Course Descriptions
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Philosophy
6PHL 104 (I-3) Reason and Argument
A general examination of argument structure and the distinguishing virtues of good argument, followed by the presentation of a method of recognizing, analyzing, and evaluating arguments. Application of this method to scientific, moral, historical, and music-analytical arguments.
6PHL 111, 112 (I, II-3) Introduction to Philosophy
Introduction to some of the main problems, concepts, and figures in Western philosophy concerning metaphysics, theory of knowledge, and ethics. Readings from Descartes, Ayer, Austin, Hume, Kant, and others.
6PHL 120 (I-3) The History of Western Philosophy
An introductory survey and sampling of the classics of Western philosophy, from Plato and Aristotle to Sartre and Wittgenstein.
6PHL 151 (I-3) Introduction to Ethics
An introduction to the concepts, issues, and theories of both normative ethics and meta-ethics. One fundamental question governs this inquiry: What does it mean to be a normally good person? A variety of answers to and ramifications of this question will be addressed in class lectures and discussions.
6PHL 241 (I-3) Philosophy of Art
Philosophical problems concerned with the nature of art and the criteria of artistic judgment.
6PHL 242 (I, II-3) Philosophy of Music
This course investigates some of the following questions through lectures on and discussion of essays in philosophy, music theory, musicology, and cognitive science. Is modern music really music? What makes a composition or performance good? What obligations does a performer have to a composer and the score? What obligations does a composer have to the audience? Can programmatic music really represent non-aural events or ideas? … and a variety of other probing questions that are possible topics in this course.
6PHL 281, 282 (I, II-3) Topics in Philosophy
Topics are chosen from both contemporary and historical philosophy and vary from year to year. May be repeated for credit.
6PHL 441 (II-3) Seminar in the Philosophy of Music Theory
An in-depth and rigorous examination of the following philosophical and meta-music theoretical issues: the constraints of intentionality and cultural context on the identity, analysis, interpretation, and criticism of music; the ontological status of musical works of art; theories of meaning and emotion in music. (Also offered as TH 481.)