Professors: Giovanna Borradori, Jennifer Churcha, Mitchell Miller, Michael E. Murrayb , Uma Narayan (Chair); Associate Professors: Bryan Van Nordenab Douglas Winblad; Assistant Professors: Barry Lam, Jeffrey Seidmana; Visiting Assistant Professor: Bethany Dunn; Adjunct Professor: Jesse Kalin.
Philosophy as a discipline reflects both speculatively and critically on the world, our actions, and our claims to knowledge. The Department of Philosophy offers a variety of courses of study that not only introduce students to the great philosophical achievements of the past and present but also aim to teach them how to think, write, and speak philosophically themselves.
Requirements for Concentration: 101; 102; 125; two of the following five: 220, 222, 224, 226, 228; either 234 or 238; 300-301; and three differently numbered 300-level seminars (not including 396).
Senior-Year Requirement: Philosophy 300-301
Recommendations: Individual programs should be designed, in consultation with a faculty adviser, to give the student a representative acquaintance with major traditions in philosophy, competence in the skills of philosophic investigation and argument, and opportunities for exploration in areas of special interest. Students considering a concentration in philosophy are advised to take Philosophy 101 and 102 early in their careers. German, French, and Greek are languages of particular importance in Western philosophy; Chinese will be of special interest to those taking Philosophy 110, 210, or 350.
Advisers: The department.
Correlate Sequences in Philosophy: The philosophy department offers six different correlate sequences. In each sequence a total of 6 units is required. The required 300-level seminar may be taken twice if the topics differ; students may also petition to count an appropriate Philosophy 280 as equivalent to a 300-level seminar.
Correlate Sequence in Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art: Philosophy 101 or 102; Philosophy 240, 260; one of 205, 215 or an appropriate 280; two appropriate 300-level seminars. Advisers: Ms. Borradori, Mr. Murray.
Correlate Sequence in Comparative Philosophy: Philosophy 110 and one of 101 or 102; Philosophy 210 and 234; two appropriate 300-level seminars, including Philosophy 350. Adviser: Mr. Van Norden.
Correlate Sequence in Ethics and Social and Political Philosophy: 1 unit at the introductory level, either Philosophy 106 or 101 or 110; 3 units at the intermediate level, including Philosophy 234 and one of 238 or 250; two appropriate 300-level seminars, including Philosophy 330. Advisers: Ms. Narayan, Mr. Seidman.
Correlate Sequence in Continental Philosophy: Philosophy 101 or 102; 205, 215, and one of Philosophy 240 or 260; two appropriate 300-level seminars, including Philosophy 340. Advisers: Ms. Borradori, Mr. Murray.
Correlate Sequence in the History of Western Philosophy: Philosophy 101 and 102; Philosophy 205 and 215; two appropriate 300-level seminars, including Philosophy 320. Adviser: Mr. Miller.
Correlate Sequence in Analytic Philosophy: Philosophy 125 and either 105 or 102; 2 units from Philosophy 220, 222, 224, 226, 228; two appropriate 300-level seminars, including Philosophy 310. Advisers: Ms. Church, Mr. Lam, Mr. Winblad.
Correlate sequences may also be designed for certain other subfields in philosophy—for instance, philosophy and gender, philosophy of science, classical philosophy.
2006-2007 Senior Thesis Dates
Monday, September 11, 2006: Thesis outline due.
Friday, January 26, 2007: First draft due.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007: Final draft due.
Early May, 2007: Faculty evaluation completed.