A study of the most basic forms of reasoning and their linguistic expressions, this course provides an introduction to the traditional theory of syllogism, contemporary symbolic logic, the nature of scientific reasoning, and the relationship between logic and language. (4 credits)
PHIL E-156/W Philosophy of Mind
Fall term (13589)
Jeff McConnell, PhD, Lecturer on Philosophy, Tufts University.
How do human minds fit into the physical world? This is the mind-body problem. We review the strategies of dualists, behaviorists, physicalists, functionalists, and eliminativists for solving it, and we discuss the features of the mind that make the problem hard—such as subjective experience, the unity of consciousness and the "aboutness" of our states of mind. We also consider how recent work in psychology and neuroscience relates to the philosophical debates. (4 credits)
PHIL E-160/W Philosophical Problems of Economic Justice
This course examines philosophical foundations of three fundamentally different economic systems—capitalism, socialism, and the welfare state. We critically assess prospects for economic justice introduced by each system. The focus is on features an economic system and a society ought to have in order to be economically just, and the sorts of claims the different classical economic systems advance in the name of economic justice. Throughout the course, we consider economic requirements of a good life, the grounding of claims for a good life, the problem of poverty, and the ways in which economic systems materially and culturally set conditions for a productive, fair, and just life for all members of the global community. (4 credits)
PHIL E-166/W Ethical Theory
Spring term (23305)
Jeff McConnell, PhD, Lecturer on Philosophy, Tufts University.
An examination of the main theories in ethics—including utilitarianism, Kantianism, virtue ethics and contractualism—as well as some of the central topics—the objectivity and meaning of moral claims, the possibility of relativism in ethical judgments, the nature of justice, and the relationship between morality and the good life. Readings are drawn both from the classics and from contemporary writings. (4 credits)
PHIL E-167 Biomedical Ethics
Fall term (11907)
Eli Hirsch, PhD, Charles Goldman Professor of Philosophy, Brandeis University.
This course is an examination of ethical issues that arise in a biomedical context, such as abortion, euthanasia, eugenics, lying to patients, and the right to health care. The relevance of ethical theory to such issues is considered. (4 credits)