PHI236Y1
Philosophy and Religion 78L

The distinctive features of religious living; the relationship of religious living and critical thinking; the meaning of "God"; arguments regarding the existence and nature of God; the problems of God and evil; the meaning of death; arguments regarding the existence and nature of a personal afterlife.
Exclusion: PHL235H

PHI305H1
Early Medieval Philosophy 39L

A study of issues such as the relations of reason and faith, the being and the nature of God, and the problem of universals in the writings of such philosophers as Augustine, Boethius, and Anselm and Abelard.
Prerequisite: CLA200Y/PHI200Y

PHI306H1
Later Medieval Philosophy 39L

A study of issues such as the relation of reason and faith, the being and nature of God, and the structure of the universe in the writings of such philosophers as Aquinas and Ockham.
Prerequisite: CLA200Y/PHI200Y

PHI307H1
Augustine 39L

Central themes in St. Augustine's Christian philosophy, such as the problem of evil, the interior way to God, the goal of human life and the meaning of history.
Prerequisite: CLA200Y/PHL/PHI200Y

PHI308H1
Aquinas 39L

Philosophical innovations that St. Thomas Aquinas made in the course of constructing a systematic theology: essence and existence, the Five Ways, separate intelligences, the human soul and ethics.
Prerequisite: CLA200Y/PHL/PHI200Y

PHI336H1
Islamic Philosophy 39L

An introduction to the major thinkers in classical Islamic philosophy, with emphasis placed on developing a properly philosophical understanding of the issues and arguments. Topics include the existence of God; creation and causality; human nature and knowledge; the nature of ethical obligations; and the constitution of the ideal political state.
Prerequisite: PHI/L200Y or a course in metaphysics

PHI405H1
Advanced Topics in Mediaeval Philosophy 26S

Recommended preparation: PHI305H, 306H

PHL/PHI100Y1
Introduction to Philosophical Problems 52L, 26T

The central branches of philosophy - logic, theory of knowledge, metaphysics, and ethics. Some time may be devoted to questions in political philosophy and philosophy of religion. The course is concerned with such questions as: What is sound reasoning? What can we know? What is ultimately real? Is morality rational? Do humans have free will? Is there a God?
Exclusion: PHL/PHI101Y, 102Y, 201H

PHL/PHI102Y1
History of Western Philosophy 52L, 26T

The central branches of philosophy - logic, theory of knowledge, metaphysics, and ethics - introduced with the emphasis on the last three. A selection of works by such philosophers as Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Descartes, Hume, Kant, Nietzsche, and one or more contemporary authors are studied.
Exclusion: PHL/PHI100Y, 101Y, 201H

PHL/PHI200Y1
Ancient Philosophy 78L

Central texts of the pre-socratics, Plato, Aristotle, and post-Aristotelian philosophy.

PHL/PHI201H1
Introduction to Philosophy 39L

An introduction of philosophy focusing on the connections among its main branches: logic, theory of knowledge, metaphysics, and ethics. This course is intended for those with little or no philosophy background but have completed four FCEs in any subject.
Exclusion: PHL/PHI100Y, 101Y, 102Y
Prerequisite: Four FCEs in any subject

PHL/PHI210Y1
17th-and 18th-Century Philosophy 78L

Central texts of such philosophers as Hobbes, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, and Kant.

PHL/PHI230H1
Introduction to Epistemology 39L

An introduction to epistemology: the nature and scope of human knowledge. Perception, meaning, evidence, certainty, skepticism, belief, objectivity, and truth.

PHL/PHI231H1
Introduction to Metaphysics 39L

An introduction to metaphysics: conceptions of the overall framework of reality. Typical problems include: existence and essence, categories of being, mind and body, freedom and determinism, causality, space and time, God.

PHL/PHI245H1
Modern Symbolic Logic 39L

The application of symbolic techniques to the assessment of arguments. Propositional calculus and quantification theory. Logical concepts, techniques of natural deduction.

PHL/PHI247H1
Critical Reasoning 39L

The area of informal logic - the logic of ordinary language, usually non-deductive. Criteria for the critical assessment of arguments as strong or merely persuasive. Different types of arguments and techniques of refutation; their use and abuse.
Exclusion: TRN200H/200Y

PHL/PHI255H1
Science and Pseudo-Science 39L

An examination of (e.g.) ESP, astrology, race and I.Q., scientific creationism, psychoanalysis, sociobiology; the principles of good science as opposed to pseudo-science, especially in "borderline" cases; misuses of science.

PHL/PHI270H1
Philosophy of Law 39L

The concept of law and of the rule of law, natural law, positivism, and the common law tradition; theories of adjudication.
Recommended preparation: Any 100-level course in philosophy or political theory

PHL/PHI281Y1
Bioethics 78L

An introduction to the study of moral and legal problems in medical practice and in biomedical research; the development of health policy. Topics include: concepts of health and disease, patient rights, informed consent, allocation of scarce resources, euthanasia, abortion, genetic and reproductive technologies, human research, and mental health.
Exclusion: PHL/PHI281H, 282H

PHL/PHI295H1
Philosophy of Business 39L

Philosophical issues in ethics, social theory, and theories of human nature insofar as they bear on contemporary conduct of business. Issues include: Does business have moral responsibilities? Can social costs and benefits be calculated? Does modern business life determine human nature or the other way around? Do political ideas and institutions such as democracy have a role within business?

PHL/PHI299Y1
Research Opportunity Program

Credit course for supervised participation in faculty research project. See page 42 for details.

PHL/PHI303H1
Plato 39L

Selected metaphysical, epistemological, and ethical themes in Plato's dialogues.
Exclusion: PHL301Y
Prerequisite: CLA200Y/PHL/PHI200Y

PHL/PHI304H1
Aristotle 39L

Selected anthropological, ethical and metaphysical themes in the works of Aristotle.
Exclusion: PHL302Y
Prerequisite: CLA200Y/PHL/PHI200Y

PHL/PHI310H1
The Rationalists 39L

Central philosophical problems in Descartes, Spinoza, or Leibniz.
Prerequisite: One of PHL/PHI100Y-102Y/210Y/(230H, 231H)

PHL/PHI311H1
The Empiricists 39L

Central philosophical problems in Locke, Berkeley, or Hume.
Prerequisite: One of PHL/PHI100Y-102Y/210Y(230H, 231H)

PHL/PHI312H1
Kant 39L

A systematic study of The Critique of Pure Reason.
Prerequisite: PHL/PHI210Y or PHL(310H, 311H)

PHL/PHI316H1
Hegel 39L

An examination of Hegel's project of absolute knowing, its philosophical assumptions, and its implications for history, science and experience.
Prerequisite: PHL/PHI312H

PHL/PHI320H1
Phenomenology 39L

Phenomenology is a method used in the analysis of human awareness and subjectivity. It has been applied in the social sciences, humanities, as well as in philosophy. Texts studied are from Husserl and later practitioners, e.g., Heidegger, Sartre, Merleau-Ponty, Gurwitsch, and Ricoeur.
Recommended preparation: PHL/PHI210Y/230H/312H

PHL/PHI321H1
Heidegger 39L

Some work from the 1920's (either Being and Time or contemporary lectures) and selections from Heidegger's later work on poetry, technology, and history are studied. Heidegger's position within phenomenology and within the broader history of thought is charted.
Prerequisite: PHL215H/220H
Recommended preparation: PHL/PHI320H

PHL/PHI325H
The Analytic Tradition (formerly PHL225H) 39L

Analytic philosophy up to the present day. Authors from Frege and Russell to Quine and Kripke.
Recommended preparation: PHL/PHI245H

PHL/PHI326H
Wittgenstein 39L

Wittgenstein's views on the structure and function of language, meaning, the possibility of a private language, and the concepts of feeling and thinking. The Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus and the Philosophical Investigations.
Recommended preparation: PHL/PHI210Y/PHL311H, PHL/PHI245H

PHL/PHI330Y1
Metaphysics and Epistemology (formerly PHI330Y, 331Y) 78L

Historical and systematic approaches. Principal issues include: the nature of reality, substance and existence, necessity and the a priori, truth, knowledge and belief, perception, causality.
Prerequisite: One of PHL/PHI100Y/101Y/102Y/200Y/205Y/210Y/(230H, 231H)

PHL/PHI335H1
Issues in Philosophy of Religion 39L

Some specific problem(s) in the philosophy of religion, such as the relationship of religious faith and religious belief, the ontological argument for the existence of God, theories about divine transcendence, the philosophical presuppositions of religious doctrines, the modern critique of religion.

PHL/PHI340H1
Issues in Philosophy of Mind 39L

Typical issues include: the mind-brain identity theory; intentionality and the mental, personal identity.
Prerequisite: One of JUP250Y/PHL/PHI240H/242H

PHL/PHI362H1
Philosophy of History 39L

Typical questions include: Has history any meaning? Can there be general theories of history? How are the findings of historians related to the theories of metaphysics and of science? Is history deterministic? Must the historian make value judgements? Is history science or an art? Are there historical forces or spirits of an epoch? (Offered in alternate years)

PHL/PHI381H1
Ethics and Medical Research 39L

An intermediate-level study of problems in biomedical and behavioural research with human subjects: informed voluntary consent, risk and benefit, experimental therapy, randomized clinical trials, research codes and legal issues, dependent groups (human embryos, children, the aged, hospital patients, the dying, prisoners, the mentally ill. (Offered in alternate years)
Prerequisite: PHL/PHI281Y

PHL/PHI382H1
Ethics: Death and Dying 39L

An intermediate-level study of moral and legal problems, including the philosophical significance of death, the high-tech prolongation of life, definition and determination of death, suicide, active and passive euthanasia, the withholding of treatment, palliative care and the control of pain, living wills; recent judicial decisions. (Offered in alternate years)
Prerequisite: PHL/PHI281Y

PHL/PHI383H1
Ethics and Mental Health 39L

An intermediate-level study of moral and legal problems, including the concepts of mental health and illness, mental competence, dangerousness and psychiatric confidentiality, mental institutionalization, involuntary treatment and behaviour control, controversial therapies; legal issues: the Mental Health Act, involuntary commitment, the insanity defence. (Offered in alternate years)
Prerequisite: PHL/PHI281Y

PHL/PHI384H1
Ethics, Genetics and Reproduction 39L

An intermediate-level study of moral and legal problems, including the ontological and moral status of the human embryo and fetus; human newborn, carrier and prenatal genetic screening for genetic defect, genetic therapy; the reproductive technologies (e.g., artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization); recent legislative proposals and judicial decisions. (Offered in alternate years)
Prerequisite: PHL/PHI281Y

PHL/PHI490Y1
Individual Studies

PHL/PHI496H1/497H1/498H1/499H1
Individual Studies

PHL215H
Kierkegaard and Nietzsche 39L

An examination of central themes in the thought of Kierkegaard (e.g., the leap of faith, paradox, decision) and Nietzsche (e.g., will to power, the death of God, eternal return, the overman) through a selection of their texts.

PHL216H1
Marx 39L

An examination of some leading themes in the theory of Karl Marx.

PHL220H1
Existentialism 39L

This influential way of thinking in philosophy, theology, psychotherapy, and literature became prominent with such 20th-century authors as Jaspers, Heidegger, Buber, Camus, and Sartre, but it had its roots in the 19th-century, especially in the writings of Kierkegaard. Principal themes: nature and predicament of the self, self-deception, and freedom of choice.

PHL235H1
Philosophy of Religion 39L

Some central issues in the philosophy of religion such as the nature of religion and religious faith, arguments for the existence of God, the problem of evil, varieties of religious experience, religion and human autonomy.
Exclusion: PHI236Y

PHL237H1
Chinese Philosophies 39L

An introduction to the main philosophical traditions of China, including Confucianism, Taosim, Buddhism and their principle schools of thought.
Exclusion: RLG274H

PHL240H1
Persons, Minds and Bodies (formerly PHL240Y) 39L

Consciousness and its relation to the body; personal identity and survival; knowledge of other minds; psychological events and behaviour.

PHL243H1
Philosophy of Human Sexuality 39L

Philosophical issues about sex and sexual identity in the light of biological, psychological and ethical theories of sex and gender. The concept of gender; male and female sex roles; "perverse" sex; sexual liberation; love and sexuality.

PHL244H1
Human Nature 39L

Aspects of human nature, e.g., emotion, instincts, motivation. Theories of human nature, e.g., behaviourism, psychoanalysis.

PHL246H1
Probability and Inductive Logic 39L

The elements of axiomatic probability theory and its main interpretations (frequency, logical, and subjective). Reasoning with probabilities in decision-making and science.
Recommended preparation: PHL100Y/PHL/PHI245H

PHL265H1
Introduction to Political Philosophy 39L

Central issues in political philosophy, e.g., political and social justice, liberty and the criteria of good government are introduced through a comparative and critical study of major philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle in the classical period and Hobbes, Mill, and Marx in the modern era.

PHL267H1
Philosophy of Feminism 39L

Main types of feminist theory: liberal, Marxist, Existential and "Radical". A number of ethical, political and psychological issues are considered.

PHL271H1
Law and Morality 39L

Justifications for the legal enforcement of morality; particular ethical issues arising out of the intersection of law and morality, such as punishment, freedom of expression and censorship, autonomy and paternalism, constitutional protection of human rights.
Recommended preparation: PHL270H or any course in political or moral philosophy

PHL272H1
Philosophy of Education 39L

The nature, aims, and content of education; learning theory; education and indoctrination; the teaching of morals and the morality of teaching; the role and justification of educational institutions, their relation to society and to individual goals; authority and freedom in the school.

PHL273H1
Environmental Ethics 39L

A study of environmental issues raising questions of concern to moral and political philosophers, such as property rights, responsibility for future generations, and the interaction of human beings with the rest of nature. Typical issues: sustainable development, alternative energy, the preservation of wilderness areas, animal rights.

PHL275H1
Introduction to Ethics 39L

Central issues in ethics are introduced through a comparative and critical study of some of the major figures in the history of moral philosophy, such as Aristotle, Hume, Kant, and Mill. Some 20th-century philosophers may also be studied.
Exclusion: PHI276Y

PHL278H1
War and Morality 39L

Moral and political issues concerning warfare: the theory of the "just war", pacifism, moral constraints on the conduct of war, war as an instrument of foreign policy, the strategy of deterrence. Special attention to the implications of nuclear weapons. (Offered in alternate years)

PHL285H1
Aesthetics 39L

A historical and systematic introduction to the main questions in the philosophy of art and beauty from Plato to the present. These include the relation between art and beauty, the nature of aesthetic experience, definitions and theories of art, the criteria of excellence in the arts, and the function of art criticism.

PHL288H1
Literature and Philosophy 39L

The literary expression of philosophical ideas and the interplay between literature and philosophy. Such philosophical issues as the nature and origin of good and evil in human beings, the nature and extent of human freedom and responsibility, and the diverse forms of linguistic expression. Such authors as Wordsworth, Mill, Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy, Miller, Camus, and Lawrence are studied.

PHL315H1
19th-Century German Philosophy 39L

The systems of thought that followed Kant, including Fichte, Schelling, and Hegel. Then later authors such as Schopenhauer, Marx, and Nietzsche who were, in part, critics of Hegel, but who were also creative thinkers who shaped the future.
Prerequisite: PHL/PHI312H

PHL318H1
Marxism in the Twentieth Century 26S

Interpretations of Marxism: pro- and anti-Marxist arguments and concerns down to the present day. Possible focuses are the philosophical developments or critiques of Marxism by Lenin, Mao, Gramsci, Lukacs, Althusser, Habermas, the "analytic Marxists", or others.
Prerequisite: PHL216H

PHL322H1
Contemporary Continental Philosophy 39L

German and French philosophy after World War II, focusing on such topics as: debates about humanism, hermeneutics, critical theory, the structuralist movement, its successors such as deconstruction. Typical authors: Heidegger, Gadamer, Habermas, Levi-Strauss, Foucault, Derrida.
Prerequisite: PHL220H

PHL337H1
Topics in Chinese Philosophy 39L

An intermediate level treatment of such topics as: human nature; good and evil; the role of emotions; the metaphysical ultimate.
Prerequisite: PHL237H/RLG267H/HUM199Y (East Asian Studies)

PHL338H1
Jewish Philosophy 39L

A selection of texts and issues in Jewish philosophy, for example, Maimonides' Guide of the Perplexed, Buber's The Prophetic Faith, prophecy and revelation, Divine Command and morality, creation and eternity, the historical dimension of Jewish thought. (Offered in alternate years)

PHL341H1
Freedom, Responsibility, and Human Action 39L

Human action, and the nature of freedom and responsibility in the light of contemporary knowledge concerning the causation of behaviour.
Prerequisite: One of PHL/PHI100Y-102Y/240H/244H/271H

PHL342H1
Minds and Machines (formerly PHL242H) 39L

Topics include: philosophical foundations of artificial intelligence theory; the computational theory of the mind; functionalism vs. reductionism; the problems of meaning in the philosophy of mind.

PHL344H1
Metalogic 39L

Soundness and completeness of propositional and quantificational logic, undecidability of quantificational logic, and other metalogical topics.
Exclusion: MAT309H/CSC438H
Prerequisite: PHL/PHI245H/CSC238H and a full course in PHL/PHI/CSC/MAT

PHL345H1
Intermediate Logic 39L

A sequel to PHL/PHI245H, developing skills in quantificational logic and treating of definite descriptions. The system developed is used to study a selection of the following topics: philosophical uses of logic, formal systems, set theory, non-classical logics, and metalogic.
Prerequisite: PHL/PHI245H and a full course in PHL/PHI/CSC/MAT

PHL346H1
Philosophy of Mathematics 39L

Platonism versus nominalism, the relation between logic and mathematics, implications of G”del's theorem, formalism and intuitionism.
Prerequisite: PHL/PHI245H and a full course in PHL/PHI/CSC/MAT

PHL347H1
Modal Logic 39L

Formal study of the concepts of necessity and possibility; modal propositional and quantificational logic; possible-worlds semantics; the metaphysics of modality. (Offered in alternate years)
Prerequisite: PHL/PHI245H and a full course in PHL/PHI/CSC/MAT

PHL349H1
Set Theory 39L

Axiomatic set theory developed in a practical way, as a logical tool for philosophers, with some attention to philosophical problems surrounding it. (Offered in alternate years)
Prerequisite: PHL/PHI245H and a full course in PHL/PHI/CSC/MAT

PHL351H1
Philosophy of Language (formerly PHL250H) 39L

The nature of language as a system of human communication, theories of meaning and meaningfulness, the relation of language to the world and to the human mind.
Recommended preparation: PHL230H/245H/325H/326H

PHL355H1
Philosophy of Natural Science 39L

The structure and methods of science: explanation, methodology, realism and instrumentalism.
Recommended preparation: A solid background in science or HPS250H/PHL246H/255H

PHL356H1
Philosophy of Physics 39L

Introduction to philosophical issues which arise in modern physics, especially in Relativity and Quantum Mechanics. Topics include: the nature of spacetime, conventionality in geometry, determinism, and the relation between observation and existence.
Recommended preparation: One year of mathematics or physics

PHL357H1
Philosophy of Biology 39L

Philosophical issues in the foundations of biology, e.g., the nature of life, evolutionary theory; controversies about natural selection; competing mechanisms, units of selection; the place of teleology in biology; biological puzzles about sex and sexual reproduction; the problem of species; genetics and reductionism; sociobiology; natural and artificial life.
Recommended preparation: HPS250H/PHL246H/255H. Students with a background in Biology are exempt form the prerequisite of 1.5 courses in Philosophy

PHL365H1
Political Philosophy 39L

A study of some of the central problems of political philosophy, addressed to historical and contemporary political theorists.
Prerequisite: PHL/PHI265H/POL200Y

PHL370H1
Issues in Philosophy of Law 39L

Major issues in philosophy of law, such as legal positivism and its critics, law and liberalism, feminist critiques of law, punishment and responsibility.
Prerequisite: PHL/PHI270H/271H
Recommended preparation: PHL265H

PHL373H1
Issues in Environmental Ethics 39L

An intermediate-level examination of key issues in environmental philosophy, such as the ethics of animal welfare, duties to future generations, deep ecology, ecofeminism, sustainable development and international justice.
Prerequisite: PHL273H

PHL375H1
Ethics 39L

A study of some of the main problems in moral philosophy, such as the objectivity of values, the nature of moral judgements, rights and duties, the virtues, and consequentialism.
Prerequisite: PHL275H

PHL385H1
Issues in Aesthetics 39L

Selected topics in the philosophy of art. Such issues as the following are discussed: whether different arts require different aesthetic principles; relations between art and language; the adequacy of traditional aesthetics to recent developments in the arts; art as an institution.
Recommended preparation: PHL285H

PHL400H1
Advanced Topics in Greek Philosophy 26S

Recommended preparation: PHL/PHI200Y

PHL410H1
Advanced Topics in Modern Philosophy 26S

Recommended preparation: PHL/PHI210Y/(310H, 311H)

PHL430H1
Advanced Topics in Epistemology 26S

Recommended preparation: PHL/PHI230H/330Y

PHL435H1
Advanced Topics in Metaphysics 26S

Recommended preparation: PHL/PHI231H/330Y

PHL438H1
Advanced Topics in Philosophy of Religion 26S

Recommended preparation: PHI236Y/PHL235H/335H

PHL440H1
Advanced Topics in Philosophy of Mind 26S

Recommended preparation: PHL/PHI340H/PHL341H

PHL445H1
Advanced Topics in Logic 26S

Recommended preparation: Two of PHL344H-349H

PHL450H1
Advanced Topics in the Philosophy of Language 26S

Prerequisite: PHL/PHI245H
Recommended preparation: PHL350H/351H

PHL455H1
Advanced Topics in Philosophy of Natural Science 26S

Recommended preparation: PHL355H

PHL462H1
Advanced Topics in Philosophy of History 26S

Recommended preparation: PHI362H

PHL465H1
Advanced Topics in Social and Political Philosophy 26S

Recommended preparation: PHL365H

PHL470H1
Advanced Topics in the Philosophy of Law 26S

Recommended preparation: PHL/PHI270Y/PHL370H

PHL475H1
Advanced Topics in Moral Philosophy 26S

Recommended preparation: PHL/PHI275H/PHL375H

PHL485H1
Advanced Topics in Aesthetics 26S

Recommended preparation: PHL/PHI285H/PHL385H

PHL488H1
Seminar in Philosophy of Language (formerly PHL350H) 39L

The claims of logical positivism, ordinary language philosophy, structuralism, or generative linguistics about the importance of language for philosophy; hypotheses about mind, metaphysics, and meaning.
Recommended preparation: PHL351H

PHL489H1
New Books Seminar 26S

Advanced study of key, philosophical works published within the last five years.

PHL491H1
Seminar in Epistemology (formerly PHL396H) 26S

Typical problems include the nature of knowledge and belief; perception; theories of truth and necessity; skepticism.
Recommended preparation: One or more courses in the relevant area

PHL492H1
Seminar in Metaphysics (formerly PHL397H) 26S

Typical problems include causality and determinism; ontological categories; mind and body; the objectivity of space and time.
Recommended preparation: One or more courses in the relevant area

PHL493H1
Seminar in Ethics (formerly PHL398H) 26S

Advanced discussion of issues in moral philosophy, including issues of applied ethics.
Recommended preparation: One or more courses in the relevant area

PHL494H1
Seminar in Philosophy (formerly PHL391H) 26S

Topics vary but bridge two or more areas or traditions of philosophy.
Prerequisite: Three half-courses in PHL/PHI

PHL495H1
Seminar in the History of Philosophy (formerly PHL399H) 26S

Advanced study of some of the principal figures in a particular historical, philosophical tradition.
Recommended preparation: One or more courses in the relevant area