200-Level Courses (24-25) - Department of Philosophy

2024-25 Fall/Winter 200-level courses

Note about prerequisites/co-requisites for 200-level courses:

Only PHL201H1 has a prerequisite: it requires the completion of four Arts and Science full-course equivalents (FCEs).

PHL233H1 has a co-requisite: it requires one FCE in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, or Computer Science.

PHL200Y1Y — ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY

Prof. Jessica Gelber
Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:00-13:00

This course is an introduction to some of the main figures and problems in Ancient Greek Philosophy. We will read texts spanning from Thales to Sextus Empiricus, though most of our attention will be given to Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Our goal will be to understand not only what the views these thinkers held were, but also why they held them and how they argued for them. When we engage in this activity, we are doing philosophy. So, this course is also an introduction to philosophy itself. There are no pre-requisites.

Readings: TBD, but will include selections from Plato’s Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Protagoras, Phaedo, Republic; Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Categories, Posterior Analytics, Physics, Metaphysics, On the Soul; we will use collections of ancient sources for pre-Socratic and Hellenistic philosophical views.

Evaluation: Essays, in-person final exam, and weekly discussion questions and tutorial participation. Your tutorial session (in-person) is an essential part of this course and attendance is required for a passing grade in the course.

PHL201H1S — INTRODUCTORY PHILOSOPHY

Prof. Bowen Chan
Thursdays 15:00-18:00

An introduction to philosophy focusing on the connections among its main branches: logic, theory of knowledge, metaphysics, and ethics. This course is intended for those with little or no philosophy background but who have completed Year 1 in any area of study.

Readings: TBA

Evaluation: TBA

PHL205H1F — EARLY MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY

Prof. Simona Vucu
Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00-12:00

A study of issues such as the relations of reason and faith, the being and the nature of God, and the problem of universals, in the writings of such philosophers as Augustine, Boethius, Anselm and Abelard.

Readings: TBA

Evaluation: TBA

PHL206H1S — LATER MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY

Prof. Deborah Black
Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00-12:00

In this course we’ll read a variety of philosophical works from the 13^th and 14^th centuries, when the West first gained complete access to the works of Aristotle and the writings of Islamic and Jewish philosophers. The result was a period of intense philosophical speculation, controversy, and debate. We’ll focus on the issues of central concern to medieval philosophers, such as the existence of God, the eternity of the world, free choice, human nature and knowledge, and the relation between faith and reason. Some of the philosophers whom we’ll be reading are Thomas Aquinas, John Duns Scotus, and William of Ockham, Nicholas of Autrecourt.

Textbook: Arthur Hyman, J. J. Walsh, T. Williams, eds. Philosophy in the Middle Ages, 3d edition.

Evaluation: Two short papers analyzing a primary text: 60%; Take-Home Final examination: 25%; Tutorial/participation: 15%.

PHL210Y1Y — 17TH AND 18TH CENTURY PHILOSOPHY

Prof. Nick Stang
Mondays 16:00-18:00

This is a survey of modern European philosophy in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries; in terms of historical figures, we will begin with Descartes and end with Kant. Our guiding thread through this extraordinarily rich period will be a set of inter-related questions. What is the fundamental structure of reality? What, if anything, can we know about it? What is the nature of the human mind, and its connection to reality, that makes such knowledge possible at all? This period overlaps with what is known as the ‘Scientific Revolution’ so we will also consider how these questions, and their answers, might be affected by the development of the new science. What (if anything) does modern mathematical natural science tell us about the fundamental nature of reality? Where do the basic concepts of natural science (cause-effect, matter, motion, etc.) come from, and why should we think they accurately describe reality? How is scientific knowledge of nature possible in the first place? In the Fall semester we will focus on Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz; in the Spring, Locke, Hume, and Kant. No previous familiarity with philosophy is required.

Reading: Modern Philosophy: An Anthology of Primary Sources. Ed. Roger Ariew and Eric Watkins. Third Edition. Hackett.

Evaluation (tentative): participation (10%); four essays (10% each) & two exams (25% each).

PHL217H1S — INTRODUCTION TO CONTINENTAL PHILOSOPHY

Prof. Tarek Dika
Tuesdays 13:00-15:00

This course is an introduction to German and French philosophy from the late nineteenth century to the present, beginning with Bergson and moving into phenomenology, structuralism, deconstruction, and contemporary ontologies. No prior background in philosophy required.

Readings: TBA

Evaluation: TBA

PHL232H1F — KNOWLEDGE AND REALITY

Prof. Michael Caie
Mondays and Wednesdays 11:00-12:00

An introduction to issues in the fundamental branches of philosophy: metaphysics, which considers the overall framework of reality; epistemology, or the theory of knowledge; and related problems in the philosophy of science. Topics in metaphysics may include: mind and body, causality, space and time, God, freedom and determinism; topics in epistemology may include perception, evidence, belief, truth, skepticism.

Reading: TBA

Evaluation: TBA

PHL232H1S — KNOWLEDGE AND REALITY

Instructor: TBD
Mondays and Tuesdays 12:00-13:00

Reading: TBA

Evaluation: TBA

PHL233H1F — PHILOSOPHY FOR SCIENTISTS

Prof. Imogen Dickie
Tuesday and Thursday 12:00-13:00

An introduction to philosophy tailored for students with backgrounds in mathematics and science. Topics include causation, explanation, the relation between scientific and mathematical theories and reality, the role of mathematics in scientific theories, the relevance of scientific and mathematical discoveries to ‘big’ traditional philosophical questions such as the nature of consciousness, whether we have free will, and the meaning of life.

Readings: TBA

Evaluations: TBA

PHL235H1F — PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION

Prof. Reza Hadisi
Monday 12:00-15:00

In this course, we will explore two interrelated questions about the nature of religious life within the context of Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam). The first is a descriptive question: “What constitutes a religious life or a religious person, as opposed to a secular life or a secular person?” For instance, does living a religious life necessitate belief in God? If so, does it require belief in a personal God (i.e., a deity with thoughts and will)? The second question concerns normative issues: “What is the relationship between a good life and a religious life?” Similarly, what is the relationship between a good person and a religious person? Does morality require religiosity? If not, does religiosity add something valuable to a moral life, or does it detract from it?

Readings: Selected contemporary papers and historical philosophical texts.

Evaluation: Argument maps, paper, short quizzes, final exam.

PHL236H1F — BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY

Prof. Elisa Freschi
Mondays and Wednesdays 17:00-18:30

This course is an introduction to topics, schools and figures in Buddhist philosophy. We will read texts (in their English translation) spanning from the Pāli Canon (attributed directly to the Buddha) via its commentaries and reaching until contemporary Buddhist reflections. We will also discuss the main topics most Buddhist thinkers dealt with, from emptiness to impermanence and non-selfhood, and analyse their philosophical consequences in logic (we will, e.g., analyse the theory of inference elaborated by Dignāga and Dharmakīrti), epistemology (what are the sources of knowledge? How can the Buddha be trustworthy?), philosophy of action (can there be karman without a subject?). Besides, we will find time to explore in depth specific topics, e.g. epistemology of perception (according to some Buddhist authors the only reliable form of perception is non-conceptual perception), epistemology of absence, philosophy of language…

Evaluation 24% (23 reading assignments); 24% (in-class participation); 18% (three short papers); 6% (three peer reviews); 4% (summary of a talk); 24% (final test).

Authors to be read: Extracts from the Pāli Canon, Vasubandhu, Nāgārjuna, Dignāga, Dharmakīrti, Ratnakīrti, Bhāviveka, Śāntideva, Platform Sūtra, Milarepa, Thich Nhat Hahn

NB: Small variations may apply.

PHL237H1F — HISTORY OF CHINESE PHILOSOPHY

Instructor: TBA
Thursdays 18:00-21:00

A historical introduction to Chinese philosophy, covering selected figures and texts from the Warring States period through the Qīng dynasty. Schools of thought covered include Confucianism, Mohism, Daoism, Legalism, “Profound Learning,” Neo-Confucianism, and “Evidential Learning.” Texts and thinkers include the Confucian Analects, Mòzǐ, Mèngzǐ, Xúnzǐ, Dàodéjīng, Zhuāngzǐ, Hán Fēi, Guō Xiàng, Zhū Xī, Wáng Yángmíng, and Dài Zhèn.

Readings: TBA

Evaluation: TBA

PHL238H1S — REASON AND IRRATIONALITY

Prof. Reza Hadisi
Mondays 12:00-15:00

We attribute irrationality to beliefs, actions, and emotions. But what makes a belief rational or irrational? Does the same criterion apply to actions and emotions? If not, what is the relationship between these different forms of rationality? Are there universal and necessary rules of rationality that apply to every individual across different cultures and socio-economic backgrounds? Or should we consider rationality as something not fully determined by general rules? In this course, we examine various theories of rationality that address these questions.

Readings: A selection of contemporary philosophical papers, with occasional historical texts.

Evaluation: Argument maps, paper, short quizzes, final exam.

PHL240H1S — PERSONS, MINDS AND BODIES

Prof. David Barnett
Mondays and Wednesdays 10:00-11:00

A traditional view holds that human life begins at conception, that an adult at the end of his or her life can be the same person who was once a child and who was before that that an embryo, and that this same person will go on to survive the death of his or her body. Does this traditional conception of human existence hold up to scrutiny? In this advanced introductory course, we will address such fundamental questions of human existence as: When does life begin? When during the development of an embryo into an adult human being does one acquire moral rights? What is a mind, and what is the mind’s relationship to the brain? Do animals have minds? Could robots or computers have minds someday? Do you have an immaterial soul that is capable of surviving the death of your body and brain? When does life end, and why is it bad? No prior background in philosophy will be presupposed, although a willingness to ask difficult questions and develop careful and methodical reasoning in support of one’s answers will be essential.

Evaluation: 20% brief writing assignments, 30% final paper, 30% final exam, 20% written and oral tutorial participation

Readings: TBA

PHL243H1S — PHILOSOPHY OF SEXUALITY

Prof. Natalie Helberg
Thursdays 18:00-21:00

Philosophical issues about sex and sexual identity in the light of biological, psychological and ethical theories of sex and gender; the concept of gender; male and female sex roles; perverse sex; sexual liberation; love and sexuality.

Readings: TBA

Evaluations: TBA

PHL244H1S — HUMAN NATURE

Prof. Brendan de Kenessey
Wednesday and Thursday 13:30-15:00

In this course, we will investigate three central questions about our nature as human beings. First, what are we? Are we immaterial souls, collections of memories and other psychological states, physical bodies, or something else? Second, are we good or evil? Are human beings innately selfish, or are we capable of genuine moral virtue? Third, do we have free will? Can we be held responsible for our actions if they are the inevitable result of the laws of nature?

Readings: TBA

Evaluations: TBA

PHL245H1F — MODERN SYMBOLIC LOGIC

LEC0101 – Tuesdays 09:00-11:00; Fridays 10:00-11:00 (Prof. Alex Koo)
LEC0201 – Wednesdays 13:00-15:00; Fridays 11:00-12:00 (Prof. Alex Koo)
LEC5101 – Tuesdays 18:00-20:00; Thursdays 18:00-19:00 (Prof. Eamon Darnell)

Logic is a central pillar of philosophy that has its roots in ancient civilizations. Aristotle was one of the first to formalize the discipline into a highly applicable system for analyzing arguments. Logic was modernized by Frege at the end of the 19th century and by Russell and Whitehead at the start of the 20th century. Since then, logical tools have become essential in many areas of analytic philosophy such as philosophy of science, philosophy of language, and epistemology.

Modern Symbolic Logic is a technical course in first-order logic. Students will learn the meaning of logical symbols and develop the skills for performing derivations in both sentential and predicate logic. The course will begin with truth tables of basic logical operators and end with polyadic predicates, identity, and operations. Learning these tools will foster critical thinking skills, lead to a precise understanding of natural language, and result in better reading and writing skills. All of these are essential to the practice of philosophy and other academic disciplines, critical for excelling on standardized tests such as the LSAT, and are useful in every day life.

This is a hybrid and flipped course. Lectures will be posted online for asynchronous viewing and in-class time will be dedicated to practicing and improving skills. Term tests will be done in-person during the 1-hour timeslot.

Readings: Text provided online

Evaluations: 4 term tests, 11 weekly quizzes, final exam

PHL245H1S— MODERN SYMBOLIC LOGIC

Prof. Eamon Darnell

LEC0101 – Mondays 15:00-17:00; Wednesdays 15:00-16:00
LEC5101 – Mondays 18:00-20:00; Wednesdays 18:00-19:00

Readings: Text provided online

Evaluations: 4 term tests, 11 weekly quizzes, final exam

PHL246H1S — PROBABILITY AND INDUCTIVE LOGIC

Prof. Franz Huber
Thursdays 18:00-20:00

Probability and Inductive Logic is an introduction to the mathematical theory of probability and its applications in philosophy. On the philosophical side we will mainly be concerned with the so-called problem of induction and its reception in the philosophy of science, where it is normally discussed under the heading of “confirmation theory.” On the mathematical side we will study propositional and predicate logic, as well as elementary set theory, to be able to formulate the theory of probability.

The first two weeks will provide us with the relevant background in logic and set theory. During the next three to four weeks, we will cover Hume’s argument for the thesis that we cannot justify induction; Hempel’s work on the logic of confirmation and the ravens’ paradox; Popper’s falsificationism and hypothetico-deductive confirmation; as well as Kolmogorov’s axiomatization of the probability calculus. During the following three to four weeks, we will cover Carnap’s inductive logic and philosophy of induction; Goodman’s philosophy of induction and the new riddle of induction; Haack’s comparison between deduction and induction; as well as the Dutch Book argument for subjective, or Bayesian, probabilities. The last three weeks will be devoted to Bayesian confirmation theory and the distinction between absolute versus incremental confirmation; Lewis’ principal principle relating subjective credences and objective chances; as well as Reichenbach’s “straight(-forward) rule” and the strong law of large numbers.

Along the way we will come across probability puzzles such as Bertrand’s paradox and von Mises’ wine/water paradox, as well as paradoxes from logic and set theory such as the liar paradox and Russell’s paradox.

We will work with my textbook “A Logical Introduction to Probability and Induction” (New York: Oxford University Press, 2018), as well as a few other texts. All of these materials will be made available on Quercus. I will upload the relevant chapters on a weekly basis, together with the lecture notes/slides. This means that you do not have to buy the textbook or any other text. In return I expect you to attend class: I want you to do well, and just studying the texts and solving homework assignments will not be enough! Also, while the course is structured along philosophical problems, please be prepared to use mathematical symbols and logical formulas, as well as to calculate and solve equations and to prove and derive theorems.

Reading: We will work with my textbook A Logical Introduction to Probability and Induction (New York: Oxford University Press, 2018).

Evaluation: TBD

PHL255H1F – PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE

Prof. Alex Koo
Tuesdays 13:00-15:00

This course is an introduction to contemporary topics in the philosophy of science which serves as preparation for more advanced study in general philosophy of science and philosophy of the particular sciences. Topics may include the rise and fall of logical positivism, the problem of demarcation, falsificationism, confirmation, the connection between theory and observation, the value free ideal, and the epistemic authority of scientists.

Reading: TBA

Evaluation: TBA

PHL256H1S – PHILOSOPHY OF THE INTERNET

Prof. Simona Vucu
Fridays 12:00-15:00

Delivery Method: Online-Synchronous

The internet and digital technology have had a transformative impact on the economy, society and politics, art and culture, and everyday life. This course explores the fascinating, often urgent, new philosophical questions raised by these changes as well as the way they invite a rethinking of many older philosophical questions. Topics to be addressed may include ethical problems relating to artificial intelligence and algorithms; identity through social media; digital ownership and privacy; and collective/distributed knowledge in its relation to information, among others.

Reading: TBA

Evaluation: TBA

PHL265H1F — INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY

Prof. Joseph Heath
Mondays and Wednesdays 13:00-14:00

Political philosophy deals with the fundamental question of how the organized coercive power of society should be employed. Whereas moral philosophy is concerned with what one ought to do, political philosophy is interested in what one can be forced to do. In our society, the prevailing answer to this question is given by a body of doctrine that is referred to as “liberalism.” This course will constitute an introduction to the history of liberal thought, along with its emerging commitment to individual rights, egalitarian civil relations, constitutionalism and democratic governance. We begin with the rejection of medieval political ideas and the rise of social contract theory from the 17th century through to the French Revolution. We then trace out the long-term decline of liberal political philosophy during the 19th century, culminating in the near-triumph of totalitarianism in the 20th century. We will conclude by examining the dramatic re-emergence of liberalism in the late 20th century.

Readings: selections from al-Farabi, Dante, Hobbes, Locke, Mill and Rawls

Evaluation: tutorial participation, 2 writing assignments, final examination

PHL269H1F – PHILOSOPHY OF RACE

Prof. William Paris
Wednesdays 13:00-15:00

This course is an introduction to the central questions and readings of philosophy of race. What is the meaning of race? How does it affect political philosophy? Is there an ethics of race? These are some of the questions that will be covered in this course. Students will be introduced to problems concerning the metaphysics of race, race and political injustice, ethics and recognition, or race and aesthetic critique.

Readings: Immanuel Kant, Johann Gottfried von Herder, W.E.B. Du Bois, Alain Locke, Sally Haslanger, Vanessa Wills, and Charles Mills

Evaluation: Quizzes and Exams

PHL271H1F — LAW AND MORALITY

Instructor: TBD
Mondays 18:00-20:00

Justifications for the legal enforcement of morality; particular ethical issues arising out of the intersection of law and morality, such as punishment, freedom of expression and censorship, autonomy and paternalism, constitutional protection of human rights.

Readings: TBA

Evaluation: TBA

PHL273H1F — ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS

Instructor: TBA
Tuesdays 15:00-18:00

When we think about morality, we usually think about obligations we have to other human beings. But we have relationships to all kinds of other things, including non-human animals and the planet we share with them. These relationships raise ethical questions of their own: Do non-human animals have rights? Is the natural environment valuable in itself or only in virtue of its benefits to humans? Is it reasonable to demand that relatively poor countries make economic sacrifices to combat climate change? How should we resolve conflicts between our duties to human beings and those we may have to the environment or non-human animals? In this course, we will examine these questions and related issues.

Reading: TBA

Evaluation: TBA

PHL275H1F & S — INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS

Prof. Matthew Scarfone
F-term Fridays 11:00-13:00
S-term Mondays 11:00-13:00

“Why be moral?” is one of the most trenchant questions in philosophy. It also raises further questions, such as: where do morals come from? do morals differ across time and place? what makes ‘right’ acts right and ‘wrong’ acts wrong? can we be mistaken about these classifications, or are ethical matters just ‘up to us’? how do ethical theories help us decide what to do? what ethical diagnoses can we give regarding the treatment of animals or climate change? This course serves as an introduction to thinking about these questions and others through the three main branches of philosophical ethics: metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics.

Readings: historical and contemporary primary texts posted to Quercus

Evaluation: Tutorial Attendance & Participation (20%), 350-word Argument Summary (2 x 15%), In-person Midterm Exam (20%), In-person Final Exam (30%).

PHL277H1S — Ethics and Data

Prof. Steven Coyne
Wednesdays 18:00-20:00

An introduction to fundamental ethical problems raised by “Big Data.” Topics may include: fairness in data collection; algorithmic discrimination; data privacy; and moral puzzles stemming from the application of machine learning to everyday decision-making.

Reading: TBA

Evaluation: TBA

PHL281H1S — BIOETHICS

Prof. Andrew Franklin-Hall
Mondays and Wednesdays 12:00-13:00

This course will examine ethical and political issues relating to health care and medical research from a philosophical point of view. Some of the questions examined include: Should doctors ever act contrary to the will of the patient? How should decisions be made for patients without decision-making capacity? Under what circumstances is it legitimate to perform experiments on human subjects? How should we balance individual liberty and public health, particularly amidst a pandemic? What is the just way to distribute health care resources? Is abortion morally defensible? Under what circumstances, if any, should doctors assist patients in dying? Should genetic enhancement of human beings be permitted?

These are all urgent moral issues. Many of them are directly relevant to everyday medical practice, and some are of particular importance during a time of a pandemic. But they also raise profound theoretical questions about the nature of life and death, the contours and limits of our right to autonomy, our responsibilities for the well-being of others, the relationship between health care and knowledge production, and what it is to be human. Thus, the course is addressed to both future health-care workers and students of philosophy.

Readings: TBA

Evaluation: TBA

PHL285H1S — AESTHETICS

Prof. Natalie Helberg
Fridays 09:00-12:00

An historical and systematic introduction to the main questions in the philosophy of art and beauty from Plato to the present. These include the relation between art and beauty, the nature of aesthetic experience, definitions and theories of art, the criteria of excellence in the arts, and the function of art criticism.

Reading: TBA

Evaluation: TBA

PHL295H1F — BUSINESS ETHICS

Prof. Bowen Chan
Mondays 18:00-21:00

Philosophical issues in ethics, social theory, and theories of human nature insofar as they bear on contemporary conduct of business. Issues include: Does business have moral responsibilities? Can social costs and benefits be calculated? Does modern business life determine human nature or the other way around? Do political ideas and institutions such as democracy have a role within business?

Reading: TBA

Evaluation: TBA