University
of Wisconsin Oshkosh
PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT
Course
Descriptions
for
Spring 2010
(Want
to plan even further ahead? To see what upper division courses will be
offered in Fall 2010, click here.)
Lower Division Courses
PHIL
101 (Interim): Elementary Logic (Prof. Gilboa)
The first part of the course will be spent on deductive logic. Specifically,
we will study the logic of categorical syllogisms and the logic of propositions.
The second part of the course will be devoted to inductive logic, mainly probability
and rational decision theory, and, if time permits, to the logic of scientific
research.
PHIL
101 (Section 1): Elementary Logic (Prof. Cordero) [TTh 1:20-2:50 PM]
A
study of how logic works in the most common types of arguments. The required
text is Unified Logic. Symbols are used. Up to seven hours of study time per
week outside of class may be necessary for the average student. Grades will
come from four cumulative multiple-choice tests.
PHIL
105 (Sections 1 and 2): Ethics (Prof. Herzberg) [Sec 1: MWF 10:20-11:20
AM; Sec 2: 11:30-12:30 AM]
In this class we will examine several influential moral theories. In a philosophical
moral theory, principles of right and wrong action are not simply asserted as
commands, as they might be in a legal system or a religion. Rather, philosophers
attempt to logically justify the moral principles they hold to be true. All
of the philosophers that we will be studying in this class - including Thomas
Hobbes, Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, and Immanuel Kant - have tried to
find a rational or a natural (as opposed to a supernatural) basis for morality,
arguing that at least some rules of behavior are as objectively true as the
fundamental principles of science or mathematics. In this class, strengths and
weaknesses of each theory will be discussed, and you will be encouraged to think
about how your own moral theory resembles (or differs from) the ones we have
studied.
PHIL
105 (Sections 3 and 5): Ethics (Prof. Cordero) [Sec 1: MW 3-4:30 PM;
Sec. 3: TTh 9:40-11:10 AM]
An examination of morality, the Good Life, and the meaning of basic ethical
terms. The required text is Ethics: Selections from Classical and Contemporary
Writers. Theories by Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus, Epictetus, St. Augustine,
St. Thomas, Hobbes, Butler, Hume, Kant, Mill, Nietzsche, Marx, Moore, Ayer,
Sartre, and Rawls will be discussed. Good note taking in class is a must. Up
to seven hours of study time per week outside of class may be necessary. Grades
will come from cumulative multiple-choice tests.
PHIL
105 (Sections 4 and 6): Ethics (Prof. Gilboa) [Sec 4: TTh 8:00-9:30
AM; Sec 6: TTh 11:30-1:00 PM]
After explaining the notion of an objective basis for ethics, we will study
the moral theory of John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism. We will next study the
moral theory of Immanuel Kant, and the Social Contract theory of Morals of Thomas
Hobbes. To demonstrate the usefulness of ethical theory, we will discuss along
the way questions of applied ethics. If time permits, we will take a look at
the modification of Hobbes' theory by Dr. Gilboa.
PHIL
109 (Section 1): Introduction to Philosophy (Prof. Burr) [MWF
12:40-1:40 PM]
The general goal of this course is to stimulate students to grow in Socratic
wisdom so that they no longer think they know what they do not know. To this
end, students will scrutinize some philosophical analyses and solutions to such
questions as: Is anyone or no one morally responsible? Does God exist? Is it
rational to obey the law? Is any knowledge possible? Does human life have any
meaning? Only when one has forged one’s own answers to these and similar
questions does he or she cease being the mere echo of other voices and, instead,
speak freely and independently and achieve genuine freedom of thought.
PHIL
109 (Section 2): Introduction to Philosophy (Prof. Carlin)
[MWF 1:50-2:50 PM]
This course is designed to introduce students to a number of philosophical issues
that have fascinated humankind for centuries. We will ask such questions
as: Is it reasonable to believe in the existence of God? Do human
beings have freedom of the will, or are all their actions determined?
What, if any, knowledge do we have? What is the relationship between the
mind and the body? What makes certain actions right (moral) and others
wrong (immoral)? Is the death penalty morally acceptable? To what
extent may government rightfully restrict the behavior of its citizens?
We will critically examine answers that have been offered to these, and other
questions.
PHIL
109 (Sections 3 and 4 and 5): Introduction to Philosophy (Prof. Vlasak)
[Sec 3: TTh 9:40-11:10 AM; Sec 4: TTh 3:00-4:30 PM; Sec 5: TTh 11:30-1:00 PM]
This course introduces some basic methods, topics and schools of philosophy.
We will begin with Plato and then seek a broader historical foundation in the
writings of thinkers such as Aristotle, Descartes, Hume, Kant, Nietzsche, and
James. We will then reflect on the contemporary philosophical setting against
divergent philosophical trends that come out of Kant—those represented
by Heidegger and Carnap. Topics to be discussed include philosophy, the good
life, justice, god, truth, and nihilism.
PHIL
110 (Section 1): Honors Introduction to Philosophy (Prof. Carlin) [MWF
3-4 PM]
This seminar is designed to introduce students to a number of philosophical
issues that have fascinated humankind for centuries. We will ask such questions
as: Is it reasonable to believe in the existence of God? Do human beings have
freedom of the will, or are all their actions determined? What, if any, knowledge
do we have? What is the relationship between the mind and the body? What makes
certain actions right (moral) and others wrong (immoral)? Is the death penalty
morally acceptable? To what extent may government rightfully restrict the behavior
of its citizens? We will critically examine answers that have been offered to
these, and other questions. Note that this is a small class (a seminar) and
it will involve lively critical discussion, as well as a number of writing exercises.
Upper Division Courses
PHIL
205: Ethical Issues in a Diverse Society (Prof. Vlasak) [W 6:00-9:00
PM]
According to certain canonical writings in the philosophical tradition, all
human beings are equally worthy of respect. It seems that this is a claim that
our conventional moral and political opinions would not challenge. The divisive
question is “what feature of being human merits or demands respect?”
Is it only that which is universally shared that demands respect? Or do all
cultural products deserve respect? Through the writings of thinkers such as
Charles Taylor, Jürgen Habermas, John Rawls, and Alasdair MacIntyre, we
will consider the extent of human difference and the question as to whether
and how difference ought to be recognized politically.
PHIL
211: Philosophy in India (Prof. Burr) [MWF 10:20-11:20]
This
course critically discusses the contributions of native Indian philosophies
to the analysis and solution of such philosophic problems as the nature of the
self, knowledge, causation, freedom, reality, and release from suffering. Consideration
also will be given to the appropriate yogas. Indian philosophies scrutinized
include Carvaka, Yogacara, Madhyamika, Nyaya-Vaisesika, Samkhya-yoga, Vedanta,
and Satyagraha (Gandhi).
PHIL
305: History of Modern Philosophy (Prof. Carlin) [MWF 12:40 - 1:40
PM]
This
course covers the period of philosophy generally referred to as the “modern”
period (roughly, 1600-1800). There can be little doubt that these were some
of the most active and tumultuous years in the history of intellectual thought.
We will begin with a brief look at the historical and intellectual background
to the modern period. This will set the stage for a more careful coverage of
several great philosophers of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries: René
Descartes, John Locke, Gottfried Leibniz, George Berkeley, David Hume, and Immanuel
Kant. We will look in less detail at a few other figures too, such as Thomas
Hobbes, Baruch Spinoza, and Nicholas Malebranche. Emphasis will be placed on
understanding the individual views of these philosophers, as well as the philosophical
development of the modern period as a whole. Course website with syllabus.
PHIL
309: Contemporary Philosophy (Prof. Herzberg) [TTh 3:00-4:30 PM]
The twentieth century was an incredibly fertile period in philosophy. Dissatisfied
with most of the traditional approaches to seemingly intractable problems, some
philosophers early in the century attempted to re-invent their discipline. We
will begin by reading perhaps the most radical of these attempts, A. J. Ayer’s
“Language, Truth, and Logic”, where he argues that most traditional
philosophical problems - especially metaphysical ones - are quite literally
nonsense. Then, by reading Saul Kripke’s “Naming and Necessity”,
we will see how certain metaphysical problems became respectable again in the
second half of the century. Other readings showing a similar return to traditional
problems in other areas of philosophy (such as ethics, epistemology, or the
philosophy of mind) will be discussed as time permits.
PHIL
325: Social and Political Philosophy (Prof. Cordero) [TTh 1:20-2:50
PM]
This course covers the meanings of certain terms basic to social-political discourse;
arguments for and against living in society; theories about who ought to rule;
theories about the sort of laws that people ought to have; questions of authority,
obedience, and disobedience; and theories of long-range patterns in history.
The required text is Social and Political Philosophy (Somerville and Santoni).
Study time outside of class should be about seven hours per week. Grades will
come from a combination of essay tests and cumulative multiple-choice tests.
Upper
Division Courses for Fall 2010
(Sections of PHIL 101, 105 and 109 are offered every semester)
PHIL
207: Philosophy of Religion (Prof. Carlin) [MWF 12:40-1:40 pm]
PHIL 301: History of Ancient Philosophy (Prof. Vlasak) [W 6:00-9:00 pm]
PHIL 319: Theory of Knowledge (Prof. Herzberg) [MW 3:00-4:30 pm]
PHIL 325: Social and Political Philosophy (Prof. Cordero) [TR 1:20-2:50 pm]
PHIL 327: Philosophy of Mind (Prof. Kyburg) [TR 9:40-11:10]
To return to the Spring 2010 schedule, click here.
Last Updated:10-2-09