Department of Philosophy
(Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences)
3A46 Paterson Hall
613-520-2110
http://carleton.ca/philosophy
This section presents the requirements for programs in:
- Philosophy - B.A. Honours
- Philosophy with Specialization in Philosophy, Ethics and Public Affairs - B.A. Honours
- Philosophy - B.A. Combined Honours
- Philosophy - B.A. General
- Minor in Philosophy
- Mention : Français
Graduation Requirements
In addition to the program requirements listed below, students must satisfy:
- the University regulations including those concerned with Academic Performance Evaluation (see the Academic Regulations of the University section of this Calendar),
- the Faculty regulations applying to all B.A. students including those relating to First-Year Seminars and Breadth requirements (see the Academic Regulations for the Bachelor of Arts Degree ).
Students should consult with the department or committee responsible for their program when planning their program and selecting courses.
Course Categories for Philosophy
For purposes of program description the Philosophy courses are classified as follows.
History of Philosophy
PHIL 2005 [1.0] | Greek Philosophy and the Western Tradition | |
PHIL 2101 [0.5] | History of Ethics | |
PHIL 2201 [0.5] | Introduction to Marxist Philosophy | |
PHIL 2202 [0.5] | Topics in Marxist Philosophy | |
PHIL 2700 [0.5] | Asian Philosophy | |
PHIL 3000 [0.5] | Topics in Ancient Philosophy | |
PHIL 3001 [0.5] | Early Greek Philosophy | |
PHIL 3002 [0.5] | 17th Century Philosophy | |
PHIL 3003 [0.5] | 18th Century Philosophy | |
PHIL 3005 [0.5] | 19th Century Philosophy | |
PHIL 3009 [0.5] | Topics in European Philosophy | |
PHIL 3010 [0.5] | Philosophical Traditions | |
PHIL 3104 [0.5] | The Roots of Analytic Philosophy | |
PHIL 3330 [0.5] | Topics in History of Social and Political Philosophy |
Ethics, Society and Aesthetics (ESA)
PHIL 2020 [0.5] | Issues in Practical Philosophy | |
PHIL 2101 [0.5] | History of Ethics | |
PHIL 2103 [0.5] | Philosophy of Human Rights | |
PHIL 2104 [0.5] | Computer Ethics | |
PHIL 2106 [0.5] | Information Ethics | |
PHIL 2201 [0.5] | Introduction to Marxist Philosophy | |
PHIL 2306 [0.5] | Philosophy and Feminism | |
PHIL 2307 [0.5] | Gender and Philosophy | |
PHIL 2380 [0.5] | Introduction to Environmental Ethics | |
PHIL 2408 [0.5] | Bioethics | |
PHIL 2601 [0.5] | Philosophy of Religion | |
PHIL 2807 [0.5] | Philosophy of Art | |
PHIL 3010 [0.5] | Philosophical Traditions | |
PHIL 3102 [0.5] | Philosophy of Law: The Logic of Law | |
PHIL 3320 [0.5] | Contemporary Ethical Theory | |
PHIL 3330 [0.5] | Topics in History of Social and Political Philosophy | |
PHIL 3340 [0.5] | Topics in Contemporary Social and Political Philosophy | |
PHIL 3350 [0.5] | Philosophy, Ethics, and Public Affairs | |
PHIL 3380 [0.5] | Environments, Technology and Values | |
PHIL 3450 [0.5] | Topics in Aesthetics |
Language, Mind and World (LMW)
PHIL 2010 [0.5] | Issues in Theoretical Philosophy | |
PHIL 2301 [0.5] | Introduction to the Philosophy of Science | |
PHIL 2405 [0.5] | Philosophy of the Paranormal | |
PHIL 2501 [0.5] | Introduction to Philosophy of Mind | |
PHIL 2504 [0.5] | Language and Communication | |
PHIL 2520 [0.5] | Introduction to Philosophical Logic | |
PHIL 2540 [0.5] | Personal Identity and the Self | |
PHIL 2550 [0.5] | Moral Psychology | |
PHIL 2601 [0.5] | Philosophy of Religion | |
PHIL 3005 [0.5] | 19th Century Philosophy | |
PHIL 3010 [0.5] | Philosophical Traditions | |
PHIL 3104 [0.5] | The Roots of Analytic Philosophy | |
PHIL 3140 [0.5] | Epistemology | |
PHIL 3150 [0.5] | Metaphysics | |
PHIL 3301 [0.5] | Issues in the Philosophy of Science | |
PHIL 3306 [0.5] | Symbolic Logic | |
PHIL 3501 [0.5] | Philosophy of Cognitive Science | |
PHIL 3502 [0.5] | Mind and Action | |
PHIL 3504 [0.5] | Pragmatics | |
PHIL 3506 [0.5] | Semantics | |
PHIL 3530 [0.5] | Philosophy of Language |
Philosophy Courses Open to first-Year Students
Please note that not all of these courses are offered each year.
PHIL 1000 [0.5] | Introductory Philosophy: Fields, Figures and Problems | |
PHIL 1100 [1.0] | Looking at Philosophy | |
PHIL 1200 [0.5] | The Meaning of Life | |
PHIL 1301 [0.5] | Mind, World, and Knowledge | |
PHIL 1500 [1.0] | Contemporary Moral, Social and Religious Issues | |
PHIL 1550 [0.5] | Introduction to Ethics and Social Issues | |
PHIL 1600 [1.0] | History of Philosophy | |
PHIL 2001 [0.5] | Introduction to Logic | |
PHIL 2003 [0.5] | Critical Thinking |
Program Requirements
Philosophy
B.A. Honours (20.0 credits)
A. Credits Included in the Major CGPA (10.0 credits) | ||
1. 2.0 credits in: | 2.0 | |
PHIL 2005 [1.0] | Greek Philosophy and the Western Tradition | |
PHIL 3002 [0.5] | 17th Century Philosophy | |
PHIL 3003 [0.5] | 18th Century Philosophy | |
2. 1.0 credit in: | 1.0 | |
PHIL 2010 [0.5] | Issues in Theoretical Philosophy | |
PHIL 2020 [0.5] | Issues in Practical Philosophy | |
0.5 credit from: | 0.5 | |
PHIL 2001 [0.5] | Introduction to Logic | |
PHIL 2003 [0.5] | Critical Thinking | |
4. 1.5 credits in Ethics, Society and Aesthetics at the 2000-level or higher | 1.5 | |
5. 1.5 credits in Language, Mind and World at the 2000-level or higher | 1.5 | |
6. 1.5 credits in PHIL | 1.5 | |
7. 2.0 credits in PHIL at the 4000-level or higher | 2.0 | |
B. Credits Not Included in the Major CGPA (10.0 credits) | ||
8. 8.0 credits not in PHIL | 8.0 | |
9. 2.0 credits in free electives | 2.0 | |
Total Credits | 20.0 |
Philosophy with Specialization in Philosophy, Ethics and Public Affairs
B.A. Honours (20.0 credits)
A. Credits Included in the Major CGPA (12.0 credits) | ||
1. 1.0 credit in: | 1.0 | |
PHIL 2010 [0.5] | Issues in Theoretical Philosophy | |
PHIL 2020 [0.5] | Issues in Practical Philosophy | |
2. 2.0 credits in: | 2.0 | |
PHIL 2101 [0.5] | History of Ethics | |
PHIL 3320 [0.5] | Contemporary Ethical Theory | |
PHIL 3330 [0.5] | Topics in History of Social and Political Philosophy | |
PHIL 3340 [0.5] | Topics in Contemporary Social and Political Philosophy | |
3. 2.0 credits in Philosophy from: | 2.0 | |
PHIL 1500 [1.0] | Contemporary Moral, Social and Religious Issues (satisfies two of four requirements) | |
PHIL 1550 [0.5] | Introduction to Ethics and Social Issues | |
PHIL 2103 [0.5] | Philosophy of Human Rights | |
PHIL 2104 [0.5] | Computer Ethics | |
PHIL 2201 [0.5] | Introduction to Marxist Philosophy | |
PHIL 2202 [0.5] | Topics in Marxist Philosophy | |
PHIL 2306 [0.5] | Philosophy and Feminism | |
PHIL 2307 [0.5] | Gender and Philosophy | |
PHIL 2380 [0.5] | Introduction to Environmental Ethics | |
PHIL 2408 [0.5] | Bioethics | |
PHIL 2900 [1.0] | Truth and Propaganda | |
PHIL 3350 [0.5] | Philosophy, Ethics, and Public Affairs | |
4. 1.5 credits in History of Philosophy | 1.5 | |
5. 1.0 credit in Language, Mind and World | 1.0 | |
6. 2.0 credits in PHIL at the 4000-level or above | 2.0 | |
7. 2.5 credits in PHIL | 2.5 | |
B. Credits Not Included in the Major CGPA (8.0 credits) | ||
8. 1.0 credit in: | 1.0 | |
PSCI 2300 [1.0] | History of Political Thought | |
9. 2.0 credits from: | 2.0 | |
PSCI 3109 [0.5] | The Politics of Law and Morality | |
PSCI 3300 [0.5] | Politics and Literature | |
PSCI 3302 [0.5] | Comparative Political Thought | |
PSCI 3303 [0.5] | Feminist Political Theory | |
PSCI 3307 [0.5] | Politics of Human Rights | |
PSCI 3308 [0.5] | Modern Political Thought | |
PSCI 3309 [0.5] | Modern Ideologies | |
PSCI 4302 [0.5] | Political Thought in the Modern Muslim Middle East | |
PSCI 4305 [1.0] | Contemporary Political Theory (satisfies two of four requirements) | |
PSCI 4310 [1.0] | Political Theories of Democracy and Empire (satisfies two of four requirements) | |
10. 2.0 credits not in PHIL | 2.0 | |
11. 3.0 credits in free electives | 3.0 | |
Total Credits | 20.0 |
Note: Students intending to take this specialization are strongly encouraged to include either a First Year Seminar in Philosophy or 1.0 credit in Philosophy at the 1000-level (especially PHIL 1500 [1.0]) in their first year program.
Philosophy
B.A. Combined Honours (20.0 credits)
Combined Honours programs are available in Philosophy with the following subjects:
Art History, Biology, Economics, English, French, History, Human Rights, Journalism, Law, Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Religion, Sociology-Anthropology, Women's and Gender Studies
Special arrangements may be made for combining with other subjects.
Students taking any of the above programs or proposing other combinations must consult the Supervisor of Undergraduate Studies.
A. Credits Included in the Philosophy CGPA (7.0 credits) | ||
1. 2.0 credits in: | 2.0 | |
The History of Philosophy | ||
HUMS 2000 [1.0] | Reason and Revelation (and 1.0 credit in History of Philosophy) | |
2. 1.0 credit in: | 1.0 | |
PHIL 2010 [0.5] | Issues in Theoretical Philosophy | |
PHIL 2020 [0.5] | Issues in Practical Philosophy | |
3. 1.0 credit in Language, Mind, and World | 1.0 | |
4. 1.0 credit in Ethics, Society and Aesthetics | 1.0 | |
5. 1.0 credit in PHIL at the 4000-level or above | 1.0 | |
6. 1.0 credit in PHIL, which may be satisfied by: | 1.0 | |
FYSM 1208 [1.0] | Looking at Philosophy | |
FYSM 1209 [1.0] | Contemporary Moral, Social, and Religious Issues | |
FYSM 1300 [1.0] | History of Philosophy | |
B. Additional Credit Requirements (13.0 credits) | 13.0 | |
7. The requirements of the other discipline must be satisfied | ||
8. 5.0 credits in electives not in PHIL or the other discipline (not applicable to B.Hum.) | ||
9. Sufficient free electives to make 20.0 credits in total for the program | ||
Total Credits | 20.0 |
Philosophy
B.A. General (15.0 credits)
A. Credits Included in the Major CGPA (6.0 credits) | ||
1. 1.0 credit in History of Philosophy | 1.0 | |
2. 1.0 credit in PHIL, which may be satisfied by: | 1.0 | |
FYSM 1208 [1.0] | Looking at Philosophy | |
FYSM 1209 [1.0] | Contemporary Moral, Social, and Religious Issues | |
FYSM 1300 [1.0] | History of Philosophy | |
3. 0.5 credit from: | 0.5 | |
PHIL 2001 [0.5] | Introduction to Logic | |
PHIL 2003 [0.5] | Critical Thinking | |
4. 0.5 credit in 3000-level or higher PHIL | 0.5 | |
5. 3.0 credits in 2000-level or higher PHIL | 3.0 | |
B. Credits Not Included in the Major CGPA (9.0 credits) | ||
6. 7.0 credits not in PHIL | 7.0 | |
7. 2.0 credits free electives | 2.0 | |
Total Credits | 15.0 |
Minor in Philosophy (4.0 credits)
Requirements | ||
1. 2.0 credit in PHIL at the 2000-level or above | 2.0 | |
2. 0.5 credit from: | 0.5 | |
PHIL 2001 [0.5] | Introduction to Logic | |
PHIL 2003 [0.5] | Critical Thinking | |
3. 0.5 credit in PHIL at the 3000 level or above | 0.5 | |
4. 1.0 credit in PHIL, which may be satisfied by FYSM 1208, FYSM 1209, or FYSM 1300 | 1.0 | |
5. The remaining requirements of the major discipline(s) and degree must be satisfied | ||
Total Credits | 4.0 |
The Philosophy Department has identified patterns of courses that satisfy the requirements of the Minor in Philosophy and focus the student's studies in the following areas:
- History of Philosophy
- Philosophy, Ethics and Public Affairs
- Philosophy of Journalism and Mass Communication
- Philosophy of Language
- Philosophy of Mind
- Ethics and Technology
Consult the Supervisor of Undergraduate Studies for details.
Mention : Français (4.0 credits)
Students in the B.A. (Honours) or B.A. (General) program in Philosophy may qualify for the notation Mention : Français by fulfilling the requirements outlined. Those wishing to pursue this path should consult with the Department's Undergraduate Supervisor, whose approval is required for all courses under Mention : Français.
Philosophy courses presented in fulfillment of Mention : Français requirements can double as courses to satisfy Philosophy B.A. (General) or B.A. (Honours) requirements.
To graduate with the notation Mention : Français , Philosophy students must include in their program the following:
1. 1.0 credit in French language chosen in consultation with the French Department to perfect the student's French language skills. | 1.0 | |
2. 1.0 credit taught in French at Carleton and concerned with the study of the heritage and culture of French Canada | 1.0 | |
3. 1.0 credit from among: | 1.0 | |
PHIL 3901 [0.5] | Independent Study | |
PHIL 3901 [0.5] | Independent Study | |
PHIL 3903 [0.5] | Independent Study | |
PHIL 3906 [0.5] | Independent Study | |
PHIL 3907 [0.5] | Independent Study | |
PHIL 3908 [0.5] | Independent Study | |
with philosophical works read in French and papers submitted in French to be assessed by two members of the Philosophy Department knowledgeable in the language, or 1.0 credit in Philosophy at the 3000-level taught in French at another university and acceptable to the Philosophy Department. In addition, Philosophy students in B.A. Honours or Combined Honours must include: | ||
4. 1.0 credit from among special projects: | 1.0 | |
PHIL 4900 [1.0] | Tutorial | |
PHIL 4901 [0.5] | Tutorial | |
PHIL 4902 [0.5] | Tutorial | |
PHIL 4903 [0.5] | Tutorial | |
PHIL 4904 [0.5] | Tutorial | |
PHIL 4906 [0.5] | Tutorial | |
in French, supervised by a member of the Department of Philosophy, or earned in a Philosophy seminar or seminars at the 4000-level taught in French at another university and acceptable to the Philosophy Department. Students must, in addition, satisfy the Honours requirement of 2.0 Carleton credits at the 4000-or 5000-level in Philosophy (1.0 for Combined Honours). | ||
5. Combined Honours students must meet the Mention : Francais requirements of both Honours disciplines. | ||
Total Credits | 4.0 |
Philosophy (PHIL) Courses
Philosophy
Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences
Introductory Philosophy: Fields, Figures and Problems
What is metaphysics? Who was Socrates? What is Freedom? This introduction sketches many branches of philosophy and the important problems associated with each. It introduces great philosophers, present and past, and traces enduring philosophical themes.
Looking at Philosophy
Introduction to philosophy: the nature of logical thinking; the existence of God; the objectivity of values; the meaning of life; free will; determinism and responsibility; the relation between the mind and body; immortality and the possibility of knowledge.
This course is not intended for Majors (B.A. or B.A. Honours) in philosophy.
The Meaning of Life
An introduction to the sorts of concerns expressed by the perennial philosophical question, “What is the meaning of life?" and to various philosophical theories aimed at addressing those concerns.
Mind, World, and Knowledge
An introduction to philosophical issues concerning mind, language, knowledge and the world. Topics may include: the nature of being, the mental, the external, consciousness, perception, experience, meaning, truth, the nature of knowledge, scientific understanding, how language and thought represent the world.
Contemporary Moral, Social and Religious Issues
Moral theories, atheism or theism, feminism, and free will. Moral arguments concerning abortion, affirmative action, racism, human rights, children's rights, world hunger, capital punishment, euthanasia, censorship, pornography, legal paternalism, animal rights and environmental protection.
Introduction to Ethics and Social Issues
An introduction to understanding, assessing, and formulating ethical arguments concerning controversial issues. Particular issues studied, such as world hunger, capital punishment, abortion, animal rights, terrorism, may vary each time the course is offered.
History of Philosophy
Major figures and developments in philosophy from the early Greeks to the present. Descriptive and comparative approach, providing an understanding of the place of philosophers in the history of thought. Appreciation of critical reasoning is included for comprehending philosophical developments.
Introduction to Logic
An introduction to the techniques and philosophical implications of formal logic with emphasis on translation of expressions into symbolic form, testing for logical correctness, the formulation and application of rules of inference, and the relation between logic and language.
Open to first-year students.
Critical Thinking
Assessment of reasoning and the development of cogent patterns of thinking. Reference to formal logic is minimal. Practice in criticizing examples of reasoning and in formulating one's own reasons correctly and clearly.
Open to first-year students.
Greek Philosophy and the Western Tradition
The Greek tradition from its pre-Socratic beginnings to Hellenistic and Roman philosophy (Cynicism, Epicureanism, Stoicism, Scepticism); focus on Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Its conservation and reappropriation in the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
Precludes credit for PHIL 2006, CLCV 2006, PHIL 2007, CLCV 2007 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in PHIL, or second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.
Issues in Theoretical Philosophy
Issues drawn from epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, and related fields will be examined through careful study of significant philosophical texts after 1900, along with some ensuing debates.
Lectures and discussion three hours a week.
Issues in Practical Philosophy
Issues drawn from ethics, social and political philosophy, and related fields will be examined through careful study of significant philosophical texts after 1900, along with some ensuing debates.
Lectures and discussion three hours a week.
History of Ethics
An introduction to ethical theories through a study of some of the major figures in moral philosophy, such as Aristotle, Hume, Kant and Mill.
Lectures three hours a week.
Philosophy of Human Rights
Philosophical introduction to human rights sources, concepts, justifications, consequences, and challenges to them. Evolution of selected human rights as a) demands made in political struggles; b) declarations supported by moral or political principles and arguments; c) codes ratified and implemented by governments and international organizations.
Lectures three hours a week.
Computer Ethics
Philosophical foundations of computer ethics. The ethical impact of computerization on intellectual property rights, the right to privacy, and freedom of expression; ethical issues of risk management and reliability; professional codes. Ethical problems posed by specific technologies and research areas may also be included. Primarily intended for Computer Science students.
Prerequisite(s): a course in philosophy or second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.
Information Ethics
Ethical aspects of the influence of information technology on intellectual property rights, privacy, free speech, work and society. Also included are an introduction to philosophical ethics and discussions of moral responsibilities of IT professionals, codes of professional ethics, hacker ethics, viruses and software piracy.
Prerequisite(s): a course in philosophy or second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.
Introduction to Marxist Philosophy
The evolution of Marx's social and political views in the setting of 18 th - and 19 th - century anarchism, liberalism and conservatism. Themes of humanism, freedom, rights, the state, democracy, alienation, and inequality, primarily as they develop into the theory of historical materialism.
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in philosophy or permission of the Department.
Lectures three hours a week.
Topics in Marxist Philosophy
The dialectical materialism of Marx, Engels, and Lenin is compared with traditional materialist, idealist, and mechanist philosophy. Marxist views on issues such as equality, ethical objectivity, human well-being, matter and mind, the existence of God, knowledge versus skepticism, freedom of the will, and justice.
Prerequisite(s): PHIL 2201 or 0.5 credit in the history of philosophy at the 2000-level or above.
Lectures three hours a week.
Introduction to the Philosophy of Science
Philosophical issues arising out of the attempt to understand the world scientifically. Topics may include: scientific methodology, revolution, observation, explanation, causation, induction, reduction, the difference between natural and social scientific understanding, realism, instrumentalism, constructivism.
Philosophy and Feminism
A study of philosophical issues arising from feminism. The course includes discussions of the relations between feminism, reason and ideological commitment, as well as critical evaluation of contemporary views on selected topics (e.g. abortion, pornography and censorship, affirmative action, and beauty).
Lectures three hours a week.
Gender and Philosophy
Topics may include the role of gender categories in the history of philosophy, theories of gender and sexual orientation, the politics of gender and sexuality, the place of the body in philosophical theory, and the influence of gender and gender metaphors on science and medicine.
Lectures three hours a week.
Introduction to Environmental Ethics
Major questions in environmental ethics: How should human beings view their relationship to the rest of nature? Is responsible stewardship of the environment compatible with current technology? Must future generations be protected? Do animals, other life forms, endangered species, ecosystems and/or the biosphere have value or rights?.
Philosophy of the Paranormal
Examination of claims, concepts, theories and methods in parapsychology. Their scientific character and the relation of paranormal phenomena to philosophical issues such as survival of death, human nature, time, space, causality and perception.
Lectures three hours a week.
Bioethics
Ethical and political issues in medicine, public health, biotechnology, and the life sciences. Topics may include reproductive ethics, research on human subjects, animal research and treatment, justice and health care, physician-patient relationships, death and the end of life, and genetic engineering.
Prerequisite(s): a course in philosophy or second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.
Introduction to Philosophy of Mind
An introduction to major philosophical issues concerning human cognition. Topics may include: the relation of mind to body, knowledge of other minds, the relation of mental states to personhood and personal identity, mental illness, consciousness, intentionality, action, mental realism.
Prerequisite(s): a course in philosophy or second-year standing.
Language and Communication
Some of the central topics in the study of language and communication as pursued by linguists and philosophers. The nature of meaning; the connections between language, communication and cognition; language as a social activity.
Precludes additional credit for COMM 2800, LALS 2504, LALS 2800 and PHIL 2800.
Prerequisite(s): second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.
Introduction to Philosophical Logic
An introduction to features of rational thinking activity, its expression, and its relation to the world, focusing on such topics as predication, truth, negation, necessity, entailment, logical form, or quantification.
Lectures three hours a week.
Personal Identity and the Self
Philosophical perspectives on personal identity, the self, and the underlying issue of the relationship of the mind to the body. Both philosophical and psychological concepts of identity are discussed, as are related issues such as memory, introspection, and self-knowledge. Precludes additional credit for PHIL 2502.
Lectures three hours a week.
Moral Psychology
An examination of psychological underpinnings of morality, focusing on studies at the intersection of philosophy, psychiatry, and psychology.
Lectures three hours a week.
Philosophy of Religion
A philosophical examination of some characteristic concepts of religion, such as faith, hope, worship, revelation, miracle, God.
Prerequisite(s): a course in philosophy or second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.
Asian Philosophy
An examination of South Asian and East Asian philosophical texts, from the period of the Upanishads and early Buddhism in India to modern philosophical movements. Historical sources may include Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Confucian or Taoist texts, with a focus on metaphysical, epistemological or ethical themes.
Lectures three hours a week.
Philosophy of Art
Philosophical approaches to the study of art. Topics such as: the nature of art and artistic value; representation and symbolism in art; art and artifice; art and the emotions; art, culture and ideology; post-structuralism and art; theories of creativity; relationship between artworks and audiences.
Truth and Propaganda
Ancient and modern techniques of persuasion from analytical, ethical and jurisprudential perspectives. Objectivity and bias, advertising and public relations ethics, the viability of democracy in the light of pressures on and within the modern mass media.
Lectures three hours a week.
Topics in Ancient Philosophy
A study of philosophers, texts, problems and issues in ancient philosophy, generally with a focus on Plato and Aristotle.
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in philosophy and second-year standing, or permission of the department.
Lectures three hours a week.
Early Greek Philosophy
A study of the pre-Socratic Greek philosophers and of the Sophists and Socrates.
Prerequisite(s): CLCV 2105 or PHIL 2005 or permission of the Department.
Lectures three hours a week.
17th Century Philosophy
European philosophy of the 17 th century. Representative works of writers such as Francis Bacon, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, and Locke.
Lectures three hours a week.
18th Century Philosophy
European philosophy of the 18 th century. Representative works of writers such as Berkeley, Hume, and Kant.
Lectures three hours a week.
19th Century Philosophy
European philosophy in the 19 th century. May include Hegel, Marx, Schopenhauer, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Mill.
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in philosophy and second-year standing in a philosophy program, or permission of the Department. .
Lectures three hours a week.
Topics in European Philosophy
A study of philosophers, texts, problems and issues in any period of European philosophy.
Lectures three hours a week.
Philosophical Traditions
A study of philosophers, texts, and doctrines beyond the Western tradition. Traditions covered will vary but may include Asian, African, Muslim or Aboriginal philosophy, possibly with critical comparison to Western counterparts.
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in philosophy or second-year standing. .
Philosophy of Law: The Logic of Law
Legal reasoning and analysis of concepts of particular significance to the law, including justice, rights and duties, liability, punishment, ownership and possession.
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in philosophy or permission of the Department.
Lectures three hours a week.
The Roots of Analytic Philosophy
In the context of the work of such writers as Frege and Bradley, a discussion of early philosophical works of Russell, Moore and Wittgenstein. In addition some early representatives of positivism and pragmatism will be examined.
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in philosophy and second-year standing in a philosophy program, or permission of the department. .
Lectures and seminar three hours a week.
Epistemology
Fundamental issues concerning the relation between evidence, rationality, and knowledge. Topics may include: skepticism, the nature of belief, the structure of justification, the relative contributions of reason and sense experience to knowledge, innate knowledge, the problem of induction, and the knowledge of other minds.
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in philosophy and third-year standing in a philosophy program or permission of the department.
Metaphysics
Philosophical issues concerning the fundamental nature of being. Topics may include: time and temporality, space, substance, universals/particulars, identity, causation, freedom/determinism, the nature of norms.
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in philosophy and third-year standing in a philosophy program, or permission of the department.
Issues in the Philosophy of Science
Selected topic(s) in the philosophy of science or in the philosophy of a particular science (such as philosophy of mathematics, philosophy of physics, philosophy of biology, and philosophy of the social sciences).
Symbolic Logic
A review of the basic techniques of propositional and predicate logic. Natural deduction and consistency trees. Soundness and completeness. Alternative semantics. Extensions to basic logic: identity, modal logic with possible world semantics, three valued systems, deontic logic.
Prerequisite(s): PHIL 2001 or permission of the Department.
Lectures three hours a week.
Contemporary Ethical Theory
Critical study of modern ethical theories, their views on the nature of morality and the justification of moral claims. Topics may include utilitarianism, libertarianism, communitarianism, egoism, neo-Kantianism, virtue ethics, social contract ethics, feminist ethics, and moral rights.
Prerequisite(s): PHIL 2020 or PHIL 2101 or permission of the department.
Lectures three hours a week.
Topics in History of Social and Political Philosophy
A critical examination of selected topics and perspectives in the history of social and political philosophy.
Prerequisite(s): a course in philosophy or second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.
Topics in Contemporary Social and Political Philosophy
A critical examination of some contemporary approaches to topics in social and political philosophy, such as liberalism, feminism, contractarianism, Marxism, libertarianism, and communitarianism.
Prerequisite(s): a course in philosophy or second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.
Philosophy, Ethics, and Public Affairs
Advanced study of a set of public policy issues, a particular theory or group of theories, or a particular philosopher, concerning philosophical and ethical aspects of public affairs.
Lectures three hours a week.
Environments, Technology and Values
Advanced treatment of ethical issues concerning technologies and environments, including: sustainable development, women and the environment, biological diversity, intrinsic or natural value or rights of non-humans, humans' relation to the rest of the natural world, obligations to future generations, liberty versus equality.
Prerequisite(s): PHIL 1804 or PHIL 2380 and third-year standing, or permission of the Department.
Lectures three hours a week.
Topics in Aesthetics
Topics may include theories of aesthetic norms and valuation from ancient Greece onward, or applications of aesthetic theory to various genres of art.
Prerequisite(s): At least 0.5 credit in philosophy, or HUMS 1000, or ARTH 2807, or permission of the Department.
Seminar two hours a week.
Philosophy of Cognitive Science
Philosophical issues arising from cognitive science. Topics may include: the proper methodology for studying the mind, the very possibility of a “science of mind”, the computer model of the mind and reactions to it.
Mind and Action
Philosophical thought concerning the relation between mentality and agency. Topics may include: the relation between belief, desire, and behaviour; rationality and normativity; representing and doing; subjectivity and intersubjectivity; physical and psychological laws; mental causation. Authors may include; Wittgenstein, Heidegger, Ryle, Sellars, Anscombe, Davidson, Taylor, and McDowell.
Pragmatics
The study of language use in its conversational and cultural contexts. Topics include: conversational implicature; deixis; the semantics-pragmatics boundary; speaker's reference; speech acts. May include cross-cultural pragmatics.
Precludes additional credit for LALS 2800 [1.0], LALS 3504, MCOM 2800 [1.0], MCOM 3504 and PHIL 2800 [1.0].
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing, and one of FYSM 1206, LALS 1000, LALS 1001, LING 1001, PHIL 2001, PHIL/LALS/LING/COMM/MCOM 2504 or LALS/LING 3505/PHIL 3506; or permission of the Department of Philosophy or School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies.
Lectures three hours a week.
Semantics
Study of language meaning. Lexical meaning and meanings of larger linguistic expressions, including nominal units, verbal units, and sentences. Meaning relationships between utterances. Relationship between linguistic meaning (semantics) and contextual meaning (pragmatics). Basic formal treatments of semantics.
Precludes additional credit for LALS 3505.
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing, and one of LALS 1000, LALS 1001, LING 1001, PHIL 2001, PHIL/LALS/LING/COMM/MCOM 2504 or PHIL/LALS/LING 3504; or permission of the Department of Philosophy or School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies.
Lectures three hours a week.
Philosophy of Language
An intensive introduction to philosophy of language. Topics may include meaning, reference and truth, speech acts, the nature of concepts, language learning, metaphor, compositionality, context-sensitivity.
Lectures three hours a week.
Independent Study
Essays and/or examinations based on a list of readings provided by the instructor.
Independent Study
Essays and/or examinations based on a list of readings provided by the instructor.
Independent Study
Essays and/or examinations based on a list of readings provided by the instructor.
Independent Study
Essays and/or examinations based on a bibliography constructed by the student in consultation with the instructor.
Independent Study
Essays and/or examinations based on a bibliography constructed by the student in consultation with the instructor.
Independent Study
Essays and/or examinations based on a bibliography constructed by the student in consultation with the instructor.
Seminar in philosophy Before the Modern Period
Detailed study of selected philosophers or issues in philosophy before the modern period.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5600, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.
Seminar in philosophy Before the Modern Period
Detailed study of selected philosophers or issues in philosophy before the modern period.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5600, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.
Seminar in Modern Philosophy
Detailed study of selected philosophers or issues in modern philosophy.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5600, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.
Seminar in Modern Philosophy
Detailed study of selected philosophers or issues in modern philosophy.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5600, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.
Seminar in Contemporary Philosophy
Detailed study of selected philosophers or issues in contemporary philosophy.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5500, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.
Seminar in Contemporary Philosophy
Detailed study of selected philosophers or issues in contemporary philosophy.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5500, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.
Special Topic
Detailed study of a special topic in philosophy.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5000, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.
Seminar in philosophy of Language or Linguistics
Detailed study of selected issues or the work of selected philosophers in philosophy of language or on philosophical topics in linguistics.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5200, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.
Seminar in philosophy of Mind or Cognition
Detailed study of selected issues or the work of selected philosophers in philosophy of mind or philosophical aspects of cognition.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5200, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.
Seminar in Metaphysics, Epistemology, or Philosophy of Science
Detailed study of selected issues or the work of selected philosophers in metaphysics, epistemology, or philosophy of science.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5250, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.
Seminar in Ethical Theory or Meta-Ethics
Detailed study of selected issues pertaining to ethical theory or issues of meta-ethics such as realism, relativism, moral knowledge.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5300, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.
Seminar in Ethics or Moral Philosophy
Detailed study of selected issues in ethics or moral philosophy.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5350, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.
Seminar in Social or Political Philosophy
Detailed study of selected issues in social or political philosophy.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5350, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.
Special Topic in Applied Ethics
Detailed study of a special topic in applied ethics.
Seminar two hours a week.
Special Topic in Applied Ethics
Detailed study of a special topic in applied ethics.
Seminar two hours a week.
Special Topic in Aesthetics or Philosophy of Art
Detailed study of a special issue or a single author in aesthetics and/or philosophy of art.
Seminar two hours a week.
Special Topic in Aesthetics or Philosophy of Art
Detailed study of a special issue or a single author in aesthetics and/or philosophy of art.
Seminar two hours a week.
Special Topic in Philosophy of Law
Detailed study of a special topic in philosophy of law.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in a Law or Philosophy Honours program or permission of either Department.
Seminar two hours a week.
Special Topic in Philosophy of Law
Detailed study of a special topic in philosophy of law.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in a Law or Philosophy Honours program or permission of either Department.
Seminar two hours a week.
Special Topic in Philosophy of Computing
Detailed study of a special topic in philosophy of computing.
Seminar two hours a week.
Special Topic in Philosophy of Computing
Detailed study of a special topic in philosophy of computing.
Seminar two hours a week.
Semantics II
Advanced topics in semantics.
Precludes additional credit for LALS 4507 (no longer offered)
Prerequisite(s): LALS 3505 or LING 3505 or PHIL 3506 or permission of the Department of Philosophy or School of Linguistics and Language Studies.
Lectures three hours a week.
Contemporary Formal Semantics
Topics may include: desiderata for an empirical theory of meaning; philosophical and logical precursors to contemporary truth-conditional semantics; Montague grammar and/or other intensional frameworks; quantification, anaphora, and logical form; boundaries between syntax, semantics and pragmatics; recent applications of formal semantics.
Lectures three hours a week.
Special Topic in Feminist Philosophy
Detailed study of a special topic in feminist philosophy.
Seminar two hours a week.
Special Topic in Feminist Philosophy
Detailed study of a special topic in feminist philosophy.
Seminar two hours a week.
Special Topic in Continental Philosophy
Prerequisite: eligibility for fourth-year standing in philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Special Topic in Continental Philosophy
Prerequisite: eligibility for fourth-year standing in philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Special Topic in Logic
Detailed study of a special topic in Logic.
Seminar two hours a week.
Special Topic in Logic
Detailed study of a special topic in Logic.
Seminar two hours a week.
Special Topic in Philosophical Logic
Detailed study of a special topic in Philosophical Logic.
Seminar two hours a week.
Special Topic in Philosophical Logic
Detailed study of a special topic in Philosophical Logic.
Seminar two hours a week.
Tutorial
Prerequisite: permission of the Department. Note: Students who wish to enrol in a tutorial course must consult the Undergraduate Supervisor, before registration.
Tutorial
Prerequisite: permission of the Department. Note: Students who wish to enrol in a tutorial course must consult the Undergraduate Supervisor, before registration.
Tutorial
Prerequisite: permission of the Department. Note: Students who wish to enrol in a tutorial course must consult the Undergraduate Supervisor, before registration.
Tutorial
Prerequisite: permission of the Department. Note: Students who wish to enrol in a tutorial course must consult the Undergraduate Supervisor, before registration.
Tutorial
Prerequisite: permission of the Department. Note: Students who wish to enrol in a tutorial course must consult the Undergraduate Supervisor, before registration.
Tutorial
Prerequisite: permission of the Department. Note: Students who wish to enrol in a tutorial course must consult the Undergraduate Supervisor, before registration.
Summer session: some of the courses listed in this Calendar are offered during the summer. Hours and scheduling for summer session courses will differ significantly from those reported in the fall/winter Calendar. To determine the scheduling and hours for summer session classes, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca
Not all courses listed are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings for the current session and to determine the term of offering, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca