Please proceed to MyBUStudent for the most up-to-date information, class locations, and to register for classes. For more detailed descriptions and access to previously offered courses, please proceed to the Academic Bulletin. Course offerings from previous semesters can be found on the sidebar.
Please note that Philosophy offers lecture/discussion style courses, which means that in order to complete your enrollment in this style of course and be eligible to receive credit, you must register for the lecture section AND a discussion section that corresponds by letter. For example, if you register for CAS PH 100 A1, you must also register for CAS PH 100 A2, A3, A4, or A5.
Please also note that GRS (Graduate School of Arts & Sciences) courses are available for students enrolled in graduate programs only, and undergraduate students may only register for GRS courses with special circumstances and approval from the instructor.
CAS – College of Arts & Sciences
CAS PH 100 A1: Introduction to Philosophy
Professor Walter Hopp
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:30 AM – 9:55 AM
Introduces the nature of philosophical activity through careful study of major philosophical topics. Topics may include the nature of reality, knowledge, God’s existence, and the significance of human life.
BU Hub: Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings, Ethical Reasoning, and Critical Thinking.
CAS PH 110 A1: Great Philosophers
Professor Benjamin Crowe
Tuesday, Thursday 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
An introduction to philosophy through a reading of great figures in western thought. The list may include Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Roussesau, Nietzsche, Russell. Carries humanities divisional credit in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings, Critical Thinking.
BU Hub: Historical Consciousness, Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings, Critical Thinking.
CAS PH 150 A1: Introduction to Ethics
Professor Nicolas Westberg
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 12:20 PM – 1:10 PM
This course focuses on a set of interrelated questions about morality: What is morality? How should I live? What does morality require of us in our daily lives, if it requires anything at all? Is morality universal? Or, is it relative or subjective? What is the relationship between morality and religion? Answering such questions will help us to understand what the most important features of morality are. We will look both at traditional moral theories that attempt to specify what morality requires of us (Utilitarianism, Kantianism, Contractarianism and Virtue Ethics), and at the application of these theories to many specific moral issues.
BU Hub: Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings, Ethical Reasoning, and Critical Thinking.
CAS PH 150 B1: Introduction to Ethics
Professor Nicolas Westberg
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 11:15 AM – 12:o5 AM
This course focuses on a set of interrelated questions about morality: What is morality? How should I live? What does morality require of us in our daily lives, if it requires anything at all? Is morality universal? Or, is it relative or subjective? What is the relationship between morality and religion? Answering such questions will help us to understand what the most important features of morality are. We will look both at traditional moral theories that attempt to specify what morality requires of us (Utilitarianism, Kantianism, Contractarianism and Virtue Ethics), and at the application of these theories to many specific moral issues.
BU Hub: Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings, Ethical Reasoning, and Critical Thinking.
CAS PH 155 A1: Politics & Philosophy
Professor Darien Pollock
Tuesday, Thursday 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
What is justice? What are the foundations of property rights, liberty, and equality? Are anarchism and utopianism defensible? This course is an introduction to major themes and questions in political philosophy. It includes a study of classical and modern texts, as well as contemporary political issues.
BU Hub: Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings, Ethical Reasoning, and Critical Thinking.
CAS PH 159 A1: Philosophy and Film
Professor Samia Hesni
Tuesday, Thursday 5:00 PM – 6:15 PM
This class provides an introduction philosophical and aesthetic issues connected with film.
BU Hub: Aesthetic Exploration, Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings, Critical Thinking.
CAS PH 160 A1: Reasoning & Argumentation
Professor Derek Anderson
Monday Wednesday Friday 10:10 AM – 11:00 AM
A systematic study of the principles of both deductive and informal reasoning, calculated to enhance students’ actual reasoning skills, with an emphasis on reasoning and argumentation in ordinary discourse. We will emphasize argumentation and criticism in ordinary life and also present formal models of reasoning and argumentation that are widely applicable. Simultaneous training in skills of argument analysis, argument pattern recognition, argument construction, and argument interpretation and creation.
BU Hub: Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings, Critical Thinking.
CAS PH 160 B1: Reasoning & Argumentation
Professor Alisa Bukolich
Tuesday, Thursday 9:30 AM – 10:45 AM
A systematic study of the principles of both deductive and informal reasoning, calculated to enhance students’ actual reasoning skills, with an emphasis on reasoning and argumentation in ordinary discourse. We will emphasize argumentation and criticism in ordinary life and also present formal models of reasoning and argumentation that are widely applicable. Simultaneous training in skills of argument analysis, argument pattern recognition, argument construction, and argument interpretation and creation.
BU Hub: Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings, Critical Thinking.
CAS PH 247 A1: Introduction to Chinese Philosophy
Professor Benjamin Crowe
Tuesday, Thursday 9:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Is human nature fundamentally good or fundamentally bad? How can we best achieve an enduring social order? What is the shape of a life well lived? This class examines such questions in the context of the classical period in Chinese philosophy, focusing on (1) Kongzi (Confucius), (2) Mozi, (3) Mengzi (Mencius), (4) Zhuangzi, and (5) Xunzi. A primary goal of the course is to expose students to the richness, vitality, and plurality of the philosophical scene in ancient China. Topics discussed include moral virtue, music, education, and the ethics of war.
BU Hub: Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Critical Thinking.
CAS PH 251 A1: Medical Ethics
Professor Rachell Powell
Tuesday, Thursday 2:00 PM – 3:15 PM
This course will survey ethical issues that arise in connection with medicine and emerging biotechnologies. It will examine topics such as the right to healthcare, research on human subjects, euthanasia, abortion, cloning, genetic selection, disabilities, and the biomedical enhancement of human capacities. Students can expect to gain not only training in the concepts and methods of moral philosophy and the logic of argumentation, but also the resources needed for assessing ethically difficult questions that healthcare professionals routinely face.
BU Hub: Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings, Ethical Reasoning, and Critical Thinking.
CAS PH 251 B1: Medical Ethics
TBD
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:05 AM – 9:55 AM
This course will survey ethical issues that arise in connection with medicine and emerging biotechnologies. It will examine topics such as the right to healthcare, research on human subjects, euthanasia, abortion, cloning, genetic selection, disabilities, and the biomedical enhancement of human capacities. Students can expect to gain not only training in the concepts and methods of moral philosophy and the logic of argumentation, but also the resources needed for assessing ethically difficult questions that healthcare professionals routinely face.
BU Hub: Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings, Ethical Reasoning, and Critical Thinking.
CAS PH 253 A1: Social Philosophy
Professor Darien Pollock
Tuesday, Thursday 3:30 PM – 4:45 PM
Through a reading of some selected texts we will examine modern and contemporary theories of society, concerning its nature and the direction of its evolution. The philosophical and sociological discussions are framed in terms of the complicated relationship between individuals and society, and between civil society and the sovereign power.
BU Hub: Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings, Ethical Reasoning, and Critical Thinking.
CAS PH 256 A1: Philosophy of Gender and Sexuality
Professor Derek Anderson
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 12:20 PM – 1:10 PM
This course analyzes gender and sexuality from an intersectional perspective. We focus on metaphysics, epistemology, and semantics to understand gender and sexuality as they exist within interlocking systems of oppression including racism, sexism, transphobia, homophobia, and fatphobia.
BU Hub: Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings, The Individual in Community, and Critical Thinking.
CAS PH 259 A1: Philosophy and the Arts
TBD
Tuesday, Thursday 12:30 PM – 1:45 PM
What makes something beautiful? How do different arts (music, dance, painting, sculpture, architecture, film, drama) relate to our aesthetic experience of the world? Explores several philosophical theories of art through specific examples of artwork.
BU Hub: Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings, Aesthetic Exploration, Critical Thinking.
CAS PH 300 A1: History of Ancient Philosophy
Professor Cinzia Arruzza
Tuesday, Thursday 3:30 PM – 14:45 PM
A survey of ancient Greek philosophy, with an emphasis on Plato and Aristotle. Topics will include: the fundamental nature of reality, how we know anything about it, wisdom, virtue, and human happiness.
Prerequisites: One philosophy course or sophomore standing. First Year Writing Seminar (e.g. WR 100 or WR 120).
BU Hub: Writing-Intensive Course, Ethical Reasoning, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Legacy.
CAS PH 300 B1: History of Ancient Philosophy
Professor Benjamin Crowe
Tuesday, Thursday 2:00 PM – 3:15 PM
A survey of ancient Greek philosophy, with an emphasis on Plato and Aristotle. Topics will include: the fundamental nature of reality, how we know anything about it, wisdom, virtue, and human happiness.
Prerequisites: One philosophy course or sophomore standing. First Year Writing Seminar (e.g. WR 100 or WR 120).
BU Hub: Writing-Intensive Course, Ethical Reasoning, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Legacy.
CAS PH 310 A1: History of Modern Philosophy
Professor Aaron Garrett
Tuesday Thursday 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
An examination of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century philosophy from Descartes to Kant, with emphasis on the nature and extent of knowledge. Readings include Descartes, Locke, Spinoza, Berkley, Hume, and Kant.
Prerequisites: One philosophy course or sophomore standing.
BU Hub: Historical Consciousness, Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings, Research and Information Literacy.
CAS PH 310 B1: History of Modern Philosophy
Professor Daniel Dahlstrom
Tuesday, Thursday 9:30 AM – 10:45 AM
An examination of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century philosophy from Descartes to Kant, with emphasis on the nature and extent of knowledge. Readings include Descartes, Locke, Spinoza, Berkley, Hume, and Kant.
Prerequisites: One philosophy course or sophomore standing.
BU Hub: Historical Consciousness, Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings, Research and Information Literacy.
CAS PH 310 C1: History of Modern Philosophy
Professor Sally Sedgwick
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10:10 AM – 11:00 AM
An examination of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century philosophy from Descartes to Kant, with emphasis on the nature and extent of knowledge. Readings include Descartes, Locke, Spinoza, Berkley, Hume, and Kant.
Prerequisites: One philosophy course or sophomore standing.
BU Hub: Historical Consciousness, Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings, Research and Information Literacy.
CAS PH 340 A1: Metaphysics and Epistemology
Professor Nicolas Westberg
Tuesday, Thursday, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
This course is about metaphysics (the study of what there is, and how it all relates) and epistemology (the study of knowledge, and how we can know things about the world) and their intersection.
Prerequisites: CAS PH 160; or consent of instructor.
BU Hub: Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings, Critical Thinking.
CAS PH 350 A1: History of Ethics
Professor Aaron Garrett
Tuesday, Thursday 2:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Are there fundamental principles for determining the right way to act ethically? How do different eras answer this question? What is the significance of these differences? This course addresses these questions by examining classical ethical texts from different historical traditions.
Prerequisites: One philosophy course or sophomore standing.
BU Hub: Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings, Ethical Reasoning, and Critical Thinking.
CAS PH 360 A1: Symbolic Logic
Professor Derek Anderson
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 2:30 PM – 3:20 PM
A survey of the concepts and principles of symbolic logic: valid and invalid arguments, logical relations of statements and their basis in structural features of statements, analysis of the logical structure of complex statements of ordinary discourse, and the use of a symbolic language to display logical structure and to facilitate methods for assessing the logical structure of arguments. We cover the analysis of reasoning with truth-functions (“and”, “or”, “not”, “if … then”) and with quantifiers (“all”, “some”), attending to formal languages and axiomatic systems for logical deduction. Throughout, we aim to clearly and systematically display both the theory underlying the norms of valid reasoning and their applications to particular problems of argumentation. The course is an introduction to first-order quantificational logic, a key tool underlying work in foundations of mathematics, philosophy of language and mind, philosophy of science and parts of syntax and semantics. It is largely mathematical and formal in character, but lectures situate these structures within the context of questions raised in contemporary philosophy of language and mind
Prerequisites: One philosophy course or sophomore standing.
BU Hub: Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings, Quantitative Reasoning I, and Critical Thinking.
CAS PH 413 A1: Kant
Professor Sally Sedgwick
Monday 2:30 PM – 5:15 PM
A study of Kant’s critical philosophy, focusing on one or more of his works.
Prerequisites: Undergraduate Prerequisites: two previous PH courses, or consent of instructor.
CAS PH 422 A1: Analytic Philosophy
Professor Peter Hylton
Wednesday 2:30 PM – 5:15 PM
An examination of some aspects of the development of twentieth-century analytic philosophy, with an emphasis on works by Frege, Russell, the Logical Empiricists (also known as Logical Positivists), and Quine.
Prerequisites: CAS PH 360, or equivalent knowledge of quantification theory.
CAS PH 426: Phenomenology
Professor Antoine Pageu
Thursday, 12:30 PM – 3:15 PM
Rigorous examination of foundations of philosophical phenomenology in Husserl and others. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Writing-Intensive Course, Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings.
Prerequisites: Two previous PH courses, or consent of instructor.. First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120)
BU Hub: Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings, Oral and/or Signed Communication, Writing-Intensive Course
CAS PH 436 A1: Gender, Race, and Science
Professor Alisa Bokulich
Tuesday, Thursday 3:30 PM – 4:45 PM
An upper-level exploration of topics in the philosophy of gender and philosophy of race, informed by historical and scientific inquiry. Explores philosophical questions about the nature of race and racism, sex and sexism.
Prerequisites: Two previous PH courses, or consent of instructor.
BU Hub: Ethical Reasoning, Social Inquiry I, Critical Thinking.
CAS PH 452 A1: Ethics of Health Care
Professor Rachell Powell
Tuesday, Thursday 5:00 PM – 6:15 PM
Medicine and health care offer a unique opportunity to explore the nature of humanity and the world and to ask fundamental questions concerning the nature of birth, life, and death, and what it is to be a person. Readings from both classical and contemporary writings in ethics, medicine, law, and public health policy,
Prerequisites: CAS PH 350; and two other philosophy courses, or consent of instructor (PH 150 and PH 251 are recommended).
CAS PH 461 A1: Mathematical Logic
Professor Kanamori
Tuesday, Thursday 9:30 AM – 10:45 AM
The investigation of logical reasoning with mathematical methods. The syntax and semantics of sentential logic and quantificational logic. The unifying Godel Completeness Theorem, and models of theories. A look at the Godel Incompleteness Theorem and its ramifications
Prerequisites: CAS MA 293; or consent of instructor
BU Hub: Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings
CAS PH 465 A1: Philosophy of Cognitive Science
Professor Victor Kumar
Monday 2:30 PM – 5:15 PM
The course begins with in-depth study of leading scientific work on the evolution of cognition and culture. Next, we draw on this work as we think about social conflict and social change, especially in the context of American political culture.
Prerequisites: CAS PH 310 and CAS PH 360; and one other philosophy course; or consent of instructor
BU Hub: Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings, Scientific Inquiry II, Critical Thinking
CAS PH 489 A1: Henry James and New Media
Professor Juliet Floyd
Tuesday 3:30 PM – 6:15 PM
James’s writing exposed moral and aesthetic dimensions of society’s play with status, wealth, and romance. After exploring contemporary dating apps, social media, and films of James’s works, students complete a video, graphic novel, or other form of “new media” criticism.
BU Hub: Digital/Multimedia Expression, Aesthetic Exploration, Creativity/Innovation
CAS PH 490 A1: Topics in Philosophy: Creativity
Professor Michaela McSweeney
Thursday 6:30 PM – 9:15 PM
This class is on the philosophy of creativity and imagination. We will ask questions like: What is creativity? What is imagination? How do we exercise these things? What is the value of creativity? Can computers be genuinely imaginative or creative? And many others. We will read mostly contemporary philosophy on these issues, and probably some work from related fields. The format of this class will be unusual and experimental, and students need to be prepared to try out things they might not be used to: some of the sessions of the class will be devoted to actually exercising our own imagination and creativity, both jointly and individually, not in doing philosophy but in various other activities including but not limited to drawing/visual art and improv (if you feel anxious about interacting with other students in class improv will help fix that!).
GRS – GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES
GRS PH 613 A1: Kant
Professor Sally Sedgwick
Monday 2:30 PM – 5:15 PM
A study of Kant’s critical philosophy, focusing on one or more of his works.
Prerequisites: Undergraduate Prerequisites: two previous PH courses, or consent of instructor.
GRS PH 622 A1: Analytic Philosophy
Professor Peter Hylton
Wednesday 2:30 PM – 5:15 PM
An examination of some aspects of the development of twentieth-century analytic philosophy, with an emphasis on works by Frege, Russell, the Logical Empiricists (also known as Logical Positivists), and Quine.
Prerequisites: CAS PH 360, or equivalent knowledge of quantification theory.
GRS PH 626: Phenomenology
Professor Antoine Pageu
Thursday, 12:30 PM – 3:15 PM
Rigorous examination of foundations of philosophical phenomenology in Husserl and others. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Writing-Intensive Course, Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings.
Prerequisites: Two previous PH courses, or consent of instructor.. First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120)
BU Hub: Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings, Oral and/or Signed Communication, Writing-Intensive Course
GRS PH 633 A1: Symbolic Logic
Professor Derek Anderson
Tuesday, Thursday 3:30 PM – 4:45 PM
A survey of the concepts and principles of symbolic logic: valid and invalid arguments, logical relations of statements and their basis in structural features of statements, analysis of the logical structure of complex statements of ordinary discourse, and the use of a symbolic language to display logical structure and to facilitate methods for assessing the logical structure of arguments. We cover the analysis of reasoning with truth-functions.
GRS PH 636 A1: Gender, Race, and Science
Professor Alisa Bokulich
Tuesday, Thursday 3:30 PM – 4:45 PM
An upper-level exploration of topics in the philosophy of gender and philosophy of race, informed by historical and scientific inquiry. Explores philosophical questions about the nature of race and racism, sex and sexism.
Prerequisites: Two previous PH courses, or consent of instructor.
BU Hub: Ethical Reasoning, Social Inquiry I, Critical Thinking.
GRS PH 652 A1: Ethics of Health Care
Professor Rachell Powell
Tuesday, Thursday 5:00 PM – 6:15 PM
Medicine and health care offer a unique opportunity to explore the nature of humanity and the world and to ask fundamental questions concerning the nature of birth, life, and death, and what it is to be a person. Readings from both classical and contemporary writings in ethics, medicine, law, and public health policy,
Prerequisites: CAS PH 350; and two other philosophy courses, or consent of instructor (PH 150 and PH 251 are recommended).
GRS PH 661 A1: Mathematical Logic
Professor Kanamori
Tuesday, Thursday 9:30 AM – 10:45 AM
The investigation of logical reasoning with mathematical methods. The syntax and semantics of sentential logic and quantificational logic. The unifying Godel Completeness Theorem, and models of theories. A look at the Godel Incompleteness Theorem and its ramifications
Prerequisites: CAS MA 293; or consent of instructor
BU Hub: Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings
GRS PH 665 A1: Philosophy of Cognitive Science
Professor Victor Kumar
Monday 2:30 PM – 5:15 PM
The course begins with in-depth study of leading scientific work on the evolution of cognition and culture. Next, we draw on this work as we think about social conflict and social change, especially in the context of American political culture.
Prerequisites: CAS PH 310 and CAS PH 360; and one other philosophy course; or consent of instructor
BU Hub: Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings, Scientific Inquiry II, Critical Thinking
GRS PH 689 A1: Henry James and New Media
Professor Juliet Floyd
Tuesday 3:30 PM – 6:15 PM
James’s writing exposed moral and aesthetic dimensions of society’s play with status, wealth, and romance. After exploring contemporary dating apps, social media, and films of James’s works, students complete a video, graphic novel, or other form of “new media” criticism.
BU Hub: Digital/Multimedia Expression, Aesthetic Exploration, Creativity/Innovation
GRS PH 880 A1: Topics in Philosophy: Values, Reasons, and Normativity
Professor Daniel Star
Wednesday 11:15 AM – 2:00 PM
Recent work in moral psychology and ethics.
GRS PH 881 A1: Proseminar for First Year Graduate Students
Professor Michalea McSweeney
Friday 11:15 AM – 2:00 PM
This seminar is open only to first-year PhD students in philosophy, all of whom are required to enroll. The seminar is designed to help incoming graduate students hone several invaluable philosophical skills, including those needed for effective presentation and defense of one’s ideas. Topics vary by semester.
Prerequisites: First-year philosophy PhD student standing.
GRS PH 991 A1: Dissertation Workshop
Professor Daniel Star
Friday 11:15 AM – 2:00 PM
Intended for the Philosophy Ph.D. students working towards a dissertation prospectus or dissertation. Students present their research and discuss each other’s research projects.
Prerequisites: Consent of major professor
GRS PH 993 A1: Philosophy Pro Seminar I
Professor Victor Kumar
Thursday 12:30 PM – 3:15 PM
A workshop seminar offering advanced graduate students the opportunity to present and discuss work-in- progress (dissertation chapters, papers for job applications, journal submissions). A serious commitment to regular and continuing attendance is expected.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing