PHILOSOPHY

Professors: Stephen Crites, Brian C. Fay (Chair), Joseph T. Rouse, Jr. (Science in Society)

Associate Professor: Lydia Goehr (On leave)

Assistant Professors: Stephen Angle, Steven Horst, Sanford Shieh(On sabbatical, 1995-96)

Visiting Assistant Professors: Daniel Jacobson, Thomas Huhn

Introductory courses. The Philosophy Department offers a wide variety of introductory courses, which focus on the various modes of inquiry characteristic of philosophy. They are, therefore, particularly well suited for students interested in philosophy as part of their general education as well as for prospective majors. Philosophy 101 is intended as a general introduction to philosophy, especially for those who do not plan major study in the field. The two sections of Philosophy 110 are writing intensive, limited to twenty students, and open only to freshmen. Philosophy 201 and 202 serve as introductions to the subject by focusing on major thinkers of a particular period; these courses are of a somewhat more advanced level because they are required of all majors and so are most appropriate for those interested in doing more study in the subject. Philosophy 212 and 223 presuppose no background in philosophy and can serve as good introductions to the subject for those who are particularly interested in ethical and political questions. Philosophy 205, 206, and 207 introduce the major issues and approaches in the Chinese philosophical tradition, and their level of difficulty is comparable to that of 201 or 202. Philosophy 230 is an introduction not to philosophy as such but to the study of a fundamental part of philosophy, namely, clarification and evaluation of arguments.

Major program. Majors in philosophy must take at least ten courses in philosophy. Of these ten at least eight must be offered by the Philosophy Department; as many as two may be given in other departments or programs (e.g., COL, religion) that are relevant to the student's program of studies in philosophy and are approved as such by the philosophy faculty.

Each major is required to take Philosophical Classics I (Philosophy 201) and Philosophical Classics II (Philosophy 202); at least one course from Cluster A (Philosophy 233: Philosophy of Language; Philosophy 234: Philosophy of Science; Philosophy 241: Philosophy of Mind; Philosophy 243: Theory of Knowledge); at least one course from Cluster B (Philosophy 212: An Introduction to Ethics; Philosophy 223: Political Philosophy; Philosophy 291: Philosophy of Religion; Philosophy 258: Philosophy of Art); and two advanced Departmental Seminars. Some of these seminars focus on major figures, others focus on major issues, thus allowing students considerable flexibility in satisfying the seminar requirement. Finally, each major must successfully complete the mini-course, Philosophy 200: Problems and Methods of Philosophy, which is offered every fall. It is recommended that each major satisfy this requirement during the first fall in which he/she is enrolled in the major. It is also recommended that Philosophy 201 and 202 be completed by each prospective major at the earliest opportunity, since there are a number of more advanced courses that require either or both as prerequisites.

The department also offers a range of intermediate courses that do not fall within either Cluster A or Cluster B. Students are thus afforded the opportunity to shape a program of studies tailored to their individual goals and interests.

Because philosophy ranges over subjects in other disciplines, such as economics, government, mathematics, physics, psychology, and religion, proposals for interdisciplinary University major programs involving philosophy are welcomed, and special efforts will be made to accommodate double majors that include philosophy. For the same reason, moreover, students considering philosophy as a major field are strongly advised to choose a balanced combination of solid liberal arts courses conforming to Wesleyan expectations for general education. Knowledge of foreign languages is particularly useful for the study of philosophy and indispensable for serious study of the history of philosophy. It is therefore strongly recommended that students achieve reading fluency in at least one foreign language.

Philosophy Colloquium. Under this title a series of public presentations of papers by visiting philosophers, and occasionally Wesleyan faculty or students, is arranged each year. This series is coordinated where possible with the topics of the Proseminar).

Departmental honors. In order to qualify for departmental honors in philosophy, a student must achieve an honors level of performance in courses in the department; must declare the intention to work for departmental honors at the beginning of the senior year; and must either register for a senior thesis tutorial and write a thesis at an honors level or submit a set of three honors-level philosophical essays, possibly reworked from essays previously submitted for courses. Theses and essays must be submitted in accordance with Honors College procedures and will be judged by a committee made up of members of the department.