Philosophy
Philosophy asks fundamental questions about ourselves and the world, such as: "Does God exist?", "Is the mind distinct from the body?", "Are values objective or just projections of our feelings?", "Can I know that there is a world outside my mind?". As an academic discipline, philosophy seeks to consider these kinds of questions and explores them via three main areas.
- Values - includes ethics, metaethics, political philosophy, aesthetics, and the history of philosophy.
- Knowledge - includes epistemology, philosophy of science, philosophy of language, logic, and the history of philosophy.
- Reality - includes metaphysics, philosophy of mind, philosophy of religion, and the history of philosophy.
- Logic - includes critical thinking, argumentation, and deductive reasoning.
Much of what was once considered a part of philosophy is now studied in several disciplines in the natural and social sciences. Indeed, the history of philosophy is in many ways the history of Western thought.
Who Studies Philosophy?
Philosophy students tend to have an inquisitive nature and are often willing to question anything and everything. They typically possess a number of the following: curiosity, a significant amount of creativity, the ability to formulate opinions and defend them in debate, and a willingness to engage in debate on virtually any point, purely for the love of a good argument.
Department's website: kpu.ca/arts/philosophy
A philosophy major is a practical choice. Philosophy students develop skills that are transferable to a wide range of careers and professions, including business and law. Philosophy students learn how to identify assumptions, raise critical questions, and formulate creative, principled strategies for addressing complex problems. They develop expertise in structuring arguments, writing precisely and clearly, and communicating their ideas in an orderly, persuasive, and unambiguous way. Philosophy courses teach students how to read, comprehend, and summarize conceptually difficult material. In short, studying philosophy trains one to be a better, clearer, and independent thinker.
Registration in some course sections is restricted to students in particular programs. See Timetables - kpu.ca/registration/timetables - for current section information.
Visit the BC Transfer Guide - bctransferguide.ca - for information about course transfer in B.C.
PHIL 1100 3 credits
General Introduction to Philosophy
Students will study central topics in the major areas of philosophy. They will examine a variety of philosophical perspectives on issues such as mind-body problem, the nature of reality, the limits of human knowledge, morality and moral judgement, and the justification of religious beliefs.
Level: UG
PHIL 1101 3 credits
PHIL 1110 3 credits
Introduction to Moral Philosophy
Students will consider the meaning and justification of moral judgment by examining various views on whether or not morality has an objective basis. They will be introduced to leading theories of ethical conduct and will learn to apply these theories to contemporary moral problems and workplace situations.
Level: UG
PHIL 1111 3 credits
Sustainability and Ethics
Students will examine various concepts of sustainability. They will explore evaluation methods including ethical reasoning, and may include other approaches such as game theory, cognitive science, and behavioural economics. Students will evaluate key sustainability policy issues such as climate change, global and intergenerational inequalities, and decolonization. Note: Students in the Policy Studies (POST) program must take POST 1100. This course is cross-listed with POST 1100. Students may earn credit for only one of these courses.
Level: UG
Cross-listing: POST 1100
PHIL 1112 3 credits
Introduction to Environmental Ethics
Students will examine central problems in environmental ethics. They will investigate the philosophical implications of various views about humans' relationship to nature, and consider topics such as the extent of our obligations to non-human animals, to the environment, and to future generations.
Level: UG
PHIL 1145 3 credits
Critical Thinking
Students will study the process of argument reconstruction and evaluation. They will focus on skills necessary that will enable them to distinguish argumentative from non-argumentative writing, rationally persuasive from rhetorically persuasive arguments, and strong from weak arguments. Students will be expected to analyze arguments from a variety of contexts such as newspaper editorials, advertising and surveys.
Level: UG
PHIL 1150 3 credits
Introduction to Formal Logic
Students will study the basic techniques of formal deductive logic. They will learn the semantics and syntax of two artificial languages-sentential logic (SL) and predicate logic (PL)-with emphasis given to the former. With the aid of the formal techniques learned in this course, students will gain insight into the nature of rational argument and sound reasoning.
Level: UG
PHIL 1155 3 credits
Introduction to Scientific Reasoning
Students will examine the methodology behind arguments and experimentation in science, including the careful analysis of data, measurement of probability, and the formulation of various explanatory hypotheses. In so doing, they will become familiar, not only with how scientists go about their work, but with the philosophical foundations of scientific reasoning.
Level: UG
PHIL 1201 3 credits
Thinking Philosophically about Technology by Watching Films
Students will be introduced to current and emerging philosophical debates about technology primarily by viewing, analyzing, and critiquing a selection of science-fiction films and non-fiction documentaries. Students will discuss metaphysical, epistemological, ethical, and/or political implications of robotic technologies, information technologies, and/or biological technologies. They will be introduced to key philosophical concepts and methods and gain a working understanding of critical thinking, argument analysis, and rational ethical deliberation.
Level: UG
PHIL 1202 3 credits
Pillars of Chinese Philosophy: Zen, Theory and Practice
This course will introduce Zen (Chan, in Chinese) as both a philosophical outlook and practice. It will explore how emotions, moods, and thought patterns can be trained through Zen texts, koans (stories or cases), and Zen meditation. Students will learn how such training aims to render the individual free from craving, hatred, delusion, arrogance, and doubt. The course will trace the historical origins and development of Zen. It will also study how concepts in Zen are interconnected and embodied in Zen practitioners’ way of life.
Level: UG
Attribute: ARTS
PHIL 2106 3 credits
PHIL 2107 3 credits
Modern Philosophy: Descartes to Kant
Students will study major philosophical texts from the modern period, beginning from the time of Descartes. They will apply methods of philosophical analysis to these texts in the exploration of epistemological, metaphysical, ethical and social-political questions.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 3 credits from courses in PHIL
PHIL 2110 3 credits
Moral Theory
Students will examine major normative ethical theories. They will study classic works representing the major ethical traditions, including virtue theory, deontology, social contract theory, and utilitarianism. They will examine concepts such as duty, virtue, well-being or happiness, and right action. Students will obtain a critical grasp of these ethical theories and concepts by reading classic works.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 3 credits from courses in PHIL
PHIL 2115 3 credits
PHIL 2117 3 credits
PHIL 2120 3 credits
PHIL 2210 3 credits
Epistemology
Students will study traditional themes in epistemology. Using classical and contemporary readings, they will examine problems related to the justification of beliefs, the nature of truth, and theories describing the foundations of knowledge.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 3 credits from courses in PHIL or permission of the instructor
PHIL 2215 3 credits
Metaphysics
Using classical and contemporary readings, students will study traditional topics of metaphysics, such as mind-body interactionism, space and time, free will and fatalism, and theories of reality and truth.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 3 credits from courses in PHIL or permission of the instructor
PHIL 3010 3 credits
Health Care Ethics
Students will study various ethical and meta-ethical theories and will apply them to moral dilemmas in health care at the clinical, professional, and organizational levels. They will analyze various case studies that will help them develop competence in moral reasoning as it relates to personal, professional, and societal values - including (but not restricted to) the abortion and euthanasia debates, patient autonomy and the right to refuse treatment, two-tier health care, allocation of scarce resources, patient abuse and management of patient behaviour, alternative therapies, and the patient-caregiver relationship. Note: This course is intended for Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and required for Bachelor of Science in Health Science and Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Health Science degree programs. It will not count as upper-level PHIL credits for Philosophy BA degree programs.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 45 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher.
PHIL 3033 3 credits
Business Ethics
Students will study various ethical and meta-ethical theories, and will apply them in standard business contexts -- such as employer-employee relations, risk analysis, occupational and product safety, environmental protection, and multinational practices. Students will acquire the tools to allow them to make ethical business decisions. Note: This course is intended for BBA students. It will not count as upper-level PHIL credits for Philosophy BA programs.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher
PHIL 3040 3 credits
Philosophy of Art
Students will investigate central questions about the nature and value of art (e.g., painting, sculpture, music, literature, and film). They will critically examine attempts to answer questions such as the following: What is art? Is there a difference between aesthetic judgments and mere judgments of taste or subjective preference? What is beauty? Should moral considerations affect our evaluations of art?
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 3 credits from courses in PHIL, or permission of the instructor
PHIL 3100 3 credits
Great Philosophers of the 20th Century
Students will examine the life, work, and influence of one or more notable 20th Century philosopher(s). They will apply principles of rhetoric and philosophical analysis through close reading of selected texts, informed discussion, and formal writing.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 3 credits from courses in PHIL, or permission of the instructor
PHIL 3101 3 credits
20th Century Analytic Philosophy
Students will acquire a detailed historical and conceptual framework for the assessment of 20th Century philosophical analysis. They will study issues raised by Russell and others near the beginning of the 20th Century. Students will then consider the historical and conceptual unfolding of various alternative approaches to these issues by later 20th Century analytical philosophers. They will focus on a technical examination of concepts such as: truth, reference, description, and meaning.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 3 credits from courses in PHIL, or permission of the instructor
PHIL 3105 3 credits
Life and Death
Students will study various ethical and metaphysical issues surrounding human existence and mortality. In particular, they will investigate the two central questions, "What is a good life?" and "Is death bad for the person who dies?" Using a variety of philosophical sources, they may also examine a number of related issues, including the possibility of life after death, the relationship between personal identity and immortality, the reasons why killing is generally considered wrong, and the moral status of abortion, euthanasia, and suicide.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 3 credits from courses in PHIL, or permission of the instructor
PHIL 3109 3 credits
Foundations in Ethics
Students will investigate central questions about the nature and foundations of ethical judgement. They will examine a variety of perspectives on such issues as the objectivity and prescriptivity of moral judgement.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 3 credits from PHIL
PHIL 3110 3 credits
The Possibility of Knowledge
Students will investigate central questions about the nature and foundations of epistemic judgement. They will examine a variety of perspectives on such issues as the justification of knowledge claims and the internalism/externalism debate in epistemology.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 3 credits from courses in PHIL, or permission of the instructor
PHIL 3118 3 credits
Ethics and Public Policy
Students will critically examine ethical issues in public policy through readings in classic and/or contemporary texts. They will consider topics such as policy governing life and death, sex and reproduction, freedom of speech, punishment, and the environment.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 3 credits from PHIL.
PHIL 3119 3 credits
Contemporary Moral Theory
Students will consider selected problems associated with various philosophical approaches to morality. They will investigate standard moral perspectives such as Utilitarianism, Kantianism, Contractarianism, Feminist Ethics, and Virtue Theory, in order to assess their philosophical strengths and weaknesses by introducing theoretical as well as practical considerations.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 3 credits from PHIL.
PHIL 3120 3 credits
Free Will and Determinism
Students will examine the philosophical problems involved in assigning moral responsibility in a world governed by causes which are, ultimately, outside of our control. Using both classic and contemporary sources, they will evaluate the reasoning behind deterministic theories that deny the reality of free will, claiming that all events, including human actions, have prior causes that render them inevitable.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 3 credits from courses in PHIL
PHIL 3150 3 credits
Intermediate Formal Logic
Students will be introduced to contemporary symbolic logic. They will gain a working understanding of some symbolic languages, propositional logic and first-order predicate logic. Students will also discuss syntax and semantics at an elementary level, and soundness and completeness of first-order logical systems will be proved.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): either (a) PHIL 1150 or (b) Level C1 as defined in the Math Alternatives Table
PHIL 3220 3 credits
Empiricism
Students will study the motivations and influence of empiricism-the epistemological theory that genuine information about the world must be acquired by a posteriori or experiential means, so that nothing can be thought without first being sensed. They will analyze and compare the views of prominent empiricists such as Francis Bacon, John Locke, George Berkeley, David Hume, and John Stuart Mill.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 3 credits from courses in PHIL.
PHIL 3225 3 credits
Rationalism
Students will study the motivations and influence of rationalism-the epistemological view that regards reason as the chief source and test of knowledge. They will analyze and compare the views of prominent rationalists such as Ren頄escartes, Benedict Spinoza, Gottfried Leibniz, and Immanuel Kant.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 3 credits from courses in PHIL.
PHIL 3320 3 credits
Personal Identity
Students will investigate various philosophical puzzles surrounding the problem of personal identity. In particular, they will contemplate the central metaphysical question, under what circumstances is a person existing at one time identical with a person existing at another time? Students will also examine problems related to the connection between personal identity and physical continuity, the psychological underpinnings of selfhood, and the relationship between personal identity and immortality.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 3 credits from courses in PHIL.
PHIL 3425 3 credits
Language and Meaning
Students will examine the nature of language through the study of topics such as truth, reference, meaning, linguistic structure, speech acts and context of use.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 3 credits from courses in PHIL.
Attribute: ARTS
PHIL 3430 3 credits
Philosophy of Mind: Consciousness
Students will investigate central questions about the nature of consciousness and the place of the mind in the physical world. They will examine competing approaches to the explanation of mental phenomena.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 3 credits from courses in PHIL.
PHIL 3510 3 credits
Confronting Moral Issues: Bio-medical Ethics
Students will examine moral problems, and proposed solutions to moral problems, in the context of health care. They will focus on case studies drawn from the bio-medical and health care fields.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 3 credits from courses in PHIL.
Attribute: ARTS
PHIL 3512 3 credits
Confronting Moral Issues: The Natural Environment
Students will examine moral problems, and proposed solutions to moral problems, that pertain to the environment and human interaction with the environment. Students will examine content drawn from current issues.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 3 credits from courses in PHIL.
PHIL 3533 3 credits
Confronting Moral Issues: Business Ethics
Students will examine moral problems and proposed solutions to moral problems that arise in a business context. They will apply moral theories and models for decision-making to specific scenarios.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 3 credits from courses in PHIL.
Attribute: ARTS
PHIL 3900 3 credits
Honours Research and Thesis I
Students will conduct a literature review on a topic chosen in consultation with the instructor. They will explore a topic, narrow the topic and formulate a significant research problem. Students will carry out preliminary interpretive and analytical work on the problem. Note: This course is the first part of a two-course series which culminates in an honours thesis. PHIL 4900 is the second part of the series.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 24 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher from PHIL (B+).
Attribute: ARTS
PHIL 4040 3 credits
Topics in the Philosophy of Art
Students will study a selected topic or body of work in the philosophy of art. Using a variety of classic and contemporary sources, they will consider one or more problems related to the nature of art (e.g., art as imitation, art as representation, art as expression, the relationship between art and form, the relationship between art and the aesthetic experience) or the nature of a specific form of art (e.g., painting, sculpture, music, literature, film). Students will discuss topics(s) that may be associated with a particular movement, time period, or philosophical figure. Note: This is a seminar-based course. Students may take this course more than once, as topics vary, with permission of the department chair. The topic in a given semester will be determined in advance by the department. Please check with the department for the current topic.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 60 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 6 credits from PHIL.
PHIL 4110 3 credits
Topics in Ethics
Students will engage in an in-depth study of a selected topic in applied ethics, normative ethics, or metaethics, which may be associated with a particular movement, time period, or philosophical figure. Note: This is a seminar-based course. Students may take this course more than once, as topics vary, with permission of the department chair. The topic in a given semester will be determined in advance by the department. Please check with the department for the current topic.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 60 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 6 credits from PHIL
PHIL 4117 3 credits
Topics in Social and Political Philosophy
Students will study a selected theme, issue, or body of work in the area of socio-political philosophy. They will examine one or more theoretical approaches-e.g., Marxism, feminism, liberalism, communitarianism, post-modern political theory-and then consider the implications of the examined approach(es) for issues like the nation state, globalization, restructuring, and the social policies surrounding welfare and health care. Note: This is a seminar-based course. Students may take this course more than once, as topics vary, with permission of the department chair. The topic in a given semester will be determined in advance by the department. Please check with the department for the current topic.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 60 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 6 credits from courses in PHIL.
PHIL 4120 3 credits
Topics in Philosophy of Religion
Students will study a selected theme, issue, or body of work in the philosophy of religion. Using a variety of textual sources and strict principles of philosophical analysis, they will consider one or more problems related to traditional arguments for God's existence, arguments against the existence of God, the role of faith in religious belief, the status of miracles, the relationship between science and religion, or the relationship between religion and morality. Note: This is a seminar-based course. Students may take this course more than once, as topics vary, with permission of the department chair. The topic in a given semester will be determined in advance by the department. Please check with the department for the current topic.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 60 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 6 credits from PHIL.
PHIL 4210 3 credits
Topics in Epistemology
Students will study a selected topic or body of work in the field of epistemology. Using a variety of classic and contemporary sources, they will consider one or more themes related to defining knowledge, scepticism and the Pyrrhonian problem, foundationalism and coherentism, epistemic justification, contextualism and relativism, epistemology and science, or the relationship between epistemology and human cognition. Students will discuss topics(s) that may be associated with a particular movement, time period, or philosophical figure. Note: This is a seminar-based course. Students may take this course more than once, as topics vary, with permission of the department chair. The topic in a given semester will be determined in advance by the department. Please check with the department for the current topic.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 60 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 6 credits from courses in PHIL.
PHIL 4215 3 credits
Topics in Metaphysics
Students will study a selected topic or body of work in the field of metaphysics. Using a variety of classic and contemporary sources, they will consider one or more themes related to the nature of universals and particulars, time and space, appearance and reality, persistence and change, personal identity, free will and determinism, causation, the nature of physical substance, or the feasibility of metaphysics as a genuine philosophical pursuit. Students will discuss topic(s) that may be associated with a particular movement, time period, or philosophical figure. Note: This is a seminar-based course. Students may take this course more than once, as topics vary, with permission of the department chair. The topic in a given semester will be determined in advance by the department. Please check with the department for the current topic.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 60 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 6 credits from courses in PHIL
PHIL 4430 3 credits
Topics in the Philosophy of Mind
Students will study a selected theme, issue, or body of work in the philosophy of mind. Using a variety of textual sources and strict principles of philosophical analysis, they will consider one or more problems related to the traditional mind-body debate, the nature of consciousness, mental causation, psycho-physical supervenience, or intentionality. Students will discuss topics(s) that may be associated with a particular movement, time period, or philosophical figure. Note: This is a seminar-based course. Students may take this course more than once, as topics vary, with permission of the department chair. The topic in a given semester will be determined in advance by the department. Please check with the department for the current topic.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 60 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including 6 credits from courses in PHIL.
PHIL 4900 3 credits
Honours Research and Thesis II
Students will develop a philosophical position on a research question while working closely with the instructor. They will prepare an extended written discussion of the position developed in a format typical of articles in professional philosophical journals or otherwise suitable as an honours thesis. Note: This course is a continuation of PHIL 3900.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): PHIL 3900 (B+)
Attribute: ARTS
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