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Philosophy
In the College of Arts and Letters
Office: Adams Humanities 4142
Telephone: (619) 594-5263
Emeritus: Friedman, Howard, McClurg, Nelson, O'Reilly, Ruja, Shields, Snyder, Warren, Weissman
Chair: Weston
Professors: Feenberg, Rosenstein, Weston
Associate Professors: Chaffin, Troxell
Assistant Professor: Wheeler
Master of Arts degree in philosophy.
Major in philosophy with the B.A. degree in liberal arts and sciences.
Minor in philosophy.
The philosophy major explores and seeks to understand values and the nature of reality. Through the study of philosophy, questions are asked about existence and experience: What is truth? What is morally right? What kind of life is best? What kind of society? Is there an ultimate reality? Philosophy studies the types of questions that most other subject areas are unable to address fully.
There are three different ways these questions are characteristically investigated in the philosophy major at San Diego State University. They are approached historically, by studying the history of philosophy from the ancient Greeks to the present; analytically, by carefully examining the meanings and interrelationships of ideas; and critically, by training students in the art of evaluating various claims and the arguments for and against them.
While the analytical and critical approach are part of every course in philosophy, the philosophy curriculum at San Diego State University emphasizes the historical approach. The aim is to provide the philosophy major with a thorough grounding in the development of philosophy so that the student is well prepared to participate in the discussion of contemporary issues.
The education of a philosophy major, along with providing the satisfaction of dealing with fundamental issues which have concerned serious thinkers for many centuries, also provides the student with skills that may be used in a variety of careers. Some students begin graduate work after their B.A., either in philosophy, with the expectation of teaching or writing in the field, or in law, education, or other professional programs. Some enter new fields of research, working on computer problems or artificial intelligence. Other students find that the special skills they have developed as philosophy majors - the ability to read complex material with comprehension, to analyze problems, to find relevant sources, to evaluate evidence, to propose solutions and to examine them self-critically, and to report the results of their inquiries with clarity and coherence - are valued by employers in many different fields. Such students may find career opportunities in government, industry, finance, and social services.
All College of Arts and Letters majors are urged to consult with their department adviser as soon as possible; they are required to meet with their department adviser within the first two semesters after declaration or change of major.
All candidates for a degree in liberal arts and sciences must complete the graduation requirements listed in the section of this catalog on "Graduation Requirements." No more than 48 units in philosophy courses can apply to the degree.
A minor is not required with this major.
Preparation for the Major. Six lower division units in philosophy including either Philosophy 110 or 120.
Foreign Language Requirement. Competency (equivalent to that which is normally attained through three consecutive courses of college study) is required in one foreign language as part of the preparation for the major. Refer to section of catalog on "Graduation Requirements."
Upper Division Writing Requirement. Passing the University Writing Examination or English 508W or Rhetoric and Writing Studies 305W or 500W with a grade of C (2.0) or better.
Major. A minimum of 30 upper division units in philosophy selected from Philosophy 330 or 333 or philosophy courses at the 400 and 500 level to include Philosophy 411, 412, 413, 414, and 521; completion of the requirements in any one of the four areas of specialization listed below and three to six units of electives in philosophy.
A. Current Issues: Twelve units to include three units from each of the following groups, with an additional three units from either Group I or Group II.
Group I: Philosophy 523, 525, 535, 537
Group II: Philosophy 512, 528, 532, 541
Group III: Philosophy 506, 507, 508, 543
B. Social and Political Philosophy: Philosophy 512, and six units selected from Philosophy 330, 333, 523, 527, 528, and 532.
C. Aesthetics and Philosophy of Literature: Nine units selected from Philosophy 508, 541, 542, and 543.
D. Philosophy of Science: Philosophy 537 and six units selected from Philosophy 523, 527, 531, and 536.
The minor in philosophy consists of a minimum of 15-18 upper division units in philosophy. The student must complete the requirements in one of the following areas of specialization:
A. Aesthetics and Philosophy of Literature: Fifteen units to include 12 units selected from Philosophy 334, 508, 541, 542, 543; and three units of electives.
B. Applied Ethics: Eighteen units to include Philosophy 528 and 12 units selected from Philosophy 329, 330, 332, 333, 512; and three units selected from any upper division course in Philosophy or from Communication 500, 589, Economics 370, General Studies 310, Management 356, or Natural Science 333.
C. History of Philosophy: Fifteen units to include Philosophy 411 and nine units selected from Philosophy 412, 413, 414, 506, 507, 575; and three units of electives.
D. Social and Political Philosophy: Fifteen units to include Philosophy 512, and nine units selected from Philosophy 330, 333, 527, 528, 532; and three units of electives.
E. Philosophy and Cognitive Science: Fifteen units to include Philosophy 521, 523, 531, 536; and three units of electives.
F. Philosophy of Science: Fifteen units to include Philosophy 537 and nine units selected from Philosophy 521, 523, 527; and three units of electives.
Courses in the minor may not be counted toward the major, but may be used to satisfy preparation for the major and general education requirements, if applicable. A minimum of six upper division units must be completed in residence at San Diego State University.
101. Introduction to Philosophy: Values (3) I, II (CAN PHIL 4)
Introduction to philosophical inquiry, with emphasis on problems of value. Students are encouraged to think independently and formulate their own tentative conclusions.
102. Introduction to Philosophy: Knowledge and Reality (3) I, II
Introduction to philosophical inquiry with emphasis on problems of knowledge and reality. Students are encouraged to think independently and formulate their own tentative conclusions.
103. Historical Introduction to Philosophy (3) I, II
Introduction to philosophical inquiry through study of the works of major philosophers in their historical contexts.
110. Critical Thinking and Composition (3)
Prerequisites: Satisfaction of the English Placement Test and Writing Competency requirements and Africana Studies 120 or Linguistics
100 or Mexican American Studies 111B or Rhetoric and Writing Studies 100. Proof of completion of prerequisites required: Test scores
or verification of exemption; grade report or copy of transcript.
Introduction to critical thinking and writing. Evaluation and development of correct reasoning and effective style and organization in argumentative writing. Correct deductive and inductive reasoning. Fallacies. Critical appraisal of evidence. Construction of rebuttals and counter-arguments.
120. Formal Logic (3) I, II (CAN PHIL 6)
Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the Entry-Level Mathematics requirement.
Introduction to deductive and inductive logic. Logic and language. Analysis of fallacies. Uses of logic in science and in daily life.
296. Experimental Topics (1-4)
Selected topics. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Limit of nine units of any combination of 296, 496, 596 courses applicable to a bachelor's degree.
305. Classics of Western Philosophy (3)
Prerequisites: Upper division standing, and completion of the General Education requirement in Foundations II.C., Humanities.
Analysis of major texts selected from diverse historical periods in western philosophy. Texts will illustrate different world views (e.g., Platonism, Stoicism, Skepticism) and their relationship to other disciplines and to present world views.
310. Philosophy and Human Nature (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of the General Education requirement in
Foundations II.C., Humanities.
Concept of human nature. Descriptive and normative aspects of major theories of human nature.
329. Social Ethics (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of the General Education requirement in
Foundations II.C., Humanities.
Ethical issues of contemporary life. Individualism vs. collectivism; democracy vs. dictatorship; ethical problems arising in law, medicine, business, government and interpersonal relationships.
330. Medical Ethics (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of the General Education requirement in
Foundations II.C., Humanities.
Value judgments upon which medicine is based and the ethical issues which medicine faces.
332. Environmental Ethics (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of General Education requirement in
Foundations II.C., Humanities.
Development of traditional values concerning the natural environment. Reasons for altering values in light of modern changes in relationship of human beings to the environment. Application of ethical principles to actions affecting the environment.
333. Philosophy of Technology (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of General Education requirement in
Foundations II.C., Humanities.
Nature of technology. Ethical aspects of social, political, and environmental problems associated with rapid development of technology over the last century. Responses to these problems by contemporary philosophers.
334. Philosophy of Literature (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of the General Education requirement in
Foundations II.C., Humanities.
Study of literature of philosophical significance, and of philosophical problems of literature.
351. Chinese Philosophy (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of the General Education requirement in
Foundations II.C., Humanities.
Philosophical traditions which have shaped the intellectual life and culture of China. Emphasis on foundational texts surviving from pre-Han China.
411. Ancient Western Philosophy (3) I
Prerequisite: Three units in philosophy.
Ancient western philosophy through the third century A.D.
412. Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy (3) II
Prerequisite: Three units in philosophy.
European philosophy from the fourth century through the sixteenth century.
413. Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century European Philosophy (3) I
Prerequisite: Three units in philosophy.
European philosophy in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
414. Nineteenth Century European Philosophy (3) II
Prerequisite: Three units in philosophy.
European philosophy in the nineteenth century.
496. Experimental Topics (1-4)
Selected topics. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Limit of nine units of any combination of 296, 496, 596 courses applicable to a bachelor's degree.
499. Special Study (1-3) I, II
Prerequisites: Six upper division units in philosophy and prior
arrangements with a supervising instructor.
Individual study. Maximum credit six units.
506. Twentieth Century Continental Philosophy (3)
Prerequisite: Six upper division units in philosophy.
Major figures and movements in European philosophy from Husserl to the present.
507. Twentieth Century Anglo-American Philosophy (3)
Prerequisite: Six upper division units in philosophy.
Major figures and movements in Anglo-American philosophy since World War I.
508. Existentialism (3)
Prerequisite: Six units in philosophy.
The philosophical aspects of existentialism. Major emphasis is on the diversity of thought within a common approach as this is shown in individual thinkers.
510. Philosophy of Law (3)
Prerequisites: Three units in philosophy and three units in political
science.
The nature of law and the logic of legal reasoning. An exploration of certain key legal concepts such as causation, responsibility, personality, and property.
512. Political Philosophy (3)
Prerequisite: Philosophy 101, 102 or 103.
Selected aspects of the political structures within which we live, such as law, power, sovereignty, justice, liberty, welfare.
521. Deductive Logic (3)
Prerequisite: Philosophy 120.
Principles of inference for symbolic deductive systems; connectives, quantifiers, relations and sets. Interpretations of deductive systems in mathematics, science and ordinary language. Not open to students with credit in Mathematics 523.
523. Theory of Knowledge (3)
Prerequisite: Six units in philosophy.
The major theories of human knowledge: mysticism, rationalism, empiricism, pragmatism.
525. Metaphysics (3)
Prerequisite: Six units in philosophy.
Prominent theories of reality, e.g., realism and nominalism, materialism and idealism, teleology and determinism.
527. Values and Social Science (3)
Prerequisite: Six units in philosophy.
Analysis and discussion of the nature of values and value-judgment with particular reference to the social sciences. Among relevant issues: the naturalistic fallacy, facts and values; authoritarianism, emotivism, objective relativism; the individual and the community.
528. Theory of Ethics (3)
Prerequisite: Six units in philosophy.
Significant and typical value theories and systems and the concrete problems such theories seek to explain. Emphasis will be on moral values.
531. Philosophy of Language (3)
Prerequisite: Six units in philosophy.
An introduction to theories of meaning for natural languages and formal systems; concepts of truth, synonymy and analyticity; related epistemological and ontological problems.
532. Philosophy of History (3)
Prerequisite: Six units in philosophy.
The nature of history and historical inquiry. As metaphysics: A study of theories of historical development. As methodology: History as science, truth and fact in history, historical objectivity, the purpose of history.
535. Philosophy of Religion (3)
Prerequisite: Six units in philosophy.
Philosophical examination of issues raised by the religious impulse in man.
536. Philosophy of Mind (3)
Prerequisite: Three upper division units in philosophy.
Analysis of the concept of mind, intention, behavior, etc. Developments generated by works of such philosophers as Wittgenstein, Wisdom, and Ryle.
537. Philosophy of Science (3)
Prerequisite: Six units in philosophy.
The basic concepts and methods underlying contemporary scientific thought. Contributions of the special sciences to a view of the universe as a whole.
541. History of Aesthetics (3)
Prerequisite: Philosophy 101, 102 or 103.
Major documents in the history of aesthetics.
542. Philosophy of Art (3)
Prerequisite: Six units in philosophy.
The nature of aesthetic experience. Principal contemporary theories of art in relation to actual artistic production and to the function of art in society.
543. Philosophy and Literary Theory (3)
Prerequisites: Three upper division units in philosophy and three
upper division units in literature.
Relations between philosophy and literary discourse. Strategies of interpretation offered by major contemporary thinkers.
575. A Major Philosopher (3)
Prerequisite: Six upper division units in philosophy.
The writings of one major philosopher. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units applicable to the major. Maximum credit six units applicable to a master's degree.
596. Selected Topics (3)
Prerequisite: Six upper division units in philosophy.
A critical analysis of a major problem or movement in philosophy. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Limit of nine units of any combination of 296, 496, 596 courses applicable to a bachelor's degree. Maximum credit of six units of 596 applicable to the major in philosophy. Maximum combined credit of six units of 596 and 696 applicable to a 30-unit master's degree.
599. Special Study (1-3)
Prerequisite: Upper division or graduate standing and consent of
instructor.
Directed individual study in philosophy on a theme or topic chosen in consultation with the instructor. Maximum credit six units. Maximum combined credit six units of Philosophy 599 and 798 applicable to the M.A. degree in Philosophy.
Physical Education
Refer to "Exercise and Nutritional Sciences" in this section of the catalog.
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