Philosophy
Philosophy
courses
Philosophy department home page
Director of undergraduate studies: Michael Weber, 406A C, 432-1679, michael.weber@yale.edu
FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY
Professors
George Bealer, Seyla Benhabib, Susanne Bobzien, Jules Coleman, Michael Della Rocca (Chair), Keith DeRose, Tamar Gendler, John Hare, Karsten Harries, Verity Harte, Shelly Kagan, Thomas McCarthy (Visiting), David Owens (Visiting), Ian Proops (Visiting), Sun-Joo Shin, Zoltán Szabó, Kenneth Winkler
Associate Professors
Katalin Balog, Michael Weber
Assistant Professors
Troy Cross, Jonathan Gilmore, Jill North, Barbara Sattler, Matthew Smith
Lecturers
Itamar Francez, Gregory Ganssle, David Krasner, David Miller
Senior Lector II
Quang Phu Van
Courses numbered 100 through 199 are introductory. They are open to all students and have no prerequisites. Courses numbered 200 through 399 are intermediate. Some have prerequisites; others do not, and may be taken as a student's first course in philosophy, though such a student should consult the instructor first. In general, it is a good idea to take a more general course in any area of philosophy before taking a specialized course.
Courses numbered 400 through 479 are seminars. These advanced courses are intended primarily for juniors and seniors, though other students may be admitted with the instructor's permission. Undergraduates should be sure they have enough background to take such a course, including previous work in the same area of philosophy. Students with questions should consult the instructor.
The Philosophy Major
The Philosophy major requires twelve courses (including the prerequisites and the senior requirement) that collectively expose students to a wide range of philosophy and philosophers. The Philosophy curriculum is divided into three large groups: history of philosophy, metaphysics and epistemology, and ethics and value theory. In history of philosophy, majors are required to take (1) either the introductory sequence in philosophy (PHIL 125a and 126b) or both terms of Directed Studies, and (2) an additional, third course in history of philosophy. Majors must take two courses in metaphysics and epistemology and two courses in ethics and value theory. Majors must also take two seminars and satisfy the senior requirement as described below. Prerequisite to the major are two introductory or intermediate philosophy courses.
All courses in Philosophy count toward the twelve-course requirement. With approval from the director of undergraduate studies, courses offered by other departments may be counted toward the major requirements, though no more than two such courses will normally be allowed.
Specific regulations for the group requirements are as follows:
(a) Some introductory courses, including PHIL 115a, First-Order Logic, do not count toward a group requirement. Other courses count toward a group requirement unless they are otherwise designated.
(b) Courses automatically count toward the group under which they are listed in the printed YCPS. In rare cases, a course will be designated as counting toward a second group (though no single course can be counted by the same student toward two group requirements). In addition, students may petition to have a course count toward a group other than the one under which it is listed, though the presumption will be against such petitions.
(c) Courses taken in other departments and applied to the major will not normally count toward a group requirement. Students may petition for credit toward a group requirement, though the presumption will be against such petitions.
Although it is not required, majors are strongly encouraged to take a course in logic, for example, PHIL 115a, and to do so before the end of the sophomore year. Logic is one of the essential tools in philosophy, and competence is assumed in intermediate and advanced classes, some of which require a background in logic as a prerequisite.
The senior requirement. The senior requirement is normally satisfied by completing a third philosophy seminar. Students taking a seminar to satisfy the senior requirement are expected to produce work superior in argument and articulation to that of a standard seminar paper. To this end, students taking a seminar for the senior requirement must satisfy additional requirements that are delineated in the syllabus or during the first class session, and that may include (1) additional readings, (2) submission of a complete draft of the final paper by the eighth week of the term that will then be significantly revised, and (3) one-on-one or small-group meetings with the instructor to discuss class material, the additional readings, and drafts in preparation. In special cases, students may meet the senior requirement through either a one-term or two-term independent project supervised by an instructor (PHIL 490). Students must petition to fulfill the senior requirement through an independent project, and approval is not guaranteed. Applicants must submit a proposal to the director of undergraduate studies, in consultation with an appropriate supervisor, by the end of the term prior to beginning the independent study.
Each major should, by October 1 of the junior year, secure the agreement of a member of the Philosophy department to serve as adviser for the year. The adviser aids the student in choosing courses and in planning for the senior year. All senior majors must have their schedules signed by the director of undergraduate studies.
Psychology Track in Philosophy
The psychology track is designed for students interested in both philosophy and psychology. Prerequisite to the major in the psychology track are two courses in philosophy or psychology. Majors in the track must take seven courses in philosophy and five in psychology, for a total of twelve, including the prerequisites and senior requirement. The seven philosophy courses must include (1) two courses in the history of philosophy, usually PHIL 125a and 126b or DRST 002, (2) two seminars, only one of which may be in the Psychology department, and (3) at least two courses at the intermediate or advanced level that bear on the intersection of philosophy and psychology, at least one of which must be a philosophy seminar. Courses satisfying (3) must be approved by the director of undergraduate studies. The five psychology courses must include PSYC 110a or b or its equivalent. Each major must also satisfy the senior requirement as described above for the standard major.
Students interested in philosophy and psychology should also consider the philosophy track in the Psychology department and the major in Cognitive Science.
Other Majors Involving Philosophy
Majors in Mathematics and Philosophy and in Physics and Philosophy are also available. For information, see under those headings.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAJOR
Prerequisites: Standard track—any 2 intro or intermediate phil courses; Psychology track—any 2 courses in phil or psych
Number of courses: Both tracks—12 term courses, incl prereqs and senior req
Distribution of courses: Standard track—3 courses in hist of phil (incl DRST 002, or PHIL 125a and 126b), 2 in metaphysics and epistemology, and 2 in ethics and value theory; 2 phil sems; Psychology track—7 courses in phil, as specified; 5 in psych
Specific courses required: Standard track—PHIL 125a and 126b, or DRST 002; Psychology track—PSYC 110a or b or equivalent
Senior requirement: Both tracks—a third sem in phil, or substantial written work in a tutorial
