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Philosophy (PHIL)

118 courses in Waterloo’s course catalog for 2020–21 (Fall 2020, Winter 2021, Spring 2021), from UW Open Data. ucalendar asks programs not to read that year’s calendar, so this stands in for it. Original: ucalendar.uwaterloo.ca/2021/COURSE/course-PHIL.html

PHIL 100J Introduction to Philosophy

This course seeks to introduce students to the nature of philosophy. This is done through the examination of core texts and figures in the history of philosophy as well as in the discussion of perennial philosophical questions.

LEC · Course ID 007231On ucalendarPHIL 100J today

PHIL 101 Challenging Ideas: An Introduction to Philosophy

Students will examine and challenge some influential ideas in philosophy, and consider their importance to our lives. Questions might include: Does science describe the world as it really is? Is the mind just the brain? What can we know? Should we be moral? Do we have free will?

Antireq: PHIL 110A, 110B

LEC · Course ID 015390On ucalendarPHIL 101 today

PHIL 110A Introduction to Philosophy: Knowledge and Reality

An introduction to central issues in metaphysics and epistemology. Questions to be considered might include: "Can we know anything?", "Does God exist?", "Is the mind just a brain?", "Do human beings have free will?"

Antireq: PHIL 101

LEC · Course ID 007228On ucalendarPHIL 110A today

PHIL 110B Introduction to Philosophy: Ethics and Values

This course is an introduction to philosophical thinking about ethics and value, that is, about what is good, right, fair, just, and worthwhile in life. Includes consideration of questions such as "What is the right thing to do?" and "Do human beings have free will?"

Antireq: PHIL 101

LEC · Course ID 010344On ucalendarPHIL 110B today

PHIL 110W Values and Society (WLU)

LEC · Course ID 007236On ucalendarPHIL 110W today

PHIL 111W Knowledge and Reality (WLU)

LEC · Course ID 007237On ucalendarPHIL 111W today

PHIL 118J Virtue and the Good Life

An examination of the importance of virtue in general and of the cardinal virtues in particular (practical wisdom, justice, courage, and moderation) for the development of moral character and the enjoyment of the good life.

LEC · Course ID 007241On ucalendarPHIL 118J today

PHIL 120J The Meaning of Life

We may have distinct ideas about the reason why we do this or that, but is there a point to our existence as a whole? What do or should we live for? Or is life essentially meaningless or even absurd? What do such questions mean and how can we best answer them? The views of different philosophers will be explored and compared.

LEC · Course ID 007242On ucalendarPHIL 120J today

PHIL 121 Moral Issues

This course surveys several controversial moral topics, and a range of philosophical views on each. Topics may include abortion, cloning, euthanasia and suicide, sexism, prostitution, pornography, torture, and animal rights. [Note: Formerly PHIL 220.]

Antireq: PHIL 220

LEC · Course ID 007271On ucalendarPHIL 121 today

PHIL 145 Critical Thinking

An analysis of basic types of reasoning, structure of arguments, critical assessment of information, common fallacies, problems of clarity and meaning.

LEC · Course ID 007246On ucalendarPHIL 145 today

PHIL 200J Aristotelian Logic

An introduction to the understanding of how words are used, the formation of propositions, the construction of arguments and the examination of fallacies to help the student argue with order, facility and without error.

LEC · Course ID 007250On ucalendarPHIL 200J today

PHIL 201 Philosophy of Sex and Love

Classic and contemporary philosophical examination of sex and love. Questions considered might include the following: Do you love because your love-object is worthy, or do you find your love-object worthy because of your love for them? Does sex ever involve using persons as mere means to an end? Should it?

LEC · Course ID 007251On ucalendarPHIL 201 today

PHIL 201W Reasoning & Argumentation (WLU)

LEC · Course ID 007252On ucalendarPHIL 201W today

PHIL 202 Gender Issues

Philosophical analysis of issues relating to sex/gender. Questions considered might include the following: What, if anything, is the difference between sex and gender? How much of a role do facts about biology play in our ideas about sex and gender? How many sexes are there? What ethical issues arise for us in virtue of our gender?

Antireq: WS 222

LEC · Course ID 007253On ucalendarPHIL 202 today

PHIL 204J Philosophy and Culture

An exploration of the nature of culture and its role in the life and development of the human being through an analysis of the assumptions of Western popular culture in such areas as technology and the internet, individual freedom, sexuality, and the global economy.

LEC · Course ID 007254On ucalendarPHIL 204J today

PHIL 204W Formal Logic (WLU)

LEC · Course ID 013199On ucalendarPHIL 204W today

PHIL 205 Philosophy of Economics

This course considers conceptual, methodological, foundational, and ethical issues in economic theory and practice. Questions include: What can philosophy teach us about economic methodology and justification? Are economic formalizations useful idealizations of human behaviour? Is economics a science? What role do values play in economic reasoning and policy-making?

Antireq: PHIL 371 taken winter 2014

LEC · Course ID 015088On ucalendarPHIL 205 today

PHIL 206 Philosophy of Sport

This course uses the tools of philosophy to ask important questions about sport, such as: What is sport? What is the value of sport for participants or fans? Are violent sports unethical? Should performance enhancing drugs be banned? What is luck, and how is it different from skill?

LEC · Course ID 015089On ucalendarPHIL 206 today

PHIL 207J Philosophy and J.R.R. Tolkien

An introduction to the implicit philosophical content of Tolkien's works, with a special emphasis on Lord of the Rings. Problems such as the existence of God, fate, free will, evil, death, and technology will be explored. Tolkien's views will be examined in relation to philosophical works.

Antireq: PHIL 209 taken winter 2015, fall 2015

LEC · Course ID 015311On ucalendarPHIL 207J today

PHIL 208 Philosophy Through Science Fiction

Questions regarding such matters as the nature of knowledge, logic and language, mind and brain, space and time, causality, ethics, and politics are explored through classic philosophic texts and science fiction narratives.

LEC · Course ID 007259On ucalendarPHIL 208 today

PHIL 209 Philosophy in Literature

Philosophical themes will be explored through appropriate literary works.

LEC · Course ID 007260On ucalendarPHIL 209 today

PHIL 209W Philosophy of Religion (WLU)

LEC · Course ID 007261On ucalendarPHIL 209W today

PHIL 210J Human Nature

What is a human being? The course examines this question from a philosophical perspective. Topics to be covered may include the soul, the body, emotions, the intellect, the will, relationships, sex, and human dignity.

LEC · Course ID 007263On ucalendarPHIL 210J today

PHIL 211J Death and the After-Life

What is death? What does it mean for a person to die? Is death an evil thing and what attitude should the living person have toward death? Is there any rational or philosophical reason to believe in immortality? Questions such as these will be explored using the views of a certain number of philosophers.

Antireq: PHIL 120J taken prior to fall 2017

LEC · Course ID 015491On ucalendarPHIL 211J today

PHIL 213W Legal Philosophy (WLU)

LEC · Course ID 007264On ucalendarPHIL 213W today

PHIL 214W Philosophy of Mind (WLU)

LEC · Course ID 007265On ucalendarPHIL 214W today

PHIL 215 Professional and Business Ethics

Study of ethical and moral issues that typically arise in professional and business activity. What responsibilities to society at large do people in such business and professional activities as teaching, engineering, planning, architecture, and accounting have? How far should professional autonomy extend?

Prereq: Not open to Accounting and Financial Management students

LEC · Course ID 007266On ucalendarPHIL 215 today

PHIL 215W Aesthetics (WLU)

LEC · Course ID 012069On ucalendarPHIL 215W today

PHIL 216 Probability and Decision Making

This course covers a set of related topics in probability, inductive reasoning, game theory, and decision theory which are of both theoretical and practical interest, having application to the philosophy of science, epistemology, political philosophy, ethics, political science, and economics. The course begins with probability theory, introduces utility theory, and discusses approaches to the theory of decision making with attention to their epistemological, social, and ethical implications.

LEC · Course ID 007267On ucalendarPHIL 216 today

PHIL 216W Critical Social Theory (WLU)

LEC · Course ID 011653On ucalendarPHIL 216W today

PHIL 217W Medical Ethics (WLU)

LEC · Course ID 011663On ucalendarPHIL 217W today

PHIL 218J Foundations of Ethics

What is ethics and what is it based on? What does it mean for an action, a person, or a life to be morally good? Can philosophy provide any objective and universal answers to moral questions? The views of different philosophers will be discussed.

LEC · Course ID 007269On ucalendarPHIL 218J today

PHIL 219J Practical Ethics

An examination of contemporary ethical issues pertinent to our Western societies, such as abortion, euthanasia, the treatment of animals, the environment, and free expression.

LEC · Course ID 007270On ucalendarPHIL 219J today

PHIL 219W Feminist Philosophy (WLU)

LEC · Course ID 013461On ucalendarPHIL 219W today

PHIL 220J Philosophy of Friendship

Friendship is an essential part of a happy life. Ancient western philosophers made friendship one of the cornerstones of their ethics. This course is an exploration of their views on problems such as the necessity of friendship, its nature, its species, and its relationship to happiness and the political community.

Antireq: PHIL 403 taken winter 2017

LEC · Course ID 015494On ucalendarPHIL 220J today

PHIL 220W Indian Philosophy (WLU)

LEC · Course ID 014103On ucalendarPHIL 220W today

PHIL 221 Ethics

An introduction to moral theories, including ones based on virtue, consequences, and rights and duties, with discussion of historical developments leading to those theories.

LEC · Course ID 007272On ucalendarPHIL 221 today

PHIL 223W Contemporary Moral Issues (WLU)

LEC · Course ID 011130On ucalendarPHIL 223W today

PHIL 224 Environmental Ethics

Philosophical perspectives on such issues as climate change, pollution, use of scarce resources, biodiversity, and our relations with animals and future generations. This course will also consider bioactivism and other approaches to environmental problems.

LEC · Course ID 007274On ucalendarPHIL 224 today

PHIL 224W Philosophy & Environment (WLU)

LEC · Course ID 010783On ucalendarPHIL 224W today

PHIL 225W Theories of Knowledge (WLU)

LEC · Course ID 012928On ucalendarPHIL 225W today

PHIL 226 Biomedical Ethics

An examination of ethical issues in the health sciences, such as the patient-doctor relationship, reproductive rights and technologies, genetic testing, allocation of medical resources, and end-of-life decisions.

LEC · Course ID 007275On ucalendarPHIL 226 today

PHIL 227 Culture and Ethics

This course surveys a variety of competing ethical positions that have been, and continue to be, adopted by different cultures around the world. Can two competing ethical viewpoints both be right? If not, then what grounds should we adopt to decide between them, and under what circumstances? How can we negotiate the difficulties that such differences pose for our practical judgment and moral theorizing? Students will engage these questions by reading texts in philosophical ethics and meta-ethics, and by applying what they have learned in case studies of ethical differences among cultures.

LEC · Course ID 012678On ucalendarPHIL 227 today

PHIL 228 Ethics and Artificial Intelligence

Philosophical perspectives on the ethical issues raised by developments in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Potential topics include fairness and bias in the use of algorithms, accountability and responsibility for autonomous systems, privacy and surveillance, and what it might mean for a machine to engage in moral reasoning.

LEC · Course ID 016076On ucalendarPHIL 228 today

PHIL 230J God and Philosophy

What is God? Does God exist? Can philosophy prove God or is agnosticism or atheism more reasonable? Is God compatible with evil and suffering or with a modern scientific worldview? Such questions will be explored from a variety of perspectives.

LEC · Course ID 007277On ucalendarPHIL 230J today

PHIL 230W The Quest for World Peace (WLU)

LEC · Course ID 007278On ucalendarPHIL 230W today

PHIL 233W Philosophy of Sex, Love and Friendship

LEC · Course ID 007279On ucalendarPHIL 233W today

PHIL 237 Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion

A critical discussion of basic religious concepts. Among the topics covered will be faith, miracles, religious experience, immortality, arguments for the existence of God, and challenges to religious belief. [Note: This course fulfils an Area 3 requirement for Religious Studies majors.]

LEC · Course ID 007281On ucalendarPHIL 237 today

PHIL 240 Introduction to Formal Logic

An examination of classical propositional logic, covering proof methods, expressive completeness, soundness, and completeness. Also introduction to quantificational logic.

Prereq: Not open to students in the Faculty of Mathematics

LEC · Course ID 007285On ucalendarPHIL 240 today

PHIL 245 Critical Thinking About Science

How does science work? Does anything fall outside the scope of scientific inquiry? Under what circumstances do scientific claims deserve our trust? Does corporate funding of research affect its credibility? What can scientific failures teach us about scientific success? By looking at case studies of recognized scientific successes and failures, this course addresses these questions in a way that emphasizes core philosophical concepts in epistemology, philosophy of science, and ethics.

LEC · Course ID 013567On ucalendarPHIL 245 today

PHIL 247W Business Ethics (WLU)

LEC · Course ID 007290On ucalendarPHIL 247W today

PHIL 251 Metaphysics and Epistemology

This course introduces philosophical theories about the nature of reality (metaphysics), how we gain knowledge of it (epistemology), and of why such questions matter. Topics may include skepticism, the nature of rationality, knowledge of other minds, realism and anti-realism, and free will and determinism.

LEC · Course ID 015087On ucalendarPHIL 251 today

PHIL 252 Quantum Mechanics for Everyone

Quantum mechanics is driving a technological revolution. This course offers an introduction to the basic concepts of quantum mechanics from a historical and philosophical perspective. The course will supply the background needed to understand the controversies surrounding the interpretation of quantum mechanics as well as the principles behind the cutting-edge research being carried out at the Perimeter Institute and the University of Waterloo.

Antireq: PHIL 271 (LEC 001) taken winter 2016, winter 2017

LEC · Course ID 015388On ucalendarPHIL 252 today

PHIL 255 Philosophy of Mind

This course will discuss fundamental questions concerning the nature of mind, including the relation between mind and body, the plausibility of commonsense views of the mind, and knowledge of other minds.

LEC · Course ID 007292On ucalendarPHIL 255 today

PHIL 256 Introduction to Cognitive Science

Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary study of mind and intelligence. This course will draw on philosophy, psychology, artificial intelligence, linguistics, neuroscience, and anthropology to address central questions about the nature of thinking. Topics discussed will include mental representation, computational models of mind, and consciousness.

LEC · Course ID 007293On ucalendarPHIL 256 today

PHIL 257 Philosophy of Mathematics

An introduction to philosophical problems concerning mathematics. Topics may include: what makes mathematical statements true (e.g., do numbers exist?); whether mathematics is a human creation or something we discover; what counts as a proof; mathematical paradoxes; the relationship between mathematics and other sciences; and mathematical pluralism. [Note: Formerly PHIL 359.]

Antireq: PHIL 359

LEC · Course ID 007320On ucalendarPHIL 257 today

PHIL 258 Introduction to the Philosophy of Science

This course considers fundamental questions concerning the nature of science. Consideration is given to such topics as scientific methodology, scientific revolutions, natural laws, and the debate about whether scientific theories represent reality, or just our perceptions of reality.

LEC · Course ID 008523On ucalendarPHIL 258 today

PHIL 259 Philosophy of Technology

What is technology? What is its relationship with modern science? Is technology a means or an end? Does the development of technology require a change in the way we conceive human nature and its place within the natural world? What new moral and metaphysical dilemmas does technology raise?

LEC · Course ID 011904On ucalendarPHIL 259 today

PHIL 262J Postmodernist Philosophy

A critical examination of postmodernism as a philosophical movement that has profoundly influenced the contemporary world. The course will introduce students to the main tenets of postmodernist philosophy in areas such as rationality, morality, politics, religion, art, and culture.

LEC · Course ID 016075On ucalendarPHIL 262J today

PHIL 264W 20th Century Philosophy (WLU)

LEC · Course ID 013462On ucalendarPHIL 264W today

PHIL 265 The Existentialist Experience

An introduction to existentialism using both literary and philosophical texts.

LEC · Course ID 007297On ucalendarPHIL 265 today

PHIL 271 Special Topics

Special topics, as announced by the department. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

LEC · Course ID 013568On ucalendarPHIL 271 today

PHIL 283 Great Works: Ancient and Medieval

A historical survey of ancient and medieval philosophy in the Western tradition.

Antireq: PHIL 250A

LEC · Course ID 007248On ucalendarPHIL 283 today

PHIL 284 Great Works: Modern

A historical survey of modern philosophy in the Western tradition. [Note: Formerly PHIL 250B.]

Antireq: PHIL 250B

LEC · Course ID 007249On ucalendarPHIL 284 today

PHIL 285J Great Christian Thinkers

An introduction to and examination of the thought of one important figure of Christian philosophy, such as Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, or Kierkegaard. The choice of the philosopher studied varies from term to term. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

LEC · Course ID 015495On ucalendarPHIL 285J today

PHIL 286J Great German Thinkers

An introduction to and examination of the thought of one important figure (such as Leibniz, Kant, Nietzsche, or Heidegger) or school (such as Idealism, Romanticism, or phenomenology) of German philosophy. The choice of the philosopher(s) studied varies from term to term. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

LEC · Course ID 015496On ucalendarPHIL 286J today

PHIL 290 Nature of Scientific Knowledge

This course examines how knowledge is produced in scientific disciplines, including the nature of inquiry, as well as types of evidence and expertise across different fields. The course features significant input from scientific practitioners in the form of guest lectures.

LEC · Course ID 012693On ucalendarPHIL 290 today

PHIL 291 The Social Nature of Knowledge

This course examines social aspects of knowledge, including ways that characteristics of individual knowers and their communities affect the acquisition, interpretation, production, and transfer of knowledge. In addition, we analyze the consequences this has for the objectivity of knowledge. The course features significant input from researchers in the humanities and social sciences in the form of guest lectures.

LEC · Course ID 012694On ucalendarPHIL 291 today

PHIL 302 Topics in Feminist Philosophy

Special topics in feminist philosophy, as announced by the department. Possible topics include (but are not limited to) bodily autonomy, reproductive justice, intersectionality, feminist epistemology, and the metaphysics of race and/or gender. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: Level at least 2A

LEC · Course ID 015384On ucalendarPHIL 302 today

PHIL 305J Philosophy of Nature

A philosophical study of the most fundamental and common aspects of the natural world. After examining how such a study differs from and complements modern science, topics such as nature, matter, change, cause, time, and chance will be explored.

Prereq: Level at least 2A

LEC · Course ID 007256On ucalendarPHIL 305J today

PHIL 306J Philosophy of Science

A philosophical study of the approaches to the material world used by contemporary physical science. The nature and the value of the experimental method in the writings of scientists past and present will be examined.

Prereq: Level at least 2A

LEC · Course ID 007257On ucalendarPHIL 306J today

PHIL 315 Ethics and The Engineering Profession

An analysis from the standpoint of philosophical ethics of moral issues arising in professional engineering practice. Issues include the social responsibility of engineers, conflict of interest and obligation, morally acceptable levels of risk, and moral implications of technology.

Prereq: Level at least 2A

LEC · Course ID 005811On ucalendarPHIL 315 today

PHIL 318J Philosophy and the Family

A philosophical examination of the family: its foundation, its purpose, its importance in personal growth and its relation to political community.

Prereq: Level at least 2A

LEC · Course ID 007308On ucalendarPHIL 318J today

PHIL 319J Ethics of End-of-Life Care

What options does a person reaching the end of life have and how can they best be cared for? How can we balance patient autonomy with the expertise of the health-care provider and the demands of the health-care system? This course will help students think philosophically and critically about issues like these in their cultural, historical, and legal context. Specific topics may include consent, human dignity, euthanasia, refusal or withdrawal of treatment, palliative care and holistic patient care, pluralism and diverse understandings of dying, and treatment of the elderly.

LEC · Course ID 007309On ucalendarPHIL 319J today

PHIL 320 Topics in Value Theory

Special topics in value theory, as announced by the department. Possible topics include (but are not limited to) meta-ethics, moral psychology, moral responsibility, justice and oppression, international justice, and specific topics in applied ethics. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: PHIL 221

LEC · Course ID 015385On ucalendarPHIL 320 today

PHIL 321J The Philosophy of Palliative Care

An exploration of the principles and approaches of the hospice-palliative care movement as it was developed by its founders in the 20th century and as applied today. Topics may include the principles of pain and suffering management, holistic care of patients and their families, value of life at all stages, and integrating palliative care into mainstream medicine.

LEC · Course ID 016077On ucalendarPHIL 321J today

PHIL 324 Social and Political Philosophy

An examination of central issues in social and political philosophy. This course draws on both contemporary and historical readings to discuss issues such as: Does the state have legitimate authority to govern? What is the just way to distribute resources? What is the value of equality? Of liberty? What rights, if any, do we have, and why?

Prereq: Level at least 2A

LEC · Course ID 010346On ucalendarPHIL 324 today

PHIL 326J Philosophy of Social Justice

What is justice and more particularly what makes a society just? In the philosophical treatment of this problem, notions such as the purpose of community living, private and common goods, individual freedom, and social responsibility will be explored.

LEC · Course ID 007336On ucalendarPHIL 326J today

PHIL 327 Philosophy of Law

Basic themes in the philosophy of law. Issues include the nature of law and its relation to morality and politics, legal reasoning, the justification of punishment, and theories of rights, responsibility, and liability.

Prereq: Level at least 2A

LEC · Course ID 007311On ucalendarPHIL 327 today

PHIL 328 Human Rights

What are human rights? Which do we have, and why? What are the practical implications of human rights, for both individuals and institutions? A comprehensive discussion of theory and history, of law and morality, and of national and international applications.

Prereq: Level at least 2A

LEC · Course ID 011185On ucalendarPHIL 328 today

PHIL 329 Violence, Non-violence, and War

An exploration of the traditional debates concerning the legitimacy of violence and war as instruments in the pursuit of personal and political goals. The course critically examines a continuum of views from religious doctrines of non-resistance, to various forms of pacifism and non-violent resistance, "just-war theory", and political realism. The strategic arguments for political non-violent action are also considered.

Prereq: Level at least 2A

LEC · Course ID 009925On ucalendarPHIL 329 today

PHIL 331 Philosophy of Art

What is art? What is beauty? What do the two have to do with each other? This course introduces students to some fundamental issues in the philosophy of art, and to a variety of philosophical views on these issues.

Prereq: Level at least 2A

LEC · Course ID 007315On ucalendarPHIL 331 today

PHIL 340 Topics in Formal Philosophy

Special topics in formal philosophy, as announced by the department. Potential topics may include (but are not limited to) non-standard logics, intermediate classical logic, game and decision theory, philosophy of mathematics, and formal epistemology. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: Level at least 2A

LEC · Course ID 015386On ucalendarPHIL 340 today

PHIL 350 Topics in Epistemology

Special topics in epistemology, as announced by the department. Potential topics include (but are not limited to) the epistemology of testimony, the epistemology of disagreement, normative social cognition, and the varieties and functions of ignorance. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: One of PHIL 250B, 251, 255, 284

LEC · Course ID 007317On ucalendarPHIL 350 today

PHIL 350W Special Topics in History (WLU)

LEC · Course ID 013586On ucalendarPHIL 350W today

PHIL 355 Topics in Metaphysics

Special topics in metaphysics, as announced by the department. Potential topics include (but are not limited to) universals and particulars, the mind-body problem, realism and anti-realism, and the nature of time. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: One of PHIL 250A, 250B, 251, 283/CLAS 261, 284

LEC · Course ID 009527On ucalendarPHIL 355 today

PHIL 356 Intelligence in Machines, Humans, and Other Animals

A comparison of the representations and processes that produce intelligent performance, such as problem-solving, learning, and language in natural and artificial systems.

Prereq: PHIL/PSYCH 256

LEC · Course ID 014722On ucalendarPHIL 356 today

PHIL 358 Topics in Philosophy of Science

Special topics in the philosophy of science, as announced by the department. Possible topics include (but are not limited to) philosophy of physics, philosophy of biology, the philosophy of social science, topics in the history and philosophy of science, general philosophy of science, and science in society. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: Level at least 2A

LEC · Course ID 015387On ucalendarPHIL 358 today

PHIL 363 Philosophy of Language

Topics in the philosophy of language such as meaning, truth, reference, speech acts, mental representations of syntax and semantics, psycholinguistics, and relations between logical and natural languages.

Prereq: 0.50 units in PHIL

LEC · Course ID 009528On ucalendarPHIL 363 today

PHIL 371 Special Topics

Special topics, as announced by the department. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: Level at least 2A

LEC · Course ID 013569On ucalendarPHIL 371 today

PHIL 380 History of Ancient Philosophy

In this course students will examine one or more important figures, periods, or issues in ancient philosophy. Plato and Aristotle are among the philosophers who may be covered. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: 0.50 units in PHIL

LEC · Course ID 007324On ucalendarPHIL 380 today

PHIL 382 Medieval Philosophy

In this course students will examine one or more important figures, periods, or issues in medieval philosophy. Augustine, Boethius, Avicenna, Maimonides, Aquinas, and Scotus are among the philosophers who may be covered. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: 0.50 unit in PHIL

LEC · Course ID 007326On ucalendarPHIL 382 today

PHIL 384 History of Modern Philosophy

In this course, students will learn about one or more important figures, periods, or issues in modern philosophy. Descartes, Locke, Leibniz, Berkeley, Hume, and Kant are among the figures who may be covered. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: 0.50 unit in PHIL

LEC · Course ID 007328On ucalendarPHIL 384 today

PHIL 386 19th- and 20th-Century Philosophy

A course on one or more important figures or issues in 19th- or 20th-century philosophy, as announced by the department. The focus of the course may change each time it is offered. Potential figures include (but are not limited to) Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche, James, Dewey, Peirce, Frege, Carnap, and Russell. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: 0.50 units in PHIL

LEC · Course ID 007330On ucalendarPHIL 386 today

PHIL 402 Studies in Feminist Philosophy/Philosophy of Sex

Special topics in feminist philosophy, women philosophers and/or the philosophy of sex, as announced by the Department of Philosophy. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of four times. Formerly WS 422/PHIL 402.]

Prereq: Level at least 3A Honours Philosophy students

SEM · Course ID 007335On ucalendarPHIL 402 today

PHIL 403 Studies in Ancient Philosophy

Special topics in ancient philosophy, as announced by the department. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: Level at least 3A Honours Philosophy students

SEM · Course ID 011189On ucalendarPHIL 403 today

PHIL 404 Studies in Medieval Philosophy

Special topics in medieval philosophy, as announced by the department. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: Level at least 3A Honours Philosophy students

SEM · Course ID 011190On ucalendarPHIL 404 today

PHIL 405 Studies in Modern Philosophy

Special topics in 17th and 18th century philosophy, as announced by the department. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: Level at least 3A Honours Philosophy students

SEM · Course ID 011191On ucalendarPHIL 405 today

PHIL 407 Studies in 19th- and 20th-Century Philosophy

Special topics in 19th- and 20th-century philosophy, as announced by the department. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: Level at least 3A Honours Philosophy students

SEM · Course ID 011193On ucalendarPHIL 407 today

PHIL 416 Studies in Probability and Decision Theory

Special topics in probability and decision theory, as announced by the department. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: Level at least 3A Honours Philosophy students

SEM · Course ID 013574On ucalendarPHIL 416 today

PHIL 420 Studies in Ethics

Special topics in ethics, as announced by the department. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: Level at least 3A Honours Philosophy students

SEM · Course ID 007337On ucalendarPHIL 420 today

PHIL 422 Studies in Political Philosophy

Special topics in Political Philosophy, as announced by the department. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: Level at least 3A Honours Philosophy students

SEM · Course ID 007339On ucalendarPHIL 422 today

PHIL 441 Studies in Logic

Special topics in logic, as announced by the department. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: One of PHIL 240, 341, 342, PMATH 330

SEM · Course ID 007345On ucalendarPHIL 441 today

PHIL 447 Seminar in Cognitive Science

An interdisciplinary discussion of central issues concerned with mind and intelligence such as representation, meaning, inference, and consciousness. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: PHIL/PSYCH 256

SEM · Course ID 012715On ucalendarPHIL 447 today

PHIL 450J Being and Existence

A discussion of metaphysics as the kind of examination initiated by the Greeks (e.g., Parmenides and Aristotle) and renewed subsequently by many other philosophers (e.g., Aquinas and Heidegger), understood as ontology or the rational study of being as such. Notions such as reality, essence, existence, and analogy will be discussed.

Prereq: Level at least 3A

LEC · Course ID 007348On ucalendarPHIL 450J today

PHIL 451J Thomas Aquinas

An in-depth study of a particular theme in Thomas Aquinas. Specific topic to vary. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: 0.5 units in PHIL; Level at least 3A

LEC · Course ID 007349On ucalendarPHIL 451J today

PHIL 452 Studies in Epistemology

Special topics in epistemology, as announced by the department. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: Level at least 3A Honours Philosophy students

SEM · Course ID 013582On ucalendarPHIL 452 today

PHIL 455 Studies in Metaphysics

Special topics in metaphysics, as announced by the department. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: Level at least 3A Honours Philosophy students

SEM · Course ID 007350On ucalendarPHIL 455 today

PHIL 458 Studies in the Philosophy of Science

Special topics in the philosophy of science, as announced by the department. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: Level at least 3A Honours Philosophy students

SEM · Course ID 013576On ucalendarPHIL 458 today

PHIL 459 Studies in the Philosophy of Physics

An investigation of philosophical issues raised by physics. Topics could include the interpretation of quantum theory, the arrow of time, or the nature of space and time. This course is suitable for students with a background in either philosophy, physics, or mathematics. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: Level at least 3A Honours Philosophy students

SEM · Course ID 013577On ucalendarPHIL 459 today

PHIL 463 Studies in the Philosophy of Language

Special topics in the philosophy of language, as announced by the department. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: Level at least 3A Honours Philosophy students

SEM · Course ID 013578On ucalendarPHIL 463 today

PHIL 470W Seminar in Metaphysics and Epistemology (WLU)

LEC · Course ID 013534On ucalendarPHIL 470W today

PHIL 471 Special Topics

Advanced study of special topics, as announced by the department. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: Level at least 3A Honours Philosophy students

SEM · Course ID 007355On ucalendarPHIL 471 today

PHIL 472 Special Topics

Advanced study of special topics, as announced by the department. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: Level at least 3A Honours Philosophy students

SEM · Course ID 007356On ucalendarPHIL 472 today

PHIL 481 Special Topics

Advanced study of special topics, as announced by the department. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: Level at least 3A Honours Philosophy students

SEM · Course ID 007365On ucalendarPHIL 481 today

PHIL 482 Special Topics

Advanced study of special topics, as announced by the department. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

Prereq: Level at least 3A Honours Philosophy students

SEM · Course ID 007366On ucalendarPHIL 482 today

PHIL 490W Direct Studies (WLU)

LEC · Course ID 014232On ucalendarPHIL 490W today

PHIL 498 Directed Reading in Special Areas

Readings in selected topics chosen in discussion with instructor. [Note: This is a repeatable course, subject to different content; it may be completed a total of three times.]

RDG · Course ID 010026On ucalendarPHIL 498 today