PHIL 5540b, The Social and Political Philosophy of W.E.B. Du Bois  Robert Gooding-Williams

In this seminar we examine three of Du Bois’s books—The Souls of Black Folk (1903), Darkwater (1920), and Black Reconstruction (1935)—with some attention to a fourth, Dusk of Dawn (1940). We also give attention to some of Du Bois's essays. Through close readings of these writings, we consider Du Bois’s evolving conceptualization of the “Negro Problem” in the perspective of his philosophy of the human sciences, his political thought, and his aesthetics.
M 1:30pm-3:25pm

PHIL 5567a, Mathematical Logic  Sun-Joo Shin

An introduction to the metatheory of first-order logic, up to and including the completeness theorem for the first-order calculus. An introduction to the basic concepts of set theory is included.
MW 1:05pm-2:20pm

PHIL 5570a, Epistemology  Keith DeRose

Introduction to current topics in the theory of knowledge. The analysis of knowledge, justified belief, rationality, certainty, and evidence.
MW 11:35am-12:50pm

PHIL 6330a, Second-Personal Ethics and Its Critics  Stephen Darwall

Beginning with The Second-Person Standpoint in 2006, I have been articulating an approach to ethical theory that can be called “second-personal ethics.” I have done this in a series of subsequent papers—collected in Morality, Authority, and Law and Honor, History, and Relationship (2013)—and in The Heart and Its Attitudes (2014). Up until this last work, the second-personal framework was concerned to provide a grounding for deontic morality—the part of ethics that focuses on moral obligation, right, and wrong. In the more recent work on heartfelt connection attempts to elaborate a very different evaluative conception, one that is tied to love rather than respect. These works have elicited significant critical attention. The initial works on deontic morality have been comments on and criticized by Christine Korsgaard, Gary Watson, and R. Jay Wallace, among others. The Heart and Its Attitudes have been responded to by Quinn White, Sanford Diehl, Tamar Schapiro, Ariel Zylberman, and Yuan Yuan. While there are no formal prerequisites, prior work in ethics is strongly advised.
W 7pm-8:55pm

PHIL 6360a, Nietzsche’s Critique of Modernity  Robert Gooding-Williams

After devoting several sessions to Nietzsche’s first published book, The Birth of Tragedy, we focus on his mature philosophical thought, emphasizing his critique of modernity. Our examination of that critique gives special attention to Nietzsche’s notions of tragedy (early and late), genealogy, the will to power, the eternal recurrence, the overman, the free spirit and nihilism. Prerequisite: one course in philosophy.
W 4pm-5:55pm

PHIL 6626b, Cognitive Science of Morality  Joshua Knobe

Introduction to the emerging field of moral cognition. Focus on questions about the philosophical significance of psychological findings. Topics include the role of emotion in moral judgment; the significance of character traits in virtue ethics and personality psychology; the reliability of intuitions and the psychological processes that underlie them.
W 4pm-5:55pm

PHIL 6627b, Computability and Logic  Sun-Joo Shin

A technical exposition of Gödel’s first and second incompleteness theorems and of some of their main consequences in proof theory and model theory, such as Löb’s theorem, Tarski’s undefinability of truth, provability logic, and nonstandard models of arithmetic.
M 1:30pm-3:25pm

PHIL 6630b, Parfit’s Reasons and Persons  Shelly Kagan and Laurie Paul

Derek Parfit’s contemporary classic Reasons and Persons, published some forty years ago, is a brilliant and influential exploration of fundamental questions concerning the nature of morality, rationality and personal identity. Divided into four parts, the book first examines the implications of a moral theory’s being self-defeating; the second compares rival views with regard to rationality and time; the third famously argues for a reductionist account of personal identity; the last introduces the puzzling field of population ethics, which treats our obligations to future generations. Written in an accessible and nontechnical style, the book is filled with original and thought-provoking arguments. The seminar is devoted to reading Reasons and Persons in its entirety and evaluating its many challenging and surprising conclusions. Prerequisite: a previous class in philosophy.
T 1:30pm-3:25pm

PHIL 6637b, Philosophy of Mathematics  Sun-Joo Shin

We take up a time-honored debate between Platonism and anti-Platonism, along with different views of mathematical truth, that is, logicism, formalism, and intuitionism. We read classical papers on the subject. Why do we need the philosophy of mathematics? This question could be answered toward the end of the term. 
T 1:30pm-3:25pm

PHIL 6650b, The Problem of Evil  Keith DeRose

The evils of our world can seem to present strong reasons for disbelieving in the existence of God. This course examines the main forms that this problem for theism takes, and some of the proposed ways of solving, or at least mitigating, the problem.
T 4pm-5:55pm

PHIL 6655a, Normative Ethics  Shelly Kagan

A systematic examination of normative ethics, the part of moral philosophy that attempts to articulate and defend the basic principles of morality. The bulk of the course surveys and explores some of the main normative factors relevant in determining the moral status of a given act or policy (features that help make a given act right or wrong). Brief consideration of some of the main views about the foundations of normative ethics (the ultimate basis or ground for the various moral principles).
T 1:30pm-3:25pm

PHIL 6657b / PLSC 6110b, Recent Work on Justice  Thomas Pogge

In-depth study of one contemporary book, author, or debate in political philosophy, political theory, or normative economics. Depending on student interest, this might be a ground-breaking new book, the life’s work of a prominent author, or an important theme in contemporary political thought.
T 4pm-5:55pm

PHIL 6664a, Justice, Taxes, and Global Financial Integrity  Thomas Pogge

This seminar studies the formulation, interpretation, and enforcement of national and international tax rules from the perspective of national and global economic justice.
T 4pm-5:55pm

PHIL 6669b / LING 6750b, Pragmatics  Simon Charlow

Context-dependent aspects of meaning and inference. Speech act theory, presupposition, implicature. Role of pragmatics in the lexicon and in meaning change. The semantics-pragmatics distinction from different perspectives; the position of pragmatics in linguistic theory.
HTBA

PHIL 6677a / WGSS 677, Feminist Philosophy: Theories of Sex, Gender, and Sexual Orientation  Staff

This course surveys several feminist frameworks for thinking about sex, gender, and sexual orientation. We consider questions such as: Is there a tenable distinction between sex and gender? Between gender and sexual orientation? What does it mean to say that gender is a social construction, or that sexual orientation is innate? What is the place of politics in gender and sexual identities? How do these identities—and especially resistant or transgressive identities—impact the creation and revision of social categories?
HTBA

PHIL 6696b / CLSS 7910b, Plato’s Gorgias  Verity Harte

Plato’s Gorgias contains the most sustained and dramatic encounter between Socratic philosophical conversation and rhetoric. This encounter sets the stage for some of Plato’s richest philosophical reflections on moral psychology and on the philosophy of philosophy. The course focuses on careful reading of the Gorgias with a view to engaging these philosophical topics. All readings are in translation, though a Greek reading group may be added for interested and suitably qualified students. Engaged, active student participation is expected. Class discussion typically starts from student questions circulated in advance. Prerequisite: some background in ancient philosophy.
W 4pm-5:55pm

PHIL 6770a, Reasons for Action, the Self, and other Pathologies of Agency  Michael Della Rocca

A skeptical inquiry into whether the concepts of reasons for action and of the self are coherent. Consideration of what kinds of ethical system, if any, are possible with or without such concepts. Attention to historical authors (such as Plato, Aristotle, Nāgārjuna, Spinoza, and Hume) and recent authors (such as Anscombe, Davidson, Korsgaard, Williams, Parfit, Scanlon, and McDowell). Prerequisite: two courses in philosophy.
W 1:30pm-3:25pm

PHIL 7230a / CLSS 7914a, Plato’s Phaedo  Verity Harte and Brad Inwood

The class reads and discusses critically the Greek text of Plato’s Phaedo, set on the last day of Socrates’s life. The Phaedo is notable for a series of arguments for the immortality of soul and for discussions of the Forms, the acquisition of knowledge, philosophical method, and the value of philosophy. The class is a core course for the combined Ph.D. program in classics and philosophy. Open to all graduate students in philosophy or classics who have suitable preparation in ancient Greek and some prior knowledge of ancient philosophy. Others interested in taking or attending the class must have prior permission of the instructors. Undergraduates are not normally admitted.
W 4pm-5:55pm

PHIL 7705a, First-Year Seminar  Michael Della Rocca and Laurie Paul

Required of and limited to first-year students in the Philosophy Ph.D. program. Topic varies from year to year. Preparation for graduate work. Reading, writing, and presentation skills.
T 4pm-5:55pm

PHIL 7706b, Work in Progress I  Laurie Paul

In consultation with the instructor, each student presents a significant work in progress, e.g., a revised version of an advanced seminar paper or a dissertation chapter. Upon completion of the writing, the student presents the work in a mock colloquium format, including a formal question-and-answer period.
Th 1:30pm-3:25pm

PHIL 7750a or b, Tutorial  Staff

By arrangement with faculty.
HTBA

PHIL 8040a, Philosophy Professionalization Seminar  Laurie Paul

This seminar prepares students for the professional dimensions of an academic philosophy career. Topics include writing for publication, moving from dissertation chapter to journal article, navigating peer review, constructing a research statement and writing sample, conference presentation, and the academic job market. Students workshop their own materials throughout the semester. Attention is also given to developing collaborations within philosophy and across disciplines, grant writing, professional correspondence, and building a scholarly identity across subfields. Open to Philosophy Ph.D. students.
Th 1:30pm-3:25pm

PHIL 8850a or b, Prospectus Tutorial  Staff

Prospectus tutorial for Philosophy Ph.D. students.
HTBA