Philosophy

Chair: Susan J. Brison

Professors A. R. Allen, J. H. Moor; Associate Professors S. J. Brison, J. V. Kulvicki, S. S. Levey, A. L. Roskies, C. J. Thomas; Assistant Professors D. Plunkett, T. Rosenkoetter, K. Walden;  Senior Lecturers A. E. Bumpus, A. Kim; Visiting Lecturer T. Vierkant; Lecturers S. Aldea, A. S. P. Walden; Adjunct Professor C. E. Heckman.

The Major

1. Prerequisites:
   1. PHIL 1 or PHIL 2
   2. PHIL 3 (or PHIL 6 if not used to satisfy requirements of the major)
2. Requirements: Eight philosophy courses beyond the prerequisites including:
   1. Two from PHIL 11, PHIL 12, PHIL 13, PHIL 14, PHIL 15, PHIL 16, and PHIL 17
   2. One from PHIL 30, PHIL 31, PHIL 32, PHIL 33, PHIL 34, and PHIL 35
   3. One from PHIL 8, PHIL 37, and PHIL 38
   4. One advanced seminar, PHIL 80, which serves as the culminating experience in the major

MATH 39 (or MATH 69) may be counted toward the major.

The following is a suggested major for those students contemplating graduate studies in philosophy: PHIL 6, PHIL 8, PHIL 11, PHIL 13, PHIL 14, PHIL 15, PHIL 16, PHIL 30, PHIL 31, PHIL 34 or PHIL 35, and PHIL 37; selected seminars. It is strongly recommended that students contemplating graduate studies in philosophy enroll in the Honors Program.

The Modified Major

1. Prerequisites:
   1. PHIL 1 or PHIL 2
   2. PHIL 3 (or PHIL 6 if not used to satisfy requirements of the modified major)
2. Requirements: Six philosophy courses beyond the prerequisites including:
   1. One from PHIL 11, PHIL 12, PHIL 13, PHIL 14, PHIL 15, PHIL 16, and PHIL 17
   2. One from PHIL 30, PHIL 31, PHIL 32, PHIL 33, PHIL 34, and PHIL 35
   3. One from PHIL 8, PHIL 37, and PHIL 38
   4. One advanced seminar, PHIL 80, which serves as the culminating experience in the modified major
3. Four courses not in Philosophy that must be at a non-introductory level, have a substantial philosophical content, and contribute to a reasonably connected program of study. These courses must be approved in writing by the Chair of the Department of Philosophy.

Minors in Philosophy

Minor in Philosophy

1. Prerequisites:
   1. PHIL 1 or PHIL 2
   2. PHIL 3 (or PHIL 6 if not used to satisfy requirements of the minor)
2. Requirements: Six philosophy courses beyond the prerequisites including:
   1. One from PHIL 11, PHIL 12, PHIL 13, PHIL 14, PHIL 15, PHIL 16, and PHIL 17
   2. One from PHIL 30, PHIL 31, PHIL 32, PHIL 33, PHIL 34, and PHIL 35
   3. One from PHIL 8, PHIL 37, and PHIL 38
   4. One advanced seminar in Philosophy

Minor in History of Philosophy

1. Prerequisites:
   1. PHIL 1 or PHIL 2
   2. PHIL 3 (or PHIL 6 if not used to satisfy requirements of the minor)
2. Requirements: Six philosophy courses beyond the prerequisites including:

   Four courses from PHIL 8, PHIL 11, PHIL 12, PHIL 13, PHIL 14, PHIL 15, PHIL 16, PHIL 17, and PHIL 80 (if the seminar topic is within the history of philosophy)

Minor in Moral Philosophy

1. Prerequisites:
   1. PHIL 1 or PHIL 2
   2. PHIL 3 (or PHIL 6 if not used to satisfy requirements of the minor)
2. Requirements: Six philosophy courses beyond the prerequisites including:
   1. PHIL 8 and PHIL 37
   2. Two courses from PHIL 9, PHIL 21, PHIL 22, PHIL 24, PHIL 25, PHIL 38, and PHIL 80 (if the seminar topic is within moral philosophy)

Minor in Epistemology and Metaphysics

1. Prerequisites:
   1. PHIL 1 or PHIL 2
   2. PHIL 3 (or PHIL 6 if not used to satisfy requirements of the minor)
2. Requirements: Six philosophy courses beyond the prerequisites including:
   1. PHIL 30 and PHIL 31
   2. Two from PHIL 13, PHIL 14, PHIL 15, PHIL 16, PHIL 26, PHIL 27, PHIL 28, PHIL 29, PHIL 34, PHIL 35, and PHIL 80 (if the seminar topic is within epistemology and metaphysics)

Minor in Logic and Philosophy of Science

1. Prerequisites:
   1. PHIL 1 or PHIL 2
   2. PHIL 3
2. Requirements: Six philosophy courses beyond the prerequisites including:
   1. PHIL 6 and PHIL 27
   2. Two from PHIL 26, PHIL 32, PHIL 33, PHIL 34, MATH 39 or MATH 69, and PHIL 80 (if the seminar topic is within logic and philosophy of science)

Non-Recording Option

No course with a grade of NR resulting from use of the Non-Recording Option may be counted for the philosophy major, modified major, or minor.

Transfer Credit

At most two transfer credits may be counted toward the major or minor but transfer credit cannot be used to satisfy the advanced seminar requirement.

Foreign Study

Each year the Department of Philosophy offers about fifteen students the opportunity to spend a fall term at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. While there they will take a course in philosophy taught by a Dartmouth faculty member (Philosophy 50). In addition, each student will take two university courses (PHIL 60, PHIL 61). Students will receive at most three course credits in this term. Students participating in the program must have completed two courses in philosophy prior to their participation but not necessarily prior to their application for admission to the program. However, preference will be given to those students who have completed more philosophy courses. A member of the University of Edinburgh philosophy faculty will offer a course at Dartmouth in the summer term. Students going to Edinburgh should consider taking this course. Normally, application for admission to the program should be made during the fall term prior to the contemplated term in Edinburgh. There will be an opportunity to participate in the junior year Honors Program while in Edinburgh.

Philosophy Honors Program

The Honors Program is designed for qualified students interested in doing intensive and individualized work in philosophy. Only those students who have successfully completed the Honors Program are eligible to receive major standings of Honors or High Honors.

The program is divided into three stages: the Junior Honors Seminar, preparation and submission of a thesis proposal, and thesis writing. All students who register for the Philosophy Major and who expect to have the necessary cumulative averages (3.50 in Philosophy and 3.33 overall) are invited to join the Junior Honors Seminars. In order to be accepted for thesis writing, a student must successfully complete a Junior Honors Seminar, maintain or attain by the end of the Junior year the required averages, and have a thesis proposal approved by the Philosophy Department by the end of the term in residence prior to commencement of thesis writing.

Junior Honors Seminars. Students are required to spend one term, but may elect to spend two terms, in a Junior Honors Seminar prior to submission of a thesis proposal for departmental approval. These seminars meet on an average of four times per term, and each student will prepare a short paper for each meeting. The Junior Honors Seminar should be completed by the end of the spring term of the junior year.

Preparation and Submission of Thesis Proposal. After successful completion of a Junior Honors Seminar, the student should secure a thesis director and then write a proposal in consultation with the director. After the proposal is approved by the director, it will be submitted to the Philosophy Department for approval. Since the Department may request that the student rewrite the proposal, we recommend that a proposal be submitted to the Department by the seventh week of the term prior to thesis writing.

Thesis Writing. A student must write a two-term thesis, for which one or two course credits may be received. Only one such course credit may be used in satisfying major requirements. The minimum length for a two-term thesis is seventy-five pages. Four bound copies of the thesis, one on acid-free bond paper, must be submitted. A thesis written during the fall and winter must be submitted by the first day of the spring term. A thesis completed during the spring term must be submitted by the seventh Monday of the spring term. An oral defense will be scheduled shortly thereafter.

See Philosophy courses