Courses

This course is intended for students with professional interest in the social and ethical implications of AI. Topics include theoretical issues (could AI ever have moral rights?), practical issues (algorithmic bias, labour automation, data privacy), and professional issues (tech industry social responsibility).

Offers an advanced survey of some central themes in contemporary theoretical philosophy. It is designed to ensure that students have sufficient background to pursue graduate-level research in theses areas.

Offers an advanced survey of some central themes in contemporary theoretical philosophy. It is designed to ensure that students have sufficient background to pursue graduate-level research in theses areas.

Provides a forum for further discussion of the central themes in contemporary theoretical philosophy. It is designed to prepare students to write the comprehensive examination in theoretical philosophy.

Offers an advanced survey of some central themes in contemporary practical philosophy. It is designed to ensure that students have sufficient background to pursue graduate-level research in these areas.

Candidates must develop a major research paper out of work done in the Research Seminar and one or possibly two other courses. Two readers will be appointed by the Graduate Programme Director, in consultation with the student, to evaluate the Major Research Paper.

Candidates must develop a major research paper out of work done in the Research Seminar and one or possibly two other courses. Two readers will be appointed by the Graduate Programme Director, in consultation with the student, to evaluate the Major Research Paper.

Candidates must develop a major research paper out of work done in the Research Seminar and one or possibly two other courses. Two readers will be appointed by the Graduate Programme Director, in consultation with the student, to evaluate the Major Research Paper.

In special circumstances, students may take, for credit and in place of regular seminar courses, a reading course directed by a member of the faculty, which should consist of individual tutorial sessions at least once a month. Students must present sufficient written work to form a basis for discussions and for assessment of progress. Directed reading courses are intended to enable students to pursue a research interest not covered by any of the seminar courses offered in that year; to enable them to explore an unfamiliar topic with a view to making it the topic of the thesis or dissertation; or to fill a gap in their knowledge which might impede their special research. M.A. students may not substitute more than one, or Ph.D. students more than two directed readings for regular seminar courses. Directed reading courses are given ex gratia by members of the faculty and the approval of the Program Director must be obtained in advance. This will not normally be given unless the Director is satisfied that the student has the appropriate background to pursue the course at a suitably advanced level.

In special circumstances, students may take, for credit and in place of regular seminar courses, a reading course directed by a member of the faculty, which should consist of individual tutorial sessions at least once a month. Students must present sufficient written work to form a basis for discussions and for assessment of progress. Directed reading courses are intended to enable students to pursue a research interest not covered by any of the seminar courses offered in that year; to enable them to explore an unfamiliar topic with a view to making it the topic of the thesis or dissertation; or to fill a gap in their knowledge which might impede their special research. M.A. students may not substitute more than one, or Ph.D. students more than two directed readings for regular seminar courses. Directed reading courses are given ex gratia by members of the faculty and the approval of the Program Director must be obtained in advance. This will not normally be given unless the Director is satisfied that the student has the appropriate background to pursue the course at a suitably advanced level.

In special circumstances, students may take, for credit and in place of regular seminar courses, a reading course directed by a member of the faculty, which should consist of individual tutorial sessions at least once a month. Students must present sufficient written work to form a basis for discussions and for assessment of progress. Directed reading courses are intended to enable students to pursue a research interest not covered by any of the seminar courses offered in that year; to enable them to explore an unfamiliar topic with a view to making it the topic of the thesis or dissertation; or to fill a gap in their knowledge which might impede their special research. M.A. students may not substitute more than one, or Ph.D. students more than two directed readings for regular seminar courses. Directed reading courses are given ex gratia by members of the faculty and the approval of the Program Director must be obtained in advance. This will not normally be given unless the Director is satisfied that the student has the appropriate background to pursue the course at a suitably advanced level.

In special circumstances, students may take, for credit and in place of regular seminar courses, a reading course directed by a member of the faculty, which should consist of individual tutorial sessions at least once a month. Students must present sufficient written work to form a basis for discussions and for assessment of progress. Directed reading courses are intended to enable students to pursue a research interest not covered by any of the seminar courses offered in that year; to enable them to explore an unfamiliar topic with a view to making it the topic of the thesis or dissertation; or to fill a gap in their knowledge which might impede their special research. M.A. students may not substitute more than one, or Ph.D. students more than two directed readings for regular seminar courses. Directed reading courses are given ex gratia by members of the faculty and the approval of the Program Director must be obtained in advance. This will not normally be given unless the Director is satisfied that the student has the appropriate background to pursue the course at a suitably advanced level.

This course focuses on one or more of the major figures in early modern philosophy, including Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, and Hume.

This course examines a key thinker, theme, question or debate in the history of continental philosophy.

This course focuses on one or more of the key figures in the philosophy of language. Possible subjects include: Quine, Davidson, Searle, Evans, McDowell, and Brandom.

This course focuses on one or more of the central problems in the philosophy of mind. Topics may include: the metaphysics of mind, mental causation, intentionality, belief, consciousness, qualia and propositional attitudes.

Examines one or more issues in the Philosophy of Cognitive Science. Topics may include questions related to the assumptions of research in cognitive science, methodology, the scope of cognitive science, and related issues in artificial intelligence, neuroscience, or psychology.

This course examines one or more issues in the philosophy of action. Topics may include: the metaphysics of action, the relation between reasons and causes, deviant causal chains, and the possibility of a scientific psychology.

This course focuses on current discussions in applied ethics. Topics may include: professional ethics, business ethics, animal welfare ethics, environmental ethics, and ethics and technology.

This course focuses on one or more of the central figures in political philosophy. Figures studied may include: Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Hobbes, Spinoza, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, Hegel, Marx, Bentham, Mill, Rawls, Nozick, Sen.

This course focuses on one or more major problems in political philosophy, including, but not limited to, the problem of justice, equality, the authority of the state, the rights of individuals, the nature of citizenship, the ownership of property, the problem of freedom, the redistribution of wealth, and the nature of social contracts.

This course focuses on one or more of the central problems in contemporary political philosophy. The philosophical problems that may be studied include: justice, rights, duties, equality, property, and the authority of the state, as well as central problems in social contract theory, utilitarianism, liberalism, communitarianism, and Marxism.

All first-year PhD students are required to take either this course or PHIL 6810 ('First-Year Seminar II'). It is designed to familiarize them with the Graduate Program in Philosophy and to impart the skills needed to complete the PhD.

This course is required of all third-year PhD students. It is designed to help them complete the Two Paper Exam and write their dissertation proposal.