Faculty

Aldo Antonelli: Logic, philosophy of mathematics, history of analytic philosophy

Jeffrey A. Barrett: Philosophy of science, philosophy of physics, philosophy of quantum mechanics, epistemology

Kent Johnson: Philosophy of language, philosophy of mind

Penelope Maddy: Philosophy of mathematics, philosophy of logic, naturalism, history of analytic philosophy

David Malament: Foundations of relativity theory, philosophy of physics

Brian Skyrms: Philosophy of science, decision theory, game theory, philosophy of biology, epistemology, metaphysics

Kyle Stanford: Philosophy of science, philosophy of biology, history of modern philosophy, metaphysics

Kai F. Wehmeier: Logic, philosophy of mathematics, history of analytic philosophy

Affiliated Faculty

Francisco Ayala: Evolutionary biology, philosophy of science, philosophy of biology

Patricia Churchland (UCSD): Philosophy of neuroscience and psychology

Paul Churchland (UCSD): Philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, artificial intelligence and cognitive neurobiology, epistemology, and perception

Paul Eklof: Mathematical logic

Matthew Foreman: Mathematical logic

Steven Frank: Evolutionary biology

Donald Hoffman: Human and machine vision

Duncan Luce: Mathematical behavioral science

D.A. Martin (UCLA): Logic, set theory, philosophy of mathematics

James McGaugh: Neurobiology of learning and memory

Yiannis Moschovakis (UCLA): Set theory, recursion theory

Louis Narens: Measurement, logic, and metacognition

Riley Newman: Experimental particle physics and gravitational physics

Terence Parsons (UCLA): Philosophy of language, metaphysics

Donald Saari: Mathematical economics, mathematical behavioral science, celestial mechanics

Jonas Schultz: Experimental particle physics

Norman Weinberger: Neural bases of attention and learning

Martin Zeman: Logic and combinatorics

The Department of Logic and Philosophy of Science and the Department of Philosophy jointly administer a Ph.D. program in Philosophy with two independent tracks: the Philosophy track and the LPS track. Both tracks begin from a common core of requirements in standard philosophical fields (e.g., history of philosophy, logic, ethics, metaphysics/epistemology) and branch off thereafter; both tracks offer the Ph.D. degree in Philosophy. Applicants are advised to apply to the unit whose faculty, areas of specialization, and curriculum correspond best with their interests. Students are expected to reside in the same unit as their primary advisor, but faculty in both units are available for all other academic purposes (course work, independent studies, committee membership, and more). See the Department of Philosophy in the School of Humanities for a description of the Philosophy track.

The M.A. degree in Philosophy may also be awarded to Ph.D. students who complete the necessary requirements.

ADMISSIONS

Applicants for the LPS track must have a bachelor's degree, but there is no formal requirement as to the field of that degree. The most natural undergraduate majors for LPS graduate students would be philosophy, mathematics, or the sciences, but those with other degrees who are interested in the LPS fields should feel free to apply.

Complete applications must include GRE scores, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a writing sample. The deadline for application is January 15.

Several forms of incoming fellowships are available on a competitive basis; these include a stipend, student fees, and tuition (for out-of-state students). In subsequent years, some additional fellowship funding is available, but students in good standing are most often supported with teaching assistantships.

REQUIREMENTS OF THE LPS TRACK

All required courses must be completed with a grade of B or better.

The History of Philosophy Requirement provides a broad perspective. Graduate courses in three out of the following four areas—Modern Rationalism, Modern Empiricism, Kant, and Twentieth Century—must be completed by the end of the seventh quarter in residence.

The Logic Requirement acquaints students with the fundamentals of modern logic: elementary set theory, metalogic, effective procedures and Gödel's incompleteness theorems. LPS 205A, 205B, and 205C must be completed by the end of the seventh quarter in residence.

The Field Requirement provides exposure to a range of philosophical disciplines. One graduate course in moral philosophy and one graduate course in metaphysics/epistemology must be completed by the end of the seventh quarter in residence. (These courses may not also be used to satisfy the History Requirement.)

The Philosophy of Science Requirement provides exposure to a range of philosophy of science, from general philosophy of science to the philosophies of particular sciences (e.g., physics, biology), to the philosophies of mathematics and logic. Three selected courses from LPS 240-247 must be completed by the end of the seventh quarter in residence. (These courses may be repeated as topics vary.) Courses used to satisfy the Philosophy of Science Requirement may also be used to satisfy the History or Field Requirements.

The Tools of Research Requirement provides some flexibility for students with various levels of interest in pursuing the philosophy of a particular science. So, for example, a student most interested in historical issues in the philosophy of mathematics might benefit most from the study of German, while a student most interested in the philosophy of quantum mechanics should take a series of graduate courses in physics. (Students wishing to specialize further in the philosophy of a particular science might wish to pursue more demanding options; see the Mathematics and Physics emphases, below.) To satisfy this requirement, a student must pass an examination on an appropriate foreign language or receive a grade of B or better in three appropriate graduate courses in a discipline or disciplines outside philosophy by the end of the ninth quarter in residence. Though the discipline(s) here must be outside philosophy, they might be taught by Philosophy or LPS faculty. The two-hour language examination will be administered by an LPS faculty member and will require the student to translate (with the aid of a dictionary) a passage or passages from philosophical or scientific authors.

The Portfolio Requirement ensures that students have acquired dissertation-level skills in the writing of philosophy: e.g., the ability to isolate, understand and evaluate arguments in the philosophical literature; the ability to assimilate secondary literature; the ability to formulate and defend an original philosophical thesis. The portfolio is designed to display these skills. To satisfy this requirement, a student must submit an extended writing sample, most often consisting of several individual papers, that demonstrates the skills necessary to write a Ph.D. dissertation. (A successful portfolio typically consists of several papers totaling around 80 pages. These may be revisions of term papers. Each paper should present and defend a definite thesis and should be accessible to faculty members unfamiliar with the literature in question. The papers in the portfolio need not be of publishable quality, but they must, collectively, demonstrate the specified skills.) Portfolios will be evaluated by the entire LPS faculty. (LPS track students may request that relevant Philosophy Department faculty also be present at the evaluation meeting.) Portfolios must be submitted by the end of the fourth week of the seventh quarter.

The Candidacy Examination demonstrates that the student has a viable dissertation topic and an adequate grasp of related literature. To satisfy this requirement, a student must prepare and be examined on a reading list of canonical literature in the area of the dissertation and a brief (15-20 page) dissertation proposal. The reading list should in effect define the context of the proposed dissertation. The examination must be completed by the end of the tenth quarter in residence. The normative time for advancement to candidacy is 3.3 years.

Dissertation Defense. Students must pass a final oral examination focussing on the content of the dissertation administered by the Dissertation Committee. The normative time for completion of the Ph.D. is five years, and the maximum time permitted is seven years.

LPS TRACK EMPHASIS IN MATHEMATICS

In addition to the LPS track described above, there is a more demanding option open to LPS students wishing to specialize in the foundations and/or philosophy of mathematics. Faculty in the UCI and UCLA Departments of Mathematics participate in the Mathematics emphasis. Students in the emphasis take courses and receive advising from these participating Mathematics professors, as well as from the faculty of LPS and the Philosophy Department. Mathematics emphasis students must satisfy the following requirement in addition to the usual LPS track requirements:

Mathematics Requirement. A student must receive a grade of B or better in six graduate courses in mathematics. (Some of these courses may also be used to satisfy the Tools of Research Requirement.) In addition, the student's Candidacy and Dissertation Committees must include an active member from the UCI or UCLA Departments of Mathematics.

LPS TRACK EMPHASIS IN PHYSICS

In addition to the LPS track described above, there is a more demanding option open to LPS students wishing to specialize in the foundations and/or philosophy of physics. Physics emphasis students must satisfy the following requirement in addition to the usual LPS track requirements:

Physics Requirement. A student must receive a grade of B or better in three sections of LPS 241 whose topics are Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics, Geometry and Spacetime, and Probability and Determinism, as well as in three additional graduate courses in Physics or Mathematics. (Students in the Physics Emphasis may also use these courses to satisfy the Tools of Research Requirement, but not the Philosophy of Science Requirement.)

SALZBURG EXCHANGE PROGRAM

LPS and the Department of Philosophy jointly administer an Exchange Program with the University of Salzburg. The program has two parts. The Scholarly Exchange provides opportunities for faculty and graduate students in LPS and Philosophy to visit Salzburg and for faculty and graduate students from Salzburg to visit one or the other of the UCI units. The Program also sponsors joint conferences, held alternately in Irvine and in Salzburg; these are co-sponsored by Salzburg and the UCI Interdisciplinary Program in the History and Philosophy of Science.

To be eligible for the Salzburg Exchange, a graduate student must have advanced to candidacy. The selected student spends one semester in Salzburg, usually teaching one course in the general area of the thesis topic. An upper-division course may be taught in English, but lower-division courses must be taught in German. (Some previous visitors have learned serviceable German by attending a Goethe institute during the preceding summer.) Typically, a Salzburg visitor will receive a Salzburg Fellowship intended to cover travel expenses, and a stipend; those who teach while in Salzburg will also receive a salary intended to cover living expenses (including health and dental insurance).

Applications from LPS graduate students (including a curriculum vita and syllabi for courses that might be taught) should be sent to the LPS Salzburg Exchange Director by November 1.

LOWER-DIVISION

4A Scientific Revolutions (4). Explores two central themes: (1) using philosophical analysis to investigate the nature of the social sciences, and (2) using the social sciences themselves to study to nature of science. (III)

4B Case Studies in Social Science (4). Introduces students to three case studies in three different social science areas in order to show how the social sciences are in fact practiced. (III)

29 Critical Reasoning (4). Introduction to analysis and reasoning. The concepts of argument, premise, and conclusion, validity and invalidity, consistency and inconsistency. Identifying and assessing premises and inferences. Deductive versus inductive reasoning, and introduction to the probability calculus. Evaluating definitions. Informal fallacies. Same as Philosophy 29. (V)

30 Introduction to Symbolic Logic (4). An introduction to the symbolism and methods of the logic of statements, including evaluation of arguments by truth tables, the techniques of natural deduction and semantic tableaux. Same as Philosophy 30. (V)

31 Introduction to Inductive Logic (4). Philosophical questions concerning the foundations of scientific inference, e.g., the traditional problem of induction, the Goodman paradox, the concept of cause, Mill's method of inductive reasoning, probability calculus, different interpretations of probability, and their interaction in inductive reasoning. Prerequisite: Logic and Philosophy of Science 30 or 104. Same as Philosophy 31. (V)

40 The Nature of Scientific Inquiry (4). Examines the nature of the scientific enterprise, using concrete examples to explore how the distinctive features and methods of scientific inquiry provide a uniquely powerful tool for acquiring knowledge. Also investigates the scope, status, and character of that knowledge.

102 Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge (4). A study of one or more of the basic issues in epistemology, e.g., the role of perception in the acquisition of knowledge, the nature of evidence, the distinction between belief and knowledge, and the nature of truth and certainty. Same as Philosophy 102.

104 Introduction to Logic (4). Introduction to sentence logic, including truth tables and natural deduction; and to predicate logic, including semantics and natural deduction. Same as Philosophy 104.

105A Elementary Set Theory (4). An introduction to the basic working vocabulary of mathematical reasoning. Topics include: sets, Boolean operations, ordered n-tuples, relations, functions, ordinal and cardinal numbers. Prerequisite: Logic and Philosophy of Science 104, Mathematics 6B, an upper-division course in Mathematics, or consent of instructor. Logic and Philosophy of Science 105A and Mathematics 151 may not both be taken for credit. Same as Philosophy 105A.

105B Metalogic (4). Introduction to formal syntax (proof theory) and semantics (model theory) for first-order logic, including the deduction, completeness, compactness, and Löewenheim-Skolem theorems. Prerequisite: Logic and Philosophy of Science 105A or consent of instructor. Logic and Philosophy of Science 105B and Mathematics 150 may not both be taken for credit. Same as Philosophy 105B.

105C Undecidability and Incompleteness (4). Introduction to the formal theory of effective processes, including recursive functions, Turing machines, Church's thesis, and proofs of Göedel's incompleteness theorem for arithmetic, and Church's undecidability theorem for first-order logic. Prerequisite: Logic and Philosophy of Science 105B or consent of instructor. Logic and Philosophy of Science 105C and Mathematics 152 cannot both be taken for credit. Same as Philosophy 105C.

106 Topics in Logic (4). Selected topics in mathematical or philosophical logic. Prerequisite: Logic and Philosophy of Science 105B or consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 106.

107 Computability Theory (4). Aims to provide an introduction to recursive function theory, with special emphasis on the theory of the recursively enumerable sets of natural numbers and their "fine structure" under various notions of reducibility.

108 Topics in Induction, Probability, and Decision Theory (4). Selected topics in induction, probability, and decision theory. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 108.

113 Topics in Modern Philosophy (4). Focuses on the works of one or more of the central philosophical figures of the modern period (e.g., Descartes, Leibniz, Hobbes, Locke, Hume, Kant) or the treatment of one or more central philosophical problems by a number of these figures. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 113.

115 Topics in History of Analytic Philosophy (4). Review of one or more central theories or figures in the history of analytic philosophy. Emphasis is on the study of original sources, especially writings of Frege, Russell, Schlick, Carnap, and Quine. Topics include the nature of meaning and truth, the synthetic/analytic distinction, and scientific knowledge. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 115.

120 Topics in Metaphysics (4). Examines central philosophical questions concerning our own fundamental nature and that of the world around us (e.g., causation and necessity, determination, free will, personal identity, the mind-body problem). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 120.

121 Topics in the Theory of Knowledge (4). One or more topics in the theory of knowledge, e.g., the nature of rational justification, of perceptual knowledge, of a priori knowledge. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 121.

140 Topics in Philosophy of Science (4). Selected topics in contemporary philosophy of science, e.g., the status of theoretical entities, the confirmation of theories, the nature of scientific explanation. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 140.

141A Topics in Philosophy of Physics (4). Selected topics in the philosophy of physics, e.g., the interpretation of quantum mechanics, the nature of spacetime, the problem of quantum field theories. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 141A.

141B Geometry and Spacetime (4). An examination of the foundations of the special theory of relativity, with emphasis on the geometry of Minkowski spacetime, and its relation to both Euclidean and non-Euclidean (hyperbolic) plane geometries. Prerequisites: multivariable calculus and linear algebra at the undergraduate level. Same as Philosophy 141B.

141C Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics (4). An examination of the standard von Neumann-Dirac formulation of quantum mechanics. The quantum measurement problem is discussed along with several proposed solutions, including GRW, many-worlds, man-minds, and Bohm's theory. Same as Philosophy 141C.

141D Probability and Determinism (4). An examination of a cluster of interrelated issues concerning probability, determinism, logic, and the foundations of quantum mechanics. Prerequisites: multivariable calculus and linear algebra at the undergraduate level. Same as Philosophy 141D.

142 Writing/Philosophy of Biology (4). Philosophy of biology, e.g., scientific method in biology, the structure of evolutionary theory, teleology, ethics, and evolution. Course work includes one 4,000-word and four 1,000-word papers. Prerequisite: satisfactory completion of the lower-division writing requirement. Same as Biological Sciences E142 and Philosophy 142.

143 Topics in Philosophy of Psychology (4). Selected topics in the philosophy of psychology, e.g., the nature of psychological explanation, reductionism, issues in cognitive, behavioral, and neuroscience. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 143 and Psychology 123P.

145 Topics in Philosophy of Language (4). Selected topics in the philosophy of language, e.g., the nature of meaning, mechanisms of reference, speech acts. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Linguistics 141 and Philosophy 145. May be repeated for credit as topics vary.

146 Topics in Philosophy of Logic (4). Selected topics in the philosophy of logic, e.g., the nature of logical truth and our knowledge of it, the status of propositions, definite descriptions, and existential presuppositions. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 146.

147 Topics in Philosophy of Mathematics (4). Selected historical and contemporary topics in the philosophy of mathematics, e.g., mathematical truth and ontology, mathematical knowledge, the nature and role of proof, the workings of mathematics in application. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 147. Formerly Logic and Philosophy of Science 147B.

199 Independent Study (1 to 4). Investigation of special topics. May be taken for credit for a total of 12 units.

GRADUATE

200 Topics in Logic and Philosophy of Science (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary.

205A Set Theory (4). The basic working vocabulary of mathematical reasoning. Topics include: sets, Boolean operations, ordered n-tuples, relations, functions, ordinal and cardinal numbers. Same as Philosophy 205A.

205B Metalogic (4). Formal syntax (proof theory) and semantics (model theory) for first-order logic, including the deduction, completeness, compactness, and Loewenheim-Skolem theorems. Prerequisite: Logic and Philosophy of Science 205A. Same as Philosophy 205B.

205C Undecidability and Incompleteness (4). Formal theory of effective processes, including recursive function, Turing machines, Church's thesis, and proofs of Goedel's incompleteness theorem for arithmetic, and Church's undecidability for first-order logic. Prerequisite: Logic and Philosophy of Science 205B. Same as Philosophy 205C.

206 Topics in Logic (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 206.

209 Logic for Artificial Intelligence (4). After introducing the standard theory and meta-theory of classical first-order logic, the course surveys the fundamental tools, methods, and results developed in Artificial Intelligence in order to represent defeasible reasoning.

213 Topics in Modern Philosophy (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 213.

215 Topics in Analytic Philosophy (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 215.

220 Topics in Metaphysics (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 220.

221 Topics in Epistemology (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 221.

232 Topics in Political and Social Philosophy (4). Same as Philosophy 232.

240 Topics in Philosophy of Science (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 240.

241 Topics in Philosophy of Physics (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 241.

242 Topics in Philosophy of Biology (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 242.

243 Topics in Philosophy of Psychology (4). Selected topics in the philosophy of psychology, e.g., the nature of psychological explanation, reductionism, issues in cognitive, behavioral, and neuroscience. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 243 and Psychology 231P.

244 Topics in Philosophy of Social Science (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 244.

245 Topics in Philosophy of Language (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Linguistics 241 and Philosophy 245.

246 Topics in Philosophy of Logic (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 246.

247 Topics in Philosophy of Mathematics (4). May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 247.

289 Logic and Philosophy of Science Workshop (1 to 4). A two- or three-quarter-long workshop on selected topics in logic and philosophy of science. In-progress grading, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Philosophy 249.

298 Independent Study (4 to 12). May be repeated for credit for a total of 12 units.

299 Dissertation Research (4 to 12). May be repeated for credit for a total of 12 units.

398 Teaching Assistant Training Program (4 to 12). May be repeated for credit for a total of 12 units.

399 University Teaching (4 to 12). May be repeated for credit for a total of 12 units.