Global Arc

An examination of various issues raised in, and by, Nietzsche's writings. Apart from discussing views like the eternal recurrence, the overman, and the will to power, this course considers Nietzsche's ambiguous relationship with philosophy, the literary status of his work, and his influence on contemporary thought. Prerequisite: One philosophy course or equivalent preparation in the history of modern thought or literature. Two lectures, one precept.

A study of important ethical theories with special reference to the problem of the objectivity of morality and to the relation between moral reasoning and reasoning about other subjects. Two lectures, one precept.

A systematic study of problems and concepts connected with political institutions: Sovereignty, law, liberty, and political obligation. Topics may include representation, citizenship, power and authority, revolution, civil disobedience, totalitarianism, and legal and political rights. Two lectures, one precept.

This course will focus on the conditions for personal identity over time, with implications for the beginning and end of life. Students will investigate what it is rational to care about in survival or continued existence, and whether that should change if it is discovered either that there is no human soul, or there is no self or subject behind our various conscious acts. Two 90-minute classes.

Proofs of some of the principal results regarding first-order languages (and the theories expressed in them): Church's undecidability theorem, the Lowenheim-Skolem Theorem, Gödel's theorems on the completeness of first-order logic and the incompleteness of arithmetic; because several of these concern the possibility of devising computational tests for semantic properties (logical validity, truth), an introduction to the theory of computability (Turing Machines/recursive functions); if time permits, some properties of second-order logic. Two 90-minute classes.

An exploration of central issues in epistemology. What is knowledge, and how is it related to belief, truth, evidence, probability, and certainty? Can we know the future, the distant past, or unobserved aspects of reality-and if so, how? When, if ever, is it reasonable to believe in the absence of evidence, or even contrary to the evidence? Topics include testimony, skepticism, bias and disagreement, and whether beliefs can wrong others. Readings focus on contemporary work, with some classic texts. Two 90-minute classes.

If we have any clear and distinct knowledge, then it's knowledge about mathematical facts. This knowledge is about abstract entities, and yet it plays a crucial role in our scientific endeavors. How is mathematical knowledge at all possible? What is it about the practice of mathematics that enables it to produce such apparently certain knowledge? We investigate the development of mathematical thought, focusing in particular on the early 20th century debates about the foundations of mathematics. We also consider issues emerging from the practice of mathematics. Two 90-minute classes.

Investigation of some of the following (or similar) topics: The mind-body problem, personal identity, the unity of consciousness, the unconscious, the problem of other minds, action, intention, and the will. Readings primarily from recent sources. Two lectures, one precept.

A systematic study of philosophical questions pertaining to social phenomena. We will begin with ontological questions, such as whether and how we can say that a group exists or that it has certain beliefs and desires; then turn to questions concerning explanation, such as whether social science can ever be value-neutral; and end by addressing normative questions pertaining to our obligation to obey the law, the nature and value of patriotism, the moral responsibilities of corporations, the critique of social categories like race and gender, and the ideal of socialism.

An examination of the nature of language through the study of such topics as truth, reference, meaning, linguistic structure, how language differs from other symbol systems, relations between thought and language and language and the world, the use of language, and the relevance of theories concerning these to selected philosophical issues. Two 90-minute classes.