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 UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM CALENDAR 2003-2004 |
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Philosophy Courses
PHL 010 Philosophy: Knowledge, Reality and Value Lect: 3 hrs. This course serves as an introduction to the Western outlook and to the principles of philosophical inquiry. The course will begin with classical Greek philosophy and will deal with such topics as the just society, the nature of human nature, education, problems as to the nature of knowledge, meanings of the term ‘reality’, the body-soul distinction, birth and death, deductive and inductive methods of reasoning, and the limits of human inquiry.
PHL 101 Philosophy: Plato and the Roots of Western Philosophy Lect: 3 hrs. An introduction to Philosophy, using Plato’s Republic. Topics include: How ought we to live our lives? What is justice? What is the nature of society and the individual? What social arrangements (education, political, economic) best serve the ideals of justice and happiness? (LL)
PHL 104 Philosophy: Hindu Philosophies & Ethics of Modernity Lect: 3 hrs. This course is an introduction to Hindu philosophies and ethics of modernity. It begins with an overview of the socio-religious situation in India under British rule in 1800 and the impact of Christian theology and ethics upon Indian intellectuals, especially in the Calcutta area. The course will proceed to a systematic and a comparative study of the philosophies and ethico-religious movements begun by such thinkers as: Rammohun Roy, Keshub Chunder Sen, Svami Vivekananda, and former President of India, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. It will conclude with a brief reference to contemporary thinkers such as Jiddu Krishnamurti, Svami Chinmayananda and Anandamayi Ma. (LL)
PHL 110 Philosophy: Philosophy of Religion Lect: 3 hrs. This course examines religion from a philosophical perspective. What is the nature of the ‘divine’? Can we give a rational account of religious experience? Can we prove the existence of God? Can the idea of God be reconciled with the presence of evil in the world? Is atheism a viable alternative to faith? These are just some of the questions this course explores. We will consider both western and eastern religions. (LL) Exclusion: PHL 610.
PHL 201 Philosophy: Problems in Philosophy Lect: 3 hrs. This course serves as an introduction to philosophy by focusing on problems and issues which have occupied thinkers down through the centuries. For example, how can we relate talk about the cause and effect relationship governing physical events with talk about people making free choices? How do mind and body relate? What do we really know about the physical world or other people’s minds? Can we know whether God exists? Are moral judgements objectively true or false? (LL)
PHL 214 Philosophy: Critical Thinking Lect: 3 hrs. A course designed to develop clarity of thought and method in the construction, analysis and evaluation of both unsupported claims and those supported by arguments. While there will be some exposure to the notion of logical form, the emphasis here is upon informal principles and arguments stated in ordinary language. Topics include the nature and methods of argument, classification and definition, along with some common fallacies and some questions about meaning and language. (LL)
PHL 221 Philosophy: Ethics and Health Care: Gerontology Lect: 3 hrs. This course is designed to provide students with the introduction to, and critical appreciation of, the main theories and principles in bioethics which have particular relevance in the context of gerontology. The course is intended to stimulate interest in, and provide insights into, the complex policy debates over competency and consent, death and dying and resource allocation issues. (PR) Prerequisite: GER 010.
PHL 301 Philosophy: Philosophical Foundations of Education Lect: 3 hrs. The profession of education has evolved in the framework of philosophical theories about human nature, human psychology, the nature of knowledge, education and values. This course examines the nature and status of these theories, their assumption and the legacies they have left for professional practice and methodology. Discussion will focus on both historical and contemporary thought in metaphysics, epistemology, philosophical psychology and ethics. (PR)
PHL 302 Philosophy: Ethics and Health Care Lect: 3 hrs. This course examines ethical issues arising in the delivery of health care at both the level of the practitioner/client relationship (confidentiality, informed consent, euthanasia, abortion) and at a broader social level (justice and resource allocation, new technologies, professionalisation and power). The course will draw on: a) general philosophical analysis of central concepts (good, right, justice, personhood, autonomy, authority, integrity, health); b) general theoretical perspectives (feminism, “the Biomedical model”, Utilitarianism, deontology); and c) student professional education and clinical experience in nursing. (PR)
PHL 306 Philosophy: Contemporary Moral Issues I Lect: 3 hrs. This course examines the ethical principles, concepts, and theories that lie at the heart of some important and controversial social issues. The practical and contemporary focus of the course will be determined by selection of issues from such topics as: Censorship (e.g., hate literature, pornography, advertising), Prohibition (e.g., drugs, gambling, prostit-ution), Multiculturalism (e.g., aboriginal rights, racism, freedom and cultural sovereignty), and Equality of Opportunity (e.g., affirmative action, pay equity, access to education). (LL)
PHL 307 Philosophy: Business Ethics Lect: 3 hrs. This course examines ethical issues and controversies concerning contemporary business practices and situates them within the broad intellectual framework of a free market society. Discussion will draw from such topics as: the concept of a market society, consumer sovereignty, utilitarian and contract models of business ethics, profit making and social responsibility, self interest and altruism, the concept of business as a practice, mechanistic and organic conceptions of business, advertising, human rights, and conflicts of interest. (PR)
PHL 400 Philosophy: Human Rights and Justice Lect: 3 hrs. This course aims to provide the philosophical background and conceptual tools which would enable students to recognize and handle complex contemporary issues and conflicts involving human rights. Topics include: classic and contemporary theories of rights and justice; equity and affirmative action; children’s rights; gender, sexual orientation and equality rights; aboriginal, language and cultural rights: human rights and cultural relativism. The course will combine lectures and discussion of selected philosophical readings and case studies. (PR)
PHL 406 Philosophy: Contemporary Moral Issues II Lect: 3 hrs. This course examines the ethical principles, concepts, and theories that lie at the heart of some important and controversial social issues. The practical and contemporary focus of the course will be determined by a selection of issues from such topics as: Sanctity of life and the Limits to Choice or Research (e.g., abortion, genetic engineering), Crime and Punishment (e.g., capital punishment, moral accountability), Welfare and Distributive Justice (e.g., poverty, wealth distribution, family support, right to work). (LL)
PHL 500 Philosophy: Philosophy of the Natural Environment Lect: 3 hrs. The rise of environ-mental philosophy challenges the “anthropo-centric paradigm” that has dominated Western thought. This course explores the implications of this challenge for our conception of ourselves, the basis for both human and natural values, and our obligations within the human and biotic communities. Topics include: traditional philosophical attitudes towards nature, obligations to future generations, “animal rights”, individual versus holistic models of value in relation to ecosystems, species and wilderness, and conflicts between human and natural values. (UL)
PHL 501 Philosophy: Contemporary Political Philosophy Lect: 3 hrs. This course examines contemporary attempts to answer such questions as: What is the basis and extent of the legitimate authority of a state over its citizens? What distributions of resources, rights, and opportunities are just? What does it mean to treat citizens equally? Do nations have obligations to those who are not citizens? Do all rights belong to individuals? Do groups have rights? How should past injustices be corrected? Are there principles governing international relations? (UL)
PHL 503 Philosophy: Moral Philosophy: Classical and Modern Lect: 3 hrs. This course explores seminal works in Western ethics. It analyzes different responses to such questions as: What kind of life is ultimately worth leading? What makes a person good? What makes an action right? Are there moral demands that bind everyone? If so, can we know what they are? Does morality have its foundations in religion? Reason? Emotion? Social practices? Contributions from such thinkers as Aristotle, Aquinas, Hume, Kant, and Mill will be studied. (UL)
PHL 504 Philosophy: Philosophy of Art I Lect: 3 hrs. The objective of this course is to provide students with an overview of a number of different theories concerning the nature of art. It will address such matters as the relationship between art and truth, the appropriate criteria of art criticism, the distinction between art and non-art, and the nature of aesthetic values. (UL)
PHL 505 Philosophy: Hegel & Marx Lect: 3 hrs. Are people essentially individual or social? How is their moral, cultural and economic, and political life to be understood? How do people fit into nature and, more broadly, into the cosmos as a whole? In addressing these and related questions, the course examines the religious idealism of Hegel and the atheistic materialism of Engels and Marx. (UL)
PHL 509 Philosophy: Bioethics in the New Millennium Lect: 3 hrs. Recent advances in biomedical sciences have raised a host of ethical concerns involving the sanctity and quality of life, fairness, equality, and autonomy. New and revolutionary developments call for legislative reform and policies designed to keep research and its applications within appropriate boundaries. This course examines issues such as cloning, assisted reproduction, genetic screening, gene therapy, organ donation, and resource allocation within a framework of moral principles and contemporary debate. (UL) Exclusion: PHL 302.
PHL 530 Philosophy: Media Ethics Lect: 3 hrs. This course examines the rights, freedoms, and obligations of the media and practising journalists. Issues may vary somewhat from year to year, but the following are typical: the grounds and limits of freedom of expression; moral responsibilities respecting truth, balance, and objectivity; media ethics and business pressures; obligations to the public, to the audience, to source, to colleagues, to the employer, and to oneself. The course includes case studies as well as regular discussion of ongoing media activity. (PR) Exclusion: CC8969.
PHL 602 Philosophy: Health Care and Distributive Justice Lect: 3 hrs. This course examines ethical issues relating to the allocation of resources in health care contexts. The course will begin with an introduction to various philosophical accounts of distributive justice. Some of the questions examined include: What distinguishes health care from other goods distributed by society? Should market forces determine the allocation of health care? How should we balance the rights of care providers with the claims that clients make to receive health care? (PR)
PHL 603 Philosophy: Moral Philosophy: Modern and Contemporary Lect: 3 hrs. This course explores modern and recent answers to ethical questions such as: What makes an action right? What makes a person good? Are there moral demands that bind everyone? If so, can we know what they are? Does morality have its foundations in reason? Emotion? Social practices? Contri-butions from such thinkers as Hegel and Bradley, Moore, Ross, Foot, Williams, Gilligan, and MacIntyre will be studied. (UL)
PHL 604 Philosophy: Philosophy of Art II Lect: 3 hrs. This course will consider individual art forms and aesthetic theory in relation to other social and political theories. (UL)
PHL 605 Philosophy: Existentialism Lect: 3 hrs. What sense can be made of human existence? Are people essentially individual or social? How is their moral, cultural, and political life to be understood? How do people fit into nature and, more broadly, into the cosmos as a whole? In addressing these and related questions the course examines the thought of both religious and atheistic existentialists: Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, and Camus or Sartre. This course is equivalent to the second half of PHL 034. (UL)
PHL 606 Philosophy: Philosophy of Love and Sex Lect: 3 hrs. This course examines historical and contemporary philosophical perspectives on love and sex. Questions considered may include: What is romantic love? What are the relations between love, monogamy and marriage? Is adultery always morally wrong? What are the relations between love/sex and personal identity, gender and biology? What are sexual perversions? What is the moral status of prostitution and the commodification of sex? How should we define the concept of sexual harassment? (UL)
PHL 611 Philosophy: Philosophy of Mind Lect.: 3hrs. This course will examine, through both classical and contemporary texts, selected issues regarding human (and other) minds such as: What is a person and what makes you the same person over time? How are mind and brain related? What is consciousness? Are thoughts prior to the acquisition of language? Can/could computers think? Do non-human animals think? Can the mind be “naturalized” (understood as a product of evolution) or must it remain beyond our understanding? (UL)
PHL 612 Philosophy: Philosophy of Law Lect: 3 hrs. This course deals with several key themes concerning the concept of law, the source of legal norms and the relationship between law and morality. It will explore competing theories of law (such as natural law, positivism, and legal realism), and debates concerning civil disobedience. The course will also provide a brief overview and summary of the conceptual underpinnings of difference areas of law, such as contract, tort, property and intellectual property. (UL)
PHL 621 Philosophy: Beyond the Western Academic Tradition Lect: 3 hrs. This course is an introduction to some major world religions and philosophies, systems which continue to inform the actions of cultures outside mainstream Euro-American tradition. Theoretical concerns can include such subjects as cultural relativism, differing cultural views on the nature of decisions and their justification, and the difficulties of adequately describing what is going on in a different cultural setting. More practical concerns can include such subjects as the problems of exporting political and economic systems across cultural boundaries, or of getting notions such as those of individual rights to make sense in a radically different conceptual milieu. (PR)
PHL 708 Philosophy: Introduction to Modern Philosophy Lect: 3 hrs. This course examines the foundations of contemporary conceptions of knowledge through a study of the two dominant philosophical traditions of the 17th and 18th centuries - Rationalism and Empiricism. The philosophers studied will include Descartes, Hume, and Kant. The themes examined may include the nature of knowledge, the origin and formation of beliefs about the external world, the threat of scepticism, theories of perception, contemporary relevance, and the relation between mind and body. (UL)
PHL 709 Philosophy: Religion, Science and Philosophy I Lect: 3 hrs. It has long been held, but not without controversy, that the study of science (including mathematics) opens the door to certain philosophical reflections which in turn lead to considerations of God and religion. In the present course we carefully examine this view and the controversy surrounding it. We shall focus on some of the more basic and historically significant of these philosophical concerns, making clear their relevance for both scientific and religious thought. (UL)
PHL 710 Philosophy: Philosophy and Film Lect: 3 hrs. This course examines the medium of film from several philosophical perspectives. Questions to be considered may include: What distinguishes film from other mass media and art forms? Do technical developments alter the definition of film? Is there a language of film? What can film teach us about the nature of perception? Does film contain an inherent gender bias? Has film created a captive audience, or is it the truly democratic art form? (UL)
PHL 808 Philosophy: Language and Philosophy Lect: 3 hrs. This course examines some main themes of contemporary philosophy, focussing on issues concerning the philosophy of mind and action, knowledge and language, science, culture and gender, relativism and rationality. Texts will consist of readings from representative twentieth century philosophers such as Wittgenstein, Kuhn, Davidson, Dennett, Rorty, Taylor, Midgley and Foucault. (UL) (formerly PHL 308).
PHL 809 Philosophy: Religion, Science and Philosophy II Lect: 3 hrs. Modern science and technology have transformed our physical and social environment and challenged some deeply help conceptions of ourselves and our place in the world. This course examines some philosophical implications of developments in both biology and computer technology in relation to religious beliefs and classic conceptions of life and mind. Specific topics include: evolutionary biology and the design argument for the existence of God, the creationism controversy, reductionism and teleology, and machines and intelligence. (UL)
PHL 920 Philosophy: Biotechnology and Bioethics Lect: 3 hrs. The course provides an overview of contemporary approaches to central issues in biotechnology and bioethics. Developments in biotechnology, such as the mapping of the human genome and new reproductive technologies, raise difficult ethical and legal concerns. The course will begin with an introduction to the current state of these, and related, technologies. A close study of the ethical/legal issues that they provoke will be the focus of the remainder of the course. (PR)
PHL 921 Philosophy: Intellectual Property and Technology Lect: 3 hrs. This course examines the multifaceted aspects of developments in intellectual property policy. Students will explore the diverse ethical norms, social practices, and legal doctrines which are used to both justify and to critique existing policies. The course will introduce students to the basic types of intellectual property rights – copyright, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets. It will survey various ethical theories or perspectives which are brought to bear on the topic. (PR)