{"id":18913,"date":"2017-09-08T09:03:39","date_gmt":"2017-09-08T13:03:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/peterlevine.ws\/?p=18913"},"modified":"2024-08-19T14:14:11","modified_gmt":"2024-08-19T18:14:11","slug":"my-fall-philosophy-class-on-the-question-how-should-i-live","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/peterlevine.ws\/?p=18913","title":{"rendered":"my fall philosophy class on the question: How should I live?"},"content":{"rendered":"

This introductory course will emphasize one of the great philosophical questions: \u201cHow should I live?\u201d The readings will specifically consider whether truthfulness, happiness, and justice are important aspects of a good life, and how each should be defined. …<\/p>\n

Moral Mapping Exercise:<\/u><\/b>\u00a0With colleagues, I have been developing a method for moral introspection that involves making and revising a network diagram (or map) of your moral ideas and the connections among them. I will ask you to make a private map early on and to revise it regularly. I will ask you to bring a copy to class that you are comfortable sharing: it should omit any ideas that you prefer to keep private. At the end, I will collect your final map and a 2-page reflection on it. Instructions are\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Syllabus: Subject to Change<\/u><\/b><\/p>\n

Sept. 6: Overview and introduction<\/p>\n

I. Truthfulness<\/u><\/b><\/p>\n

Is there an obligation to seek the truth? To say or teach the truth to others? How does truthfulness relate to happiness and justice? Can we know truths about ethics?<\/p>\n

Sept. 11: Plato,\u00a0Apology<\/a>,\u00a0<\/em>sections \u00a717-35.\u00a0<\/em>Also Justin P. McBrayer, \u201c\u00a0Why Our Children Don\u2019t Think There are Moral Facts\u00a0<\/a>,\u201d\u00a0The New York Times<\/em>, March 2, 2015. Or in this\u00a0PDF<\/a>\u00a0if you have trouble reading it on the NY Times site.<\/p>\n

Sept. 13: Plato,\u00a0Apology\u00a0<\/em>\u00a735-42.\u00a0<\/em>Also read the “introduction to moral mapping” section of this\u00a0Google doc<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Before Sept. 18: Do the first two tasks of the\u00a0moral network mapping exercise<\/a>\u00a0(1. “Generate a set of moral beliefs” and 2. “From a list to a network”). Bring a copy of your map that you are comfortable sharing with a partner during class.<\/p>\n

Sept. 18: Friedrich Nietzsche,\u00a0Beyond Good and Evil<\/em><\/a>, aphorisms \u00a71-12<\/p>\n

Sept. 20: Nietzsche,\u00a0Beyond Good and Evil<\/em>, aphorisms \u00a713-32<\/p>\n

Sept. 25: Bernard Williams,\u00a0Truth, Politics, and Self-Deception<\/a>, Social Research, Vol. 63, No. 3, (FALL 1996), pp. 603-617.<\/p>\n

Sept 29, midnight. First paper due. Describe a situation in which it’s problematic\u00a0whether to be truthful or not. Argue in favor of being truthful or not being truthful in this situation. Define what you mean by the term “truthful.” Give reasons for your position and explain and counter good reasons against it. Cite at least one relevant passage\u00a0from Plato or Nietzsche.<\/p>\n

I. Happiness<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

What is happiness? What are the best paths to happiness? Do we have a right to pursue our own happiness? Can we make others happy?<\/p>\n

Sept. 27: Epicurus, \u201cLetter to Menoeceus<\/a>\u201d (We will also discuss Socrates\u2019 remarks about happiness in the \u201cApology,\u201d already assigned.)<\/p>\n

Oct 2: “Buddha<\/a>” in the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. (You can also optionally consult \u201cBuddha<\/a>\u201d from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.)<\/p>\n

Before Oct. 4. Do the third task\u00a0of the\u00a0moral network mapping exercise: “Investigate the shape of the network<\/a>.” Make changes to the map if you have had any new ideas or changed your mind. Bring a copy to class to discuss.<\/p>\n

Oct. 4: \u201cBuddha\u201d (continued)<\/p>\n

Oct 9: No class (Columbus Day)<\/p>\n

Oct. 11. Emerson, \u201cSelf-Reliance\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

Oct. 11: More discussion of the \u201chappiness\u201d readings.<\/p>\n

Oct 13. (midnight) Second paper due.\u00a0Essay prompts (pick one):<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Many words seem related to the word “happiness”: for instance,\u00a0“pleasure,” “satisfaction,” “equanimity,” “acceptance,” “joy.” Choose one such word and explain why it is a good goal and how one should pursue it.<\/li>\n
  2. Socrates, Nietzsche, and Emerson recommend independence or self-reliance. Is this the best path to happiness? Why or why not?<\/li>\n
  3. What is one belief about life or the world that would bring happiness if people accepted it as true? Is this belief true? Should people embrace it?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Regardless of which prompt you choose, summarize and respond to objections to your position.<\/p>\n

    III. Justice Toward Others<\/u><\/b><\/p>\n

    What are principles of justice? Which principles of justice are binding on whom? How do they relate to each other?<\/p>\n

    A. Welfare<\/b><\/p>\n

    We discussed happiness in the previous section. Could maximizing the happiness of all human beings–or something similar to that–be the main principle of justice?<\/p>\n

    Oct. 16: Mill,\u00a0Utilitarianism<\/em><\/a>, chapter 2 (\u201cWhat Utilitarianism Is\u201d) and chapter 5 (\u201cOn the Connection Between Justice and Utility\u201d)<\/p>\n

    Oct. 18: Rawls,\u00a0A Theory of Justice<\/em><\/a>, Part I, chapter 1, \u00a75 (versus utilitarianism)<\/p>\n

    Before Oct. 23:\u00a0Do\u00a0the fourth task\u00a0of the\u00a0moral network mapping exercise: “Consider the Location of the Nodes<\/a>.” Make changes to the map if you have had new\u00a0ideas. Bring a copy to class to discuss.<\/p>\n

    Oct. 23: More discussion of welfare.<\/p>\n

    B. Liberty<\/b><\/p>\n

    Oct 25: Isaiah Berlin, \u201cTwo Concepts of Liberty<\/a>\u201d (1958), in Isaiah Berlin,\u00a0Four Essays on Liberty<\/em>\u00a0(1969).<\/p>\n

    Oct 30:\u00a0Friedrich Hayek,\u00a0The Constitution of Liberty<\/em>, Chapters 1, 4 and Postscript (pp.\u00a0<\/a>11-21<\/a>,\u00a0<\/a>54-70<\/a>,\u00a0<\/a>397-411<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

    Nov. 1:\u00a0John Rawls,\u00a0A Theory of Justice<\/em>, Part I, 1 \u00a71-4, 2 \u00a711-17, and 3 \u00a724<\/p>\n

    Nov. 6:\u00a0Discussion of Rawls continues.<\/p>\n

    Nov. 8: Robert Nozick,\u00a0Anarchy, State and Utopia<\/em><\/a>, pp. 149-177<\/p>\n

    Nov. 10\u00a0(midnight) paper due. Suggested essay prompt: Individual liberty and public happiness (or welfare) can conflict. Give a real or imaginary\u00a0example of such a conflict, say whether you favor liberty or welfare\/happiness in that case, and explain why, considering objections to your position. Cite at least one assigned author.<\/p>\n

    B. Equality<\/b><\/p>\n

    Nov. 13: [possible cancellation due to professor’s travel]<\/p>\n

    Nov. 15:\u00a0Tim Scanlon, “When Does Equality Matter?<\/a>”<\/p>\n

    Nov. 20: Bayard Rustin,\u00a0\u201cFrom Protest to Politics: Future of the Civil Rights Movement<\/a>,\u201d\u00a0Commentary<\/em>\u00a0(February, 1965)<\/p>\n

    Nov. 22, midnight: Fourth paper due. Suggested topics:\u00a0(1) Describe an example of an inequality that you consider unjust. Explain why some might reasonably\u00a0consider it to be just. Argue that it is actually unjust and\u00a0explain\u00a0why. Cite at least one assigned text. (2) Give an example of an unequal situation that you consider justifiable. Explain why some might consider that situation to be unjust or unfair. Explain why it is actually just. Cite at least one assigned text. (3) What should we consider when we reason about what a just society is like? Is Rawls right that we should ignore our own situation and beliefs? Is Nozick right that we should pay attention to past actions that have created the current situation? What forms of information<\/em> do you consider relevant to justice, and why?<\/p>\n

    D. Democracy<\/b><\/p>\n

    Nov. 27: Robert A. Dahl,\u00a0Democracy and its Critics<\/em><\/a>, pp. 106-52<\/p>\n

    Nov. 29: Kwasi Wiredu, “Democracy and Consensus in Traditional African Politics” (http:\/\/them.polylog.org\/2\/fwk-en.htm<\/a>) and Emmanuel Chukwudi Eze, “Democracy or Consensus?” (\u00a0http:\/\/them.polylog.org\/2\/fee-en.htm<\/a>)<\/p>\n

    E. Identity<\/b><\/p>\n

    Dec 4: Audre Lorde, \u201c\u00a0The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House\u00a0<\/a>\u201d and Steve Biko, \u201cBlack Consciousness and the Quest for True Humanity<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n

    Dec. 6: Todd Gitlin, \u201cThe Left, Lost in the Politics of Identity<\/a>,\u201d\u00a0Harper\u2019s Magazine<\/em>, 1993; and Susan Bickford, \u201cAnti-Anti-Identity Politics: Feminism, Democracy, and the Complexities of Citizenship<\/a>,\u201d\u00a0Hypatia<\/em>\u00a0Vol. 12, No. 4.<\/p>\n

    Before Dec. 11: Revise your moral network map again. Prepare a copy to hand in (omitting anything that you consider private and don’t want to share. Also write a note of up to 2 pages reflecting on the map.<\/p>\n

    Dec. 11: More discussion of the readings on democracy, diversity and inclusion.<\/p>\n

    Dec. 15: Fifth Paper due. Topic TBA.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    This introductory course will emphasize one of the great philosophical questions: \u201cHow should I live?\u201d The readings will specifically consider whether truthfulness, happiness, and justice are important aspects of a good life, and how each should be defined. … Moral Mapping Exercise:\u00a0With colleagues, I have been developing a method for moral introspection that involves making […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[46,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18913","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-buddhism","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/peterlevine.ws\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18913","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/peterlevine.ws\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/peterlevine.ws\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peterlevine.ws\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peterlevine.ws\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=18913"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/peterlevine.ws\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18913\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18916,"href":"https:\/\/peterlevine.ws\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18913\/revisions\/18916"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/peterlevine.ws\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18913"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peterlevine.ws\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18913"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peterlevine.ws\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18913"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}