Reading (and Other) Assignments for Introduction to Philosophy

 

OK, here's the deal: I've ordered books for this class, but all of the readings are available online. If you feel comfortable reading your assignments on the web, copying them on to discs for later reading, printing out web pages, etc., feel free to do so. Keep in mind, though, that the online readings may not be the same translations as those in the tests assigned to the class, and that finding quotations cited in class may require a bit of work. To do your readings online, click the links after each day's assignment.

August

26

Introduction

  28 Logic Discussion

September

2

Plato's Meno (to 80d) Meno (80d is roughly where Meno says Socrates looks like a "torpedo fish")

 

4 Plato's Meno (80d-89b) (89b is where S. & M. think virtue can be taught.

 

9

Plato's Meno finished

11

Phaedo 66b-67b, 100b-e, 114c-115a 66b, 100b, 114c Republic Allegory of the Cave

 

16

Discussion of Aristotelian Metaphysics

 

18

Discussion of Aristotelian Metaphysics Continued

  23 Descartes' Meditation 1 Meditation 1

 

25

Meditation 2 & 3 Meditation 2 & Meditation 3

 

30 Meditation 4 & 5 Meditation 4 & Meditation 5
October

2

Meditation 6 Meditation 6

 

7

Timeout for Philosophy of Religion: Proofs for God's Existence Aquinas & Anselm (Chapters 1-3)

9

Problem of Evil Dostoyevsky (Read the whole chapter - Book 5, Chapter 4)

 

14

Midterm Exam

 

16

Hume's Enquiry Sections 2 & 3 Hume 2 & Hume 3

  21 Enquiry Sections 4 & 5 Hume 4 & Hume 5 & Hume 7

 

23

Enquiry Section 10 Hume 10

28 Enquiry Section 12 Hume 12
   30 Discussion of responses to Hume: Kant & James
November 4 General approaches to ethical problems and background issues

6

Aristotelian Ethics

  11 Kantian Ethics

 

13

Mill Utilitarianism Chapters 1 & 2 Chapter 1 & Chapter 2
  18 Utilitarianism Chapters 3 & 4 Chapter 3 & Chapter 4

 

20

Utilitarianism Chapter Five Chapter 5

 

25

Sartre: No Exit, No Exit first half

December

2

No Exit, second half

 

4

Final Exam

9 Return Course Work (Optional)

Relevant Dates:

Labor Day: September 1

Thanksgiving Holiday: November 27-28

Final Withdrawal Date: November 24

 

 

Cy Twombly: "The Italians," 1961

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This page was last updated 8/14/08 by dn, Dept. of Philosophy