2007-08 - Pitzer College

202 PHILOSOPHY
free of the confused notions that have become attached to it over the years. Prerequisites:
A college-level course in at least one of the following three areas: psychology, philosophy,
or biology, or permission of the instructor. D. Moore/B. Keeley. [not offered 2007-08]
147. Stem Cells and Human Cloning: Biology, Ethics, and Politics. The promise of stem
cells for human medicine is ensnared by the threat of human cloning. This course will
cover the biology of stem cells and cloning, the ethical dilemmas currently envisioned,
and the current and future political and legal approaches that could govern use of this
technology. Fall, N. Davis (Pomona) & L. Hoopes (Pomona).
160. Freedom, Markets and Well-Being. Our society embraces commitments both to
safeguarding basic liberties and to facilitating the pursuit of happiness. In this course, we
take up a range of views concerning the appropriate role of the market in such a society.
We then focus upon the challenges involved in bringing these arguments to bear on
issues of public policy. Prerequisites: one course in each of philosophy, politics and
microeconomics. E. Brown/M. Green (Pomona) [not offered 2007-08]
185A. Topics in Metaphysics. Conceivability, possibility, necessity and related notions have
played a role in the history of philosophy from Anselm's 11th c. ontological argument to Kurt
Goedel's 20th c. one., and from Descarte's 17th c. argument for mind-body dualism to Saul
Kripke's 20th c. one. The coherence of modal notions has been criticized by Quine, Goodman,
White, and Harman, defended by Scott, Kripke, Lewis, Marcus, and Plantinga, and developed
by Soames, Fine, Bealer, and Sidelle. This seminar will review the elements of formal modal
logic and assess the role of modal notions in metaphysical arguments. Fall, J. Atlas (Pomona).
185E. Self, Language and Imagination. Seminar on some recent reflections on continental
themes, generated by such thinkers as Rorty and Taylor. Emphasis will be on the role of
language and imagination in political and existential discourses. Primarily discussion.
S. Erickson (Pomona). [not offered 2007-08]
185L. Topics in Epistemology, Metaphysics and the Philosophy of Mind. An
examination of various issues in contemporary epistemology, metaphysics, and the
philosophy of mind, such as the following: the nature of consciousness, mental causation,
the relationship between the mental and the physical, the nature of epistemic justification,
and the status of testimony as a source of knowledge. P. Kung (Pomona). [not offered 2007-08]
185M. Topics in Mind and Language. A philosophical introduction to topics in
philosophy of language and philosophy of mind, which include: how words refer to
things, what is it for a word/phrase/sentence to be meaningful, what role truth plays in
understanding language, what role inference plays in understanding language, how
sentences or thought depends on the mind vs. the world, what a mental representation is
and how it compares with a sentence, the nature of consciousness and the first-person
point of view, how to understand emotion vs. thought, philosophical consequences for
our theory of mind from computer science and neuroscience. Topics vary from year to
year. Prerequisite: One of 30, 42, 60, 80, PZ 103. May be repeated for credit. Fall, J. Atlas (Pomona).
185N. Topics in Neurophilosophy. A selected examination of issues at the intersection of
contemporary philosophy and neuroscience. Topics may include: the philosophical and
theoretical bases of Social (Cognitive) Neuroscience, the neurobiology of belief
PHILOSOPHY
attribution, the metaphysical relationship between mind and brain and the nature of the
sensory modalities. Topics will be addressed from an interdisciplinary perspective,
including not only philosophy and neuroscience, but also psychology, cognitive science
and others. B. Keeley, D. Scott-Kakures. [not offered 2007-08]
185P. Topics in Value Theory. Contemporary treatments of some of the dominant topics
in value theory. Egoism, ethical relativism, realism, objectivity, the fact/value distinction and
weakness of will. Prerequisite: Phil 31 or 32, or permission of instructor. Fall, N. Birondo (Pomona).
185Q. Topics in Science and Values. This course will examine a family of issues (1)
mental/psycho-social health, (2) environmental and public health; (3) legal, regulatory
and educational issues related to scientific research and science teaching; or (4)
reproductive ethics. The focus will vary from year to year. Spring, N. Davis (Pomona).
185R. Topics in Philosophy of Science. The class will examine some central themes in
the philosophy of science; topics might include the nature of scientific theories and
models, confirmation of hypotheses, scientific realism, and reductionism. Spring, L. Perini (Pomona).
186E. Heidegger and the Tradition. A selective examination of Heidegger's
understanding of poetry, tradition, and truth. Comparisons with Hegel, Nietzsche,
Wittgenstein, and Derrida. Discussion. Spring, S. Erickson (Pomona).
186H. Topics in History of Modern. An examination of issues central to 17th-19th
century philosophy. Topics might include the debate between rationalism and
empiricism, the limits of reason, the nature of substance and mind, and the nature of
human experience. Reading to be drawn from authors from Descartes to Nietzsche. Letter
grade only. Prerequisite: Philosophy 42. P. Thielke. (Pomona). [not offered 2007-08]
186K. Kant. A detailed examination of the works of Immanuel Kant, focusing on issues
that arise from Kant's transcendental idealism. Topics may include Kant's account of
cognition, the nature and limits of human knowledge, the force of the moral law, and the
warrant of aesthetic judgments. Prerequisite: Philosophy 42. Fall, P. Thielke (Pomona).
187A, B. Tutorial in Philosophy. Selected topics, determined jointly by the student and the
tutor, conducted through frequent student papers evaluated in Oxford-style tutorial
sessions. Prerequisite: written permission of instructor. 187A, full course. 187B, half
course. May be repeated. By arrangement. J. Atlas (Pomona).
191. Senior Thesis. Students work individually with faculty to identify an area of interest
and define a topic to investigate. The research project results in a thesis to be submitted
in writing to the Philosophy Department. Fall, Staff (Pomona).
198. Summer Research Projects. Summer reading and research on a topic agreed to by
the student and the instructor. Normally such study involves a set of short papers and/or
culminates in a research paper of substantial length. Full or half-course. Staff.
199. Independent Study. Independent reading and research on a topic agreed to by the
student and the instructor. Normally such study involves a set of short papers and/or
culminates in a research paper of substantial length. Full or half-course. Staff
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