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The Greek words from which Philosophy is formed mean love of wisdom and all great philosophers have been moved by an intense devotion to the search for wisdom. Philosophy takes no belief for granted, but examines the grounds for those beliefs which make up peoples fundamental views of the world. Philosophers think about these beliefs as thoroughly and systematically as possible, using methods of conceptual analysis, reasoning, and detailed description. What distinguishes Philosophy from the physical and social sciences is its concern not only with the truths which are discovered by means of specialized methods of investigation, but with the implications that such discoveries have for human beings in their relations with one another and the world. Moreover, Philosophy has an abiding interest in those basic assumptions about the nature of the physical and social world, and about the nature of enquiry itself, which underlie our scientific and practical endeavours. The Philosophy Department at the University of Toronto offers courses in the main periods and areas of Philosophy, which are listed here with a typical question or the name of one or two central figures: Ancient Philosophy (Plato, Aristotle); Mediaeval Philosophy (Augustine, Aquinas); Early Modern Philosophy (Descartes, Hume, Kant); Nineteenth-Century Philosophy and Marxism (Hegel, Mill, Marx); Continental Philosophy and Phenomenology (Husserl, Heidegger, Sartre); Analytic Philosophy (Quine, Russell, Wittgenstein); Epistemology and Metaphysics (What can be known? What is the ultimate nature of reality?); Philosophy of Religion (Does God exist? How could one prove it?); Philosophy of Mind (What is mind? Is there free will?); Logic and Philosophy of Mathematics (What is sound reasoning? Do numbers exist?); Philosophy of Language (What is the meaning of meaning?); Philosophy of Natural Science (What is scientific method?); Philosophy of Social Science and History (Can there be a science of humans?); Social and Political Philosophy (What justifies the state?); Moral Philosophy (How should we argue rationally about right and wrong?); Aesthetics (What is art? Must it be beautiful?). In addition, the Department offers Seminars (numbered PHL400H1-PHL489H1) and Individual Studies courses (numbered PHL490Y1, PHL495H1-499H1). Counselling is available in the main departmental office, 170 St. George St., 4th floor. In addition, the Department publishes an annual Bulletin. It contains full and up-to-date information on programs and courses, including names of instructors and descriptions of particular course sections. The Bulletin is published in the spring (for the succeeding year) and is available on the Departments website and at 170 St. George Street, and from all College registrars. Undergraduate Coordinator:Professor J. M. Heath, 170 St. George Street, Room 404 (416-978-3314), undergrad.phil@utoronto.ca Philosophy ProgramsEnrolment in Philosophy programs is open to students who have completed four courses; no minimum GPA required. NOTE: No more than one individual studies
full course can be counted towards any philosophy program. Normally, no more
than one-half individual studies
course can be counted towards the 400-level course requirement for any
Specialist or Combined Specialist. Philosophy (Arts program)Specialist program: (10 full courses or their equivalent) First year (recommended): Higher years (required): Major program: (7 full courses or their equivalent) First year (recommended): Higher years (required): Minor program: (4 full courses or their equivalent) 1. One full course from the following: PHL200Y1 / PHL205H1 / PHL206H1 / PHL210Y1 Philosophy and Economics: see EconomicsPhilosophy and English: see EnglishPhilosophy and Linguistics: see LinguisticsPhilosophy and Literary Studies: see Literary StudiesPhilosophy and Mathematics: see MathematicsPhilosophy and Physics: see PhysicsPhilosophy and Political Science (Arts program)Limited Enrolment program: see details under Political Science. Specialist program: 14 full courses or their equivalent, including at least four full courses at the 300+ level, of which one full course must be at the 400 level. Philosophy (7 courses):
Political Science (7 courses):
Philosophy and Religion (Arts program)Specialist program: (14 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one 400-series course: 7 in each subject) Philosophy (7 courses):
Religion (7 courses):
Philosophy of Science (Arts Program)Specialist program: (10 full courses or their equivalent, at least four of which must be at the 300-level or above, including at least one full 400-series PHL course) First Year:Required: One full science course, normally at the 100-level, from, CHM, CSC, GLG, BIO, JMB, PSY, MAT, PHY, STA Note: Courses listed under Science Courses for Humanities and Social Science Students (see pp.24-25) cannot be counted towards this requirement.Recommended: PHL100Y1, HPS100H1 Higher Years: Philosophy and Sociology (Arts program)Specialist program: (14.5 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one full 400-level course equivalent) Philosophy (7 courses):
Sociology (7.5 courses):
Bioethics (Arts program)Specialist program: (10 full courses or their equivalent, at least four of which must be 300+ series PHL courses, including one full 400-series course) First Year (recommended):PHL100Y1BIO150Y1BIO150Y1 Higher
Years (required): Major program: (7 full courses or their equivalent, at least two of which must be 300+ series PHL full courses) First Year (recommended): PHL100Y1BIO 150Y1 Higher Years (required): Minor program: (4 full courses or their equivalent including at least one full 300+ series PHL course) 1. PHL281H1 Group 1
Advanced Bioethics: Group 2 Value Theory: Group 3 Analytic Philosophy: Group 4 Interdisciplinary Environmental Ethics (Arts Program): see Centre for Environment |