Philosophy at UConn
Philosophy is unique both in its methods and in the nature and breadth of its subject matter. It pursues questions in every dimension of human life, and its techniques apply to problems in any field of study or endeavor. It seeks to establish standards of evidence, to provide rational methods of resolving conflicts, to create techniques for evaluating ideas and arguments, and to combine the discoveries of other disciplines to create a coherent world view. Philosophy develops the capacity to see the world from the perspective of other individuals and other cultures; it enhances one's ability to perceive the relationships among the various fields of study; and it deepens one's sense of the meaning and varieties of human experience.
Majoring in philosophy provides excellent training for further study in a variety of professional fields. It is particularly appropriate for further study in law, theology, linguistics (indeed a joint major in Linguistics and Philosophy is offered at UConn), and of course philosophy; it is also a good background for such diverse fields as medicine and business. Most majors who continue their study of philosophy at the graduate level intend to teach at a college or university, but some pursue careers in fields as diverse as artificial intelligence and government service.
Course Descriptions for Fall 2009
Philosophy 2210. Metaphysics and Epistemology. Prof. Rossberg. MWF 10-10:50.
The course will focus on epistemology. In particular, we will have a look at the question: "What is knowledge?", and the surprising difficulties that arise when it is attempted to find a satisfactory answer to this question. Other topics include skepticism (doubting that we know anything at all), a priori knowledge (knowledge that is not based on experience, e.g. perhaps mathematical knowledge), and naturalized epistemology (and what that might mean).
As a text book we will use Noah Lemos: An Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge.
We will spend considerable time on examining in detail the problems that arise for the various theories. The course will also feature in-depth discussions of original philosophical articles. Patience in analyzing the subtleties of philosophical arguments and theories is an essential prerequisite for the course.
Philosophy 2211. Symbolic Logic I. Instructor: Prof. Beall. W 4:30-7:00 PM.
This is an introduction to classical first-order logic. We will go through the semantics and a suitable 'proof theory' for classical propositional logic, classical monadic quantification theory, and eventually the full first-order language. Time permitting, we will touch on both metatheory and philosophical issues of classical first-order logic.
Philosophy 2215W. Ethics. Prof. Troyer. TuTh 8-9:15.
This course will study the most influential ethical theories in Western philosophy in an attempt to discover the truth about moral and prudential reasons and the relation between them. The claim of egoism, subjectivism, and relativism will be treated in more detail, and with more respect, than is usual in courses of this ilk. Texts; Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics; Kant, Grounding on the Metaphysics of Morals; Mill, Utilitarianism; Mackie, Ethics: Inventing Right and Wrong.
Course requirements: A long paper, a mid-term examination and the final.
Philosophy 2217. Social and Political Philosophy. Prof. Wall. TuTh 2-3:15.
Description forthcoming.
Philosophy 2221. Ancient Philosophy. Prof. Elder. TuTh 11-12:15.
In many areas of philosophy, ancient Greek philosophers confronted interesting and difficult questions which we are still wrestling with today. Hence this era of philosophy invites the student’s participation to a greater degree than some other eras. And not only do these ancient questions continue to be debated today; answers much like those offered by Plato and Aristotle (and even some Presocratics) are still considered defensible options.
This course will read original texts by Plato and Aristotle, ancient texts by and about the Presocratics, and textbook discussions of Aristotle and the Presocratics. The topics will include: the nature of matter; what it is for material objects to undergo change; how thoughts in our minds can be about topics remote from our minds; why (and to what extent) empirical science is reliable, and what really is real in the world.
Course requirements: class attendance; two five-page papers; midterm and final exams.
Philosophy 3249. Philosophy and Neuroscience Lecture. Prof. Clark. TuTh 12:30-1:45.
Description forthcoming.
Philosophy 3250. Philosophy of Mind. Prof. Bontly. MWF 9-9:50.
Could a computer think? Do animals feel pain? And just what is it like exactly to be a bat, experiencing the world through echolocation? Questions such as these—questions about the nature of thought and experience, of consciousness and subjectivity—are the focus of this course. Topics include dualism and materialism as accounts of conscious experience; the subjectivity and privacy of the mental; the nature of introspection; our knowledge of other minds; the mind’s ability to direct itself upon the various objects of thought (“intentionality”); the problem of mental causation, and the nature of psychological explanation. The course will include a mix of discussion and lecture. Required work will include presentations, papers, and final exam.
Prerequisite: at least one 2000-level or above, three-credit philosophy course.
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Students who have had one or more advanced courses in philosophy may wish to consider taking a graduate seminar. If you are interested, please see the graduate course descriptions in the graduate section of the website.
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