Philosophy

College of Arts & Sciences

  • Introduction to Philosophy

    CAS PH 100

    Introduces the nature of philosophical activity through careful study of major philosophical topics. Topics may include the nature of reality, knowledge, God's existence, and the significance of human life. Carries humanities divisional credit in CAS. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Philosophical Inquiry and Life's Meanings, Ethical Reasoning, Critical Thinking. 4 cr. Tuition: $3100

    Summer 1 (May 23-June 29)

    A1 (LEC) Mon./Tues./Thurs. 1-3:30 pm Add & Drop Dates
    Course Start DateTuesday, May 23, 2023
    Last day to addTuesday, May 30, 2023
    Last day to drop without "W" gradeTuesday, May 30, 2023
    Last day to drop with "W" gradeThursday, June 15, 2023
    Course End DateThursday, June 29, 2023
    Location: CAS B06B      ... Open Seats
    Gozde Yildirim
    Make-up classes on two Fridays: 6/2 and 6/23

    Summer 1 seven-week course (May 16-June 30)

    OL (LEC) Arranged Add & Drop Dates
    (DIS) Mon./Thurs. 11 am-12 noon
    Course Start DateTuesday, May 16, 2023
    Last day to addFriday, May 12, 2023
    Last day to drop without "W" gradeTuesday, May 23, 2023
    Last day to drop with "W" gradeTuesday, June 13, 2023
    Course End DateFriday, June 30, 2023
    ... Open Seats
    Walter Hopp
    Online Course
    Meets online every Mon & Thurs 11 am-12 noon for a live class. Nonstandard course dates
    Summer 1 Section A1: As a special provision of this BU Hub course, BU financial aid may be available to BU need-based scholarship recipients for up to one course in summer 2023. For more information, please contact BU Financial Assistance at 617-353-2965 or finaid@bu.edu.
    Summer 1 Section OL: As a special provision of this summer online BU Hub course, BU financial aid may be available to BU need-based scholarship recipients for up to one course in summer 2023. For more information, please contact BU Financial Assistance at 617-353-2965 or finaid@bu.edu.
    For information about technology requirements for online courses at Boston University, see bu.edu/online/online-learning/technology. The Distance Education office can be reached at 617-358-1960 for additional information.

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  • Introduction to Ethics

    CAS PH 150

    Many of us want to lead meaningful lives. But what is it for a life to be meaningful? What makes some lives better or more meaningful than others? Can life as a whole have some significance or meaning? Carries humanities divisional credit in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Philosophical Inquiry and Life's Meanings, Ethical Reasoning, Critical Thinking. 4 cr. Tuition: $3100

    Summer 1 (May 23-June 29)

    A1 (IND) Mon./Tues./Thurs. 1-3:30 pm Add & Drop Dates
    Course Start DateTuesday, May 23, 2023
    Last day to addTuesday, May 30, 2023
    Last day to drop without "W" gradeTuesday, May 30, 2023
    Last day to drop with "W" gradeThursday, June 15, 2023
    Course End DateThursday, June 29, 2023
    Location: SHA 206      ... Open Seats
    Casey Grippo
    Make-up classes on two Fridays: 6/2 and 6/23

    Summer 2 (July 6-August 15)

    B1 (IND) Mon./Tues./Thurs. 6-8:30 pm Add & Drop Dates
    Course Start DateThursday, July 6, 2023
    Last day to addTuesday, July 11, 2023
    Last day to drop without "W" gradeTuesday, July 11, 2023
    Last day to drop with "W" gradeFriday, July 28, 2023
    Course End DateTuesday, August 15, 2023
    Location: CAS B06A      ... Open Seats
    Amber Sheldon

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  • Politics and Philosophy

    CAS PH 155

    Online offering. What is justice? What are the foundations of property rights, liberty, and equality? Are anarchism and utopianism defensible? This course is an introduction to major themes and questions in political philosophy. It includes a study of classical and modern texts, as well as contemporary political issues. Carries humanities divisional credit in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Philosophical Inquiry and Life's Meanings, Ethical Reasoning, Critical Thinking. 4 cr. Tuition: $3100

    Summer 2 seven-week course (July 5-August 22)

    OL (LEC) Arranged Add & Drop Dates
    (DIS) Mon./Wed. 9-10 am
    Course Start DateWednesday, July 5, 2023
    Last day to addFriday, June 30, 2023
    Last day to drop without "W" gradeWednesday, July 12, 2023
    Last day to drop with "W" gradeFriday, August 4, 2023
    Course End DateTuesday, August 22, 2023
    ... Open Seats
    Susanne Sreedhar
    Online Course
    Meets online every Mon & Wed 9-10 am for a live class. Nonstandard course dates
    Summer 2 Section OL: As a special provision of this summer online BU Hub course, BU financial aid may be available to BU need-based scholarship recipients for up to one course in summer 2023. For more information, please contact BU Financial Assistance at 617-353-2965 or finaid@bu.edu.
    For information about technology requirements for online courses at Boston University, see bu.edu/online/online-learning/technology. The Distance Education office can be reached at 617-358-1960 for additional information.

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  • Reasoning and Argumentation

    CAS PH 160

    A systematic study of the principles of both deductive and informal reasoning, calculated to enhance students' actual reasoning skills, with an emphasis on reasoning and argumentation in ordinary discourse. Emphasizes argumentation and criticism in ordinary life and also presents formal models of reasoning designed to elicit underlying patterns and structures of reasoning and argumentation that are widely applicable. Includes simultaneous training in the skills of argument analysis, argument pattern recognition, argument construction, and argument interpretation and creation. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Philosophical Inquiry and Life's Meanings, Critical Thinking. 4 cr. Tuition: $3100

    Summer 1 (May 23-June 29)

    A1 (IND) Tues./Thurs. 9 am-12:30 pm Add & Drop Dates
    Course Start DateTuesday, May 23, 2023
    Last day to addTuesday, May 30, 2023
    Last day to drop without "W" gradeTuesday, May 30, 2023
    Last day to drop with "W" gradeThursday, June 15, 2023
    Course End DateThursday, June 29, 2023
    Location: CAS 218      ... Open Seats
    Juliet Floyd

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  • Medical Ethics

    CAS PH 251

    Surveys ethical issues that arise in connection with medicine and emerging biotechnologies. Examines topics such as the right to healthcare, research on human subjects, euthanasia, abortion, cloning, genetic selection, disabilities, and the biomedical enhancement of human capacities. Students can expect to gain not only training in the concepts and methods of moral philosophy and the logic of argumentation, but also the resources needed for assessing ethically difficult questions that healthcare professionals routinely face. Carries humanities divisional credit in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Philosophical Inquiry and Life's Meanings, Ethical Reasoning, Critical Thinking. 4 cr. Tuition: $3100

    Summer 1 (May 23-June 29)

    A1 (IND) Mon./Tues./Thurs. 6-8:30 pm Add & Drop Dates
    Course Start DateTuesday, May 23, 2023
    Last day to addTuesday, May 30, 2023
    Last day to drop without "W" gradeTuesday, May 30, 2023
    Last day to drop with "W" gradeThursday, June 15, 2023
    Course End DateThursday, June 29, 2023
    Location: CAS B06B      ... Open Seats
    Kenneth Richman
    Make-up classes on two Fridays: 6/2 and 6/23

    Summer 2 (July 6-August 15)

    B1 (IND) Mon./Tues./Thurs. 6-8:30 pm Add & Drop Dates
    Course Start DateThursday, July 6, 2023
    Last day to addTuesday, July 11, 2023
    Last day to drop without "W" gradeTuesday, July 11, 2023
    Last day to drop with "W" gradeFriday, July 28, 2023
    Course End DateTuesday, August 15, 2023
    Location: CAS 208      ... Open Seats
    Rachell Powell

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  • Mind, Brain, and Self

    CAS PH 266

    Prereq: First-Year Writing Seminar (e.g., CAS WR 100 or CAS WR 120). Explores the relationships among consciousness, the mind, the brain, the nature of the self or person, and other related topics. Also examines whether and to what extent these issues can be addressed by contemporary natural science. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Philosophical Inquiry and Life's Meanings, Writing-Intensive Course, Critical Thinking. 4 cr. Tuition: $3100

    Summer 1 (May 23-June 29)

    A1 (IND) Tues./Thurs. 1:30-5 pm Add & Drop Dates
    Course Start DateTuesday, May 23, 2023
    Last day to addTuesday, May 30, 2023
    Last day to drop without "W" gradeTuesday, May 30, 2023
    Last day to drop with "W" gradeThursday, June 15, 2023
    Course End DateThursday, June 29, 2023
    Location: STH 113      ... Open Seats
    Juliet Floyd

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  • History of Ancient Philosophy

    CAS PH 300

    Prereq: one philosophy course or sophomore standing and First-Year Writing Seminar (e.g., CAS WR 100 or CAS WR 120). A survey of ancient Greek philosophy, with an emphasis on Plato and Aristotle. Topics include the fundamental nature of reality, how we know anything about it, wisdom, virtue, and human happiness. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Ethical Reasoning, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy. 4 cr. Tuition: $3100

    Summer 2 (July 6-August 15)

    B1 (IND) Mon./Tues./Thurs. 9:30 am-12 noon Add & Drop Dates
    Course Start DateThursday, July 6, 2023
    Last day to addTuesday, July 11, 2023
    Last day to drop without "W" gradeTuesday, July 11, 2023
    Last day to drop with "W" gradeFriday, July 28, 2023
    Course End DateTuesday, August 15, 2023
    Location: SHA 206      ... Open Seats
    Matthew Brewer

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