DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

Undergraduate Department of Philosophy

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES

Chair: Randolph Clarke; Professors: Bishop, Clarke, Hinchman, Justus, Kearns, LeBar, Mele, Rawling, Stein, Van Leeuwen, Westlund; Associate Professors: Fugate, Herdova, May; Assistant Professors: Bukoski, Lenczewska, Patel, Ward; Senior Teaching Faculty: Mahaffey

The undergraduate program in philosophy is designed to enable students to gain an understanding of the substantive issues philosophers have struggled with through the ages. Students majoring in philosophy can expect to develop their abilities to engage in critical examination and evaluation. Such skills have proven to be of great value in almost any type of human endeavor. The program serves as a basis for professional training in other fields, such as law, education, politics, journalism, or theology, or as foundation for future professional training in philosophy. The department offers degree programs at all levels.

The department participates in the honors program, as well as the undergraduate programs in the following departments or programs: women's studies, humanities, Latin American and Caribbean studies, political science, international affairs, and religion. In addition, it offers more than ten courses in the University's CoreFSU Curriculum.

Students have considerable latitude to design the content of a major that meets their needs and interests. For example, a student might focus primarily on ethics; on social and political philosophy; on logic and philosophy of science; on the history of philosophy or some distinct period such as ancient, modern, or contemporary; on epistemology; or on cognitive studies. Many students will find it possible to combine a major in philosophy with a major in another discipline. The department welcomes such arrangements.

The department's distinguished faculty is actively engaged in teaching, research, writing, publishing, and editing. Students majoring in philosophy can be assured that not only will they receive an excellent education in the history of philosophy but they will also have the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the latest developments in the discipline. The journal Social Theory and Practice is edited and published by the department.

Additionally, regular colloquia are offered during which departmental faculty, graduate students, and guests from other universities present papers and lead discussions on philosophical topics. In addition, the department regularly sponsors conferences; topics have included biomedical ethics, moral education, philosophy of language, color, Wittgenstein, Plato, Aristotle, Kant, ethical theory, history and philosophy of science in science teaching, human rights, virtue and social diversity, Kantian themes in ethics, and philosophy of biology. Werkmeister conferences on a variety of topics are held annually.

In addition to more formal academic settings, the undergraduate philosophy club offers opportunities for majors and prospective majors to meet and discuss readings or movies of philosophical interest.

Digital Literacy Requirement

Students must complete at least one course designated as meeting the Digital Literacy Requirement with a grade of “C–” or higher. Courses fulfilling the Digital Literacy Requirement must accomplish at least three of the following outcomes:

Evaluate and interpret the accuracy, credibility, and relevance of digital information
Evaluate and interpret digital data and their implications
Discuss the ways in which society and/or culture interact with digital technology
Discuss digital technology trends and their professional implications
Demonstrate the ability to use digital technology effectively
Demonstrate the knowledge to use digital technology safely and ethically

Each academic major has determined the courses that fulfill the Digital Literacy requirement for that major. Students should contact their major department(s) to determine which courses will fulfill their Digital Literacy requirement. Undergraduate majors in philosophy satisfy this requirement by earning a grade of “C–” or higher in CGS 2060 or CGS 2100.

State of Florida Common Program Prerequisites

No statewide common program prerequisites have been identified for this program; however, the faculty in this program recommends that students take several lower-level courses with the PHH, PHI, PHM, or PHP prefix.

Please review all college-wide degree requirements summarized on the Undergraduate Review page of the College of Arts & Sciences chapter.

Note: The required courses listed below may not be offered every term. Students should check with the department at least two terms before graduation to make sure they will have the opportunity to complete the requirements.

Note: Courses offered by other departments, even if they have the same prefix as approved philosophy courses listed below, cannot be counted towards major or minor requirements in philosophy. Contact the department's Academic Coordinator if clarification is required.

Thirty credit hours in philosophy are required for the major, including the following:

Logic (three credit hours)

One of:

PHI 2100 Reasoning and Critical Thinking (3)
PHI 3130 Introduction to Symbolic Logic (3)
PHI 2138 Making the Argument: Symbolic Logic and the Forms of Good Reasoning (3)

History of Philosophy (six credit hours)

Ancient Philosophy

One of:

PHH 3130 Plato and His Predecessors (3)
PHH 3140 Aristotle to Augustine (3)

AND

Modern Philosophy

PHH 3400 Modern Philosophy (3)

Ethics (three credit hours)

PHI 3670 Ethical Theory (3)

Contemporary Metaphysics and Epistemology (three credit hours)

One of:

PHH 4600r Contemporary Philosophy (3)
PHI 3220 Introduction to Philosophy of Language (3)
PHI 3300 Knowledge and Belief (3)
PHI 3331 Philosophy of Action (3)
PHI 3320 Philosophy of Mind (3)
PHI 3330 Free Will (3)
PHI 3400 History and Philosophy of Science (3)
PHI 4500 Metaphysics (3)

Seminar for Majors, to be taken in the senior year (three credit hours)

PHI 4938r Seminar for Majors (3)

Additional requirements: At least 21 credit hours in the major must be at the 3000 level or above; at least 15 credit hours must be completed in the Philosophy Department at Florida State University; and completion of a minor.

Grades below “C–” will not be accepted for major or minor credit, nor will courses taken for “S/U” credit.

Requirements for a Minor in Philosophy

Twelve credit hours in philosophy are required for the minor, including:

Logic (three credit hours)

One of:

PHI 2100 Reasoning and Critical Thinking (3)
PHI 3130 Introduction to Symbolic Logic (3)
PHI 2138 Making the Argument: Symbolic Logic and the Forms of Good Reasoning (3)

History (three credit hours)

One of:

PHH 3061 Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy (3)
PHH 3130 Plato and His Predecessors (3)
PHH 3140 Aristotle to Augustine (3)
PHH 3400 Modern Philosophy (3)
PHH 3500 Nineteenth-Century Philosophy (3)

At least six credit hours must be at the 3000 level or above. Students must receive a letter grade of “C–” or better in all courses that count toward the minor.

Minor in Political Philosophy

Twelve credit hours in philosophy are required for the minor, including:

Logic (three credit hours)

One of:

PHI 2100 Reasoning and Critical Thinking (3)
PHI 3130 Introduction to Symbolic Logic (3)
PHI 2138 Making the Argument: Symbolic Logic and the Forms of Good Reasoning (3)

Nine credit hours from:

PHI 3162 Logic and the Law (3)
PHM 2121 Philosophy of Race, Class and Gender (3)
PHM 2300 Introduction to Political Philosophy (3)
PHM 3020 Philosophy of Sex (3)
PHM 3123 Philosophy of Feminism (3)
PHM 3331r Modern Political Thought (3)
PHM 3351 Philosophy of Human Rights (3)
PHM 3400 Philosophy of Law (3)
PHM 4340r Contemporary Political Thought (3)
PHP 3510 Introduction to Marxist Philosophy (3)

At least six credit hours must be at the 3000 level or above. Students must receive a letter grade of “C–” or better in all courses that count toward the minor.

Minor in Law and Philosophy

Twelve credit hours in philosophy are required for the minor, including:

A required course:

PHM 3400 Philosophy of Law (3)

Logic (three credit hours)

One of:

PHI 2100 Reasoning and Critical Thinking (3)
PHI 3130 Introduction to Symbolic Logic (3)
PHI 2138 Making the Argument: Symbolic Logic and the Forms of Good Reasoning (3)
PHI 3162 Logic and the Law (3)

Six credit hours from:

PHI 2620 Environmental Ethics (3)
PHI 2633 Introduction to Biomedical Ethics (3)
PHI 3670 Ethical Theory (3)
PHM 3351 Philosophy of Human Rights (3)
At least six credit hours must be at the 3000 level or above. Students must receive a letter grade of “C–” or better in all courses that count toward the minor.

Minor in Philosophy of Science

Twelve credit hours in philosophy are required for the minor, including:

A required course:

PHI 3400 History and Philosophy of Science

Logic (three credit hours)

One of:

PHI 2100 Reasoning and Critical Thinking (3)
PHI 3130 Introduction to Symbolic Logic (3)
PHI 2138 Making the Argument: Symbolic Logic and the Forms of Good Reasoning (3)

Six credit hours from:

HPS 3320 Screening the Scientific Life: Cinema and the Cultural Image of Science (3)

PHI 2620 Environmental Ethics (3)
PHI 2633 Introduction to Biomedical Ethics (3)
PHI 3300 Knowledge and Belief (3)
PHI 3320 Philosophy of Mind (3)
PHI 3452 Philosophy of Biology (3)
PHI 4500 Metaphysics (3)

At least six credit hours must be at the 3000 level or above. Students must receive a letter grade of “C-“ or better in all courses that count toward the minor.

Honors in the Major

Honors work in the major is offered to encourage talented juniors and seniors to undertake independent and original research. Successful completion of honors work results in honors credits and graduation with distinction. For requirements and other information, see the “Discipline-Specific Honor Societies” tab of the Honors chapter.