History of Philosophy Seminar III (Phil. 493)
T Th 3:30-4:50 (HSB 120)
Instructor: Dr. Darrell Arnold
Office: Psych 165
Tel. 2620
Office Hours: Tu., Th. 9:45 – 10:4; M, W, F 11:00 - 12:00
Course Description: In this course we will examine main trends in the areas of metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics and political philosophy since Kant. Kant’s was the most successful early attempt to redress tensions among the rationalist and empiricist schools of thought, and he has retained foundational importance in both analytic and contemporary Continental philosophy. In contrast to thinkers that follow him, however, his thinking is not thoroughly historical. We shall thus also spend time looking at post-Kantian idealism, which while working within the Kantian framework, develops a much greater sense of the affect of history of human life. Here we shall especially concentrate on Hegel, whose Science of the Logic contains a category teaching similar to Kant’s, but who emphasizes, for example, in his Philosophy of Spirit, that humans unfold their powers in the process of historical development. While Hegel remains in the modernist tradition, underlining the ability of reason to solve our greatest quandaries, his Romantic contemporaries and numerous thinkers after him fundamentally question the Enlightenment faith in reason. Post-Hegelian and post-Romantic thought breaks into two camps, one which continues the impulses of the Enlightenment and supports the main impulses of science, another which is more skeptical of the modernist project. Thinkers as diverse as Marx, Mill, neo-Darwinists, pragmatists, Russell, Wittgenstein, and Popper continue in various ways the modernist project. However, another camp of thinkers, including Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Kierkegaard and later existentialists, and postmodernists, while by no means opposing all developments of science, are united in their rejection of the view that it or rationality in general allows us to adequately address the fundamental issues of human existence. Will for these thinkers is a more fundamental force than reason.
Objectives: The students will learn the main trends in philosophy since Kant. They should achieve a fundamental understanding of the philosophies outlined above. The course also provides students the opportunity to hone their public presentation skills and writing skills, as well as their general abilities to critically read and critically think.
Course work: Regular class participation, Two class presentations, 500-800 word position papers on five of the philosophers or topics on which we focus in this course (two of which may deal with your presentation topics), a final exam.
Presentations: The presentations are to be 20-30 minutes in length, summarizing the main views of the author on the topic chosen. They should focus on some particular aspect of the philosophers thought, as agreed to with the instructor (for example, Kant’s categorical imperative, Hegel’s view of Spirit, Nietzsche’s view of the superman). You will be graded for the clarity of the main idea, presentation style, the substantiation for the views provided, and for your ability to address questions on the issues discussed.
Position papers: Five position papers are expected. They are to be 500-800 words in length. (Papers shorter than this will be graded with an F.) These will be graded on the clarity and coherence of the main idea, the argumentation offered to substantiate your positions, writing style, grammar, and mechanical considerations (format, etc.). It may help to keep the following points in mind: (1) Here start with a summary of the position to be evaluated. Include the thesis and main argument in support of it. (2) Indicate whether you think the argument is cogent or well argued. If arguing for the position in the paper, indicate reasons for accepting the premises or provide additional evidence for the position argued. If arguing contra, show that the argument commits a fallacy, has questionable premises or is invalid, or has neglected important evidence. These papers should be written in compliance with the Kate Turabian Style format, 7th edition. Sources of all works used in the course of preparing the paper must be listed (not merely those quoted), including of course online sources.
Grading: Presentations: 15% each (cumulatively 30%). Position papers 6% each (cumulatively 30%). Final exam: 35%. Class participation: 5%. For cheating, students will fail their tests and/or quizzes and may fail the course.
Grading scale:
93-100 = A
90-93 = A-
87-89 = B+
84-86 = B
80-83 = B-
77-79 = C+
70-76 = C
67-69 = D +
60-66 = D
0 – 59 = F
Texts and Materials: W. T. Jones, Kant the Nineteenth Century. Supplementary Texts, available as handouts, online, and from The Blackwell Guide to Continental Philosophy.
Students with Disabilities: This university abides by the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which stipulates that no students shall be denied the benefits of an education solely by reason of a handicap. If you have a documented disability that may impact your work in this class and for which you may require accommodations, please see the instructor to make arrangements. In order to receive accommodations, you must be registered with and provide documentation of your disability to the Disability Services Office, which is located in the Psychology Building, Room 232.
Readings
Readings
PDF Documents for the course
Free Adobe ReaderIntroduction
Introduction to Kant's epistemology
Kant's ethics
Hegel's system
Related Audio and Video Content
To be added in the course of the semester.
General Links for Related Texts
To be added.