• PHIL 1000

    Introduction to Philosophy
     Rating

    3.56

     Difficulty

    2.79

     GPA

    3.25

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    Introduces a broad spectrum of philosophical problems and approaches. Topics include basic questions concerning morality, skepticism and the foundations of knowledge, the mind and its relation to the body, and the existence of God. Readings are drawn from classics in the history of philosophy and/or contemporary sources. For more details on this class, please visit the department website at http://www.virginia.edu/philosophy/

  • PHIL 1410

    Forms of Reasoning
     Rating

    4.02

     Difficulty

    3.94

     GPA

    3.39

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    Analyzes the structure of informal arguments and fallacies that are commonly committed in everyday reasoning. The course will not cover symbolic logic in any detail. For more details on this class, please visit the department website at http://www.virginia.edu/philosophy/.

  • PHIL 1710

    Human Nature
     Rating

    3.50

     Difficulty

    2.40

     GPA

    3.37

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    Examines a wide variety of theories of human nature, with the aim of understanding how we can fulfill our nature and thereby live good, satisfying and meaningful lives. Focuses on the questions of whether it is in our nature to be rational, moral and/or social beings. Readings are taken from contemporary and historical sources. For more details on this class, please visit the department website at http://www.virginia.edu/philosophy/.

  • PHIL 1740

    Issues of Life and Death
     Rating

    3.43

     Difficulty

    2.44

     GPA

    3.37

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    Studies the fundamental principles underlying contemporary and historical discussions of such issues as abortion, euthanasia, suicide, pacifism, and political terror. Examines Utilitarian and anti-Utilitarian modes of thought about human life and the significance of death. For more details on this class, please visit the department website at http://www.virginia.edu/philosophy/.

  • PHIL 2060

    Philosophical Problems in Law
     Rating

    3.88

     Difficulty

    3.17

     GPA

    3.26

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    Examines and evaluates some basic practices and principles of Anglo-American law. Discusses the justification of punishment, the death penalty, legal liability, good samaritan laws, and the legal enforcement of morality. For more details on this class, please visit the department website at http://www.virginia.edu/philosophy/.

  • PHIL 2110

    History of Philosophy: Ancient and Medieval
     Rating

    3.30

     Difficulty

    3.70

     GPA

    3.36

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    Survey of the history of philosophy from the Pre-Socratic period through the Middle Ages. For more details on this class, please visit the department website at http://www.virginia.edu/philosophy/.

  • PHIL 2420

    Introduction to Symbolic Logic
     Rating

    3.14

     Difficulty

    3.64

     GPA

    3.03

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    Introduces the concepts and techniques of modern formal logic, including both sentential and quantifier logic, as well as proof, interpretation, translation, and validity. For more details on this class, please visit the department website at http://www.virginia.edu/philosophy/.

  • PHIL 2660

    Philosophy of Religion
     Rating

    4.27

     Difficulty

    3.39

     GPA

    3.27

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    Considers the problems raised by arguments for and against the existence of God; discussion of such related topics as evil, evidence for miracles, and the relation between philosophy and theology. For more details on this class, please visit the department website at http://www.virginia.edu/philosophy/.

  • PHIL 2820

    Philosophy of Health and Health Care
     Rating

    3.89

     Difficulty

    2.83

     GPA

    3.57

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    In this class, we'll discuss philosophical theories of health and explore difficult issues in the measurement and treatment of health-related issues

  • PHIL 3010

    Darwin and Philosophy
     Rating

    4.67

     Difficulty

    3.17

     GPA

    3.54

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    This course investigates the history and the scientific and philosophical implications of Darwin's revolutionary idea that the wholly unguided process of natural selection could explain the magnificent variety and adaptedness of living things and their descent from a common ancestor. One of the philosophical topics we will explore is how scientific theories are supported by evidence and how science yields knowledge

  • PHIL 3110

    Plato
     Rating

    3.83

     Difficulty

    2.93

     GPA

    3.30

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    Introduces the philosophy of Plato through careful examination of selected Platonic dialogues. For more details on this class, please visit the department website at http://www.virginia.edu/philosophy/.

  • PHIL 3150

    17th Century Philosophy
     Rating

    4.42

     Difficulty

    2.50

     GPA

    3.39

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    Studies the central philosophers in the rationalist tradition.

  • PHIL 3330

    Philosophy of Mind
     Rating

    4.00

     Difficulty

    3.87

     GPA

    3.13

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    Studies some basic problems of philosophical psychology. For more details on this class, please visit the department website at http://www.virginia.edu/philosophy/.

  • PHIL 3620

    Science Fiction & Philosophy
     Rating

    5.00

     Difficulty

    1.50

     GPA

    3.67

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    Science fiction is a distinctively philosophical genre. Science fiction stories can cause us to question the bounds of what is possible, explore ethical questions that arise in alien circumstances, explore the nature of the self and the very nature of reality, and so on. This course will investigate philosophical questions via science fiction literature, and use philosophy to explore the nature of science fiction.

  • PHIL 3640

    Political Philosophy
     Rating

    4.33

     Difficulty

    3.00

     GPA

    3.53

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    This course will consider three central questions in political philosophy: Why do political societies exist? What kind of political society is best? And, what is the proper role of the state in the social and economic affairs of its citizens? Rather than a comprehensive overview of the subject, this course will offer a chance to carefully examine some of the most influential attempts to answer to these core questions.

  • PHIL 3720

    Contemporary Ethics
     Rating

    4.57

     Difficulty

    2.86

     GPA

    3.49

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    Studies Anglo-American ethics since 1900. While there are selected readings from G. E. Moore, W. D. Ross, A. J. Ayer, C. L. Stevenson and R. M. Hare, emphasis is on more recent work. Among the topics to be considered: Are there moral facts? Are moral values relative? Are moral judgments universalizable? Are they prescriptive? Are they cognitive? What is to be said for utilitarianism as a moral theory? What against it? And what are the alternatives? For more details on this class, please visit the department website at http://www.virginia.edu/philosophy/.

  • PHIL 3810

    Sex, Sexuality, and Gender
     Rating

    5.00

     Difficulty

    3.00

     GPA

    3.54

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    In this class, we'll be talking about philosophical issues at the intersection of sexuality, sexual experience, and gender experience. What is sexual consent? What is the relationship between sexual consent and sexual morality? What is sexual orientation, and what is its relationship to sex and gender? Is there such a thing as biological sex? Is there a difference between sex and gender?

  • PHIL 3830

    Philosophy of Mental Health
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    This class explores philosophical issues in the nature of mental health and mental illness. Topics may include: What is the difference between a mental illness and a physical illness? How do we understand the difference between mental difference and mental dysfunction? Does our current approach to understanding mental health overly pathologize or medicalize people? What is a social contagion? What does it mean to be mentally healthy?

  • PHIL 4995

    Directed Reading and Research
     Rating

    4.00

     Difficulty

    3.00

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    Independent study under the direction of a faculty member. For more details on this class, please visit the department website at http://www.virginia.edu/philosophy/.

  • PHIL 4999

    Senior Thesis
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    For more details on this class, please visit the department website at http://www.virginia.edu/philosophy/.

  • PHIL 5530

    Seminar on a Modern History of Philosophy Topic
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.62

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    A survey of the most important philosophers of the Modern Age.

  • PHIL 7500

    First Year Seminar
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.78

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    Seminar for First Yr graduate students. For more details on this class, please visit the department website at http://www.virginia.edu/philosophy/.

  • PHIL 7570

    Seminar on a Metaphysics Topic
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.73

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    A seminar on the nature of being and the world

  • PHIL 7995

    Supervised Research
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    For more details on this class, please visit the department website at http://www.virginia.edu/philosophy/.

  • PHIL 8570

    Seminar on a Metaphysics Topic
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.84

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    A seminar on the nature of being and the world

  • PHIL 8995

    Supervised Research
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    For more details on this class, please visit the department website at http://www.virginia.edu/philosophy/.

  • PHIL 9998

    Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Doctoral Research
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    For doctoral research, taken before a dissertation director has been selected. For more details on this class, please visit the department website at http://www.virginia.edu/philosophy/.

  • PHIL 9999

    Non-Topical Research
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    For doctoral dissertation, taken under the supervision of a dissertation director. For more details on this class, please visit the department website at http://www.virginia.edu/philosophy/.