Course Catalog and Descriptions for Winter '09

University Schedule of Classes

Please find descriptions for all courses the philosophy department is offering for undergraduate students at all levels. Interested students should feel free to contact the professor of a course to learn more about it. Students should use this guide in conjunction with UC Schedule of Classes.

To discuss a philosophy minor or major, please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Professor John Martin: 556-6339 or via email at john.martin@uc.edu. Note to philosophy majors: If a PHIL class you wish to enroll in is closed, please visit the instructor and request to be added. All philosophy majors will be allowed to add closed philosophy courses.

Visit the Department of Philosophy website to learn more about what we do.

Introductory Courses

15-PHIL-101.001-010 -- Moral and Political Ideas (BoK: HU, SE Preq: NONE)
Professor Robert W. Faaborg
M/W/F, 10-10:50, 11-11:50, or 1-1:50

Moral and Political Ideas is designed to explore the intersection of political and moral ideas and to help students:

  1. understand the origins and ethical presuppositions of contemporary political ideas, especially concerning democracy and human rights;
  2. analyze arguments concerning such issues as the best form of government, the legitimate extent of governmental power over the individual and the concept of justice;
  3. explore the connections between historical and economic settings and the political philosophies that developed from them;
  4. critically evaluate the writings of significant political philosophers;
  5. become aware of the methodology and kinds of explanations that philosophers use to analyze political concepts and theories;
  6. and most importantly, develop one's own theory of human rights and justice.

Requirements include student journals, brief written essays, quizzes and a final exam. There are no prerequisites for this course. Course format will involve lectures on Monday and Wednesday and discussion sections with a graduate assistant on Friday. No texts need to be purchased for this course since all materials are available online through Blackboard.

15-PHIL-105.001 -- Introduction to Philosophy: Mind and Will (Bok: HU, Preq: NONE)
Professor Thomas Polger
T/TH, 12:30-1:45

What is philosophy? What questions do philosophers ask? What distinctive techniques or skills can be brought to bear on philosophical problems? What makes a question philosophical—rather than scientific, historical, political, and so forth? In this class we will approach these issues by examining some philosophical theses and arguments regarding thought, experience, and action. We'll be particularly concerned with human beings, but also with animals, machines, and other potential thinkers. We will practice skills for reading, thinking, and writing about philosophy.

15-PHIL-111.001 -- Contemporary Moral Issues (BoK: HU, SE, Preq: NONE)
Professor Vanessa Carbonell
M/W/F, 2-2:50

What, if anything, do we owe suffering strangers in poverty-stricken areas? What, if anything, should governments do about persistent racial and gender inequality? Is abortion ever morally permissible? What about assisted suicide? Are certain forms of punishment morally wrong? Should people be allowed to sell their sperm, eggs, or kidneys? In this course, we use the tools of philosophy to try to solve pressing moral issues like these. We will begin with a short introduction to some of the most prominent ethical theories, and then delve directly into the issues. Throughout the course, we will examine the role of ethical concepts - such as harm, rights,happiness, dignity, respect, equality, justice, moral responsibility, and moral personhood - in determining what we ought to do about practical moral problems. This course does not assume or require any previous background in philosophy.

15-PHIL-121.001-002, 901 -- Critical Thinking (BoK: HU, Preq: NONE)
Field-Service Professor Tim Allen*
M/W/F, 10-10:50 or 1-1:50 or T, 6:30-9:10
*901 is taught by Instructor Steve Wilson

In this course, we will examine a number of ways in which we can sharpen our critical thinking skills and improve our reasoning abilities. We will study different types of reasoning, methods of interpretation, techniques of critical examination and analysis, and forms of argument. We will also investigate a number of common fallacies and other errors in reasoning. This will enable us to distinguish good arguments from bad, and will allow us to present our own arguments more clearly, cogently, and effectively.

15-PHIL-123.001 -- Introduction to Logic
Instructor Steve Wilson
T/H, 11-12:15

This is an introductory course in deductive logic. We begin by looking at arguments and their elements and understanding what makes an argument valid and sound. Then we move on to examining some of the logical properties of symbolized arguments. Much of the course focuses on natural deductions, or proofs of validity by way of a set of simple logical rules.

Topics Courses for the General Student

15-PHIL-207.001 -- Minds and Machines (BoK: HU, Preq: NONE)
Instructor Doug Keaton
T/H, 11-12:15

Can machines think? Could there be such a thing as artificial intelligence (AI)? We will explore philosophical theories of the mind as they apply to machines, particularly computing machines. We will also study debates among advocates of artificial intelligence, about the structure and function of thought. We will examine arguments from philosophers who are friends and foes of the idea that AI is possible. What kind of test would prove that a computer or machine is conscious? Why should we believe such a test, if a computer or machine passed it -- how could we really know what was going on inside it? We will try to discover what, if anything, the popularity of AI in pop culture can tell us about the way our culture sees the nature of ordinary human minds at the beginning of the twenty-first century. This course is designed to introduce the student to current debates in the philosophy of mind and to the methods and practices of philosophical investigation.

15-PHIL-277.001 -- Philosophy and the Arts (BoK: HU, Preq: NONE)
Professor Jenefer Robinson
M/W/F, 12-12:50

In this course we will discuss theoretical issues related to the various art forms: painting, photography, music, literature, film, sculpture and architecture. Sample topics include: representation in pictures and music, artistic style, the problems of forgery, aesthetic distinctions between painting and photography, ethical versus aesthetic criteria for art, form versus content, the differences between architecture and sculpture, and the special nature of film. Readings by philosophers, art critics, architectural theorists, literary critics, musicians, etc.

15-PHIL-279.001 -- Taste, Food, and Wine (Bok: HU, Preq: NONE)
Professor John Martin
M/W/F, 1-1:50

Epistemological, aesthetic and moral issues raised by food and drink. Are judgments of taste objective - can they be measured? Are they aesthetic? How does eating and drinking fit into the good, i.e. moral life? Readings in science, philosophy, and ethics.

15-PHIL-280.001 -- Love, Anger, Fear and Other Emotions (BoK: DC, SE, Preq: NONE)
Professor Jenefer Robinson
M/W/F, 10-10:50

Philosophical perspectives on the theory of emotion, addressing questions such as the role of appraisal in emotion, the role of physiological changes and facial and vocal expressions, the Darwinian explanation of emotional expressions, the functions of emotions e.g. to focus attention and prompt action, and the degree to which the emotions are biologically pre-programmed or "socially constructed." We will discuss these questions via the analysis of particular sorts of emotions such as love, anger, fear, pity, grief, disgust and jealousy.

15-PHIL-289.001 -- Special Topics in Philosophy (Abortion) (BoK: HU, Preq: NONE)
Professor Lawrence Jost
T/H, 11-11:50

This course will attempt to introduce students to the serious study of the central ethical issues surrounding the explosive, divisive and politically contested problem posed by the practice of abortion in American society. While some attempt will be made to situate the debates in a broader framework of philosophical reflection about reproduction, the family, and responsibility for future generations, our main focus will be on the question of the moral standing of the fetus, its complicated relationship to the potential mother, the rights (legal as well as moral) of relevant parties to an abortion decision, the proper role of associated religious conceptions in any rational morality, and the related questions of the justifiability of infanticide and contraception. I have no intention of providing yet another forum for the inflammatory ideological indulgence of the extremists on either side of the barricades. In fact, I take it as one of the main goals of the course to teach students how to argue dispassionately and intelligently about a deeply difficult moral dilemma for our species. If we emerge with (re?) considered views of our own about the fundamental moral issue, that would be welcome. But, we'll be less concerned with "bottom-lines" than what should appear above them, i.e. good arguments.

Courses for the Major (Non-majors welcome)

15-PHIL-303.001 -- Philosophy of Psychology (BoK: HU, Preq: NONE)
Professor Franklin Scott
M/W/F, 2-2:50

This course is on the philosophy of psychology and cognitive science. Its purpose is to explore issues at the intersection of the scientific study of the mind/brain and traditional philosophical problems. We will take an empirically informed look at important theoretical notions in psychology such as representation, perception, sensation, consciousness, awareness, belief/desire, and emotion. We will also pay particular attention to the philosophical puzzles that arise from different applications of these notions. Questions that will arise include: are there such things as colors, sounds, smells, tastes, pains and, if so, what kinds of things are they? is consciousness merely representational? can consciousness be distinguished from awareness and attention? how do people reason about each other's beliefs and desires? what is the relationship between language and thought?

15-PHIL-309.001 -- Philosophy of Language (BoK: HU, Preq: PHIL 104, 105, 106)
Professor Christopher Gauker
T/H, 11-12:15

This course will examine contemporary theories of linguistic meaning. It will deal with questions such as: What is the relation between a sentence and the world when the sentence is true? How can speakers mean more by what they say than what their words literally mean?

15-PHIL-310.001 -- Rationalism (BoK: HU, Preq: PHIL 104, 105, 106)
Professor John Martin
M/W/F, 10-10:50

An introduction to the philosophy of the rationalists (Descartes, Arnauld, Malebranche, Spinoza and Leibniz), with an emphasis on their views on logic, metaphysics, and epistemology.

15-PHIL-322.901 -- Ethics (Bok: HU, Preq: NONE)
Field-Professor Tim Allen
H, 6:30-9:10

This is a course focusing chiefly on normative ethical theory. Ethics, as the branch of philosophy concerned with value theory and human conduct, addresses questions such as: "what is the right thing to do;" "how ought we to live;" and "how can we answer these questions." In this course, we will be analyzing and assessing ethical concepts and principles; and, as one can present arguments in ethics much as one can in other disciplines, we will be also be examining the justifications for various ethical positions. Among the topics we will be investigating are: ethical relativism, divine command theory, free will, value theory, utilitarianism, contractarianism, ethical naturalism, virtue ethics, Kantian ethics, and ethical realism. We will examine some classical sources, but will focus primarily on contemporary readings.

15-PHIL-332-001 -- Ethics and the Family (BoK: HU, SE, Preq: NONE)
Professor Vanessa Carbonell
M/W/F, 1-1:50

This course examines ethical questions about both "traditional" and "non-traditional" families. What do we owe our family members? Who counts as a family member? Are certain ways of forming families morally problematic? What special rights and obligations arise from the parent-child, husband-wife, or brother-sister relationship? For instance, do parents they have the right to refuse medical treatment for their children? Does an anonymous sperm donor owe anything to his biological offspring? In addition to addressing moral questions like these, we will address related legal questions concerning how relationships are sanctioned, prohibited, and incentivized by the law. Topics may include the rights of children; inheritance; adoption; sperm and egg donation; surrogacy contracts; polygamy; equally-shared parenting; gay marriage; special obligations to relatives; and others. Readings will come mainly from philosophy, but also from law and social science.

15-PHIL-342.001 -- Symbolic Logic II (BoK: HU, QR, Preq: PHIL 341)
Professor Christopher Gauker
T/H, 9:30-10:45

This course is a continuation of Philosophy 341. Students will learn to prove that all and only valid arguments are derivable (completeness and soundness), that the truths of arithmetic cannot be axiomatized (Godel's theorem), and that first-order logic is not decidable. In addition, the course will include introductions to second-order logic and to modal logic.

15-PHIL-353.001 -- Philosophy and Race (BoK: HU, DC, Preq: NONE)
Professor Koffi Maglo
M/W/F, 11-11:50

Race is a hotly contested notion in philosophy and science. However, for the past four hundred years or so, the concept of race has played a significant role in the social and political organization of many countries. This course will first dwell on the historical developments of the concept of race in science and philosophy. It will then explore the political and legal history of the concept in the USA. Finally, the course will examine the recent controversy in the genomic sciences over race. The course thus has three main components: 1) race in the history of science and philosophy; 2) race in politics and law in the US; 3) race in genomics and medicine.

15-PHIL-386.001 -- Metaphysical Foundations of Technology (BoK: HU, Preq: NONE)
Professor John McEvoy
T/H, 2-3:15

This course explores a variety of philosophical issues generated by living in a high-tech society such as ours. We will consider the complex relations between a range of particular technologies - in transportation, medicine, food, the military and the environment - and human nature, society and individuals, as well as other species and the planet. How transformative has technology been in the social, moral, theoretical and practical activities of human being?

15-PHIL-381.001 -- Science, Philosophy, and Society (BoK: HU, Preq: NONE)
Professor John McEvoy
T/H, 12:30-1:45

At the heart of the science wars of the 1980/90s was the question: Is science a privileged (rational) source of knowledge or is it a 'cultural artifact', on a par with other cultural artifacts. This course will explore this question, looking at the debates between philosophers and sociologists of science about the nature of scientific rationality and how its relation to society should be envisaged. These questions will be explored using examples from the history of science.

Advanced Courses: Philosophy Background Required (speak to the Professor!)

15-PHIL-517.001 -- Empiricism: Hume (BoK: HU, Preq: PHIL 104, 105, 106)
Professor Lawrence Jost
H, 3:30-5:50

This course will focus almost exclusively on intensive study of David Hume's An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1748). To that end we will use Tom Beauchamp's Oxford Philosophical Text edition (1999) along with selected secondary literature on all the key issues raised by Hume's 1st enquiry, including the material on animals, miracles, and free will/determinism. For historical background and a sustained reading of the work in its entirety we will read Stephen Buckle's Hume's Enlightenment Tract:The Unity and Purpose of An Inquiry...(Oxford, 2001). One very influential interpretation that has emerged in the last quarter century of Hume scholarship is commonly known as the "skeptical realist" reading. We will look at this view very closely, with several readings drawn from Peter Millican's Reading Hume on Human Understanding (Oxford, 2002). All of these texts will be ordered from the bookstores and you will be required to purchase these particular texts. We may well use other readings that will be posted on Blackboard. Attendance, attention and class discussion will be crucially important and there will be take-home examinations for both the midterm and final for all students.

15-PHIL-531.001 -- Topics in Philosophy of Mind (BoK: HU, Preq: Instructor Permission)
Professor Franklin Scott
T, 3:30-5:50

Puzzles about the nature of color continue to bewitch philosophers despite human color vision being one the most thoroughly studied and well-understood perceptual systems. This course will examine some of what vision scientists have learned and how those studies bear on philosophical questions. We will focus on three particular issues. The first issue concerns color and representation. Are color experiences representations of the properties of objects or merely mental projections? If color experiences are representations, under what conditions are they veridical? If colors are not properties, what is the function of color vision? The second issue is color phenomenology. Do these properties bear the same relations of similarity and difference as our color experiences do? Could other creatures have radically different color quality spaces and still veridically represent colors? Do color quality spaces exhaust color phenomenology? The third issue concerns the relation between color perception and color semantics. Does having a concept or term for a color in one's language influence one's perceptual capacities? Besides being interesting themselves, the various different answers to these questions have important implications for broader philosophical theories of representation and consciousness.

15-PHIL-533.001 -- Philosophy and Cognitive Science (BoK: HU, Preq: Instructor Permission)
Professor Robert Richardson
W, 3:30-5:50

This is a course focused on philosophical issues concerning cognitive neuroscience. Among the issues will be the independence and autonomy of cognitive science from neuroscience, and the supposed reduction of cognitive psychology to neuroscience; however, the focus will be on the construction of mechanistic, interlevel, models. The backbone of this course will be structured around William Bechtel's Mental Mechanisms: Philosophical Perspectives on Cognitive Neuroscience. It will also include a variety of other supplementary readings, including at least some from John Bickle, Paul Churchland, and Carl Craver. The readings list will be flexible, and respond to the directions discussions take.

The course will be discussion oriented, treated as a seminar. There will be frequent presentations from students, and a final comprehensive paper will be required at the end of the course. The topic and theme of that paper will be determined by the student.

15-PHIL-595.001 -- French Traditions in Philosophy of Science (BoK: HU, Preq: Instructor Permission)
Professor Koffi Maglo
M, 3:30-5:50

The course will explore the positivistic, experimentalist and rationalistic trends that competed in philosophy of science in France from the second half of the 19th century up to the 1960s, prior to the rise of the social constructivist and postmodernist movements. The course will also document the relationship between logic-oriented and history-oriented interpretations of science in France during the same period.

University Schedule of Classes