Courses & Programs of Study

Director of Undergraduate Studies: Daniel Brudney, G-B 504, 702-7546,

dbrudney@uchicago.edu

Program of Study

Philosophy covers a wide range of historical periods and fields. The B.A. program in philosophy is intended to acquaint students with some of the classic texts of the discipline and with the different areas of inquiry, as well as to train students in rigorous methods of argument. In addition to the standard major, the department offers two tracks. The intensive track option is for qualified students interested in small group discussions of major philosophical problems and texts. The option in philosophy and allied fields is designed for students who wish to pursue an interdisciplinary program involving philosophy and some other field. All three options are described in the next section.

The course offerings described include both 20000-level courses (normally restricted to College students) and 30000-level courses (open to graduate students and advanced College students). There is room for a good deal of flexibility in individual planning of programs. Most of the requirements allow some choice among options. Course prerequisites may be relaxed with the consent of the instructor, and College students may take 40000- and 50000-level courses (normally restricted to graduate students) under special circumstances. Students should work out their program under the guidance of the director of undergraduate studies.

Program Requirements

The Standard Major. The following basic requirements for the standard major in philosophy are intended to constitute a core philosophy curriculum and to provide some structure within an extremely varied collection of course offerings that changes from year to year.

Introduction: The History of Philosophy. The Department of Philosophy offers a three-quarter sequence in the history of philosophy (PHIL 25000, 26000, and 27000), which begins in the first quarter with ancient Greek philosophy and ends in the third quarter with nineteenth-century philosophy. Students are required to take two courses from this sequence (any two are acceptable) and are encouraged to take all three. Students are also encouraged to take these courses early in their program because they make an appropriate introduction to more advanced courses.

Elementary Logic (PHIL 20100). Students may elect to bypass PHIL 20100 for a more advanced course if they can satisfy the instructor that they are qualified to begin at a higher level.

Distribution. At least one course in each of the three following fields: (I) value theory (including ethics, social and political philosophy, and aesthetics); (II) philosophy of science and mathematics; and (III) metaphysics and epistemology. Courses that may be counted toward these requirements are marked by the appropriate numerals in the course descriptions. Other courses may not be used to meet field distribution requirements. NOTE: Only field I, II, and III designations apply to undergraduates; field IV is an additional requirement for graduate students.

Summary of Requirements:

Standard Major

2 from PHIL 25000, 26000, and 27000

1 PHIL 20100 or approved alternative course
in logic

3 one each from fields I, II, and III

4 additional courses in philosophy

The Intensive Track. The intensive track is designed to acquaint students with the problems and methods of philosophy in more depth than is possible for students in the standard major. It differs from the standard program mainly by offering the opportunity to meet in the following very small discussion groups that are open only to students in the intensive track:

a junior seminar in the Autumn Quarter of the third year (PHIL 29600),

a junior tutorial (PHIL 29200), and

a senior tutorial (PHIL 29300).

Intensive track students must also write a senior essay. The junior seminar and two tutorials replace two of the four additional courses in philosophy mentioned in the summary of requirements for the standard major. PHIL 29901 and 29902 (preparation for senior essay) may be taken any time during fourth year.

Students interested in the intensive track should consult with the director of undergraduate studies before applying. Applications must be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies by the middle of Spring Quarter of second year.

Summary of Requirements:

Intensive Track

2 from PHIL 25000, 26000, and 27000

1 PHIL 20100 or approved alternative course in logic

3 one each from fields I, II, and III

1 PHIL 29600 (junior seminar)

1 PHIL 29200 (junior tutorial)

1 PHIL 29300 (senior tutorial)

2 PHIL 29901 and 29902 (preparation for
senior essay)

2 additional courses in philosophy

Philosophy and Allied Fields. This variant of the major is intended for students who wish to create a coherent interdisciplinary program involving philosophy and some other field of study. Students in this program must meet the first three of the basic requirements for the standard major (a total of six courses) and take six additional courses that together constitute a coherent program; at least one of these six additional courses must be in the Department of Philosophy. Students must receive approval for the specific courses they choose to be used as the allied fields courses. Admission to philosophy and allied fields requires an application to the director of undergraduate studies, which should be made by the middle of Spring Quarter of their second year. To apply, students must submit both a statement of purpose that explains why they want to enter and a sample program of courses, and they must have the agreement of a member of the Department of Philosophy to serve as their sponsor in the program. Students interested in this program should consult with the director of undergraduate studies before applying.

Summary of Requirements:

Philosophy and Allied Fields

2 from PHIL 25000, 26000, and 27000

1 PHIL 20100 or approved alternative course
in logic

3 one each from fields I, II, and III

6 additional courses, at least one of which must be

__ in the Department of Philosophy

The Senior Essay. The senior essay is one of the requirements for students who have been admitted to the intensive track. Students who are not in the intensive track but who wish to write a senior essay should apply to do so by early in Spring Quarter of their third year. Application forms are available in the departmental office; completed forms should be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies. Students are advised to formulate plans for their senior essays in consultation with a faculty adviser and the director of undergraduate studies.

After a proposal is approved, students should preregister for PHIL 29800 in Autumn (or Winter) Quarter and for PHIL 29900 in Winter (or Spring) Quarter of their fourth year. (These two courses are among the requirements for the Intensive Track. For the standard major and for allied fields, both courses must be taken; however, only one will be counted toward program requirements.)

Grading. All courses for all tracks must be taken for a quality grade.

Honors. The main requirement for honors is a senior essay of distinction. A GPA in the major of 3.25 or higher is also usually required.

Transfer Students. Requirements for students transferring to the University of Chicago are the same as for other students. Up to (but usually no more than) three courses from another institution may be counted toward major requirements. All such courses must be approved by the director of undergraduate studies.

Advising. Questions concerning program plans, honors, or any other matters should be directed to the director of undergraduate studies. All students planning to graduate in Spring Quarter must have their programs approved by the director of undergraduate studies at the beginning of the previous Autumn Quarter.

Faculty

J. Beere, J. Bridges, D. Brudney, T. Cohen, J. Conant, A. Davidson, D. Finkelstein,
M. Forster, A. Gewirth, M. Green, J. Haugeland, M. Kremer, C. Larmore, G. Lear, J. Lear,
L. Linsky, I. Mueller, M. Nussbaum, R. Pippin, R. Richards, H. Stein, J. Stern, W. Tait,
C. Vogler, W. Wimsatt

Courses: Philosophy (phil)

Boldface letters in parentheses refer to the areas noted in the preceding Summary of Requirements section.

The following courses are designed for College students.

20100/30000. Elementary Logic. (=CHSS 33500, HIPS 20700) Course not for field credit. This course is an introduction to the techniques of modern logic. These include the representation of arguments in symbolic notation, and the systematic manipulation of these representations to show the validity of arguments. If time permits, we discuss important early meta-theorems for these systems, including the Completeness Theorem for the predicate calculus and the First Gödel Incompleteness Theorem. M. Kremer. Autumn.

21000. Introduction to Ethics. (=HIPS 21000, ISHU 29200) Some prior work in philosophy helpful but not required. In this introductory course in moral philosophy, we read, write, and think about central issues in moral philosophy. This survey course is designed to give a rapid introduction to philosophical ethics (largely in the Anglo-North American tradition). We begin with work by Immanuel Kant and Henry Sidgwick and conclude with important twentieth century work in metaethics and normative ethics. C. Vogler. Spring. (I)

21210. Philosophy and Literature. Works by a variety of contemporary authors are read, dealing with the question of whether and how fiction and philosophy are related to one another. T. Cohen. Winter. (I)

21400. Happiness. (=GNDR 25200, HUMA 24900, PLSC 22700) From Plato to the present, notions of happiness have been at the core of heated debates in ethics and politics. Is happiness the ultimate good for human beings (the essence of the good life) or is morality somehow prior to it? Can it be achieved by all or only by a fortunate few? These are some of the questions that this course engages, with the help of both classic and contemporary texts from philosophy, literature, and the social sciences. This course includes various video presentations and other materials stressing visual culture. B. Schultz. Spring.

21416/31416. Religion and the First Amendment. (=RETH 31600, RLST 25001) This course covers the major legal issues in this area, focusing on the relationship between the Establishment clause and the Free Exercise clause. Some background reading in philosophy (e.g., Hobbes, Locke) begins the class, and some comparative reading about other countries (especially India) ends it. M. Nussbaum. Spring. (I)

21551/31551. Greek Tragedy: Sophocles' Philoctetes. (=GREK 2560035600, LAWS 96302, RETH 49901) For course description, see Classical Studies (Greek). M. Nussbaum. Winter. (I)

21700/31600. Human Rights I: Philosophical Foundations of Human Rights. (=HIST 29301/39301, HMRT 20100/30100, INRE 31600, ISHU 28700/38700, LAWS 41200, LLSO 25100) For course description, see Human Rights. M. Green. Autumn. (I)

21801/31801. Philosophy and Film. (=ARTH 27904/37904, COVA 27904/37904) This course investigates some of the conditions and modes of visual presentation that make it possible for a viewer of a motion picture drama to become absorbed in what is experienced as an independent fictional narrative world. Some attention is given to exploring the similarities and differences between the presentation of a fictional narrative world in film and in some of the other other visual and dramatic arts, most notably painting and theater. Readings are from, among others, Andre Bazin, Leo Braudy, Stanley Cavell, Denis Diderot, Michael Fried, Jean Mitry, Thomas Nagel, Erwin Panofsky, Victor Perkins, V. I. Pudovkin, Karel Reisz, and George Wilson. J. Conant, J. Snyder. Autumn. (I)

23501. Philosophy of Mind. (=HIPS 20401) J. Haugeland. Winter, 2005. (III)

23600/33600. Medieval Philosophy. (=JWSC 24600, JWSG 34600, RLST 25900) PQ: PHIL 25000. This course involves a study of the development of philosophy in the West in the first thirteen centuries of the common era with a focus on Neoplatonism. We discuss early Christian philosophy, Islamic Kalam, Jewish philosophy, and Christian philosophical theology. Readings include works of Plotinus, Augustine, Al-Farabi, Avicenna, Maimonides, Averroes, and Thomas Aquinas. J. Stern. Winter.

23801/33801. Theory of Reference. PQ: PHIL 30000 or equivalent required; prior knowledge of analytic philosophy recommended. A survey of recent theories of names, descriptions, and truth. We discuss the relation of reference to meaning as well as the epistemological and metaphysical consequences drawn from theses about reference. After briefly reviewing classical sources (e.g., Frege, Russell, Tarski), we concentrate on current work by Searle, Kripke, Donnellan, Kaplan, Putnam, Evans, Davidson, and Burge. J. Stern. Spring. (III)

24800. Foucault and The History of Sexuality. (=CHSS 41900, GNDR 24900, HIPS 24300) PQ: Prior philosophy course or consent of instructor. This course centers on a close reading of the first volume of Michel Foucault's The History of Sexuality, with some attention to his writings on the history of ancient conceptualizations of sex. How should a history of sexuality take into account scientific theories, social relations of power, and different experiences of the self? We discuss the contrasting descriptions and conceptions of sexual behavior before and after the emergence of a science of sexuality. Other writers influenced by and critical of Foucault are also discussed. A. Davidson. Autumn. (III)

24801/34801. Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Philosophy of Religion. (=RLST 24801) This course focuses on the eighteenth-century philosophical challenge to rational religion, as well as on the most important eighteenth- and nineteenth-century responses to that challenge. Writers examined include Hume, Kant, Schleiermacher, and Kierkegaard. D. Brudney. Winter. (III)

25000. History of Philosophy I: Ancient Philosophy. (=ANST 22400, CLCV 22700) PQ: Completion of the general education requirement in humanities. This course introduces students to the philosophical reading of ancient texts. Rather than surveying ancient philosophy, we engage with a few texts (mostly, but not exclusively, by Plato and Aristotle) and engage with them in a philosophical way. This means examining the arguments in the texts, examining the underpinnings of those arguments, and considering what these arguments mean for us. The texts chosen are connected with a single theme. J. Beere. Autumn.

25010/35010. Plato's Early Dialogues. In this course we consider Plato's early dialogues from two standpoints, that of moral philosophy and that of epistemology. In the first connection, topics include the transition from "competitive" to "quiet" virtues, the unity of the virtues and its bearing on the phenomenon of moral dilemmas, moral cognitivism versus (Protagorean) moral training, and the question of cosmopolitanism. In the second (epistemological) connection, topics include the Socratic demand for definitions, the Socratic profession of ignorance, Socratic elenchus, and Socrates' positive methods. Dialogues read include the Apology, the Euthyphro, the Crito, the Euthydemus, and the Protagoras. M. Forster. Autumn. (IV)

25100/35100. Hume's Treatise of Human Nature. This is a modern masterpiece (1738) that features influential discussions of skepticism, metaphysics, causation, the self, psychology, and ethics. This course covers these topics with the goal of gaining a sense of the book as a whole. M. Green. Winter. (IV)

25703/35703. Plato's Sophist. This course is devoted to a close reading of Plato's Sophist from beginning to end. We focus especially, but not exclusively, on the so-called Battle of Gods and Giants: the dispute between those who think that all beings are bodies (the Giants) and those who believe in non-bodily beings (the Gods). Plato suggests a theory of being that supposed brings this metaphysical battle to an end. We try to understand what this battle amounts to and how Plato's suggestion would resolve it. But we also situate these issues in the dialogue as a whole, and this involves an array of other questions (e.g., how to define the sophist, what constitutes a definition at all, what the relationship is among the various definitions of the sophist, and how to understand the Parmenidean problem of non-being). J. Beere. Winter. (IV)

26000. History of Philosophy II: Medieval and Early Modern Philosophy. (=HIPS 26000) PQ: Completion of the general education requirement in humanities required; PHIL 25000 recommended. This course surveys the history of philosophy from the late medievals to Hume. S. Marquardt. Winter.

27000. History of Philosophy III: Kant and the Nineteenth Century. PQ: Completion of the general education requirement in humanities. This course provides a broad introduction to the most important thinkers and themes in philosophy in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. M. Forster. Spring.

29200-1,-2. Junior Tutorial I, II. PQ: Open only to third-year students who have been admitted to the intensive track. Winter, Spring.

29300-1,-2. Senior Tutorial I, II. PQ: Open only to fourth-year students who have been admitted to the intensive track. Winter, Spring.

29400/39600. Intermediate Logic I. (=CHSS 33600, HIPS 20500) PQ: Consent of instructor. This is a course in the science of logic. It presupposes a knowledge of the use of truth-functions and quantifiers as tools: such as the art of logic. Our principal task is to study these tools in a systematic way. We cover the central theorems about first-order logic with identity: completeness, compactness, and Löwenheim-Skolem theorems. We introduce set theoretic and mathematical apparatus as required. We also study the topic of definition in more detail than is customary in such courses, culminating with a proof of Beth's theorem on implicit and explicit definitions. M. Kremer. Spring. (II)

29600. Junior Seminar. PQ: Open only to third-year students who have been admitted to the intensive track program. Topics for this small, discussion-oriented seminar vary. J. Bridges. Autumn.

29700. Reading Course. PQ: Consent of instructor and director of undergraduate studies. Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

29800. Senior Seminar. PQ: Consent of director of undergraduate studies. Required of fourth-year students who are writing a senior essay. The seminar meets over the course of Winter and Spring Quarters; however, students register for it in either Autumn or Winter Quarter. NOTE: Students may not register for both PHIL 29800 and 29900 in the same quarter. Staff, Autumn; M. Kremer, Winter.

29900. B.A. Essay Preparation. PQ: Consent of B.A. adviser and director of undergraduate studies. Required of fourth-year students who are writing a senior essay. Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form. In consultation with their B.A. adviser, students work independently in preparation of the B.A. essay. Work is done over the course of the entire senior year; however, students register for this course in either Winter or Spring Quarter. NOTE: Students may not register for both PHIL 29800 and 29900 in the same quarter. Staff, Winter; M. Kremer, Spring.

The following courses are designed for graduate students but are open to qualified College students.

31300. Aesthetics and Theory of Criticism (=COVA 31300, ISHU 30500) PQ: Consent of instructor. This course is an introduction to problems in the philosophy of art with both traditional and contemporary texts. Topics include the definition of art, representation, expression, metaphor, and taste. T. Cohen. Winter. (I)