Philosophy Major Requirements
Philosophy Major Requirements |
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PHILOSOPHY MAJOR---Eleven credits in philosophy, with a grade of at least C- in each, including at least one course from Category II (courses which satisfy the logic requirement), and at least six courses from Category III (upper-level courses). Normally, courses in this category must be taken at Trinity. Majors are strongly urged to take Philosophy 101 at an early stage of their philosophical development. Senior majors are also required to complete the senior exercise (instructions will be provided by the department). In order to qualify for honors, students must write a two-semester, two-credit senior thesis and achieve a grade of A- or better. They must also achieve a departmental average (based on all philosophy courses taken) of at least A-.
COGNATE COURSES---A good philosopher should know at least a little something about everything. Hence any course, any job, any friendship, any bit of recreation is valuable if you reflect on it and learn from it. But there are some courses to which students of philosophy should give special consideration. Philosophical work often requires slow, painstaking reading; the study of a foreign language, particularly Greek, is usually effective in encouraging the habit of careful attention to a text. Students who work with a computer language may find that this provides a similar discipline. If the student is considering graduate study in philosophy, then some competence in French or German is especially recommended.
A student of philosophy should have a broad understanding of modern science. Any good science course (including the behavioral sciences) is suitable, but courses in the natural sciences and mathematics should be given first consideration.
Equally important is a familiarity with the humanistic culture of the West. Most philosophers are also scholars; they are educated people. In order to understand them one has to have read widely in non-philosophical books. Hence courses in literature, history and the arts should be elected. We recommend that the student find out which courses require the most reading, and take those.
We require no particular non-departmental courses as part of the major. Rather, we encourage all students who are interested in a philosophical education to talk to one or more of the members of the department about their abilities and interests. We will then be able to recommend a course of study that will make sense for each individual.
The departmental offerings are divided into four categories.
I. Introductory Courses. These courses have no prerequisite. There is no single or best way to be introduced to philosophy and the Department offers a number of different introductory courses. All 100 level courses are introductory as are courses numbered 200-250. If you are in doubt as to the best course for you, see a member of the Department.
II. Courses Satisfying the Logic Requirement. Philosophy 205, Symbolic Logic, is the basic introductory course for this Category.
III. Upper-level Courses. These courses are appropriate for students who have progressed beyond introductory level study of philosophy.
IV. Individualized Courses. These courses give students an opportunity to design, in conjunction with an adviser in the Department, their own course of study. The student should see the Department Chair if in doubt as to who might be an appropriate adviser for a given topic.
I. Introductory Courses
101. Introduction to Philosophy
102. Introduction to Political Philosophy
103. Introduction to Ethics
105. Critical Thinking
202. Aristotle's Ethics
205. Symbolic Logic
208. Jewish Mysticism
209. Persons and Sexes
210. American Philosophy
211. Jewish Philosophy
213. Philosophy of Sport
214. Philosophy of Art
215. Medical Ethics
216. Philosophy of Law
217. Philosophy in Literature
218. Philosophy of Psychology
219. Writing Philosophical Fiction
220. Introduction to Cognitive Science
221. Science, Reality and Rationality
223. African Philosophy
224. Theory of Knowledge
226. Existentialism
227. Environmental Philosophy
228. Philosophy of Religion
229. Concepts of Madness
230. Theories of Human Nature
231. Philosophy and the Holocaust
232. Fate, Freedom and Necessity
233. Chinese Philosophy
234. Philosophy and Evolution
241. Race, Racism, and Philosophy
245. The Idea of Interpretation
246. Philosophy of Love and Sexuality
II. Courses Which Satisfy The Logic Requirement
205. Symbolic Logic
390. Advanced Logic
391. Philosophy of Mathematics
III. Upper-Level Courses
281. Ancient Philosophy
282. Medieval Philosophy
283. Early Modern Philosophy
284. Late Modern Philosophy
305. 20th Century Analytic Philosophy
306. 20th Century Continental Philosophy
307 to 339. Major Figures in Philosophy---Each year the Department will offer at least one course entirely devoted to a close reading, analysis and critique of the major work of one or more important philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Mill, Hume, Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche, Freud, Whitehead, Heidegger and Wittgenstein.
340 to 389. These will include other historically oriented courses, such as American Philosophy, Metaphysics of Plato and Aristotle, and Rationalism.
350 to 369. Courses in Topical Studies---These will include courses such as Philosophy of Language or Philosophy of History.
370 to 389. Seminar in Philosophical Problems---A study of some important philosophical problem such as the freedom of the will, the concept of space or time, the mind-body problem, the nature of meaning.
V. Individualized Courses
399. Independent Study---Independent, intensive study in a field of special interest requiring a wide range of reading and resulting in an extended paper. Normally there will be only a few meetings with the supervisor during the course of the semester.---Staff
460. Tutorial---An in-depth study of a topic of mutual special interest to the student and teacher. Frequent meetings (usually weekly) will provide an opportunity for extensive and detailed discussions.---Staff
466. Teaching Assistantship---Work conducted in close consultation with the instructor of a single course and participation in teaching that course. Duties for a teaching assistant may include, for example, holding review sessions, reading papers, or assisting in class work. In addition, a paper may be required from the teaching assistant. This course may count as one of the eleven total required for the major, but will not count as one of the six required "upper level" (300 and above) courses.---Staff
499. Senior Thesis---A two-credit course culminating in an extended paper to be read by two or more members of the Department. It may be organized like a tutorial or independent study. This is a required course for all students who wish to graduate with honors in philosophy. In order to be eligible for this course a student must have an A- average in the major or must successfully petition the Department for an exemption.---Staff