专业描述

The program of studies leading to the doctorate in philosophy provides subjects and seminars in such traditional areas as logic, ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of science, philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, aesthetics, social and political philosophy, and history of philosophy. Interest in philosophical problems arising from other disciplines, such as linguistics, psychology, mathematics and physics, is also encouraged. Before beginning dissertation research, students are required to take two years of coursework, including a proseminar in contemporary philosophy that all students must complete in their first year of graduate study. Students are also required to pass general examinations and demonstrate competence in the following areas: value theory, logic and the history of philosophy. Interdisciplinary study is encouraged, and candidates for the doctorate may take a minor in a field other than philosophy. There is no general language requirement for the doctorate, except in those cases in which competence in one or more foreign language is needed to carry on research for the dissertation. Below is a detailed description of the philosophy Ph.D. program. See also Guidelines&Expectations. For information about applying, see our admissions page; we have also compiled data on placement, retention, and average completion times. Your Advisor | Requirements | Minors | Grades | Ph.D. Thesis 1. Your Advisor When you join the Department, you will be assigned a faculty advisor who will supervise your course of study until you start independent work on your thesis. Your advisor must approve your program at the beginning of each term, and you should keep him/her abreast of your progress and problems. Your teachers will write comments on your performance in subjects which you complete. ("Subject" is MITese for course.) These comments will be placed in your file in the Department office (your file is open to you), and they will be discussed at a meeting of the faculty at the end of each term. You should see your advisor at the end of each term to review your progress. You may change your advisor at any time, on condition of agreement by the faculty member you wish to have as your new advisor; you should notify the Committee on Graduate Students (COGS) of this change straightway. (The current composition of COGS is: Alex Byrne (Chief Cog), Vann McGee, and Roger White.)