| Course: | Philosophy 353: Philosophical Methods |
| Time: | Spring 2018, MW, 10:30-11:45 |
| Location: | North Court 101 |
| Instructors: | Geoff Goddu: x8733
or 330-2904 (no later than 10 pm!); ggoddu@richmond.edu; |
| Office Hours: | Goddu: TW: 12:00-2:00; R: 10:30-1:30; and
by appt. North Court 216 |
Description: This course is required of all philosophy
majors and limited to philosophy majors and minors and PPEL philosophy concentrators. Its main purpose
is the development of philosophical skills related to critical
reading, writing, and evaluation. For example, we will work on
extracting the author's goal, overall strategy for achieving that
goal, and specific arguments, from a wide variety of philsophical
texts. In general, we will closely read, discuss, and argue the
merits of numerous writings with a wide array of content, including
the very nature of philosophy itself. The course has a seminar
format, so success is completely dependent upon the involvement
and participation of all members.
| Requirements: | 8 Short Papers: | 50% |
| Conference Commentary | 10% | |
| Conference Paper | 18% | |
| Final Conference Paper | 12% | |
| Participation in Seminar: | 10% |
Attendance: Participation in the Seminar not only includes attendance at every class, but also attendance at Philosophy Department events. See http://philosophy.richmond.edu/major-minor/lecture-series.html for information concerning this semester's speakers. Every unexcused absence will result in a deduction of 1% from the total grade achieved satisfying the class requirements. Unexcused absence on a day on which you are scheduled to perform will result in failure. You are responsible for all assigned material.
Honor Code: Satisfaction of all the requirements must be by your own individual and independent work. All your work must be pledged.
Provisional Schedule: [Unless otherwise specified, all readings and assignments are due at the beginning of class!]
| Day | Date | Topics | Readings/Assignments Due |
| 1 | W 1/17 | Introduction | Gettier |
| 2 | M 1/22 | Functions I | Searle |
| 3 | W 1/24 | Functions II | Turing |
| 4 | M 1/29 | The Goal | Parker, Noonan |
| 5 | W 1/31 | The Goal | Heidegger, Connolly, SP #1 |
| 6 | M 2/5 | Setup: The Hook | Jolley & Watkins, Hubin |
| 7 | W 2/7 | Setup: The Roadmap | Goddu, Adler, |
| 8 | M 2/12 | Strategy: Theory | Brueckner, SP#2 |
| 9 | W 2/14 | Philosophical Tools | Thomson, |
| 10 | M 2/19 | Philosophical Tools | Oppy, Lewis |
| 11 | W 2/21 | Philosophical Tools | Dodd, SP#3 |
| 12 | M 2/26 | Philosophical Tools | Heidegger, Levinas |
| 13 | W 2/28 | Philosophical Tools | Goddu, SP#4 |
| 14 | M 3/5 | Philosophical Tools | Putnam, Davidson |
| 15 | W 3/7 | Explication | Dicker, SP#5 |
| Spring Break | Spring Break | ||
| 16 | M 3/19 | Explication | Williamson, Horwich, Schiffer, Williamson |
| 17 | W 3/21 | Evaluation | Meyers, Schauer |
| 18 | M 3/26 | Evaluation | Kivy, Sayre-McCord, SP#6 |
| 19 | W 3/28 | Style: Dialogues | Lewis, Plato |
| 20 | M 4/2 | Style: Letters | Casati and Varzi, Goddu, Sorensen |
| T 4/3 | Last day we will accept Con Paper drafts | Last day we will accept Con Paper drafts | |
| 21 | W 4/4 | Style: Stories | Sartre, Brown, Hanfling |
| 22 | M 4/9 | Style: Aphorisms | Wittgenstein, Nietschze, Nietschze, SP#7 |
| 23 | W 4/11 | Style: Miscellenea | Wittgenstein (a), (b),Fitzgerald, Conference Paper |
| 24 | M 4/16 | Metaphilosophy | Critchley, Follesdal; SP#8 |
| 25 | W 4/18 | Metaphilosophy | Godlovitch, Wolfson, |
| 26 | M 4/23 | Metaphilosophy | Deleuze, Sisson |
| 27 | W 4/25 | Metaphilosophy | |
| F 4/27 | Commentary Due | Commentary Due |