2009-10 Undergraduate Catalog
Course Descriptions
PHH 3100 Ancient Greek Philosophy
Credits: 3.
A sustained study of Plato and Aristotle with some consideration of pre-Socratic antecedents and Hellenistic successors. (H, N) (WR)
PHH 3111 Ancient Ethical and Political Thought
Credits: 3.
An examination of ancient Greek and Roman political theories and their ethical foundations.
PHH 3200 Medieval Philosophy
Credits: 3; Prereq: one course in philosophy.
This course is a survey of medieval philosophy. Philosophers to be read many include Augustine, Boethius, Anselm, Maimonides, Aquinas, Duns Scotus, and Ockham. Topics include the nature of God, universals, individuation, future contingents.
PHH 3400 Modern Philosophy
Credits: 3.
A survey of the work of major philosophers of the 17th and 18th centuries, from Descartes to Kant, in the primary texts. (H, N)
PHH 4141 Seminar in Ancient Philosophy
Credits: 3; Prereq: a 3000-level philosophy course, or department permission.
A variable topic seminar focusing on a particular topic, period or school in the philosophy of Greco-Roman antiquity.
PHH 4420 Seminar in Modern Philosophy
Credits: 3; Prereq: a 3000-level philosophy course, or department permission.
A variable topic seminar focusing on a period, school, or topic in 17th or 18th century philosophy.
PHH 4644 Continental Philosophy
Credits: 3; Prereq: PHH 3400 or PHP 3786, or instructor permission.
A study of selected works by 19th and 20th century continental philosophers, with emphasis to be determined by the instructor. Selections to include such thinkers as Hegel, Nietzsche, Heidegger and Foucault. (H)
PHH 4930 Seminar in a Major Philosopher
Credits: 3; can be repeated up to 6 credits. Prereq: a 3000-level philosophy course, or department permission.
A variable topic seminar on the work of a major historical or contemporary philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Descartes, Hobbes, Leibniz, Spinoza, Berkeley, Hume, Rousseau, Kant, Hegel, Mill, Marx, Nietzsche, Husserl, Heidegger, Russell, Moore, Sartre, Wittgenstein and Quine. (H)
PHI 2010 Introduction to Philosophy
Credits: 3.
An introduction to philosophy through study of traditional questions about the existence of God, the nature of the mind, the definition of good, freedom of the will, and criteria of truth and knowledge. Topics can vary with the instructor. (H) (WR)
PHI 2100 Logic
Credits: 3.
A survey at an elementary level of a variety of different methods of formal and informal analysis of the logical structure of propositions and arguments. Possible topics include syllogistic logic, propositional logic, quantification logic, inductive logic, informal fallacies and probability. (M) (MR)
PHI 2630 Contemporary Moral Issues
Credits: 3.
An introduction to moral philosophy through selected contemporary issues, e.g. abortion, euthanasia, genetic engineering and the treatment of animals. (H) (WR)
PHI 2930 Special Topics
Credits: 3, can be repeated with a change in content up to 6 credits.
Check the department web site for a course description for the term in which it is given.
PHI 3130 Symbolic Logic
Credits: 3.
A systematic study of forms of deduction; techniques and topics include truth-functional analysis and quantification. (M) (MR)
PHI 3300 Theory of Knowledge
Credits: 3.
A study of the central topics and concepts of the theory of knowledge, including the analysis of the concepts of knowledge, truth, justification, and related concepts, the nature of empirical knowledge, the problem of skepticism, the nature of a priori knowledge, and the structure of the justification of our beliefs. (H)
PHI 3322 Philosophy of Perception
Credits: 3.
This course surveys the central issues in the philosophy of perception. It examines the nature of perceptual experiences, their relations to our environment, and to the perceptual beliefs we form on their bases.
PHI 3400 Philosophy of Natural Science
Credits: 3.
A study of central contemporary issues in the philosophy of natural science, e.g., the nature of laws, the logic of discovery, and the relationships between different sciences. The sciences most used for illustration vary with the instructor. (H)
PHI 3420 Philosophy of the Social Sciences
Credits: 3.
A study of such issues as the possibility of social laws, the nature of social explanation and rationality, and the role of value judgments in social-scientific research. (H)
PHI 3500 Metaphysics
Credits: 3.
A study of one or more of the problems of first philosophy: the concepts of existence, essence, object, property and event; universals and particulars; the nature of change, possibility, causation, space and time. Traditional philosophical issues such as free will, the mind/body problem, personal identity, and the existence of abstract entities (e.g., numbers), will be discussed as will views of realism, idealism, materialism and relativism. Topics can vary with the instructor. (H)
PHI 3633 Bioethics
Credits: 3.
This course systematically addresses the ethical issues that arise in medicine and biotechnology.
PHI 3650 Moral Philosophy
Credits: 3.
Analysis and criticism of various normative ethical theories, such as egoism, utilitarianism, Kantianism, deontology and virtue ethics. (H)
PHI 3693 Ethics of Communication
Credits: 3.
An examination of ethical issues in communication between individuals and in the media. Possible topics include truth-telling, misrepresentation, privacy and fairness. (H)
PHI 3700 Philosophy of Religion
Credits: 3.
A study of problems in philosophical theology, including the nature of God, arguments for God's existence, the problem of evil, and the relation between faith and reason, from both historical and contemporary perspectives. (H) (WR)
PHI 3905 Individual Study
Credits: 1 to 3; maximum 6 credits.
Available by department permission to upper-division students who make suitable advance application to the undergraduate coordinator.
PHI 3930 Special Topics
Credits: 3; can be repeated with a change in content up to 6 credits.
Check the department office for a course description for the term in which it is given. (H)
PHI 3950 Philosophical Writing
Credits: 3; Prereq: enrollment is limited to philosophy majors.
An intensive course in philosophical writing. Topics to be treated will vary with the instructor. (H, C) (WR)
PHI 4220 Philosophy of Language
Credits: 3; Prereq: a 3000-level philosophy course, or department permission.
A study of the major topics and concepts of the philosophy of language. Topics typically covered will include truth and meaning, speech act theory, reference and descriptions, names and demonstratives, propositional attitudes and indirect discourse, the nature of language, and metaphor. Course focus may vary with the interests of the instructor. (H)
PHI 4320 Philosophy of Mind
Credits: 3; Prereq: a 3000-level philosophy course, or department permission.
A study of the central problems of the philosophy of mind, including the mind-body problem, the nature of mental states, intentionality and representation, sensation and consciousness, and related topics. (H)
PHI 4330 Philosophy of Action
Credits: 3; Prereq: a 3000-level philosophy course, or department permission.
A study of the central problems of the philosophy of action: the nature of agency, the individuation of actions, the roles of reason, deliberation and intention in action, weakness of the will, freedom and responsibility.
PHI 4542 Philosophy of Space and Time
Credits: 3; Prereq: a 3000-level philosophy course, or department permission.
A study of the nature of space and time: subjects may include the concepts of substantival space and time (or space-time), relational space and time (or space-time), dynamical space-time, conventional space-time metrics, causal reduction of time, time's arrow, dimensionality of space (or space-time). The approach, historical or issue-oriented, and the required amount of knowledge of physics may vary with the instructor.
PHI 4662 Ethical Theory 1
Credits: 3; Prereq: a 3000-level philosophy course, or department permission.
Advanced topics in moral theory, such as cognitivism, obligations and permissions, moral reasons and moral epistemology. (H)
PHI 4905 Individual Work
Credits: 1 to 3; maximum 6 credits. Prereq: requires department permission.
Available to upper-division students with 12 hours of philosophy. Students must apply in advance to the undergraduate coordinator.
PHI 4912 Honors Project
Credits: 3.
Open to qualified philosophy majors upon application to the undergraduate coordinator.
PHI 4930 Special Topics
Credits: 3; can be repeated with change in content up to 6 credits. Prereq: a 3000-level philosophy course, or department permission.
Check the departmental Web site for a course description for the term in which it is given.
PHM 2204 Social Issues and Political Thought
Credits: 3.
A survey of fundamental issues, designed as an introduction to classic works in political philosophy. Topics such as comparative systems, authority, and freedom will be discussed. (H) (WR)
PHM 3032 Ethics and Ecology
Credits: 3.
A normative study of the relationships between human beings and the environment, with special emphasis on land and resources. (H)
PHM 3123 Feminism
Credits: 3.
An analysis of theoretical and practical issues in feminism such as radical, liberal and socialist perspectives, gender roles and equal opportunity. This course is an elective in Women's Studies. (H, D)
PHM 3202 Political Philosophy
Credits: 3.
A study of philosophical problems about such issues as political freedom, justice, obligation and coercion. (H) (WR)
PHM 3400 Introduction to Philosophy of Law
Credits: 3.
An introduction to philosophical issues in legal thought and practice. It is designed especially for pre-law majors and as an introduction to PHM 4440 (Philosophy of Law). It introduces the student to the types of philosophical issues that the major schools of legal thought have attempted to resolve. (H) (WR)
PHM 4440 Philosophy of Law
Credits: 3; Prereq: PHM 3400, or instructor permission.
An examination of philosophical issues in legal theory such as the concept of law, legal reasoning, responsibility and punishment. (H)
PHP 3786 Existentialism
Credits: 3.
An examination of the existentialist movement in philosophy through readings from such figures as Kierkegaard, Nietzsche and Sartre. (H)
PHP 4784 Analytic Philosophy
Credits: 3; Prereq: a 3000-level philosophy course, or department permission.
A study of the major philosophers, themes, and developments of the analytic tradition, from Frege, Russell, Moore, and Wittgenstein, to Quine, Austin and contemporary figures. (H)
General Education Categories
Consult Schedule of Courses for specific information.
- Biological Sciences (B)
- Composition (C)
- Diversity (D)*
- Humanities (H)
- International (N)*
- Mathematics (M)
- Physical Sciences (P)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (S)
* Students who entered UF prior to Summer B 2007 and/or whose catalog year is not 2007-08: Current students who have not already completed six hours of "I" - international/diversity credits can do so now by taking "D" and "N" courses.
Symbols Used in Course Descriptions
- (WR) indicates the course satisfies the writing requirement.
- (MR) indicates the course satisfies the math requirement.
- (S-U) indicates the course may be taken on a satisfactory-unsatisfactory basis.
- Refer to the Schedule of Courses for specific information.