PHILO-PHD - Philosophy (PhD)
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Program Overview
Philosophy addresses fundamental questions and problems. Some are abstract—for instance, what is the nature of truth, justice, value, and knowledge? Others are more concrete and directly applicable to worldly issues—for example, is it morally permissible to use animals for scientific research? What ethical obligations do we have to future generations? Philosophy also examines the efforts of past thinkers to tackle enduring philosophical questions.
While it might seem like an assortment of disciplines, philosophical inquiry has characteristic features, including an emphasis on careful reasoning, the criticism and organization of belief systems, and attention to conceptual clarity and distinctions. The aim of philosophical inquiry is to deepen, clarify, and expand our understanding of human experience and the world.
Students from nearly any discipline can find relevance in philosophy. For instance, in the sciences, philosophy provides a framework for studying the foundations and scope of scientific theories, potentially suggesting directions for future development. Since philosophical ideas have historically influenced human endeavors—artistic, political, economic, and socio-cultural—students in the humanities and social sciences will find their understanding of their subjects enriched by engaging with philosophy.
The Philosophy PhD program is full-time. Doctoral students are expected to maintain a significant presence on campus throughout their studies, ensuring access to advisors, mentors, libraries, and other resources that support timely progress toward completing degree requirements and ongoing professional development.
Minimum Units in the Program
Minimum University Units
Instructors indicate which courses may satisfy particular distribution requirements. If a course potentially satisfies more than one requirement, the student may use it for only one of those area requirements; no units may be double-counted. Students must develop broad competencies in all these areas. Those without strong backgrounds in these areas would typically satisfy these distribution requirements by taking more basic courses rather than highly specialized and focused courses. Students should consult with their advisor in making these course decisions and be prepared to explain them when reviewed for candidacy.
Two first-year Ph.D. Proseminars, PHIL 300. This is a topically focused seminar offered in autumn and winter quarters and both sessions are required of all first-year students. The topics are: Language, Epistemology, Mind, Metaphysics (LEMM); and Value Theory.
Distribution requirements during the first six quarters are intended to ensure a broad and substantial exposure to significant areas of philosophy while allowing for considerable freedom to explore.
Six courses are required, each taken for the maximum unit load for the course, distributed across three areas as follows:
Two courses in value theory, including ethics, aesthetics, political philosophy, social philosophy, and philosophy of law. At least one of the courses satisfying this distribution requirement must be in ethics or political philosophy.
Two courses in language, mind, and action. One course satisfying this requirement must be drawn from the language-related courses and one from mind and action-related courses.
Two courses in metaphysics and epistemology (including metaphysics, epistemology, and philosophy of science). At least one of the courses satisfying this requirement must be drawn from either metaphysics or epistemology.
One course in Logic is required, PHIL 250 or equivalent.
Two courses in History are required, one approved course each in Ancient and Modern Philosophy. A third course in History is also required, except if the student opts to take a second logic class, PHIL 251 or equivalent.
Students should usually take at least 64 graduate-level units at Stanford during their first six quarters; in many cases, students would take more. Of those total units, at least 49 units of coursework must be in the Philosophy department. These courses must be numbered above PHIL 110.
Teaching Methods (course Teaching Methods in Philosophy) is not included in these units.
Units of Individual Directed Reading are usually not counted toward this 49-unit requirement unless there is special permission from the student’s advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies.
In the summer quarter of the second year, students are required to attend the Second Year Summer Seminar course. The seminar is intended to help students workshop their writing.
Students must take course Teaching Methods in Philosophy during spring quarter of their first year (before they start teaching) and autumn quarter of their second year (once they have started teaching.)
Two first-year Ph.D. proseminars, PHIL 300, are required. These are topically focused seminars offered in autumn and winter quarters and both are required of all first-year students. The topics are: Language, Epistemology, Mind, Metaphysics (LEMM); and Value Theory.
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One course in logic, PHIL 250 or equivalent.
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Two courses in History are required, one approved course each in Ancient and Modern Philosophy. A third course in History is also required, except if the student opts to take a second logic class, PHIL 251 or equivalent.
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Two courses in value theory, including ethics, aesthetics, political philosophy, social philosophy, and philosophy of law. At least one of the courses satisfying this distribution requirement must be in ethics or political philosophy.
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Two courses in language, mind, and action. One course satisfying this requirement must be drawn from the language-related courses and one from mind and action-related courses.
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Two courses in metaphysics and epistemology (including metaphysics, epistemology, and philosophy of science). At least one of the courses satisfying this requirement must be drawn from either metaphysics or epistemology.
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Part 1:
Second-year students must submit a dossier of two seminar-length papers (approximately 5000-6000 words each). The dossier must be turned in no later than the end of the 5th week of the Spring quarter of the student’s second year. These papers are polished versions of papers that have their origin in classes, seminars, tutorials (independent studies) or the student’s independent research. Each paper should include a bibliography.
Part 2:
An examination committee of three faculty reads both papers. The examination committee is comprised of at most two faculty members who have worked with the student on the dossier papers, and at least one faculty member who serves as an independent examiner (i.e. who has not worked with the student on the dossier papers). The examination committee also conducts an oral examination of the student no later than the 9th week of Spring quarter. The examination will test the student’s understanding and facility with the relevant research on which the dossier papers are based. The committee gives a letter grade on both the papers and the oral examination; both oral and written work should demonstrate that students are capable of working independently and successfully to complete a PhD thesis. A holistic judgment of written work and the oral examination taken together form the basis of the candidacy decision.
This workshop is mandatory for those who have achieved candidacy in their second year. The workshop will emphasize long-form writing and revision preparatory to work on the thesis. Students will also complete an annotated bibliography on their intended area of dissertation research and a short (5-7 page) statement of their research interests. The annotated bibliography and research statement are due the first day of the Fall quarter of the student's third year.
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In Autumn and Winter quarters of the third year, students register for and satisfactorily complete Phil 301. Students meet to present their work in progress and discuss their thesis project. A completed Prospectus should be submitted for a grade no later than the last day of Winter quarter. Participation in these seminars is required.
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During the third and fourth years in the program, students must complete at least three graduate-level courses/seminars by the end of the fourth year, as professional development. At least two of these courses should be in philosophy and at least two should be completed in the third year. This light load of courses allows students to deepen their philosophical training while keeping time free for thesis research.
Courses used to satisfy this seminar requirement can be taken for only two units and credit/no credit, if offered. Any Philosophy seminar numbered in the 302-399 range can fulfill this seminar requirement.
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By no later than the end of Spring quarter of their third year, students should meet with their entire committee to discuss a chapter-length piece of writing. This discussion is meant to ensure that students have identified a thesis topic and have assembled a suitable thesis committee.
Students present a research paper in a 60-minute seminar open to the entire department no later than the end of Fall quarter of their fourth year. This paper should be on an aspect of the student’s dissertation research. This is an opportunity for the student to make their work known to the broader department and to explain their ideas to a general philosophical audience.
Fourth-year students must enroll in and attend Phil 500 in Fall and Winter. This course is a workshop for thesis writers with weekly presentations of work-in-progress led by a faculty member.
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By the end of Spring quarter, fourth-year students should meet with their entire committee to discuss two chapters of their thesis. The discussion is meant to ensure that students are making good progress on their thesis.
Teaching is core to the academic and professional training of doctoral students in our program. All students are required to complete three quarters of teaching by the end of their fourth year in the program regardless of their financial support. Typically, students complete more than the required number of teaching quarters as part of their professional training and financial support.
Students are typically expected to complete at least two additional quarters of teaching beyond the minimum required for the degree to further their pedagogical and professional skills development.
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Admission to candidacy is a prospective judgement by the faculty of a student’s potential to successfully complete the requirements of the degree program. Students are expected to complete qualifying procedures and apply for candidacy by the end of their second year in the program. Qualifying procedures in the Department of Philosophy include required coursework and passing the Second-year Writing and Oral exam. A holistic judgment of written work and the oral examination taken together form the basis of the candidacy decision.
In the Philosophy department, the University Oral Exam is a defense of the dissertation presented upon the completion of a substantial portion of the dissertation or upon completion of a pre-final draft. Students consult with their dissertation advisor and reading committee members on the timing of the defense.
PhD students must submit the pre-final draft of the dissertation to the reading committee at least one month before the student expects to defend the thesis in the University Oral Exam. If the student receives consent to go forward, the University Oral Exam can take place approximately two weeks later. A portion of the exam consists of a student presentation based on the dissertation and is open to the public. A closed-question period follows. If the draft is ready by the autumn quarter of the fourth year, the student may request that the University Oral Exam counts as the fourth year colloquium.
Students are required to submit an approved dissertation that makes an original contribution to scholarship in the field of Philosophy.
Students interested in interdisciplinary work relating philosophy to artificial intelligence, cognitive science, computer science, linguistics, or logic may pursue a degree in this program.
Admitted students should have covered the equivalent of the core of the undergraduate Symbolic Systems Program requirements described in the program section of this Bulletin, including courses in artificial intelligence (AI), cognitive science, linguistics, logic, and philosophy. The subplan is designed with this background in mind. Students missing part of this background may need additional coursework. In addition to the required coursework below, the PhD requirements are mostly the same as for the regular program, with the exceptions noted below.
The program consists of three years of courses and two years of dissertation work. Students are required to take the following philosophy courses in the first two years:
Two first-year Ph.D. proseminars, PHIL 300, are required. These are topically focused seminars offered in autumn and winter quarters and both are required of all first-year students. The topics are: Language, Epistemology, Mind, Metaphysics (LEMM); and Value Theory.
Two courses in Language/Mind/Action
Two courses in Metaphysics/Epistemology/Science
Two courses in Value Theory
One course each in Ancient and Modern
Among the eight courses required, students in the program may omit two in any two of the four categories. The two omitted courses may not come from the same category.Two graduate courses in cognitive psychology
Two graduate courses in linguistics
At least one of these courses must significantly engage with experimental literature.64 graduate-level units, 49 of which are units in philosophy, during the first six quarters.
The second year writing and oral exam, which not need not be on topics in symbolic systems, but could be on any philosophical topics.
After the first two years, the requirements are mostly the same as for the standard track:Three graduate-level seminars in the third and fourth year, at least two of which are taught in the Philosophy department, and at least two in the third year. [All can be taken credit/no credit for reduced (2) units, if offered.]
Three advanced seminars in symbolic systems. Double counting: at most, one of these could be a course satisfying one of 1-5; at most, one could be a course satisfying one of 6-9; and at most, one could be a course satisfying 11. At least one must not be counted for any other requirement. (In other words, at most, two of these courses could count toward other requirements.) These may be completed at any time before the fourth year.
Second Year Summer Writer's Workshop in the summer after the second year.
The usual requirements for the dissertation (a proposal, oral, fourth-year talk, etc.).
The dissertation committee must include at least one member of the Department of Philosophy and one member of the Program in Symbolic Systems outside the Department of Philosophy.
One advanced course in logic, at the level of Phil 151 or higher.
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Complete two graduate courses in computer science, one of which must be either CS 221 - Artificial Intelligence: Principles and Techniques, or a more advanced course in AI.
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Same TA requirements as above, and taking PHIL 239 - Teaching Methods in Philosophy.
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Graduate students in the Philosophy PhD program may pursue a PhD subplan in History and Philosophy of Science. The subplan is declared in Axess, and subplan designations appear on the official transcript but are not printed on the diploma.
Students must fulfill Departmental degree requirements and the following requirements:
Students must attend the HPS colloquium series.
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Complete one elective seminar in the History of Science.
Complete one elective seminar (in addition to the course satisfying requirement 2) in Philosophy of Science.
Philosophy participates with the Computer Science, Linguistics, and Psychology departments in an interdisciplinary program in Cognitive Science. It is intended to provide a multidisciplinary education, as well as a deeper concentration in philosophy, and is open to doctoral students. Students who complete the requirements within Philosophy and the Cognitive Science requirements receive a special designation in Cognitive Science and a PhD in Philosophy. To receive this field designation, students must complete 30 units of approved courses, 18 of which must be taken in two disciplines outside philosophy. The list of approved courses can be obtained from the Cognitive Science program in the Department of Psychology.