Degree and Diploma Programs by Graduate Unit
2014-15 SGS Calendar
Philosophy
Faculty Affiliation
Degree Programs
Arts and Science
Degree Programs Offered
Philosophy
Philosophy—MA, PhD, JD/PhD
Master of Arts
Collaborative Programs
 Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations
The following collaborative programs are available to
students in participating degree programs as listed below:
1. Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
 Philosophy, PhD
2. Bioethics
 Philosophy, MA, PhD
3. Editing Medieval Texts
 Philosophy, PhD
4. Environmental Studies
 Philosophy, MA, PhD
5. Jewish Studies
 Philosophy, MA, PhD
6. Sexual Diversity Studies
 Philosophy, MA, PhD
7. Women and Gender Studies
 Philosophy, MA, PhD
Overview
The Department of Philosophy offers two degree
programs, Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy, as
well as theCombined Juris Doctor/Doctor of
Philosophy, which enables students to pursue work at the
intersection of philosophy and law and to complete both
the JD and the PhD in a shorter time than it would take to
complete the degrees separately.
Applicants should consult the department's web page for
complete details on graduate programs, course offerings,
and short academic profiles of the graduate faculty.
Contact and Address
Web: www.philosophy.utoronto.ca
Email: phildept@chass.utoronto.ca
Telephone: (416) 978-3312
Fax: (416) 978-8703
Department of Philosophy
University of Toronto
Jackman Humanities Building (JHB)
4th Floor, 170 St. George Street
Toronto, Ontario M5R 2M8
Canada
2014-2015 School of Graduate Studies Calendar
www.sgs.utoronto.ca/calendar
Minimum Admission Requirements
of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also
satisfy the Department of Philosophy's additional
admission requirements stated below.
 Admission requires an appropriate bachelor's degree
from a recognized university. Applicants should have a
strong background in philosophy (roughly equivalent to
an undergraduate major), with an average grade of at
least a mid-B in the applicant's overall program and at
least an A- in the applicant's philosophy courses. In
certain cases, an applicant whose background in
philosophy is deficient may be admitted to the MA
program but be required to take one or two additional
courses, possibly at the undergraduate level.
 Applicants must upload the following supporting
documents with their applications:
o One electronic or scanned transcript from each postsecondary institution attended.
o A statement of about 300 words, indicating the
applicant's areas of interest in philosophy at the
graduate level.
o Two letters of reference from philosophy instructors,
written on the appropriate forms.
o One sample of the applicant's written work in
philosophy (written in English or French); not
exceeding 20 pages, double spaced, with 12-point
one-inch margins. The writing sample should be as
recent as possible and should provide evidence of
ability to study philosophy at an advanced level.
o Applicants whose primary language is not English and
who are not graduates of a university whose language
of instruction is English must complete the Test of
English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with the
following minimum scores:
 paper-based TOEFL exam: 600 and 5 on the Test
of Written English (TWE)
 Internet-based TOEFL exam: 100/120 and 22/30 on
the writing and speaking sections.
 Equivalent results in some other recognized test of
English-language proficiency are acceptable.
Philosophy
1
Degree and Diploma Programs by Graduate Unit
 The submission deadline for all complete applications
and supporting documents, including letters of reference,
is January 10.
Program Requirements
 The program requires 3.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs)
in philosophy. At least 1.0 FCE must be in the history of
philosophy and at least 1.0 FCE must be in the problems
of philosophy. In the first session and again in the
second, one graduate half course will be designated for
MA students only. All full-time MA students will be
required to take these courses. (One will be in the broad
area of ethics/ politics and the other in the broad area of
metaphysics and epistemology. Either could be
historical.) In addition, all MA students will be required to
take the teaching workshop PHL 2152H Philosophy and
Teaching, which counts for 0.5 FCE.
 Each MA student is assigned an advisor, who will
recommend a suitable program of philosophy courses.
The student's choice of courses must be approved by
the department.
 It is possible for a full-time student to complete all
requirements for the MA degree in the Fall and Winter
sessions; however, the department encourages students
to take no more than 3.0 FCEs during the Fall and
Winter sessions and to complete the last course during
the Summer session.
 Part-time enrolment in the MA program is permitted.
Program Length
3 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence:
F/W/S);
5 years part-time
Time Limit
3 years full-time;
6 years part-time
Doctor of Philosophy
Minimum Admission Requirements
 Applicants approved by the department are admitted
under the General Regulations of the School of
Graduate Studies via one of two routes:
1. From a bachelor's degree. Applicants should have
an appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized
university; a strong background in philosophy
(roughly equivalent to an undergraduate major); and
an average grade of at least a B+ in the overall
program and at least an A- in philosophy courses.
2. From a master's degree. Applicants should have a
master's degree in philosophy from a recognized
university with an average grade of at least an A- in
the applicant's overall program. Applicants must
satisfy the department that they are capable of
independent research in philosophy at an advanced
level.
2014-2015 School of Graduate Studies Calendar
www.sgs.utoronto.ca/calendar
o Applicants must submit the following supporting
documents with their applications:
o One electronic or scanned transcript from each postsecondary institution attended.
o A statement of about 300 words, indicating the
applicant's areas of interest in philosophy at the
graduate level.
o Two letters of reference from philosophy instructors,
written on the appropriate forms.
o One sample of the applicant's written work in
philosophy (written in English or French); e.g., a term
paper not exceeding 20 pages, double spaced. It
should be as recent as possible and should provide
evidence of the student's capability to study philosophy
at an advanced level.
o The results of the Graduate Record Examination
(GRE) taken within the preceding 18 months. If this
requirement imposes an undue burden on an overseas
applicant, it can be waived at the discretion of the
Director of Graduate Studies.
o Applicants whose primary language is not English and
who are not graduates of a university whose language
of instruction is English must complete the Test of
English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with the
following minimum scores:
 paper-based TOEFL exam: 600 and 5 on the Test
of Written English (TWE)
 Internet-based TOEFL exam: 100/120 and 22/30 on
the writing and speaking sections.
 Equivalent results in some other recognized test of
English-language proficiency are acceptable.
 Students enrolled in graduate programs in philosophy in
other universities are welcome to apply to spend a year
studying at the University of Toronto. Please direct any
inquiries to the Director of Graduate Studies.
 Students who wish to take for credit one or more of the
courses offered by the department as non-degree
students should apply for admission as Special
Students. The application procedures and deadlines are
the same as those for the MA program.
 The submission deadline for all complete applications
and supporting documents, including letters of reference,
is January 10.
Program Requirements
 The PhD program has two options: a five-year option
and a four-year option. The five-year option is the most
common and is the only direct-entry option for students
with a bachelor's degree. The five-year option provides
five years of funding and requires two years of
coursework, while the four-year option provides four
years of funding and requires one year of coursework.
The program requirements are summarized below.
Please see the departmental website for full details.
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Degree and Diploma Programs by Graduate Unit
 Course Requirements
o Students with a bachelor's degree who are taking the
five-year option must take a minimum of 6.0 FCEs in
philosophy, with an average grade of at least an A-. At
least 2.0 FCEs must be in the history of philosophy
and at least 2.0 FCEs must be in the problems of
philosophy. To remain in good standing, students must
complete 3.0 FCEs with an A- average by the end of
their first academic year, and 6.0 FCEs with an Aaverage by the end of their second academic year.
o Students with a master's degree who are taking the
four-year option must complete a minimum of 3.0
FCEs in philosophy, with a minimum A- average by the
end of their first academic year. At least 1.0 FCE must
comprise history of philosophy courses and at least 1.0
must comprise problems of philosophy courses.
 All students must complete the proseminar in philosophy
(PHL 1111H) during the Fall session of their first year.
This will count as 0.5 FCE towards the number of
required courses.
 With the department's permission, a student may replace
up to 1.0 FCE in philosophy with graduate courses
offered by another department, provided that the
courses are required for the student's planned research.
 Breadth Requirement. A student must demonstrate
competence in at least six areas of philosophy, including
the following:
o Each of the following three areas in the problems of
philosophy:
 contemporary issues in metaphysics, epistemology,
and philosophy of science
 contemporary issues in values (ethics, politics,
aesthetics, and philosophy of religion)
 contemporary issues in mind, language, and logic
o The remaining three required areas must be chosen
from the periods in the history of philosophy specified
below:
 ancient
 medieval
 seventeenth to eighteenth centuries
 nineteenth century
 twentieth century
o Competence in any area is normally established by
successful completion of a graduate 0.5 FCE in that
area.
o A student must also demonstrate competence in logic
(defined as proficiency in first-order symbolic logic with
identity). This competence is expected of all students
prior to beginning doctoral studies. Where this is not
the case, competence must be acquired as a
supplement to the required number of courses and be
demonstrated to the satisfaction of the department by
the time the qualifying requirement is met.
2014-2015 School of Graduate Studies Calendar
www.sgs.utoronto.ca/calendar
 Qualifying Requirement. After completing all course
requirements, the student selects a thesis committee
that will oversee his or her academic progress through
the final thesis defence. The student meets with the
committee to discuss a tentative thesis topic, construct
an appropriate research reading list, and receive
guidance on writing a qualifying paper. After submitting
the qualifying paper and making any required
adjustments to the reading list, the student takes a twopart (written and oral) qualifying examination based on
the paper and the reading list. The paper will be
submitted and written and oral exams taken four to six
weeks later, during the Winter session of the third year
of the five-year PhD, or the second year of the fouryear
PhD.
 Research Tools Requirement. Each PhD student must
demonstrate competence in at least one research tool. A
research tool may be one of the following: reading
knowledge of a language other than English, familiarity
with a discipline other than philosophy (e.g., linguistics,
psychology, or mathematics), mastery of research
methods not typical in philosophy (e.g., statistical
methods), and so on. The research tool will be
determined by the Graduate Coordinator in consultation
with the student's thesis committee.
 Thesis. A candidate must submit a thesis on an
approved subject and defend the thesis at a Doctoral
Final Oral Examination. The department is not obligated
to provide supervision in areas falling outside the
competency, interest, or availability of its graduate
faculty.
 Residence. Students must be registered as full-time oncampus students and must reside in sufficient
geographical proximity to enable them to fulfil the
course, breadth, qualifying, and language requirements
set by the department in a smooth and timely fashion.
They are also expected to participate fully in
departmental activities. While writing the thesis,
candidates are expected to be in residence, with the
exception of absence for research.
 Normal Timeline Through the Program. By the end of
their first year of registration, students with a master's
degree (four-year option) should have completed all the
course requirements for the degree. By the end of the
second year of registration, students with a bachelor's
degree (five-year option) should have completed all
course requirements for the degree. By the end of the
following year of registration, all students should have
satisfied any remaining breadth requirements, selected a
thesis committee, and passed the qualifying
examination. (These are general deadlines; consult the
department's web page for specific dates and further
details.) Thereafter, the candidate selects a member of
the thesis committee to be the thesis supervisor and
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Degree and Diploma Programs by Graduate Unit
begins work on the thesis, which he or she is expected
to finish within two years.
Program Length
PHL 2040H
Medieval Philosophy
PHL 2041H
Seminar in Medieval Philosophy
PHL 2042H
Topics in Medieval Philosophy
PHL 2045H
Late Medieval Philosophy
4 years full-time; 5 years direct-entry
Time Limit
6 years full-time; 7 years direct-entry
Combined Juris Doctor/Doctor of
Philosophy
For full details, see the Juris Doctor/Doctor of Philosophy
entry in the Combined Programs section of this calendar.
Course List
Not all courses are offered every year. Please consult the
department's Graduate Bulletin, which lists the courses the
department will offer this year as well as those offered by
other departments that may be taken for philosophy credit.
Required Course for PhD Students
PHL 1111H
Proseminar
Reading Courses
PHL 1000H,Y
Reading Course
PHL 1001H,Y
Reading Course
PHL 1500H,Y
Reading Course
History of Philosophy
Ancient Philosophy
Early Modern Philosophy
PHL 2050H
Descartes
PHL 2051H
The Rationalists
PHL 2054H
Hume
PHL 2055H
The Empiricists
PHL 2057H
Seminar in Seventeenth- and EighteenthCentury Philosophy
PHL 2062H
Kant's Critique of Pure Reason
PHL 2063H
Kant's Ethics
PHL 2064H
Seminar in Kant
Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Philosophy
PHL 2076H
Hegel
PHL 2078H
Kierkegaard
PHL 2079H
Marxist Philosophy
PHL 2084H
Seminar in Nineteenth-Century
Continental Philosophy
PHL 2000H
Early Greek Philosophy
PHL 2002H
Plato
PHL 2003H
Aristotle
PHL 2085H
Husserl
PHL 2005H
Seminar in Plato
PHL 2088H
Heidegger
PHL 2007H
Seminar in Aristotle
PHL 2089H
PHL 2009H
Seminar in Greek Philosophy
Seminar in Twentieth-Century
Continental Philosophy
PHL 2010H
Late Greek Philosophy
PHL 2090H
Hermeneutics
PHL 2091H
The Critical Theory of Society
Eastern Philosophy
PHL 2015H
Early Greek Philosophy
PHL 2092H
Pragmatism
PHL 2016H
Taoism: Philosophy and Religion
PHL 2093H
Frege
PHL 2017H
Buddhism in China
PHL 2094H
Russell
PHL 2095H
Wittgenstein
PHL 2096H
Seminar in Analytic Philosophy
PHL 2097H
Topics in Analytic Philosophy
PHL 2099H
Bernard Lonergan
Medieval Philosophy
PHL 2020H
Augustine
PHL 2030H
Aquinas
PHL 2032H
Seminar in Aquinas
2014-2015 School of Graduate Studies Calendar
www.sgs.utoronto.ca/calendar
Philosophy
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Degree and Diploma Programs by Graduate Unit
Problems of Philosophy
Metaphysics and Epistemology
PHL 2135H
Metaethics
PHL 2141H
Political Philosophy
PHL 2142H
Seminar in Political Philosophy
PHL 2143H
Social Philosophy
PHL 2144H
Seminar in Social Philosophy
PHL 2145H
Bioethics
PHL 2146Y
Topics in Bioethics
PHL 2100H
Metaphysics
PHL 2101H
Seminar in Metaphysics
PHL 2105H
Topics in Metaphysics
PHL 2110H
Epistemology
PHL 2111H
Seminar in Epistemology
PHL 2115H
Topics in Epistemology
JVP 2147H
Environmental Philosophy
PHL 2119H
Philosophical Foundations of
Multidisciplinary Studies
PHL 2148H
Philosophy of Law
PHL 2171H
Philosophy of Mind
JPL 2149H
Legal Theory
PHL 2172H
Seminar in Philosophy of Mind
PHL 2151H
Aesthetics
PHL 2174H
Freud's Philosophy of Mind
PHL 2152H
Philosophy and Teaching
PHL 2181H
Philosophy of Religion
PHL 2182H
Seminar in Philosophy of Religion
Logic and the Philosophy of Language
Feminist Philosophy
JPW 2118H
Philosophical Foundations of Women's
Studies
PHL 2140H
Topics in Feminist Philosophy
PHL 2120H
Introductory Mathematical Logic
PHL 2122H
Advanced Logic
JPH 2192H
Philosophy of Science
PHL 2124H
Seminar in Logic
JPH 2194H
PHL 2125H
Many Valued and Modal Logics
Topics in the History of the Philosophy of
Science
PHL 2126H
Philosophy of Logic
PHL 2195H
Philosophy of Biology
PHL 2127H
Philosophy of Mathematics
PHL 2196H
Topics in the Philosophy of Science
PHL 2128H
Decision and Game Theory
PHL 2199H
Seminar in the Philosophy of Science
PHL 2130H
Topics in Informal Logic
PHL 2190H
Philosophy of Language
PHL 2191H
Seminar in the Philosophy of Language
PHL 2197H
Foundations of Computation and
Information
Philosophy of Science
Miscellaneous
PHL 3000H
Professional Workshop
PHL 3101H
Intensive Special Course
PHL 4900H
Research Seminar
Value Theory
PHL 2131H
Ethics
PHL 2132H
Seminar in Ethics
PHL 2133H
Topics in Ethics
2014-2015 School of Graduate Studies Calendar
www.sgs.utoronto.ca/calendar
Philosophy
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