ObjectivesThe Department of Philosophy offers a program designed to meet the needs of both specialists and those seeking to supplement their work in other disciplines. Honours and Majors follow a curriculum which emphasizes three broad areas: World Philosophy, Continental European Philosophy and the Western Philosophical Tradition. Advanced students may also pursue independent studies of special topics in greater depth. These offerings are supplemented by a series of introductory and cross-disciplinary courses designed to provide the background, skills and tools for a thoughtful, critical approach to a wide variety of problems and issues and delivered, for the most part, at a level accessible to the non-specialist.
Academic titleBachelor of Arts - Philosophy
Course descriptionThe requirement for a Major in Philosophy is 48 credits. An Honours consists of 60 credits. Candidates for the Honours program must obtain an average of 70%on the best 60 credits in Philosophy in order to graduate with the Honours degree. In addition, these students will be required to write an Honours thesis (Philosophy 401, 6 credits). For Liberal Arts Majors pursuing a Concentration in Philosophy the requirement is 36 credits. A minor consists of any 24 credits in philosophy.
Honours and Majors in Philosophy must have the following courses:
Any 3 of
LIB 210 Eros, Love and Desire
LIB 211 Empire
LIB 212 Let Justice Roll
LIB 213 The Abuse of Beauty
LIB 214 The Will to Mastery
LIB 215 Ecstasy and Excess
LIB 216 Ultimate Concern
Any 3 of
PHI 140 Introduction to Ethics
PHI 152 Introduction to Logic and Reasoning
PHI 160 Introduction to Existentialism
PHI 170 Introduction to Philosophy of Being
PHI 171 Introduction to Philosophy of Knowledge
All 4 of
PHI 271 Socrates and Plato
PHI 272 Aristotle
PHI 260 Kant
PHI 254 Analytic Philosophy
Liberal Arts Honours and Majors with a Concentration in Philosophy must have the following courses:
Any 3 of
PHI 140 Introduction to Ethics
PHI 152 Introduction to Logic and Reasoning
PHI 160 Introduction to Existentialism
PHI 170 Introduction to Philosophy of Being
PHI 171 Introduction to Philosophy of Knowledge
All 4 of
PHI 271 Socrates and Plato
PHI 272 Aristotle
PHI 260 Kant
PHI 254 Analytic Philosophy
Any 2 of
PHI 263 Hegel
PHI 265 Nietzsche
PHI 267 Heidegger
PHI 362 Phenomenology
PHI 364 Postmodernism
PHI 366 Critical Theory
The remaining 9 credits may be either Philosophy courses or Philosophy cognates (excluding Liberal Arts Philosophy cognates)
Philosophy Courses
General Introduction, Thesis and Independent Studies
PHI 140 Introduction to Ethics
PHI 152 Introduction to Logic and Reasoning
PHI 160 Introduction to Existentialism
PHI 170 Introduction to the Philosophy of Being
PHI 171 Introduction to the Philosophy of Knowledge
PHI 207 Independent Study I
PHI 208 Independent Study II
PHI 307 Independent Study III
PHI 308 Independent Study IV
PHI 401 Honours Thesis (6 credits)
World Philosophy
PHI 254 Analytic Philosophy
PHI 255 North American Philosophy *
PHI 256 Asian Philosophy *
PHI 258 Indian Philosophy *
PHI 355 Analysis Seminar *
Continental European Philosophy
PHI 263 Hegel
PHI 265 Nietzsche *
PHI 267 Heidegger *
PHI 362 Phenomenology *
PHI 364 Postmodernism *
PHI 366 Critical Theory *
The Western Philosophical Tradition
PHI 270 The Pre-Socratics *
PHI 271 Socrates and Plato
PHI 272 Aristotle
PHI 275 The Rationalists *
PHI 276 The Empiricists *
PHI 278 The Pragmatists *
PHI 370 Hellenistic Philosophy *
PHI 371 Medieval Philosophy *
PHI 374 Spinoza *
PHI 375 Kant
Problems, Special Interests and Service Courses
PHI 240 Topics in Business Ethics *
PHI 241 Philosophy and Sexuality *
PHI 243 Philosophy of Language and Hermeneutics *
PHI 244 Philosophy of Mind *
PHI 245 Philosophy of Science *
PHI 246 Philosophy of Art *
PHI 247 Philosophy and Film *
PHI 248 Philosophical Foundations of Feminism *
PHI 344 Metaphysics *
GENERAL INTRODUCTION, INDEPENDENT STUDIES AND THESIS
Philosophy 140b Introduction to Ethics 3-3-0
Discussion of some of the basic issues of ethics, including the nature of the will and the relation of self to society.
Philosophy 152 Introduction to Logic and Reasoning 3-3-0
This course introduces students to the history and practice of traditional syllogistic and modern formal logic. The principle texts are Artisotle’s Prior Analytics and Wittgentein’s Tractatus.
Philosophy 160a Introduction to Existentialism 3-3-0
A survey of 20th century existential philosophy, with emphasis on the French tradition, drawing on works of Sartre, Camus and Marcel.
Philosophy 170a Introduction to Philosophy of Being 3-3-0
Discussion of the foundations of western metaphysics through the study of philosophers such as Plato,Aritstotle,Aquinas, Spinoza and Hegel.
Philosophy 171b Introduction to Philosophy of Knowledge 3-3-0
Discussion of the character of knowledge and perception, including topics such as the character of judgment, induction and deduction, identity and difference etc.
Philosophy 207a Independent Study I 3-3-0
Philosophy 208b Independent Study II 3-3-0
Philosophy 307a Independent Study III 3-3-0
Philosophy 308b Independent Study IV 3-3-0
Philosophy 401f Honours Thesis 6 credits
WORLD PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy 254 Analytic Philosophy 3-3-0
Introduction to 20th century analytic philosophy drawing on works of Moore, Russell, Wittgenstein, Quine, Ayer, Strawson and Armstrong.
Philosophy 255 North American Philosophy* 3-3-0
This course examines the ways in which ‘old world’ philosophical trends – in idealism, phenomenology and postmodernism for example – have been appropriated and transformed by thinkers in Canada and the United States over the past two centuries.
Philosophy 256 Asian Philosophy* 3-3-0
This course introduces students to some of the principle thinkers of the Chinese and Japanese philosophical traditions with special attention to the founding contributions of Confucius and Lao Tzu.
Philosophy 258 Indian Philosophy* 3-3-0
This course introduces students to some of the principle themes and texts of the Indian philosophical tradition with special attention to the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita.
Philosophy 355 Analysis Seminar* 3-3-0
An in depth study of one of the major contributions to analytic philosophy (e.g. Strawsons Individuals, Quine’sWord and Object, or Geach’s Reference and Generality). Prerequisite: 254a
CONTINENTAL EUROPEAN PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy 263b Hegel 3-3-0
A study of Hegel’s Phenomenology of Spirit with reference especially to the dialectical method and the origin of the philosophy of history.
Philosophy 265b Nietzsche* 3-3-0
This course examines the development of Nietzsche’s aesthetic, ethical and political views. Text include The Birth of Tragedy, The Gay Science, Beyond Good and Evil and The Genealogy of Morals.
Philosophy 267 Heidegger* 3-3-0
This course surveys the long career of Martin Heidegger with special attention of his analysis of human being, his articulation of a post-metaphysical philosophy and his pioneer work in environmental philosophy.
Philosophy 362a Phenomenology* 3-3-0
An in depth study of one of the major contributions to phenomenology (e.g. Husserl’s Logical Investigations, Heidegger’s Being and Time, Merleau-Ponty’s Phenomenology of Perception).
Philosophy 364b Post-Modernism* 3-3-0
Discussion of recent philosophical critiques of modernity with reference especially to the question of whether the intellectual and social/political movements which have shaped the modern world give that world the resources for understanding itself genuinely. Texts will be drawn from Heidegger, Foucault and Deleuze and Derrida.
Philosophy 366 Critical Theory* 3-3-0
This seminar course will explore the development of Critical Theory from its roots in dialectical philosophy (especially Hegel and Marx), to its appropriation of psychoanalysis (expecially Freud and Lacan), to its engagement with contemporary politics, society and art. Authors studied may include Walter Benjamin, Theodor Adorno, Max Horkheimer and Herbert Marcuse. Pre-requisite: At least one course in Philosophy.
THE WESTERN PHILOSOPHICAL TRADITION
Philosophy 270a/
Classical Studies 270a The Pre-Socratics* 3-3-0
An in depth study of the origins of philosophy in the West with special attention to Anaximander and Heraclitus, Pythagoras and Parmenides, Leucippus and Democritus.
Philosophy 271a/
Classical Studies 271a Socrates & Plato 3-3-0
A study of the character and teaching of Socrates as portrayed in Plato’s early and middle dialogues. Emphasis will be on theory of education.
Philosophy 272b/
Classical Studies 272b Aristotle 3-3-0
A study of selected works of Aristotle with special emphasis on logic, metaphysics, and the concept of substance.
Philosophy 275a The Rationalists* 3-3-0
A study of selected works of Descartes and/or Leibniz.
Philosophy 276b The Empiricists* 3-3-0
A study of the empiricist philosophers of the 17th and 18th centuries, with reference especially to theories of perception and knowledge, drawing on texts from Hobbes, Locke, Berkeley, and Hume.
Philosophy 278b The Pragmatists* 3-3-0
A study of selected works of Pierce, James and Dewey.
Philosophy 370a/
Classical Studies 370a Hellenistic Philosophy* 3-3-0
A study of selected Epicurean, Stoic, Skeptical and Neo-Platonic texts with reference especially to development of a philosophy of emotions and the elaboration of a systematic metaphysics.
Philosophy 371a Medieval Philosophy* 3-3-0
Exploration of the treatment of a range of philosophical issues prior to the Renaissance including: arguments for the existence of God, the relation between reason and revelation, the question of the eternity of the world, and the status of the universals. Texts will be drawn from Augustine, Boethius, Eriugena, Anselm, Alfarabi, Avicenna, Averroes, Bonaventure, Siger of Brabant and Aquinas.
Philosophy 374b Spinoza* 3-3-0
An in depth study of Spinoza’s Ethics with reference especially to the novelty of its method, its relation to philosophies of the tradition and its subsequent influence.
Philosophy 375 Kant 3-3-0
Consideration of epistemological and ethical issues in Kant’s first two Critiques.
PROBLEMS, SPECIAL INTERESTS AND SERVICE COURSES
Philosophy 240a Topics in Business Ethics* 3-3-0
An examination of ethical issues and responsibilities in the field of business surveying contemporary and traditional ethical theory and undertaking case studies of contemporary issues.
Philosophy 241 Philosophy and Sexuality* 3-3-0
Discussion of traditional theories of love and desire as a prelude to study of some contemporary theories of gender, sexuality and sexual politics.
Philosophy 243 Philosophy of Language and Hermeneutics* 3-3-0
This course will focus on the development of the Hermeneutic philosophy of language whose origin dates to the late 18th century. The major figures studied will include Schleiermacher, Dilthey, Heidegger and Gadamer.
Philosophy 244 Philosophy of Mind* 3-3-0
Theories of mind including those developed by Aristotle, Descartes, Hume, Berkeley, Ryle, Strawson and armstrong.
Philosophy 245b The Philosophy of Science* 3-3-0
An introduction to some basic issues in the history and philosophy of science with reference especially to: the origin and development of scientific method, the (in)commensurability of scientific paradigms, and the critique of scientific objectivity in contemporary social theory.
Philosophy 246b The Philosophy of Art* 3-3-0
A look at some attempts by major thinkers to account for the nature of art and beauty, focusing on texts of Plato and Aristotle, Kant and Hegel, Nietzsche and Heidegger.
Philosophy 247 Philosophy and Film* 3-3-0
This course will explore key philosophical themes through film. Students will combine viewing and discussion of film with the study of related philosophical texts. Pre or Co-Requisite: Any course in philosophy or any course in the Film Studies minor.
Philosophy 248a Philosophical Foundations of Feminism* 3-3-0
An introduction to feminist thought from the Enlightenment to the present, looking at some feminist discussions in ethics, theory of knowledge, philosophy of language, and philosophy of science.
Philosophy 249 Philosophy of History* 3-3-0
The course looks at the philosophical treatment of history in thinkers such as Hegel, Marx, Neitzsche and Collingwood.
Philosophy 344b Metaphysics* 3-3-0
An investigation of some basic metaphysical problems. These may include: the question of being, the historical development of metaphysical systems, issues and problems in ontology and epistemology, issues and problems in ontology and logic.
COGNATE COURSES
Fine Arts History 312a, formerly FIN 312a
Français 262a
Environmental Studies and Geography 366b
Liberal Arts 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216
Political Studies 323a, 324b, 329b
Psychology 342a, 343b
Sociology 122b, 320
Religion 232a, 233b, 252a, 253b, 330a, 331b