Philosophy Department Course Offerings
Semester I, 2006
Phil. 118A Making of the Modern Mind
T 11:45-1:10, Th 12:45-2:05
Jennifer Manion
Drawing on the writings of historically important figures such as Plato, Descartes, Hume, Kant, and Nietzsche, as well as contemporary philosophers, this course examines what philosophers think about, why they think about these things, and the general relevance of philosophical thinking to everyday life. Topics covered will include the existence of God, the problem of evil, knowledge of the world and other minds, the nature of personal identity, free will, and the foundation and application of morality. Students will develop fundamental philosophical skills through analyzing philosophical texts and arguments, participating in class discussion, and writing critical essays. HWC
Phil. 119A Moral Psychology
MWF 9:05-10:00
Phil. 119B MWF 10:45-11:40
Jeanine Grenberg
This course provides an introduction to the discipline of philosophy and philosophical method by focusing on how philosophers, as compared with psychologists, approach the study of moral states of character. A variety of moral states of character will be presented and analyzed from both philosophical and psychological perspectives, including some of the following: courage, conscientiousness, self-respect, humility, altruism/beneficence, and forgiveness. HBS
Phil. 235 Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
MWF 2:00-2:55
Vicki Harper
This course surveys the origins and development of Western philosophy from the pre-Socratics to some Medieval attempts to synthesize the Greek philosophical tradition and the Judeo-Christian religious heritage. We explore the historical foundations of natural science, metaphysics, and ethics in the works of the pre-Socratics, Plato, Aristotle, Stoics, Epicureans, Skeptics, Anselm and Aquinas. Prerequisite: one course in philosophy or consent of instructor. WRI, HWC
Phil. 241A Philosophical Theology
MWF 2:00-2:55
Phil. 241B MWF 10:45-11:40
Charles Taliaferro
A philosophical exploration of the Christian faith with attention also given to Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Topics include arguments for and against the existence of God, different conceptions of God’s relation to the cosmos, the problem of evil, the relationship between faith and reason, ethics and religion, mysticism, prayer, miracles, the afterlife, the incarnation and Trinity, the nature of religious traditions in history, the Buddhist concept of the self, Hindu views of Brahman, and the relationship between different world religions. WRI, BTS-T
Phil. 244 Philosophy and Science
T 9:35-11:00, Th 9:30-10:50
Corliss Swain
This course examines a number of questions about the nature of science, scientific methods, and scientific reasoning in order to help students develop an understanding of contemporary science. Among the issues addressed are the objectivity of scientific theories, the status of different kinds of scientific claims and findings, the difference between science and pseudo-science, and the role of social and political factors in shaping the direction of research. The course also examines ways in which science influences contemporary life by providing scientific answers to questions that have important social, personal, and religious implications. NST, WRI
Phil 251 Asian Philosophy
T 11:45-1:10, Th 12:45-2:05
Anant Rambachan
This course surveys the significant and influential philosophical traditions of India, China and Japan. Philosophy, in the Asian context, has always been closely allied with religion and our inquiry encompasses the vision of the good life in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Confucianism and Taoism. Classical and contemporary interpretations of Asian traditions are explored through the analysis of primary and secondary texts. Offered every year. MCS-G WRI
Phil. 252A Ethics and the Good Life
T 9:35-11:00, Th 9:30-10:50
Jennifer Manion
This course addresses what morality asks of us (if anything), how we can know what it asks of us, and why we need to comply (if we need to comply). By reading and discussing classical and contemporary sources from the Western philosophical tradition, we will grapple with questions like: What does it mean to be good, morally speaking? Does it entail behaving in a certain way? Does it require having certain attitudes about others and the world? If so, on what are the requirements to act in certain ways or to hold certain attitudes and beliefs based? How do we decide what to do in perplexing cases where different values clash? Can philosophical thinking about morality help us solve problems about issues like euthanasia and genocide? What is the relationship between moral obligation and political obligation? Why, in the end, should anyone be morally good? EIN
Phil. 252B Ethics and the Good Life
MWF11:50-12:45
Phil. 252C T 11:45-1:10, Th 12:45-2:05
Vicki Harper
This course examines the main Western ethical theories and their application to contemporary moral concerns. Theoretical issues include rights, duties, virtue, hedonism, egoism, the relation between ethics and theology, the fact-value distinction, relativism and pluralism. We discuss current topics such as global economic justice, euthanasia and the death penalty, animal rights, censorship, racism, privacy rights versus public safety, reproductive ethics and environmental ethics. EIN
Phil. 254A Law, Politics, and Morality
MWF 12:55-1:50
254B MWF 9:05-10:00
Anthony Rudd
This course considers the relationships among moral principles, law, and the practice of governments. We will consider a variety of political and moral theories and discuss whether governments should act in accordance with specific moral principles or aim to remain neutral. Should law and government be more concerned with the protection of individual rights, or with the general good of the wider community? Specific topics will include the Just War debate, terrorism, censorship, property rights and distributive justice, and the role of religion in public life. EIN
Phil. 371 Epistemology: Self-Knowledge
T 1:20-2:45, Th 2:15-3:35
Corliss Swain
Following Socrates, philosophers have struggled to fulfill the command of the Delphic oracle: “Know Thyself.” In this course we examine what self-knowledge is, whether it is attainable, and how we might arrive at it. Philosophers through the ages have taken a variety of positions regarding self-knowledge. Some, like Socrates, believe that the self is a mystery and self-knowledge is difficult to achieve. Others, for example, Descartes, believe that we are transparent to ourselves and knowledge of the self is easier to attain than any other kind of knowledge. Part of this disagreement stems from a disagreement about what self-knowledge requires. On the one hand, if knowing one’s self requires metaphysical knowledge of the nature of the self and the principles governing its actions and passions, then self-knowledge seems almost impossible. On the other hand, if knowing one’s self is simply a matter of knowing one’s own thoughts and feelings—the contents of one’s mind, then it would seem that self-knowledge is easy. The course examines recent work that challenges both views. WRI
Phil. 375 Advanced Topical Studies: Social and Political Philosophy
M 7:00-10:00 pm
Karen Gervais
Communitarianism, Individualism, and Pandemic Influenza
The term ‘community’ is a significant concept in social and political theory. What is the debate between contemporary communitarian and individualist political theories on the relation between self and community? Walzer claims that we in the US must accept the essentially tragic character of our political tradition of liberalism – because a core principle of liberalism is that “communities must always be at risk” due to “the disassociative tendencies of liberalism.” Others, like Fowler, warn of the “tyrannical possibilities of community,” calling for “existential watchfulness.” After studying various theories on self and community, rights and justice, we shall explore whether we agree with Sandel’s claim that “rights depend for their justification on the moral importance of the ends they serve.”
In the context of pandemic influenza of the 1918-type, we shall focus on difficult dilemmas (e.g., scarce vaccine allocation, social isolation, quarantine) concerning the promotion of the good as individuals see it and the promotion of the common good (public health). We shall began our focus with a consideration of types of triage and the ethics of triage. On a societal level, some threats like pandemic influenza will make painful, sometimes tragic choices necessary. The choices we make will indicate our societal values concerning rights, justice, and the common good. How shall we approach such choices? From a communitarian perspective that “views individuals as parts of social and political networks, with each individual reliant on the other for health and security,” (Gostin) and focuses on the well-being of the population? Or from an American individualist perspective, with its emphasis on clinical benefits to individuals, if not more minimally restraint from harming others? WRI
