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PHILOSOPHYUNDERGRADUATECOURSES
FALL2017
APHI110-IntroductiontoPhilosophicalProblems(#9306)
MWF11:30AM-12:25PM,ES-241
Instructor:
Surveyofrepresentativeproblemsinsomeofthemajorareasofphilosophy;
topicssuchasfreewill,morality,justiceandsocialorder,knowledgeand
truth,Godandreligion,art,andbeauty.
APHI110-IntroductiontoPhilosophicalProblems(#2083)
TuTh2:45PM-4:05PM,LC-21
Instructor:NathanPowers
Whatisaperson?Whatisamind?Whatisknowledge?DoIhavecertain
knowledgeaboutsomethings,orcouldallmybeliefsabouttheworldturn
outtobefalse?Isthereagod?AmItrulyfree,oraremyactionsand
experiencesultimatelydeterminedbyforcesbeyondmycontrol?Answersto
difficultandimportantquestionsliketheseformthecoreoftheWestern
philosophicaltradition,stretchingbackallthewaytoancientGreece.This
classexploresanswersthathavebeengiventosuchquestionsbysomeofthe
bestphilosophersofthepastandpresentinthistradition.Emphasiswillbe
placedonthecentralrolethatargumentsplayinphilosophy:agood
philosophergivesreasonsforhisorherviewthatsupportthatviewina
rigorousway.
APHI111-TheMindandtheWorld(#4759)
MWF12:35PM-1:30PM,LC-02
Instructor:RonaldMcClamrock
Asurveyandcriticalexaminationoftopicsincontemporaryphilosophy,
focusinglargelyontherelationshipbetweenthehumanmindandthe
naturalworld.Topicswillincludeskepticismaboutknowledgeofthe
externalworld,therelationshipbetweenthemindandthebrain,the
possibilityofthemindcausingfreeactions,andtheexistenceornonexistenceofGod.Gradewillbebasedonacombinationofin-class
exams(80%)andin-classquizzesandparticipation(20%,usingthe
iClicker).Moreinformationwillbeavailableonthecoursewebpageat
profron.net/mind-world.
APHI114-MoralsandSociety(#6375)
TTH10:15AM-11:35AM,HU-123
Instructor:KristenHessler
Someofthemostdifficultandpersistentquestionsinmoralphilosophy
concerntherelationshipbetweentheindividualandsociety.Wewillbegin
studyingtheseissuesbyexploringthefamousconflictbetweenthe
philosopherSocratesandthedemocracyofancientAthens.Therestofthe
coursewilltracesomeimportantthemesraisedbythisconflictthroughout
thesubsequentdevelopmentofWesternmoralandpoliticalphilosophy,
lookingforinsightintoethicalquestionsthatwefacetoday,includingthe
following:Isitevermorallypermissibletocheatoncollegecoursework?
Whatmoralobligationsdoyouhave,ifany,tothepoor?Underwhat
circumstances,ifany,isthekillingofinnocentcivilianspermissibleinwar?
NOTE:ThiscourseutilizesTeam-BasedLearning.Onthefirstdayofthe
semester,youwillbeassignedtoateamthatwillworktogetherthroughout
thedurationofthecourse.Individualgradeswillbeinfluenced(nearlyalways
improved!)byteamperformanceonteam-basedassignments.
APHI114-MoralsandSociety(#9061)
MWF9:20AM-10:15AM,ED-120
Instructor:
Philosophicalstudyoftheconflictbetweenpersonalvaluesandtheneedsof
society.Topicsincludepersonalandsocialvalues,thenatureofmoral
reasoning,andwaystoresolveconflictsbetweenvalues.Readingsfrom
philosopherssuchasPlato,Aristotle,LockeandMill.OnlyoneversionofA
PHI114maybetakenforcredit.
APHI114-MoralsandSociety(#10168)
MWF12:35PM-1:30PM,HU-132
Instructor:
Philosophicalstudyoftheconflictbetweenpersonalvaluesandtheneedsof
society.Topicsincludepersonalandsocialvalues,thenatureofmoral
reasoning,andwaystoresolveconflictsbetweenvalues.Readingsfrom
philosopherssuchasPlato,Aristotle,LockeandMill.OnlyoneversionofA
PHI114maybetakenforcredit.
APHI115-MoralChoices(#5428)
MWF10:25AM-11:20AM,HU132
Instructor:RachelCohon
Thiscourseisdevotedtothephilosophicalanalysisofsomeselected
controversialtopicsintheethicsofpersonalbehaviorandsocial
policy.Studentswillneedtolearntorecognize,construct,andcriticizelogical
argumentsonthesetopics.Ourtopicswillberelatedtotheconflictbetween
individuallibertyandthesocialgood,andmayincludethelegalizationof
recreationaldrugs,hatespeech,pornography,and/orthelegitimacyofwar,
terrorism,andtorture.Thesubjectmatterofthecourseisnotpersonal
feelingsorconvictions(oftheprofessor,thestudent,oranyoneelse),but
rationalargumentsforandagainstpositionsontheselectedtopics.Readings
includeworksinethicalandpoliticaltheoryandinappliedphilosophical
ethics.Gradingisbasedonexaminationsandatleastoneanalyticalessay
(paper).
APHI115-MoralChoices(#2084)
MWF1:40PM-2:35PM,ED-120
Instructor:
Criticalexaminationofcontemporarymoralproblemsinthelightofthemost
influentialmoraltheories.Theproblemsdiscussedvarywithsemesters,but
theytypicallyincludesuchtopicsasabortion,affirmativeaction,animalsand
theenvironment,capitalpunishment,euthanasia,freespeechand
censorship,libertyandpaternalism,sexandlove,terrorism,andworld
hunger.OnlyoneversionofAPHI115maybetakenforcredit.
TPHI116-WorldViews(#9333)
MWF11:30AM-12:25PM,BB-137
Instructor:JonathanMandle
Thiscoursesurveysvariousperspectivesonthemoralandpolitical
relationshipbetweenindividualsandsociety.AuthorsincludeHobbes,
Rousseau,Marx,Mill,andothers.Gradingwillbebasedonaseriesofquizzes,
shortpapers,amidterm,andafinalexam.
TPHI210–IntroductiontoLogic(#10185)
TuTh2:45PM-4:05PM,BB-241
Instructor:BradleyArmour-Garb
Thiscourseisanintroductiontomodernlogic.Studentswilllearnhowto
translateEnglishlanguageargumentsintoformallogicallanguagesandthen
evaluatethosearguments.Sometopicsthatwillbesurveyedinclude:
validity,equivalence,consistency,sententiallogic,truthtables,quantified
logic,formalsemantics,andnaturaldeduction.OpentoHonorsCollege
studentsonly.
APHI210-IntroductiontoLogic(#5728)
MWF1:40PM-2:35PM,LC-021
Instructor:MarcusAdams
Thiscourseprovidesanintroductiontodeductivelogic.Wewilldiscusstopics
suchastranslationfromeverydaylanguage,deductivevalidity,truthfunctionallogicalconnectives,truthtables,andproofs.Wewillexaminethese
topicsintwoformallanguages—sententiallogicandquantifiedlogic.This
coursemaybeusedtofulfillthegeneraleducationrequirementfor
HumanitiesorforMathematics.FormoreaboutGeneralEducationcourses,
seehttp://www.albany.edu/undergraduate_bulletin/general_education.html
APHI210-IntroductiontoLogic(#10141)
TuTh,1:15PM-2:35PM,ED120
Instructor:NataliyaKarablina
Introductiontoclassicalandmodernlogicwithanemphasisonthetheory
andapplicationoftruthfunctions.Introductiontoquantification;discussion
ofthestructureandpropertiesofformalsystemsoflogic.Studentsshouldbe
preparedtododailyhomeworkassignments.OnlyoneversionofAPHI210
maybetakenforcredit.
APHI210-IntroductiontoLogic(#10142)
TuTh8:45AM-10:05AM,FA-114
Instructor:NataliyaKarablina
Introductiontoclassicalandmodernlogicwithanemphasisonthetheory
andapplicationoftruthfunctions.Introductiontoquantification;discussion
ofthestructureandpropertiesofformalsystemsoflogic.Studentsshouldbe
preparedtododailyhomeworkassignments.OnlyoneversionofAPHI210
maybetakenforcredit.
APHI212-IntroductiontoEthicalTheory(#2092)
TuTh2:45PM-4:05PM,HU129
Instructor:JasonD’Cruz
Thiscourseisanintroductiontosomecentralproblemsandapproachesin
thefieldofethicaltheory.Wewillconsiderquestionssuchas:“WhyshouldI
bemoral?”“HowcanIliveagoodlife?”“HowcanIbeagoodperson?”and
“Whatmakesrightactionsright,andwrongactionswrong?”Wewillworkour
waythroughaseriesofclassicandcontemporaryreadings
coveringethicaltheoriessuchasethicalrelativism,
objectivism/ethicalegoism,utilitarianism,Kantianism(deontology),feminist
ethics,andvirtueethics.
APHI218-UnderstandingScience(#10143)
MWF12:35PM-1:30PM,HU-133
Instructor:P.D.Magnus
Thiscourseisanintroductiontosomeissuesinthephilosophyofscience,
includingthenatureofscientificinferenceandknowledge.Wewillalso
considertherelationshipbetweenscienceandsociety.Somequestionswe'll
considerinclude:Whatkindofactivityisscience?Whatsortofsocial
organizationmakesforthemostproductivescience?Shouldsciencesetits
ownagenda,orshoulditbeguidedbyoursocialaspirations?We'llreadsome
recentandclassicpapersinphilosophyandsciencestudies. APHI220-HistoryofSocialandPoliticalPhilosophy(#7042)
M5:45pm-8:35pm,HU132
Instructor:
Thiscoursesurveysimportantphilosophicalaccountsthehumanbeingand
herplaceinsocietyandtheworld,fromancienttimestothepresent.
PhilosopherstobestudiedincludePlato,Hobbes,Locke,Marx,andKing,Jr.
Particularattentionwillbepaidtothewaysthesethinkers'viewsabout
humannatureinformtheirviewsabouttheproperorganizationofsocialand
politicallife.
APHI310–AncientPhilosophy(#7965)
TuTh11:45AM-1:05PM,BB-151
Instructor:NathanPowers
ThiscourseisasurveyofthemajorachievementsofclassicalGreek
philosophy,focusingmainlyonthepivotalfiguresofSocrates,Plato,and
Aristotle.Prerequisite:a100-or200-levelcourseinphilosophy
APHI325–PhilosophyofLaw(#10147)
MWF1:40PM-2:35PM,HU-112
Instructor:JonathanMandle
Thiscourseisanintroductiontocontemporarytheoriesofdistributivejustice,
includingutilitarianism,liberalegalitarianism,luckegalitarianism,and
libertarianism.Wewillalsolookatsometheoreticalapproachesthatprobe
thelimitsofjustice,suchasfeminism,criticalracetheory,and
cosmopolitanism.Alongtheway,studentswillbeintroducedtosomeofthe
majordebatesincontemporarypoliticalphilosophy,including:Whatis
equality?Isequalitycompatiblewithliberty?Doprinciplesofjusticeapplyto
individualchoices?Dotheyapplyacrossnationalboundaries?Prerequisite(s):
a100or200levelcourseinphilosophy.
APHI338–MoralProblemsinMedicine(#7965)
MWF11:30AM-12:25PM,FA-114
Instructor:SydneyFaught
Aninvestigationofmoralproblemsinmedicine,suchasthehealth
professional–patientrelationship,medicalpaternalism,informedconsent,
socialjusticeandhealthpolicy,thetreatmentofseverelydefectivenewborns,
andthewithholdingoflife-prolongingtreatment.Prerequisite(s):junioror
seniorstanding.
APHI340–TopicsinPhilosophy,
Topic:EnvironmentalEthics(#10148)
TuTh1:15PM-2:35PM,AS-15
Instructor:KristenHessler
Thiscoursewilladdressphilosophicalissuesinenvironmentalethicsand
policy.Thefirsthalfofthecoursewillexaminewhetherwehavedutiesto
animals,ecosystems,and/orspeciesthatrequirere-thinkingtraditionalmoral
theoryandconcepts.Thesecondhalfofthecoursewillfocusonmorepolicyorientedissuessuchaspreservingwildernessandwildlife,humanpopulation
growth,sustainableagriculture,climatechange,andresourceconsumption.
APHI415–PhilosophyofLanguage(#10149)
TuTh1:15PM-2:35PM,BB-221
Instructor:BradleyArmour-Garb
Inthiscourse,wefocusoncentralquestionsinthephilosophyoflanguage.
Wewillexplorequestionslike:Whatisitforapersontomeansomethingby
utteringasentence?Whatisitforthatsentencetomeansomething?How
caninkonapageorsoundsemittedfromourthroatsrefertothingsin
theworld?Wewillalsoconsiderfigurativelanguage,suchasmetaphor.Along
theway,wewillinvestigatetheprofoundinfluencethephilosophyof
languagehashadoncontemporaryanalyticphilosophy.Sharedresource
coursewith
PHI515.
APHI416–PhilosophyofMind(#10150)
MWF10:25AM-11:20AM,BB-221
Instructor:RonaldMcClamrock
Anexaminationofthemodernversionofthetraditionalmind-bodyproblem
andissuesconnectedwithit.Topicstobecoveredwillincludevarietiesof
dualismandmaterialism,theproblemofmentalcausation,reductionismand
themind-bodyproblem,therelevanceofvariouskindsofscientifictheorizing
aboutmindtothetraditionalmind-bodyproblem,andsomepuzzles
concerningqualia,embeddedness,andintentionality,theexplanatorygap,
andsubjectivity.Moreinformationcanbefoundonthecoursewebpageat
http://profron.net/phi516.SharedresourcewithPHI516
APHI422–TheoryofKnowledge(#10339)
MW2:45PM-4:05PM,HU-116
Instructor:MatthewMosdell
Systematicstudyoftheoriesofknowledge,includingsuchtopicsastheories
ofperception,thecharacterandvalueoflogicalsystems,theoriesofthe
natureoftruthandofthenatureofproof.Prerequisite(s):APHI210anda
300levelcourseinphilosophy,orpermissionofinstructor.
APHI425Y–ContemporaryEthicalTheory(#10151)
MWF12:35PM-1:30PM,ES-139
Instructor:RachelCohon
PREREQUISITES:atleastfourcoursesinphilosophy,oneofwhichmustbe
eitherPHI212(IntroductiontoEthicalTheory),PHI326(MoralPhilosophy),
anequivalentcourseatanotheruniversity,oragraduatecourseinethical
theory.Ifyouareunsurewhetheryouhavetheprerequisites,consultthe
instructor.
Thetopicsofthecoursearecontemporarydeontologyandcontemporary
accountsofthenatureofnormativity.Readingswillbedrawnfromthework
ofChristineKorsgaard,T.M.Scanlon,StephenDarwall,andotherlivingmoral
philosophers.Muchofthereadingwillconsistofafewlongbooks.Grading
willbebasedonweeklyreadingresponses,twoorthreepapers,
participation,and(ifclasssizepermits)anoralpresentation.Dependingon
enrollment,theremaybearequiredmentoringrelationshipbetween
studentsenrolledinPHI525andthoseenrolledinPHI425.