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Thinking Reality
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Description:
The seminar is an introduction and brief overview
of philosophy using classical texts read from a contemporary perspective. We
will use the perennial and contemporary
challenges of skepticism and sophistry to open up and articulate the realm,
discipline, and character of philosophy. Along the way we shall consider skepticism
(is it possible to be a skeptic?), values (are they just relative?) and, of
course, what is reality? All of this will be by way of answering a rather difficult
question: what is thinking?
Advice & Assistance:
There are two easy ways you can contact me for advice and
assistance.
The best way is to speak to me while at school (before or after
class, at lunchtime,
or look for me at my carrell).
The next best way is to send me email (use link
of my name above).
Course Materials:
The reading materials for this course are all online. A full set of links is given below. Since most of these texts are "classics" they are easily available in book form. You are encouraged to use printed versions. In this course, it will not matter which edition you get, but feel free to ask about various translations and editions.
You will need a notebook for class notes, reading notes, and handouts. You must bring the notebook to class every day.
Attendance:
Please read and understand the attendance regulations in the student handbook.
I will follow them.
Discussion is crucial to the course. Physical attendance is not sufficient.
Students will be expected to be prepared and to participate. It matters.
All students
will be expected to use and check their email every school day since I will
use email to communicate certain assignments or to keep in touch
with students in case of absence (theirs or mine).
Assignments:
Assignments are given on the accompanying calendar and should be prepared for the due date. It is essential to the course that each student read each assignment in full before the day it is due, since class discussion will rely on the student's knowledge of the assignment.
Papers, Tests & Exam:
There will be one class presentation at the end of the term, two papers and
two tests and a final
exam.
I will
follow
departmental
policies
about due
dates,
lateness,
grading, etc. Specific expectations for each of these will be handed out
in class.
Grades: Your grade will be computed as follows:
Class participation - 10%
Tests - 30%
Papers - 30%
Report - 5%
Exam - 25%
Outline of Course Readings (Linked)
1. Thucydides, Melian Dialogue
2. Skeptical Tropes: Aenesidemus ten and Agrippa five.
3. Descartes Discourse on Method
4. Plato: Meno, Republic IV, Republic Sun, Line, and Cave Allegory, Symposium (Diotima), Symposium (Alcibiades)
5. Augustine, Confessions Books X, XI
Web Resources:
Encyclopedia of Philosophy - a good reference work but difficult since it is written for professionals. Also uneven.
Philosophy Links - one of many such places but as good a place to start as any.
Episteme - a commercial but quite good and useful site.
Suber - when it was up to date this was the finest philosophy reference page on the web. Still very impressive.
Perseus Project - an outstanding site for classical materials, much of it more useful to the graduate student and professor than high school student.
Existence, Memory, and Truth
October
M/10
T/11 Augustine, Confessions X, 6, 8-11
W/12 Augustine, Confessions X, 12-16
T/13 Augustine, Confessions X, 17-23
F/14 Augustine, Confessions X, 35
Fall Free Weekend
W/19 Augustine, Confessions XI, 9-14
T/20 Augustine, Confessions XI, 15-18
F/21 Augustine, Confessions XI, 19-24
M/24 Augustine, Confessions XI, 25-31
T/25 Review
W/26 Paper #1
T/27 Havel, "Politics of Conscience"
F/28 Havel, Politics of Conscience"
M/31
November
T/1 Havel, "The Power of the Powerless"
W/2 Havel, "The Power of the Powerless"
T/3 Arendt
F/4 Arendt
M/7 Presentations
T/8 Presentations
W/9 Presentations
T/10 Presentations
F/11 Paper #2
Final Exam