Courses - Fall 2022
PHPE
Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
PHPE308E
Special Topics in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics; Political Epistemology
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Cross-listed with PHIL309K. Credit only granted for PHIL309K or PHPE308E.
PHPE308T
Special Topics in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics; The Ethics of Data and Deomcracy
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg
PHPE386
Experiential Learning Practicum in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
Credits:
3 - 6
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F
Restriction: Junior standing or higher.
For students who wish to gain experience working in research outside the classroom. Pending approval of the department, students may work at a professional site or remotely under professional supervision - your primary supervisor must be a professional in the field. Beyond working at a professional site or under professional supervision, students will have to complete further assignments to receive a passing grade in the course. Students may take PHPE386 for three-six credits, but only three credits will count towards the major requirements. PHPE386 is only open to those with junior standing or above.
PHPE400
Individual and Group Decision-Making
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Foundational issues that arise within the theories of rational choice that underlie the treatments of decision-making found in economics, politics, and the other social sciences. The course is focused on individual decisions (rational choice theory), strategic decisions (game theory) and group decisions (social choice theory). In addition to presenting the formal models of decision making, we also discuss to what extent these mathematical theories explain social interactions. An important aspect of the course is to introduce students to the ways in which economic analysis has been applied to issues in social and political philosophy. Readings will be drawn from the literature in economics, psychology, statistics and political science, as well as philosophy.
Credit granted for PHPE400 or GVPT449D.
PHPE401
Social Philosophy and Political Economy
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Examines capitalism and socialism as differing modes of economic production through several different theoretical lenses. We begin by examining capitalism and socialism as they developed historically, by looking primarily at the work of Adam Smith and Karl Marx. Then, we turn our attention to one of the most important debates in 20th century economics: to what extent rational economic calculation is possible in a socialist commonwealth. After this we turn our attention to how capitalist and socialist modes of production functioned in practice. We end by turning our attention to the ethics of capitalism and socialism: which mode of economic production is most just?
PHPE402
Senior Capstone in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Restriction: Must be in the Philosophy, Politics, and Economics major; and must have senior standing.
Senior capstone course for the Philosophy, Politics, and Economics major. The exact content of the course will be determined by the instructor who teaches it. The purpose of the course is to pursue sustained inquiry on a narrow philosophical topic, using the tools and methods from economics and political science to help analyze the topic. The course ends with a substantial research paper, where the student should demonstrate an ability to use the tools of philosophy, political science, and economics in his or her analysis.
PHPE408D
Advanced Topics in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics; Theories of Democracy
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F
Cross-listed with PHIL408D. Credit only granted for PHPE408D or PHIL408D.
Many think that democracy is the only acceptable form of government, but it is hard to articulate why. This course will look at normative arguments in defense of democracy. It will also look at criticisms of these arguments, along with normative arguments in favor of non-democratic forms of government. The course will also look at theoretical and empirical work concerning how democracies actually function in the real world (e.g., the median voter theorem, the Hong-Page theorem, McKelvey Schofield chaos theorem, etc.), and ask how this theoretical and empirical work should inform our normative arguments for democracy.
Many think that democracy is the only acceptable form of government, but it is hard to articulate why. This course will look at normative arguments in defense of democracy. It will also look at criticisms of these arguments, along with normative arguments in favor of non-democratic forms of government. The course will also look at theoretical and empirical work concerning how democracies actually function in the real world (e.g., the median voter theorem, the Hong-Page theorem, McKelvey Schofield chaos theorem, etc.), and ask how this theoretical and empirical work should inform our normative arguments for democracy.
PHPE408E
Advanced Topics in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics; The Ethics of Markets
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F
Cross-listed with PHIL408E. Credit only granted for PHPE408E or PHIL408E.
Markets are pervasive throughout our lives, but we rarely think about them from an ethical perspective. This course examines questions at the intersection of ethics and markets. It asks questions like: what is the extent of permissible market exchange? What sorts of things can be bought and sold on the market? Do markets corrupt our morals? Do markets presuppose certain morals? Does trade between nations lead to tolerance? What are the social responsibilities of business?
Markets are pervasive throughout our lives, but we rarely think about them from an ethical perspective. This course examines questions at the intersection of ethics and markets. It asks questions like: what is the extent of permissible market exchange? What sorts of things can be bought and sold on the market? Do markets corrupt our morals? Do markets presuppose certain morals? Does trade between nations lead to tolerance? What are the social responsibilities of business?
PHPE408J
Advanced Topics in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics; The Philosophy of Plato
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F
Cross-listing with PHIL412. Credit only granted for PHIL412 or PHPE408J.
PHPE408K
Advanced Topics in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics; Philosophy and Law
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F
Cross-listed with PHIL438L. Credit only granted for PHIL438L or PHPE408K.
Philosophy and Law deal with many of the same concepts but from different perspectives. This class explores ways in which the two fields interact, demonstrating how the use of philosophical tools can enhance understanding of many areas of law, from free speech, the rules of evidence, and criminal law to contracts, antitrust, and corporations. It will expose students to concrete legal issues that lawyers deal with on a day-to-day basis. At the same time, this cross-disciplinary class, which should not be confused with philosophy of law, will deepen the student's knowledge of critical ideas in epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of language, and other philosophical subjects. Previous exposure to basic philosophical concepts would be helpful, though not essential.
Philosophy and Law deal with many of the same concepts but from different perspectives. This class explores ways in which the two fields interact, demonstrating how the use of philosophical tools can enhance understanding of many areas of law, from free speech, the rules of evidence, and criminal law to contracts, antitrust, and corporations. It will expose students to concrete legal issues that lawyers deal with on a day-to-day basis. At the same time, this cross-disciplinary class, which should not be confused with philosophy of law, will deepen the student's knowledge of critical ideas in epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of language, and other philosophical subjects. Previous exposure to basic philosophical concepts would be helpful, though not essential.
PHPE408X
Advanced Topics in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics; Bayesian Epistemology
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F
Cross-listed with PHIL418X. Credit only granted for PHIL418X or PHPE408X.
Epistemology is the philosophical study of knowledge and rational belief. Bayesian epistemology frames this study by centering not on full beliefs (like my belief that there is no chocolate on the moon) but instead on graded belief. This is for example what happens when we say that we are 80% confident that a certain party will win an election. Among the topics to be covered in the class are: the connection between degrees of belief and the mathematical theory of probability; the principles governing whether degrees of belief are rational; the principles whether agents respond appropriately to evidence; the role of degrees of belief in practical decision making. The approach in the class will be to present these topics without presupposing prior competence in epistemology.
Epistemology is the philosophical study of knowledge and rational belief. Bayesian epistemology frames this study by centering not on full beliefs (like my belief that there is no chocolate on the moon) but instead on graded belief. This is for example what happens when we say that we are 80% confident that a certain party will win an election. Among the topics to be covered in the class are: the connection between degrees of belief and the mathematical theory of probability; the principles governing whether degrees of belief are rational; the principles whether agents respond appropriately to evidence; the role of degrees of belief in practical decision making. The approach in the class will be to present these topics without presupposing prior competence in epistemology.
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University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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