Philosophy

[ Undergrad] [ Graduate] [ Interdisciplinary] [ Professors] [ Courses]

OFFICE: 7002 H&SS, Muir College
http://philosophy.ucsd.edu

Introduction to the Department

Philosophy addresses some of the most basic questions humans ask about the world. Some questions are very broad, such as how can minds know about the external world, themselves, and other minds? How can we arrive at reasonable answers to ethical questions about right and ¨wrong? What distinguishes science from other kinds of knowledge and are there limits to science? What is the role of moral choice and values in human life? Do standards of truth and logic apply in areas such as religion, art, politics, and law?

Philosophy also seeks answers to particular problems in specific areas of science, medicine, law, ethics, and technology. For example, it explores the ways that modern physics impacts our notions of space, time, causation, and nature itself. It considers the ways that neuroscience and genetics impact the traditional ideas about free will and responsibility. It debates the limits of democratic governments in regulating individuals’ conduct. It wrestles with problems about the right to die and the varied responsibilities of medical professionals. It inquires into the relation between science and religion. Related issues concern privacy, the limits of private property, and who should have access to what information.

Career Guidance

Philosophy is a broad field with diverse subfields. Some students may want to pursue a general course of study for the major, sampling courses across several of these distinct subfields. This strategy develops a solid foundation for graduate work in philosophy and for any career that requires breadth of knowledge, intellectual flexibility, as well as communicative and analytic skills.

Other students may wish to pursue a more specialized program of studies. Below are descriptions of several areas of emphasis within philosophy. These illustrate the possibilities of developing your own coherent and focused set of courses that fulfill the requirements for the major in ways that are tailored to your specific intellectual and career interests. Philosophy is preparation for a wide range of careers—including science, law, medicine, teaching, business, and public policy.

Choosing a philosophy major is an excellent way to follow a disciplined and rigorous course of study that joins the breadth of a traditional college education with specialization in a chosen area.

Undergraduate Program—Major

The Department of Philosophy offers the degree of bachelor of arts (B.A.) in philosophy for the undergraduate major. A major in philosophy requires a total of fifteen philosophy courses, at least twelve of which must be upper-division (courses numbered 100 and above). Up to two upper-division courses outside of philosophy can count among the twelve required for the major if they are drawn from a related field and contribute to the major’s philosophical program; such credit must be approved by the undergraduate advisor. Honors and directed study courses (Philosophy 191–199) may not be used to satisfy the major requirement of fifteen philosophy courses. Major requirements may be met by examination.

There is no required introduction to philosophy or the major. The department offers a variety of lower-division courses and sequences (numbered 1–99), any of which could be a suitable introduction to philosophy. The only required lower-division course for majors is Philosophy 10, Introduction to Logic.

At the upper-division level, majors are encouraged to take courses in the central areas of philosophical study:

Metaphysics and Epistemology
Law, Ethics, and Politics
Philosophy of Science and Logic
History of Philosophy

Though many upper-division courses have no prerequisite, any combination of three lower-division courses would provide a good foundation for taking most upper-division courses.

Core Requirements for the Major

  1. History of Philosophy. Majors must complete three courses in the history of philosophy. At least one course must be in ancient philosophy (courses 31, 100–102) and one course must be in modern philosophy (courses 32–33 and 104–107). This requirement can be met by taking the lower-division sequence 31, 32, 33 or by taking any suitable combination of courses from the sequences 31–33 and 100–108.
  2. Logic. Philosophy 10 and Philosophy 120 are required of all majors. Because Philosophy 120 is a prerequisite for a variety of upper-division courses, prospective majors are strongly encouraged to take Philosophy 10 and Philosophy 120 as early as possible.
  3. Moral and Political Philosophy. Majors must take at least one upper-division course in moral or political philosophy from among Philosophy 160, 161, 166, or 167.
  4. Metaphysics and Epistemology. Majors must take at least one upper-division course in traditional areas of analytic philosophy— metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of language, and philosophy of mind—from among Philosophy 130, 132, 134, or 136.

Optional Areas of Emphasis in the Major

The Department of Philosophy offers four optional areas of emphasis within the major, as described below. Students selecting an optional area of emphasis for the major must take and pass five of the courses listed under that area. Courses taken to complete an area of emphasis are counted toward the fifteen courses required for the major. Particular courses may be applied both to the completion of the area of emphasis and in fulfillment of a core requirement for the major. Students should be aware, as they plan their course of study, that only some of the courses listed for an area of emphasis will be taught in any given year.

The department encourages students considering a philosophy major to consult with the philosophy undergraduate coordinator and the philosophy faculty undergraduate advisor to plan a program of study that is suitable to their particular interests and needs. The department Web site http://philosophy.ucsd.edu provides additional information about courses falling within each area of emphasis. Areas of emphasis are not noted on transcripts or diplomas. The optional areas of emphasis are:

  1. Law, Ethics, and Society

This area targets the nature and source of our moral rights and obligations, the authority of the state and law, the basis of value and goodness. Several courses in this area target ethical issues in medicine, the environment, technological change, economic inequality, and matters concerning race, gender, class, ethnicity, and nationality. In this area, students will learn how moral and legal reasoning can reshape the political debates over abortion, the death penalty, privacy on the Internet, genetic testing, religious tolerance, free speech, affirmative action, and other issues.

This area is excellent preparation for law school as well as for postgraduate study and careers in public policy.

125. Games and Decisions
148. Philosophy and the Environment
152. Philosophy of Social Science
160. Ethical Theory
161. Topics in the History of Ethics
162. Contemporary Moral Issues
163. Biomedical Ethics
164. Technology and Human Values
166. Classics in Political Philosophy
167. Contemporary Political Philosophy
168. Philosophy of Law
170. Philosophy and Race

  1. Science, Technology, and Medicine

    This emphasis focuses on the insights and challenges presented by science. Modern science and technologies affect our view of ourselves and of nature, introducing novel promises and problems. For instance, how do we balance technical, economic, environmental, and ethical values in making decisions concerning which technologies or drugs to develop? Modern science has also changed our understanding of nature. Quantum physics, the genetic revolution, and neuroscience (to name a few) present problems and have important implications for human life. Finally, there are questions about science itself. What are the methods of modern science? Do they vary from one science to another? Can the sciences be value free?

This area will appeal especially to those students interested in pursuing careers in philosophy, science, clinical medicine, medical research, the social sciences, science journalism, and public policy.

123. Philosophy of Logic
145. Philosophy of Science
146. Philosophy of Physics
147. Philosophy of Biology
148. Philosophy and the Environment
149. Philosophy of Psychology
150. Philosophy of Cognitive Sciences
151. Philosophy of Neuroscience
152. Philosophy of Social Science
153. Philosophy of History
163. Biomedical Ethics
164. Technology and Human Values

  1. Mind, Brain, and Cognitive Sciences

    Traditional epistemology (the theory of how and what we know) and philosophy of mind (the theory of that-which-perceives-and-thinks) have recently been joined by several scientific disciplines in a collective search for illuminating theories. Psychology, cognitive neurobiology, computer science, and sociology have all made explosive contributions to a tradition as old as Plato and Aristotle. For example, our growing understanding of the biological brain has given new life to our traditional attempts to understand the nature of the mind. New accounts of the various mechanisms of cognition—both at the cellular and the social levels—have provided entirely new perspectives on the nature of consciousness, the self, knowledge and free will, and on the nature of science itself.

This area is excellent preparation for careers in cognitive science, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, science journalism, and philosophy.

132. Epistemology
134. Philosophy of Language
136. Philosophy of Mind
145. Philosophy of Science
147. Philosophy of Biology
149. Philosophy of Psychology
150. Philosophy of Cognitive Sciences
151. Philosophy of Neuroscience
180. Phenomenology

  1. Historical Perspectives on Philosophy, Science, and Religion

Throughout its history, philosophy has developed in a complex relationship with the natural sciences and religion. Philosophical ideas have both contributed to and challenged our understanding of nature and God, and developments in the sciences and religion have posed new challenges for philosophical thinking. The historical perspectives emphasis focuses on the fertile interplay between philosophy, science, and religion in several key periods: ancient Greece, the Scientific Revolution, and Enlightenment and post-Enlightenment Europe. The aim is not simply to document the history of philosophical ideas, but to use this history as a way of better understanding contemporary debates about the basic questions of human life.

This area prepares students for postgraduate work in philosophy, and for any career that requires breadth of knowledge, intellectual flexibility, as well as communicative and analytical skills.

100. Plato
101. Aristotle
102. Hellenistic Philosophy
104. The Rationalists
105. The Empiricists
106. Kant
107. Hegel
108. Nineteenth-Century Philosophy
161. Topics in the History of Ethics
166. Classics in Political Philosophy
180. Phenomenology
181. Existentialism
183. Topics in Continental Philosophy

Grade Rules for Majors/Minors

All courses applied toward the major or minor must be completed with a grade of C– or higher. Further, a GPA of 2.0 must be maintained in courses applied toward the major or minor. It should be noted that courses taken under the Pass/Not-Pass (P/NP) grading option cannot be applied toward the major or minor.

Honors Program

The philosophy department offers an honors program for outstanding students in the major. Majors who have a 3.7 GPA in philosophy (3.25 overall) at the end of their junior year and who have taken at least four upper-division philosophy courses are eligible to apply. Interested students must consult with a faculty sponsor by the last day of classes during the spring term of their junior year. Admission to the honors program requires nomination by a faculty sponsor and approval of the undergraduate advisor. Nominating Petitions can be obtained from the philosophy department.

In addition to the usual major requirements, an honors student is required to complete a senior honors thesis by the end of winter quarter. During the fall and winter quarters, the student will be registered for Philosophy 191A and 191B and will be engaged in thesis research that will be supervised and evaluated by the student’s faculty sponsor. A departmental committee will read and assess the completed thesis and determine if philosophy honors are to be awarded. Honors students are expected to maintain an average of 3.7 or better for all work taken in the program. (Qualified students wishing to participate in the honors program according to a different timetable than the one described above can apply to do so by petitioning the undergraduate advisor.)

Transfer Credit

Courses taken at other institutions may be applied toward the major by petition only. Petitions should be submitted to the Department of Philosophy main office, and must be accompanied by supporting materials (transcripts, syllabi, course work, etc.). Students are required to submit one petition per transfer course.

For specific regulations regarding transfer credit for Philosophy 10 (Introduction to Logic), please see the information on the department Web site: http://philosophy.ucsd.edu.

It is important to note that seven of the twelve upper-division courses in the major must be taken in the Department of Philosophy at UCSD.

Note: All courses applied toward major must be taken for a letter grade.

Undergraduate Program—Minor

The Department of Philosophy offers a minor in philosophy. As with the major, the minor is an attractive option for a wide range of career paths, including medicine, law, research in the natural and social sciences, journalism, education, and government. A minor requires a total of seven philosophy courses, at least five of which must be upper division. If choosing an area of emphasis, at least four upper-division courses must be from the chosen area of emphasis. All courses must be taken for a letter grade, C– or better.

Advising Office

Students who desire additional information concerning our course offerings or program may contact individual faculty or the assistant director of the undergraduate program through the department main office at 7002 H&SS, (858) 534-3070.

Graduate Program Requirements

The department offers programs leading to the M.A. and Ph.D. It is the intention of the graduate program to enable the student to obtain an understanding of diverse traditions and to develop as a philosopher in his or her own right. To this end, the department offers courses and seminars in the history of philosophy and in traditional and contemporary philosophical issues, from a variety of perspectives.

Master’s Degree Program

To qualify for a master's degree in philosophy, a student must pass eight of the distribution requirement seminars as described below, under the subheading “Distribution Requirements.” At least one of the seminars must be from the ethics and political philosophy category, and no more than four seminars from any one of the five areas may count toward the master’s degree. The student must also complete a master’s research paper, under the direction of a faculty member or his or her choice, and have it approved by two members of the department faculty.

Although Ph.D. students sometimes elect to complete their studies with a master’s degree, we do not admit students to a master’s degree program.

Doctoral Degree Program

Course Work

During the first two years of residence the student’s work will normally total thirty-six units (nine courses) per year. At least twelve of these units in each year must be graduate philosophy seminars (those numbered 201-285). The balance may be made up from additional graduate courses in philosophy, upper-division courses in philosophy (those numbered 100-199), approved upper-division or graduate courses in related departments, and, if the student is a teaching assistant, Philosophy 500 (Apprentice Teaching).

After consultation with the graduate advisor, each entering student shall be assigned a faculty advisor. Students are encouraged to meet with their faculty advisor periodically to plan their course of study during their first two years and must meet once a year in the spring to review progress in the program.

Logic Requirement

During the first term of residence, all entering graduate students will take an examination designed to demonstrate their level of proficiency in formal logic. The examination covers the predicate calculus, up to and including functions, relations, and identity. Students who pass the examination with a grade of B+ or better have satisfied the first component of the logic requirement. Students who do not score a B+ or better must take Philosophy 120 (Symbolic Logic) during the first year of study and achieve a grade of B+ or better. By the end of the sixth term of residence, all students must also pass an advanced logic course (Philosophy 121, 122, 221, or another logic class approved by the graduate advisor) with at least a grade of B+.

Proseminar

In fall quarter of their first year of residence, graduate students shall take a proseminar designed to introduce them to philosophical methods and improve their skills at writing and analysis. Enrollment in the proseminar is limited to first-year students. The proseminar is normally team-taught. The topics to be covered will address some central area of areas of philosophy and will vary from year to year. The proseminar is a regular four-unit seminar and as such may be counted toward satisfaction of the distribution requirement.

Core Courses

In the following areas, the department shall offer “core” or advanced introductory seminars: philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, philosophy of science, the history of philosophy, epistemology, metaphysics, and ethics. The department shall offer at least three of these courses in each academic year. Students must take two of these core courses by the end of their sixth quarter of residence. Courses taken to satisfy this requirement may be applied toward the distribution requirement. (A core course provides a point of entry into a field that is suitable for graduate students with no prior work in this area of philosophy as well as students with some background knowledge. A core course need not be and normally should not be a general survey of the field, but will take up some central topic. A core course will normally offer students the option of writing shorter papers rather than one long seminar paper; as an alternative, a final examination may be offered.)

Distribution Requirements

By the end of the seventh quarter of residence, a student must have completed ten graduate seminars in philosophy with a grade of B+ or better. The seminars must be distributed as follows:

  1. Four seminars in the history of philosophy. At least one of these courses must be in ancient philosophy; at least one must be in modern philosophy.
  2. Six seminars in the four areas listed below. Students must take at least one seminar in every area and two seminars in any two of the areas.
  1. Philosophy of science and philosophy of logic
  2. Philosophy of mind and philosophy of language
  3. Ethics and political philosophy
  4. Metaphysics and epistemology

Courses used to satisfy a requirement in one category cannot be used to satisfy a requirement in another category. The determination as to what category or categories a particular seminar taught in a given quarter may count toward is normally made by the seminar instructor. The proseminar and courses used to satisfy the core course requirement may be counted toward fulfillment of the distribution requirement. At the end of the fifth quarter of residence, a student must have completed eight of the required seminars. In order to remain in the program, a student must have attained an average of B+ or better in all philosophy seminars completed by this point.

Philosophy Writing Workshop

In fall term of their third year of study, graduate students shall enroll in the Philosophy Writing Workshop, a one- to three- unit course depending on the expected enrollment. This course is graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. In this workshop each student shall produce a polished original philosophical essay (this may be based on a paper written for a seminar), criticize the essays produced by other workshop participants, and present the essay as a talk to an audience of workshop participants, the faculty instructor, and other interested graduate students and faculty.

Independent Study Courses

Philosophy 290 (Directed Independent Study) is appropriate for a graduate student still in the process of fulfilling course requirements for the degree.

Philosophy 295 (Research Topics) is an appropriate course for a student in the process of coming up with a dissertation prospectus.

Philosophy 299 (Thesis Research) is appropriate for a student working on his or her dissertation.

Language Requirement

Before advancing to candidacy, all students must demonstrate reading proficiency in one of the following languages:

German
French
Latin
Classical Greek

If a student’s chosen dissertation topic requires competence in a second language from the above list, then the student’s dissertation advisor can require a suitable demonstration of competence. In special circumstances students may be permitted to substitute a different language or a special competency (such as advanced work in mathematics or in one of the sciences) if educationally compelling reasons can be given for doing so. These exceptions will be decided on a case-by-case basis. The language requirement must be met before the student can be advanced to candidacy.

Third-Year Advising

At the end of the student’s sixth quarter of study, the department appoints a three-member faculty committee for that student. The composition of the committee will reflect the student’s preferences and the area of philosophy in which the student is inclined to do dissertation work. The committee’s task is to help the student to develop a sound dissertation project and advance to candidacy in a timely manner. There is no expectation that the members of this third-year committee necessarily will serve on the dissertation committee.

Dissertation Prospectus and Oral Candidacy Exam

Some time after completing the distribution requirements, the student must submit a dissertation prospectus to his or her doctoral committee. The committee will then orally examine the student on the intended subject and plan of research. The examination will seek to establish that the thesis proposed is a satisfactory subject of research and that the student has the preparation and the abilities necessary to complete that research. This oral qualifying exam must be passed before the end of the twelfth quarter of residence. Students who are passed and have met the other requirements will be advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D.

Teaching Requirements

Participation in undergraduate teaching is one of the requirements for a Ph.D. In philosophy. The student is required to serve as a teaching assistant for the equivalent of one-quarter time for three academic quarters. The duties of a teaching assistant normally entail grading papers and examinations, conducting discussion sections, and related activities, including attendance at lectures in the course for which he or she is assisting.

Doctoral Dissertation

Under the supervision of a doctoral committee, each candidate will write a dissertation demonstrating a capacity to engage in original and independent research. The candidate will defend the thesis in an oral examination by the doctoral committee. (See “Graduate Studies: The Doctor of Philosophy Degree.”)

Application Request

For information regarding the graduate program call (858) 534-6809 or write to:
University of California, San Diego
Graduate advisor; Philosophy, 0119
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla CA 92093-0119
E-mail: casmann@ucsd.edu

Interdisciplinary Degree Programs

The philosophy department at UCSD participates in two interdisciplinary programs, the requirements for which are outlined below.

Interdisciplinary Degree Program in Cognitive Science

The Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program in Cognitive Science includes faculty from a number of UCSD departments including anthropology, biology and neurobiology, cognitive science, communication, computer science and engineering, linguistics, music, neurosciences, philosophy, psychiatry, psychology, and sociology. This group includes many outstanding figures in contemporary cognitive science.

Students wishing to pursue a Ph.D. In “Philosophy and Cognitive Science” register in the philosophy program in the normal fashion, but pursue a significant portion of their studies with faculty in the several departments participating in the interdisciplinary program. Students may apply for admission to the interdisciplinary program at the same time that they apply to the Department of Philosophy, or at some point after entering UCSD, (All students wishing to transfer into any interdisciplinary program must do so prior to the end of the fifth quarter of residency.)

Students in philosophy/cognitive science are required to do the following:

  1. Complete all requirements for the philosophy Ph.D. except that the distribution requirement is amended. By the end of the ninth quarter of residence, a philosophy/cognitive science degree student must have completed ten graduate seminars in philosophy with a grade of B+ or better in each course distributed across the areas of (A) philosophy of science and philosophy of logic, (B) philosophy of mind and philosophy of language, (C) ethics and political philosophy, (D), epistemology and metaphysics, and (E) history of philosophy. Students must take at least one seminar from each of these five areas and at least two seminars form any four of these areas.
  2. The equivalent of one year’s course work (usually in six courses) in one or more of the other departments affiliated with the Department of Cognitive Science. (It should be noted that a philosophy graduate student who completes this requirement is deemed thereby to have satisfied the philosophy language requirement by gaining an approved special competency.)
  3. Six quarters of Cognitive Science 200

A plan detailing the course of study must be approved by the Cognitive Science Program Committee. The dissertation should be interdisciplinary, reflecting the two areas of specialization.

Science Studies Program

The Science Studies Program at UCSD is committed to interdisciplinary investigations. Understanding, interpreting, and explaining the scientific enterprise demand a systematic integration of the perspectives developed within the history, sociology, and philosophy of science. The program offers students an opportunity to work towards such integration, while receiving a thorough training at the professional level in one of the component disciplines.

Students enrolled in the program choose one of the component disciplines for their major field of specialist studies, and are required to complete minor field requirements in the others. The core of the program, however, is a year-long seminar in science studies, led by faculty from all participating departments.

To obtain a Ph.D. In“Philosophy/Science Studies,” students must take a total of eighteen courses, including:

  1. Nine seminars in philosophy with a grade of B+ or better, distributed across the areas of (A) philosophy of science and philosophy of logic, (B) philosophy of mind and philosophy of language, (C) ethics and political philosophy, (D) metaphysics and epistemology, and (E) history of philosophy. Students must take at least one seminar from each of these five areas and at least two seminars from any three of these areas. This requirement must be completed by the end of the seventh quarter of residence. By the end of the fifth quarter of residence, a student must have taken at least five Philosophy seminars (distributed across at least three areas), and must have achieved an average B+ or better in all philosophy seminars taken up to that point. Failure to take a sufficient number of seminars or to achieve a B+ average means that the student may not continue in the program after the fifth quarter.
  2. The Introduction to Science Studies 209A, plus the Seminar in Science Studies 209B, to be taken twice with changed content, plus Colloquium in Science Studies 209C, to be taken once on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis and once for a letter grade.
  3. Two additional Science Studies courses outside philosophy drawn from a list of approved courses available each year from the Science Studies Program office. (One course in one of the sciences may be substituted for one of these courses as part of an approved program of study.)

The student’s program of study must be approved by the philosophy faculty advisor for Science Studies.

Students may apply for admission to the interdisciplinary program at the same time that they apply to the Department of Philosophy, or at some point after entering UCSD. (All students wishing to transfer into any interdisciplinary program must do so prior to the end of the fifth quarter of residency.)

Ph.D. Time Limit Policies

Students must be advanced to candidacy by the end of four years. Total university support cannot exceed seven years. Total registered time at UCSD cannot exceed eight years.

Financial Aid

Almost all philosophy graduate students are supported by some form of financial aid. Most work as teaching assistants at 50 percent time (approximately $14,143 for nine months). Typically this involves running discussion sections and grading papers for lecture and introductory courses in philosophy, humanities, and writing programs. An assistantship is also regarded as a full-credit course, so teaching assistants usually take two graduate classes each quarter.

In addition, some Regents’ fellowships are available for first-year students, and the department usually awards one or more dissertation fellowships a year for its advanced graduate students. Various fee scholarships, tuition and tuition/fee scholarships are also available, as are San Diego fellowships.

Advanced graduate students who have just completed or nearly completed their dissertations are sometimes hired by the department as teaching associates or visiting lecturers. Under these titles advanced graduate students autonomously plan and teach their own courses.