1995/96
Department of Philosophy
The University of Hong Kong
CONTENTS
Foreword
First year courses
Continuing with Philosophy
How can you continue with Philosophy?
Majoring in Philosophy
What are the requirements ?
Types of course
Nuclear courses for 1995/96
Additional courses for 1995/96
Thesis
Courses for 1996/97
Postgraduate study
Names and biographies
Preference form inserted
foreword
IF you are considering taking philosophy courses, this booklet may help you. It contains information about the coures to be offered in the year 1995/96, and about the syllabus as a whole. You will also find some suggestions about subjects with which philosophy could make a good combination.
Further information may be obtained from the department's course selection adviser, though enquiries about specific courses may be made directly to the lecturers giving those courses.
First year courses
THERE are two first year courses in philosophy, one which lasts the whole year, and is available only to Arts Faculty students, and one which takes place in the second semester, and is available to students of the Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and Science.
07111 Introduction to Philosophy first and second semesters
lecturers: Mr New and Professor Goldstein
In some ways the Introduction to Philosophy course can claim to be the most central, fundamental course in the whole University. Its aims are to help students think critically and creatively, and to appreciate the joys of original, independent thought. The school system in Hong Kong leaves many students with an unhealthy view about learning, namely that learning consists in the memorization of information. Now, although the importance of memory should not be underestimated, it should be obvious that knowledge will not be advanced by people who merely memorize the information that others have produced. A student entering University is at a transitional point of life, when, having acquired a basic grounding at school, he or she can be a producer, not just an assimilator of knowledge. For some students, their undergraduate careers will lead to postgraduate work where they will be expected to do original research; for others it will lead to a job where a high premium is set on initiative and originality. The Introduction to Philosophy course aims to start them off on the right path.
Philosophy does not consist in memorizing a body of knowledge, but in the exercise of a skill*the ability to argue rigorously. Students in their first year of Philosophy are encouraged to develop their own views, to defend them with good arguments and to rationally criticize views with which they disagree. The Introduction to Philosophy course focuses on controversial problems. Students learn what great historical writers have said about these problems, but they also learn that advances in knowledge frequently arise from questioning what great people have said and from proving them wrong. So it is healthy to adopt a critical attitude, not an attitude of docile acceptance.
The problems dealt with in the course are very diverse; the only thing that links them is that they require some element of pure thinking, as opposed to (say) conducting a survey or doing an experiment. For example, if one is interested in the question of whether it is sensible to worry about the fact that, at some time in the future, one will no longer be alive, no experiment will give you the answer. But pure thought might. No survey will tell you whether the statement `This statement is false' is true or false. And, although we can produce computers that emit sounds and respond to spoken words, the question of whether a computer can mean what it utters or can understand what it hears is not one for the computer scientist to solve but for the philosopher. Other questions like `How is thinking related to language?' might call for some knowledge in Neuroscience and Psychology, but Philosophy is of vital assistance in clarifying the relevant concepts and in ensuring that the considerations put forward are sound.
These are just some of the issues addressed in the Introduction to Philosophy course. There are many others. The problems discussed may be classifed under the following headings: 1) The art of thinking, 2) the mind and our mental abilities 3) the philosophy of logic and language, 4) epistemology*questions concerning knowledge and belief; 5) ethics*questions of right and wrong, of how we ought to live; 6) metaphysics and the philosophy of science*considerations about what may be necessary features of the world and of our thinking, an examination of the nature of scientific laws and explanations and of the methods we should use in discovering and verifying scientific truths.
One component of the course is a computer-aided instructional package in elementary logic. Students book three or four one-hour sessions with the computer, and go through the lessons at their own pace. The programs allow students to revise and take tests to ensure that they have fully grasped the techniques.
07101 Introduction to the Philosophy of Social Science second semester
lecturer : Professor Moore
The social sciences have as a central concern attempts to understand human behaviour at the social or individual level. This attempt is shared by other scientific and humanistic disciplines.
We start this course by asking a general question: what kinds of explanation are there ? and how do they function ? We shall distinguish between the form of explanation which consists in interpreting behaviour, and the form of explanation which consists in appealing to some causal principle or law. Further questions then arise about the nature of laws, and the nature of causality.
Given their central concern, the social sciences make systematic use of mental terms. They consider what people believe and intend, what their motives are, what difference there is between shame and guilt, and so on and so on. In other words, they start from the fact that people have minds. But what is the mind, and what is its relation to the body ? We shall look at some of the answers that have been offered to this question.
Finally, it seems that much human behaviour involves following rules. Are there any rules which are, or should be universal (such as rules of rationality ?) Are all rules artificial ? Why is the prohibition on incest universal ? What is the relation between rules of custom, and moral rules ? What is the nature of human values, and what is the relation between fact and value ?
The course is supplemented by our computer-aided logic package (see above in the last paragraph of the `Introduction to Philosophy' course description).
Continuing with Philosophy
OF the large number of students taking philosophy in their first year, in the Faculties of Arts, Science, or Social Sciences, many continue their studies of the subject. There are many good reasons for the belief that philosophy is a subject worth pursuing, varying from interest in the subject itself, through recognition of the fruitful way in which it can combine with other subjects, to the view that an academic training is crucially incomplete without a strong philosophical component. As far as career prospects are concerned, students who have taken philosophy are at least as well placed as those who have studied other non-vocational courses. In fact, recent evidence from the USA shows that over a period of some ten years there, philosophy majors did consistently much better than average in graduate admissions tests, including admissions to graduate studies in professional areas like business (where philosophy majors, together with mathematics majors, did consistently better than graduates of all other disciplines).
If your first year work in philosophy has left you somewhat bewildered, you should not be too discouraged by this from carrying on. Philosophy is a difficult and challenging subject, and such bewilderment can be a sign of a philosophical turn of mind. It is often a good starting point.
How can you continue with Philosophy ?
ARTS Faculty regulations allow Arts students to take up to eight whole papers (sixteen half papers) in philosophy. Philosophy may be combined with any other Arts subject, and with Social Science subjects. Students taking the equivalent of four whole papers in philosophy may take up to the equivalent of four whole papers in Social Science subjects (unlike other Arts students who are limited to the equivalent of three Social Science papers).
Social Science Faculty regulations allow Social Science students to take the equivalent of up to eight of their sixteen final papers in philosophy.
The Science Faculty syllabus provides for an optional half-course entitled Philosophy of the Sciences to be available to B.Sc. students. This course is normally given only in alternate years. It will be given in 1995/96.
Majoring in Philosophy
THE Faculty of Arts has introduced a `major' requirement, to take effect from this year. That is to say, students taking up second year work in September 1995 will be required to major in one or two `disciplinary fields'.
One disciplinary field is `Politics and Philosophy'; the details of this major are contained in a separate, accompanying, booklet.
The requirements for a major in philosophy are these:
(i) You must do at least half of your 2nd/3rd Year work in philosophy*that is, you must do at least eight half courses in philosophy;
(ii) These eight or more courses must include at least four nuclear courses;
(iii) These four or more courses must include one from each of three groups of courses*general philosophy; the history of philosophy; normative philosophy. The members of these three groups are set out below.
So, at least 8 courses; at least four nuclear courses; and at least one from each of the three groups. Easy!
But do make sure to discuss your selection of courses with teachers in the department; in particular, the course selection adviser, who, this summer, is Mr Griffiths, the head of department.
*general philosophy
this group of courses comprises Epistemology (07263), Metaphysics (07264), The Mind (07265), Theory of Action (07266), Philosophy East and West: Metaphysical Topics (07260), Philosophy of Language (07242) and Philosophy of Logic (07248)
*the history of philosophy
this group of courses comprises the Beginnings of Philosophy (07284) and Early Modern Philosophy (07285)
*normative philosophy
this group of courses comprises Theories of Morality (07267), Topics in Moral Philosophy (07268), Theories of Society (07269), Topics in Social Philosophy (07270) and Philosophy East and West: Ethical Topics (07259).
What are the requirements ?
STUDENTS enrolling in second and third year philosophy courses should normally have taken course 07111 Introduction to Philosophy, or course 07101 Introduction to the Philosophy of Social Science.
None of the courses offered in second and third year work is a requirement for all students taking philosophy: so it is possible for you to choose courses which are closest to your interests and needs, or according to their suitability for combination with other subjects which you are taking.
Types of course
ALL second and third year courses in philosophy are `half-courses' lasting from ten to twelve weeks. Most are open to both second and third year students, though, in some cases, prerequisites for taking a course may be specified. There are three different kinds of course*nuclear courses, additional courses and reading courses.
The fourteen nuclear courses are put on regularly and are central to the work of the department. (But please note comments this year on `Theory of Action'.) Nuclear courses are aimed at making possible a basic understanding of some main areas of philosophy. They are grouped in pairs, and taking both members of a pair is recommended. One of these pairs comprises two courses in the history of philosophy. These are given each year and are designated as second-year courses. They provide a very useful basis for further work in the third year, especially for those students majoring in philosophy.
Additional courses make it possible for teachers in the department to give courses on topics close to their research interests, and for students to follow up topics of special interest to them. Subject to some organizational constraints, the choice of additional courses to be given is determined both by the teachers providing a `menu' in the present booklet, and by students who may be interested in taking philosophy courses indicating their preferences or suggesting additions to the menu. Please take part in this activity by filling in and returning the form at the end of this booklet (or, if you prefer, you may enter your preferences directly on the departmental computer network: ask our computer technician, Mr. Tsang, if you want to do this).
Certain additional courses which lend themselves to such treatment may be offered as reading courses. This may occur when only a few students are interested in taking a course. In reading courses, no lectures are given, and the course is basically a programme of supervised reading.
Second and third year courses usually consist of one or two lecture hours each week. Tutorials are a very important part of our work. The usual pattern, introduced after an experimental period in which reactions of students and teachers were monitored, provides three individual tutorials for each student in each course, although other patterns are sometimes adopted.
Nuclear Courses for 1995/96
Second-year Courses
07284 The Beginnings of Philosophy first semester
Lecturer : Dr Hansen
The beginnings of philosophy set certain basic questions that tended to endure and to characterize whole philosophical traditions. We will look at and contrast two "beginnings" of philosophy: one in China and one in Greece. We will focus on the different kinds of questions and attitudes that motivated philosophical reflection and the first early theories proposed. We will trace some central themes in the presocratic philosophers through Plato and Aristotle and some related themes running from Confucius through Mozi, Mencius and Zhuangzi. This will give us a basis to examine more carefully and critically some of the grand generalizations about the differences between Western and Chinese philosophy.
Preparatory reading:
Hansen A Daoist Theory of Chinese Thought
(Oxford University Press 1992)
Irwin Classical Thought (Oxford University Press 1989)
Combinations: This course would be a foundation for nearly any other philosophy course at the university. It would most naturally be followed up with Early Modern Philosophy or either of the East-West courses.
Examination: The examination paper will be composed of questions chosen from a list made known in advance.
07285 Early Modern Philosophy second semester
Lecturer : Dr Martin
This course aims to provide a basic introduction to the epistemological and metaphysical doctrines of Descartes, Locke, Berkeley and Hume. Topics will be drawn from themes such as: knowledge, language and reality, perception, ideas and meanings, real and nominal essence, primary and secondary qualities, innate notions, personal identity, causation. The main emphasis of the course will be on reaching a sound understanding of these themes and their systematic interrelations. In this way the course will be primarily historical and interpretative, although some critical evaluation will be undertaken in the light of modern philosophical developments.
Main texts:
René Descartes Meditations (E. Anscombe and P. Geach, eds.)
John Locke An Essay concerning Human Understanding (P.H. Nidditch, ed.)
George Berkeley Principles of Human Knowledge and Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous (reprinted in M.R. Ayers, ed., Berkeley: Philosophical Works)
David Hume A Treatise of Human Nature (L.A. Selby-Bigge and P.H. Nidditch, eds.)
Combinations: any, but especially courses in metaphysics, mind and epistemology
Second/Third-year courses
07264 Metaphysics second semester
lecturer: Mr New
`Metaphysics' is the term applied posthumously to one of Aristotle's works which dealt with a rather heterogeneous collection of topics. It is not surprising therefore that, even today, there is no very clear agreement as to the limits of the subject. In this course we shall discuss some of the following topics which certainly belong to the central area of metaphysics, without implying that they are the only topics that belong there: existence, universals and particulars, substance, identity, space and time.
Bruce Aune's Metaphysics: the elements (Blackwell) is a useful introduction to the subject.
Prerequisites: none.
Combinations: any, but this course may sensibly be paired with 07263 Epistemology, given in 1994/95, and in 1996/97.
07266 Theory of Action
Since this course was introduced as a nuclear course, the theory of action has moved away from the centre of the philosophical stage; reflecting this, the number of students choosing to take the course has fallen off significantly. We intend next year to drop it from our selection of nuclear courses; we are, however, obliged to give it this year if there any students wishing to take it. We strongly advise students not to select it, but if any do they will be accommodated.
An investigation of the concept of action and related concepts such as those of will, intention, motive.
07267 Theories of Morality first semester
Lecturer: Dr Ross
An investigation of some main ethical theories from the Western philosophical tradition: Plato, Aristotle, Christian ethics, Hume, Kant, and Mill. The course will be based on the study of selected texts.
Combinations: any
Prerequisites: none
07268 Topics in Moral Philosophy second semester
lecturer: Dr Davies
The following topics will be discussed:
the justification of morality
moral freedom
the concept of moral obligation
the objectivity of moral values
the place of reason in ethics
moral conflicts
Prerequisites: none
Combinations: any, but this course may sensibly be paired with 07267 above
07259 Philosophy East & West: Ethical Topics first semester
lecturer: Dr Martin
An introduction to comparative moral philosophy, with readings drawn largely from the pre-Ch'in Confucian tradition, as well as from Western sources. The course will focus on selections from Confucius, Mencius, Hsun Tzu and Mo Tzu, with an emphasis on their normative ethical doctrines, with some reference to moral epistemology and the problem of justification. Topics to be covered include the relation (if any) between Confucius and systematic moral theory; the relevance (if any) of Confucius to modern society (including Herbert Fingarette's view of Confucius as a great moral visionary); Mencius and Hsun Tzu on the characterization of human nature; and Mo Tzu's "three tests" of a theory.
Preliminary reading:
Herbert FingaretteConfucius: the Secular as Sacred, New York, Harper & Row, 1972
Martin Lu Confucianism: Its Relevance to Modern Society, Singapore, Federal Publications, 1983
Prerequisites: none
Combinations: any, but this course may sensibly be paired with 07260 Philosophy East & West: Metaphysical Topics, as well as courses in moral or political philosophy.
07242 Philosophy of Language first semester
lecturer: Dr Lau
What is a language, and what is involved in knowing or understanding a language ? In this course we will see how philosophers and linguists answer these questions. In particular, we will look at three important aspects of language : syntax (grammar), semantics (meaning) and pragmatics (contextual use of language). Here are some of the issues we might talk about :
What can logic tell us about the grammar of natural languages ?
Is linguistics part of psychology ?
Are human beings born with a universal grammar ?
What makes a word meaningful, and what has meaning got to do with truth or conventions ?
What are conversational implicatures ?
How does a metaphor work ?
For preliminary reading, one possibility is Steven Pinker's new book The Language Instinct. It provides an entertaining introduction to the scientific study of language. For something more philosophical, you might try part I of Simon Blackburn's Spreading the Word (Oxford, 1984). Also, The Philosophy of Language edited by A.P. Martinich (OUP, 1990) has a good collection of articles in this area.
C. Third-year Course
07327 Seminar in Political Philosophy second semester
lecturers : Dr J Chan (Politics & Public Administration) and
a lecturer from the Department of Philosophy
This seminar, taught by staff of the Department of Politics & Public Administration and the Department of Philosophy, provides an opportunity to study in some depth some of the most recent issues and developments in political philosophy. These issues include recent theories of justice, communitarian critique of liberalism, and ethical issues in global politics such as distributive justice between states, justice between generations, environmental ethics, and international enforcement of human rights, and other issues which may be considered appropriate.
Prerequisites: This course is intended primarily for students meeting the requirements specified in the curriculum for the major in Philosophy and Politics; we have decided this year, however, to make the course available to all third-year philosophy students.
There will be no written examination, and grades for this course will be awarded solely on the basis of coursework.
8. Additional Courses for 1995/96
OF the twelve courses described in the following pages, about eight will probably be put on. Courses which may be given as reading courses are marked R, and those examined by dissertation are marked D. Please indicate your own preferences on the form which you will find at the end of this booklet.
07291 Zhuangzi
Lecturer : Dr Hansen
This course will discuss the philosophical problems that inform and arise from the "inner chapters" of The Zhuangzi. These include whether ethics is objective, the role of language and emotions, the problems of ethical intuitionism, external realism and the coherence of anti-language, skeptical or mystical doctrines. We will also reflect on the relations of Zhuangzi to Laozi, the Chinese school of names, and to Confucianism. The readings will include the original Chinese text, some Chinese commentary and several translations and interpretive commentaries in English.
Preparatory reading:
Mair, Victor, ed.Experimental Essays on Chuang-tzu
(University of Hawaii Press, 1983)
Prerequisites: none
Combinations: any, but especially East-West Metaphysics
Examination: The examination paper will be composed of questions chosen from a list made known in advance.
07258 Locke & LeibnizD
Lecturer: Dr James
Leibniz wrote his New Essays on Human Understanding as a direct, point-by-point response to Locke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding. The New Essays are in dialogue form, with a spokesperson for Locke engaging with a spokesperson for Leibniz. Hence studying the texts promises to give us insights into the debate between Rationalists and Empiricists of the time, and of the philosophical temperaments that were attracted to either school. Following Jolley, Shapiro and others, we shall consider the debate, not only in its own terms, but also in the context of the political, religious and scientific ferment of the times.
Topics to be discussed include: innate notions; the uses and abuses of language; and knowledge, faith and reason.
Although the New Essays is fairly self-contained, we will also refer on occasions to Locke's Essay, and some of Leibniz's other writings.
Texts:
Leibniz, G.W., New Essays on Human Understanding (translated and edited by P. Remnant and J. Bennett), Cambridge University Press, 1981
Jolley, Nicholas, Leibniz and Locke, Oxford University Press, 1984
Shapiro, Barbara, Probability and Certainty in Seventeenth-Century England: A Study of the Relationships between Natural Science, Religion, History, Law and Literature, Princeton University Press, 1983
Prerequisites: Early Modern Philosophy (recommended)
Combinations: any, but the course mixes well with Epistemology
07235 Wittgenstein IIR
Lecturers : Professor Goldstein & Dr James
Wittgenstein said that his aim in philosophy was `to show the fly the way out of the fly bottle'. By this he meant that certain preconceptions, oversimplifications and poor analogies had led philosophers to construct misguided theories about such things as sensation, meaning, understanding and the nature of language, and that it was his task not to construct alternative theories but to point out the ways in which the theorists had become entrapped. This programme may appear modest, but Wittgenstein's approach has had far-reaching consequences and his work has received more discussion than that of any other twentieth century philosopher and has influenced philosophy and many other disciplines.
Text:
Wittgenstein, L.Philosophical Investigations, Blackwell, Oxford, 1953
Combinations : any
07236 Sartre and phenomenology
Lecturer : Dr James
The aim of the course is to present some central texts of phenomenology (`the philosophy of experience') to see how this alternative to the Analytic, Anglo-American approach to philosophy developed from Husserl (Cartesian Meditations), through Sartre (Being and Nothingness) to Merleau-Ponty (Phenomenology of Perception).
Topics to be discussed include: Intentionality; Phenomenology and Existentialism; The Body; Perception; Other Selves; and Freedom and its Limits. Depending on student interest, we might also look at the comparisons e.g. between Merleau-Ponty and analytic approaches to the Mind.
Apart from the primary texts, the main textbook for the course is:
J. Hammond, J. Howarth & R. Keat, Understanding Phenomenology
Combinations: any, but Mind and Wittgenstein II are especially relevant
07252 Philosophy of the Sciences second semester
lecturers: Professor Goldstein, Dr Lau and Professor Moore
The course is in two parts. In Part A we shall examine various areas of scientific investigation in which philosophical problems are encountered. There will be a wide range of topics and these might include such items as the innateness hypothesis in theories of language-acquisition, paradoxes and metaphysical consequences of quantum theory, the problem of understanding in AI, methodological reflections on the creationist critique of palaeontology, alternatives to evolutionary theory and the alleged moral implications of sociobiology. The content of this part of the course will, to some extent, be determined by the content of the class. Part B will be concerned with questions about the nature of scientific investigation itself. Topics to be discussed will be: scientific method; the conduct and interpretation of experiments; the aim of science; and the sociological aspects of science (including historical case-studies).
Prerequisites: none
Combinations: any, but the course is likely to most benefit those who bring with them expertise in one or more scientific disciplines.
07253 Philosophy of Social Science
Lecturer : Professor Moore
This course will be a critical examination of modes of explanation used by the social sciences, and will proceed by case studies. Which cases are taken will depend on the interests and knowledge of those who enrol for the course.
Combinations: any, but social science subjects are espeically suitable
07239 Aesthetics IR
Lecturer: Dr. Davies
Topics to be discussed will be selected from the following:
the nature of aesthetic experience
naturalism and realism in the arts
arts and emotion
the autonomy of art
beauty
the concept of a work of art
taste
art and society
art and morality
Combinations: any, especially English Studies and Comparative Literature, Music, Fine Arts
07280 Philosophy and Cognitive Science second semester
lecturers: Professor Goldstein and Dr Lau
Cognitive science is the attempt to acquire, through computer modelling and other means, an understanding of human cognitive capacities such as perception, reading, reasoning and decision making. The enterprise requires philosophical understanding of such questions as what is involved in the acquisition of a set of concepts, how is it possible for a physical system to think and see, what is the relevance of the communicational behaviour of apes to an account of the human ability to use language, by what criteria should the usefulness of a model be judged ?
Other topics might include : the dispute between classical AI and connectionism; issues concerning the modularity of the mind (whether there are different subsystems in the mind performing different functions); the simulation debate (on the nature of our psychological knowledge); recent work on vision and consciousness.
Prerequisites: none
Combinations: any, but this course should blend well with The Mind or Philosophy of Language.
Preliminary Reading:
H. Gardner The Mind's New Science
(New York, Basic Books, 1985)
J. Leiber An Invitation to Cognitive Science
(Oxford, Blackwell, 1991)
S. Pinker The Language Instinct
(New York, William Morrow and Company, 1994)
07282 Philosophical Chinese
lecturer: Dr Hansen
In this course we will learn to analyze grammatically and semantically the language used in the Classical texts of Chinese philosophy. The analysis will help us construct arguments in favor of or against various interpretation and translations. We will be analyzing some texts from the Analects of Confucius, The Mozi, The Mencius and The Zhuangzi. Then we will concentrate on interpreting The Daode Jing.
Preliminary reading: Students may pre-read the grammatical section of A.C. Graham, Later Mohist Logic Ethics and Science and the methodology section of Chad Hansen, Language and Logic in Ancient China, and A Daoist Theory of Chinese Thought.
Prerequisites: none
Combinations: any, but the course will complement courses on transformational grammar, theory of language, Literary Chinese grammar, and any courses on Classical Chinese thought.
Examination: The examination paper will be composed of questions chosen from a list made known in advance.
07286 PragmatismD
Lecturer: Dr James
The course is in two unequal parts. In the first and longer part we shall study the writings of the `classical' pragmatists: Peirce, Dewey and James; in the second, we shall look more briefly at the some of the so-called `neo-pragmatists' such as Quine, Davidson and Putnam. We shall then consider the question of the relationship between these two schools, and think seriously about the recent suggestion that the earlier is in fact the better.
Topics to be discussed include: truth and knowledge; religion and science; and rationality, personality and aesthetics.
Texts:
Peirce, C.S.Charles S. Peirce: Selected Writings
(edited by P.P. Wiener)
Dewey, J. The Philosophy of John Dewey
(edited by J.J. McDermott)
James, W. Pragmatism
James, W. Varieties of Religious Experience
Prerequisites: none
Combinations: any, but Early Modern Philosophy and Epistemology are especially suitable.
07278 ParadoxesR first semester
Lecturer: Professor Goldstein
Paradoxes are arguments which proceed from highly plausible assumptions, through highly plausible and simple steps to highly implausible conclusions. Some examples: Zeno's paradoxes of motion, Kant's antinomies, the Liar (`This statement is false'), and the paradox of the surprise examination. What such paradoxes show is that there is something deeply wrong with some of our most fundamental ways of thinking. We shall attempt to find solutions to certain of these paradoxes.
Here is some light reading you might find enjoyable:
Hughes, P., and Brecht, G.Vicious Circles and Infinity
Smullyan, R. What is the Name of this Book ?
Combinations: any
Special Topic: first semester
Twentieth Century Moral Philosophy
lecturer: Dr Ross
Dr Ross is a visiting lecturer from the City University of New York; he is also giving the lecture course: Theories of Morality.
The major philosophical writings in 20th Century moral philosophy: G.E. Moore; A.J. Ayer; C.L. Stevenson; J-P Sartre; Philippa Foot; Thomas Nagel; Alasdair MacIntyre; Iris Murdoch; J.L. Mackie. Some writings on contemporary social problems such as the problem of world famine may also be included.
9. Thesis (07227)
A THESIS may be prepared under supervision for submission not later than March 31st of the final year. Notice of intention to offer a thesis must be given before June 15th of the second year, and this intention will be confirmed or modified on the supervisor's advice by the end of the first week of the first semester of the final year, after the candidate has had the opportunity to do preliminary work over the summer vacation. Work on the thesis will be considered equivalent to one whole course and will thus count for one whole paper in the B.A. examination and two papers in the B.Soc.Sc. examination. Only students taking the equivalent of at least four whole papers in philosophy will normally be permitted to offer a thesis.10.Looking ahead to 1996/97
STUDENTS opting for second year work in philosophy for 1995/96 will wish to know what will be available for them in 1996/97.
At least the following nuclear courses will be available:
07263 Epistemology
An investigation of the problems surrounding the basic epistemic concepts: knowledge, belief, necessity, certainty, perception and the physical world, a priori knowledge.
07265 The Mind
An examination of various theories of mind, such as dualism, behaviourism, materialism and functionalism.
07270 Topics in Social Philosophy
An investigation of various important topics, such as justice and equality, wants and needs, laws and rights, freedom and constraint.
07269 Theories of Society
The main theme of the course will be the concept of legitimacy, and the question of how, if at all, political power can be philosophically justified. Anarchist theories, individualist and holist varieties of democratic theory, and the role of tradition will be discussed.
07260 Philosophy East and West: Metaphysical Topics
A comparative study of eastern and western theories of reality, knowledge, and man's place in nature.
07248 Philosophy of Logic
An investigation of some main notions, such as those of inference, validity, paradox and necessity.
In addition, about eight additional courses will be offered. Note that it is unlikely that the same additional course will be given two years running. The additional courses will be chosen from the following list, but those which are offered in this pamphlet, and which may therefore be put on next year, and would in that case not be available in 1996/97, are marked with an asterisk.
Group 1. Philosophical Texts
07289 Confucius
07228 Plato
07229 Aristotle
07290 Mencius
07291 *Zhuangzi
07230 Descartes
07258 *Locke and Leibniz
07231 Hume
07233 Kant's critical philosophy
07271 Russell
07234 Wittgenstein I
07235 *Wittgenstein II
07236 *Sartre and phenomenology
07238 Quine
07283 Rorty and Neopragmatism
Group 2. Philosophical topics
07245 Philosophy of literature
07246 Philosophy and psychoanalysis
07249 Philosophy of mathematics
07257 Philosophy of psychology
0725l Philosophy of religion
07252 *Philosophy of the sciences
07253 *Philosophy of social science
07243 Logic
07244 Moral problems
07255 Utilitarianism
0724l Free will, responsibility and determinism
07239 *Aesthetics I
07256 Aesthetics II
07254 Symbolism
07280 *Philosophy and cognitive science
07282 *Philosophical Chinese
07286 *Pragmatism
07278 *Paradoxes
07287 Philosophy of Law
07272 Special topic