WINTER 2000

This information effective for Winter 2000.
Check with instructor the first day of class for any changes.

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Philosophy

[PHIL-011-01] [PHIL-170-01] [PHIL-190E-01]

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Philosophy 11: Introduction to Philosophical Problems

Winter 2000
Instructor: J. Neu

I. SOCRATES AND PLATO

Plato: Euthyphro

Apology
Crito
(in The Trial and Death of Socrates, trans. Grube, Hackett)

Dworkin, "Civil Disobedience" (in Supplement)

II. DESCARTES

Descartes: Meditations on First Philosophy (trans. Cress, Hackett)
Austin, Sense and Sensibilia, Chapter VII (in Supplement)
Nagel, "Brain Bisection and the Unity of Consciousness" (in Supplement)

III. HUME

Hume: An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (Hackett)\
Goodman, "The New Riddle of Induction" (in Supplement)

IV. KANT

Kant: Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals (trans. Ellington, Hackett)

O'Neill, "Kantian Approaches to Some Famine Problems" (in Supplement)

Williams, "The Idea of Equality" (in Supplement)

V. SARTRE and WITTGENSTEIN

Sartre, "Existentialism is a Humanism"

(in Existentialism and Human Emotions, trans. Frechtman, Citadel)

Wittgenstein: The Blue Book (Harper and Row)

• The reading for this course will consist of seminal works by major philosophers, along with contemporary articles on related issues. Students will be expected to participate in discussion sections and to write four brief papers (2-3 typed pages each) in connection with different major works, and a longer final paper (4-5 typed pages) relating Sartre or Wittgenstein to some of the earlier themes. All of the papers must be rooted in the texts and call for critical analysis.
  
• There will be one-hour midterm and final exams, emphasizing material from lectures.
  
• The course books will be available at The Literary Guillotine, on Locust St.
  
• The Supplement will be available at the Campus Copy Center

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PHILOSOPHY 170: THE INTERPRETATION OF RELIGION

Instructor: Robert Goff
Robtg@cats.ucsc.edu

This course covers two areas:

First, philosophical and other theories about religious belief and practice&emdash;in what ways can religious statements and activities be shown true/meaningful/functional, or otherwise?

Must religious beliefs be shared in order to be understood and appreciated? Can they be usefully compared? Are some few experiences uniquely religious, or can religiosity be ascribed to virtually any experience? Is religious practice subject to independent moral standards?

Second, religious philosophy and anti-religious philosophy, i.e., philosophy as a means of religious articulation, and philosophy undertaken in denial of religion. Sources here include: Augustine, Anselm, Descartes, Pascal, Hume, Kant, Kierkegaard, Feuerbach, Nietzsche, Freud, Heidegger, Wittgenstein, Ayer, Levinas.

Discussion will be part of every class session.

Two papers, the second (and longer) based upon outside reading.

Two exams.

General Prerequisites: open to non-philosophy majors, but class members should have done some previous work in philosophy. No first-year students.

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PHILOSOPHY 190E: KIERKEGAARD SEMINAR

Robert Goff (robtg@cats.ucsc.edu)

Intensive work in the writings of the 19th century self-described "Christian Socrates," whose impact remains substantial upon ethics, philosophy, theology, clinical psychology, literature and drama, /emphasis upon secular topics such s: self-description and self-development, the nature of authorship, the ethics of communication, writers who have learned from Kierkegaard.

Each student is responsible for two seminar presentations, to be accompanied by documentation, e.g., bibliography, draft section, detailed outline.

These presentations will culminate in a seminar paper (5000 words min.) due at the end of the quarter

Prerequsities: Junior or Senior standing, background in philosophy, including some upper division work and (ideally) some history of philosophy. Open to qualified non-majors&emdash;contact the instructor before the session.