View source for Introduction to Philosophy from an Ontological Perspective

PHI 601 Introduction to Philosophy from an Ontological Perspective - Spring 2026

 Registration number 23606

Instructor: [http://ontology.buffalo.edu/smith Barry Smith] 

'''Office hours''': By appointment via email to [mailto:phismith@buffalo.edu]

'''The Course'''

This course is a 1 credit-hour asynchronous online course for masters-level students and advanced undergraduates. No background in philosophy or ontology is presupposed.

It provides an introduction to central themes in the history of philosophy viewed from an ontological perspective. The course is designed to be of interest to both philosophers and those with a background in computer and information science. Topics treated will include: 

- brief history of ontology from Aristotle to the Human Genome Project. 

- the meaning of life

- the ontology of social reality

- ontology leaving the mother ship of philosophy

- why computer science needs philosophy

- the Semantic Web

- towards a standard top-level ontology

- ontology and the Federal Government Data Integration Initiative (anno 2009)

'''[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyngZgIl3WTjov-UhEW7N145LVBPrRYLZ Course content, which consists of 8 lectures, can be found here].'''


== '''Student Learning Outcomes''' ==
          
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Program Outcomes/Competencies  
! Instructional Method(s)
! Assessment Method(s)
|-
| The student will acquire a beginner's knowledge of philosophy that will introduce him or her to more technical aspects of the discipline in subsequent semesters.  
| Lectures and class discussions.
| Assessment of questions submitted at the end of the lectures.
|-
| The student will acquire experience in using one principal philosophical method, namely: analysing arguments and formulating relevant questions for which answers have not been provided in the course of the lectures.
| The student is required to submit written questions for each of the 8 lectures making up the course.
| Review of questions for relevance and originality.
|-
| The student will acquire experience in using a second principal philosophical method, namely: taking an active part in oral arguments.
| Performance in the final -- synchronous -- session of the course, active participation in which is compulsory.
| Review of active participation by student.
|}


'''Grading'''
Grading for the course will take the following form. For each of the 8 lectures the student is required to prepare a single question relating to the content of that lecture. It should be such that an answer to the question is not provided in the lecture. It should also be of general interest to the other students taking the course. After digesting the content of all lectures the student should send a list of 8 questions to phismith@buffalo.edu with the subject heading "8 Questions". After receiving emails of this form from all students enrolled in the class, '''and not later than April 15''', one or more zoom meetingss will be organized at which students will be required to engage in arguments pertaining to a subset of these questions. Participation in these zoom meeting is required by all class participants, and class contributions will be part of the grade for the course. 

The final grade will be calculated on the basis of: 
:1. quality of questions, measured in terms of interestingness, clarity, and relevance to the course
:2. completeness of the list of questions received
:3. quality of contributions to the final synchronous meeting

A video recording of Dr Smith's answers to representative questions is available [https://buffalo.box.com/v/Questions-on-ontology here].

For further information please contact Dr Smith at phismith@buffalo.edu

'''Grade Quality Percentage'''

{| class = wikitable
|  A	|| 4.0	|| 90.0% -100.00%
|-
| A-	|| 3.67	|| 87.0% - 89.9%
|-
| B+	|| 3.33	|| 84.0% - 86.9%
|-
| B	|| 3.00	|| 80.0% - 83.9%
|-
| B-	|| 2.67	|| 77.0% - 79.9%
|-
| C+	|| 2.33	|| 74.0% - 76.9%
|-
| C	|| 2.00	|| 71.0% - 73.9%
|-
| C-	|| 1.67	|| 68.0% - 70.9%
|-
| D+	|| 1.33	|| 65.0% - 67.9%
|-
| D	|| 1.00	|| 62.0% - 64.9%
|-
| F	|| 0	|| 61.9% or below
|}


An interim grade of Incomplete (I) may be assigned if the student has completed some but not all requirements for the course. The default grade accompanying an interim grade of 'I' shall be 'U' and will be displayed on the UB record as 'IU.' The default Unsatisfactory (U) grade shall become the permanent course grade of record if the 'IU' is not changed through formal notice by the instructor upon the student's completion of the course.

Assignment of an interim 'IU' is at the discretion of the instructor. A grade of 'IU' can be assigned only if successful completion of unfulfilled course requirements can result in a final grade better than the default 'U' grade. The student should have a passing average in the requirements already completed. The instructor shall provide the student specification, in writing, of the requirements to be fulfilled.

Related Policies and Services
Academic integrity is a fundamental university value. Through the honest completion of academic work, students sustain the integrity of the university while facilitating the university's imperative for the transmission of knowledge and culture based upon the generation of new and innovative ideas. See http://grad.buffalo.edu/Academics/Policies-Procedures/Academic-Integrity.html.

Accessibility resources: If you have any disability which requires reasonable accommodations to enable you to participate in this course, please contact the Office of Accessibility Resources in 60 Capen Hall, 645-2608 and also the instructor of this course during the first week of class. The office will provide you with information and review appropriate arrangements for reasonable accommodations, which can be found on the web here.

University suppert services: Students are often unaware of university support services. For example, the Center for Excellence in Writing provides support for written work, and several tutoring centers on campus provide academic success support and resources.

Available resources on sexual assault: UB is committed to providing an environment free of all forms of discrimination and sexual harassment, including sexual assault, domestic and dating violence and stalking. If you have experienced gender-based violence (intimate partner violence, attempted or completed sexual assault, harassment, coercion, stalking, etc.), UB has resources to help. This includes academic accommodations, health and counseling services, housing accommodations, helping with legal protective orders, and assistance with reporting the incident to police or other UB officials if you so choose. Please contact UB’s Title IX Coordinator at 716-645-2266 for more information. For confidential assistance, you may also contact a Crisis Services Campus Advocate at 716-796-4399.

Counselling services: As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning or reduce your ability to participate in daily activities. These might include strained relationships, anxiety, high levels of stress, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, health concerns, or unwanted sexual experiences. Counseling, Health Services, and Health Promotion are here to help with these or other concerns. You learn can more about these programs and services by contacting:

:Counseling Services: 120 Richmond Quad (North Campus), phone 716-645-2720
:Health Services: Michael Hall (South Campus), phone: 716-829-3316
:Health Promotion: 114 Student Union (North Campus), phone: 716- 645-2837

== '''Recommended reading''' ==

:Marjorie Grene, ''A Portrait of Aristotle''
:R. Arp, B. Smith, A. D. Spear, ''[https://mitpress.mit.edu/index.php?q=books/building-ontologies-basic-formal-ontology Building Ontologies with Basic Formal Ontology]''
:John R. Searle, ''Making the Social World''
:E. J. Lowe, ''The Four Category Ontology''
:Roman Ingarden, ''The Literary Work of Art. An Investigation on the Borderlines of Ontology, Logic, and Theory of Language''