Below is a complete listing of all LPS courses. Not all courses are offered each year. To view current listings go to the LPS course schedule page.

LOWER-DIVISION
29 Critical Reasoning (4). Introduction to analysis and reasoning. The concepts of argument, premise, and conclusion, validity and invalidity, consistency and inconsistency. Identifying and assessing premises and inferences. Deductive versus inductive reasoning, and introduction to the probability calculus. Evaluating definitions. Informal fallacies. Same as Philosophy 29. Fulfills GE Categories: II, V.b.

30 Introduction to Symbolic Logic (4). An introduction to the symbolism and methods of the logic of statements, including evaluation of arguments by truth tables, the techniques of natural deduction and semantic tableaux. Same as Philosophy 30. Fulfills GE Category: V.b.

31 Introduction to Inductive Logic (4). Philosophical questions concerning the foundations of scientific inference, e.g., the traditional problem of induction, the Goodman paradox, the concept of cause, Mill’s method of inductive reasoning, probability calculus, different interpretations of probability, and their interaction in inductive reasoning. Same as Philosophy 31.Fulfills GE Categories: II, V.a.

40 The Nature of Scientific Inquiry (4). Investigates the nature, scope, and status of scientific knowledge and the methods used to acquire it. Uses concrete historical examples from a variety of scientific fields to identify distinctive features of the scientific enterprise and explore their significance.  Fulfills GE Categories: II, V.a.

60 The Making of Modern Science (4). Surveys the history of science and mathematics since the Scientific Revolution, examining central developments both chronologically and thematically, as well as investigating their significance for contemporary philosophical debates about the role and status of current scientific theories. Same as History 60. Fulfills GE Categories: II, IV.

91 The Philosophy and Biology of Sex (4). Discusses the origins of biological sex, sex differences of humans, and the construction of gender in human societies. Seeks to understand the role social values play in the creation of science.  Fulfills GE Category: III. Course overlaps with H91.

H80 Scientific Realism and Instrumentalism (4). Explores competing views of the character and status of theoretical knowledge in science, including challenges to and defenses of the view that contemporary scientific theories offer straightforwardly accurate descriptions of how things stand in otherwise inaccessible domains of nature. Fulfills GE Category: II. Course open to Campuswide Honors Program students only.

H81 What is Space? (4). Historical, philosophical, scientific exploration of the concept of "space." Questions of interest include: What kind of a thing is space? How can we know what space is like? How is space different from time? Fulfills GE Category: II. Course open to Campuswide Honors Program students only.

H91 The Philosophy and Biology of Sex (4). Covers the origins of biological sex, dynamics of sexual selection, the evolution and cultural creation of sexual behavior in humans, and the construction of gender in human societies. Fulfills GE Categories: II and III. Course open to Campuswide Honors Program students only.

H95 Jurisprudence and Constitutional Law (4). Applies competing theories of the nature of law and legal reasoning to evaluate decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court in controversial areas of constitutional law such as free speech, privacy, sexual conduct, affirmative action, and political campaign contributions. Fulfills GE Category: III. Course open to Campuswide Honors Program students only.

UPPER-DIVISION
100 Writing Philosophy (4). Discussion of those aspects of writing of special importance in philosophy, e.g., philosophical terminology, techniques for evaluating arguments, philosophical definitions and theories. At least 4,000 words of assigned composition based on philosophical readings. Prerequisites: satisfactory completion of the lower-division writing requirement; junior standing or consent of instructor. Same as Philosophy 100.

102 Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge (4). A study of one or more of the basic issues in epistemology, e.g., the role of perception in the acquisition of knowledge, the nature of evidence, the distinction between belief and knowledge, and the nature of truth and certainty. Same as Philosophy 102.

104 Introduction to Logic (4). Introduction to sentence logic, including truth tables and natural deduction; and to predicate logic, including semantics and natural deduction. Same as Philosophy 104.

105A Elementary Set Theory (4). An introduction to the basic working vocabulary of mathematical reasoning. Topics include: sets, Boolean operations, ordered n-tuples, relations, functions, ordinal and cardinal numbers.  Same as Philosophy 105A.

105B Metalogic (4). Introduction to formal syntax (proof theory) and semantics (model theory) for first-order logic, including the deduction, completeness, compactness, and Löwenheim-Skolem theorems. Prerequisite: Logic and Philosophy of Science 105A or consent of instructor. Logic and Philosophy of Science 105B and Mathematics 150 may not both be taken for credit. Same as Philosophy 105B.

105C Undecidability and Incompleteness (4). Introduction to the formal theory of effective processes, including recursive functions, Turing machines, Church’s thesis, and proofs of Gödel’s incompleteness theorem for arithmetic, and Church’s undecidability theorem for first-order logic. Prerequisite: Logic and Philosophy of Science 105B or consent of instructor. Logic and Philosophy of Science 105C and Mathematics 152 cannot both be taken for credit. Same as Philosophy 105C. Concurrent with LPS 205C.

106 Topics in Logic (4). Selected topics in mathematical or philosophical logic. Prerequisite: Logic and Philosophy of Science 105B or consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 106.

108 Topics in Induction, Probability, and Decision Theory (4). Selected topics in induction, probability, and decision theory. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 108.

113 Topics in Modern Philosophy (4). Focuses on the works of one or more of the central philosophical figures of the modern period (e.g., Descartes, Leibniz, Hobbes, Locke, Hume, Kant) or the treatment of one or more central philosophical problems by a number of these figures. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 113.

115 Topics in History of Analytic Philosophy (4). Review of one or more central theories or figures in the history of analytic philosophy. Emphasis is on the study of original sources, especially writings of Frege, Russell, Schlick, Carnap, and Quine. Topics include the nature of meaning and truth, the synthetic/analytic distinction, and scientific knowledge. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 115.

120 Topics in Metaphysics (4). Examines central philosophical questions concerning our own fundamental nature and that of the world around us (e.g., causation and necessity, determination, free will, personal identity, the mind-body problem). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 120.

121 Topics in the Theory of Knowledge (4). One or more topics in the theory of knowledge, e.g., the nature of rational justification, of perceptual knowledge, of a priori knowledge. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 121.

H125 What is Time? (4). Engages the question "what is time?" by drawing on physics, philosophy, fiction, film, and psychology. The course is organized around understanding and addressing the tension between time as represented in physics and our immediate temporal experience. Course open to Campuswide Honors Program students only. Fulfills GE Category: III.

140 Topics in Philosophy of Science (4). Selected topics in contemporary philosophy of science, e.g., the status of theoretical entities, the confirmation of theories, the nature of scientific explanation. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 140.

H141: Honors Quantum Mechanics (4). An examination of the standard von Neumann-Dirac formulation of quantum mechanics. The quantum measurement problem is discussed along with several proposed solutions, including GRW, many-worlds, man-minds, and Bohm's theory. Same as LPS 141C Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics. Course open to Campuswide Honors Program students only.

141A Topics in Philosophy of Physics (4). Selected topics in the philosophy of physics, e.g., the interpretation of quantum mechanics, the nature of spacetime, the problem of quantum field theories. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 141A.

141B Geometry and Spacetime (4). An examination of the foundations of the special theory of relativity, with emphasis on the geometry of Minkowski spacetime, and its relation to both Euclidean and non-Euclidean (hyperbolic) plane geometries.Prerequisite: Math 2D and (Math 3A or Math 6G). Same as Philosophy 141B.

141C Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics (4). An examination of the standard von Neumann-Dirac formulation of quantum mechanics. The quantum measurement problem is discussed along with several proposed solutions, including GRW, many-worlds, man-minds, and Bohm’s theory. Same as Philosophy 141C.

141D Probability and Determinism (4). An examination of a cluster of interrelated issues concerning probability, determinism, logic, and the foundations of quantum mechanics. Prerequisite: Math 2D and (Math 3A or Math 6G). Same as Philosophy 141D.

142 Writing/Philosophy of Biology (4). Philosophy of biology, e.g., scientific method in biology, the structure of evolutionary theory, theology, ethics, and evolution. Course work includes one 4,000-word and four 1,000-word papers. Prerequisite: satisfactory completion of the lower-division writing requirement. Same as Biological Sciences E142 and Philosophy 142.

143 Topics in Philosophy of Psychology (4). Selected topics in the philosophy of psychology, e.g., the nature of psychological explanation, reductionism, issues in cognitive, behavioral, and neuroscience. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 143 and Psychology 123P.

144 Topics in Philosophy of Social Science (4). Selected topics in the philosophy of the social sciences, e.g., is their goal to understand behavior or to predict and control it?; are they normative and the natural sciences not?; do they incorporate philosophical doctrines about language and mind? May be repeated for credit as topics vary.
Same as Philosophy 144.

145 Topics in Philosophy of Language (4). Selected topics in the philosophy of language, e.g., the nature of meaning, mechanisms of reference, speech acts. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Linguistics 141 and Philosophy 145. May be repeated for credit as topics vary.

146 Topics in Philosophy of Logic (4). Selected topics in the philosophy of logic, e.g., the nature of logical truth and our knowledge of it, the status of propositions, definite descriptions, and existential presuppositions. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 146.

147 Topics in Philosophy of Mathematics (4). Selected historical and contemporary topics in the philosophy of mathematics, e.g., mathematical truth and ontology, mathematical knowledge, the nature and role of proof, the workings of mathematics in application. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 147.

199 Independent Study (1 to 4). Investigation of special topics. May be taken for credit for a total of 12 units.

GRADUATE
200 Topics in Logic and Philosophy of Science (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary.

205A Set Theory (4). The basic working vocabulary of mathematical reasoning. Topics include: sets, Boolean operations, ordered n-tuples, relations, functions, ordinal and cardinal numbers. Same as Philosophy 205A.

205B Metalogic (4). Formal syntax (proof theory) and semantics (model theory) for first-order logic, including the deduction, completeness, compactness, and Löwenheim-Skolem theorems. Prerequisite: Logic and Philosophy of Science 205A. Same as Philosophy 205B.

205C Undecidability and Incompleteness (4). Formal theory of effective processes, including recursive function, Turing machines, Church’s thesis, and proofs of Gödel’s incompleteness theorem for arithmetic, and Church’s undecidability for first-order logic. Prerequisite: Logic and Philosophy of Science 205B. Same as Philosophy 205C. Concurrent with  LPS 105C

206 Topics in Logic (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 206.

213 Topics in Modern Philosophy (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 213.

215 Topics in Analytic Philosophy (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 215.

220 Topics in Metaphysics (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 220.

221 Topics in Epistemology (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 221.

232 Topics in Political and Social Philosophy (4). Same as Philosophy 232.

240 Topics in Philosophy of Science (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 240.

241 Topics in Philosophy of Physics (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 241.

242 Topics in Philosophy of Biology (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 242.

243 Topics in Philosophy of Psychology (4). Selected topics in the philosophy of psychology, e.g., the nature of psychological explanation, reductionism, issues in cognitive, behavioral, and neuroscience. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 243 and Psychology 231P.

244 Topics in Philosophy of Social Science (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 244.

245 Topics in Philosophy of Language (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Linguistics 241 and Philosophy 245.

246 Topics in Philosophy of Logic (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 246.

247 Topics in Philosophy of Mathematics (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 247.

289 Logic and Philosophy of Science Workshop (1 to 4). A two- or three-quarter-long workshop on selected topics in logic and philosophy of science. In-progress grading, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 249.

298 Independent Study (4 to 12). May be repeated for credit for a total of 12 units.

299 Directed Research (1 to 12). May be repeated for credit as topics vary.

399 University Teaching (4 to 12). May be repeated for credit for a total of 12 units.

 

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