Philosophy · USC Schedule of Classes

Philosophy (PHIL)

http://dornsife.usc.edu/phil/
D class assignments for undergraduates available in MHP108; phone (213) 740-4084.

PHIL 137gm: Social Ethics for Earthlings and Others (4.0 units)

A systematic study of contemporary issues in social and political philosophy engaging multimedia works of science fiction to illuminate classic Western moral and political theories.

General Education: This course satisfies the university's general education requirement.
Diversity: This course satisfies the university's diversity requirement.
Note: Register for lecture, one discussion, lab and one section of WRIT 140 listed below (unless you have already satisfied the Writing Requirement)
Concurrent enrollment: WRIT 140

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus
49560R	001	Lecture	10:00-11:45am	Mon, Wed	133 of 148	Sharon Lloyd	SGM101	Word (55343 KB)
49561R	001	Discussion	11:00-11:50am	Tuesday	25 of 25	Michael Pressman	MHP102
49562R	001	Discussion	10:00-10:50am	Tuesday	25 of 25	Michael Pressman	MHP102
49563R	001	Discussion	9:00-9:50am	Tuesday	24 of 25	Woo Lee	MHP102
49564R	001	Discussion	10:00-10:50am	Thursday	24 of 25	Kenneth Silver	VKC205
49565R	001	Discussion	11:00-11:50am	Thursday	25 of 25	Kenneth Silver	MHP102
49566R	001	Discussion	9:00-9:50am	Thursday	9 of 25	Woo Lee	MHP102

Concurrent Course
WRIT 140: Writing and Critical Reasoning (4.0 units)

Focuses on analytical and argumentative writing skills requisite to academic and professional writing. Emphasizes logical analysis of texts and other data, effective use of evidence, ethical argumentation, and stylistic and grammatical fluency. Requires concurrent enrollment with an affiliated General Education course in the Social Issues category. Students must achieve a satisfactory score on the verbal portion of the SAT, the USC Writing Examination, or credit for WRIT 120 or 121 bef

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location
64295D	001	Lecture	9:00-9:50am	MWF	17 of 17	Jennifer Bankard	GFS114
64300D	001	Lecture	9:00-9:50am	MWF	16 of 17	Ryan Taylor	GFS204
64410D	001	Lecture	12:00-12:50pm	MWF	17 of 17	Jennifer Bankard	GFS112
64415D	001	Lecture	12:00-12:50pm	MWF	17 of 17	Afton Coombs	GFS113
66998D	001	Lab	7:00-8:50pm	Wednesday	410 of 1000		BOV AUD

PHIL 140g: Contemporary Moral and Social Issues (4.0 units)

Critical study of controversial social issues such as abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty, war & terrorism, pornography, and economic justice.

General Education: This course satisfies the university's general education requirement.
Note: Register for lecture, one discussion, lab and one section of WRIT 140 listed below (unless you have already satisfied the Writing Requirement)
Concurrent enrollment: WRIT 140

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location
49314R	001	Lecture	10:00-11:45am	Mon, Wed	131 of 148	Robin Jeshion	THH301
49316R	001	Discussion	9:00-9:50am	Tuesday	17 of 25	Ara Astourian	MHPB7B
49318R	001	Discussion	10:00-10:50am	Tuesday	24 of 25	Ara Astourian	VKC157
49319R	001	Discussion	10:00-10:50am	Thursday	25 of 25	Rima Basu	VKC157
49320R	001	Discussion	10:00-10:50am	Friday	24 of 25	Erik Encarnacion	THH112
49321R	001	Discussion	9:00-9:50am	Thursday	16 of 25	Rima Basu	VKC154
49322R	001	Discussion	11:00-11:50am	Friday	25 of 25	Erik Encarnacion	THH112

Concurrent Course
WRIT 140: Writing and Critical Reasoning (4.0 units)

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location
64305D	001	Lecture	9:00-9:50am	MWF	17 of 17	Amy Schroeder	GFS205
64310D	001	Lecture	9:00-9:50am	MWF	16 of 17	Melissa Gutierrez	GFS210
64420D	001	Lecture	12:00-12:50pm	MWF	17 of 17	Amy Schroeder	GFS114
64425D	001	Lecture	12:00-12:50pm	MWF	17 of 17	Marci Vogel	GFS204
66998D	001	Lab	7:00-8:50pm	Wednesday	410 of 1000		BOV AUD

PHIL 155g: Modern Philosophy and the Meaning of Life (4.0 units)

Modern philosophical teatments of the problem of the meaning orpurpose of human life; special attention to Existentialism.

General Education: This course satisfies the university's general education requirement.
Note: Register for lecture and one discussion

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location
49344R	001	Lecture	2:00-3:15pm	Tue, Thu	139 of 150	Stephen Finlay	SGM124
49345R	001	Discussion	9:00-9:50am	Wednesday	25 of 25	Jonathan Wright	MHP102
49346R	001	Discussion	10:00-10:50am	Wednesday	22 of 25	Jonathan Wright	MHP102
49347R	001	Discussion	9:00-9:50am	Thursday	22 of 25	Michael Ashfield	MHPB7B
49348R	001	Discussion	10:00-10:50am	Thursday	25 of 25	Michael Ashfield	MHP102
49349R	001	Discussion	9:00-9:50am	Friday	23 of 25	Renee Bolinger	MHP102
49350R	001	Discussion	10:00-10:50am	Friday	22 of 25	Renee Bolinger	MHP102

PHIL 250a: Elementary Formal Logic (2.0 units)

Critical reasoning skills and their many everyday applications; theory of logically correct reasoning and its associated formal techniques.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
49368R	664	Lecture	5:00-6:20pm	Tue, Thu	19 of 35	Caleb Perl	MHP105
49638R	664	Lecture	5:00-6:20pm	Tue, Thu	Canceled

PHIL 250b: Elementary Formal Logic (2.0 units)

Critical reasoning skills and their many everyday applications; theory of logically correct reasoning and its associated formal techniques.

Prerequisite: PHIL 250a

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
49369R	665	Lecture	5:00-6:20pm	Tue, Thu	14 of 35	Caleb Perl	MHP105

PHIL 262g: Mind and Self: Modern Conceptions (4.0 units)

Philosophical problems about the nature of mind associated withthe rise of modern science; topics include the mind/body relation,personal identity, rationality and freedom.

General Education: This course satisfies the university's general education requirement.
Note: Register for lecture and one discussion

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location
49370R	001	Lecture	12:30-1:50pm	Tue, Thu	145 of 150	Janet Levin	THH101
49371R	001	Discussion	10:00-10:50am	Monday	25 of 25	Maegan Fairchild	MHP102
49372R	001	Discussion	10:00-10:50am	Friday	23 of 25	Brandon Johns	VKC203
49373R	001	Discussion	9:00-9:50am	Wednesday	23 of 25	Jennifer Liderth	VKC151
49375R	001	Discussion	11:00-11:50am	Monday	25 of 25	Maegan Fairchild	MHP102
49376R	001	Discussion	11:00-11:50am	Friday	24 of 25	Brandon Johns	VKC203
49377R	001	Discussion	11:00-11:50am	Wednesday	25 of 25	Jennifer Liderth	MHP102

PHIL 286Lg: Issues in Space and Time (4.0 units)

Examining the nature of space and time, how they relate, and how material objects relate to them. Some included topics: substantivalism, temporal directionality, persistence, hyperspace.

General Education: This course satisfies the university's general education requirement.
Note: Register for lecture and one lab

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus
49383R	001	Lecture	2:00-3:15pm	Tue, Thu	81 of 150	Shieva Kleinschmidt	SGM101	Word (55296 KB)
49571R	001	Lab	8:00-9:50am	Monday	4 of 17	Stephen Bero	VKC204
49572R	001	Lab	10:00-11:50am	Monday	16 of 17	Stephen Bero	VKC204
49573R	001	Lab	8:00-9:50am	Wednesday	11 of 16	Aaron Veek	VKC204
49574R	001	Lab	10:00-11:50am	Wednesday	15 of 17	Aaron Veek	VKC204
49575R	001	Lab	8:00-9:50am	Thursday	5 of 17	Aaron Veek	VKC204
49576R	001	Lab	10:00-11:50am	Friday	12 of 16	Tiffany Chang	VKC208
49577R	001	Lab	8:00-9:50am	Friday	7 of 17	Tiffany Chang	VKC204
49578R	001	Lab	10:00-11:50am	Friday	2 of 17	Stephen Bero	VKC204
49579R	001	Lab	8:00-9:50am	Tuesday	9 of 16	Tiffany Chang	VKC204

PHIL 340: Ethics (4.0 units)

Study of major philosophical theories of moral right and wrong, such as utilitarianism, Kantianism, egoism, virtue ethics, and theological ethics.

Note: Register for lecture and one discussion

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
49414R	001	Lecture-Discussion	11:00-12:15pm	Tue, Thu	33 of 35	Stephen Finlay	VKC258

PHIL 350: Symbolic Logic (4.0 units)

Introduction to basic techniques of propositional and quantificational logic, and elements of probability. Especially useful to philosophy, mathematics, science, and engineering majors.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
49421R	001	Lecture	9:00-9:50am	MWF	31 of 31	Zlatan Damnjanovic	VKC200	Word (28607 KB)

PHIL 360: Epistemology and Metaphysics (4.0 units)

Examination of problems in metaphysics and/or epistemology. Conducted at the intermediate level.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
49427R	001	Lecture	11:00-12:15pm	Tue, Thu	33 of 35	Ralph Wedgwood	VKC210

PHIL 424: 19th Century Philosophy (4.0 units)

Leading figures and movements in nineteenth century philosophy; works of such philosophers as Hegel, Schopenhauer, Mill, Nietzsche, and Bradley.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
49449R	001	Lecture	2:00-3:15pm	Mon, Wed	15 of 35	John Dreher	VKC201	Word (41472 KB)

PHIL 427: Twentieth Century Anglo-American Philosophy (4.0 units)

The nature and function of analysis as a philosophical method; the development of major metaphysical, epistemological, and ethical views; Russell, Wittgenstein, Carnap, Quine and others.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
49452R	001	Lecture	11:00-12:15pm	Tue, Thu	20 of 35	Scott Soames	VKC256

PHIL 437: Social and Political Philosophy (4.0 units)

The nature of man and society, the nature and justification of state and government, political rights and political obligation, justice and equality.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
49461R	001	Lecture	12:00-1:45pm	Mon, Wed	31 of 35	Sharon Lloyd	VKC210	Word (32855 KB)

PHIL 442: History of Ethics to 1900 (4.0 units)

An historical and critical study of the great moral philosophers, including Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Kant, and the British moralists.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
49471R	001	Lecture	2:00-3:15pm	Mon, Wed	18 of 35	Jonathan Quong	VKC256	PDF (138238 KB)

PHIL 452: Modal Logic (4.0 units)

Elements of propositional and quantified modal logic and the logic of counterfactual conditionals with an eye to some of their applications in contemporary philosophy. Prerequisites: PHIL 350, or PHIL 351, or PHIL 352.

Prerequisite: 1 from (PHIL 350 or PHIL 351 or PHIL 352)

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
49481R	001	Lecture	10:00-11:45am	Mon, Wed	4 of 30	Gabriel Uzquiano Cruz	VKC155

PHIL 470: Theory of Knowledge (4.0 units)

Examination of contemporary accounts of the nature, scope, sources--and value--of human knowledge and justified belief.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
49485R	001	Lecture	9:30-10:45am	Tue, Thu	20 of 30	Janet Levin	VKC158

PHIL 471: Metaphysics and Epistemology (4.0 units)

Classic issues in epistemology and the philosophy of language, leading up to the application of context-sensitivity in language to the problem of skepticism. Recommended preparation: At least one 400-level PHIL course. Open only to Philosophy majors.

Prerequisite: 1 from (PHIL 250b or PHIL 350 or PHIL 351 or PHIL 352)
Restriction: Registration open to the following major(s): Philosophy, Philosophy (Ethics), Philosophy (Ethics, Law and Value Theory), Philosophy (History of Philosophy), Philosophy (Philosophy of Science), Philosophy and Law, Philosophy, Politics and Law
Restriction: Registration open to the following class level(s): Senior

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
49440D	836	Lecture	4:30-7:45pm	Tue, Thu	2 of 15	Scott Soames, John Hawthorne	SOSB45

PHIL 490x: Directed Research (1.0-8.0 units, max 12)

Individual research and readings. Not available for graduate credit.

Restriction: Registration open to the following class level(s): Junior, Senior

Section	Session	Units	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location
49490D	001	2.0-8.0	Lecture	TBA	TBA	1 of 5	John Dreher	OFFICE
49491D	001	2.0-8.0	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 5		OFFICE
49492D	001	2.0-8.0	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 5		OFFICE
49493D	001	2.0-8.0	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 5		OFFICE

PHIL 494: Senior Thesis (4.0 units)

Independent studies for philosophy majors, and guidance in the preparation of the senior thesis for students who wish to graduate with honors in philosophy. Not open to graduate students.

Restriction: Registration open to the following class level(s): Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior, Senior

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location
49497D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	1 of 10	John Dreher	OFFICE
49498D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	1 of 5	Ralph Wedgwood	OFFICE
49499D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	1 of 5	Anthony Kammas	OFFICE

PHIL 501: Seminar in Recent Philosophy (4.0 units, max 16)

Contemporary philosophical issues and literature.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
49506R	001	Lecture	2:00-4:20pm	Thursday	Canceled	James Higginbotham

PHIL 503: Introduction to Contemporary Philosophical Literature on Value (4.0 units)

Analysis of selected philosophical problems and theses of current interest; explication of major contemporary papers and/ or books is emphasized.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
49531R	001	Lecture	2:00-4:20pm	Tuesday	8 of 20	Mark Schroeder, Gary Watson	MHP102

PHIL 530: Seminar in Philosophy of Law (4.0 units)

Theories of the nature of law; emphasis on recent writing; legal concepts such as rights, powers, liability, legal responsibility, law, and morality.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
49510R	001	Lecture	3:30-5:50pm	Monday	12 of 20	Andrei Marmor	MHP102

PHIL 565: Philosophy of Language (4.0 units, max 12)

Philosophical issues in the empirical study of language concerning the relationship between linguistic meaning and the use of sentences to assert and convey information.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
49555R	001	Lecture	2:00-4:20pm	Wednesday	3 of 20	Robin Jeshion	MHP102

PHIL 570: Seminar in Epistemology (4.0 units, max 16)

Advanced topics in epistemology.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
49517R	001	Lecture	4:30-7:00pm	Wednesday	3 of 20	Andrew Bacon	MHP102	PDF (103088 KB)

PHIL 585: Seminar in Philosophy of Science (4.0 units, max 16)

Advanced topics in the philosophy of science.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
49518R	001	Lecture	4:30-7:00pm	Tuesday	3 of 20	Kenneth Easwaran	MHP102

PHIL 590: Directed Research (1.0-12.0 units)

Research leading to the master's degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location
49519D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	2 of 5	Janet Levin	OFFICE
49520D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	1 of 7	Kenneth Easwaran	OFFICE
49521D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	4 of 5	Mark Schroeder	OFFICE
49522D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	4 of 5	Gary Watson	OFFICE
49523D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	1 of 5	Gabriel Uzquiano Cruz	OFFICE
49524D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	1 of 5	Ralph Wedgwood	OFFICE
49525D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	1 of 5	Scott Soames	OFFICE
49526D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	1 of 5	Jonathan Quong	OFFICE
49527D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 5		OFFICE
49528D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 5		OFFICE
49529D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 5		OFFICE
49530D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 5		OFFICE

PHIL 594a: Master's Thesis (2.0 units)

Credit on acceptance of Thesis. Graded IP/CR/NC.

Restriction: Registration open to the following class level(s): Master Student

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
49534D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 5		OFFICE

PHIL 594b: Master's Thesis (2.0 units)

Credit on acceptance of Thesis. Graded IP/CR/NC.

Prerequisite: PHIL 594A
Restriction: Registration open to the following class level(s): Master Student

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
49535D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 5		OFFICE

PHIL 594z: Master's Thesis (0.0 units)

Credit on acceptance of Thesis. Graded IP/CR/NC.

Prerequisite: PHIL 594B
Restriction: Registration open to the following class level(s): Master Student

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
49536D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 5		OFFICE

Crosslist PHIL 636: Seminar in Semantics (3.0 units, max 12)

Crosslist: This course is offered by the LING department but may qualify for major credit in PHIL. To register, enroll in LING 636.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
38985D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	4 of 15	Elena Guerzoni, Barry Schein	OFFICE

PHIL 700x: Dissertation Seminar (2.0 units, max 12)

A focused environment in which to present and evaluate dissertation work-in-progress. Focus on peer and faculty feedback, developing professional presentation skills, improving critical communication skills. Graded CR/NC. Open only to Philosophy doctoral students.

Restriction: Registration open to the following major(s): Philosophy
Restriction: Registration open to the following class level(s): Doctoral Student

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
49599R	001	Lecture	11:00-12:45pm	Friday	4 of 20	John Hawthorne, Kenneth Easwaran	MHP102

PHIL 790: Research (1.0-12.0 units)

Research leading to the doctorate. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location
49539D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	1 of 5	Scott Soames	OFFICE
49540D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	1 of 5	Ralph Wedgwood	OFFICE
49541D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	1 of 5	Jonathan Quong	OFFICE
49542D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	1 of 5	Kadri Vihvelin	OFFICE
49543D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 5		OFFICE