hybrid survey/seminar: we will get a good grasp of Foucault's "mature" understanding of power, as well as an introduction to his evolving ethical thinking; as an "S" course, we will emphasize students' active participation in discussing and interpreting Foucault.
PHIL 360A: PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
Professor Jeffrey Dunn, 7:00-8:30 PM TR
Science has been extremely successful and holds an important place in our society. But what is science? Perhaps it is a method, a set of theories, or a group of people. And what does science give us? Perhaps it gives us a true picture of the world, perhaps merely a useful set of theories, or maybe it just gives us one way of looking at the world among others. Finally, how does science fit in with other enterprises like politics or religion? Perhaps it should guide these other enterprises, or perhaps it should be subservient to them. Given the important place that science occupies, these questions are critically important. In this course we'll try to address them. We'll start with an overview of some classic topics in philosophy of science, including the problem of induction and Logical Positivism. After that we'll work through Thomas Kuhn's Structure of Scientific Revolutions. We'll finish off the course by working through Bas van Fraassen's Image of Science and Philip Kitcher's Science, Truth, and Democracy. This course will focus mainly on primary sources in philosophy of science. As a result, it will be challenging, but also rewarding.
PHIL 363A: PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION
Professor Marcia McKelligan, 2:20-3:50 MW
An exploration of questions relating to the existence and nature of God, and the relation of God to humans and to the universe as a whole. Particular topics include: arguments for the existence of God, the attributes of God, the problem of evil, religious and mystical experience, prayer, faith and reason, and the connections among religion, morality and the meaning of life. Readings are drawn from classic and contemporary sources. Written work will include papers and exams. Prerequisite: one course in philosophy or permission of instructor.
PHIL 469A: MORAL EPISTEMOLOGY
Professor Erik Wielenberg, 10:00-11:30 TR
Suppose that there are facts about what is good and evil, right and wrong, virtuous and vicious. Call such facts “ethical facts.” Can human beings know any ethical facts and, if so, how? In this course we examine various contemporary efforts to answer that question. This requires us to explore both the nature of ethical facts themselves and the nature of knowledge. It is also essential to draw on empirical investigations of human moral beliefs and attitudes and the processes that produce them. Therefore, we will not only make forays into various areas of philosophy (metaphysics, epistemology, and meta-ethics) but into psychology (particularly evolutionary psychology), anthropology, and neuroscience as well. The requirements include a few short writing assignments, a term paper, and two exams (mid-term and final). Prerequisites: At least two courses in philosophy, or permission or instructor.
PHIL 490A: SENIOR SEMINAR
Professor Rich Cameron, 2:20-3:50 TR
Our seminar will dig deeply into three recent contributions to metaphysics, social epistemology, and ethics. In metaphysics we’ll consider Crawford Elder’s defense of a “common sense ontology” against various reductionist and eliminitivist competitors. In epistemology, we’ll look at Philip Kitcher’s most recent thoughts regarding “well ordered science,” how science and democracy ought to interact given the nature of contemporary social and scientific problems. And in ethics we’ll consider Stephen Gardiner’s treatment of the “Perfect Moral Storm” posed by climate change, features of climate that make ethical progress on such issues particularly difficult. Seminar sessions will largely be led by you and your peers and the course will be both speaking/listening and writing intensive as befits a capstone seminar designed for majors.
