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Philosophy
Philosophy 020E, Introduction to Philosophy | |
| Description: A survey of selected philosophical problems, with reference to both classical and contemporary philosophers. Specimen topics include: the mind/body problem, the existence of God, perception and matter, freedom and determinism. Primarily for first-year students. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 022E. | 3 hours, 1.0 course. | (Brescia, Huron, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 021, Reasoning and Critical Thinking | |
| Description: An introduction to basic principles of reasoning and critical thinking designed to enhance the student's ability to evaluate various forms of reasoning as found in everyday life as well as in academic disciplines. The course will deal with such topics as inductive and deductive reasoning, the nature and function of definitions, types of fallacies, the use and misuse of statistics, and the rudiments of logic. Practical application in several fields will be stressed. | 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour, 1.0 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 022E, Philosophy from Antiquity to the 20th Century | |
| Description: A study of selected works by great philosophers from Socrates to the present. Stress will be laid on the systematic unity of the thought of individual philosophers, and on the influence their ideas had on their followers and on the thought of the present day. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 020E, the former Philosophy 130E. | 3 hours, 1.0 course. | (Huron, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 023F/G, Questions of the Day | |
| Description: This course develops student's ability to approach disputed questions by seeing them from both sides, so that they reach their own view only after respecting a broad range of argument. Six questions will be considered, including human (over)population, the public funding of art, and the limits of religious freedom. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Brescia, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 024F/G, Big Ideas | |
| Description: Apparently simple conceptions sometimes especially capture our imagination. Examples: Descartes' "I think, therefore I am," McLuhan's "the medium is the message," or Plato's theory of forms. The course examines a great number of these simple ideas that are also the Big Ideas that no educated person should be ignorant of. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | back to top |
Philosophy 025E, Introduction to the Western Intellectual Tradition | |
| Description: A multi-media and interdisciplinary historical survey of some of the most important philosophers (e.g. Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Marx, Nietzsche), writers (e.g. Homer, Dante, Goethe, Dostoevsky, Kafka), and artists (da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Dali) that have shaped the course of Western thought and our contemporary world. | 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour, 1 screening hour, 1.0 course. | (King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 026E, Introduction to Philosophy & Critical Thinking | |
| Description: A survey of philosophical problems, with reference to both classical and contemporary philosophers. Topics include the mind/body problem, the existence of God, perception and matter, freedom and determinism. Basic principles of reasoning and critical thinking will be introduced to enhance the student’s ability to evaluate the various forms of reasoning. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 020E, 022E, 021. | Prerequisite(s): Registration restricted to Scholar’s Elective students. | 3 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour biweekly, 1.0 course. | (Brescia) | back to top |
Philosophy 030F/G, Reality and What We Can Know of It | |
| Description: A survey of selected philosophical problems in the areas of metaphysics and epistemology, with reference to works by both classical and contemporary philosophers. Specimen topics include the mind/body problem, the existence of God, skepticism and truth. Primarily for first year students. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 022E, 020E | 3 hours, 0.5 course | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 031F/G, Right and Wrong | |
| Description: A survey of selected philosophical problems in the areas of ethics and political/legal philosophy, with reference to works of both classical and contemporary philosophers. Specimen topics include ethical relativism, freedom and determinism, anarchy and government, and the justification of punishment. Primarily for first year students. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 022E, 020E | 3 hours, 0.5 course | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 032a/b, Reasoning and Critical Thinking | |
| Description: An introduction to the basic principles of reasoning and critical thinking designed to enhance the student’s ability to evaluate various forms of reasoning found in everyday life as well as in academic disciplines. The course will deal with such topics as inductive and deductive reasoning, the nature and function of definitions, types of fallacies, the use and misuse of statistics, and the rudiments of logic. Primarily for first year students. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 021 | 3 lecture hours, 0.5 course | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 033a/b, Form, Thought, Communication | |
| Description: An introduction to the grammatical structures of two kinds of languages – the natural ones people learn as first languages, and the artificial ones that logicians and others have invented to help in reasoning. Topics will include: subject-predicate construction; word classes; complex sentences; negation and its complication; referring, describing, and quantifying; time and tense. | 3 hours, 0.5 course | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 123, Philosophy of Education | |
| Description: Analysis of major issues in educational theory and policy; education in society and in the life of the individual; contributions of teacher, curriculum and student; assessment of the aims of education and its achievements. The course encourages critical reflection on the student's own experience. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 139E and Philosophy 279F/G | 2 hours, 1.0 course. | (King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 133, Thomistic Philosophy I | |
| Description: An introduction to the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas through a study of several of his basic philosophical writings. The course will concern principally his philosophy of nature, philosophical psychology, moral philosophy, metaphysics and philosophical theology. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 220 | 3 hours, 1.0 course. | (King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 135E, Philosophy of Art | |
| Description: The place of the arts in civilized life. Writings of philosophers, critics and artists are studied along with important works of art - painting, music, poetry, photography, etc. Themes such as artistic expression and creativity, the ideas of modern art, symbolism and art criticism are explored. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 355E. | 2 hours, 1.0 course. | (Brescia) | back to top |
Philosophy 136F/G, Business Ethics in a Global Context | |
| Description: The increasing globalization of business activity poses ethical problems arising from the conflicting ethical norms of different cultures. This course uses specific cases to consider a variety of such ethical challenges in pursuit of a critical understanding of ethical corporate decision-making in a global context. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 162F/G Business Ethics | 2 hours, 0.5 course. | (King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 138E, Existentialism | |
| Description: An introduction to the existentialist tradition in European philosophy, with its emphasis on the concrete existence of the individual human being. Major writings of both the 19th and 20th centuries are studied. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 238E. | 2 hours, 1.0 course. | (Brescia, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 140, Philosophy of Law | |
| Description: A study of some main problems in Legal Philosophy. Emphasis is given to actual law, e.g. criminal law and contracts, as a background to questions of law's nature. Specimen topics: police powers in Canada, contractual obligation, insanity defence, judicial reasoning and discretion, civil liberties, legal responsibility, natural law and legal positivism. | Antirequisite(s): MIT 247F/G. | 2 hours, 1.0 course. | (King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 141, Aristotelian Logic | |
| Description: A study of Aristotelian logic. Special emphasis is placed on word usage, definition, propositional form, and the different types of deductive and inductive arguments. An extensive study of fallacies in argumentation is made. The methodologies of the sciences, both non-experimental and experimental are examined and evaluated. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 205E | 2 hours, 1.0 course. | (King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 142E, Ethics and Society | |
| Description: Techniques of moral analysis and evaluation are studied in the context of practical moral issues concerning the good life, the rights of the individual and the quest for social justice, etc. Classical and contemporary philosophical sources are examined, but the emphasis is on independent critical thought. | 2 hours, 1.0 course. | (Brescia, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 143E, Philosophy of Religion | |
| Description: Philosophical problems relating to personal and institutionalized religion: religious experience and knowledge; the nature of faith; concepts of God; faith and reason; religion and morality. Independent critical thinking is stressed, and no particular religious views are presupposed. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 253E. | 2 hours, 1.0 course. | (Brescia, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 146E, Values and Public Policy | |
| Description: A critique of contemporary culture beginning with an examination of selected public policies, such as energy policy, and moving to the deeper philosophical assumptions on which they rest, and then to a critical examination of systematic cultural philosophy, particularly as it bears on Western culture. | 2 hours, 1.0 course. | (King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 148E, Contemporary Philosophy | |
| Description: Major movements and figures in the philosophy of the present day. The emphasis is on the contribution philosophy can make to our understanding of contemporary life and society. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 219E | 2 hours, 1.0 course. | (King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 150E, Images of Human Nature | |
| Description: Dominant conceptions of human identity, nature, values and aspirations as they have evolved in Western Civilization. Literary and audio-visual materials are studied as well as philosophical writings. Classical and Medieval views are compared with such modern images as the Darwinian, Marxist, Freudian, existentialist and behavioristic. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 250E | 2 hours, 1.0 course. | (King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 155E, Philosophical Issues in Feminism | |
| Description: Philosophical views, both classical and contemporary, about women and their place in society, including liberal, Marxist, existentialist and "radical" theories. Such issues as gender essentialism, sexual and personal identity, reproductive rights and responsibilities are discussed. | 2 hours, 1.0 course. | (Brescia) | back to top |
Philosophy 162F/G, Business Ethics | |
| Description: Ethical analysis of issues arising in contemporary business life. Sample topics: ethical codes in business; fair and unfair competition, advertising and consumer needs and wants; responsibilities to investors, employees and society; conflicts of interest and obligation; business and the regulatory environment. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Brescia, Huron, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 163F/G, Bioethics | |
| Description: An introduction to the study of moral and legal problems involved in medical practice, biomedical and behavioral research, and the development of health policy. Normative ethical theories and the principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and autonomy, will provide the framework for a concrete analysis of pertinent issues in medicine. Case studies will be examined. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 152E. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 164F/G, Philosophy of Economics | |
| Description: Economic life and economic science in philosophical perspective. Classical and contemporary philosophers are studied on such issues as property and labor; efficiency, fairness and freedom in the market; rationality, utility and economic value; welfare and economic justice. The emphasis is on probing underlying assumptions about the economic system. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 191a, Special Topics in Philosophy | |
| Description: See Philosophy 190. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 192b, Special Topics in Philosophy | |
| Description: See Philosophy 190. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 193a/b, Special Topics in Philosophy | |
| Description: See Philosophy 190. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 200F/G, Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge | |
| Description: An introduction to the main problems of epistemology. Specimen topics include: the nature of human knowledge and belief, perception, evidence, truth and confirmation. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 201F/G, Introduction to Ethics & Value Theory | |
| Description: Critical study of the nature and justification of ethical and value judgements, with an analysis of key concepts and a survey of the main contemporary theories. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Brescia, Huron, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 203E, Moral Problems and Issues | |
| Description: Theoretical issues such as the relationship between God and morality, relativism and free will, as well as some major normative theories are explored within the context of problems including discrimination, homosexuality, punishment, distributive justice, and life and death questions. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 142E, Philosophy 201F/G, Philosophy 362E, former Philosophy 260a/b. | 3 hours, 1.0 course. | (King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 205E, Aristotelian Logic | |
| Description: A study of some of the central concepts in Aristotle’s logic. Special emphasis is placed on deductiveand inductive forms of reasoning, as well as argumentation materially considered, namely, demonstration, dialectics, rhetorical argumentation and poetic argumentation. In addition, a study of sophistical reasoning is made. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 141. | 3 hours, 1.0 course
| (King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 210F/G, Ancient Philosophy | |
| Description: A critical examination of key works of Greek philosophers with major emphasis on Plato and Aristotle. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 211F/G, Early Modern Philosophy | |
| Description: A critical examination of key works of selected figures of the 17th and 18th centuries. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Brescia, Huron, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 212, Basic Logic | |
| Description: A study of sentential and predicate logic designed to train students to use procedures and systems (trees, natural deduction, axiomatic systems) for determining logical properties and relations, and to give students an understanding of syntactic and semantic metatheoretical concepts and results relevant to those procedures and systems. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 131, the former Philosophy 222a/b, Philosophy 234w/x | 3 hours, 1.0 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 214F/G, Introduction to Jewish Philosophy | |
| Description: A selective survey of Jewish philosophical writing, both historical and contemporary, with consideration of some religious texts on which it focuses. Topics may include divine commands and moral duties, religious law and rationality, justice, authority, heresy and faith, Jewish Aristotelianism, the Jewish Enlightenment, the Holocaust and the problem of evil. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 215F/G, Oriental Philosophy | |
| Description: An introduction to the philosophy of areas such as India, Tibet, China and Japan. The first part of the course examines the metaphysics of Hinduism and Buddhism. The second part of the course focuses on Chinese moral philosophy and East Asian developments in Buddhism. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 154E | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 216F/G, Chinese Philosophy | |
| Description: The course surveys Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism and Legalism. Students may also be introduced to Chinese Buddhism such as the Hua Yen or Zen Schools. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 154E. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 217F/G, Cultures, Values, and Human Rights | |
| Description: An introduction to problems in political philosophy linking cultural diversity and moral relativism. The course will focus on the question of whether there might be a set of universal human rights, or whether that idea involves cultural imperialism. Multiculturalism within a single state will also be considered. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 218F/G, Philosophy of War and Peace | |
| Description: An introduction to problems concerning large-scale armed conflict, including national and civil wars. Topics include revolutionary violence, the idea of a just war, war as an extension of foreign policy, international law and the law of war, the treatment of civilians, and war prisoners, war crimes and reparations, deterrence and rationality, pacifism. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 219E, Contemporary Philosophy | |
| Description: Major movements and figures in the Continental and Anglo-American philosophy of the present day. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 148E | 3 hours, 1.0 course. | (King's) | To be introduced September 1, 2005. | back to top |
Philosophy 220, Thomistic Philosophy I | |
| Description: An introduction to the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas through textual analysis and discussion of a selection of his philosophical writings. The course will concern principally his philosophy of nature, philosophical psychology, moral philosophy, metaphysics and philosophical theology. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 133 | 3 hours, 1.0 course.
| (King's) | To be introduced September 1, 2005. | back to top |
Philosophy 225F/G, Introduction to the Philosophy of Language | |
| Description: A survey of contemporary and historical philosophical works on language. Topics may include: What is a language? How are language and thought related? Does linguistic meaning come from the world, communicative activity, or the mind? Authors may include , among others: Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein, Austin, Grice and Chomsky. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 227E, History of Scientific Thought | |
| Description: A general historical survey of ideas in the physical and biological sciences from antiquity to the early 20th century. This course will also examine issues in scientific methodology as well as the impact of scientific ideas on society. | Antirequisite(s): History of Science 200E, the former History 200E. | 3 hours, 1.0 course. | (Huron, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 231F/G, Feminist Philosophy | |
| Description: A study of feminist perspectives on core philosophical problems posed in such areas as philosophy of mind, epistemology, ethics, and philosophy of science. The course examines feminist criticisms of mainstream philosophy, feminist reconstructions of contested questions, and positive developments within feminist philosophy. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 155E. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Brescia) | back to top |
Philosophy 235F/G, The History of Political Philosophy | |
| Description: A critical study of the philosophical foundations of political thought--from natural rights to contractarianism, from utilitarianism to socialism. The class will examine the classic historical texts of political philosophy. Authors studied may include Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hume, Kant, Mill, Hegel and Marx. | Antirequisite(s): The former Philosophy 137E. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 236F/G, Contemporary Political Philosophy | |
| Description: A study of some of the central issues and theoretical alternatives in contemporary political philosophy from among the following: utilitarianism, liberal egalitarianism, libertarianism, socialism, feminism, and communitarianism. Issues to be studied may include multiculturalism, economic redistribution, individual rights, and the limits of legitimate state authority. | Antirequisite(s): The former Philosophy 137E. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 237E, Social and Political Philosophy | |
| Description: A critical study of contemporary and traditional social and political thought. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 137E, Political Science 147E and Political Science 237E. | 3 hours, 1.0 course. | (King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 238E, Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy | |
| Description: A critical examination of representative literature in the fields of phenomenological research and existential philosophy from Husserl to the present day. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 138E (Brescia) and Philosophy 239F/G. | 3 hours, 1.0 course. | (Brescia, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 239F/G, Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy | |
| Description: A critical examination of representative literature in the fields of phenomenological research and existential philosophy from Husserl to the present day. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 138E (Brescia) and Philosophy 238E. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 241F/G, Philosophy of Law | |
| Description: An introduction to the philosophy of law. Topics typically covered include responsibility and punishment, freedom of expression, the constitutional protection of fundamental freedoms, and jurisprudence (the study of the question, “What is law?”) | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 242F/G, Philosophy of Law | |
| Description: An in depth examination of one or more topics in legal philosophy, for example property rights, criminal responsibility, and the rule of law. Topics vary from year to year. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 243F/G, Forerunners of Existentialism | |
| Description: An examination of the work of Kierkegaard and Nietzsche, with a consideration of their opposition to systematic philosophy and of their contrasting attitudes toward religion. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 138E, 238E, and the former Philosophy 139E | 3 hours, 0.5 course | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 250E, Philosophy of the Person | |
| Description: A critical understanding of the person. This course will present both an historical and thematic examination. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 150E. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 020E or equivalent. | 3 hours, 1.0 course. | (King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 253E, Philosophy of Religion | |
| Description: Conceptual problems relating to personal and institutionalized religion. Specimen topics include: the nature of religious experience and knowledge, analysis of the concept of God, analysis and comparison of important types of religious philosophy. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 143E. | 3 lecture hours, 1.0 course. | (Brescia, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 254F/G, Philosophy of Religion | |
| Description: An examination of issues in philosophy of religion, focusing on arguments concerning the existence of God, the immortality of the soul, the occurrence of miracles, the validity of religious experience, and the place of religion in morality. Independent critical thinking is stressed and no particular religious views are presupposed. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 143E, 253E, and the former 144F/G | 3 hours, 0.5 course | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 255F/G, Topics in the Philosophy of Religion | |
| Description: An examination of special topics in the philosophy of religion, e.g., the basis of religious faith and knowledge, the relationship between religion and science, religious diversity, the nature of God, and grace and predestination. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 142E, 253E and the former 144F/G | 3 hours, 0.5 course | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 260E, Introduction to 20th Century Continental Philosophy | |
| Description: An investigation of the transition from modernity to post-modernity and from structuralism to post-structuralism through a reading of some of the main figures in Continental philosophy: Heidegger, Sartre, Bataille, Benjamin, Foucault, Derrida, Deleuze, Lacan, Lyotard, Baudrillard, Irigaray. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 211F/G or permission of the instructor. | 3 hours, 1.0 course. | (King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 272F/G, Introduction to Mediaeval Philosophy | |
| Description: A brief survey of some main problems in mediaeval philosophy. Emphasis will be placed on metaphysical and epistemological issues. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 273E. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 210F/G. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 289E, Special Topics in Philosophy | |
| Description: Selected topics of current interest in Philosophy. A course description will be available from the Department at the time of registration. | 2 hours, 0.5 course. | (Brescia) | back to top |
Philosophy 290F/G-299F/G, Special Topics in Philosophy | |
| Description: A study of a selected topic in Philosophy, presupposing no previous studies in the area and aimed at students in second or third year. The topics will vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning course content and Antirequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Brescia, Huron, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 302F/G, Metaethics | |
| Description: Meta-ethics is the area of moral philosophy in which we inquire about, among other things, the status of moral claims, the meaning of moral terms, the rational justification of morality, the nature of value, and issues moral psychology. This course is an advanced study of topics in metaethics. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 362E | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 201F/G | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 306F/G, Theories of Meaning | |
| Description: Issues and theories in recent philosophy of language. Topics may include: what meaning is; the contrast between “meaning as use” and formalist accounts of meaning; reference and truth. Authors may include: Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein, Strawson and Grice. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 212 or Philosophy 234W/X or the former 222a/b or Philosophy 225F/G. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 308F/G, Truth and Paradox | |
| Description: Theories of truth since the end of the 19th century, and the problems posed for any theory of truth by the Liar Paradox, with a look at some recent attempts at solutions. Authors may include: Frege, James, Bradley, Ramsey, Tarski, Austin, Strawson, Field, Kripke, Grover, Horwich, Gupta, Soames. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 212 or 234W/X or the former 222a/b, with a minimum of 70% | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 309F/G, Origins of Analytic Philosophy | |
| Description: The investigation of selected philosophical problems as they arise in the writings of such philosophers as Moore, Frege, Russell, Ayer, Carnap, Quine, Wittgenstein, Ryle, Austin, and others. Problems addressed may include philosophical methodology, ethical theory, metaphysics, meaning, and epistemology. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 212 or the former 022a/b, and one of Philosophy 200F/G or Philosophy 225F/G or Philosophy 246F/G | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 311F/G, Philosophy of Perception | |
| Description: A study of topics in perception such as the status of qualia, sense-datum theories, adverbial theory, phenomenalism, functionalism, representionalism, direct realism, externalist theories of perception, and perceptual belief. Also of the philosophical implications of work on blindsight, interpretations of sensory consciousness, the ‘binding problem’, and the cerebral localization of consciousness. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 200F/G or Philosophy 246F/G | 3 hours, 0.5 course | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 312E, Evidence, Probability, and Fact-finding | |
| Description: A study of admissible patterns of reasoning from evidence in making findings of fact. Topics may include: interpretations of probability; the adequacy of Bayesian reasoning in real-life contexts; 'Baconian' (non-mathematical) probability; statistical evidence; evidential weight; expert testimony; eye-witness testimony; relevance. Elements of the law of evidence will be examined. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 212, or the former Philosophy 222A/B, or Philosophy 234W/X , with a minimum grade of 70%. | 3 hours, 1.0 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 313F/G, Causality | |
| Description: An introduction to metaphysical, epistemological, and logical problems connected with the idea of a cause. Topics may include: the metaphysical nature of the objects related by causality, Humean regularity theories of causation, the necessary condition analysis of causation, probabilistic causality, causes and counterfactuals, and causation in the law.
| Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 212 or 222a/b with a minimum grade of 70%. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 314F/G, Causality and Freedom of the Will | |
| Description: An introduction to the problem posed by the assumptions that human actions are natural occurrences and that natural occurrences are governed by causal laws, whether deterministic or probabilistic. Various versions of determinism, compatibilism, and metaphysical libertarianism will be discussed in connection with ascriptions of legal and moral responsibility.
| Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 201F/G; Philosophy 212 or 222a/b with a minimum grade of 70%. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 315F/G, Topics in Asian Philosophy | |
| Description: This course will examine in-depth the works of two or three Indian, Tibetan, Chinese and/or Japanese philosophers. The topics will usually be ethical or metaphysical. In some years, the course may include readings from a Western philosopher for comparison. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 325F/G, Metaphysics | |
| Description: An introduction to current debate on metaphysical questions. Topics may include the nature of space and time, the status of phenomenal sensible qualities, the existence of natural kinds, causality and determinism, counterfactuals and possible worlds, identity and individuation, and personal identity. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 200F/G | 3 hours, 0.5 course | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 326F/G, Epistemology | |
| Description: Problems in contemporary theory of knowledge. Topics may include epistemic justification, modern skepticism, foundationalism and coherentism, internalism and externalism, ethics of belief, epistemic probability, testimony and social dimensions of knowledge. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 200F/G | 3.0 hours, 0.5 course | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 330F/G, Globalization and Theories of Justice | |
| Description: This course subjects globalization, as an economic, political and cultural phenomenon, to critical scrutiny, using tools provided by theories of justice. Topics considered may include: sweatshops; world hunger; refugee rights; the claim to universality in human rights discourse; and the ethics of militant protest to back demands for global justice. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 333E, Thomistic Philosophy II | |
| Description: An advanced course in the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas for those already familiar with his thought. Some later forms of Thomism will also be considered. | Antirequisite(s): The former Philosophy 173. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 133. | 3 hours, 1.0 course. | (King's) | back to top |
| Description: An intermediate survey of the works of Plato. While some themes or works may be focused on to the exclusion of others, this course aims to give students a strong, foundational understanding of Plato’s thought on a range of topics. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 210F/G | 3 hours, 0.5 course
(Huron)
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Philosophy 336F/G, Aristotle | |
| Description: An intermediate survey of the works of Aristotle. While some themes or works may be focused on to the exclusion of others, this course aims to give students a strong, foundational understanding of Aristotle’s thought on a range of topics. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 210F/G | 3 hours, 0.5 course | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 339F/G, Topics in the History of Logic | |
| Description: A study of selected topics from Aristotle to the beginning of the modern period. Topics covered will vary but may include Aristotle’s Categories, the theory of the syllogism, medieval theories of signification, the notion of logical consequence, modal logic, and the development of polyadic logic with mixed quantification. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 210F/G | 3 hours, 0.5 course | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 340F/G, Early Medieval Philosophy | |
| Description: An intermediate survey of works of philosophers from Plotinus and Augustine to Albertus Magnus. While some themes or figures may be focused on to the exclusion of others, this course aims to give students a strong foundational understanding of the essentials of philosophical thought in the period. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 210F/G | 3 hours, 0.5 course | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 341F/G, Later Medieval Philosophy | |
| Description: An intermediate survey of selected works by philosophers writing in the high middle ages. Figures to be studied may include Siger of Brabant, Thomas Aquinas, Duns Scotus, and William of Ockham. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 210F/G | 3 hours, 0.5 course | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 346F/G, Cartesianism and its Critics | |
| Description: An intermediate survey of foundational works by philosophers in the Cartesian tradition including study of portions of Descartes’s Principles of Philosophy and developments of its themes by such proponents and opponents as Hobbes, Gassendi, Arnauld, and Malebranche. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 211F/G | 3 hours, 0.5 course | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 348F/G, Spinoza | |
| Description: A study of the works of Spinoza. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 211F/G | 3 hours, 0.5 course | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 350F/G, Aesthetics | |
| Description: An investigation of issues in the philosophy of art and aesthetics. Topics include: characteristics of the various arts; the fine arts, arts and cultures, mass arts; art, craft, and technology; beauty, taste, and the variety of aesthetics; freedom and self-expression; individuals and cultures; mimesis and imagination; interpretation and audience participation. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 355E and the former Philosophy 348G. | Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year honors standing in Philosophy or registration in the Diploma in Art Therapy Program. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 351F/G, Leibniz | |
| Description: An intermediate survey of the works of Leibniz. While some themes or works may be focused on to the exclusion of others, this course aims to give students a strong foundational understanding of Leibniz’s thought on a range of topics. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 211F/G | 3 hours, 0.5 course | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 352E, Problems in the Theory of Knowledge | |
| Description: Intensive seminar and tutorial study of major theories of human knowledge. | Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year honors Philosophy status. | 3 hours, 1.0 course. | (King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 353a/b, Special Topics in Logical Theory | |
| Description: Specific issues and theories in formal and philosophical logic will be studied. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 131 or 222a. Students with equivalent background may be admitted with permission of the Department. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
| Description: An intermediate study of Locke’s Essay concerning human understanding and of related works and correspondence, both by Locke and his critics. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 211F/G | 3 hours, 0.5 course | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 359F/G, Berkeley | |
| Description: A study of the philosophical works of George Berkeley, including the works on vision and the De Motu. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 211F/G | 3 hours, 0.5 course | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 360F/G, 19th Century European Philosophy | |
| Description: A critical, historical and thematic examination of the main currents of 19th century European philosophy including German Idealism and the movements from which Existentialism originated -- forming the background to 20th century European Continental philosophy. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 211F/G, or third or fourth year honors standing in Philosophy. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (King's) | back to top |
| Description: A study of Book I of Hume’s Treatise concerning human understanding supplemented by a study of either Book II and III of the Treatise or a comparative assessment of Hume’s work with that of Condillac, Reid, or Kant. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 211F/G | 3 hours, 0.5 course | (Huron) | back to top |
| Description: A critical study of moral problems and theories. The course will be based on readings selected from ethical literature from Aristotle to the present. | Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year honors Philosophy status. | 3 hours, 1.0 course. | (King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 363F/G, Justice | |
| Description: A seminar in political and legal philosophy. Sample topics: the distinction between corrective and distributive justice, the use of class actions as a mechanism of social justice, the redistribution of wealth through taxation, the role of constitutional institutions in delivering and embodying justice, and conceptual models of a just society. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 201F/G or Philosophy 235F/G or Philosophy 236F/G or Philosophy 241F/G or Philosophy 242F/G | 3 hours, 0.5 course | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 376F/G, Topics in Modern Philosophy | |
| Description: Later modern philosophy with particular emphasis on the philosophy of the 19th century. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 211F/G, Philosophy 374F/G, Philosophy 375F/G, or third or fourth year honors standing in Philosophy. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 377F/G, Topics in Modern Philosophy | |
| Description: Later modern philosophy with particular emphasis on the philosophy of the 19th century. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 211F/G, Philosophy 374F/G, Philosophy 375F/G, or third or fourth year honors standing in Philosophy. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 384F/G, Selected Philosophical Writings of the 17th and 18th Centuries | |
| Description: This course will focus on English and continental European primary philosophical texts from the 17th century to the late 18th century. Texts in languages other than English will be dealt with in translation. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 020E, Philosophy 022E, or Philosophy 211F/G. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 385F/G, Selected Philosophical Writings of the 17th and 18th Centuries | |
| Description: This course will focus on English and continental European primary philosophical texts from the 17th century to the late 18th century. Texts in languages other than English will be dealt with in translation. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 020E, Philosophy 022E, or Philosophy 211F/G. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 396a, Topics in Philosophy | |
| Description: An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year Philosophy honors students with "A" averages in principal courses. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Chair. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 398 or Philosophy 498 or any more than one of Philosophy 397b, Philosophy 496a or Philosophy 497b. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 397b, Topics in Philosophy | |
| Description: An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year Philosophy honors students with "A" averages in principal courses. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Chair. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 398 or Philosophy 498, or any more than one of Philosophy 396a, Philosophy 496a or Philosophy 497b. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 398, Topics in Philosophy | |
| Description: An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year Philosophy honors students with "A" averages in principal courses. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Chair. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 396a, Philosophy 397b, Philosophy 496a, Philosophy 497b or Philosophy 498. | 3 hours, 1.0 course. | (Huron, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 441F/G, Legal Philosophy | |
| Description: Advanced seminar on issues of legal theory, varying from year to year. | Antirequisite(s): The former Philosophy 444E. | Prerequisite(s): Any Faculty of Law course or Philosophy 140, or Philosophy 240E, or Philosophy 241F/G or Philosophy 242F/G. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 442F/G, Philosophy of Law | |
| Description: Advanced topics in the philosophy of law. | Antirequisite(s): The former Philosophy 444E. | Prerequisite(s): Any Faculty of Law course or Philosophy 140, or Philosophy 240E, or Philosophy 241F/G or Philosophy 242F/G. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 443F/G, Traditional and Contemporary Natural Law | |
| Description: An examination of Aquinas's version of natural law theory, with a consideration of contemporary natural law theories reflections of in his views. Authors may include: Richard Hooker, John Finnis, Germain Grisez, Joseph Boyle, Robert George. Particular public policy issues, such as abortion, the regulation of sexuality, and same-sex marriage, may also be discussed. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 241F/G or Philosophy 242F/G or Philosophy 272F/G | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 452E, Epistemology | |
| Description: Full year course in basic problems of epistemology. Readings from contemporary writings will be stressed. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 200F/G or Philosophy 225F/G, or third or fourth year honors standing in Philosophy. | 3 hours, 1.0 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 453E, Metaphysics | |
| Description: Full year course in basic problems of metaphysics. Readings from contemporary writings will be stressed. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 200F/G or Philosophy 226G, or third or fourth year honors standing in Philosophy. | 3 hours, 1.0 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 464E, Contemporary Analytic Philosophy | |
| Description: A seminar devoted to the investigation of selected philosophical problems as they arise in the writings of such philosophers as Moore, Russell, Ayer, Carnap, Quine, Wittgenstein, Ryle, Wisdom, Austin, and others. | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 222a/b. | 3 hours, 1.0 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 466F/G, Heidegger | |
| Description: A critical reading of the philosophy of Martin Heidegger. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 494F if taken in 2004-2005 and Philosophy 492F if taken in 2002-2003. | Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year honors standing in Philosophy. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 474F, Problems in Philosophy | |
| Description: A study of selected philosophical problems. The problems vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 475G, Problems in Philosophy | |
| Description: A study of selected philosophical problems. The problems vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 480F/G, Seminar in Medieval Philosophy | |
| Description: | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 210F/G or Philosophy 272F/G or Philosophy 273E, or third or fourth year honors standing in Philosophy. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 481F/G, Seminar in Medieval Philosophy | |
| Description: | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 210F/G or Philosophy 272F/G or Philosophy 273E, or third or fourth year honors standing in Philosophy. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
Philosophy 486F/G, Seminar on Kant | |
| Description: | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 211F/G and third or fourth year honors standing in Philosophy. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 487F/G, Seminar on Kant | |
| Description: | Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 211F/G and third or fourth year honors standing in Philosophy. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 488F/G, Seminar in 19th Century Philosophy | |
| Description: | Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year honors standing in Philosophy. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 489F/G, Seminar in 19th Century Philosophy | |
| Description: | Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year honors standing in a Philosophy program or module. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Huron, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 492F/G, Seminar in 20th Century Philosophy | |
| Description: | Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year honors standing in a Philosophy program or module. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 493F/G, Seminar in 20th Century Philosophy | |
| Description: | Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year honors standing in a Philosophy program or module. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 494F/G, Seminar in 20th Century Philosophy | |
| Description: | Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year honors standing in Philosophy. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 495F/G, Seminar in 20th Century Philosophy | |
| Description: | Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year honors standing in Philosophy. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 496a, Advanced Topics in Philosophy | |
| Description: An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year Philosophy honors students with "A" averages in principal courses. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Chair. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 398 or Philosophy 498, or any more than one of Philosophy 396a, Philosophy 397b or Philosophy 497b. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Brescia, Huron, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 497b, Advanced Topics in Philosophy | |
| Description: An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year Philosophy honors students with "A" averages in principal courses. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Chair. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 398 or Philosophy 498, or any more than one of Philosophy 396a, Philosophy 397b or Philosophy 496a. | 3 hours, 0.5 course. | (Brescia, Huron, King's) | back to top |
Philosophy 498, Advanced Topics in Philosophy | |
| Description: An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year Philosophy honors students with "A" averages in principal courses. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Chair. | Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 396a, Philosophy 397b, Philosophy 398, Philosophy 496a or Philosophy 497b. | 3 hours, 1.0 course. | (Huron) | back to top |
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