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PHILOSOPHY (PHIL)
Chair: Wayne Davis (202) 687-7487
Department of Philosophy
PRE SESSION (May 19-June 13)
Introduction to Philosophy
Blattner
PHIL-020-01
M-F 1:00-3:00 p.m.
3 cr.
What is human freedom? Is there such a thing anyhow? Are you free when you choose what to do? Or does freedom require that you choose rationally? Or alternatively, does freedom require that your choices reflect your character, who you are? If freedom does require that you express yourself in your choices and/or actions, are there any moral or aesthetic constraints on such self-expression? Or finally, does freedom require that whatever you choose, you choose in a completely unconstrained manner, free of all determining and limiting factors? We will examine these alternative conceptions of the freedom of action and choice by working through four models of freedom present in the Western philosophical tradition: those of St. Thomas Aquinas, David Hume, William James, and Friedrich Nietzsche. Students will write three short (5 pp.) distributed roughly equally through the session.
Philosophical Issues: Health Care
Evans
PHIL-116-01
M-F 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
3 cr.
THIS COURSE HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
FIRST SESSION (June 2-July 3)
Ethics and Violence
Leider
PHIL-124-10
MTWR 5:45-7:45 p.m.
3 cr.
Is it ever justifiable to kill in self-defense? If so, why is it permissible and under what conditions?
Most people agree that, in limited circumstances such as self-defense, one may use force against another person. What justifies the use of such force, however, remains a topic of considerable dispute. This class will examine the justification of, and ethical limitations on, the use of force in three key areas. Specifically, we will discuss ethical issues involving self-defense, war, and punishment.
No previous class in ethics is required, and this class will begin with a general (but brief) introduction to normative ethics. We will then apply the concepts in normative ethics to self-defense, war, and punishment. Discussions will include what grounds the right of self-defense (and whether self-defense is "right" at all), what limitations should exist on the use of force, the doctrine of double-effect as applied to self-defense and war, and whether capital punishment is ever justified. Classic works from Plato, Kant, and others will be assigned, as well as contemporary philosophers and lawyers such as Fletcher, McMahan, and Uniacke.
Global Justice
Saghai
PHIL-129-10
MTWR 3:40-5:40 p.m.
3 cr.
Throughout the world there are massive social and resource inequalities among countries. While states and individuals donate some aid to overcome this problem, relatively small increases in international assistance could save millions of lives. Many people claim that it is a moral duty for relatively affluent countries and persons to reduce global international inequality and to reform international institutions in the interest of the global poor. However, some deny that we have such obligations toward distant foreigners, and maintain that the bounds of citizenship imply special obligations toward our compatriots. Those who accept the view that we have a duty to help the global poor disagree on why we should do so, what aspects of global poverty we should focus on, and to what degree. Should we aim to some sort of equality or sufficiency? What kind of institutions do we need to secure global justice? Is freedom from poverty a human right? Are human rights compatible with pluralism? In this class, we will read a number of contemporary philosophers who propose various answers to these questions. Students will evaluate these answers via discussions and essay assignments.
Ethics and Pluralism
Olson
PHIL-143-10
MTWR 1:30-3:30 p.m.
3 cr.
Cultural and ethical pluralism is a fact of life for many in the modern world. That is, many individuals live alongside, or at least interact with, people from very different cultural and ethical backgrounds. And even if pluralism is not a fact of life for all, it still affects everyone's lives. In this course, we will explore a series of ethical questions related to pluralism at both the national and international level, including:
-When and how are we justified in praising and blaming other cultures?
-How extensively do cultures need to share values in order to live together, or at least, interact with each other?
-What is the moral basis for tolerance and what are its limits?
-What, if anything, do we lose by living in a pluralistic society?
We will consider how our responses to these questions can be informed by the works of such philosophers as Aristotle, Hume, Kant, John Rawls, and Charles Taylor. We will also evaluate the different philosophical approaches to these questions by considering what they have to say about some concrete cases.
Introduction to Logic
Pierce
PHIL-150-10
MTWR 5:45-7:45 p.m.
3 cr.
In this course we will discuss the basic principles of good reasoning. We will examine both formal and informal aspects of arguments and show how logical fallacies undermine the cogency of an argument, regardless of its subject matter. We will develop a systematic approach to the symbolization and derivation of conclusions from premises. There will be significant emphasis on the application of logical tools to commonly encountered arguments. This course will benefit any student interested in improving his or her reasoning abilities, those preparing for the LSAT, and those interested in satisfying the philosophy major's requirement in logic.
SECOND SESSION (July 7-August 8)
Introduction to Logic
Quattrone
PHIL-150-20
MTWR 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
3 cr.
In this course we will discuss the basic principles of good reasoning. We will examine both formal and informal aspects of arguments and show how logical fallacies undermine the cogency of an argument, regardless of its subject matter. We will develop a systematic approach to the symbolization and derivation of conclusions from premises. There will be significant emphasis on the application of logical tools to commonly encountered arguments. This course will benefit any student interested in improving his or her reasoning abilities, those preparing for the LSAT, and those interested in satisfying the philosophy major's requirement in logic.
Life, Death, Time & Belief
Hedahl
PHIL-153-20
MTWR 5:45-7:45 p.m.
3 cr.
Philosophy deals with foundational questions. Some of these questions impact the lives of most of us tangentially, if at all. Other questions, such as "what makes life worth living," fundamentally impact our lives even if we never pause to consider them.
In this course, we will consider some of these foundational and fundamentally important questions. The objective of the course is to introduce students to the human experience of questioning and seeking to understand the meaning of our existence as human beings. We will attempt to accomplish this task by grappling with four fundamental aspects of our experiences: Life, Death, Time, and Belief.
We will investigate how thinkers both old (including: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, The Stoics, and The Daoists) and new (including: William James, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Victor Frankl, and Alan Lightman) have grappled with these questions.
Assignments include one short reflective paper, two take-home examinations, final project that includes both group and individual components, and participation in individual/group activities (discussion and/or writing) outside class as assigned.
Theory of Knowledge
Puglisi
PHIL-158-20
MTWR 1:00-3:00 p.m.
3 cr.
We take for granted that we have all sorts of knowledge. We assume that we know that the sky is blue, that Bush is president, that electrons orbit atomic nuclei; the list could go on for miles. These sorts of assumptions form the very foundation of scientific inquiry. But on what basis do we assume that we have such knowledge? What does it mean to say that an individual knows something? How can we be sure that we really know anything at all? Beginning with early modern and enlightenment thinkers and continuing on to study contemporary work, this course will study a variety of answers to these questions. Course requirements include two exams and a paper.
Angel/Insect: On Human Nature
Olsen
PHIL-183-20
MTWR 3:15-5:15 p.m.
3 cr.
Blaise Pascal, a radical thinker in his day, spoke of the "broad" nature of human being. Simply put, the nature of human being contains a fundamental, paradoxical split between the profoundly divine and the utterly mortal. Revolving primarily around this theme, we will trace a philosophical dialogue that takes place between Pascal and later philosophers inspired by him and his infamous aphorism "The heart has reasons that reason cannot know." Pascal's themes were explicitly taken up in various ways by the 19th century philosophers Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, and Dostoevsky--foundational thinkers for the later existentialists. Reading works from each of these philosophers, we will explore how different ways of characterizing our broad nature leads to importantly different understandings of the right way to resolve the human paradox and the proper prescription for human flourishing. Important to this exploration is an understanding of some of the threats to human flourishing posed by modernity. At the end of the course, we will look at ways in which Heidegger picks up and contributes to this discussion.
SPECIAL SESSION (June 9-July 3)
Ethical Perspectives on Media
Reynolds
PHIL-273-11 (non-IPJ Students Only)
MR 6:30-9:30 p.m.; F 8:00-11:30 a.m.
3 cr.
This course will not fulfill the requirements in Philosophy for
