Graduate Courses

To see a complete list of courses offered and their descriptions, visit the online course catalog.

For current course schedule information and registration, visit SIS.

Column one has the course number and section. Other columns show the course title, days offered, instructor's name, room number, if the course is cross-referenced with another program, and a option to view additional course information in a pop-up window.

Philosophical Issues in Newton and Newtonianism
AS.150.684 (01)

The seminar will examine Isaac Newton’s engagement with a number of philosophical topics: the nature of space and time, causation, matter theory, laws of nature, God, and the mind-body problem. The goal will be to understand the development of Newton’s views in response to the work of Descartes, Hobbes, Gassendi, and Henry More as well as the ways in which Newton’s philosophical views informed and were informed by his various scientific and theological commitments. We will also look at the early reception of Newton’s thought, both efforts to further develop it by Newton’s allies and efforts to criticize it by figures like Leibniz.

  • Credits: 3.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times: W 4:00PM - 6:30PM
  • Instructor: Connolly, Patrick
  • Room: Gilman 288
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 11/15
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Dept Colloquium
AS.150.641 (01)

Presentations by invited speakers.

  • Credits: 1.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times: Th 4:00PM - 6:00PM
  • Instructor: Staff
  • Room: Gilman 288
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 20/25
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Seminar: Philosophy of Physics
AS.150.653 (01)

Philosophical questions about time have a long history. What is time? Is it something that exists without relation to anything external, or is it merely a measure of change (no change, no time)? How does time differ from space? What is the difference between past and future? Does time flow: and what does that even mean? These kinds of questions were taken up by natural philosophers at least since Aristotle. When physics came into its own as a distinctive sub-enterprise of natural philosophy in the 17th century, these kinds of questions passed into the hands of physics. In this class we will be looking at the way that physics transformed our conception of time, the considerations that drove those developments, and how time as described by physics relates to the seemingly familiar flowing time of everyday sense.

  • Credits: 3.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times: W 1:30PM - 4:00PM
  • Instructor: Ismael, Jenann T; Rynasiewicz, Robert
  • Room: Gilman 288
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 8/15
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Topics in Epistemology, Language and Mind
AS.150.652 (01)

This seminar will survey classic and contemporary work on the nature of attitudes like belief, knowledge, desire, and intention.

  • Credits: 3.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times: M 1:30PM - 4:00PM
  • Instructor: Holguín, Ben Walton
  • Room: Gilman 288
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 12/15
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Independent Study
AS.150.810 (05)

By special arrangement, at the discretion of the Instructor.

  • Credits: 3.00 - 9.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Rynasiewicz, Robert
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Independent Study
AS.150.810 (01)

By special arrangement, at the discretion of the Instructor.

  • Credits: 3.00 - 9.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Allais, Lucy
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Independent Study
AS.150.810 (03)

By special arrangement, at the discretion of the Instructor.

  • Credits: 3.00 - 9.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Gross, Steven
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Independent Study
AS.150.810 (06)

By special arrangement, at the discretion of the Instructor.

  • Credits: 3.00 - 9.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Lebron, Christopher Joseph
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Independent Study
AS.150.810 (02)

By special arrangement, at the discretion of the Instructor.

  • Credits: 3.00 - 9.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Pickard, Hanna
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 4/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Independent Study
AS.150.810 (04)

By special arrangement, at the discretion of the Instructor.

  • Credits: 3.00 - 9.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Moyar, Dean
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Independent Study
AS.150.810 (09)

By special arrangement, at the discretion of the Instructor.

  • Credits: 3.00 - 9.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Williams, Michael
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Independent Study
AS.150.810 (11)

By special arrangement, at the discretion of the Instructor.

  • Credits: 3.00 - 9.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Achinstein, Peter
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Independent Study
AS.150.810 (07)

By special arrangement, at the discretion of the Instructor.

  • Credits: 3.00 - 9.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Bok, Hilary
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Independent Study
AS.150.810 (10)

By special arrangement, at the discretion of the Instructor.

  • Credits: 3.00 - 9.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Bledin, Justin
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 4/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Independent Study
AS.150.810 (13)

By special arrangement, at the discretion of the Instructor.

  • Credits: 3.00 - 9.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Taylor, Elanor J.
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Independent Study
AS.150.810 (15)

By special arrangement, at the discretion of the Instructor.

  • Credits: 3.00 - 9.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Holguín, Ben Walton
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 10/10
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Independent Study
AS.150.810 (14)

By special arrangement, at the discretion of the Instructor.

  • Credits: 3.00 - 9.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Phillips, Ian B
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Independent Study
AS.150.810 (16)

By special arrangement, at the discretion of the Instructor.

  • Credits: 3.00 - 9.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Ismael, Jenann T
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Independent Study
AS.150.810 (19)

By special arrangement, at the discretion of the Instructor.

  • Credits: 3.00 - 9.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Connolly, Patrick
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Independent Study
AS.150.810 (08)

By special arrangement, at the discretion of the Instructor.

  • Credits: 3.00 - 9.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Bett, Richard
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Independent Study
AS.150.810 (12)

By special arrangement, at the discretion of the Instructor.

  • Credits: 3.00 - 9.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Melamed, Yitzhak Yohanan
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 3/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Independent Study
AS.150.810 (17)

By special arrangement, at the discretion of the Instructor.

  • Credits: 3.00 - 9.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Carroll, Sean Michael
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Independent Study
AS.150.810 (20)

By special arrangement, at the discretion of the Instructor.

  • Credits: 3.00 - 9.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Kraus, Katharina
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Study
AS.150.811 (02)

Please see AS.150.810 for section numbers to use when registering.

  • Credits: 10.00 - 20.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Pickard, Hanna
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Study
AS.150.811 (03)

Please see AS.150.810 for section numbers to use when registering.

  • Credits: 10.00 - 20.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Gross, Steven
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Study
AS.150.811 (01)

Please see AS.150.810 for section numbers to use when registering.

  • Credits: 10.00 - 20.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Allais, Lucy
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Study
AS.150.811 (04)

Please see AS.150.810 for section numbers to use when registering.

  • Credits: 10.00 - 20.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Moyar, Dean
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Study
AS.150.811 (06)

Please see AS.150.810 for section numbers to use when registering.

  • Credits: 10.00 - 20.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Lebron, Christopher Joseph
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Independent Study
AS.150.810 (18)

By special arrangement, at the discretion of the Instructor.

  • Credits: 3.00 - 9.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Velleman, David David
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Study
AS.150.811 (12)

Please see AS.150.810 for section numbers to use when registering.

  • Credits: 10.00 - 20.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Melamed, Yitzhak Yohanan
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 4/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Study
AS.150.811 (08)

Please see AS.150.810 for section numbers to use when registering.

  • Credits: 10.00 - 20.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Bett, Richard
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Study
AS.150.811 (07)

Please see AS.150.810 for section numbers to use when registering.

  • Credits: 10.00 - 20.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Bok, Hilary
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Study
AS.150.811 (05)

Please see AS.150.810 for section numbers to use when registering.

  • Credits: 10.00 - 20.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Rynasiewicz, Robert
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Study
AS.150.811 (13)

Please see AS.150.810 for section numbers to use when registering.

  • Credits: 10.00 - 20.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Taylor, Elanor J.
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Study
AS.150.811 (10)

Please see AS.150.810 for section numbers to use when registering.

  • Credits: 10.00 - 20.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Bledin, Justin
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Study
AS.150.811 (15)

Please see AS.150.810 for section numbers to use when registering.

  • Credits: 10.00 - 20.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Holguín, Ben Walton
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Study
AS.150.811 (17)

Please see AS.150.810 for section numbers to use when registering.

  • Credits: 10.00 - 20.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Carroll, Sean Michael
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Study
AS.150.811 (14)

Please see AS.150.810 for section numbers to use when registering.

  • Credits: 10.00 - 20.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Phillips, Ian B
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Study
AS.150.811 (16)

Please see AS.150.810 for section numbers to use when registering.

  • Credits: 10.00 - 20.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Ismael, Jenann T
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Study
AS.150.811 (18)

Please see AS.150.810 for section numbers to use when registering.

  • Credits: 10.00 - 20.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Velleman, David David
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Study
AS.150.811 (09)

Please see AS.150.810 for section numbers to use when registering.

  • Credits: 10.00 - 20.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Williams, Michael
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 4/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Study
AS.150.811 (11)

Please see AS.150.810 for section numbers to use when registering.

  • Credits: 10.00 - 20.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Achinstein, Peter
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Readings and Skills in Contemporary Philosophy Part I
AS.150.822 (01)

This course provides skills training for a successful career in philosophy, through engagement with contemporary work across a wide range of areas of philosophy. As a class, we will choose accessible articles of general interest recently published in top journals. Each student will be responsible for presenting one of these articles to the class and leading discussion, with guidance from the instructors. All students will be required to carefully and closely read each paper for each class, and come prepared to discuss it in depth. The aim of this part of the course is to learn how to read and analyze articles, present work, and engage in constructive philosophical discussion. After presenting the paper, each presenter will be required to write a short reply. As a class, we will then engage in a mock review process, crafting anonymous referee reports, revising replies in the light of these, and writing letters to the editor explaining the revisions. The aim of this part of the course is to gain knowledge and skills relevant to writing philosophy and successful publication. The course is open to 1st and 2nd year Philosophy PhD students only. It will meet every other week in both the fall and the spring semesters; each semester is worth 2 credits and students are required to enroll in both. Grading will be based predominantly on participation and effort

  • Credits: 2.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times: T 4:00PM - 6:00PM
  • Instructor: Holguín, Ben Walton; Kraus, Katharina
  • Room: Gilman 288
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 13/15
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Study
AS.150.811 (19)

Please see AS.150.810 for section numbers to use when registering.

  • Credits: 10.00 - 20.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Connolly, Patrick
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Research Seminar
AS.150.824 (01)

For 3rd and 4th year Philosophy graduate students working on their Qualifying Papers and Dissertation Proposals. Meets every other week.

  • Credits: 2.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times: T 4:00PM - 6:00PM
  • Instructor: Gross, Steven
  • Room: Gilman 288
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 8/10
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Directed Study
AS.150.811 (20)

Please see AS.150.810 for section numbers to use when registering.

  • Credits: 10.00 - 20.00
  • Level: Graduate
  • Days/Times:
  • Instructor: Kraus, Katharina
  • Room:  
  • Status: Open
  • Seats Available: 5/5
  • PosTag(s): n/a

Course # (Section) Title Day/Times Instructor Room PosTag(s) Info
AS.150.684 (01)Philosophical Issues in Newton and NewtonianismW 4:00PM - 6:30PMConnolly, PatrickGilman 288
AS.150.641 (01)Dept ColloquiumTh 4:00PM - 6:00PMStaffGilman 288
AS.150.653 (01)Seminar: Philosophy of PhysicsW 1:30PM - 4:00PMIsmael, Jenann T; Rynasiewicz, RobertGilman 288
AS.150.652 (01)Topics in Epistemology, Language and MindM 1:30PM - 4:00PMHolguín, Ben WaltonGilman 288
AS.150.810 (05)Independent StudyRynasiewicz, Robert 
AS.150.810 (01)Independent StudyAllais, Lucy 
AS.150.810 (03)Independent StudyGross, Steven 
AS.150.810 (06)Independent StudyLebron, Christopher Joseph 
AS.150.810 (02)Independent StudyPickard, Hanna 
AS.150.810 (04)Independent StudyMoyar, Dean 
AS.150.810 (09)Independent StudyWilliams, Michael 
AS.150.810 (11)Independent StudyAchinstein, Peter 
AS.150.810 (07)Independent StudyBok, Hilary 
AS.150.810 (10)Independent StudyBledin, Justin 
AS.150.810 (13)Independent StudyTaylor, Elanor J. 
AS.150.810 (15)Independent StudyHolguín, Ben Walton 
AS.150.810 (14)Independent StudyPhillips, Ian B 
AS.150.810 (16)Independent StudyIsmael, Jenann T 
AS.150.810 (19)Independent StudyConnolly, Patrick 
AS.150.810 (08)Independent StudyBett, Richard 
AS.150.810 (12)Independent StudyMelamed, Yitzhak Yohanan 
AS.150.810 (17)Independent StudyCarroll, Sean Michael 
AS.150.810 (20)Independent StudyKraus, Katharina 
AS.150.811 (02)Directed StudyPickard, Hanna 
AS.150.811 (03)Directed StudyGross, Steven 
AS.150.811 (01)Directed StudyAllais, Lucy 
AS.150.811 (04)Directed StudyMoyar, Dean 
AS.150.811 (06)Directed StudyLebron, Christopher Joseph 
AS.150.810 (18)Independent StudyVelleman, David David 
AS.150.811 (12)Directed StudyMelamed, Yitzhak Yohanan 
AS.150.811 (08)Directed StudyBett, Richard 
AS.150.811 (07)Directed StudyBok, Hilary 
AS.150.811 (05)Directed StudyRynasiewicz, Robert 
AS.150.811 (13)Directed StudyTaylor, Elanor J. 
AS.150.811 (10)Directed StudyBledin, Justin 
AS.150.811 (15)Directed StudyHolguín, Ben Walton 
AS.150.811 (17)Directed StudyCarroll, Sean Michael 
AS.150.811 (14)Directed StudyPhillips, Ian B 
AS.150.811 (16)Directed StudyIsmael, Jenann T 
AS.150.811 (18)Directed StudyVelleman, David David 
AS.150.811 (09)Directed StudyWilliams, Michael 
AS.150.811 (11)Directed StudyAchinstein, Peter 
AS.150.822 (01)Readings and Skills in Contemporary Philosophy Part IT 4:00PM - 6:00PMHolguín, Ben Walton; Kraus, KatharinaGilman 288
AS.150.811 (19)Directed StudyConnolly, Patrick 
AS.150.824 (01)Research SeminarT 4:00PM - 6:00PMGross, StevenGilman 288
AS.150.811 (20)Directed StudyKraus, Katharina