300 Level Papers

The following is a list of the 300 level, third year papers available in the Philosophy Department in 2013. Some of the papers can be taken at 200 or 400 level. Click here for more information on papers offered and course requirements.

PHIL 321 Analytic Philosophy

Points value: 18 points

Second Semester

Alex Miller

This course deals with the founding fathers of analytic philosophy. We will cover Frege’s theory of sense and reference, G.E. Moore’s argument that goodness is a simple and unanalyzable non-natural property, Bertrand Russell’s theory of descriptions, logical positivism and the verification principle, and Quine’s famous attack on the analytic/synthetic distinction. Some knowledge of these thinkers is needed for a full understanding of contemporary analytic philosophy.

PHIL 323 Metaphysical Questions

Points value: 18 points

First Semester

Raamy Majeed

Metaphysics is concerned with the ultimate nature of reality. What sorts of things exist? And what are those things like? Topics covered include: things and their properties, identity through change, possible worlds, causation, time and truth.

PHIL 329 Philosophy of Religion

Points value: 18 points

Second Semester

Greg Dawes

In an age of increasing religious conflict, it is vital that religious beliefs be subject to critical scrunity. Can we make sense of the idea of an all-powerful, all-knowing, and benevolent God? Do we have any reason to believe he exists? Does religious belief need reasons? What about faith? If I believe I have encountered God, is that not enough? If God existed, would he have created a world such as ours, with all its suffering? These questions, and others, are addressed by the philosophy of religion.

PHIL 332 Early Modern Philosophy B: Locke, Berkeley, Hume

Points value: 18 points

Second Semester

Lecturer TBA

Also available as PHIL 231

The central issues in the philosophy of Locke and its subsequent impact on the philosophy of Berkeley and Hume.

PHIL 333 Philosophy of Language and Mind

Points value: 18 points

First Semester

Alex Miller, Andrew Moore

Also available as PHIL 233

The foundation and development of modern philosophy of mind and language in the second half of the twentieth century, and the radical effects these developments have had on modern analytic philosophy.

PHIL 334 Philosophy of Biology

Points value: 18 points

Second Semester

James Maclaurin

The philosophy of the life sciences. Topics include the role of genes in development and evolution, the concept of genetic information and alternatives to it, problems in the practice of adaptive explanation, theoretical and moral issues surrounding nature conservation and genetic modification.

Also available as PHIL 405

PHIL 335 Why Be Moral?

Points value: 18 points

First Semester

Charles Pigden

Also available as PHIL 406

Why be moral? Some believe that morality is pernicious since it serves as an excuse for cruelty and a prop to predatory elites. Others believe that society is better off believing in a sane and humane morality rather than none at all. But even if morality is socially necessary why should I, the individual, subscribe to the myth? Or, if morality is not a myth, why should I do the right thing if the wrong thing would pay better? We discuss these questions, touching on Plato and Dostoevsky, Laclos and Shakespeare.

PHIL 338 Ethical Theory

Points value: 18 points

Second Semester

Andrew Moore

Also available as PHIL 413

Philosophical ideals of the human good, and their role in morality, politics, applied ethics, and literature.

PHPE (PPE) Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Philosophy, Politics and Economics is a multidisciplinary programme that incorporates an attractive and intellectually stimulating combination of three long-established and influential disciplines. Students develop a basic literacy in each of the three subjects; they are exposed to a broad range of exciting ideas, and they are encouraged to cultivate a set of logical, mathematical and analytical skills. Since PPE or PHPE is a sixteen-paper rather than a nine-paper major, students can expect, on average, to do 55% as much philosophy as a ‘straight’ philosopher, 55% as much politics as a politics major and 66% as much economics as a ‘pure’ economist, though these figures can vary up and down since some specialization permitted at 300-level.

For more information about PHPE go here.

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