To this end, each week we will (1) read philosophical material focused on one principle or concept, and (2) consider in detail one bioethics case in which the principle or concept has special application or relevance. Readings will be drawn from recent work in the Frankfurt School and poststructuralist traditions of critical theory as well as anti-racist, anti-colonial, feminist and queer theories that draw upon them. What is it for a sentence or a proposition to be true? Who are the people, anyway? It was the Crow's first game since the death of their coach Phil Walsh. First of all, Greek thinkers, especially Plato and Aristotle, radically shaped the trajectory of western thought in every area of philosophy. Does freedom require leading (or avoiding) a political life? The remainder of the course will consider key concepts at the core of medical ethics and central issues for the field, such as privacy and confidentiality, the distinction between killing and "letting die," and therapy vs. research. More importantly, many of the thinkers that we will read in this class are simply excellent philosophers, and it is worthwhile for anyone interested in philosophical problems to read treatments of these problems by excellent philosophers. How should moral equality be understood, and what is its foundation? There will also be a midterm paper (roughly 10 pages) and a final paper (roughly 15 pages) which you will develop and revise in consultation with the instructor. It is not enough for it merely to be about a character who happens to be a philosopher; nor is it just that philosophical positions are reviewed in the narrative, as in Gaarder's Sophie's World. That would be really worrisome. Our main goal in this course is to work our way through Aristotle's text which can be extremely daunting, and to reconstruct his central positions and his arguments for these positions. Despite these rather grim pronouncements, tragic drama has continued to fascinate and educate generations. Of particular interest will be the extent to which discourse dynamics are built into the meanings of linguistic expressions vs. the extent to which they're consequences of our rational cognition. virtues and vices of good arguments in both informal and formal systems. We will read some representative works from each of these schools of thought to see how each approaches Socrates. Mark Williams remains shattered by the death of his great mate Phil Walsh, but finds solace in the fact one of his sons regularly visits Walsh's son in an Adelaide psychiatric facility. Milan Kundera tried to answer this question by saying that a good philosophical novel does not serve philosophy but, on the contrary, tries to "get hold of a domain that () philosophy had kept for itself. This discussion will lead us to the relativist and social-constructivist views developed within contemporary science studies. We examine key concepts such as: capitalism, alienation, false consciousness, the death of God, nihilism, the unconscious, ego, id, superego, and the death drive. While Hegel studies tends to occur in isolation from philosophers in the Africana tradition, many of the above explicitly refer to and take up questions in Hegel. But how often do we ask: What is freedom? Must the freedom or fulfillment of some people require the subordination of others? In this tutorial we will read from Ancient, modern and contemporary philosophical sources as well several relevant studies in the social sciences and positive psychology movement in order to engage questions concerning happiness. arts education by nurturing in students the academic and civic virtues, and their related traits of character." (Foot also invented the infamous trolley car thought experiment.) We will focus particularly on how subjects are positioned in relation to his writings on power and knowledge with particular attention to the later so-called ethical writings in the years before his untimely death in 1984. If not, should this concern us? In this course we will examine traditional philosophical approaches to understanding death and related concepts, with a special focus on the ethical concerns surrounding death and care for the dying. Williams relatives. In this course we will engage ethical questions surrounding the seeming inevitability of AI. The philosophical study of what we do in language, and how we understand one another, is called pragmatics; within the analytic tradition, the main philosophical contributions to the study of pragmatics in language came from Peirce, Wittgenstein, Austen, Grice and Searle. Some maintain that these issues are solely the provinces of philosophy, using traditional a priori methods. And what present practices and ways of thinking and knowing might be questioned using Foucault's tools, genealogy in particular, for resisting unnecessary constraints on freedom and the perpetuation of unnecessary suffering? We will examine this issue in Hume's Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, classic sources and contemporary articles. College: will be updated: University: will be updated: High Education: Not Available: Degree: What differentiates today from yesterday? 1-3), and selected interviews and course lectures. Topics include sentience, animal cognition, language in non-human animals, empathy and evolution, the history of domestication, animal rights, cross-cultural views on animals, arguments against and for vegetarianism and veganism, the morality of zoos, hunting and fishing, and pets and happiness. In the first unit of this course, we will consider the relationship between freedom and social order. make requests, establish rules, utilize power, issue protests, and much more. We will examine a variety of philosophical and scientific theories of emotion, as well as some issues concerning normative aspects of emotions: the role of emotions in a good life, and the concept of emotional maturity. What are the limits of language? We will begin the course by looking briefly at some of the Presocratic philosophers active in the Mediterranean world of the seventh through fifth centuries BCE, and some of the sophists active in the fifth century. [more], The seminar involves a critical engagement with key Africana political leaders, theorists and liberationists. In this way, we develop a rich array of analytical tools and observational practices to further our understanding of the mind. Furthermore, they share the conviction that the most important components of a successful life are within the control of the individual human being. While you're debating whether to take this class, consider the following puzzle. In this course, we will examine some central texts in ancient Greek and Roman moral philosophy. The real question, then, seems to be whether, and how, free choice is possible amidst all of these influences. Is film today really distinct from a number of new, emerging visual media? Why should one obey the law (if one should)? Philosophy? Does it advance our thinking and increase our knowledge of the world? As a result, some prominent researchers propose that the existence of consciousness requires a revision of basic physics, while others (seemingly desperately) deny that consciousness exists at all. I don't know why, she just does. Save. In addition we'll also look at feminist analyses of topics that traditionally have not been regarded as "gendered," such as resource allocation and end of life issues. Stoicism and skepticism, however, are wildly divergent schools of thought. Questions include: Does the world decide the truth and falsity of all our beliefs? However, few (haters gonna hate) would say that the expression has a referent. Does the fact that our lives will end threaten their meaning? How have you already been taught the academic and civic virtues? While social justice and distributive justice are deeply intertwined in the health care context and we will discuss both, we will focus primarily on the concept of distributive justice. Does morality require that we always subordinate our personal relationships to universal principles? Among the authors we will read are: Aristotle, Frege, Russell, Quine, Kripke, Putnam, Field and Fine. After working through these arguments, we will reflect more generally on the proper roles of reason and faith in justifying religious belief. How important are honor, money, love, work, friendship and our connections to others to our happiness? We also introduce the practice of meditation as a way to observe the mind and raise questions concerning the place of its study in the mind-sciences. Some critics find predictive failures of economists unsurprising, given the frequent reliance of the latter on assumptions known to be false (e.g., that economic agents are always selfish, have perfect information, and never make mistakes) and on models that unavoidably ignore potentially relevant factors. As the music wails in the background, we will study the classic pragmatists: William James, C. S. Peirce, and John Dewey. Which characteristics of persons give them moral status? If loyalty is a virtue, what are the proper limits of its cultivation and expression? Where have you been taught them? Do our society's laws limit our freedom in order to make us safe? The real question, then, seems to be whether, and how, free choice is possible amidst all of these influences. Conceptions of person are equally important in science (especially in psychology), law, and the arts. The order in which you say things matters, and it matters for what you communicate what actions you take and what events happen around you. Each questioned the emancipatory effect of reason and freedom as well as idealist accounts of moral progress in human history. In addition, we will devote several class meetings interspersed throughout the semester to reading foundational sources in ethical theory. Does film accurately capture reality, as no other art does? In this course we'll examine several influential attempts to provide a rational foundation for morality, along with Nietzsche's wholesale rejection of these efforts. We will continue with the contemporary inheritors of the tradition: Cornel West, Richard Rorty, and Hilary Putnam. No one can have an adequate understanding of western intellectual history without some familiarity with the Greeks, and we might think that an understanding of our intellectual history can deepen our understanding of our own situation. But three grains isn't enough for a heap. We use language to communicate meanings in order to accomplish a variety of goals: to convey information, make requests, establish rules, utilize power, issue protests, and much more. [more], This course will explore the themes of alienation, fetishism, ideology, dialectic, sociality, and freedom in the philosophical writings of G.W.F. What is the body? Just today (15 February 2022) The New York Times removed some solutions from their recently purchased game Wordle, saying that words such as "pussy", "slave", and "wench" are "offensive or insensitive". Does being virtuous guarantee happiness? Phil, miss you and wish I had the chance to say goodbye. [more], In this course, we follow the Indian philosophical conversation concerning the self and the nature of consciousness, particularly as they are found in its various Yogic traditions. [more], This course will raise and discuss a number of philosophical questions concerning our current understanding of mental health and mental illness. [more], This will be a course in the philosophy of language at it has developed over the past century and a half in the analytic tradition. What if they are biased, unbeknownst to us? Who should rule? We turn first to two of Plato's most famous dialogues,The Apology and,The Republic. [more], What gives an individual life meaning? We will read the Oresteia and Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus, Sophocles' Theban Cycle, and the Hippolytus, Bacchae and Philoctetes by Euripides. Existentialists investigate deeply irrational phenomena of human life, including anxiety, boredom, tragedy, despair, death, faith, sexuality, love, hate, sadism, masochism, and authenticity. Is moral objectivity like scientific objectivity, assuming that we have a clear sense of what that involves? Frege, Russell, and the Early Wittgenstein. Assigned works will include Booker T. Washington, Industrial Education, W.E.B. How do logic and language relate? In addition to key concepts of death, dying, and terminal illness, we will develop and refine notions of medical futility, paternalism and autonomy, particularly within the context of advance directives and surrogate decision making. Topics will include: What can we know through our senses? If Kundera is right, fictional narratives (such as novels) sometimes do the philosophical work that philosophy cannot do for itself. His son was arrested after police were called to a domestic dispute at the home in Somerton Park at 2am ACST on Friday. Does free inquiry clash with concern for others, or do they (or can they) work together? The debate never transpired - indeed, Leibniz suppressed his New Essays - because of Locke's death in 1705. subject. [more], In this course we will explore the ways in which feminist approaches to moral thinking have influenced both the methodology and the content of contemporary bioethics. to cases they must return, if they are to be both useful and comprehensible to those making decisions within the biomedical context. To notify Williams of alumni deaths, please email, Experiential Learning & Community Engagement. Leibniz wrote his New Essays in 1704 as a critical response to Locke's Essay of 1690. By which methods should we pursue these questions? It is difficult, however, to get clear on the relation between the meaning of an expression and its reference. How can we reconcile this faith with the persistence of domination today? These questions are typically asked within a framework where the overarching goal is attaining truth and avoiding falsity. The question of this course is whether these values are in conflict. Both stances face severe difficulties. Ninah T. Pretto. Who gets to decide the answer to these questions; indeed, who gets to decide what questions to ask? What is offensive art? Persons are subjects of experiences, have thoughts and feelings, motivation and agency; a person is thought of as continuous over time, and as related to, recognized and respected by other persons. Each book was chosen by and will be introduced by a professor from a different department, and then Professor of Philosophy Steve Gerrard will continue the discussion. We all examine the virtues and vices of good arguments in both informal and formal systems. limits of language? According to Hegel, subjects are both historically and socially constituted; they are formed through their relations with other subjects. Near the end of the semester, we'll also examine some evolutionary explanations of religious belief. How does film generate meaning? The picture that we find in the works of the tragedians, Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides is markedly different. Can we know anything through reason alone? We will examine the wager in its original home of Pascal's Pensees, and look at William James' related article, "The Will to Believe." As we proceed through the course, we will look at the way in which each thinker characterizes happiness, virtue and the relation between the two. To what extent do these myriad force relations limit, enable, or deform our participation as political citizens, and our capacity to transform and improve them? this class, we will attempt to carry on the noble tradition of corruption by philosophy. Associate Dean of Students / Director of International Student Services. Tragedy and philosophy were two of the finest achievements of classical Athenian civilization, and each attempts to reveal to the reader something fundamental about our shared human condition. We will begin with Aristotle's Poetics and will continue with Hume's Of Tragedy, Hegel's various writings on tragedy, and Nietzsche's The Birth of Tragedy. In this course, we will spend the first third of the semester attempting to understand the metaphysics and epistemology in Plato's middle dialogues. It will be very helpful, though not absolutely necessary, for you to have some familiarity with logic and some experience in reading philosophy. In some weeks, students will be asked to choose from a small set which case they would like to address; in others the case will be assigned. In this course we will seek to comprehend the dimensions in which Existentialism is a distinctive intellectual tradition. Background readings include sources rooted in traditional modes of bioethical analysis as well as those incorporating feminist approaches. A number of things follow from this happy assumption. One of our guiding questions will be: What makes a thinker an "Existentialist"? Other topics could include: Zeno's paradoxes of motion and plurality, the liar's paradox, the surprise-exam paradox, paradoxes of material constitution, Newcomb's Problem , and the Prisoner's Dilemma. We then consider a range of Buddhist critiques of these views, focusing more particularly on the Madhyamaka, which radicalizes the critique of the self into a global anti-realist and skeptical stance. [more], The touchstone of our course will be Plato's Republic: the first and perhaps greatest utopia as well as perhaps the greatest work in political philosophy. We will then turn to several of Plato's dialogues, examining Plato's portrayal of Socrates and his development of a new and profoundly powerful philosophical conception. The pain and suffering of the family is no different.". His thought influenced the thought of subsequent generations of philosophers. What role do emotional, irrational or unconscious forces play? In confronting these difficult questions, we do not proceed purely theoretically but consider the contributions of various observation-based traditions, from Buddhist psychology and meditative practices to phenomenology to neurosciences. In school? What are other models for understanding moral objectivity? We will pay special attention to the first amendment and questions concerning free speech and hate speech. Questions about persons are of central importance for a myriad of our theories and practices, and for the ways in which we live our lives. On the other hand, there is a heap of sand in my backyard. Are we legitimately bound by a social contract? In framing and answering these questions, we will discuss subjective experience (or phenomenology) of mental illness; holism vs. reductionism; functional, historical and structural explanations of psychopathology; theory formation, evidence, and the role of values in psychology and psychiatry; the diversity and disunity of psychotherapeutic approaches; relationship between knowers and the known; and relationship between theoretical knowledge in psychiatry and the practices of healing. Much of the moral philosophy produced in Greece and Rome remains as relevant today as when it was written. Some of the questions which we will discuss are: What is a person? At least, let's assume that you are for the sake of argument. 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