Academic Calendar - 2025
Western University Academic Calendar. - 2025
Philosophy
A survey of philosophical problems, with reference to both classical and contemporary philosophers. Topics include the mind/body problem, the existence of God, perception and matter, freedom and determinism. Basic principles of reasoning and critical thinking will be introduced to enhance the student's ability to evaluate the various forms of reasoning.
Prerequisite(s): Registration restricted to Scholar's Elective students.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour biweekly.
Course Weight: 1.00
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What is real? Is knowledge possible? What do we owe to each other? This non-essay course examines attempts by historical and contemporary philosophers to argue in favour of answers to these and other, similar questions. A weekly tutorial hour will help students to develop skills of analysis, argument, and expression.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour.
Course Weight: 1.00
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Questions about knowledge and reality, mind and body, morality and justice, truth and beauty,sex and gender, God's existence and attributes, and rationality and philosophical paradoxes are explored in this course designed for students with some acquaintance with philosophy who wish to further develop their analytic and expressive skills.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour.
Course Weight: 1.00
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This non-essay course introduces conceptual issues about science: What distinguishes science from non-science? Are there limits to what science can or should explain? What does science tell us about reality? What is the relationship between science and religion? What is the role and value of science in a democratic society?
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Many problems faced by individuals and societies lie at the intersection of ethics, law, and politics. This course will consider issues that can be analyzed along ethical, legal, and/or political lines, with a focus on understanding the differences between moral, legal, and political arguments and solutions to contemporary societal problems.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course investigates non-European ways of thinking “philosophically.” Students will study African oral traditions, Central-Asian, Chinese, Japanese, and Indigenous traditions by looking at their approach to fundamental questions: what is the human being? What is nature and what is our relation to it? What is knowledge and what is happiness?
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of selected works by great philosophers from Socrates to the present. Stress will be laid on the systematic unity of the thought of individual philosophers, and on the influence their ideas had on their followers and on the thought of the present day.
Antirequisite(s) at Main campus: Philosophy 1000E, Philosophy 1250F/G, Philosophy 1300E, Philosophy 1350F/G.
Antirequisite(s) at Huron, King's campus: Philosophy 1300E.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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A study of selected works by great philosophers from Socrates to the present. Stress will be laid on the systematic unity of the thought of individual philosophers, and on the influence their ideas had on their followers and on the thought of the present day.
Antirequisite(s) at Main campus: Philosophy 1000E, Philosophy 1250F/G, Philosophy 1300E, Philosophy 1350F/G.
Antirequisite(s) at Huron, King's campus: Philosophy 1300E.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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A study of selected works by great philosophers from Socrates to the present. Stress will be laid on the systematic unity of the thought of individual philosophers, and on the influence their ideas had on their followers and on the thought of the present day.
Antirequisite(s) at Main campus: Philosophy 1000E, Philosophy 1250F/G, Philosophy 1300E, Philosophy 1350F/G.
Antirequisite(s) at Huron, King's campus: Philosophy 1300E.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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An introduction to the key social, political, and legal structures and ideas that shape our contemporary culture and worlds. Students explore complex, often-hidden social and political concepts and organizational practices that prescribe modes of behaviour, human interactions, and material modes of production.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Apparently simple conceptions sometimes especially capture our imagination. Examples: Descartes's "I think, therefore I am," McLuhan's "the medium is the message," or Plato's theory of forms. The course examines a great number of these simple ideas that are also the Big Ideas that no educated person should be ignorant of.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A multi-media and interdisciplinary historical survey of some of the most important philosophers (e.g. Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Marx, Nietzsche), writers (e.g. Homer, Dante, Goethe, Dostoevsky, Kafka), and artists (da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Dali) that have shaped the course of Western thought and our contemporary world.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour, 1 screening hour.
Course Weight: 1.00
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This is a special topic in Philosophy course.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This is a special topic in Philosophy course.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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The Buddha-Way lies at the heart of Zen. This course investigates the philosophical account of the non-self, world, ethics, politics, and environment rooted in this way of living. Students will read some of the classic works in the Zen tradition as well as contemporary philosophers working in that tradition.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to basic principles of reasoning and critical thinking designed to enhance the student's ability to evaluate various forms of reasoning as found in everyday life as well as in academic disciplines. The course will deal with such topics as inductive and deductive reasoning, the nature and function of definitions, types of fallacies, the use and misuse of statistics, and the rudiments of logic. Primarily for first-year students.
Antirequisite(s) at Main campus: Philosophy 1000E, Philosophy 1230A/B.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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An introduction to basic principles of reasoning and critical thinking designed to enhance the student's ability to evaluate various forms of reasoning as found in everyday life as well as in academic disciplines. The course will deal with such topics as inductive and deductive reasoning, the nature and function of definitions, types of fallacies, the use and misuse of statistics, and the rudiments of logic. Primarily for first-year students.
Antirequisite(s) at Main campus: Philosophy 1000E, Philosophy 1230A/B.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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An introduction to the basic principles of reasoning and critical thinking designed to enhance the student's ability to evaluate various forms of reasoning found in everyday life as well as in academic disciplines. The course will deal with such topics as inductive and deductive reasoning, the nature and function of definitions, types of fallacies, the use and misuse of statistics, and the rudiments of logic. Primarily for first year students.
Antirequisite(s) at Main campus: Philosophy 1000E, Philosophy 1200.
Antirequisite(s) at Huron campus: Philosophy 1200.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour (Main); 3 lecture hours (Huron).
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An introduction to the basic principles of reasoning and critical thinking designed to enhance the student's ability to evaluate various forms of reasoning found in everyday life as well as in academic disciplines. The course will deal with such topics as inductive and deductive reasoning, the nature and function of definitions, types of fallacies, the use and misuse of statistics, and the rudiments of logic. Primarily for first year students.
Antirequisite(s) at Main campus: Philosophy 1000E, Philosophy 1200.
Antirequisite(s) at Huron campus: Philosophy 1200.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour (Main); 3 lecture hours (Huron).
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A survey of selected philosophical problems in the areas of ethics and political/legal philosophy, with reference to works of both classical and contemporary philosophers. Specimen topics include ethical relativism, freedom and determinism, anarchy and government, and the justification of punishment. Primarily for first year students.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 1100E, Philosophy 1300E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A survey of selected philosophical problems, with reference to both classical and contemporary philosophers. Specimen topics include: the mind/body problem, the existence of God, perception and matter, freedom and determinism. Primarily for first-year students.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 1100E
Extra Information: 3 hours
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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A survey of selected philosophical problems, with reference to both classical and contemporary philosophers. Specimen topics include: the mind/body problem, the existence of God, perception and matter, freedom and determinism. Primarily for first-year students.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 1100E
Extra Information: 3 hours
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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A survey of selected philosophical problems, with reference to both classical and contemporary philosophers. Specimen topics include: the mind/body problem, the existence of God, perception and matter, freedom and determinism. Primarily for first-year students.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 1100E
Extra Information: 3 hours
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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This course develops students' ability to approach disputed questions by seeing them from both sides, so that they reach their own view only after respecting a broad range of argument. Six questions will be considered, including human (over) population, the public funding of art, and the limits of religious freedom.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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This course develops students' ability to approach disputed questions by seeing them from both sides, so that they reach their own view only after respecting a broad range of argument. Six questions will be considered, including human (over) population, the public funding of art, and the limits of religious freedom.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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This course introduces students to philosophical inquiry through film. Certain films can be interpreted as attempting to answer our deepest questions. We will view films in order to explore the nature of truth, knowledge, time, self, evil, and life's meaning.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A survey of selected philosophical problems in the areas of metaphysics and epistemology, with reference to works by both classical and contemporary philosophers. Specimen topics include the mind/body problem, the existence of God, skepticism and truth. Primarily for first year students.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 1100E, Philosophy 1300E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to the great human questions we all ask: Who are we? Why are we? How can we live a good life? Why do we suffer, die, encounter evil? What are sex, love, and friendship? What can we know? What ought we to do? What may we hope for?
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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How do we find happiness in life? Is it through the fulfillment of desire, be it for pleasure, wealth, fame, companionship, knowledge, or union with God? Perhaps, paradoxically, it is by abandoning desire altogether and leading a simple life. This course will explore how philosophy has responded to these issues.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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Students will examine what it means to be human through an examination of how language, art, religion, social media, and technology construct our sense of self and our relationships to each other and the world. Questions include: Is there a common human nature? Who am I beyond my cultural identity?
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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An introductory course into great philosophers. We will study and debate conceptions of philosophy as remedy for maladies of the soul, like ignorance and passions, in ancient times or particular attitudes and theories, like skepticism and utilitarianism, in modern times. How are those concepts useful for us today?
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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An introduction to the grammatical structures of two kinds of languages - the natural ones people learn as first languages, and the artificial ones that logicians and others have invented to help in reasoning. Topics will include: subject-predicate construction; word classes; complex sentences; negation and its complication; referring, describing, and quantifying; time and tense.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course prepares students for university studies across the humanities and social sciences. Historical and theoretical models are considered in examining central issues and important thinkers. The course focuses on development of critical skills: close reading; creative thinking, and effective writing.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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The Philosophy unit of the King's Foundations in The New Liberal Arts is an interdisciplinary historical survey of some of the most important philosophers (Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Marx, Nietzsche, Derrida) and artists (da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Dali) that have shaped the course of Western thought and our contemporary world.
Prerequisite(s): Must be registered in the King's Foundations in the King’s Foundations in The New Liberal Arts, or the former Western Thought and Civilization.
Corequisite(s): English 1901E and History 1901E.
Extra Information: 3 hours. There may be additional costs associated with field trips. Capstone conference at end of term.
Course Weight: 1.00
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Thinking well is an art that begins with self-awareness, is guided by learning criteria for reasonableness of claims and decisions, and improves with practice. This course offers students an opportunity to enhance these lifelong skills and to develop as responsible learners and communicators.
Antirequisites: Philosophy 1230A/B, Philosophy 1900E.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas through a study of several of his basic philosophical writings. The course will concern principally his philosophy of nature, philosophical psychology, moral philosophy, metaphysics and philosophical theology.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2214.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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An introductory course in formal logic, which focuses on Modern Symbolic Logic, including derivations and trees in propositional and first-order predicate logic and tests for logical truth, equivalence, and consistency. This course may be used to satisfy the Honours Specialization in Philosophy logic requirement.
Extra Information: 2 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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This course investigates the role played in philosophical and scientific thought by basic oppositions, such as Continuous vs. Discrete, One vs. Many, and Finite vs. Infinite, and analyzes many philosophical and scientific paradoxes: Zeno's paradoxes, the Liar Paradox, Russell's paradox, paradoxes of the infinite, and paradoxes arising from time travel.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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study of Aristotelian logic. Special emphasis is placed on word usage, definition, propositional form, and the different types of deductive and inductive arguments. An extensive study of fallacies in argumentation is made. The methodologies of the sciences, both non-experimental and experimental are examined and evaluated.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2222E.
Extra Information: 2 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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Economic life and economic science in philosophical perspective. Classical and contemporary philosophers are studied on such issues as property and labor; efficiency, fairness and freedom in the market; rationality, utility and economic value; welfare and economic justice. The emphasis is on probing underlying assumptions about the economic system.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Economic life and economic science in philosophical perspective. Classical and contemporary philosophers are studied on such issues as property and labor; efficiency, fairness and freedom in the market; rationality, utility and economic value; welfare and economic justice. The emphasis is on probing underlying assumptions about the economic system.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Astronauts age more slowly. Time can have a beginning. Space and time are curved. All these surprising claims are consequences of Einstein's revolutionary theories of relativity. This course explains these and related ideas in historical context and explores their philosophical significance. No physics and only grade 11 mathematics required.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of several key issues arising out of the present environmental crisis. Sample topics include: to what extent the environmental crisis is a scientific, religious, or ethical problem; the Gaia hypothesis; deep and shallow ecology; the land ethic; ecofeminism; the environment and economics; and sustainable development.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Our changing relationship to the natural world, and ability to affect Earth's future, bring urgent philosophical questions with real-world implications. This course draws on ideas from ethics, political philosophy, biology, psychology, economics and philosophy of science to explore the moral and epistemological dimensions of climate change, species extinction, and biotechnology.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Will robots take all our jobs? Will humans become cyborgs? Will nano-technology revolutionize medicine? As we rely more on machines, they are changing how we interact with the world and one another. In this course we will consider the impact of technology on our current lives, and on our future.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to core issues in the philosophy of psychiatry. Topics may include: a survey of historical and contemporary theories of the nature of mental disorder and its treatment; case studies designed to highlight controversies surrounding specific mental disorders, most notably, Depressive Disorders, Personality Disorders, Eating Disorders, and the Psychoses.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An evaluation of sciences attempting to understand the nature of the mind and its place in the physical world. Topics may include: phrenology & localization theory, physiology, neuroanatomy, gestalt psychology, experimental psychology, evolutionary psychology, psychophysics, psychoanalysis, behaviorism, cognitive psychology, neuropsychology, intelligence testing and the nature of consciousness.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course studies the epistemological clash between religion and science, looking especially at evolutionary theory, cosmology, the physics of time, and miracles. It also studies attempts to reconcile these two systems of knowledge. Finally, it examines the science of religion: anthropological theories of religion and the cognitive science of religion.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of philosophical approaches to understanding relationships of power, privilege, and oppression. Material will include work in feminist philosophy, critical race theory, and/or postcolonial theory. There will be discussion of forms of oppression along the lines of gender, race, class, disability, and sexuality, with a focus on intersectional analyses.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2630F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Philosophical problems relating to personal and institutionalized religion: religious experience and knowledge; the nature of faith; concepts of God; faith and reason; religion and morality. Independent critical thinking is stressed, and no particular religious views are presupposed.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2660E.
Extra Information: 2 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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What is evil and why does it exist in the world? Is there more pain in life than pleasure, and is anyone truly happy? Is this even the worst of all possible worlds? In this course, we will consider responses to these questions throughout the history of modern philosophy.
Extra Information: 3.0 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Techniques of moral analysis and evaluation are studied in the context of practical moral issues concerning the good life, the rights of the individual and the quest for social justice, etc. Classical and contemporary philosophical sources are examined, but the emphasis is on independent critical thought.
Extra Information: 2 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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The meaning and moral importance of death will be explored through a series of questions: What is death? Is death a bad thing? Do people survive death? What do we mean when we say that someone is "dying"? Should knowledge of death change the way we live our lives?
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Ethical analysis of issues arising in contemporary business life. Sample topics: ethical codes in business; fair and unfair competition, advertising and consumer needs and wants; responsibilities to investors, employees and society; conflicts of interest and obligation; business and the regulatory environment.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Ethical analysis of issues arising in contemporary business life. Sample topics: ethical codes in business; fair and unfair competition, advertising and consumer needs and wants; responsibilities to investors, employees and society; conflicts of interest and obligation; business and the regulatory environment.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Ethical analysis of issues arising in contemporary business life. Sample topics: ethical codes in business; fair and unfair competition, advertising and consumer needs and wants; responsibilities to investors, employees and society; conflicts of interest and obligation; business and the regulatory environment.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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The increasing globalization of business activity poses ethical problems arising from the conflicting ethical norms of different cultures. This course uses specific cases to consider a variety of such ethical challenges in pursuit of a critical understanding of ethical corporate decision-making in a global context.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of some ancient and/or more recent views on love, friendship and the varieties of sexual expression. Topics may include philosophical problems raised by affection, selfless love and eros, celibacy, pornography, perversion, and the social roles and conventions of sexual identity.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An investigation of ways that contemporary philosophers deal with concepts of gender and sexuality, addressing such issues as the regulation and production of normative sexuality, the question of essentialism, the construction and disciplining of the gendered body, and the effects of new media on sexual identity.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An investigation of ways that contemporary philosophers deal with concepts of gender and sexuality, addressing such issues as the regulation and production of normative sexuality, the question of essentialism, the construction and disciplining of the gendered body, and the effects of new media on sexual identity.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Through social media, computer gaming, and virtual communities, we spend a considerable portion of our lives in the digital world. What moral considerations ought to guide our conduct as digital citizens? This class will consider the ethics of life online through a study of moral theory and ethical problems.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of moral issues in sports, including the relative fairness of performance enhancing drugs and techniques, cheating and deception, the role of violence in sports, sex testing and sex segregation in sports, disability and equality in sports, and the connection between sports and the good life.
Antirequisite: Kinesiology 2292F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of some main problems in legal philosophy. Emphasis is given to actual law, e.g. criminal law and contracts, as a background to questions of law's nature. Specimen topics: police powers in Canada, contractual obligation, insanity defence, judicial reasoning and discretion, civil liberties, legal responsibility, natural law and legal positivism.
Extra Information: 2 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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A study of some main problems in legal philosophy. Emphasis is given to actual law, e.g. criminal law and contracts, as a background to questions of law's nature. Specimen topics: police powers in Canada, contractual obligation, insanity defence, judicial reasoning and discretion, civil liberties, legal responsibility, natural law and legal positivism.
Extra Information: 2 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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A philosophical reflection on food and our current food system. Issues may include food and climate change, food justice, local and global hunger and food insecurity, the industrization of food and agriculture, the moral and political dimensions of genetically modified food, or the treatment of animals and lab cultured meat.
Antirequisite(s): The former Philosophy 2010F/G, the former Philosophy 3010F/G.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 2 tutorial hours, 0.5 course.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of contemporary philosophical discussions of terrorism, including different perspectives on the question of whether terrorism is morally justifiable. Related issues such as just war and civil disobedience will also be touched upon.
Extra Information: 3.0 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A philosophical exploration of interrelated questions: Why does the universe exist? Why do humans (in general) exist? Why do I exist? Ancient, scholastic and contemporary sources will be examined, including both theistic and atheistic stances as well as approaches that question the meaningfulness of these questions.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2666F/G.
Extra information: 3.0 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of the role played by philosophical ideas in 19th and 20th century literature and of some of the philosophical ideas underlying modern science fiction. Authors studied may include Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Zamyatin, Poe, Hesse, Mann, Kafka, Huysmans, Unamuno, Sartre, Borges, Huxley, and Orwell.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course explores themes in logic, metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and political philosophy as they arise in popular culture, including television, film, art, literature, games, and graphic novels, and considers philosophical questions pertaining to popular culture itself.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to the philosophy of areas such as India, Tibet, China and Japan. The first part of the course examines the metaphysics of Hinduism and Buddhism. The second part of the course focuses on Chinese moral philosophy and East Asian developments in Buddhism.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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The course surveys Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism and Legalism. Students may also be introduced to Chinese Buddhism such as the Hua Yen or Zen Schools.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to 19th and 20th century existentialism through a reading of philosophy and literature, with an emphasis on the concrete existence of the individual searching for a meaning to his or her life.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A critical examination of key works of Greek philosophers with major emphasis on Plato and Aristotle.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A critical examination of key works of Greek philosophers with major emphasis on Plato and Aristotle.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A brief survey of some main problems in mediaeval philosophy. Emphasis will be placed on metaphysical and epistemological issues.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2200F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A critical examination of key works of selected figures of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A critical examination of key works of selected figures of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A general historical survey of ideas in the physical and biological sciences from antiquity to the early 20th century. This course will also examine issues in scientific methodology as well as the impact of scientific ideas on society.
Antirequisite(s): History of Science 2200E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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A general historical survey of ideas in the physical and biological sciences from antiquity to the early 20th century. This course will also examine issues in scientific methodology as well as the impact of scientific ideas on society.
Antirequisite(s): History of Science 2200E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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A general historical survey of ideas in the physical and biological sciences from antiquity to the early 20th century. This course will also examine issues in scientific methodology as well as the impact of scientific ideas on society.
Antirequisite(s): History of Science 2200E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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A survey of the great philosophers from the pre-Socratics to Aquinas; focusing on the systematic unity of their thought, the influence of their ideas and their importance for us today. Themes include: the nature of reality, human existence, truth, God, political agency, and ethics.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2200F/G, Philosophy 2201F/G.
Extra Information: 6 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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A survey of the great philosophers from the Renaissance, through Modern philosophy to contemporary Post-modern thought, focusing on the systematic unity of their thought, the influence of their ideas and their importance for us today. Themes include: the nature of reality, human existence, truth, God, political agency, and ethics.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2205W/X or registration in a Social and Political Thought module.
Extra Information: 6 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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An introduction to Social and Political Thought through a reading of some of the main figures in European traditions of social theory, political sociology, Marxism and Frankfurt School critical theory.
Antirequisite(s): The former Philosophy 2204E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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An introduction to the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas through textual analysis and discussion of a selection of his philosophical writings. The course will concern principally his philosophy of nature, philosophical psychology, moral philosophy, metaphysics and philosophical theology.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2014.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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Major movements and figures in the Continental and Anglo-American philosophy of the present day.
Antirequisite(s): The former Philosophy 2019E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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A study of some of the central concepts in Aristotle's logic. Special emphasis is placed on deductive and inductive forms of reasoning, as well as argumentation materially considered, namely, demonstration, dialectics, rhetorical argumentation and poetic argumentation. In addition, a study of sophistical reasoning is made.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2022.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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This course introduces early Chinese traditions (Confucian, Mohist, Daoist, Legalist). By studying controversies within and among these traditions, we gain appreciation of their diversity and learn how traditions adapt over time through interacting and responding to shared challenges. We discuss implications for contemporary issues facing Chinese and Western societies.
Extra Information: 3 hours, 0.5 course.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to the key concepts and issues in contemporary Japanese Thought and the influence of Buddhism and Shinto on Japanese philosophy. Students will investigate questions concerning the self, metaphysics, aesthetics, and ethics from the perspective of classical and contemporary Japanese thinkers. No previous knowledge of philosophy assumed.
Extra Information: 3 hours, 0.5 course.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to Indigenous thought. Topics include: Indigenous understandings of knowledge-keeping and -transmission, narratives, the importance of Land in Indigenous cultures, as well as Indigenous approaches to questions in metaphysics, aesthetics, ethics, and social and political philosophy, especially discourses surrounding colonisation, decolonisation, and rights. No previous knowledge of philosophy assumed.
Extra Information: 3 hours, 0.5 course.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of the nature and enabling conditions of Indigenous-Settler reconciliation in Canadian colonial context. Relationality, a lived principle recognizing kinship and interdependence between all beings, will be considered as a potential method for reconciling nation-to-nation relationships. The course focuses on texts and videos from Indigenous authors, knowledge-carriers, and elders.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An intensive study of the interrelationships between philosophy and the arts. Students will study philosophical and critical texts as well as works of art ranging from literature to the visual arts. Subjects such as artistic expression, mimesis, creativity, symbolism, modernism, and art criticism will be explored.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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What makes film unique? How has film changed the way we think and feel? Can film change the world? We explore philosophical questions asked about film since its rise in the early 20th century, covering Marxist, psychoanalytic, semiotic and cognitivist thought and such thinkers as Benjamin, Eisenstein, Bazin, and Deleuze.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course explores central philosophical questions from a cross-cultural perspective. Students will learn about non-Western traditions and how they compare to the European tradition. Topics will include: the nature of the self, ethics, aesthetics, and metaphysical questions concerning the nature of life, our environment, and being.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course explores central philosophical questions from a cross-cultural perspective. Students will learn about non-Western traditions and how they compare to the European tradition. Topics will include: the nature of the self, ethics, aesthetics, and metaphysical questions concerning the nature of life, our environment, and being.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2240F/G.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course considers contemporary environmental thought and how we understand the relation between humanity and the Earth. Topics include: climate change and justice, place and knowing, eco-affectivity and spirituality, and integral ecology. This course explores this question through world philosophical traditions including: East Asian Buddhist, Indigenous, and Western philosophy.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Students critically examine special ethical problems and issues associated with science, scientific research, applied science, and technology. Topics include: the use of animals for research, the manipulation of nature and the human, the mechanization of the human world, are there environmental or socio-political limits to scientific research and technology?
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Students examine the ethical implications of data collection and its use. Issues include: data ownership and privacy, the impact of data-driven algorithms on society, the right to be “forgotten”, the limits of data and quantitative reasoning, the threat data collection possesses to democracy, individual freedoms, and rights.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of philosophical questions induced by encounter between radically different worldviews, paradigms, and ways of being. Particular, but not exclusive, attention is given to encounters between Indigenous and European frameworks. Topics include: identity and hybridity, theories of time, translation and borders, ways of knowing, language, stories, narratives, and world-making.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of sentential and predicate logic designed to train students to use procedures and systems (trees, natural deduction, axiomatic systems) for determining logical properties and relations, and to give students an understanding of syntactic and semantic metatheoretical concepts and results relevant to those procedures and systems.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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A study of sentential and predicate logic designed to train students to use procedures and systems (trees, natural deduction, axiomatic systems) for determining logical properties and relations, and to give students an understanding of syntactic and semantic metatheoretical concepts and results relevant to those procedures and systems.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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A survey of some important basic concepts of mathematics in an historical setting, and in relation to the broader history of ideas. Topics may include: the evolution of the number concept, the development of geometry, Zeno's paradoxes.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A review of the techniques of logical analysis and evaluation coupled with a careful study of the formal syntax and semantics of sentential and predicate logic. Emphasis on the proof of important metatheoretic results.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2020, Philosophy 2250.
Prerequisite(s): A minimum of 85% in any grade 12U Mathematics course or any 1020-level course in Applied Mathematics, Calculus, Computer Science, Mathematics, or Statistical Sciences, or permission of the Department.
Extra Information: 4 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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Modern approaches to the resolution of decisions in situations of uncertainty. Topics include: philosophical evaluation of principles of rationality, systematic ways of representing belief, learning, and values, with applications to elementary examples from social and institutional policy, econmic evaluation, medical diagnosis and therapy, and strategic thinking generally.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Modern approaches to the resolution of decisions in situations of uncertainty. Topics include: philosophical evaluation of principles of rationality, systematic ways of representing belief, learning, and values, with applications to elementary examples from social and institutional policy, econmic evaluation, medical diagnosis and therapy, and strategic thinking generally.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of sentential and predicate logic designed to train students to use procedures and systems (trees, natural deduction, axiomatic systems) for determining logical properties and relations, and to give students an understanding of syntactic and semantic meta-theoretical concepts and results relevant to those procedures and systems.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2250, Philosophy 2252W/X.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A survey of contemporary and historical philosophical works on language. Topics may include: What is a language? How are language and thought related? Does linguistic meaning come from the world, communicative activity, or the mind? Authors may include , among others: Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein, Austin, Grice and Chomsky.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A survey of contemporary and historical philosophical works on language. Topics may include: What is a language? How are language and thought related? Does linguistic meaning come from the world, communicative activity, or the mind? Authors may include , among others: Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein, Austin, Grice and Chomsky.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Drawing on probability and decision theory, the philosophy of mind, ethics, and legal philosophy, the course will deal with personal choice and the perception of risk, the moral and social acceptability of risks, and the legal management of risk. Sample topics: industry, finance, health, intimacy, sports, the environment, paternalism.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A historical survey of philosophical ideas about money presented in works of such theorists as Aristotle, Aquinas, Locke, Adam Smith, David Ricardo, Marx, Mill, Joan Robinson, Janet Yellen and Christina Romer; together with a non-specialist introduction to some contemporary ideas about the concept of money.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Can animals speak? Is knowledge of language innate? How do words shape perceptions of the world? Is English in decline? Is it permissible to limit free speech? What should be done to preserve endangered languages? This accessible introduction to philosophy and language addresses such compelling issues, using web-based media.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course investigates the issues and dilemmas of morality and law in borderless global information technologies. Issues include cybercrime, state and corporate control of content, free speech, the border between private and public domain, electronic surveillance and threats to security and privacy, the impact on politics, counterculture resistance and terrorism.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2998G taken in 2019-20.
Extra Information: 3 hours, 0.5 course.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This case-based course examines Canadian judicial thinking. Focusing on controversial rulings, students examine the legal structures and principles that operate in Canadian judicial thinking and its effect on Canadian life. Topics include: the constitution and charter of rights, fundamental freedoms, equality rights, Indigenous issues, civil and criminal responsibility, and sovereignty.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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Introduction to how moral reasoning can help to identify and address current emerging disabilityrelated situations in health care practice, caregiving, health policy and research. Normative ethics, philosophy of health care, and Disability Studies models are applied to discussion of case studies.
Antirequisite(s): Disability Studies 2272F/G, the former Disability Studies 2072F/G, the former
Philosophy 2072F/G, the former Philosophy 2071E.
Extra information: 3 hours, cross-listed with Disability Studies 2272F/G.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Students analyze the roles ideology, culture, political power, and history play in decision-making processes. Students will learn to elucidate, navigate, and apply select factors to standard decision-making and analytical processes in order to innovatively re-envision the deep conditioning factors that structure decisions and decision-making processes.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A discussion of conceptual problems which fall between science and philosophy, as well as broader epistemological issues concerning theory change and the concept of progress in science.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A discussion of conceptual problems which fall between science and philosophy, as well as broader epistemological issues concerning theory change and the concept of progress in science.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An examination of philosophical problems to which modern physical theories of quantum mechanics and relativity have given rise. No previous formal training in physics and mathematics will be presupposed.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An historical introduction to the Philosophy of Biology examining the development of evolutionary theory from Aristotle to Darwin and the ways in which past ideas have helped shape contemporary debates (e.g. species concepts, adaptation, levels of selection). Philosophy 2350F/G is recommended background for those interested in Philosophy 3340F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Sustainability is now widely advocated, but what exactly does it mean? Is sustainability a trendy ideology, an ethical ideal, or a scientifically based endeavour to protect people and the environment? This course addresses
these questions and fosters reflections on what ought to be sustained, and what is required to make that possible.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course explores philosophical issues related to climate change, including problems of knowledge in climate science; making choices when outcomes are deeply uncertain; international justice in climate policy; weighing harms to future generations and to non-human nature; the moral significance of risk of human extinction; and revision of cultural values.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of the relationships between scientific practice, cultural institutions, and human values. Attention will be devoted to such topics as the commercialization of research, military research, genetically modified organisms, and the study of race and gender.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to philosophy of mind, drawing on contemporary and historical sources. Topics may include: knowledge of other minds; free will; personal identity; what makes something mental; dualism and materialism; survival after death.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An introduction to philosophy of mind, drawing on contemporary and historical sources. Topics may include: knowledge of other minds; free will; personal identity; what makes something mental; dualism and materialism; survival after death.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Do emotions interfere with reason and morality or are they required for both? Are emotions primarily biological or are they social constructions? These and other questions will be addressed using a variety of readings ranging from contemporary analytic and feminist philosophy to modern neurobiology and psychology.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to the main problems of epistemology. Specimen topics include: the nature of human knowledge and belief, perception, evidence, truth and confirmation.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An introduction to the main problems of epistemology. Specimen topics include: the nature of human knowledge and belief, perception, evidence, truth and confirmation.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An introduction to the main problems of epistemology. Specimen topics include: the nature of human knowledge and belief, perception, evidence, truth and confirmation.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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This is a special topic in Philosophy course.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This is a special topic in Philosophy course.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of the work of Kierkegaard and Nietzsche, with a consideration of their opposition to systematic philosophy and of their contrasting attitudes toward religion.
Antirequisite(s): The former Philosophy 2554E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An examination of the work of Kierkegaard and Nietzsche, with a consideration of their opposition to systematic philosophy and of their contrasting attitudes toward religion.
Antirequisite(s): The former Philosophy 2554E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A critical examination of representative literature in the fields of phenomenological research and existential philosophy from Husserl to the present day.
Antirequisite(s): The former Philosophy 2554E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A critical examination of representative literature in the fields of phenomenological research and existential philosophy from Husserl to the present day.
Antirequisite(s): The former Philosophy 2554E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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We will consider the meaning of human existence, including issues of freedom, agency, and relations among humans. Drawing on classic and contemporary texts, such as those from Nietzsche, Sartre, and Beauvoir, among others, this course will consider how we meaningfully encounter our world and interact and engage with others.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course will address distinctive questions associated with metaphysics: What is a human being with respect to self, freedom and body? What are space, time, and causation? In what respect do things remain the same throughout change? Why is there a world instead of nothing at all?
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of feminist perspectives on core philosophical problems posed in such areas as philosophy of mind, epistemology, ethics, and philosophy of science. We shall examine feminist criticisms of mainstream philosophy, feminist reconstructions of contested questions, and positive developments within feminist philosophy.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of feminist perspectives on core philosophical problems posed in such areas as philosophy of mind, epistemology, ethics, and philosophy of science. We shall examine feminist criticisms of mainstream philosophy, feminist reconstructions of contested questions, and positive developments within feminist philosophy.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Conceptual problems relating to personal and institutionalized religion. Specimen topics include: the nature of religious experience and knowledge, analysis of the concept of God, analysis and comparison of important types of religious philosophy.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2063E.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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Conceptual problems relating to personal and institutionalized religion. Specimen topics include: the nature of religious experience and knowledge, analysis of the concept of God, analysis and comparison of important types of religious philosophy.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2063E.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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An examination of issues in philosophy of religion, focusing on arguments concerning the existence of God, the immortality of the soul, the occurrence of miracles, the validity of religious experience, and the place of religion in morality. Independent critical thinking is stressed, and no particular religious views are presupposed.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2063E, Philosophy 2660E (King's).
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An examination of issues in philosophy of religion, focusing on arguments concerning the existence of God, the immortality of the soul, the occurrence of miracles, the validity of religious experience, and the place of religion in morality. Independent critical thinking is stressed, and no particular religious views are presupposed.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2063E, Philosophy 2660E (King's).
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An examination of special topics in the philosophy of religion, e.g. the basis of religious faith and knowledge, the relationship between religion and science, religious diversity, the nature of God, and grace and predestination.
Antirequisite(s) at Main campus: Philosophy 2063E, Philosophy 2070E, Philosophy 2660E (King's).
Antirequisite(s) Huron campus: Philosophy 2070E, Philosophy 2660E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An examination of special topics in the philosophy of religion, e.g. the basis of religious faith and knowledge, the relationship between religion and science, religious diversity, the nature of God, and grace and predestination.
Antirequisite(s) at Main campus: Philosophy 2063E, Philosophy 2070E, Philosophy 2660E (King's).
Antirequisite(s) Huron campus: Philosophy 2070E, Philosophy 2660E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A first introduction focusing on ancient Buddhism, the course will consider how being, ethics and knowledge connect to salvation from suffering. It will concentrate on Buddhism as philosophy, rather than as a religious practice. As such, the doctrines of the Buddha and his followers will be explained sympathetically but assessed critically.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Philosophy 2665F/G INTRODUCTION TO JEWISH PHILOSOPHY I: FROM THE BEGINNINGS TO THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE
Topics include biblical and rabbinic texts as materials for philosophical exegesis -- the creation of the universe out of nothing, divine commands and moral requirements, freedom of the will, God's mysterious justice; Neoplatonism; Islamic influence on medieval Jewish thought; Maimonides and Jewish Aristotelianism; the Spanish conservative reaction; the Italian classical revival.
Antirequisite(s): Jewish Studies 2665F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours. Cross-listed with Jewish Studies 2665F/G.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A philosophical exploration of interrelated questions: Why does the universe exist? Why do humans (in general) exist? Why do I exist? Ancient, scholastic and contemporary sources will be examined, including both theistic and atheistic stances as well as approaches that question the meaningfulness of these questions.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2084A/B.
Extra information: 3.0 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Topics include: Spinoza and the critique of traditional religion; Judaism and the Enlightenment; historical scholarship and reform; the reassertion of tradition; Jewish speculative philosophy of history; other faiths; rationalism; evil, suffering, and the Holocaust; issues of inclusion -- the role of women; Zionism; rationality and belief at the present time.
Antirequisite(s): Jewish Studies 2667F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours. Cross-listed with Jewish Studies 2667F/G.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course provides a systematic introduction to the major themes of Islamic thought, and will address in particular the following questions:(l) What is Islamic thought and philosophy?; (2)Can the main statements of Islam be justified by reason?; (3) How did Ancient Greek ideas influence Islam?; and (4) What is Islamic Mysticism? No previous knowledge of philosophy is assumed.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A critical study of the origins and major themes of Catholic thought. Among the issues discussed are the existence and nature of God, the relationship between faith and reason, morality and natural law, and the nature of the self.
Antirequisites: Religious Studies 2268F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to significant issues and figures in the philosophy of history. Topics considered may include: evidence and historical hypotheses; causation; counterfactuals in history; historical necessity and contingency; explanation and laws in history; realism and anti-realism about the past; objectivity; narrative and interpretation. Readings may include works by Vico, Kant, Herder, Hegel, Marx, Ranke, and Collingwood.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Critical study of the nature and justification of ethical and value judgements, with an analysis of key concepts and a survey of the main contemporary theories.
Antirequisite(s): Governance, Leadership and Ethics 2002F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
This course is cross listed as GLE 2002F/G when offered at Huron Campus only.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Critical study of the nature and justification of ethical and value judgements, with an analysis of key concepts and a survey of the main contemporary theories.
Antirequisite(s): Governance, Leadership and Ethics 2002F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
This course is cross listed as GLE 2002F/G when offered at Huron Campus only.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Critical study of the nature and justification of ethical and value judgements, with an analysis of key concepts and a survey of the main contemporary theories.
Antirequisite(s): Governance, Leadership and Ethics 2002F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
This course is cross listed as GLE 2002F/G when offered at Huron Campus only.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of current issues in reproductive ethics, such as abortion, prenatal diagnosis, and infertility treatment. Appropriate methods for approaching these questions and for dealing with complex issues in bioethics generally are examined.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of key concepts in health care ethics, such as respect for patient autonomy, medical paternalism, patient competence, justice in health care, "death with dignity," "sanctity of life," commodifying human life. Goals are to understand these ideas and how to apply them to practical issues in health care.
Antirequisite(s): Health Sciences 2610F/G.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Professionals have special rights and duties that attach to their professional roles. This course will focus on the special ethical obligations that professionals have to themselves, to their clients, to their employers, to third parties, to their professions, and to society at large.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of ethical issues in media, including such topics as: the reasonable limits of free expression; intellectual property and the public domain; official secrets and access to information; regulating online content; commercial databases and informational privacy; cameras in the courtroom; plagiarism and piracy; defamation; hactivism and the hacker ethic.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course examines individual and societal obligations in two complementary ways: first, through the study of philosophical work on moral obligations and, second, through service learning projects. In written work students will be required to integrate what they have learned in the classroom and in volunteer work in the community.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An exploration of the moral arguments that philosophers have offered for and against responding to injustice with legal defiance and other confrontational forms of protest, including civil disobedience, sabotage, economic disruption, and armed rebellion.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A critical study of the philosophical foundations of political thought--from natural rights to contractarianism, from utilitarianism to socialism. The class will examine the classic historical texts of political philosophy. Authors studied may include Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hume, Kant, Mill, Hegel and Marx.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A critical study of the philosophical foundations of political thought--from natural rights to contractarianism, from utilitarianism to socialism. The class will examine the classic historical texts of political philosophy. Authors studied may include Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hume, Kant, Mill, Hegel and Marx.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of some of the central issues and theoretical alternatives in contemporary political philosophy from among the following: utilitarianism, liberal egalitarianism, libertarianism, socialism, feminism, and communitarianism. Issues to be studied may include multiculturalism, economic redistribution, individual rights and the limits of legitimate state authority.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of some of the central issues and theoretical alternatives in contemporary political philosophy from among the following: utilitarianism, liberal egalitarianism, libertarianism, socialism, feminism, and communitarianism. Issues to be studied may include multiculturalism, economic redistribution, individual rights and the limits of legitimate state authority.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of some of the central issues and theoretical alternatives in contemporary political philosophy from among the following: utilitarianism, liberal egalitarianism, libertarianism, socialism, feminism, and communitarianism. Issues to be studied may include multiculturalism, economic redistribution, individual rights and the limits of legitimate state authority.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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What are our obligations to other countries and their citizens? Do those obligations issue from universal human rights? This course will address these questions through the consideration of a number of topics that raise issues of global justice, for example economic globalization, genocide and military intervention.
Antirequisite(s): Political Science 3346E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to problems in political philosophy linking cultural diversity and moral relativism. The course will focus on the question of whether there might be a set of universal human rights, or whether that idea involves cultural imperialism. Multiculturalism within a single state will also be considered.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of some contemporary philosophical writing on nationalism, state formation, immigration and human rights, multilingualism, and freedom of religion.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to problems concerning large-scale armed conflict, including national and civil wars. Topics include revolutionary violence, the idea of a just war, war as an extension of foreign policy, international law and the law of war, the treatment of civilians, and war prisoners, war crimes and reparations, deterrence and rationality, pacifism.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to the philosophy of law. Topics typically covered include responsibility and punishment, freedom of expression, the constitutional protection of fundamental freedoms, and jurisprudence (the study of the question, "What is law"?)
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An introduction to the philosophy of law. Topics typically covered include responsibility and punishment, freedom of expression, the constitutional protection of fundamental freedoms, and jurisprudence (the study of the question, "What is law"?)
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An in depth examination of one or more topics in legal philosophy, for example property rights, criminal responsibility, and the rule of law. Topics vary from year to year.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An in depth examination of one or more topics in legal philosophy, for example property rights, criminal responsibility, and the rule of law. Topics vary from year to year.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Selected topics of current interest in philosophy. A course description will be available from the Department at the time of registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Selected topics of current interest in philosophy. A course description will be available from the Department at the time of registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Selected topics of current interest in philosophy. A course description will be available from the Department at the time of registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Selected topics of current interest in philosophy. A course description will be available from the Department at the time of registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Selected topics of current interest in philosophy. A course description will be available from the Department at the time of registration.
Extra Information: 2 hours (Main); 3 hours (Huron).
Course Weight: 0.50
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Selected topics of current interest in Philosophy. A course description will be available from the Department at the time of registration.
Extra Information: 2 hours
Course Weight: 1.00
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A study of a selected topic in Philosophy, presupposing no previous studies in the area and aimed at students in second or third year. The topics will vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning course content and Antirequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of a selected topic in Philosophy, presupposing no previous studies in the area and aimed at students in second or third year. The topics will vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning course content and Antirequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of a selected topic in Philosophy, presupposing no previous studies in the area and aimed at students in second or third year. The topics will vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning course content and Antirequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of a selected topic in Philosophy, presupposing no previous studies in the area and aimed at students in second or third year. The topics will vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning course content and Antirequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of a selected topic in Philosophy, presupposing no previous studies in the area and aimed at students in second or third year. The topics will vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning course content and Antirequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of a selected topic in Philosophy, presupposing no previous studies in the area and aimed at students in second or third year. The topics will vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning course content and Antirequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of a selected topic in Philosophy, presupposing no previous studies in the area and aimed at students in second or third year. The topics will vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning course content and Antirequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of a selected topic in Philosophy, presupposing no previous studies in the area and aimed at students in second or third year. The topics will vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning course content and Antirequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of a selected topic in Philosophy, presupposing no previous studies in the area and aimed at students in second or third year. The topics will vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning course content and Antirequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of a selected topic in Philosophy, presupposing no previous studies in the area and aimed at students in second or third year. The topics will vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning course content and Antirequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of a selected topic in Philosophy, presupposing no previous studies in the area and aimed at students in second or third year. The topics will vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning course content and Antirequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of a selected topic in Philosophy, presupposing no previous studies in the area and aimed at students in second or third year. The topics will vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning course content and Antirequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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This course will examine in-depth the works of two or three Indian, Tibetan, Chinese and/or Japanese philosophers. The topics will usually be ethical or metaphysical. In some years, the course may include readings from a Western philosopher for comparison.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An intermediate survey of the works of Plato. While some themes or works may be focused on to the exclusion of others, this course aims to give students a strong, foundational understanding of Plato's thought on a range of topics.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An intermediate survey of the works of Plato. While some themes or works may be focused on to the exclusion of others, this course aims to give students a strong, foundational understanding of Plato's thought on a range of topics.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2200F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An intermediate survey of the works of Aristotle. While some themes or works may be focused on to the exclusion of others, this course aims to give students a strong, foundational understanding of Aristotle's thought on a range of topics.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An intermediate survey of the works of Aristotle. While some themes or works may be focused on to the exclusion of others, this course aims to give students a strong, foundational understanding of Aristotle's thought on a range of topics.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2200F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A survey of some main themes in post Aristotelian Greek and Roman philosophy, with an emphasis on Epicurean, Stoic and Sceptical thinkers.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2200F/G or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A survey of core issues and figures in medieval philosophy.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department; or 1.0 from Medieval Studies 1022, or both of Medieval Studies 1025A/B and Medieval Studies 1026A/B or the former Medieval Studies 1020E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A survey of core issues and figures in medieval philosophy.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2200F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced course in the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas for those already familiar with his thought. Some later forms of Thomism will also be considered.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2014 or Philosophy 2214.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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An intermediate survey of selected works by philosophers writing in the high middle ages. Figures to be studied may include Siger of Brabant, Thomas Aquinas, Duns Scotus, and William of Ockham.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2200F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An intermediate survey of later Scholasticism and reactions to it on the part of such figures as Montaigne, Bacon, Melanchthon, John Dee, and the Cambridge Platonists.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An intermediate survey of foundational works by philosophers in the Cartesian tradition including study of portions of Descartes's Principles of Philosophy and developments of its themes by such proponents and opponents as Hobbes, Gassendi, Arnauld, and Malebranche.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An intermediate survey of foundational works by philosophers in the Cartesian tradition including study of portions of Descartes's Principles of Philosophy and developments of its themes by such proponents and opponents as Hobbes, Gassendi, Arnauld, and Malebranche.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of the works of Spinoza.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of the works of Spinoza.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An intermediate survey of the works of Leibniz. While some themes or works may be focused on to the exclusion of others, this course aims to give students a strong foundational understanding of Leibniz's thought on a range of topics.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An intermediate survey of the works of Leibniz. While some themes or works may be focused on to the exclusion of others, this course aims to give students a strong foundational understanding of Leibniz's thought on a range of topics.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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This course is an introduction to John Stuart Mill and Karl Marx, two influential thinkers in modern political philosophy. Marx’s critique of capitalism and Mill’s defence of individual freedom will be critically explored, along with such issues as the proper role of the state and its use of power.
Prerequisite(s): 1.0 course in Philosophy, History or Political Science at the 1000-level.
Extra Information: 3 seminar hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An intermediate study of Locke's Essay concerning human understanding and of related works and correspondence, both by Locke and his critics.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An intermediate study of Locke's Essay concerning human understanding and of related works and correspondence, both by Locke and his critics.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of the philosophical works of George Berkeley, including the works on vision and the De Motu.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of the philosophical works of George Berkeley, including the works on vision and the De Motu.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of Book I of Hume's Treatise concerning human understanding supplemented by a study of either Book II and III of the Treatise or a comparative assessment of Hume's work with that of Condillac, Reid, or Kant.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of Book I of Hume's Treatise concerning human understanding supplemented by a study of either Book II and III of the Treatise or a comparative assessment of Hume's work with that of Condillac, Reid, or Kant.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An intermediate study of 18th-century Scottish Common Sense Philosopher Thomas Reid's work in epistemology, metaphysics, ethics. Topics may include: empiricism; nativism; skepticism; perception; evidence; testimony; language; freedom and responsibility; personal identity; qualities; philosophical method; Reid's defense of Christianity and philosophy of religion; Reid's relations to his predecessors, contemporaries, and successors.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course is a survey of Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophical writings, including texts from his early, middle, and late periods. Among the topics to be considered are his critique of Western morality, his doctrine of eternal recurrence, his rejection of the subject, and his declaration of the death of God.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course is an introduction to the philosophical contributions of women to 17th and 18th Century philosophy. What were their philosophical concerns? How did they influence the course of philosophy during this period? How were their contributions received by their contemporaries and how are they viewed today?
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of efforts in early modern philosophy to place human knowledge, including philosophy, theology, and the sciences, on a rational foundation. The works of Descartes and his successors, such as Malebranche, Spinoza, Leibniz, and others, will be emphasized.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of the 17th and 18th century philosophers who argued experience is our primary source of knowledge of reality, and who applied this view to fundamental questions regarding mind, nature, language, and theology. Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Reid, and others will be emphasized.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A critical, historical and thematic examination of the main currents of 19th century European philosophy including German Idealism and the movements from which Existentialism originated -- forming the background to 20th century European Continental philosophy.
Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year honours standing in Philosophy.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Schopenhauer’s philosophy is notable for its distinctive metaphysics of the will, its theory of redemption through art, its compassion-based ethics, and its innovative comparative methodology. This course will survey all aspects of Schopenhauer’s philosophy, focusing on his opus, The World as Will and Representation.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to Analytic philosophy—the revolutionary early 20thcentury reorientation that shaped today’s philosophical landscape and catalyzed intellectual developments from physics to psychology to computer science. Readings explore the "linguistic turn,” the revolt against metaphysics and idealism, logical positivism, ordinary language philosophy, and Quine’s turn to holism and naturalism.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2020, Philosophy 2250, or Philosophy 2252W/X and 0.5 from Philosophy 2260F/G or Philosophy 2400F/G or Philosophy 2500F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An introduction to Analytic philosophy—the revolutionary early 20thcentury reorientation that shaped today’s philosophical landscape and catalyzed intellectual developments from physics to psychology to computer science. Readings explore the "linguistic turn,” the revolt against metaphysics and idealism, logical positivism, ordinary language philosophy, and Quine’s turn to holism and naturalism.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2020, Philosophy 2250, or Philosophy 2252W/X and 0.5 from Philosophy 2260F/G or Philosophy 2400F/G or Philosophy 2500F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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As a political project opposed to democracy, equality and human solidarity, fascism has been critically analyzed by philosophers for over a century. This course examines challenges to fascism arising from a range of philosophical perspectives, which may include feminism, anti-racism, Marxism, existentialism, and liberalism.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of the intellectual tradition of 19th century critical philosophy in Germany, including Hegel, Feuerbach and Marx. Topics may include: reason and revolution; labour and alienation; self-activity and liberation; ideology and critique.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of themes and figures in European philosophy and critical social theory since the 1960s. Readings are drawn from philosophers and theorists influential in the broad Continental tradition, such as Jacques Derrida, Julia Kristeva, Michel Foucault, Christine Delphy, Jürgen Habermas, Slavoj Zizek, Chantal Mouffe, Alain Badiou, and Silvia Federici.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course discusses Augustine's claim that self-knowledge leads to knowledge and love of God. Ideas examined include the operations of knowing, the character of truth, knowing and doing, the effects of evil, especially pride and self-deception, on knowing, and the relation of knowing to grace and revelation.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy program.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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The Confucian Analects present a developing set of insights on transcendence through self-development and participation in cosmic harmony. This course examines the dynamic dialogue that is present among parts of the Analects on these ideas and on relevant unsettled questions that are considered in later Chinese thought.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy program.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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The Canadian Lonergan's work on knowing and on being presents a possible ground for dialogue among scholars in science, philosophy and theology, and also among believers in various religions. This course examines some of his distinctive notions on the intelligibility of the universe, believe and faith, revelation, love, and hope.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy program.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Later modern philosophy with particular emphasis on the philosophy of the 19th century.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G, Philosophy 2206W/X, Philosophy 3075F/G, or third or fourth year honours standing in Philosophy.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Later modern philosophy with particular emphasis on the philosophy of the 19th century.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G, Philosophy 2206W/X, Philosophy 3075F/G, or third or fourth year honours standing in Philosophy.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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study of selected topics from Aristotle to the beginning of the modern period. Topics covered will vary but may include Aristotle's Categories, the theory of the syllogism, medieval theories of signification, the notion of logical consequence, modal logic, and the development of polyadic logic with mixed quantification.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2200F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2200F/G or Philosophy 2700F/G or Philosophy 2202F/G or Philosophy 2800F/G.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Cognitive biases have been found to play a significant role in the thought of individuals and the inquiries of institutional science. Do these results pose a threat to mainstream notions of individual rationality and scientific objectivity? This course will examine some of the epistemological implications of our biased thinking.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of admissible patterns of reasoning from evidence in making findings of fact. Topics may include: interpretations of probability; the adequacy of Bayesian reasoning in real-life contexts; 'Baconian' (non-mathematical) probability; statistical evidence; evidential weight; expert testimony; eye-witness testimony; relevance. Elements of the law of evidence will be examined.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2250, or Philosophy 2252W/X, with a minimum grade of 70%.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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This class considers the intersection of ethical and political issues regarding global socioeconomic systems, ecological imbalance, and planetary change. It follows a pluralist methodology drawing from various world philosophical traditions and contemporary scholarship and explores issues of climate change and climate justice, decoloniality, social transformation and cultural pluralism.
Antirequisites: The former Philosophy 2244F/G.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours. Students are encouraged to take Philosophy 2242F/G: Philosophy of the Earth concurrently with or prior to this course to broaden their understanding of the ethical and social issues discussed in this course.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of recent empirically based criticisms of the traditional practice of consulting a priori intuitions as evidence for and against philosophical theories.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Issues and theories in recent philosophy of language. Topics may include: what meaning is; the contrast between "meaning as use" and formalist accounts of meaning; reference and truth. Authors may include: Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein, Strawson and Grice.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Issues and theories in recent philosophy of language. Topics may include: what meaning is; the contrast between "meaning as use" and formalist accounts of meaning; reference and truth. Authors may include: Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein, Strawson and Grice.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Philosophical perspectives on linguistic issues and the science of linguistics. Sample topics: the evidence base for linguistics; what linguistics should take as its proper subject matter; interfaces between syntax, semantics and pragmatics.
Prerequisite(s): Anthropology 1027A/B or French 2806A/B or Linguistics 2288A/B or Philosophy 2020, Philosophy 2250, or Philosophy 2252W/X or Philosophy 2260F/G or Spanish 3303A/B.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Most observed processes are asymmetric. Cream stirs into coffee but doesn't stir out. This relates to the direction of time: ordered states evolve into disordered states. Thermodynamics expresses this asymmetry and statistical mechanics aims to explain it. This course examines these two theories and the role(s)of probability in physics.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2300F/G or Philosophy 2310F/G or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3.0 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Though quantum mechanics is a well-tested and accepted part of physics, debate continues about what the success of this theory tells us about the world and about science. This course examines these questions while introducing the student to the peculiarities of quantum physics. No physics background presumed.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2300F/G or Philosophy 2310F/G or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3.0 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A special topic in Chinese philosophy will be investigated.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year in a Philosophy module.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A special topic in Japenese philosophy will be investigated.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year in a Philosophy module.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A special topic in Indigenous philosophy will be investigated.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year in a Philosophy module.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A special topic in Islamic philosophy will be investigated.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year in a Philosophy module.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Philosophical issues raised by the physics of space and time: are space and time objectively real or merely abstractions from spatial and temporal relations? Is motion absolute or relative? Is our knowledge of space and time factual or conventional? Authors include: Newton, Leibniz, Kant, Mach, Einstein. No physics background presumed.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2300F/G or Philosophy 2310F/G or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3.0 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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In-depth examination of contemporary philosophical debates arising from modern biology. Topics explored may include the structure of evolutionary theory, the notions of fitness and adaptation, functions and teleological explanation, the ontological status of species, reductionism and levels of explanation, and social and moral implications of biological research.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3.0 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to philosophical methods including reading and writing philosophical arguments, followed by five topical modules. Four modules focus on particular fields within the life sciences: evolutionary biology, genetics and genomics, ecology, and cognitive science. A final module examines ethical issues related to research in the life sciences.
Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year standing in Biology or permission of the Philosophy department.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A special topic in Ethics will be investigated.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year in a Philosophy module.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Advanced topics in the philosophy of mind. Topics may include: the metaphysics of mind -- from Cartesian Dualism, through Behaviorism and Identity Theory, to modern functionalist theories; connections between metaphysics of mind and topics such as mental causation, mental content, and consciousness. Emphasis will be given to contemporary readings.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Conceptual issues arising in psychology. Topics may include: modularity, nativism, theory of mind, the theory theory, simulation theory, concept acquisition, conceptual content. The methodology used by psychologists may also be investigated. Though some historical writings may be used, the emphasis will be on contemporary works.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department, or 3rd year standing in Psychology.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Moral psychology is the study of the human capacity for moral thought and behaviour. This course focuses on how philosophers have contributed to debates in moral psychology. Topics may include the roles that reason and emotion play in morality, whether virtue is attainable for us, and our capacity for altruism.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of topics in perception such as the status of qualia, sense-datum theories, adverbial theory, phenomenalism, functionalism, representionalism, direct realism, externalist theories of perception, and perceptual belief. Also of the philosophical implications of work on blindsight, interpretations of sensory consciousness, the 'binding problem', and the cerebral localization of consciousness.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of topics in perception such as the status of qualia, sense-datum theories, adverbial theory, phenomenalism, functionalism, representionalism, direct realism, externalist theories of perception, and perceptual belief. Also of the philosophical implications of work on blindsight, interpretations of sensory consciousness, the 'binding problem', and the cerebral localization of consciousness.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2400F/G or Philosophy 2500F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Introduction to philosophy of neuroscience. Questions may include: What does neuroscience tell us about the mind-brain relationship, free will and moral responsibility, or the mechanisms of learning and memory? Is consciousness a mental, behavioral or brain state? What is the structure of explanation in neuroscience? Is psychology reducible to neuroscience?
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Problems in contemporary theory of knowledge. Topics may include epistemic justification, modern skepticism, foundationalism and coherentism, internalism and externalism, ethics of belief, epistemic probability, testimony and social dimensions of knowledge.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3.0 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Problems in contemporary theory of knowledge. Topics may include epistemic justification, modern skepticism, foundationalism and coherentism, internalism and externalism, ethics of belief, epistemic probability, testimony and social dimensions of knowledge.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2500F/G.
Extra Information: 3.0 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Theories of truth since the end of the 19th century, and the problems posed for any theory of truth by the Liar Paradox, with a look at some recent attempts at solutions. Authors may include: Frege, James, Bradley, Ramsey, Tarski, Austin, Strawson, Field, Kripke, Grover, Horwich, Gupta, Soames.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2250, or Philosophy 2252W/X, with a minimum grade of 70%.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of 20th century and contemporary continental philosophy. Readings will be drawn from phenomenological, deconstructive, post-structuralist and feminist texts and/or from the work of the Frankfurt school. Topics to be considered will include some of: intersubjectivity, sexual difference, community, racialization, perception,community, hermeneutics and critical theory.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced reading seminar in Social Political Thought with a focus on Human Rights. Topics will explore the power and philosophical underpinnings that are important to the consideration and establishment of human rights. See the department website for details about the authors and topic being treated in any given year.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year registration, or permission of the Department.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced reading seminar in Social Political Thought with a focus on Human Rights. Topics will explore the power and philosophical underpinnings that are important to the consideration and establishment of human rights. See the department website for details about the authors and topic being treated in any given year.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year registration in an Honours program, or permission of the Department.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced reading seminar in Social Political Thought with a focus on Human Rights. Topics will explore the power and philosophical underpinnings that are important to the consideration and establishment of human rights. See the department website for details about the authors and topic being treated in any given year.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year registration in an Honours program, or permission of the Department.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to current debate on metaphysical questions. Topics may include the nature of space and time, the status of phenomenal sensible qualities, the existence of natural kinds, causality and determinism, counterfactuals and possible worlds, identity and individuation, and personal identity.
Prerequisite(s): Third or Fourth year standing in a Philosophy module or permission of the Instructor.
Extra Information: 3.0 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An introduction to current debate on metaphysical questions. Topics may include the nature of space and time, the status of phenomenal sensible qualities, the existence of natural kinds, causality and determinism, counterfactuals and possible worlds, identity and individuation, and personal identity.
Extra Information: 3.0 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An introduction to metaphysical, epistemological, and logical problems connected with the idea of a cause. Topics may include: the metaphysical nature of the objects related by causality, Humean regularity theories of causation, the necessary condition analysis of causation, probabilistic causality, causes and counterfactuals, and causation in the law.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2250 with a minimum grade of 70%.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to the problem posed by the assumptions that human actions are natural occurrences and that natural occurrences are governed by causal laws, whether deterministic or probabilistic. Various versions of determinism, compatibilism, and metaphysical libertarianism will be discussed in connection with ascriptions of legal and moral responsibility.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2250 with a minimum grade of 70%, Philosophy 2700F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of the question whether human social groups can have beliefs and intentions and perform actions, where these things are not reducible to the beliefs, intentions, and actions of their individual members; and a consideration of the notion of group accountability. Special attention will be given to corporations.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2801F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course focuses on one or more main thinkers or themes in Existentialism, including Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Camus, Marcel, Sartre, and others. We will consider the human condition and situation, freedom, and the responsibility we have for our own lives. Is Existentialism essentially atheistic? How is human freedom reconciled with God?
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy program.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An investigation into some of the central concepts of love from ancient, medieval, and modern thinkers. Special emphasis is placed on questions concerning the nature and role or eros, of agape, and of philia, and whether these different kinds of love can exist together harmoniously.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy program.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A textual analysis and discussion of John Paul II's pre-pontifical and pontifical writings as they pertain to his philosophical thought.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy program.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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See department for current offerings.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in Honours Specialization or Major in Philosophy modules.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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See department for current offerings.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in Honours Specialization or Major in Philosophy modules.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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See department for current offerings.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in Honours Specialization or Major in Philosophy modules.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A critical study of moral problems and theories. The course will be based on readings selected from ethical literature from Aristotle to the present.
Prerequisite(s): Third and Fourth Year Honours standing in a Philosophy Program or Module.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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Metaethics is the area of moral philosophy in which we inquire about, among other things, the status of moral claims, the meaning of moral terms, the rational justification of morality, the nature of value, and issues of moral psychology. This course is an advanced study of topics in metaethics.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 3700E.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Metaethics is the area of moral philosophy in which we inquire about, among other things, the status of moral claims, the meaning of moral terms, the rational justification of morality, the nature of value, and issues of moral psychology. This course is an advanced study of topics in metaethics.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 3700E.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2700F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Moral philosophers engaged in normative ethics seek to articulate and justify systems of normative standards - of action or of character - to guide our moral life. This course is an advanced study of normative ethical theories, such as utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue theories.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 3700E.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Moral philosophers engaged in normative ethics seek to articulate and justify systems of normative standards - of action or of character - to guide our moral life. This course is an advanced study of normative ethical theories, such as utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue theories.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 3700E.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2700F/G or Philosophy 2800F/G or Philosophy 2801F/G or Philosophy 2821F/G or Philosophy 2822F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A survey of some of the leading controversies of animal ethics. Topics include: the ethics of killing and eating animals, the morality of placing them in factory farms, laboratories and zoos, and the problem of wild animal suffering. Students will be introduced to various ethical theories, principles, traditions, and puzzles.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to ethical issues in human experimentation, covering ethical frameworks for research ethics, informed consent, confidentiality, benefit-harm analysis, participant selection, and vulnerable participants and communities. Special topics, such as randomized controlled trials, gene therapy trials, cluster randomized trials, and health policy and systems research may also be covered.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Philosophy 2715F/G is recommended, but not required.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An investigation of the philosophical implications of corporeal existence. Topics include: bodily autonomy; dependence and vulnerability; transhumanism; racialization and colonized bodies; sexed difference; reproduction; the commodification of biological material; and relationships between subjectivity, selfhood, corporeality, and identity.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A seminar in political and legal philosophy. Sample topics: the distinction between corrective and distributive justice, the use of class actions as a mechanism of social justice, the redistribution of wealth through taxation, the role of constitutional institutions in delivering and embodying justice, and conceptual models of a just society.
Antirequisite(s) at Main campus: Law 5770.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2700F/G or Philosophy 2800F/G or Philosophy 2801F/G or Philosophy 2821F/G or Philosophy 2822F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A seminar in political and legal philosophy. Sample topics: the distinction between corrective and distributive justice, the use of class actions as a mechanism of social justice, the redistribution of wealth through taxation, the role of constitutional institutions in delivering and embodying justice, and conceptual models of a just society.
Antirequisite(s) at Main campus: Law 5770.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2700F/G or Philosophy 2800F/G or Philosophy 2801F/G or Philosophy 2821F/G or Philosophy 2822F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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This course subjects globalization, as an economic, political and cultural phenomenon, to critical scrutiny, using tools provided by theories of justice. Topics considered may include: sweatshops; world hunger; refugee rights; the claim to universality in human rights discourse; and the ethics of militant protest to back demands for global justice.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An exploration of the deep philosophical roots of the normative challenges facing our food system and our relationships to food. Issues may include the sources and justifications for capitalism, the nature of corporations, communitarianism, sustainability, social and economic classism, social justice, and nature and roles of intuitions in structuring society.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2082F/G or the former Philosophy 2010F/G or the former Philosophy 3010F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours, 0.5 course
Course Weight: 0.50
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A seminar course involving the extended examination of major real-world cases in business ethics. Sample areas for examination: pharmaceuticals, the automotive industry, mining, the petroleum industry.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2074F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Climate change affects everyone, but its burdens fall unevenly on different people, depending on factors like race and class. In responding, many Indigenous, environmentalist, anti-racist, feminist and labour movements speak of climate justice. What is climate justice? How might it impact the law, public policy and social movements?
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A survey of a number of core philosophical questions raised in and about the social sciences, for example: Can, and ought, the social sciences aspire to objectivity? Is the goal of the social sciences explanation, prediction, understanding, prescription or some combination? Is social life governed by laws?
Prerequisite(s): Third year or fourth year standing in a module in Philosophy or in a Department in the Faculty of Social Science.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An exploration of social ontology, examining a range of questions about the nature of social reality. Topics considered may include: social norms, statuses, roles and institutions; the social construction of race, gender and other identities; collective intentionality; collective goods; interactive kinds; and the distinction between system and life-world as forms of social integration. Readings may include works by several contemporary philosophers, including Sally Haslanger, Ian Hacking, John Searle, Jürgen Habermas, and Charles Taylor.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2500F/G, or 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy program
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced reading seminar in Social Political Thought. See the department website for details about the authors and topic being treated in any given year.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy or Social Political Thought program.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced reading seminar in Social Political Thought. See the department website for details about the authors and topic being treated in any given year.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy or Social Political Thought program.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An investigation of issues in the philosophy of art and aesthetics. Topics include: characteristics of the various arts; the fine arts, arts and cultures, mass arts; art, craft, and technology; beauty, taste, and the variety of aesthetics; freedom and self-expression; individuals and cultures; mimesis and imagination; interpretation and audience participation.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 3023F/G.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An investigation of issues in the philosophy of art and aesthetics. Topics include: characteristics of the various arts; the fine arts, arts and cultures, mass arts; art, craft, and technology; beauty, taste, and the variety of aesthetics; freedom and self-expression; individuals and cultures; mimesis and imagination; interpretation and audience participation.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 3023F/G.
Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year honours standing in Philosophy or registration in the Diploma in Art Therapy Program.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of selected philosophical problems. The problems vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of selected philosophical problems. The problems vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of selected philosophical problems. The problems vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A broadly-based study of Kant's Critique of Pure Reason and his related critical and pre-critical writings on physical, metaphysical and epistemological topics.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G or Philosophy 2206W/X and third or fourth year honours standing in Philosophy.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G or Philosophy 2206W/X and third or fourth year honours standing in Philosophy.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A broadly based study of Kant's major works on ethics.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced reading seminar on Hegel's philosophy.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy program.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced reading seminar on Nietzsche's philosophy.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy program.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of the works of Plato.
Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year standing in Philosophy.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of the works of Aristotle.
Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year standing in Philosophy.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of a selected topic in applied ethics, metaethics or political philosophy. The topics dealt with vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of a selected topic in applied ethics, metaethics or political philosophy. The topics dealt with vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): Third and Fourth Year Honours standing in a Philosophy Program or Module.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): Third and Fourth Year Honours standing in a Philosophy Program or Module.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of selected topics in continental philosophy. The topics dealt with vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An investigation of central figures and concepts in 20th century Continental European social and political thought. Questions to be investigated: the nature of power, the roles and nature of the state, the construction of subjectivity, feminism, and the legacy of genocide.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy program.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A critical reading of the philosophy of Martin Heidegger.
Prerequisite(s): Third and Fourth Year Honours standing in a Philosophy Program or Module.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): Third and Fourth Year Honours standing in a Philosophy Program or Module.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A close reading and critical discussion of the Stoic emperor's work. Topics include his cognitivist theory of emotions, his urge to live the present moment in the fullest, the tension between determinism and freedom. How can Marcus' unique solutions positively influence both our everyday life and the therapy of emotions?
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2200F/G or Philosophy 2205W/X, or by permission of the Department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Among the innovations credited to the thinkers of the early Modern period, perhaps the most infamous is the invention of the concept of race. In this course we will consider the treatments of race by prominent philosophers (Locke, Berkeley, Hume, and Kant), and look at a variety of related discussions including the monogenesis/polygenesis debate and the rise of "scientific" racism.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of selected philosophical problems as they have been dealt with over time. The problems and historical periods covered vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G and third or fourth year honours standing in Philosophy.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced treatment of a particular problem arising in the philosophy of language.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of a selected topic in the philosophy of science. The topics dealt with vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Introduction to synthetic biology and to philosophical questions relating to it. These include: is synthetic biology revolutionary? Can it help us gain a better understanding of life? What are the ethical dimensions of creating genetic novelty in various contexts? Some background in bioethics and/or philosophy of science is recommended.
Antirequisite(s): Biochemistry 4320F/G.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours/week.
Course Weight: 0.50
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The course focuses on the intersection between scientific knowledge and women. We consider the historical and sociological contexts that prevented women from accessing and producing scientific knowledge. We then discuss the questions at the center of the feminist reflection on science and the different perspectives produced in the feminist epistemologies.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced treatment of a particular problem arising in the philosophy of mind.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced treatment of a particular problem arising in epistemology.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Full year course in basic problems of epistemology. Readings from contemporary writings will be stressed.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2260F/G or Philosophy 2500F/G or third or fourth year honours standing in Philosophy.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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A critical study of contemporary feminist epistemology and philosophy of science, with discussion of feminist empiricism, standpoint, and postmodern positions, critiques of methodological essentialism, and proposals for integrating the consideration of contextual factors into theories of knowledge production and legitimation.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 3910F/G.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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20th century phenomenologists developed and practiced methods by which they could access and describe the nature of reality. Students will engage with such phenomenologists (e.g., Husserl, Heidegger, Stein, Merleau-Ponty, Sartre) in order to analyze questions concerning the nature of being and consciousness, freedom, time, space, subjectivity and intersubjectivity.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy program.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced treatment of a particular problem arising in metaphysics.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Full year course in basic problems of metaphysics. Readings from contemporary writings will be stressed.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2300F/G or Philosophy 2500F/G, or third or fourth year honours standing in Philosophy.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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An advanced treatment of a particular problem arising in practical ethics.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2700F/G or Philosophy 2800F/G or Philosophy 2801F/G or Philosophy 2821F/G or Philosophy 2822F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An intensive study of central themes in feminist ethics and social/political theory. Topics include: feminist critiques of classical and contemporary theories of moral agency, autonomy, and individualism; constructive proposals for feminist alternatives to the ethics of rights; arguments for contextualizing ethical and social/political theory.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 3024F/G.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced treatment of topics arising in the philosophy of gender and sexuality.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course deals with various types of philosophical questions about gender and race, including metaphysical, epistemological, political, and ethical questions. The goals are to analyze how philosophers have approached these questions, and in doing so, take seriously how gender and race intersect with one another.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced treatment of a particular problem arising in political philosophy.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2700F/G or Philosophy 2800F/G or Philosophy 2801F/G or Philosophy 2821F/G or Philosophy 2822F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of Aristotelian/Thomistic , Lockean/libertarian, utilitarian, Kantian, and Hegelian theories of property.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of contemporary issues concerning property such as: taxation and redistribution, eminent domain, intellectual property, limitations on development, commodities and commodification.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Advanced seminar on issues of legal theory, varying from year to year.
Prerequisite(s): Any Faculty of Law course or Philosophy 2080 or Philosophy 2821F/G or Philosophy 2822F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Advanced seminar on issues of legal theory, varying from year to year.
Prerequisite(s): Any Faculty of Law course or Philosophy 2080 or Philosophy 2821F/G or Philosophy 2822F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Advanced topics in the philosophy of law.
Prerequisite(s): Any Faculty of Law course or Philosophy 2080 or Philosophy 2821F/G or Philosophy 2822F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Advanced topics in the philosophy of law.
Prerequisite(s): Any Faculty of Law course or Philosophy 2080 or Philosophy 2821F/G or Philosophy 2822F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A close look at Canadian and American ideas about constitutional freedom of speech and expression, and their applications to issues that arise on university campuses. Topics will include: harassment, hate speech, controversial political speech, controversial research publication, religious and anti-religious speech, social media, and sexual and gendered speech.
Prerequisite(s): Any Faculty of Law course or Philosophy 2080 or Philosophy 2821F/G or Philosophy 2822F/G or permission of the instructor.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of Aquinas's version of natural law theory, with a consideration of contemporary natural law theories reflections of in his views. Authors may include: Richard Hooker, John Finnis, Germain Grisez, Joseph Boyle, Robert George. Particular public policy issues, such as abortion, the regulation of sexuality, and same-sex marriage, may also be discussed.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This seminar will introduce students to contemporary philosophical research. Students will read and present on material recently published in the instructor's areas of expertise. Students will be guided through the process of identifying paper topics that could contribute to active research in philosophy.
Prerequisite(s): Third or Fourth year standing in the Honours Specialization in Philosophy.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Students will apply their philosophical skills outside the classroom through a Community Engaged Learning (CEL) experience. Through project-based partnerships with community groups selected by or for students, they will use their philosophical talents to contribute to their community partner’s mission and learn for themselves how philosophy can impact daily life.
Prerequisite(s): Third or Fourth year standing in the Honours Specialization in Philosophy.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of selected philosophical problems. The problems vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of selected philosophical problems. The problems vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of selected philosophical problems. The problems vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
Return to top
A study of selected philosophical problems. The problems vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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Philosophy
A survey of philosophical problems, with reference to both classical and contemporary philosophers. Topics include the mind/body problem, the existence of God, perception and matter, freedom and determinism. Basic principles of reasoning and critical thinking will be introduced to enhance the student's ability to evaluate the various forms of reasoning.
Prerequisite(s): Registration restricted to Scholar's Elective students.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour biweekly.
Course Weight: 1.00
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What is real? Is knowledge possible? What do we owe to each other? This non-essay course examines attempts by historical and contemporary philosophers to argue in favour of answers to these and other, similar questions. A weekly tutorial hour will help students to develop skills of analysis, argument, and expression.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour.
Course Weight: 1.00
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Questions about knowledge and reality, mind and body, morality and justice, truth and beauty,sex and gender, God's existence and attributes, and rationality and philosophical paradoxes are explored in this course designed for students with some acquaintance with philosophy who wish to further develop their analytic and expressive skills.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour.
Course Weight: 1.00
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This non-essay course introduces conceptual issues about science: What distinguishes science from non-science? Are there limits to what science can or should explain? What does science tell us about reality? What is the relationship between science and religion? What is the role and value of science in a democratic society?
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Many problems faced by individuals and societies lie at the intersection of ethics, law, and politics. This course will consider issues that can be analyzed along ethical, legal, and/or political lines, with a focus on understanding the differences between moral, legal, and political arguments and solutions to contemporary societal problems.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course investigates non-European ways of thinking “philosophically.” Students will study African oral traditions, Central-Asian, Chinese, Japanese, and Indigenous traditions by looking at their approach to fundamental questions: what is the human being? What is nature and what is our relation to it? What is knowledge and what is happiness?
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of selected works by great philosophers from Socrates to the present. Stress will be laid on the systematic unity of the thought of individual philosophers, and on the influence their ideas had on their followers and on the thought of the present day.
Antirequisite(s) at Main campus: Philosophy 1000E, Philosophy 1250F/G, Philosophy 1300E, Philosophy 1350F/G.
Antirequisite(s) at Huron, King's campus: Philosophy 1300E.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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A study of selected works by great philosophers from Socrates to the present. Stress will be laid on the systematic unity of the thought of individual philosophers, and on the influence their ideas had on their followers and on the thought of the present day.
Antirequisite(s) at Main campus: Philosophy 1000E, Philosophy 1250F/G, Philosophy 1300E, Philosophy 1350F/G.
Antirequisite(s) at Huron, King's campus: Philosophy 1300E.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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A study of selected works by great philosophers from Socrates to the present. Stress will be laid on the systematic unity of the thought of individual philosophers, and on the influence their ideas had on their followers and on the thought of the present day.
Antirequisite(s) at Main campus: Philosophy 1000E, Philosophy 1250F/G, Philosophy 1300E, Philosophy 1350F/G.
Antirequisite(s) at Huron, King's campus: Philosophy 1300E.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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An introduction to the key social, political, and legal structures and ideas that shape our contemporary culture and worlds. Students explore complex, often-hidden social and political concepts and organizational practices that prescribe modes of behaviour, human interactions, and material modes of production.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Apparently simple conceptions sometimes especially capture our imagination. Examples: Descartes's "I think, therefore I am," McLuhan's "the medium is the message," or Plato's theory of forms. The course examines a great number of these simple ideas that are also the Big Ideas that no educated person should be ignorant of.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A multi-media and interdisciplinary historical survey of some of the most important philosophers (e.g. Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Marx, Nietzsche), writers (e.g. Homer, Dante, Goethe, Dostoevsky, Kafka), and artists (da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Dali) that have shaped the course of Western thought and our contemporary world.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour, 1 screening hour.
Course Weight: 1.00
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This is a special topic in Philosophy course.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This is a special topic in Philosophy course.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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The Buddha-Way lies at the heart of Zen. This course investigates the philosophical account of the non-self, world, ethics, politics, and environment rooted in this way of living. Students will read some of the classic works in the Zen tradition as well as contemporary philosophers working in that tradition.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to basic principles of reasoning and critical thinking designed to enhance the student's ability to evaluate various forms of reasoning as found in everyday life as well as in academic disciplines. The course will deal with such topics as inductive and deductive reasoning, the nature and function of definitions, types of fallacies, the use and misuse of statistics, and the rudiments of logic. Primarily for first-year students.
Antirequisite(s) at Main campus: Philosophy 1000E, Philosophy 1230A/B.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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An introduction to basic principles of reasoning and critical thinking designed to enhance the student's ability to evaluate various forms of reasoning as found in everyday life as well as in academic disciplines. The course will deal with such topics as inductive and deductive reasoning, the nature and function of definitions, types of fallacies, the use and misuse of statistics, and the rudiments of logic. Primarily for first-year students.
Antirequisite(s) at Main campus: Philosophy 1000E, Philosophy 1230A/B.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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An introduction to the basic principles of reasoning and critical thinking designed to enhance the student's ability to evaluate various forms of reasoning found in everyday life as well as in academic disciplines. The course will deal with such topics as inductive and deductive reasoning, the nature and function of definitions, types of fallacies, the use and misuse of statistics, and the rudiments of logic. Primarily for first year students.
Antirequisite(s) at Main campus: Philosophy 1000E, Philosophy 1200.
Antirequisite(s) at Huron campus: Philosophy 1200.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour (Main); 3 lecture hours (Huron).
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An introduction to the basic principles of reasoning and critical thinking designed to enhance the student's ability to evaluate various forms of reasoning found in everyday life as well as in academic disciplines. The course will deal with such topics as inductive and deductive reasoning, the nature and function of definitions, types of fallacies, the use and misuse of statistics, and the rudiments of logic. Primarily for first year students.
Antirequisite(s) at Main campus: Philosophy 1000E, Philosophy 1200.
Antirequisite(s) at Huron campus: Philosophy 1200.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour (Main); 3 lecture hours (Huron).
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A survey of selected philosophical problems in the areas of ethics and political/legal philosophy, with reference to works of both classical and contemporary philosophers. Specimen topics include ethical relativism, freedom and determinism, anarchy and government, and the justification of punishment. Primarily for first year students.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 1100E, Philosophy 1300E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A survey of selected philosophical problems, with reference to both classical and contemporary philosophers. Specimen topics include: the mind/body problem, the existence of God, perception and matter, freedom and determinism. Primarily for first-year students.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 1100E
Extra Information: 3 hours
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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A survey of selected philosophical problems, with reference to both classical and contemporary philosophers. Specimen topics include: the mind/body problem, the existence of God, perception and matter, freedom and determinism. Primarily for first-year students.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 1100E
Extra Information: 3 hours
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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A survey of selected philosophical problems, with reference to both classical and contemporary philosophers. Specimen topics include: the mind/body problem, the existence of God, perception and matter, freedom and determinism. Primarily for first-year students.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 1100E
Extra Information: 3 hours
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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This course develops students' ability to approach disputed questions by seeing them from both sides, so that they reach their own view only after respecting a broad range of argument. Six questions will be considered, including human (over) population, the public funding of art, and the limits of religious freedom.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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This course develops students' ability to approach disputed questions by seeing them from both sides, so that they reach their own view only after respecting a broad range of argument. Six questions will be considered, including human (over) population, the public funding of art, and the limits of religious freedom.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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This course introduces students to philosophical inquiry through film. Certain films can be interpreted as attempting to answer our deepest questions. We will view films in order to explore the nature of truth, knowledge, time, self, evil, and life's meaning.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A survey of selected philosophical problems in the areas of metaphysics and epistemology, with reference to works by both classical and contemporary philosophers. Specimen topics include the mind/body problem, the existence of God, skepticism and truth. Primarily for first year students.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 1100E, Philosophy 1300E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to the great human questions we all ask: Who are we? Why are we? How can we live a good life? Why do we suffer, die, encounter evil? What are sex, love, and friendship? What can we know? What ought we to do? What may we hope for?
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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How do we find happiness in life? Is it through the fulfillment of desire, be it for pleasure, wealth, fame, companionship, knowledge, or union with God? Perhaps, paradoxically, it is by abandoning desire altogether and leading a simple life. This course will explore how philosophy has responded to these issues.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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Students will examine what it means to be human through an examination of how language, art, religion, social media, and technology construct our sense of self and our relationships to each other and the world. Questions include: Is there a common human nature? Who am I beyond my cultural identity?
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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An introductory course into great philosophers. We will study and debate conceptions of philosophy as remedy for maladies of the soul, like ignorance and passions, in ancient times or particular attitudes and theories, like skepticism and utilitarianism, in modern times. How are those concepts useful for us today?
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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An introduction to the grammatical structures of two kinds of languages - the natural ones people learn as first languages, and the artificial ones that logicians and others have invented to help in reasoning. Topics will include: subject-predicate construction; word classes; complex sentences; negation and its complication; referring, describing, and quantifying; time and tense.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course prepares students for university studies across the humanities and social sciences. Historical and theoretical models are considered in examining central issues and important thinkers. The course focuses on development of critical skills: close reading; creative thinking, and effective writing.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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The Philosophy unit of the King's Foundations in The New Liberal Arts is an interdisciplinary historical survey of some of the most important philosophers (Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Marx, Nietzsche, Derrida) and artists (da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Dali) that have shaped the course of Western thought and our contemporary world.
Prerequisite(s): Must be registered in the King's Foundations in the King’s Foundations in The New Liberal Arts, or the former Western Thought and Civilization.
Corequisite(s): English 1901E and History 1901E.
Extra Information: 3 hours. There may be additional costs associated with field trips. Capstone conference at end of term.
Course Weight: 1.00
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Thinking well is an art that begins with self-awareness, is guided by learning criteria for reasonableness of claims and decisions, and improves with practice. This course offers students an opportunity to enhance these lifelong skills and to develop as responsible learners and communicators.
Antirequisites: Philosophy 1230A/B, Philosophy 1900E.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas through a study of several of his basic philosophical writings. The course will concern principally his philosophy of nature, philosophical psychology, moral philosophy, metaphysics and philosophical theology.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2214.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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An introductory course in formal logic, which focuses on Modern Symbolic Logic, including derivations and trees in propositional and first-order predicate logic and tests for logical truth, equivalence, and consistency. This course may be used to satisfy the Honours Specialization in Philosophy logic requirement.
Extra Information: 2 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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This course investigates the role played in philosophical and scientific thought by basic oppositions, such as Continuous vs. Discrete, One vs. Many, and Finite vs. Infinite, and analyzes many philosophical and scientific paradoxes: Zeno's paradoxes, the Liar Paradox, Russell's paradox, paradoxes of the infinite, and paradoxes arising from time travel.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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study of Aristotelian logic. Special emphasis is placed on word usage, definition, propositional form, and the different types of deductive and inductive arguments. An extensive study of fallacies in argumentation is made. The methodologies of the sciences, both non-experimental and experimental are examined and evaluated.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2222E.
Extra Information: 2 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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Economic life and economic science in philosophical perspective. Classical and contemporary philosophers are studied on such issues as property and labor; efficiency, fairness and freedom in the market; rationality, utility and economic value; welfare and economic justice. The emphasis is on probing underlying assumptions about the economic system.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Economic life and economic science in philosophical perspective. Classical and contemporary philosophers are studied on such issues as property and labor; efficiency, fairness and freedom in the market; rationality, utility and economic value; welfare and economic justice. The emphasis is on probing underlying assumptions about the economic system.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Astronauts age more slowly. Time can have a beginning. Space and time are curved. All these surprising claims are consequences of Einstein's revolutionary theories of relativity. This course explains these and related ideas in historical context and explores their philosophical significance. No physics and only grade 11 mathematics required.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of several key issues arising out of the present environmental crisis. Sample topics include: to what extent the environmental crisis is a scientific, religious, or ethical problem; the Gaia hypothesis; deep and shallow ecology; the land ethic; ecofeminism; the environment and economics; and sustainable development.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Our changing relationship to the natural world, and ability to affect Earth's future, bring urgent philosophical questions with real-world implications. This course draws on ideas from ethics, political philosophy, biology, psychology, economics and philosophy of science to explore the moral and epistemological dimensions of climate change, species extinction, and biotechnology.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Will robots take all our jobs? Will humans become cyborgs? Will nano-technology revolutionize medicine? As we rely more on machines, they are changing how we interact with the world and one another. In this course we will consider the impact of technology on our current lives, and on our future.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to core issues in the philosophy of psychiatry. Topics may include: a survey of historical and contemporary theories of the nature of mental disorder and its treatment; case studies designed to highlight controversies surrounding specific mental disorders, most notably, Depressive Disorders, Personality Disorders, Eating Disorders, and the Psychoses.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An evaluation of sciences attempting to understand the nature of the mind and its place in the physical world. Topics may include: phrenology & localization theory, physiology, neuroanatomy, gestalt psychology, experimental psychology, evolutionary psychology, psychophysics, psychoanalysis, behaviorism, cognitive psychology, neuropsychology, intelligence testing and the nature of consciousness.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course studies the epistemological clash between religion and science, looking especially at evolutionary theory, cosmology, the physics of time, and miracles. It also studies attempts to reconcile these two systems of knowledge. Finally, it examines the science of religion: anthropological theories of religion and the cognitive science of religion.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of philosophical approaches to understanding relationships of power, privilege, and oppression. Material will include work in feminist philosophy, critical race theory, and/or postcolonial theory. There will be discussion of forms of oppression along the lines of gender, race, class, disability, and sexuality, with a focus on intersectional analyses.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2630F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Philosophical problems relating to personal and institutionalized religion: religious experience and knowledge; the nature of faith; concepts of God; faith and reason; religion and morality. Independent critical thinking is stressed, and no particular religious views are presupposed.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2660E.
Extra Information: 2 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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What is evil and why does it exist in the world? Is there more pain in life than pleasure, and is anyone truly happy? Is this even the worst of all possible worlds? In this course, we will consider responses to these questions throughout the history of modern philosophy.
Extra Information: 3.0 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Techniques of moral analysis and evaluation are studied in the context of practical moral issues concerning the good life, the rights of the individual and the quest for social justice, etc. Classical and contemporary philosophical sources are examined, but the emphasis is on independent critical thought.
Extra Information: 2 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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The meaning and moral importance of death will be explored through a series of questions: What is death? Is death a bad thing? Do people survive death? What do we mean when we say that someone is "dying"? Should knowledge of death change the way we live our lives?
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Ethical analysis of issues arising in contemporary business life. Sample topics: ethical codes in business; fair and unfair competition, advertising and consumer needs and wants; responsibilities to investors, employees and society; conflicts of interest and obligation; business and the regulatory environment.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Ethical analysis of issues arising in contemporary business life. Sample topics: ethical codes in business; fair and unfair competition, advertising and consumer needs and wants; responsibilities to investors, employees and society; conflicts of interest and obligation; business and the regulatory environment.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Ethical analysis of issues arising in contemporary business life. Sample topics: ethical codes in business; fair and unfair competition, advertising and consumer needs and wants; responsibilities to investors, employees and society; conflicts of interest and obligation; business and the regulatory environment.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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The increasing globalization of business activity poses ethical problems arising from the conflicting ethical norms of different cultures. This course uses specific cases to consider a variety of such ethical challenges in pursuit of a critical understanding of ethical corporate decision-making in a global context.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of some ancient and/or more recent views on love, friendship and the varieties of sexual expression. Topics may include philosophical problems raised by affection, selfless love and eros, celibacy, pornography, perversion, and the social roles and conventions of sexual identity.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An investigation of ways that contemporary philosophers deal with concepts of gender and sexuality, addressing such issues as the regulation and production of normative sexuality, the question of essentialism, the construction and disciplining of the gendered body, and the effects of new media on sexual identity.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An investigation of ways that contemporary philosophers deal with concepts of gender and sexuality, addressing such issues as the regulation and production of normative sexuality, the question of essentialism, the construction and disciplining of the gendered body, and the effects of new media on sexual identity.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Through social media, computer gaming, and virtual communities, we spend a considerable portion of our lives in the digital world. What moral considerations ought to guide our conduct as digital citizens? This class will consider the ethics of life online through a study of moral theory and ethical problems.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of moral issues in sports, including the relative fairness of performance enhancing drugs and techniques, cheating and deception, the role of violence in sports, sex testing and sex segregation in sports, disability and equality in sports, and the connection between sports and the good life.
Antirequisite: Kinesiology 2292F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of some main problems in legal philosophy. Emphasis is given to actual law, e.g. criminal law and contracts, as a background to questions of law's nature. Specimen topics: police powers in Canada, contractual obligation, insanity defence, judicial reasoning and discretion, civil liberties, legal responsibility, natural law and legal positivism.
Extra Information: 2 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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A study of some main problems in legal philosophy. Emphasis is given to actual law, e.g. criminal law and contracts, as a background to questions of law's nature. Specimen topics: police powers in Canada, contractual obligation, insanity defence, judicial reasoning and discretion, civil liberties, legal responsibility, natural law and legal positivism.
Extra Information: 2 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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A philosophical reflection on food and our current food system. Issues may include food and climate change, food justice, local and global hunger and food insecurity, the industrization of food and agriculture, the moral and political dimensions of genetically modified food, or the treatment of animals and lab cultured meat.
Antirequisite(s): The former Philosophy 2010F/G, the former Philosophy 3010F/G.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 2 tutorial hours, 0.5 course.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of contemporary philosophical discussions of terrorism, including different perspectives on the question of whether terrorism is morally justifiable. Related issues such as just war and civil disobedience will also be touched upon.
Extra Information: 3.0 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A philosophical exploration of interrelated questions: Why does the universe exist? Why do humans (in general) exist? Why do I exist? Ancient, scholastic and contemporary sources will be examined, including both theistic and atheistic stances as well as approaches that question the meaningfulness of these questions.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2666F/G.
Extra information: 3.0 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of the role played by philosophical ideas in 19th and 20th century literature and of some of the philosophical ideas underlying modern science fiction. Authors studied may include Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Zamyatin, Poe, Hesse, Mann, Kafka, Huysmans, Unamuno, Sartre, Borges, Huxley, and Orwell.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course explores themes in logic, metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and political philosophy as they arise in popular culture, including television, film, art, literature, games, and graphic novels, and considers philosophical questions pertaining to popular culture itself.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to the philosophy of areas such as India, Tibet, China and Japan. The first part of the course examines the metaphysics of Hinduism and Buddhism. The second part of the course focuses on Chinese moral philosophy and East Asian developments in Buddhism.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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The course surveys Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism and Legalism. Students may also be introduced to Chinese Buddhism such as the Hua Yen or Zen Schools.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to 19th and 20th century existentialism through a reading of philosophy and literature, with an emphasis on the concrete existence of the individual searching for a meaning to his or her life.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A critical examination of key works of Greek philosophers with major emphasis on Plato and Aristotle.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A critical examination of key works of Greek philosophers with major emphasis on Plato and Aristotle.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A brief survey of some main problems in mediaeval philosophy. Emphasis will be placed on metaphysical and epistemological issues.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2200F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A critical examination of key works of selected figures of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A critical examination of key works of selected figures of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A general historical survey of ideas in the physical and biological sciences from antiquity to the early 20th century. This course will also examine issues in scientific methodology as well as the impact of scientific ideas on society.
Antirequisite(s): History of Science 2200E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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A general historical survey of ideas in the physical and biological sciences from antiquity to the early 20th century. This course will also examine issues in scientific methodology as well as the impact of scientific ideas on society.
Antirequisite(s): History of Science 2200E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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A general historical survey of ideas in the physical and biological sciences from antiquity to the early 20th century. This course will also examine issues in scientific methodology as well as the impact of scientific ideas on society.
Antirequisite(s): History of Science 2200E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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A survey of the great philosophers from the pre-Socratics to Aquinas; focusing on the systematic unity of their thought, the influence of their ideas and their importance for us today. Themes include: the nature of reality, human existence, truth, God, political agency, and ethics.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2200F/G, Philosophy 2201F/G.
Extra Information: 6 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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A survey of the great philosophers from the Renaissance, through Modern philosophy to contemporary Post-modern thought, focusing on the systematic unity of their thought, the influence of their ideas and their importance for us today. Themes include: the nature of reality, human existence, truth, God, political agency, and ethics.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2205W/X or registration in a Social and Political Thought module.
Extra Information: 6 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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An introduction to Social and Political Thought through a reading of some of the main figures in European traditions of social theory, political sociology, Marxism and Frankfurt School critical theory.
Antirequisite(s): The former Philosophy 2204E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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An introduction to the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas through textual analysis and discussion of a selection of his philosophical writings. The course will concern principally his philosophy of nature, philosophical psychology, moral philosophy, metaphysics and philosophical theology.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2014.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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Major movements and figures in the Continental and Anglo-American philosophy of the present day.
Antirequisite(s): The former Philosophy 2019E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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A study of some of the central concepts in Aristotle's logic. Special emphasis is placed on deductive and inductive forms of reasoning, as well as argumentation materially considered, namely, demonstration, dialectics, rhetorical argumentation and poetic argumentation. In addition, a study of sophistical reasoning is made.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2022.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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This course introduces early Chinese traditions (Confucian, Mohist, Daoist, Legalist). By studying controversies within and among these traditions, we gain appreciation of their diversity and learn how traditions adapt over time through interacting and responding to shared challenges. We discuss implications for contemporary issues facing Chinese and Western societies.
Extra Information: 3 hours, 0.5 course.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to the key concepts and issues in contemporary Japanese Thought and the influence of Buddhism and Shinto on Japanese philosophy. Students will investigate questions concerning the self, metaphysics, aesthetics, and ethics from the perspective of classical and contemporary Japanese thinkers. No previous knowledge of philosophy assumed.
Extra Information: 3 hours, 0.5 course.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to Indigenous thought. Topics include: Indigenous understandings of knowledge-keeping and -transmission, narratives, the importance of Land in Indigenous cultures, as well as Indigenous approaches to questions in metaphysics, aesthetics, ethics, and social and political philosophy, especially discourses surrounding colonisation, decolonisation, and rights. No previous knowledge of philosophy assumed.
Extra Information: 3 hours, 0.5 course.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of the nature and enabling conditions of Indigenous-Settler reconciliation in Canadian colonial context. Relationality, a lived principle recognizing kinship and interdependence between all beings, will be considered as a potential method for reconciling nation-to-nation relationships. The course focuses on texts and videos from Indigenous authors, knowledge-carriers, and elders.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An intensive study of the interrelationships between philosophy and the arts. Students will study philosophical and critical texts as well as works of art ranging from literature to the visual arts. Subjects such as artistic expression, mimesis, creativity, symbolism, modernism, and art criticism will be explored.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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What makes film unique? How has film changed the way we think and feel? Can film change the world? We explore philosophical questions asked about film since its rise in the early 20th century, covering Marxist, psychoanalytic, semiotic and cognitivist thought and such thinkers as Benjamin, Eisenstein, Bazin, and Deleuze.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course explores central philosophical questions from a cross-cultural perspective. Students will learn about non-Western traditions and how they compare to the European tradition. Topics will include: the nature of the self, ethics, aesthetics, and metaphysical questions concerning the nature of life, our environment, and being.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course explores central philosophical questions from a cross-cultural perspective. Students will learn about non-Western traditions and how they compare to the European tradition. Topics will include: the nature of the self, ethics, aesthetics, and metaphysical questions concerning the nature of life, our environment, and being.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2240F/G.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course considers contemporary environmental thought and how we understand the relation between humanity and the Earth. Topics include: climate change and justice, place and knowing, eco-affectivity and spirituality, and integral ecology. This course explores this question through world philosophical traditions including: East Asian Buddhist, Indigenous, and Western philosophy.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Students critically examine special ethical problems and issues associated with science, scientific research, applied science, and technology. Topics include: the use of animals for research, the manipulation of nature and the human, the mechanization of the human world, are there environmental or socio-political limits to scientific research and technology?
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Students examine the ethical implications of data collection and its use. Issues include: data ownership and privacy, the impact of data-driven algorithms on society, the right to be “forgotten”, the limits of data and quantitative reasoning, the threat data collection possesses to democracy, individual freedoms, and rights.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of philosophical questions induced by encounter between radically different worldviews, paradigms, and ways of being. Particular, but not exclusive, attention is given to encounters between Indigenous and European frameworks. Topics include: identity and hybridity, theories of time, translation and borders, ways of knowing, language, stories, narratives, and world-making.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of sentential and predicate logic designed to train students to use procedures and systems (trees, natural deduction, axiomatic systems) for determining logical properties and relations, and to give students an understanding of syntactic and semantic metatheoretical concepts and results relevant to those procedures and systems.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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A study of sentential and predicate logic designed to train students to use procedures and systems (trees, natural deduction, axiomatic systems) for determining logical properties and relations, and to give students an understanding of syntactic and semantic metatheoretical concepts and results relevant to those procedures and systems.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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A survey of some important basic concepts of mathematics in an historical setting, and in relation to the broader history of ideas. Topics may include: the evolution of the number concept, the development of geometry, Zeno's paradoxes.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A review of the techniques of logical analysis and evaluation coupled with a careful study of the formal syntax and semantics of sentential and predicate logic. Emphasis on the proof of important metatheoretic results.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2020, Philosophy 2250.
Prerequisite(s): A minimum of 85% in any grade 12U Mathematics course or any 1020-level course in Applied Mathematics, Calculus, Computer Science, Mathematics, or Statistical Sciences, or permission of the Department.
Extra Information: 4 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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Modern approaches to the resolution of decisions in situations of uncertainty. Topics include: philosophical evaluation of principles of rationality, systematic ways of representing belief, learning, and values, with applications to elementary examples from social and institutional policy, econmic evaluation, medical diagnosis and therapy, and strategic thinking generally.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Modern approaches to the resolution of decisions in situations of uncertainty. Topics include: philosophical evaluation of principles of rationality, systematic ways of representing belief, learning, and values, with applications to elementary examples from social and institutional policy, econmic evaluation, medical diagnosis and therapy, and strategic thinking generally.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of sentential and predicate logic designed to train students to use procedures and systems (trees, natural deduction, axiomatic systems) for determining logical properties and relations, and to give students an understanding of syntactic and semantic meta-theoretical concepts and results relevant to those procedures and systems.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2250, Philosophy 2252W/X.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A survey of contemporary and historical philosophical works on language. Topics may include: What is a language? How are language and thought related? Does linguistic meaning come from the world, communicative activity, or the mind? Authors may include , among others: Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein, Austin, Grice and Chomsky.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A survey of contemporary and historical philosophical works on language. Topics may include: What is a language? How are language and thought related? Does linguistic meaning come from the world, communicative activity, or the mind? Authors may include , among others: Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein, Austin, Grice and Chomsky.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Drawing on probability and decision theory, the philosophy of mind, ethics, and legal philosophy, the course will deal with personal choice and the perception of risk, the moral and social acceptability of risks, and the legal management of risk. Sample topics: industry, finance, health, intimacy, sports, the environment, paternalism.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A historical survey of philosophical ideas about money presented in works of such theorists as Aristotle, Aquinas, Locke, Adam Smith, David Ricardo, Marx, Mill, Joan Robinson, Janet Yellen and Christina Romer; together with a non-specialist introduction to some contemporary ideas about the concept of money.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Can animals speak? Is knowledge of language innate? How do words shape perceptions of the world? Is English in decline? Is it permissible to limit free speech? What should be done to preserve endangered languages? This accessible introduction to philosophy and language addresses such compelling issues, using web-based media.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course investigates the issues and dilemmas of morality and law in borderless global information technologies. Issues include cybercrime, state and corporate control of content, free speech, the border between private and public domain, electronic surveillance and threats to security and privacy, the impact on politics, counterculture resistance and terrorism.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2998G taken in 2019-20.
Extra Information: 3 hours, 0.5 course.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This case-based course examines Canadian judicial thinking. Focusing on controversial rulings, students examine the legal structures and principles that operate in Canadian judicial thinking and its effect on Canadian life. Topics include: the constitution and charter of rights, fundamental freedoms, equality rights, Indigenous issues, civil and criminal responsibility, and sovereignty.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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Introduction to how moral reasoning can help to identify and address current emerging disabilityrelated situations in health care practice, caregiving, health policy and research. Normative ethics, philosophy of health care, and Disability Studies models are applied to discussion of case studies.
Antirequisite(s): Disability Studies 2272F/G, the former Disability Studies 2072F/G, the former
Philosophy 2072F/G, the former Philosophy 2071E.
Extra information: 3 hours, cross-listed with Disability Studies 2272F/G.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Students analyze the roles ideology, culture, political power, and history play in decision-making processes. Students will learn to elucidate, navigate, and apply select factors to standard decision-making and analytical processes in order to innovatively re-envision the deep conditioning factors that structure decisions and decision-making processes.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A discussion of conceptual problems which fall between science and philosophy, as well as broader epistemological issues concerning theory change and the concept of progress in science.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A discussion of conceptual problems which fall between science and philosophy, as well as broader epistemological issues concerning theory change and the concept of progress in science.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An examination of philosophical problems to which modern physical theories of quantum mechanics and relativity have given rise. No previous formal training in physics and mathematics will be presupposed.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An historical introduction to the Philosophy of Biology examining the development of evolutionary theory from Aristotle to Darwin and the ways in which past ideas have helped shape contemporary debates (e.g. species concepts, adaptation, levels of selection). Philosophy 2350F/G is recommended background for those interested in Philosophy 3340F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Sustainability is now widely advocated, but what exactly does it mean? Is sustainability a trendy ideology, an ethical ideal, or a scientifically based endeavour to protect people and the environment? This course addresses
these questions and fosters reflections on what ought to be sustained, and what is required to make that possible.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course explores philosophical issues related to climate change, including problems of knowledge in climate science; making choices when outcomes are deeply uncertain; international justice in climate policy; weighing harms to future generations and to non-human nature; the moral significance of risk of human extinction; and revision of cultural values.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of the relationships between scientific practice, cultural institutions, and human values. Attention will be devoted to such topics as the commercialization of research, military research, genetically modified organisms, and the study of race and gender.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to philosophy of mind, drawing on contemporary and historical sources. Topics may include: knowledge of other minds; free will; personal identity; what makes something mental; dualism and materialism; survival after death.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An introduction to philosophy of mind, drawing on contemporary and historical sources. Topics may include: knowledge of other minds; free will; personal identity; what makes something mental; dualism and materialism; survival after death.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Do emotions interfere with reason and morality or are they required for both? Are emotions primarily biological or are they social constructions? These and other questions will be addressed using a variety of readings ranging from contemporary analytic and feminist philosophy to modern neurobiology and psychology.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to the main problems of epistemology. Specimen topics include: the nature of human knowledge and belief, perception, evidence, truth and confirmation.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An introduction to the main problems of epistemology. Specimen topics include: the nature of human knowledge and belief, perception, evidence, truth and confirmation.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An introduction to the main problems of epistemology. Specimen topics include: the nature of human knowledge and belief, perception, evidence, truth and confirmation.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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This is a special topic in Philosophy course.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This is a special topic in Philosophy course.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of the work of Kierkegaard and Nietzsche, with a consideration of their opposition to systematic philosophy and of their contrasting attitudes toward religion.
Antirequisite(s): The former Philosophy 2554E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An examination of the work of Kierkegaard and Nietzsche, with a consideration of their opposition to systematic philosophy and of their contrasting attitudes toward religion.
Antirequisite(s): The former Philosophy 2554E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A critical examination of representative literature in the fields of phenomenological research and existential philosophy from Husserl to the present day.
Antirequisite(s): The former Philosophy 2554E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A critical examination of representative literature in the fields of phenomenological research and existential philosophy from Husserl to the present day.
Antirequisite(s): The former Philosophy 2554E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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We will consider the meaning of human existence, including issues of freedom, agency, and relations among humans. Drawing on classic and contemporary texts, such as those from Nietzsche, Sartre, and Beauvoir, among others, this course will consider how we meaningfully encounter our world and interact and engage with others.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course will address distinctive questions associated with metaphysics: What is a human being with respect to self, freedom and body? What are space, time, and causation? In what respect do things remain the same throughout change? Why is there a world instead of nothing at all?
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of feminist perspectives on core philosophical problems posed in such areas as philosophy of mind, epistemology, ethics, and philosophy of science. We shall examine feminist criticisms of mainstream philosophy, feminist reconstructions of contested questions, and positive developments within feminist philosophy.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of feminist perspectives on core philosophical problems posed in such areas as philosophy of mind, epistemology, ethics, and philosophy of science. We shall examine feminist criticisms of mainstream philosophy, feminist reconstructions of contested questions, and positive developments within feminist philosophy.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Conceptual problems relating to personal and institutionalized religion. Specimen topics include: the nature of religious experience and knowledge, analysis of the concept of God, analysis and comparison of important types of religious philosophy.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2063E.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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Conceptual problems relating to personal and institutionalized religion. Specimen topics include: the nature of religious experience and knowledge, analysis of the concept of God, analysis and comparison of important types of religious philosophy.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2063E.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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An examination of issues in philosophy of religion, focusing on arguments concerning the existence of God, the immortality of the soul, the occurrence of miracles, the validity of religious experience, and the place of religion in morality. Independent critical thinking is stressed, and no particular religious views are presupposed.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2063E, Philosophy 2660E (King's).
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An examination of issues in philosophy of religion, focusing on arguments concerning the existence of God, the immortality of the soul, the occurrence of miracles, the validity of religious experience, and the place of religion in morality. Independent critical thinking is stressed, and no particular religious views are presupposed.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2063E, Philosophy 2660E (King's).
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An examination of special topics in the philosophy of religion, e.g. the basis of religious faith and knowledge, the relationship between religion and science, religious diversity, the nature of God, and grace and predestination.
Antirequisite(s) at Main campus: Philosophy 2063E, Philosophy 2070E, Philosophy 2660E (King's).
Antirequisite(s) Huron campus: Philosophy 2070E, Philosophy 2660E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An examination of special topics in the philosophy of religion, e.g. the basis of religious faith and knowledge, the relationship between religion and science, religious diversity, the nature of God, and grace and predestination.
Antirequisite(s) at Main campus: Philosophy 2063E, Philosophy 2070E, Philosophy 2660E (King's).
Antirequisite(s) Huron campus: Philosophy 2070E, Philosophy 2660E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A first introduction focusing on ancient Buddhism, the course will consider how being, ethics and knowledge connect to salvation from suffering. It will concentrate on Buddhism as philosophy, rather than as a religious practice. As such, the doctrines of the Buddha and his followers will be explained sympathetically but assessed critically.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Philosophy 2665F/G INTRODUCTION TO JEWISH PHILOSOPHY I: FROM THE BEGINNINGS TO THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE
Topics include biblical and rabbinic texts as materials for philosophical exegesis -- the creation of the universe out of nothing, divine commands and moral requirements, freedom of the will, God's mysterious justice; Neoplatonism; Islamic influence on medieval Jewish thought; Maimonides and Jewish Aristotelianism; the Spanish conservative reaction; the Italian classical revival.
Antirequisite(s): Jewish Studies 2665F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours. Cross-listed with Jewish Studies 2665F/G.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A philosophical exploration of interrelated questions: Why does the universe exist? Why do humans (in general) exist? Why do I exist? Ancient, scholastic and contemporary sources will be examined, including both theistic and atheistic stances as well as approaches that question the meaningfulness of these questions.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2084A/B.
Extra information: 3.0 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Topics include: Spinoza and the critique of traditional religion; Judaism and the Enlightenment; historical scholarship and reform; the reassertion of tradition; Jewish speculative philosophy of history; other faiths; rationalism; evil, suffering, and the Holocaust; issues of inclusion -- the role of women; Zionism; rationality and belief at the present time.
Antirequisite(s): Jewish Studies 2667F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours. Cross-listed with Jewish Studies 2667F/G.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course provides a systematic introduction to the major themes of Islamic thought, and will address in particular the following questions:(l) What is Islamic thought and philosophy?; (2)Can the main statements of Islam be justified by reason?; (3) How did Ancient Greek ideas influence Islam?; and (4) What is Islamic Mysticism? No previous knowledge of philosophy is assumed.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A critical study of the origins and major themes of Catholic thought. Among the issues discussed are the existence and nature of God, the relationship between faith and reason, morality and natural law, and the nature of the self.
Antirequisites: Religious Studies 2268F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to significant issues and figures in the philosophy of history. Topics considered may include: evidence and historical hypotheses; causation; counterfactuals in history; historical necessity and contingency; explanation and laws in history; realism and anti-realism about the past; objectivity; narrative and interpretation. Readings may include works by Vico, Kant, Herder, Hegel, Marx, Ranke, and Collingwood.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Critical study of the nature and justification of ethical and value judgements, with an analysis of key concepts and a survey of the main contemporary theories.
Antirequisite(s): Governance, Leadership and Ethics 2002F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
This course is cross listed as GLE 2002F/G when offered at Huron Campus only.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Critical study of the nature and justification of ethical and value judgements, with an analysis of key concepts and a survey of the main contemporary theories.
Antirequisite(s): Governance, Leadership and Ethics 2002F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
This course is cross listed as GLE 2002F/G when offered at Huron Campus only.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Critical study of the nature and justification of ethical and value judgements, with an analysis of key concepts and a survey of the main contemporary theories.
Antirequisite(s): Governance, Leadership and Ethics 2002F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
This course is cross listed as GLE 2002F/G when offered at Huron Campus only.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of current issues in reproductive ethics, such as abortion, prenatal diagnosis, and infertility treatment. Appropriate methods for approaching these questions and for dealing with complex issues in bioethics generally are examined.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of key concepts in health care ethics, such as respect for patient autonomy, medical paternalism, patient competence, justice in health care, "death with dignity," "sanctity of life," commodifying human life. Goals are to understand these ideas and how to apply them to practical issues in health care.
Antirequisite(s): Health Sciences 2610F/G.
Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Professionals have special rights and duties that attach to their professional roles. This course will focus on the special ethical obligations that professionals have to themselves, to their clients, to their employers, to third parties, to their professions, and to society at large.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of ethical issues in media, including such topics as: the reasonable limits of free expression; intellectual property and the public domain; official secrets and access to information; regulating online content; commercial databases and informational privacy; cameras in the courtroom; plagiarism and piracy; defamation; hactivism and the hacker ethic.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course examines individual and societal obligations in two complementary ways: first, through the study of philosophical work on moral obligations and, second, through service learning projects. In written work students will be required to integrate what they have learned in the classroom and in volunteer work in the community.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An exploration of the moral arguments that philosophers have offered for and against responding to injustice with legal defiance and other confrontational forms of protest, including civil disobedience, sabotage, economic disruption, and armed rebellion.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A critical study of the philosophical foundations of political thought--from natural rights to contractarianism, from utilitarianism to socialism. The class will examine the classic historical texts of political philosophy. Authors studied may include Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hume, Kant, Mill, Hegel and Marx.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A critical study of the philosophical foundations of political thought--from natural rights to contractarianism, from utilitarianism to socialism. The class will examine the classic historical texts of political philosophy. Authors studied may include Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hume, Kant, Mill, Hegel and Marx.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of some of the central issues and theoretical alternatives in contemporary political philosophy from among the following: utilitarianism, liberal egalitarianism, libertarianism, socialism, feminism, and communitarianism. Issues to be studied may include multiculturalism, economic redistribution, individual rights and the limits of legitimate state authority.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of some of the central issues and theoretical alternatives in contemporary political philosophy from among the following: utilitarianism, liberal egalitarianism, libertarianism, socialism, feminism, and communitarianism. Issues to be studied may include multiculturalism, economic redistribution, individual rights and the limits of legitimate state authority.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of some of the central issues and theoretical alternatives in contemporary political philosophy from among the following: utilitarianism, liberal egalitarianism, libertarianism, socialism, feminism, and communitarianism. Issues to be studied may include multiculturalism, economic redistribution, individual rights and the limits of legitimate state authority.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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What are our obligations to other countries and their citizens? Do those obligations issue from universal human rights? This course will address these questions through the consideration of a number of topics that raise issues of global justice, for example economic globalization, genocide and military intervention.
Antirequisite(s): Political Science 3346E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to problems in political philosophy linking cultural diversity and moral relativism. The course will focus on the question of whether there might be a set of universal human rights, or whether that idea involves cultural imperialism. Multiculturalism within a single state will also be considered.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of some contemporary philosophical writing on nationalism, state formation, immigration and human rights, multilingualism, and freedom of religion.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to problems concerning large-scale armed conflict, including national and civil wars. Topics include revolutionary violence, the idea of a just war, war as an extension of foreign policy, international law and the law of war, the treatment of civilians, and war prisoners, war crimes and reparations, deterrence and rationality, pacifism.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to the philosophy of law. Topics typically covered include responsibility and punishment, freedom of expression, the constitutional protection of fundamental freedoms, and jurisprudence (the study of the question, "What is law"?)
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to the philosophy of law. Topics typically covered include responsibility and punishment, freedom of expression, the constitutional protection of fundamental freedoms, and jurisprudence (the study of the question, "What is law"?)
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An in depth examination of one or more topics in legal philosophy, for example property rights, criminal responsibility, and the rule of law. Topics vary from year to year.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An in depth examination of one or more topics in legal philosophy, for example property rights, criminal responsibility, and the rule of law. Topics vary from year to year.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Selected topics of current interest in philosophy. A course description will be available from the Department at the time of registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Selected topics of current interest in philosophy. A course description will be available from the Department at the time of registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Selected topics of current interest in philosophy. A course description will be available from the Department at the time of registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Selected topics of current interest in philosophy. A course description will be available from the Department at the time of registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Selected topics of current interest in philosophy. A course description will be available from the Department at the time of registration.
Extra Information: 2 hours (Main); 3 hours (Huron).
Course Weight: 0.50
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Selected topics of current interest in Philosophy. A course description will be available from the Department at the time of registration.
Extra Information: 2 hours
Course Weight: 1.00
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A study of a selected topic in Philosophy, presupposing no previous studies in the area and aimed at students in second or third year. The topics will vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning course content and Antirequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of a selected topic in Philosophy, presupposing no previous studies in the area and aimed at students in second or third year. The topics will vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning course content and Antirequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of a selected topic in Philosophy, presupposing no previous studies in the area and aimed at students in second or third year. The topics will vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning course content and Antirequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of a selected topic in Philosophy, presupposing no previous studies in the area and aimed at students in second or third year. The topics will vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning course content and Antirequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of a selected topic in Philosophy, presupposing no previous studies in the area and aimed at students in second or third year. The topics will vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning course content and Antirequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of a selected topic in Philosophy, presupposing no previous studies in the area and aimed at students in second or third year. The topics will vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning course content and Antirequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of a selected topic in Philosophy, presupposing no previous studies in the area and aimed at students in second or third year. The topics will vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning course content and Antirequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of a selected topic in Philosophy, presupposing no previous studies in the area and aimed at students in second or third year. The topics will vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning course content and Antirequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of a selected topic in Philosophy, presupposing no previous studies in the area and aimed at students in second or third year. The topics will vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning course content and Antirequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of a selected topic in Philosophy, presupposing no previous studies in the area and aimed at students in second or third year. The topics will vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning course content and Antirequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of a selected topic in Philosophy, presupposing no previous studies in the area and aimed at students in second or third year. The topics will vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning course content and Antirequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of a selected topic in Philosophy, presupposing no previous studies in the area and aimed at students in second or third year. The topics will vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning course content and Antirequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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This course will examine in-depth the works of two or three Indian, Tibetan, Chinese and/or Japanese philosophers. The topics will usually be ethical or metaphysical. In some years, the course may include readings from a Western philosopher for comparison.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An intermediate survey of the works of Plato. While some themes or works may be focused on to the exclusion of others, this course aims to give students a strong, foundational understanding of Plato's thought on a range of topics.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An intermediate survey of the works of Plato. While some themes or works may be focused on to the exclusion of others, this course aims to give students a strong, foundational understanding of Plato's thought on a range of topics.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2200F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An intermediate survey of the works of Aristotle. While some themes or works may be focused on to the exclusion of others, this course aims to give students a strong, foundational understanding of Aristotle's thought on a range of topics.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An intermediate survey of the works of Aristotle. While some themes or works may be focused on to the exclusion of others, this course aims to give students a strong, foundational understanding of Aristotle's thought on a range of topics.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2200F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A survey of some main themes in post Aristotelian Greek and Roman philosophy, with an emphasis on Epicurean, Stoic and Sceptical thinkers.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2200F/G or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A survey of core issues and figures in medieval philosophy.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department; or 1.0 from Medieval Studies 1022, or both of Medieval Studies 1025A/B and Medieval Studies 1026A/B or the former Medieval Studies 1020E.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A survey of core issues and figures in medieval philosophy.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2200F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced course in the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas for those already familiar with his thought. Some later forms of Thomism will also be considered.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2014 or Philosophy 2214.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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An intermediate survey of selected works by philosophers writing in the high middle ages. Figures to be studied may include Siger of Brabant, Thomas Aquinas, Duns Scotus, and William of Ockham.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2200F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An intermediate survey of later Scholasticism and reactions to it on the part of such figures as Montaigne, Bacon, Melanchthon, John Dee, and the Cambridge Platonists.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An intermediate survey of foundational works by philosophers in the Cartesian tradition including study of portions of Descartes's Principles of Philosophy and developments of its themes by such proponents and opponents as Hobbes, Gassendi, Arnauld, and Malebranche.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An intermediate survey of foundational works by philosophers in the Cartesian tradition including study of portions of Descartes's Principles of Philosophy and developments of its themes by such proponents and opponents as Hobbes, Gassendi, Arnauld, and Malebranche.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of the works of Spinoza.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of the works of Spinoza.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An intermediate survey of the works of Leibniz. While some themes or works may be focused on to the exclusion of others, this course aims to give students a strong foundational understanding of Leibniz's thought on a range of topics.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An intermediate survey of the works of Leibniz. While some themes or works may be focused on to the exclusion of others, this course aims to give students a strong foundational understanding of Leibniz's thought on a range of topics.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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This course is an introduction to John Stuart Mill and Karl Marx, two influential thinkers in modern political philosophy. Marx’s critique of capitalism and Mill’s defence of individual freedom will be critically explored, along with such issues as the proper role of the state and its use of power.
Prerequisite(s): 1.0 course in Philosophy, History or Political Science at the 1000-level.
Extra Information: 3 seminar hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An intermediate study of Locke's Essay concerning human understanding and of related works and correspondence, both by Locke and his critics.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An intermediate study of Locke's Essay concerning human understanding and of related works and correspondence, both by Locke and his critics.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of the philosophical works of George Berkeley, including the works on vision and the De Motu.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of the philosophical works of George Berkeley, including the works on vision and the De Motu.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of Book I of Hume's Treatise concerning human understanding supplemented by a study of either Book II and III of the Treatise or a comparative assessment of Hume's work with that of Condillac, Reid, or Kant.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of Book I of Hume's Treatise concerning human understanding supplemented by a study of either Book II and III of the Treatise or a comparative assessment of Hume's work with that of Condillac, Reid, or Kant.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An intermediate study of 18th-century Scottish Common Sense Philosopher Thomas Reid's work in epistemology, metaphysics, ethics. Topics may include: empiricism; nativism; skepticism; perception; evidence; testimony; language; freedom and responsibility; personal identity; qualities; philosophical method; Reid's defense of Christianity and philosophy of religion; Reid's relations to his predecessors, contemporaries, and successors.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course is a survey of Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophical writings, including texts from his early, middle, and late periods. Among the topics to be considered are his critique of Western morality, his doctrine of eternal recurrence, his rejection of the subject, and his declaration of the death of God.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course is an introduction to the philosophical contributions of women to 17th and 18th Century philosophy. What were their philosophical concerns? How did they influence the course of philosophy during this period? How were their contributions received by their contemporaries and how are they viewed today?
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of efforts in early modern philosophy to place human knowledge, including philosophy, theology, and the sciences, on a rational foundation. The works of Descartes and his successors, such as Malebranche, Spinoza, Leibniz, and others, will be emphasized.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of the 17th and 18th century philosophers who argued experience is our primary source of knowledge of reality, and who applied this view to fundamental questions regarding mind, nature, language, and theology. Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Reid, and others will be emphasized.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A critical, historical and thematic examination of the main currents of 19th century European philosophy including German Idealism and the movements from which Existentialism originated -- forming the background to 20th century European Continental philosophy.
Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year honours standing in Philosophy.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Schopenhauer’s philosophy is notable for its distinctive metaphysics of the will, its theory of redemption through art, its compassion-based ethics, and its innovative comparative methodology. This course will survey all aspects of Schopenhauer’s philosophy, focusing on his opus, The World as Will and Representation.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to Analytic philosophy—the revolutionary early 20thcentury reorientation that shaped today’s philosophical landscape and catalyzed intellectual developments from physics to psychology to computer science. Readings explore the "linguistic turn,” the revolt against metaphysics and idealism, logical positivism, ordinary language philosophy, and Quine’s turn to holism and naturalism.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2020, Philosophy 2250, or Philosophy 2252W/X and 0.5 from Philosophy 2260F/G or Philosophy 2400F/G or Philosophy 2500F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An introduction to Analytic philosophy—the revolutionary early 20thcentury reorientation that shaped today’s philosophical landscape and catalyzed intellectual developments from physics to psychology to computer science. Readings explore the "linguistic turn,” the revolt against metaphysics and idealism, logical positivism, ordinary language philosophy, and Quine’s turn to holism and naturalism.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2020, Philosophy 2250, or Philosophy 2252W/X and 0.5 from Philosophy 2260F/G or Philosophy 2400F/G or Philosophy 2500F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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As a political project opposed to democracy, equality and human solidarity, fascism has been critically analyzed by philosophers for over a century. This course examines challenges to fascism arising from a range of philosophical perspectives, which may include feminism, anti-racism, Marxism, existentialism, and liberalism.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of the intellectual tradition of 19th century critical philosophy in Germany, including Hegel, Feuerbach and Marx. Topics may include: reason and revolution; labour and alienation; self-activity and liberation; ideology and critique.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of themes and figures in European philosophy and critical social theory since the 1960s. Readings are drawn from philosophers and theorists influential in the broad Continental tradition, such as Jacques Derrida, Julia Kristeva, Michel Foucault, Christine Delphy, Jürgen Habermas, Slavoj Zizek, Chantal Mouffe, Alain Badiou, and Silvia Federici.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course discusses Augustine's claim that self-knowledge leads to knowledge and love of God. Ideas examined include the operations of knowing, the character of truth, knowing and doing, the effects of evil, especially pride and self-deception, on knowing, and the relation of knowing to grace and revelation.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy program.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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The Confucian Analects present a developing set of insights on transcendence through self-development and participation in cosmic harmony. This course examines the dynamic dialogue that is present among parts of the Analects on these ideas and on relevant unsettled questions that are considered in later Chinese thought.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy program.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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The Canadian Lonergan's work on knowing and on being presents a possible ground for dialogue among scholars in science, philosophy and theology, and also among believers in various religions. This course examines some of his distinctive notions on the intelligibility of the universe, believe and faith, revelation, love, and hope.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy program.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Later modern philosophy with particular emphasis on the philosophy of the 19th century.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G, Philosophy 2206W/X, Philosophy 3075F/G, or third or fourth year honours standing in Philosophy.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Later modern philosophy with particular emphasis on the philosophy of the 19th century.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G, Philosophy 2206W/X, Philosophy 3075F/G, or third or fourth year honours standing in Philosophy.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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study of selected topics from Aristotle to the beginning of the modern period. Topics covered will vary but may include Aristotle's Categories, the theory of the syllogism, medieval theories of signification, the notion of logical consequence, modal logic, and the development of polyadic logic with mixed quantification.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2200F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2200F/G or Philosophy 2700F/G or Philosophy 2202F/G or Philosophy 2800F/G.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Cognitive biases have been found to play a significant role in the thought of individuals and the inquiries of institutional science. Do these results pose a threat to mainstream notions of individual rationality and scientific objectivity? This course will examine some of the epistemological implications of our biased thinking.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of admissible patterns of reasoning from evidence in making findings of fact. Topics may include: interpretations of probability; the adequacy of Bayesian reasoning in real-life contexts; 'Baconian' (non-mathematical) probability; statistical evidence; evidential weight; expert testimony; eye-witness testimony; relevance. Elements of the law of evidence will be examined.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2250, or Philosophy 2252W/X, with a minimum grade of 70%.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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This class considers the intersection of ethical and political issues regarding global socioeconomic systems, ecological imbalance, and planetary change. It follows a pluralist methodology drawing from various world philosophical traditions and contemporary scholarship and explores issues of climate change and climate justice, decoloniality, social transformation and cultural pluralism.
Antirequisites: The former Philosophy 2244F/G.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours. Students are encouraged to take Philosophy 2242F/G: Philosophy of the Earth concurrently with or prior to this course to broaden their understanding of the ethical and social issues discussed in this course.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of recent empirically based criticisms of the traditional practice of consulting a priori intuitions as evidence for and against philosophical theories.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Issues and theories in recent philosophy of language. Topics may include: what meaning is; the contrast between "meaning as use" and formalist accounts of meaning; reference and truth. Authors may include: Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein, Strawson and Grice.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Issues and theories in recent philosophy of language. Topics may include: what meaning is; the contrast between "meaning as use" and formalist accounts of meaning; reference and truth. Authors may include: Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein, Strawson and Grice.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Philosophical perspectives on linguistic issues and the science of linguistics. Sample topics: the evidence base for linguistics; what linguistics should take as its proper subject matter; interfaces between syntax, semantics and pragmatics.
Prerequisite(s): Anthropology 1027A/B or French 2806A/B or Linguistics 2288A/B or Philosophy 2020, Philosophy 2250, or Philosophy 2252W/X or Philosophy 2260F/G or Spanish 3303A/B.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Most observed processes are asymmetric. Cream stirs into coffee but doesn't stir out. This relates to the direction of time: ordered states evolve into disordered states. Thermodynamics expresses this asymmetry and statistical mechanics aims to explain it. This course examines these two theories and the role(s)of probability in physics.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2300F/G or Philosophy 2310F/G or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3.0 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Though quantum mechanics is a well-tested and accepted part of physics, debate continues about what the success of this theory tells us about the world and about science. This course examines these questions while introducing the student to the peculiarities of quantum physics. No physics background presumed.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2300F/G or Philosophy 2310F/G or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3.0 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A special topic in Chinese philosophy will be investigated.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year in a Philosophy module.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A special topic in Japenese philosophy will be investigated.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year in a Philosophy module.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A special topic in Indigenous philosophy will be investigated.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year in a Philosophy module.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A special topic in Islamic philosophy will be investigated.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year in a Philosophy module.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Philosophical issues raised by the physics of space and time: are space and time objectively real or merely abstractions from spatial and temporal relations? Is motion absolute or relative? Is our knowledge of space and time factual or conventional? Authors include: Newton, Leibniz, Kant, Mach, Einstein. No physics background presumed.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2300F/G or Philosophy 2310F/G or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3.0 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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In-depth examination of contemporary philosophical debates arising from modern biology. Topics explored may include the structure of evolutionary theory, the notions of fitness and adaptation, functions and teleological explanation, the ontological status of species, reductionism and levels of explanation, and social and moral implications of biological research.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3.0 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to philosophical methods including reading and writing philosophical arguments, followed by five topical modules. Four modules focus on particular fields within the life sciences: evolutionary biology, genetics and genomics, ecology, and cognitive science. A final module examines ethical issues related to research in the life sciences.
Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year standing in Biology or permission of the Philosophy department.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A special topic in Ethics will be investigated.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year in a Philosophy module.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Advanced topics in the philosophy of mind. Topics may include: the metaphysics of mind -- from Cartesian Dualism, through Behaviorism and Identity Theory, to modern functionalist theories; connections between metaphysics of mind and topics such as mental causation, mental content, and consciousness. Emphasis will be given to contemporary readings.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Conceptual issues arising in psychology. Topics may include: modularity, nativism, theory of mind, the theory theory, simulation theory, concept acquisition, conceptual content. The methodology used by psychologists may also be investigated. Though some historical writings may be used, the emphasis will be on contemporary works.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department, or 3rd year standing in Psychology.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Moral psychology is the study of the human capacity for moral thought and behaviour. This course focuses on how philosophers have contributed to debates in moral psychology. Topics may include the roles that reason and emotion play in morality, whether virtue is attainable for us, and our capacity for altruism.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of topics in perception such as the status of qualia, sense-datum theories, adverbial theory, phenomenalism, functionalism, representionalism, direct realism, externalist theories of perception, and perceptual belief. Also of the philosophical implications of work on blindsight, interpretations of sensory consciousness, the 'binding problem', and the cerebral localization of consciousness.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of topics in perception such as the status of qualia, sense-datum theories, adverbial theory, phenomenalism, functionalism, representionalism, direct realism, externalist theories of perception, and perceptual belief. Also of the philosophical implications of work on blindsight, interpretations of sensory consciousness, the 'binding problem', and the cerebral localization of consciousness.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2400F/G or Philosophy 2500F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Introduction to philosophy of neuroscience. Questions may include: What does neuroscience tell us about the mind-brain relationship, free will and moral responsibility, or the mechanisms of learning and memory? Is consciousness a mental, behavioral or brain state? What is the structure of explanation in neuroscience? Is psychology reducible to neuroscience?
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Problems in contemporary theory of knowledge. Topics may include epistemic justification, modern skepticism, foundationalism and coherentism, internalism and externalism, ethics of belief, epistemic probability, testimony and social dimensions of knowledge.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3.0 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Problems in contemporary theory of knowledge. Topics may include epistemic justification, modern skepticism, foundationalism and coherentism, internalism and externalism, ethics of belief, epistemic probability, testimony and social dimensions of knowledge.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2500F/G.
Extra Information: 3.0 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Theories of truth since the end of the 19th century, and the problems posed for any theory of truth by the Liar Paradox, with a look at some recent attempts at solutions. Authors may include: Frege, James, Bradley, Ramsey, Tarski, Austin, Strawson, Field, Kripke, Grover, Horwich, Gupta, Soames.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2250, or Philosophy 2252W/X, with a minimum grade of 70%.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of 20th century and contemporary continental philosophy. Readings will be drawn from phenomenological, deconstructive, post-structuralist and feminist texts and/or from the work of the Frankfurt school. Topics to be considered will include some of: intersubjectivity, sexual difference, community, racialization, perception,community, hermeneutics and critical theory.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced reading seminar in Social Political Thought with a focus on Human Rights. Topics will explore the power and philosophical underpinnings that are important to the consideration and establishment of human rights. See the department website for details about the authors and topic being treated in any given year.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year registration, or permission of the Department.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced reading seminar in Social Political Thought with a focus on Human Rights. Topics will explore the power and philosophical underpinnings that are important to the consideration and establishment of human rights. See the department website for details about the authors and topic being treated in any given year.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year registration in an Honours program, or permission of the Department.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced reading seminar in Social Political Thought with a focus on Human Rights. Topics will explore the power and philosophical underpinnings that are important to the consideration and establishment of human rights. See the department website for details about the authors and topic being treated in any given year.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year registration in an Honours program, or permission of the Department.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to current debate on metaphysical questions. Topics may include the nature of space and time, the status of phenomenal sensible qualities, the existence of natural kinds, causality and determinism, counterfactuals and possible worlds, identity and individuation, and personal identity.
Prerequisite(s): Third or Fourth year standing in a Philosophy module or permission of the Instructor.
Extra Information: 3.0 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An introduction to current debate on metaphysical questions. Topics may include the nature of space and time, the status of phenomenal sensible qualities, the existence of natural kinds, causality and determinism, counterfactuals and possible worlds, identity and individuation, and personal identity.
Extra Information: 3.0 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An introduction to metaphysical, epistemological, and logical problems connected with the idea of a cause. Topics may include: the metaphysical nature of the objects related by causality, Humean regularity theories of causation, the necessary condition analysis of causation, probabilistic causality, causes and counterfactuals, and causation in the law.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2250 with a minimum grade of 70%.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to the problem posed by the assumptions that human actions are natural occurrences and that natural occurrences are governed by causal laws, whether deterministic or probabilistic. Various versions of determinism, compatibilism, and metaphysical libertarianism will be discussed in connection with ascriptions of legal and moral responsibility.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2250 with a minimum grade of 70%, Philosophy 2700F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of the question whether human social groups can have beliefs and intentions and perform actions, where these things are not reducible to the beliefs, intentions, and actions of their individual members; and a consideration of the notion of group accountability. Special attention will be given to corporations.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2801F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course focuses on one or more main thinkers or themes in Existentialism, including Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Camus, Marcel, Sartre, and others. We will consider the human condition and situation, freedom, and the responsibility we have for our own lives. Is Existentialism essentially atheistic? How is human freedom reconciled with God?
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy program.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An investigation into some of the central concepts of love from ancient, medieval, and modern thinkers. Special emphasis is placed on questions concerning the nature and role or eros, of agape, and of philia, and whether these different kinds of love can exist together harmoniously.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy program.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A textual analysis and discussion of John Paul II's pre-pontifical and pontifical writings as they pertain to his philosophical thought.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy program.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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See department for current offerings.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in Honours Specialization or Major in Philosophy modules.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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See department for current offerings.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in Honours Specialization or Major in Philosophy modules.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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See department for current offerings.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in Honours Specialization or Major in Philosophy modules.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A critical study of moral problems and theories. The course will be based on readings selected from ethical literature from Aristotle to the present.
Prerequisite(s): Third and Fourth Year Honours standing in a Philosophy Program or Module.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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Metaethics is the area of moral philosophy in which we inquire about, among other things, the status of moral claims, the meaning of moral terms, the rational justification of morality, the nature of value, and issues of moral psychology. This course is an advanced study of topics in metaethics.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 3700E.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Metaethics is the area of moral philosophy in which we inquire about, among other things, the status of moral claims, the meaning of moral terms, the rational justification of morality, the nature of value, and issues of moral psychology. This course is an advanced study of topics in metaethics.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 3700E.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2700F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Moral philosophers engaged in normative ethics seek to articulate and justify systems of normative standards - of action or of character - to guide our moral life. This course is an advanced study of normative ethical theories, such as utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue theories.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 3700E.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Moral philosophers engaged in normative ethics seek to articulate and justify systems of normative standards - of action or of character - to guide our moral life. This course is an advanced study of normative ethical theories, such as utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue theories.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 3700E.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2700F/G or Philosophy 2800F/G or Philosophy 2801F/G or Philosophy 2821F/G or Philosophy 2822F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A survey of some of the leading controversies of animal ethics. Topics include: the ethics of killing and eating animals, the morality of placing them in factory farms, laboratories and zoos, and the problem of wild animal suffering. Students will be introduced to various ethical theories, principles, traditions, and puzzles.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An introduction to ethical issues in human experimentation, covering ethical frameworks for research ethics, informed consent, confidentiality, benefit-harm analysis, participant selection, and vulnerable participants and communities. Special topics, such as randomized controlled trials, gene therapy trials, cluster randomized trials, and health policy and systems research may also be covered.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Philosophy 2715F/G is recommended, but not required.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An investigation of the philosophical implications of corporeal existence. Topics include: bodily autonomy; dependence and vulnerability; transhumanism; racialization and colonized bodies; sexed difference; reproduction; the commodification of biological material; and relationships between subjectivity, selfhood, corporeality, and identity.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A seminar in political and legal philosophy. Sample topics: the distinction between corrective and distributive justice, the use of class actions as a mechanism of social justice, the redistribution of wealth through taxation, the role of constitutional institutions in delivering and embodying justice, and conceptual models of a just society.
Antirequisite(s) at Main campus: Law 5770.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2700F/G or Philosophy 2800F/G or Philosophy 2801F/G or Philosophy 2821F/G or Philosophy 2822F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A seminar in political and legal philosophy. Sample topics: the distinction between corrective and distributive justice, the use of class actions as a mechanism of social justice, the redistribution of wealth through taxation, the role of constitutional institutions in delivering and embodying justice, and conceptual models of a just society.
Antirequisite(s) at Main campus: Law 5770.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2700F/G or Philosophy 2800F/G or Philosophy 2801F/G or Philosophy 2821F/G or Philosophy 2822F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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This course subjects globalization, as an economic, political and cultural phenomenon, to critical scrutiny, using tools provided by theories of justice. Topics considered may include: sweatshops; world hunger; refugee rights; the claim to universality in human rights discourse; and the ethics of militant protest to back demands for global justice.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An exploration of the deep philosophical roots of the normative challenges facing our food system and our relationships to food. Issues may include the sources and justifications for capitalism, the nature of corporations, communitarianism, sustainability, social and economic classism, social justice, and nature and roles of intuitions in structuring society.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2082F/G or the former Philosophy 2010F/G or the former Philosophy 3010F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours, 0.5 course
Course Weight: 0.50
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A seminar course involving the extended examination of major real-world cases in business ethics. Sample areas for examination: pharmaceuticals, the automotive industry, mining, the petroleum industry.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2074F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Climate change affects everyone, but its burdens fall unevenly on different people, depending on factors like race and class. In responding, many Indigenous, environmentalist, anti-racist, feminist and labour movements speak of climate justice. What is climate justice? How might it impact the law, public policy and social movements?
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A survey of a number of core philosophical questions raised in and about the social sciences, for example: Can, and ought, the social sciences aspire to objectivity? Is the goal of the social sciences explanation, prediction, understanding, prescription or some combination? Is social life governed by laws?
Prerequisite(s): Third year or fourth year standing in a module in Philosophy or in a Department in the Faculty of Social Science.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An exploration of social ontology, examining a range of questions about the nature of social reality. Topics considered may include: social norms, statuses, roles and institutions; the social construction of race, gender and other identities; collective intentionality; collective goods; interactive kinds; and the distinction between system and life-world as forms of social integration. Readings may include works by several contemporary philosophers, including Sally Haslanger, Ian Hacking, John Searle, Jürgen Habermas, and Charles Taylor.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2500F/G, or 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy program
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced reading seminar in Social Political Thought. See the department website for details about the authors and topic being treated in any given year.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy or Social Political Thought program.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced reading seminar in Social Political Thought. See the department website for details about the authors and topic being treated in any given year.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy or Social Political Thought program.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An investigation of issues in the philosophy of art and aesthetics. Topics include: characteristics of the various arts; the fine arts, arts and cultures, mass arts; art, craft, and technology; beauty, taste, and the variety of aesthetics; freedom and self-expression; individuals and cultures; mimesis and imagination; interpretation and audience participation.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 3023F/G.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An investigation of issues in the philosophy of art and aesthetics. Topics include: characteristics of the various arts; the fine arts, arts and cultures, mass arts; art, craft, and technology; beauty, taste, and the variety of aesthetics; freedom and self-expression; individuals and cultures; mimesis and imagination; interpretation and audience participation.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 3023F/G.
Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year honours standing in Philosophy or registration in the Diploma in Art Therapy Program.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of selected philosophical problems. The problems vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of selected philosophical problems. The problems vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of selected philosophical problems. The problems vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A broadly-based study of Kant's Critique of Pure Reason and his related critical and pre-critical writings on physical, metaphysical and epistemological topics.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G or Philosophy 2206W/X and third or fourth year honours standing in Philosophy.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G or Philosophy 2206W/X and third or fourth year honours standing in Philosophy.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A broadly based study of Kant's major works on ethics.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced reading seminar on Hegel's philosophy.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy program.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced reading seminar on Nietzsche's philosophy.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy program.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of the works of Plato.
Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year standing in Philosophy.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of the works of Aristotle.
Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year standing in Philosophy.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of a selected topic in applied ethics, metaethics or political philosophy. The topics dealt with vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of a selected topic in applied ethics, metaethics or political philosophy. The topics dealt with vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): Third and Fourth Year Honours standing in a Philosophy Program or Module.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): Third and Fourth Year Honours standing in a Philosophy Program or Module.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of selected topics in continental philosophy. The topics dealt with vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An investigation of central figures and concepts in 20th century Continental European social and political thought. Questions to be investigated: the nature of power, the roles and nature of the state, the construction of subjectivity, feminism, and the legacy of genocide.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy program.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A critical reading of the philosophy of Martin Heidegger.
Prerequisite(s): Third and Fourth Year Honours standing in a Philosophy Program or Module.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): Third and Fourth Year Honours standing in a Philosophy Program or Module.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A close reading and critical discussion of the Stoic emperor's work. Topics include his cognitivist theory of emotions, his urge to live the present moment in the fullest, the tension between determinism and freedom. How can Marcus' unique solutions positively influence both our everyday life and the therapy of emotions?
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2200F/G or Philosophy 2205W/X, or by permission of the Department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Among the innovations credited to the thinkers of the early Modern period, perhaps the most infamous is the invention of the concept of race. In this course we will consider the treatments of race by prominent philosophers (Locke, Berkeley, Hume, and Kant), and look at a variety of related discussions including the monogenesis/polygenesis debate and the rise of "scientific" racism.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of selected philosophical problems as they have been dealt with over time. The problems and historical periods covered vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Extra Information: 3 hours.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2202F/G and third or fourth year honours standing in Philosophy.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced treatment of a particular problem arising in the philosophy of language.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of a selected topic in the philosophy of science. The topics dealt with vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Introduction to synthetic biology and to philosophical questions relating to it. These include: is synthetic biology revolutionary? Can it help us gain a better understanding of life? What are the ethical dimensions of creating genetic novelty in various contexts? Some background in bioethics and/or philosophy of science is recommended.
Antirequisite(s): Biochemistry 4320F/G.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours/week.
Course Weight: 0.50
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The course focuses on the intersection between scientific knowledge and women. We consider the historical and sociological contexts that prevented women from accessing and producing scientific knowledge. We then discuss the questions at the center of the feminist reflection on science and the different perspectives produced in the feminist epistemologies.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced treatment of a particular problem arising in the philosophy of mind.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced treatment of a particular problem arising in epistemology.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Full year course in basic problems of epistemology. Readings from contemporary writings will be stressed.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2260F/G or Philosophy 2500F/G or third or fourth year honours standing in Philosophy.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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A critical study of contemporary feminist epistemology and philosophy of science, with discussion of feminist empiricism, standpoint, and postmodern positions, critiques of methodological essentialism, and proposals for integrating the consideration of contextual factors into theories of knowledge production and legitimation.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 3910F/G.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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20th century phenomenologists developed and practiced methods by which they could access and describe the nature of reality. Students will engage with such phenomenologists (e.g., Husserl, Heidegger, Stein, Merleau-Ponty, Sartre) in order to analyze questions concerning the nature of being and consciousness, freedom, time, space, subjectivity and intersubjectivity.
Prerequisite(s): 3rd or 4th year standing in a Philosophy program.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced treatment of a particular problem arising in metaphysics.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Full year course in basic problems of metaphysics. Readings from contemporary writings will be stressed.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2300F/G or Philosophy 2500F/G, or third or fourth year honours standing in Philosophy.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
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An advanced treatment of a particular problem arising in practical ethics.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2700F/G or Philosophy 2800F/G or Philosophy 2801F/G or Philosophy 2821F/G or Philosophy 2822F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An intensive study of central themes in feminist ethics and social/political theory. Topics include: feminist critiques of classical and contemporary theories of moral agency, autonomy, and individualism; constructive proposals for feminist alternatives to the ethics of rights; arguments for contextualizing ethical and social/political theory.
Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 3024F/G.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced treatment of topics arising in the philosophy of gender and sexuality.
Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 Philosophy course at the 2000-2999 level, or permission of the department.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course deals with various types of philosophical questions about gender and race, including metaphysical, epistemological, political, and ethical questions. The goals are to analyze how philosophers have approached these questions, and in doing so, take seriously how gender and race intersect with one another.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced treatment of a particular problem arising in political philosophy.
Prerequisite(s): Philosophy 2700F/G or Philosophy 2800F/G or Philosophy 2801F/G or Philosophy 2821F/G or Philosophy 2822F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of Aristotelian/Thomistic , Lockean/libertarian, utilitarian, Kantian, and Hegelian theories of property.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of contemporary issues concerning property such as: taxation and redistribution, eminent domain, intellectual property, limitations on development, commodities and commodification.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Advanced seminar on issues of legal theory, varying from year to year.
Prerequisite(s): Any Faculty of Law course or Philosophy 2080 or Philosophy 2821F/G or Philosophy 2822F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Advanced seminar on issues of legal theory, varying from year to year.
Prerequisite(s): Any Faculty of Law course or Philosophy 2080 or Philosophy 2821F/G or Philosophy 2822F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Advanced topics in the philosophy of law.
Prerequisite(s): Any Faculty of Law course or Philosophy 2080 or Philosophy 2821F/G or Philosophy 2822F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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Advanced topics in the philosophy of law.
Prerequisite(s): Any Faculty of Law course or Philosophy 2080 or Philosophy 2821F/G or Philosophy 2822F/G.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A close look at Canadian and American ideas about constitutional freedom of speech and expression, and their applications to issues that arise on university campuses. Topics will include: harassment, hate speech, controversial political speech, controversial research publication, religious and anti-religious speech, social media, and sexual and gendered speech.
Prerequisite(s): Any Faculty of Law course or Philosophy 2080 or Philosophy 2821F/G or Philosophy 2822F/G or permission of the instructor.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of Aquinas's version of natural law theory, with a consideration of contemporary natural law theories reflections of in his views. Authors may include: Richard Hooker, John Finnis, Germain Grisez, Joseph Boyle, Robert George. Particular public policy issues, such as abortion, the regulation of sexuality, and same-sex marriage, may also be discussed.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This seminar will introduce students to contemporary philosophical research. Students will read and present on material recently published in the instructor's areas of expertise. Students will be guided through the process of identifying paper topics that could contribute to active research in philosophy.
Prerequisite(s): Third or Fourth year standing in the Honours Specialization in Philosophy.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Students will apply their philosophical skills outside the classroom through a Community Engaged Learning (CEL) experience. Through project-based partnerships with community groups selected by or for students, they will use their philosophical talents to contribute to their community partner’s mission and learn for themselves how philosophy can impact daily life.
Prerequisite(s): Third or Fourth year standing in the Honours Specialization in Philosophy.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of selected philosophical problems. The problems vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of selected philosophical problems. The problems vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of selected philosophical problems. The problems vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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A study of selected philosophical problems. The problems vary from year to year. More detailed information concerning content and prerequisites may be obtained from the Department prior to registration.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 0.50
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at:
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An advanced reading course open to third or fourth year students registered in an Honours Specialization, Honours Double Major or Specialization module in Philosophy. Before registering the student must work out a detailed plan of study with a professor willing to supervise the student's work and have this plan approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Extra Information: 3 hours.
Course Weight: 1.00
This course is also offered at: