Quarks, Quasars and Dinosaurs: The Philosophy of Science

This course examines a number of ground breaking discoveries, breakthroughs and conceptual revolutions in the history of science, with an eye to the lessons they hold about what Science is and how it works. Fundamental questions the course considers are: How do scientists develop theories, test them, and adjudicate between rival explanations of natural phenomena? What is the scientific method? Why does this method yield such uncannily accurate predictions about future events? By what criteria can genuine sciences, like Physics, Chemistry and Biology, be distinguished from pseudosciences like Astrology and Homeopathy? Is Science progressing slowly but steadily towards a grand, unified Theory of Everything, or is the idea of scientific progress just a myth? Do the unobservable entities that scientists postulate - quarks, gluons, and their ilk - really exist, or are they merely predictively useful fictions? Should scientists try to verify their theories, or falsify them? What is scientific objectivity, and is it attainable? The course will be of interest to anyone fascinated by Science, its history, its aims, and its methods. It is intended to be especially valuable to scientists-in-training, in providing a broad perspective of the philosophical issues that hover over all scientific inquiry.

15 points

15 points at 200 level in PhilosophyAny 30 points at 200 level in PHIL, or any 60 points at 200 level from the Schedule V of the BA or BSc.

PHIL203

The Brain Gym: An Introduction to Logic

An introduction to logical reasoning, critical analysis, and the art of proof.

15 points

15 points at 200 level in Philosophy or Mathematics or Computer Science or Engineering or Linguistics; or with the approval of the Departmental Coordinator 15 points in any subject.15 points at 200 level in Philosophy or Mathematics or Computer Science or Engineering or Linguistics; or with the approval of the Head of Department 15 points in any subject.Any 30 points at 200 level in PHIL, COSC, LING, MATH or from the BE(Hons), or any 60 points at 200 level from the Schedule V of the BA or BSc.

PHIL225, PHIL246, PHIL346, PHIL208, MATH208, MATH308

Meaning, Mind, and the Nature of Philosophy

This course aims to teach the central skills of philosophy-creative thinking plus precision. We look at deep philosophical questions through the eyes of several of the most challenging philosophers of the 20th and 21st centuries. For example: Do we think in words? If I say 'I'm in pain' or ‘I see blue’, do you really know what I mean? Can humans or machines learn to speak ‘Whale’? Is human-level AI possible? How can we talk about what doesn't exist-tomorrow, Harry Potter, or the possible world where you win $50 million on Lotto? Is there an impossible world where you can square the circle? Why does every attempt to solve a philosophical problem simply raise more problems, sometimes even worse ones?

30 points

Any 30 points at 200 level from PHIL, or any 60 points at 200 level from the Schedule V of the BA or the BSc.

PHIL464, PHIL497

Ethics

This course looks at concepts and theories in normative ethics and meta-ethics. Normative ethics deals with the foundations of moral theory. What determines whether an action is right or wrong, good or bad? What principles should we live by? Utilitarianism, deontology and virtue ethics provide three influential answers. Part I of the course studies these theories in detail, considering the ideas of Mill, Kant and Aristotle along the way. Meta-ethics deals with second-order questions about ethical thought and talk. Are there moral facts and moral truths? Could moral judgements be objectively true? What is the relation between moral facts and scientific or natural facts? How, if at all, can we acquire moral knowledge? What role do the emotions play in moral judgement? Part II of the course focuses on these and similar questions.

15 points

45 points in Philosophy, at least 30 at 200 level, with approval of the Head of Department.45 points in Philosophy, at least 30 at 200 level, with approval of the Head of School.Any 30 points at 200 level from PHIL, or any 60 points at 200 level from the Schedule V of the BA.

PHIL236

Bioethics: Life, Death, and Medicine

Bioethics is the study of ethical problems in healthcare, research, technology and the environment. Bioethical problems arise every day, affecting societies, people and non-human animals. This course covers a wide range of issues, including: research on human and non-human animals; reproductive technologies, such as surrogacy and genetic testing; the use of data to monitor and control human actions; conflicts between privacy and autonomy and the public good, and decisions about protecting, killing and letting die, including healthcare, abortion, and euthanasia. The course includes an introduction to ethical values and principles, ways of dealing with moral disagreements, and reflection on what it means for something to be worth moral consideration.

15 points

Any 30 points at 200 level in PHIL, LAWS, HLTH, or any 60 points at 200 level from the Schedule V of the BA.

PHIL240, POLS225

Individual Course of Study

-

15 points

Subject to approval of the Head of Department

Turing: From the Computer Revolution to the Philosophy of AI

This course is about Alan Turing, the logical and philosophical foundations of computing, and the philosophy of Artificial Intelligence. It is equally suitable for Arts, Science, Engineering, and Law students.

15 points

Any 30 points at 200 level in PHIL or COSC, or any 60 points at 200 level from the Schedule V of the BA or the BSc.

PHIL250, COSC260

Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a new and rapidly developing field that affects social media, military actions, the way we are governed, our criminal justice and health systems, and many other areas that impact our lives. In each of these areas, the use of AI can and will create situations that harm or benefit people and also non-human animals. Understanding the nature of these potential harms and benefits, their value and disvalue, and what can enhance, mitigate or remove them, can help make the widespread adoption of AI technologies ethical and also more publicly acceptable.

15 points

Any 30 points at 200 level in PHIL or COSC, or any 60 points at 200 level from the Schedule V of the BA or the BSc.

PHIL425