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Philosophy


Faculty

*Year of initial appointment at Binghamton

Allen, Jeffner, Professor of Philosophy and Women's Studies, PhD, 1973, Duquesne University: Feminist theory, post-colonial studies, continental philosophy, Husserl. (1987)*

Aronson, Jerrold L., Professor, PhD, 1967, University of Wisconsin: Philosophy of science, metaphysics, semantic analysis, reasoning, philosophy of physics, cognitive science. (1969)

Arthur, John, Professor and Director of the Program in Philosophy, Politics, and Law, PhD, 1973, Vanderbilt University: Philosophy of law, political philosophy. (1988)

Bar On, Bat-Ami, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Women's Studies, PhD, 1981, Ohio State University: Ethics, social and political philosophy, violence, feminist philosophy. (1991)

Dietrich, Eric, Associate Professor, PhD, 1985, University of Arizona: Cognitive science and artificiaI intelligence, models of analogy and creativity, art, neural networks, philosophy of mind. (1988)

Dillon, Martin C., Distinguished Teaching Professor, PhD, 1970, Yale University: Continental philosophy, philosophical psychology, philosophy and literature, history of philosophy. (1968)

Goldstein, Leon J., Professor, PhD, 1954, Yale University: Philosophy of history and social science, epistemology, Hegel. (1963)

Harré, Rom, Adjunct Professor, MA, 1960, Oxford University: Philosophy of social science, philosophy of science. (1975)

Kaminsky, Jack, Professor Emeritus, PhD, 1950, New York University: Semantic analysis, philosophy of logic, ontology. (1953)

Morewedge, Parviz, Senior Research Fellow, PhD, 1969, University of California at Los Angeles: Medieval, Islamic philosophy and mysticism. (1993)

Nzegwu, Nkiru, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Art History, Africana Studies, and Women's Studies, PhD, 1988, University of Ottawa: Aesthetics, African philosophy, African feminist issues, multicultural studies in art. (1990)

Pensky, Max, Assistant Professor, PhD, 1989, Boston College: Contemporary continental philosophy, social and political philosophy, critical theory, philosophy of history. (1990)

Pizante, William A., Assistant Professor Emeritus, PhD, 1961, Johns Hopkins University: Ethics, metaphysics. (1963)

Preus, Anthony, Professor and Department Chair, PhD, 1968, Johns Hopkins University: Ancient Greek philosophy, medical ethics. (1964)

Roberts, Lawrence D., Professor, PhD, 1969, Indiana University: Philosophy of language, cognitive science, medieval philosophy. (1972)

Ross, Stephen D., Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Literature and Director of Graduate Studies, PIC, PhD, 1961, Columbia University: Metaphysics, philosophy of art, political philosophy, contemporary continental philosophy, history of philosophy, American philosophy. (1967)

Sharakiya, Abisi M., Assistant Professor, D. Phil., 1989, University of Oxford: Ethics, political philosophy, philosophy of law. (1990)

Sinisi, Vito F., Professor, PhD, 1959, University of California at Berkeley: Mathematical logic. (1966)

Thomas, Sid B., Jr., Associate Professor, PhD, 1960, University of Wisconsin: Ethics, symbolism and myth, metaphysics, psychohistory. (1964)

Urbach, Thomas P., Assistant Professor, PhD, 1990, Johns Hopkins University: Philosophy of language, philosophy of psychology, cognitive science, psycholinguistics. (1995)

Way, Eileen C., Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, PACCS, PhD, 1988, State University of New York at Binghamton: Artificial intelligence, cognitive science, computer science, metaphor, philosophy of mind. (1987)

Weiss, Donald D., Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, PhD, 1971, Princeton University: Hegel, Marx, political philosophy, esoteric philosophy. (1969)

Wilcox, John T., Professor, PhD, 1960, Yale University: Ethical theory, history of ethics, medical ethics, Nietzsche, Book of Job. (1967)

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Undergraduate
Programs

Philosophy lies at the core of the liberal arts education. It gives students an understanding of the arts and sciences and conceptual tools for analyzing particular areas of human knowledge. It asks difficult and disturbing questions about humanity and the world. Courses confront a range of issues of philosophical import: human nature, freedom, knowledge, science, truth, existence, moral and aesthetic values, law, logic, reason, society.
In addition to the intrinsic satisfaction that can be found in the study of philosophy, a major in philosophy provides training in the analysis of concepts and the clarification of ideas. It can be useful not only for students who plan to continue in philosophy, but also for those thinking of careers in law, business, or industry, which require logical and analytic skills.
Students interested in preparation for graduate school in philosophy should discuss this with their advisors. A senior (or honors) thesis and skill in a foreign language are desirable preparations for graduate study in philosophy.

Philosophy Major

The department offers several distinct plans for the philosophy major, described below. Students must earn a grade of C or above in courses fulfilling the major requirements. Courses fulfilling major requirements may not be taken pass/fail. Although courses toward the major are accepted in transfer from other institutions, it is normally expected that at least one of the required upper-level courses and at least half of all required courses be taken in this department.

Single Major

A. General Philosophy
Requirements: Nine courses in philosophy, including PHIL121 or 122, 201, 202, and at least three 300- or 400- level courses. A senior thesis is recommended, but not required, and may be substituted for one of the 300- or 400- level courses. PHIL 497, Independent Study, may also be substituted for one of the 300- or 400- level courses. PHIL 491, Practicum in College Teaching, may not be substituted.
B. Specialization in Computers and Cognitive Science
This undergraduate major trains students in the skills and techniques of philosophy and complements the philosophical study of mind with one or more of the other aspects of cognitive science. A five-course program is determined by the student in conjunction with his or her advisor. The course program usually includes courses from computer science, artificial intelligence, psychology, or linguistics. The required courses include: PHIL 121, Methods of Reasoning; PHIL 122, Elementary Logic; PHIL 155, Minds and Machines; PHIL 201, Plato and Aristotle; PHIL 202, Descartes, Hume and Kant; PHIL 433, Epistemology; or PHIL 480D, Foundations of Artificial Intelligence; one advanced philosophy course and five courses in a unified program generally outside of philosophy as approved by the philosophy and computers and cognitive science (PACCS) advisor.
C. Specialization in Philosophy, Interpretation, and Culture (PIC)
This undergraduate major program emphasizes the history of philosophy and recent developments in the theory of interpretation and culture. Single major: nine philosophy courses including: PHIL 201, Plato and Aristotle; PHIL 202, Descartes, Hume, and Kant; and four 300- or 400- level PIC related courses. (See undergraduate director to determine which courses qualify.)
A senior thesis is recommended, but not required, and may be substituted for the additional 300- or 400- level philosophy course. PHIL 497, Independent Study, may also be substituted for this course. PHIL 491, Practicum in College Teaching, may not be substituted.

Double Major

For students who complete the degree requirements for two majors (philosophy and one other), the philosophy requirements are reduced to seven courses in philosophy, according to either of the two formats listed below. Philosophy majors double-majoring in philosophy, politics, and law are expected to take at least one upper-level philosophy course not among those required by the philosophy, politics, and law major. PHIL 491, Practicum in College Teaching, will not count toward the upper-level course requirement.
A. General Philosophy Double Major
Seven courses in philosophy, including PHIL 121 or 122, 201, 202, and at least two 300- or 400- level courses.
B. Philosophy, Interpretation, and Culture Double Major
Seven philosophy courses, including PHIL 201, 202, and three 300- or 400- level PIC related courses. (See undergraduate director to determine which courses qualify.)

Honors Program

The honors program in philosophy involves eight credits of coursework consisting of two components in sequence: an honors course (PHIL 398) and the honors thesis (PHIL 498-499). The program is administered by a three-member faculty honors committee appointed by the chair of philosophy.
1. Honors Seminar. Entry into the honors program consists in acceptance into PHIL 398. This course may be taken either (1) as a designated "Honors Seminar," or (2) conjointly with an upper-level (300-400) philosophy course. In either case permission of the instructor is required. Students may apply for entry into PHIL 398 if they have completed (a) 60 college credits and (b) at least three four-credit courses in philosophy, at least one of which must be PHIL 201 or 202.
Upon completion of PHIL 398, the instructor will give (a) the student a grade for the course and (b) the committee a written report which will help to determine whether the student should be admitted to the writing of the honors thesis. In making this determination, the committee will evaluate the student's entire academic record.
2. Honors Thesis. Of the students who have completed PHIL 398, the committee will decide which will be invited to continue to PHIL 498-499, honors thesis. By the time of entry into the thesis, the student must have completed at least five philosophy courses, at least one of which must be an upper-level (300-400) course other than PHIL 398.
If admitted to thesis writing, the student may choose any member of the philosophy faculty as thesis mentor. Normally, 498-499 will consist of a two-semester sequence of two credits each, taken during the senior year: one semester for research and preparation, the other for writing. But in some cases (e.g. students who take the honors seminar in their seventh semester), 498-499 may be concurrently completed for four credits in a single semester.
Upon completion of the thesis, the thesis mentor will give the student a grade for PHIL 498-499. The thesis mentor and the honors committee will together determine whether the student should receive an honors designation; and, if so, whether it should be honors, high honors, or highest honors. In making this determination, they will evaluate not only the thesis, but the student's entire academic record.
To receive any honors designation, a student must, at the time of graduation, and in addition to all the above, have completed a nine-course philosophy major (i.e., whether or not the student is a "double major").

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Course Offerings/
Undergraduate


NOTE: Unless otherwise noted, all undergraduate courses carry 4 credits and are offered every year.

Note on the numbering of philosophy courses: All courses in philosophy numbered 101 through 199 are introductory courses and have no prerequisites. They are suitable for freshmen and nonmajors, and are about the same in degree of difficulty (i.e., PHIL 160 is no more difficult than PHIL 101); 300 level courses do have prerequisites and should be considered advanced courses although they are frequently of interest to and suitable for nonmajors.

PHIL 101. INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
Examination of some basic concepts, problems, and major works associated with topics such as nature of knowledge, reality, science, matter, mind, life, values.

PHIL 107. INTRODUCTION TO EXISTENTIALISM AND PHENOMENOLOGY
Existentialism and phenomenology, in context of modern French and German thought, through examination of such authors as Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Husserl, Buber, Jaspers, Tillich, Heidegger, Marcel, Sartre, Merleau-Ponty, Camus, Ricoeur.

PHIL 111. PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION
Introduction to some central issues and major works in philosophy of religion; topics such as God, sin, faith, love, religious truth.

PHIL 115. PHILOSOPHY AND LITERATURE
Critical exegesis of literary works of philosophical significance. Examination of literature as vehicle for philosophical ideas.

PHIL 116. EXISTENTIALISM AND LITERATURE
Exploration of main themes of existential thought through literary works of such writers as de Sade, Dostoevsky, Unamuno, Rilke, Kafka, Brecht, Beckett, Sartre, de Beauvoir, Camus, Genet. Themes treated include freedom and sexuality, authenticity and self-deception, solitude and death, meaning and brutality.

PHIL 121. METHODS OF REASONING
The logic of critical thinking as it is employed in science and other related areas such as law and public policy. Topics include informal fallacies, deductive and inductive inferences, models, nature of evidence and analogical reasoning.

PHIL 122. ELEMENTARY LOGIC
Introduction to symbolic logic with consideration given to various areas of traditional logic.

PHIL 135. PHILOSOPHY AND PUBLIC POLICY
Philosophical analysis of current issues in public policy; e.g. women's rights, abortion, racial and sexual discrimination and reverse discrimination, preferential hiring, pornography and censorship, economic injustice, environmental and population control, euthanasia.

PHIL 140. INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS
Introduction to some fundamental concepts, issues, and major works in ethics and morality. Topics such as good and evil, moral principles, justice, pleasure, self-interest, self-fulfillment.

PHIL 142. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
Introduction to some central philosophic issues and major works involved in understanding society and politics. Topics such as social order, social and political values, economic and social institutions, justice, equality.

PHIL 146. LAW AND JUSTICE
Philosophical problems concerning nature of justice in general, and justice within the state. Leading classical and contemporary theories considered. Philosophical positions applied to specific legal problems, e.g., affirmative action programs, welfare rights, civil liberties, and privacy.

PHIL 147. LAW, ETHICS, AND BUSINESS
Critical introduction to major ethical theories and their implications for moral and legal issues of economic organizations and business practices, e.g., affirmative action, employee rights, corporate responsibility.

PHIL 148. MEDICAL ETHICS
Philosophical exploration of moral commitments and conflicts arising in medical policy, professional relationships in health care system, and as consequence of advanced medical technologies. Analysis of concepts of health and disease, problems surrounding life and death decisions, defenses of professional and client rights, allocation of resources.

PHIL 155. MINDS AND MACHINES
Traditional approaches to mind-body problem examined in light of recent developments in neurophysiology, psychology, computer technology. Exploration of feasibility and limitations of using cybernetic models to elucidate the nature of mental phenomena such as pain, emotions, thinking, consciousness.

PHIL 180. TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY
Evaluation of philosophical problem or issue of contemporary significance. Topic varies from year to year at discretion of instructor, and is announced in advance.

PHIL 200. INTERMEDIATE LOGIC
Development of predicate calculus. Introduction to metatheory of propositional and predicate calculi; completeness, consistency, and decidability. Axiomatics. Prerequiste: PHIL 122 or consent of instructor.

PHIL 201. PLATO AND ARISTOTLE
Introduction to ancient Greek philosophy, emphasizing works of Plato and Aristotle.

PHIL 202. DESCARTES, HUME, AND KANT
Introduction to modern philosophy, emphasizing works of Descartes, Hume, and Kant.

PHIL 205. AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY
Extensive readings in writings of Peirce, James, and Dewey, and at option of instructor, Mead or Lewis, illustrative of pragmatist treatment of philosophical problems, particularly in epistemology and value theory.

PHIL 213. AESTHETICS
Introduction to central issues and major works in philosophy of art; topics such as aesthetic value, nature of art, interpretation, imagination, creativity, style, artistic truth.

PHIL 242. CLASSICS IN POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
Focus on writings of small number of political philosophers, to explore the interplay of individual and the political sphere, action and value, human nature and communal purpose.

PHIL 245. PHILOSOPHY OF LAW
Philosophical problems emerging from law, such as natural law and its alternatives, punishment responsibility, tort, and contract.

PHIL 280. PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTIONS
Evaluation of philosophical problem or issue of contemporary significance. Topic varies from year to year at discretion of instructor and is announced in advance.

PHIL 300. MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
Problems in theory of logic and its applications. Prerequisite: PHIL 200.

PHIL 312. LOVE AND SEXUALITY
Examination of issues related to love and sexuality. Readings from antiquity to present. Questions considered include the relation of love and sexuality; permanence; romantic love; relation between love and moral values.

PHIL 317. TOPICS IN FEMINIST PHILOSOPHY
Issues in feminist ethics: aesthetics, epistemology, philosophy of language, social philosophy, and philosophy of science are studied in the work of contemporary feminist philosophers.

PHIL 332. MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY
Introduction to philosophy of major medieval thinkers such as St. Augustine, St. Anselm, St. Thomas Acquinas, Duns Scotus, and William Ockham; topics include God, freedom, immortality, universals, nominalism, essence, existence.

PHIL 365. ESOTERIC PHILOSOPHY
The nature and validity of allegedly "mystical" and "magical" modes of experience that defy common sense and conventional science: cabala; "psychic" phenomena, the "demonic," philosophical "holism," etc. Prerequisite: one course in philosophy.

PHIL 380. PHILOSOPHICAL STUDIES
Examination of philosophic aspects of a given area of subject matter: love, alienation, literature, myth, mysticism. Topic announced in advance. Prerequisites: determined by instructor, announced in advance.

PHIL 398. HONORS SEMINAR
Selected topics in philosophy for students who qualify for honors candidacy. Entry by permission of instructor only.

PHIL 401. PLATO
Philosophical analysis of the dialogues; some notice taken of philosophy of Socrates and of others of Plato's sources; examination of Plato's influence on subsequent thinkers, such as Aristotle, and his place in the history of philosophy. Prerequisite: PHIL 201 or equivalent.

PHIL 402. ARISTOTLE
Philosophical analysis of several works in the corpus; some examination of Aristotle's criticisms of and debts to his predecessors; his influence on subsequent thinkers and place in the history of philosophy. Prerequisite: PHIL 201 or equivalent.

PHIL 403. TOPICS IN ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY
Major period or movement in history of ancient philosophy; pre-Socratic philosophy, Plato and the Academy, Socrates and the Socratic schools, Aristotle and the Lyceum, Stoics and Epicureans, Roman philosophy, Neoplatonism and Plotinus, early Christian philosophers, skepticism, philosophical foundations of ancient science. Relationship between development of philosophy in period and historical context, including political, social, religious, and scientific developments. Topic announced in advance. Prerequisite: PHIL 201 or equivalent.

PHIL 404. TOPICS IN 17TH AND 18TH CENTURY PHILOSOPHY
Detailed examination of topics in British, French, German, or Low Countries 17th century philosophy; or British, French, or German 18th century philosophy. Major philosophers in pertinent field, balanced by examination of minor personalities and schools. Connection between development of philosophical positions, political, social, and religious conditions, and development of science. Topic announced in advance. Prerequisites: PHIL 201, 202.

PHIL 405. KANT
A philosophical understanding of Kantian critical philosophy via a careful analysis of his major work, the Critique of Pure Reason. Prerequisites: two courses in philosophy.

PHIL 406. HEGEL
An intensive study of some of Hegel's writings, with special attention to the nature of Hegelian dialectic and philosophical method. Prerequisites: two courses in philosophy.

PHIL 408. 19TH CENTURY PHILOSOPHY
Issues in 19th-century philosophy, after Kant through Nietzsche. Such authors as Fichte, Schelling, Schleiermacher, Hegel, Mill. Prerequisites: two courses in philosophy.

PHIL 409. NIETZSCHE
Introduction to major themes in the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche. Prerequisites: two courses in philosophy.

PHIL 411. WITTGENSTEIN
Examination of early and late writings of Wittgenstein. Prerequisites: two courses in philosophy.

PHIL 413. HEIDEGGER
Detailed study of the thought of Martin Heidegger. Prerequisites: two courses in philosophy.

PHIL 415. RAWLS
Study of John Rawls' works (both A Theory of Justice and Political Liberalism), which attempts to use a social contract argument to support a liberal, democratic, semi egalitarian conception of justice. Prerequisites: two courses in philosophy.

PHIL 416. MERLEAU-PONTY
Detailed study of the thought of Merleau-Ponty. Prerequisites: PHIL 107 or 202 and one other philosophy course.

PHIL 423. PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
Analytic treatment of concepts central to scientific inquiry: law, cause, verification, explanation, probability. Competing interpretations by selected scientists and philosophers. Prerequisites: PHIL 122 and either one course in philosophy or a major in the Division of Science and Mathematics.

PHIL 427. TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE
Detailed examination of topics in philosophy of language and symbolism; meaning, reference, truth, interpretation, etc. Prerequisites: two courses in philosophy.

PHIL 431. METAPHYSICS
Detailed examination of some central issues in metaphysics: nature of being, reality, experience, order of universe, universals and particulars, mind and body. Prerequisites: two courses in philosophy.

PHIL 433. EPISTEMOLOGY
Critical examination of knowledge as such. Basic questions, including problems of meaning and truth; perceptual and linguistic considerations. Prerequisites: two courses in philosophy.

PHIL 435. TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Emotion, will, motive, imagination, learning, perceiving, dreaming, in light of current philosophical analyses of these concepts and current psychological research and theorizing. Topic announced in advance. Prerequisites: At least two of the following: PHIL 155, 202, 255, 423, 433; or permission of instructor.

PHIL 443. PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY
Selected problems of historical knowledge: evidence and events in history, objectivity of historical judgment, causation and explanation in history. Prerequisites: two courses in philosophy or specialization in history.

PHIL 444. PHILOSOPHY OF SOCIAL SCIENCE
Problems of concept and theory formation in social science; nature of social reality, logic of explanation in social science, and conditions of objectivity and validity of social knowledge. Open to juniors and seniors who either are majoring in a social science or have taken two courses in
philosophy.

PHIL 446. MARXISM
Meaning and validity of basic Marxist concepts: economic interpretation of history, "dialectic," Marxist account of exploitation, critique of "bourgeois social science," etc., in writings of Marx, Engels, their predecessors and followers. Prerequisites: two courses in philosophy.

PHIL 451. CONTINENTAL PHILOSOPHY
Post-Kantian movements such as idealism, phenomenology, existentialism, postmodernism. Prerequisites: PHIL 107 or 212 and one other course in philosophy.

PHIL 455. ADVANCED PHILOSOPHY OF LAW
Critical study of legal concepts and philosophical problems arising within the law; criminal responsibility, nature of punishment, nature of law. Prerequisite: PHIL 245.

PHIL 456. PROBLEMS IN PHILOSOPHY OF LAW
Philosophical problems in the law of privacy, property law, criminal law, tort law, constitutional law. Prerequisites: Phil 146 or 147.

PHIL 460. A MAJOR PHILOSOPHER
Intensive investigation of work of one major philosopher. Prerequisites: two courses in philosophy.

PHIL 480. ADVANCED TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY/1-4 credits
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics for advanced students. Prerequisites: two courses in philosophy.

PHIL 486. TOPICS IN ETHICS
Advanced issues concerning the meaning, basis, and validity of moral principles. Prerequisites: two courses in philosophy.

PHIL 488. TOPICS IN SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
Advanced issues in the study of social systems: competing models of social evolution, the justification of political authority, comparative theories of economic organization, etc. Prerequisites: two courses in philosophy.

PHIL 489. TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY OF ART
Advanced issues in the philosophy of art: the nature of "beauty" and "the sublime," the nature and justification of aesthetic judgment, the nature of creativity, the philosophy of western and non-Western art, etc. Prerequisites: two courses in philosophy.

PHIL 491. PRACTICUM IN COLLEGE TEACHING
Independent study by means of teaching in particular course in philosophy. Various assignments closely directed by instructor in that course, including development of syllabi and other course materials; construction and reading of examinations; lecturing and/or discussion leadership; academic counseling of students. May be repeated for total of no more than eight credits. Credit may not be earned in conjunction with course in which student is concurrently enrolled. Does not satisfy major or all-college requirements. Prerequisites: consent of instructor and department chair.

PHIL 496. SENIOR THESIS

PHIL 497. INDEPENDENT STUDY /2-4 credits
Independent study under direct supervision of faculty member. Prior to registration, student must consult proposed supervisor to receive approval of project and course credit. Prerequisites: consent of department and junior standing.

PHIL 498. SENIOR HONORS /2 credits

PHIL 499. SENIOR HONORS /2 credits
May be taken concurrently with PHIL 498.

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Graduate Programs

The Department of Philosophy is a pluralistic and diverse department, offering graduate specializations in philosophy and computers and cognitive science (PACCS); philosophy, interpretation, and culture (PIC).

Admission

Qualified students with a bachelor's degree or equivalent are eligible for admission to the graduate program in philosophy. Applicants for admission must submit scores of the verbal, quantitative, and analytic aptitude Graduate Record Examinations. An undergraduate specialization in philosophy is desirable but not essential for admission; a broad background in the humanities and sciences, as well as philosophy, is considered a desirable preparation. Applicants should specify the program to which they are applying. Applications to the PIC specialization must be submitted by February 15.
Students who lack sufficient preparation for graduate study in philosophy may be required to complete work beyond the minimum required for the master of arts degree.

Specialization in Philosophy, Interpretation,
and Culture (PIC)-MA/PhD

PURPOSE

The department's studies in philosophy, interpretation, and culture address the ways in which cultural forms of knowledge and expression shape and are shaped by human practices and experience. Of particular importance are recent developments in continental philosophy, feminist philosophy, pragmatism, cultural critique, and multicultural studies, including social, political, and legal issues.
Within philosophy, the focus of these studies is first upon the nature of philosophy itself, its history and self-understanding, then, second, upon how philosophy has understood itself to be related to other forms of knowledge. Within such forms of knowledge, these studies raise issues of interpretation pertaining to language, history, and society.
A major emphasis of the specialization is upon history and tradition, a concern with how they are to be thought and how they contribute to thought. The histories of philosophy along with other histories in Western and non-Western traditions-of art and literature, political and social theory, philosophy of history and social science, and theories of gender, ethnicity, culture, and class-form the center of the discussions.
The PIC specialization also aims to contribute philosophically to discussions of importance within other disciplines and to develop ways in which other disciplines may contribute to philosophic discussions. However, the ambitions of the program are even greater: to foster discussions not confined by disciplinary boundaries concerning the nature of intelligibility, legitimacy, and the canons that define a discipline, and to ask about the nature of disciplinariness.
Among the tenets of many of the developments important to the PIC specialization is the claim that the Western philosophic tradition has come to an end. While some forms of this question appear throughout modernity, recent postmodern discussions taking up this question claim that a more radical transformation of thinking is demanded by any possible answer. The PIC specialization takes such claims seriously, confronting a number of important questions.
To what extent can such a question be regarded as intelligible and important? To what extent can the Western tradition be regarded as unitary? To what extent can any of that tradition's major forms be said to have reached fruition or exhaustion? To what extent do "metaphysical" discourses retain their legitimacy? What sense can be made of the claim that philosophy is to be replaced by science or, conversely, that the authority of science is the natural culmination of the Western metaphysical tradition?
How do concerns with gender and race, colonialism and culture, bear upon our relation to the Western canon and the need to supplement or discard it? How do issues of oppression and injustice bear upon challenges to Western rationality from within and without? In what ways does feminist theory intersect with the history of Western philosophy or with postmodern and postcolonial studies? What radical challenges have emerged from feminism, Western and Third World, to much of contemporary philosophy, social theory, and literary theory? What kinds of responses are emerging from writings on Third World aesthetics, colonization and decolonization, hybridity and cultural survival, to the claim that Western philosophy is Eurocentric?
To what extent can a discourse that recognizes its own historicality speak of its future, especially if that future promises major changes and variations? To what extent can universality and objectivity be sustained in a strongly historicistic context? What are the implications of these concerns for our understanding of language and representation, including our understanding of the natural sciences?
To what extent is every voice, every form of reason, entangled with desire and power? To what extent can a discourse or discipline claim legitimacy if every human voice is both subject to desire and an object of desire-that is, defines a site where human ends are implemented? To what extent can a discourse or discipline claim legitimacy if every human voice is both manipulated by power and a site where power is exercised?
How can any theory, scientific or otherwise, understand its own linguisticality, including linguistics itself? To what extent can a discourse that attempts to efface itself, so as to repudiate its own arbitrariness, be regarded as legitimate? To what extent can rhetorical forms that manifest such effacement overcome the reluctance of more traditional discursive forms to question their own historical and cultural determinants?
These questions are approached from a variety of disciplinary and critical perspectives. A recurrent concern is with the political, ethical, and legal dimensions of such questions. Areas of emphasis include traditional Western and non-traditional writings in ethics, political philosophy, and philosophy of law.

Interdisciplinary Resources

The faculty at the University in both the Department of Philosophy and many other departments and schools, are strong in literary theory and criticism, in 19th-century philosophy and criticism, in classical American philosophy, in linguistics and philosophy of language, in art history theory and methodology, in translation theory and practice, in cultural studies and criticism, in continental philosophy, in many other periods and areas of Western philosophy-classical and modern-and in contemporary philosophy, Western and non-Western. Students and faculty working in other programs across the University actively contribute to the intellectual community within which PIC works.
Closely related to PIC is the interdisciplinary program in philosophy, literature, and the theory of criticism (PLC). It is an established interdepartmental research and doctoral program devoted to the issues involved in discourse and interpretation, focusing on how they influence our understanding of literature and literary criticism.
The faculty in the translation research and instruction program and the Center for Research in Translation also engage in theoretical and research activities directly relevant to the issues in the PIC specialization.

MA PROGRAM in History and Major Subfields of Philosophy (HMSP)

Among the department's MA specializations are its studies in the history and major subfields of philosophy (HMSP). This program emphasizes the history of Western philosophy, its primary figures, and major subfields in relation to contemporary Western and non-Western discussions in interpretation and culture. It is designed as preparation for advanced work in the PIC PhD specialization. However, it is also open to students seeking a terminal MA degree or planning to continue in other suitable fields of advanced specialization.

Admission

Qualified students holding a bachelor's degree are eligible for admission to the HMSP master of arts program in philosophy. An undergraduate specialization in philosophy is desirable but not essential for admission; a broad background in the humanities and sciences, as well as philosophy, is considered a desirable preparation. Students who lack sufficient preparation for graduate study in philosophy may be required to complete work beyond the minimum required for the master of arts degree.
Applicants are expected to submit a short essay including a detailed statement of purpose expressing their philosophical interests and background and their goals in relation to study in the PIC program. This essay should be submitted in place of the writing sample. It is a very important part of the admission process.
Applications must be submitted by February 15.

Requirements

The MA degree in philosophy, emphasizing the history of philosophy and its major subfields, may be earned by completing the following requirements:
a. A minimum of seven courses (28 credits) with a cumulative average of not less than B. Courses must be approved by the student's advisory committee. There are no specific course requirements. At least five of the seven courses submitted for the degree must be graduate philosophy courses, not including independent study.
b. Satisfactory performance on a comprehensive examination given after the student's third semester of full-time residence, typically during January of each year.
c. Demonstration of the ability to read philosophical works in a foreign language. Procedures for meeting this requirement are established by the PIC graduate committee.
d. Participation each semester in the proseminar on teaching and the profession.
e. Either:
Submission of a thesis deemed acceptable by a committee of the department as indicating the student's ability to do independent work (this includes registering for at least two credit hours of PHIL 599, Thesis) or:
Completion of a non-thesis option consisting of three graduate courses in addition to those described above. Of the courses offered under this option, at least seven must be graduate philosophy courses, not including independent study.

Duration of the Program

The normal duration of the MA program is four semesters, especially for students with assistantship duties. The normal pattern of course work is three courses per semester for the first two semesters and two or three courses in the third semester plus work on proficiency requirements; and, during the fourth semester, either full-time enrollment in PHIL 599 for students pursuing the thesis option, or two to three courses for students pursuing the non-thesis option. Students planning to go on to the PhD program normally take three courses each semester. Students are also expected to pass the MA comprehensive examination during the fourth semester.
The MA program can be completed in one calendar year, especially by students who have met the language proficiency requirements before entering the program and who have earned the equivalent of four to eight graduate credits before entering the program.
Students are encouraged to satisfy the language proficiency requirement before enrolling in the MA program.

PIC PhD Program

Admission

Students are admitted to the PIC specialization through the HMSP MA specialization. Before taking the MA comprehensive/PhD qualifying examination, students must apply to the PIC PhD specialization. Admission to the specialization is based on performance on the qualifying examination, in courses, and as a teaching assistant.
Students holding a relevant MA degree from another institution are required to pass the PhD qualifying examination. Such students are admitted on the basis of previous course work and other experience, and the purpose of the examination is diagnostic, to determine the length of time the student may be expected to take to complete the program. The PIC specialization committee reserves the right to impose special conditions that it considers appropriate, including remedial courses.
See the admission requirements listed under the HMSP MA program.

Requirements

The minimum number of credits required for the PhD degree is 56 (plus the appropriate number of dissertation credits required by the Graduate School). All courses accepted for credit toward the degree must be reviewed by the student's advisor. Depending on background and specialization, students may be required to complete additional courses beyond the minimum.
There are no specific course requirements for the HMSP MA specialization or for the PIC PhD specialization. There are two levels of examination.
All students who enter the specialization without an MA degree are required to take an MA comprehensive/PhD qualifying examination after three semesters of course work. That examination, along with course grades and faculty evaluations, is the basis for admission to the PhD program.
All students in the PIC specialization are required to pass a PhD comprehensive examination after completing all course and proficiency requirements and before admission to candidacy.

MA Comprehensive/PhD Qualifying Examination

This examination is composed of a four-hour written examination based on a standard reading list emphasizing the history of philosophy and a 90- minute oral examination emphasizing contemporary areas of the student's specialization. The examination is scheduled at the beginning of the spring semester each year.

PhD Comprehensive Examination

A four-part written and one-part oral examination must be taken before admission to candidacy. Two of the four parts are based on a PIC program reading list emphasizing the history of philosophy and relevant contemporary subfields of philosophy. The other two parts emphasize the student's particular area of specialization. All four parts are based on specialized lists prepared by the student in consultation with an advisory committee. Each written part is scheduled for three hours. The oral examination is scheduled for two hours.

Dissertation

Students are required to write a dissertation under the direction of a committee composed of at least three PIC faculty (outside faculty may be appointed where appropriate) and to present the dissertation at a public oral examination.

Other Requirements

Students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in three languages (other than English) relevant to their research areas, or two such languages plus logic.
Every student is expected to participate each semester in the proseminar on teaching and the profession.

Advising

Students admitted to the PIC specialization are supervised by the PIC specialization faculty. Upon enrolling, each student chooses an advisor or has one appointed. At the point where students begin to prepare for the MA comprehensive/PhD qualifying examination, a three-person faculty committee is appointed by the PIC committee, in consultation with the student, and takes on advisory responsibility for that student. The performance of each student is evaluated each spring by the PIC specialization committee.
After a student has passed the PhD qualifying examinations, a three-person advisory/dissertation committee is appointed in consultation with the supervisory committee and the student. Additional members of the committee may be appointed where desirable. Members of supervisory and advisory/dissertation committees may be appointed from other departments and schools, where appropriate.

PIC Specialization Committee

Two graduate students are members of the PIC graduate committee and meet with it on all matters except those that involve individual students. This committee is responsible for all decisions involving admissions, financial aid, examinations, student evaluations, and deviations from explicit policy.

Placement

Placement activities, under the supervision of the PIC committee, are planned each year in relation to American Philosophical Association meetings and placement schedules. Workshops and individualized advising on placement are held each fall in time for directed placement activities. At these sessions, student vitae, cover letters, and letters of recommendation are reviewed.

Specialization in Philosophy and Computers and Cognitive Science
(PACCS)-MA/PhD

With the cooperation and assistance of the Computer Science, Psychology, and Systems Science Departments, the Philosophy Department of Binghamton University offers an innovative, interdisciplinary MA/PhD program in philosophy. This program is designed to integrate the disciplines of philosophy, cognitive science, artificial intelligence, computer science, and systems science.

PURPOSE

The Program:
· examines the philosophical assumptions of artificial intelligence and cognitive science, and evaluates them from the perspective of logic and computability theory, philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, philosophy of psychology, and philosophy of language;
· explores recent, exciting developments in all of the above fields, with the aim of producing unified theories in cognitive science, and promoting interaction between these disciplines;
· trains students in modeling techniques, so that they may formulate vaguely-stated philosophical issues precisely enough to be programmed;
· trains students to use computer models and understand experimental practice in order to bring empirical considerations to bear on the evaluation of philosophical theories.

The PACCS specialization is designed to prepare students for:
· research and teaching that require broad interdisciplinary knowledge in philosophy, artificial intelligence and cognitive science;
· new directions in professional philosophy, viz., the use of programs (computer or information processing models) as an investigative tool for the analysis of traditional philosophical problems;
· career options that call for new skills required by today's high-tech industries.

MA PROGRAM

The MA degree may be earned by completing the following requirements.
A. A minimum of 32 credits (8 courses) with a cumulative average of not less than B.
B. Required courses generally offered on a two-year cycle:
1. Philosophy of Language (PHIL 502)
2. Philosophy of Science (PHIL 503)
3. Foundations of Artificial Intelligence (PHIL 511)
4. Programming for ArtificiaI Intelligence and Cognitive Science (PHIL 516)
5. Computability and Logic (PHIL 517)
6. Artificial Neural Networks (PHIL 561)
7. Philosophy of Psychology (PHIL 566)
8. Computational Theories of Mind (PHIL 568)
C. Satisfactory performance on an MA examination, given during the student's fourth semester of full-time residence, typically during February of each year. Performance on the examination and course work is the basis for admission to the PACCS PhD program.
D. A paper on the student's research results that is suitable for submission to a professional conference is required.
E. A presentation of this paper at a PACCS Colloquium.

INTERDEPARTMENTAL MINOR IN COGNITIVE SCIENCE

PACCS now offers a new graduate interdisciplinary minor in cognitive science with the Center for Cognitive and Psycholinguistic Sciences (CaPS).

PhD Program

The PhD in PACCS may be earned by fulfilling the following requirements:
A. Credit Hours: A minimum of 56 course credit hours plus the appropriate number of dissertation credits required by the Graduate School. For those with advanced degrees or courses, the amount of credit towards the PhD will be determined by the PACCS graduate committee.
1. Satisfactory completion of the PACCS MA requirements (or an approved equivalent): 32 credit hours and a proficiency exam.
2. Additional electives (to be selected with the advice of the student's guidance committee and the written approval of its chair).
The PACCS committee reserves the right to impose special conditions that it considers appropriate, including remedial courses.
B. Evaluation Committee: On acceptance into the PACCS PhD program, the student selects an evaluation committee that must be approved. The evaluation committee consists of three to five members, normally full-time PACCS faculty. However, the student may propose members from other schools of Binghamton University, faculty from other universities, or professionals from outside Binghamton University. This committee advises and evaluates the student's studies and research.
C. Learning Contract: In consultation with the evaluation committee, the student prepares a learning contract, in which a program of study is specified, including the major area of research, additional course requirements, teaching requirement, evaluation procedures, and the form of the comprehensive examination. Although the learning contract may be modified as the research interests of the student develop, to assure competence and depth in his or her major area and breadth in relevant disciplines, each modification must be approved by the evaluation committee and the student, and must be properly documented. Depending on background and specialization, students may be required to complete additional courses beyond the minimum.
D. The Comprehensive Examination: This exam is designed to test the student's professional knowledge in the discipline and demonstrates that the student is qualified to undertake advanced level dissertation work.
E. Proficiency in Teaching: In addition to the course work and research, the student is expected to demonstrate proficiency in teaching, according to University guidelines.
F. Colloquium and Prospectus: Each student must present a colloquium on his or her proposed doctoral research. Using the results of the colloquium, the student, in consultation with the evaluation committee, must submit a more detailed prospectus outlining the dissertation research.
G. Language Requirement: There is no formal language requirement.
H. Dissertation: The PhD candidate is expected to complete a dissertation that demonstrates originality and competence in his or her chosen areas of research.

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Course Offerings/
Graduate


PHIL 501. NEW FRENCH FEMINISMS
Theories of women's language, embodiment, and desire, studied in texts by such authors as Cixous, Kristeva, Irigaray, Wittig.

PHIL 502. PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE
Issues concerning language: meaning, reference, truth, representation, expression, structure, interpretation. Epistemology and ontology of language. Relation of language to other sign systems.

PHIL 503. PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
Logic of concept and theory formation in modern empirical science; deductive and inductive models, indeterminism, probability and induction, functional explanations, reductionism.

PHIL 504. PHILOSOPHY OF ART
Issues in theory of art and criticism: artistic value, meaning, creativity, perception, truth, morality, interpretation, genius, sublime.

PHIL 505. ETHICS
Concepts and issues in moral philosophy.

PHIL 506. INTERPRETATION AND HERMENEUTICS
Issues in theory of interpretation, including study of hermeneutics.

PHIL 507. EPISTEMOLOGY
Issues in theory of knowledge.

PHIL 508. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
Classical and contemporary views concerning society and politics.

PHIL 509. PHILOSOPHY OF SOCIAL SCIENCE
Conceptual and methodological issues in social sciences.

PHIL 510. TOPICS IN METAPHYSICS
Topics in metaphysical tradition and contemporary metaphysics. Such topics as being, reality, matter, causation, mind and body, experience, unity, realtion, determinateness, indeterminateness. Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 511. FOUNDATIONS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Examination of philosophic assumptions underlying artificial intelligence, with consideration of Turing machines, finite state automata, nonstandard logics, pattern recognition, and self-organizing systems.

PHIL 514. MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
Propositional calculus, first-order functional calculus with identity, consistency, completeness, decidability of two calculi.

PHIL 516. PROGRAMMING FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND COGNITIVE SCIENCE
An introductory course covering common programming languages and techniques used in the fields of artificial intelligence and cognitive science.

PHIL 517. COMPUTABILITY AND LOGIC
Enumerablity, computability via Turing machines, undecidability of first-order logic, the Skolem-Lowenheim theorem, Church's theorem, Gödel's first incompleteness theorem.

PHIL 520. PROBABILITY AND INDUCTION
Examination of problem of induction, application of theories of probability.

PHIL 521. POSSIBILITY, NECESSITY, AND COUNTERFACTUALS
Systems of modal logic applied to interpretation of counterfactual conditional claims and to possible world semantics.

PHIL 526. EPISTEMOLOGY AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Examination of knowledge representation, search and control, semantic nets, frames, learning, conjectural reasoning, non-monotonic reasoning in context of theory of knowledge.

PHIL 530. PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF OTHER DISCIPLINES
Philosophical foundations, implications of other disciplines.

PHIL 532. PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY
Selected problems of historical knowing: reference and verification, realism and skepticism, evidence and events, objectivity of historical judgments, causation and explanation in history, historical narratives.

PHIL 536. REPRESENTATION
Issues in theory of representation.

PHIL 540. TOPICS IN HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics and periods.

PHIL 543. TOPICS IN ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 544. TOPICS IN 17TH- AND 18TH-CENTURY PHILOSOPHY
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 545. TOPICS IN AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY
Special topics in American pragmatism, naturalism, and social philosophy. Topics announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics and periods.

PHIL 546. TOPICS IN 19TH-CENTURY PHILOSOPHY
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 550. A MAJOR PHILOSOPHER
Writings of a major philosopher, studied in depth. May be repeated for credit with different philosophers.

PHIL 560. PHILOSOPHY OF MIND
Traditional approaches, perennial problems, and recent developments in the philosophy of mind.

PHIL 561. ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS
The fundamentals of connectionist and artificial neural network architectures and their implications for philosophy of mind and cognition.

PHIL 562. KNOWLEDGE REPRESENTATION AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Various methodologies in artificial intelligence and their underlying assumptions concerning the nature of knowledge and reasoning.

PHIL 564. REFERENCE AND COMPUTING
Theories of reference and approaches to modeling them in theories of computer science.

PHIL 565. MODELING AND SIMULATION LABORATORY
Higher level software designs for models of various cognitive processes.

PHIL 566. PHILOSOPHY OF PSYCHOLOGY
Basic conceptual and methodological issues raised by recent psychological theories dealing with behavior of persons.

PHIL 567. PHENOMENOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Examination of writings and issues in phenomenological psychology.

PHIL 568. COMPUTATIONAL THEORIES OF MIND
An examination of various theories that attempt to comprehend mental phenomena in terms of computing.

PHIL 570. BRIEF TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY /1-3 credits
Short topics in philosophy. Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 591. TEACHING OF PHILOSOPHY /1-4 credits
Course credit but no grade. May not be used to satisfy course requirements for either MA or PhD degree.

PHIL 592. PROSEMINAR IN PHILOSOPHY /1 credit
Issues in the profession. Registration credit only.

PHIL 593. COLLOQUIUM /1-4 credits
Bi-weekly presentations by faculty and advanced graduate students of ongoing research. Required of all PACSS students. Registration credit only.

PHIL 595. EXCHANGE /1-12 credits
Registration for students on exchange or internship programs. Registration credit only.

PHIL 597. INDEPENDENT STUDY

PHIL 599. THESIS

PHIL 601. TOPICS IN FEMINIST PHILOSOPHY
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 602. TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 603. TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
Topics announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 604. TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY OF ART
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 605. TOPICS IN ETHICS
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 607. TOPICS IN KNOWLEDGE, REPRESENTATION, AND TRUTH
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 608. TOPICS IN SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 609. TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY OF LAW
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 611. TOPICS IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 612. CONCEPTS AND CATEGORIES
This course investigates philosophical and psychological theories concerning the nature of concepts and categories.

PHIL 614. TOPICS IN LOGIC
Topic anounced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 620. TOPICS IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF PLATO
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 621. TOPICS IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF ARISTOTLE
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 622. TOPICS IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF KANT
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 623. TOPICS IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF HEGEL
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 630. TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY AND OTHER DISCIPLINES
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 635. TOPICS IN DISCIPLINES AND PROFESSIONS
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 640. TOPICS IN CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 642. TOPICS IN THEORY OF POWER
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 643. TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY AND VIOLENCE
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 644. TOPICS IN LESBIAN THEORY
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

HIL 646. TOPICS IN EMBODIMENT
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 647. TOPICS IN THEORY OF CULTURE
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 648. TOPICS IN MULTICULTURAL FEMINIST THEORY
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 649. POSTCOLONIAL STUDIES
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 650. TOPICS IN 20TH-CENTURY CONTINENTIAL PHILOSOPHY
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 655. TOPICS IN POSTMODERNISM
Special topics in postmodernism and poststructuralism. Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 666. TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY OF PSYCHOLOGY
Topic announced in advance. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

PHIL 687. TUTORIALS IN PHILOSOPHY /1-4 credits
Courses in small groups on specialized topics where regular courses not offered. Arranged individually.

PHIL 698. PREDISSERTATION RESEARCH variable credit

PHIL 699. DISSERTATION variable credit

PHIL 700. CONTINUOUS REGISTRATION

PHIL 707. RESEARCH SKILLS

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