Fall 2009 (Term Code 101) University of Nebraska Philosophy Classes
Philosophy 101 Introduction to Philosophy
Phil 101 lect 150 TR 1100-1150AM RH 15 8553 Gibbons Students must register for one quiz from the 101, 150's sequence.
CONTENT: This course is an introduction to some of the central theories that have been important in the development of philosophy in the western world. We will be discussing issues such as the distinction between appearance and reality, proofs for the existence of God, the nature and scope of knowledge, the distinction between mind and body, the nature of the self, personal identity, free will and responsibility, and the basis of morality and justice.
Quiz Section Instructors: Fritz and Hedrick
Phil 101 quiz 151 F 0830-0920AM M&N B7 8554 Hedrick
Phil 101 quiz 152 F 0930-1020AM TEAC 247 8555 Fritz
Phil 101 quiz 153 F 1030-1120AM HENZ 35 8556 Fritz
Phil 101 quiz 154 F 1130-1220PM HENZ 204 8557 Hedrick
Phil 101 quiz 155 F 1230-0120PM CBA 362 8558 Fritz
Phil 101 quiz 156 F 0130-0220PM HENZ 35 8559 Hedrick
Phil 101 quiz 157 F 0230-0320PM M&N B7 8560 Fritz
Phil 101 quiz 158 F 0230-0320PM M&N B6 8561 Hedrick
Phil 101 lect 250 MW 1130-1220PM BEAD E103 6803 Ide Students must register for one quiz from the 101, 250's sequence.
CONTENT: We’ll consider three questions connected with reason and rationality. First, is being ethical rational? That is, does everyone always have a good reason to be ethical? Or does being ethical make no sense—at least for some people, or in some situations? Second, what is a good reason for believing something? Does it have to make your belief absolutely certain? Or might you have a good reason to believe something even if that reason doesn’t guarantee the truth of your belief? Finally, what kind of creature can have reasons? Must its actions not be determined?
Phil 101 quiz 251 F 0830-0920AM BURN 124 6806 Honda
Phil 101 quiz 252 R 1100-1150AM BEAD N177 6809 Honda
Phil 101 quiz 253 R 1230-0120PM HENZ 202 6808 Honda
Phil 101 quiz 254 F 0230-0320PM HENZ 35 6811 Honda
Phil 101 lect 350 TR 0930-1020AM HAH 102 6812 Hayaki Students must register for one quiz from the 101, 350's sequence.
CONTENT: We'll discuss some of the most important questions in contemporary Western (analytic) philosophy.
-- Can we prove that there is a God? Can we prove that there isn't? If none of these proofs work, what's the best thing to do?
-- Can we really claim to have knowledge of the external world, given that information from our senses might be radically wrong? Even if we do have knowledge of things we can see and touch, can we have knowledge of the distant past or the future?
-- How is the mind related to the body? Are you your mind, or your body, or some combination, or neither? Can you survive the death of your body?
-- If the universe is completely governed by scientific laws, is there any room for free will, or for moral responsibility?
-- Are there objective standards for right and wrong? In what (if anything) does morality consist?
Phil 101 quiz 351 F 0830-0920AM M&N B6 6813 Dee
Phil 101 quiz 352 F 1130-1220PM CBA 362 6814 Dee
Phil 101 quiz 353 F 0130-0220PM HENZ 109 6815 Dee
Phil 101 quiz 354 F 0230-0320PM CBA 108 6816 Dee
Philosophy 106 - Philosophy and Current Issues
Phil 106 lect 101 W 0630-0920PM CBA 31 6817 Bauer. There are no quiz sections for this class.
This course critically examines various arguments and philosophical perspectives concerning contemporary moral and social issues: euthanasia, pornography, sexual orientation and gay marriage, abortion, animal rights and the environment, war, economic justice, and healthcare access. The course also introduces and examines various influential moral theories and political ideas relevant to analyzing the aforementioned as well as other issues.
Phil 106 lect 150 MW 1130-1220PM BESY 117 6818 Sobel Students must register for one quiz from the 106, 150's sequence.
Quiz Section Instructors: Gatten and Werner
Phil 106 quiz 151 R 0800-0850AM OLDH 209 6819 Gatten
Phil 106 quiz 152 F 0830-0920AM HENZ 35 6820 Werner
Phil 106 quiz 153 R 0930-1020AM ANDN 109 6821 Gatten
Phil 106 quiz 154 F 1030-1120AM M&N B7 6822 Werner
Phil 106 quiz 155 R 1100-1150AM BEAD N176 6823 Gatten
Phil 106 quiz 156 R 1230-0120PM OLDH 203 6824 Gatten
Phil 106 quiz 157 F 0130-0220PM HAH 133 6825 Werner
Phil 106 quiz 158 F 0230-0320PM HAH 133 6826 Werner
Phil 106 lect 250 MW 0930-1020AM BESY 117 6827 Becker Students must register for one quiz from the 106, 250's sequence.
CONTENT: This course covers ethical issues that are of current interest, such as abortion, censorship, pornography, the distribution of scarce resources, sexual morality, and state and religion. Students will learn different philosophical perspectives on such issues and develop methods of objective reasoning they can use to form their own views.
GRADING: There will be one mid-term exam, a final exam, and a 4-6 page paper.
Quiz Section Instructors: Arens and Bartoletti
Phil 106 quiz 251 R 0800-0850AM CBA 362 6828 Bartoletti
Phil 106 quiz 252 F 0830-0920AM OLDH 208 6829 Arens
Phil 106 quiz 253 R 0930-1020AM BEAD N177 6830 Bartoletti
Phil 106 quiz 254 F 1030-1120AM M&N B6 6831 Arens
Phil 106 quiz 255 F 1130-1220PM M&N B6 6832 Arens
Phil 106 quiz 256 R 1100-1150AM BEAD N172 6833 Bartoletti
Phil 106 quiz 257 R 1230-0120PM M&N B7 6834 Bartoletti
Phil 106 quiz 258 F 0230-0320PM CBA 362 6835 Arens
Phil 106 lect 350 TR 1100-1150AM ARCH 127 6836 van Roojen Students must register for one quiz from the 106, 350's sequence.
CONTENT: This course covers issues of current ethical interest, typically including the distribution of scarce resources, war, right to personal and sexual privacy, surrogate motherhood, and affirmative action. In addition to clarifying their own views students will encounter differing philosophical perspectives on such issues, and develop their abilities to evaluate and construct arguments for position on these topics.
GRADING: There are typically two essay exams and two papers.
Phil 106 quiz 351 F 0930-1020AM HENZ 109 6845 Elwonger
Phil 106 quiz 352 F 1030-1120AM HAH 133 6840 Elwonger
Phil 106 quiz 353 F 0130-0220PM OLDH 307 6842 Elwonger
Phil 106 quiz 354 F 0230-0320PM OLDH 208 6843 Elwonger
Phil 106 lect 450 MW 1030-1120AM HAH 102 8562 Bronfman Students must register for one quiz from the 106, 450's sequence.
Phil 106 quiz 451 R 0800-0900AM M&N B7 8563 Moss
Phil 106 quiz 452 F 1230-0120PM M&N B7 8564 Moss
Phil 106 quiz 453 R 1230-0120PM M&N B6 8565 Moss
Phil 106 quiz 454 F 0230-0320PM HENZ 109 8566 Moss
Phil 106 lect 550 TR 1230-0120PM ANDN 15 8567 Iacono Students must register for one quiz from the 106, 550's sequence.
CONTENT: This course covers issues of current ethical interest, typically including the distribution of scarce resources, war, right to personal and sexual privacy, surrogate motherhood, and affirmative action. In addition to clarifying their own views students will encounter differing philosophical perspectives on such issues, and develop their abilities to evaluate and construct arguments for position on these topics.
GRADING: There are typically two essay exams and two papers.
Phil 106 quiz 551 F 0830-0920AM TEAC 247 8568 LaFrance
Phil 106 quiz 552 F 1130-1220PM HENZ 36 8569 LaFrance
Phil 106 quiz 553 F 1230-0120PM HENZ 35 8570 LaFrance
Phil 106 quiz 554 F 0230-0320PM CBA 208 8571 LaFrance
Phil 106 lect 650 MW 1230-0120PM M&N B5 8990 Sayward Students must register for one quiz from the 106, 650's sequence.
CONTENT: This is a course in applied ethics. The pros and cons of such issues as the following are put forth: Is euthanasia permissible? Is abortion always wrong? Is capital punishment permissible? Is affirmative action wrong? Do rich nations have an obligation to help poor nations? Do we have obligations towards animals?
TEXT: Jeffrey Olen, Julie C. Van Camp and Kenneth Barry, Applying Ethics, Wadsworth, 9th edition.
GRADING: Your class average is determined by 4 exams. There is also a paper requirement.
Phil 106 quiz 651 R 0800-0850AM HENZ 204 8991 Chavez
Phil 106 quiz 652 F 0830-0920AM HENZ 109 8992 Chavez
Phil 106 quiz 653 R 1230-0120PM CBA 362 8993 Chavez
Phil 106 quiz 654 F 0230-0320PM CBA 308 8994 Chavez
Philosophy 110 - Logic and Critical Thinking
There are no quiz sections for this class.
Class Sec Days Times Room Call Instr
Phil 110 lect 101 M 0630-0920PM CBA 342 6849 McCammon
Phil 110 lect 150 TR 0930-1020AM HENZ 53 6850 Casullo Students must register for one quiz from the 110, 150's sequence.
CONTENT: Most of our beliefs are held for reasons. Some of these reasons are good but others are not. How do we discriminate between good and bad reasons? The primary goal of the course is to acquaint you with some basic methods for accomplishing this task. The emphasis of the course will be on the application of these methods to the common forms of reasoning you are likely to encounter in other courses as well as in every day life. This course will help improve your ability to reason correctly and to critically evaluate the reasoning of others.
Phil 110 quiz 151 F 0930-1020AM M&N B7 6851 Thompson
Phil 110 quiz 152 F 1030-1120AM HENZ 202 6852 Thompson
Phil 110 quiz 153 F 1230-0120PM HENZ 203 6853 Thompson
Phil 110 quiz 154 F 1130-1220PM Burn 231 6854 Thompson
Philosophy 211-001 Intro to Modern Logic
Class Sec Days Time Room Call Instr
Phil 211 001 TR 0200-0315PM BEAD E103 6855 Hayaki
An introduction to sentential and first-order predicate logic. You will learn how to translate back and forth between English and the language of logic, and to construct and evaluate proofs and arguments. Assessment will be by regular problem sets, two in-class exams, and a two-hour final exam during exam week.
Philosophy 216- 001 Intro to Psych & Philos
Class Sec Days Time Room Call Instr
Phil 216 001 TR 1100-1215PM AVH 109 8572 Henderson
Philosophy 220-001 Elements of Ethics
Class Sec Days Time Room Call Instr
Phil 220 001 MW 0230-0345PM BURN 204 6856 Sayward
CONTENT: This course has three parts. In the first part psychological egoism, ethical egoism and relativism are examined. In part two, we study the first few chapters of J.S. Mill's Utilitarianism. In part three, we study Kantian ethics, W.D. Ross's theory of prima facie duties, virtue ethics and social contract theory.
GRADING: There are three exams and a paper
Philosophy 225-001 Environmental Ethics
Class Sec Days Time Room Call Instr
Phil 225 001 0200-0315 0200-0315PM OLDH 308 8573 Henderson
Exploration of ethical dimensions in human relations to the environment. Topics include: what is the nature of moral value generally, and what are the range of things that are morally valuable--are there things that are fundamentally morally valuable beyond humans or human happiness (sentient creatures, ecosystems, species)? What is the right thing to do, given various answers to such value questions?
Philosophy 231-001 History Phil Ancient
Class Sec Days Time Room Call Instr
Phil 231 001 MWF 0930-1020AM RH 14 6857 Ide
Western philosophy began in ancient Greece when people started to think systematically about the world and themselves. We'll look at some of their most interesting and influential questions and answers, concentrating on the two greatest Greek philosophers, Plato and Aristotle. We'll discuss three questions. What is moral, and why should anyone care about morality? What gives us good reason for believing something? What is there in the world? (For example, are humans simply matter arranged in various ways?) The required written work will be one short paper (two versions), and three essay exams (one on each of the three questions).
Philosophy 232-001 - History Phil Modern
Class Sec Days Time Room Call Instr
Phil 232 001 TR 0930-1045 OLDH 209 6858 Potter
“Modern Philosophy” is the phrase used to describe seventeenth and eighteenth century European philosophy, which developed alongside of what is called “modern science.” In this class we will take a critical look at some metaphysical, epistemological, and scientific positions and arguments to be found in some of the most important philosophers of this period: Descartes, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, and Kant. And we’ll talk about them in relation to some of the contemporaneous science, as developed by people such as Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, and Newton.
GRADING: There will be five 30 minute tests spread throughout the semester, plus a similar 30 minute non-comprehensive final exam. The exam questions will be selected from short lists of questions given out in advance. In addition, one or two short papers will be required.
Philosophy 305-001 - Phil of Language
Class Sec Days Time Room Call Instr
Phil 305 001 TR 1100-1215PM BURN 203 9437 Dowell
Philosophy 314-001 - Prblms Phil of Mind
Class Sec Days Time Room Call Instr
Phil 314 001 TR 0200-0315PM NH W106 8574 Gibbons
This class will focus primarily on the mind-body problem and the nature of representation. We will look at various theories about the relation between the mental and the physical, with an emphasis on questions about mental causation. We will also look at various theories about what makes it the case that something inside the mind represents, refers to, or is about something in the world. Here we'll pay particular attention to the role of sensation in the determination of this relation. Readings are from roughly contemporary sources.
Philosophy 325-001- Adv Soc Pol Phil
Class Sec Days Time Room Call Instr
Phil 325 001 TR 0200-0315PM BURN 231 9150 van Roojen
CONTENT: This class will take an in depth look at various relatively contemporary approaches to the theory of justice and what it requires of societies. Approaches examined will include: Utilitarianism, Democratic Egalitarian theories, Libertarian theories, and Feminist theories. We may also look at some particular issues, such as free-speech or the value of democracy in greater depth.
GRADING: A least two papers and one in-class presentation will be required.
Philosophy 332-001 - Spinoza
Class Sec Days Time Room Call Instr
Phil 332 001 TR 0930-1045AM OLDH 1007 8576 Cahan
A focus on Spinoza’s system of metaphysics. Other aspects of Spinoza’s philosophy–his ideas on the mind-body relation, on the nature of philosophy versus religion will be explored. A study of Spinoza’s system of metaphysics. Other aspects of Spinoza’s thought - his conception of the mind-body problem, the nature of philosophy and his theory of the state will also be explored. The influence of Descartes will be considered, as well as the influence of medieval Jewish philosophy. This course will emphasize the influence of Jewish philosophy on Spinoza’s thought- the work of Maimonides and Crescas, and others.
Grading: Two in-class essay tests and a research paper.
Philosophy 4/809-001 - Theory of Knowledge
Class Sec Days Time Room Call Instr
Phil 4/809 001 T 0330-0605PM OLDH 1007 8582/8583 Casullo
This course is an intensive examination of some of the main problems of the theory of knowledge. The emphasis will be on the following topics: the analysis of knowledge, the structure of epistemic justification; perception and knowledge of the external world, scepticism, contextualism, naturalized epistemology, and a priori knowledge.
Course Requirements: Two papers, oral presentation, and final exam.
Texts for 409/809:
L. BonJour, The Structure of Empirical Knowledge (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1985).
E. Sosa, et. al. (eds.), Epistemology: An Anthology, 2nd edition (Malden: Blackwell, 2008)
Course Packet
Philosophy 4/823-001 - Advanced Ethics
Class Sec Days Time Room Call Instr
Phil 4/823 001 M 0400-0635PM OLDH 1007 6865/6867 Sobel
Philosophy 4/871- 001 - Kant
Class Sec Days Time Room Call Instr
Phil 4/871 001 R 0100-0335PM OLDH 1007 8577/8578 Potter
In this class we will read through Kant's Critique of Pure Reason, in a relatively new translation by Guyer and Wood. The written work will consist of writing expository essays explaining the basic elements of Kant's doctrine in whatever parts of the Critique we have been reading. You will also be asked to do a certain amount of reading of secondary literature on the first Critique (of Pure Reson), and writing about that. The goal of the course is to get through one of the most challenging works in the history of philosophy, and thereby get an introduction to certain parts of Kant's philosophy. For this course some background knowledge of earlier history of modern philosophy, especially Descartes, Leibniz and Hume, will be useful, and we'll also spend some time discussing various influences Kant has had on more recent philosophy.
Philosophy 905-001 - Phil of Language
Class Sec Days Time Room Call Instr
Phil 905 001 R 0400-0605PM OLDH 1007 8579 Dowell
Syllabus
Philosophy 913-001 - Advanced Epistemology
Class Sec Days Time Room Call Instr
Phil 913 001 M 0130-0335PM OLDH 1007 6870 Becker
Philosophy 915-001 - Advanced Metaphysics
Class Sec Days Time Room Call Instr
Phil 915 001 W 0400-0605PM OLDH 1007 8580 Mendola
This will be a seminar on properties and concepts. We will discuss in depth different views of the metaphysics of properties, including the resemblance analysis, trope theory, and realism. We will discuss contrasting views of the higher-order structure of properties and the relations between higher- and lower-order properties. We will discuss views of concepts in cognitive science and philosophy of mind. There are two books for the course, Armstrong's Universals: An Opinionated Introduction and Murphy's The Big Book of Concepts , but there will also be a large course pack. The requirements for the course are a seminar paper and a presentation.
Philosophy 920 - Ethical Theory
Class Sec Days Time Room Call Instr
Phil 920 001 W 0130-0335PM OLDH 1007 8581 Bronfman
Philosophy 999-001 - Doctoral Dissertation
Class Sec Call
Phil 999 001 6876
