Courses - Summer 2023
PHIL100
Introduction to Philosophy
An introduction to the literature, problems, and methods of philosophy either through a study of some of the main figures in philosophic thought or through an examination of some of the central and recurring problems of philosophy.
An introduction to philosophy that focuses on three central themes in Western philosophy: the nature of death and the possibility of an afterlife (e.g. would immortality in paradise be desirable?), the nature of minds and artificial intelligence (e.g. is the rise of artificial intelligence an existential threat to humankind?), and finally, the ethics of life and death (e.g. is it wrong to have children?)
PHIL140
Contemporary Moral Issues
The uses of philosophical analysis in thinking clearly about such widely debated moral issues as abortion, euthanasia, homosexuality, pornography, reverse discrimination, the death penalty, business ethics, sexual equality, and economic justice.
An introduction to the tools and concepts of ethics (and ethical argumentation) through a survey of three topics of current relevance: (i) our relation to the environment; (ii) communities and migration; (iii) technology and privacy.
PHIL202
Know Thyself: Wisdom Through Cognitive Science
Credit only granted for: PHIL209N or PHIL202.
Formerly: PHIL209N.
How do we improve our decision making? Cognitive science demonstrates that self-knowledge isn't as easy as we think, and that there are numerous biases and fallacies that impact our decision-making in ways that are hard for us to be aware of. In this course you will learn what some of these are and how they have been discovered, and you will explore potential strategies for avoiding these fallacies and for making wiser choices.
PHIL204
Credit only granted for: PHIL209E or PHIL204.
Formerly: PHIL209E.
What does the discipline of philosophy teach us about happiness? This course explores how philosophers have addressed questions about the nature of happiness and its role in the good human life. Questions to be addressed include: what is it to be happy? What social, economic, and political institutions foster and support human happiness? Can an immoral person be happy? And is a happy life the same as a meaningful life?
PHIL209T
Do moments cease to exist when they recede into the past? Does time actually pass, or is it just a psychological illusion? Using time travelas our central example, we'll examine these questions through the lens of philosophy, science fiction, and physics
PHIL220
Credit only granted for: PHIL209A or PHIL220.
Formerly: PHIL209A.
Bioethicists formulate ethical guidelines. They answer questions such as: When life-saving health resources are scarce, who should get them? Should we increase supply of one such resource, kidneys, by buying them from living "donors"? If drug trials in developing countries benefit patients who consent to participate, are the trials ethical, even if the same research would be forbidden in the US? If a sick person aims to hasten her death, how, if at all, might her doctor permissibly help her? In this course, students construct and defend ethical rules in four domains: research ethics, allocation of scarce resources, markets in organs, and physician-assisted dying.
PHIL245
Political and Social Philosophy I
A critical examination of such classical political theories as those of Plato, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Mill, Marx, and such contemporary theories as those of Hayek, Rawls, and recent Marxist thinkers.
PHIL344
Philosophy of Race
Credit only granted for: PHIL344 or PHIL308Y.
Formerly: PHIL308Y.
A survey of philosophical arguments involving race and racism. Guiding questions will include: How have philosophers and scientists conceived of the concept of race? Is race a coherent concept? Does it help us explain differences in performance and behavior? What makes racism, racial prejudice, and discrimination wrong? What is the point of equality? Do we owe reparations to victims of racism?
PHIL498
Topical Investigations
Credits:
1 - 3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
PHIL498F
Topical Investigations; Topical Investigation
Credits:
1 - 3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
PHIL688
Selected Problems in Philosophy
Credits:
1 - 3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
PHIL788
Research in Philosophy
Credits:
1 - 6
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
PHIL799
Master's Thesis Research
Credits:
1 - 6
Grad Meth:
S-F
Contact department to make arrangements.
PHIL898
Pre-Candidacy Research
Credits:
1 - 8
Grad Meth:
Reg
PHIL899
Doctoral Dissertation Research
Credits:
1 - 8
Grad Meth:
S-F
Contact department to make arrangements.
Flagship Institution of the University System of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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Phone:
301.405.1000
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