Courses

In today’s world, the quest for happiness is seen as the ultimate goal of life: We work, shop, and relate to each other in order to be happy. Yet, too often we fall short of achieving our goal to be happy. What are we doing wrong? What is the path, if any, to happiness? Can happiness be achieved in this lifetime?

Consideration of both speculative and critical philosophies of history with emphasis on the relation of history to the sciences, historical explanation, and the principle of historical selection. Selected readings from Vico, Hegel, Marx, Collingwood, Beard, Sartre, Foucault.

A consideration of philosophical problems relating to the foundation, nature, and justification of knowledge.

A consideration of philosophical problems relating to language. Problems concerning meaning and reference, signs and symbols, verifiability and literal and non-literal meaning are treated mainly in terms of contemporary thinkers.

An introduction to those basic concepts of law and jurisprudence that have been influential in the formation of legal systems. Emphasis will be given to contemporary theory and criticism.

This class explores the ethics of love as a way of introduction into the discipline of ethics. Texts studied will include Ancient as well as contemporary readings.

Selected problems in philosophical psychology: concepts of mind; existential psychology; the mind-body problem; the nature of imagination; belief, emotion, intention, and introspection.

A philosophical analysis of issues relating to the natural environment. Possible topics include the relationship of humankind to nature; responsibility to future generations; the nature and origin of rights; ownership and land use; intrinsic and instrumental values; and the concept of citizenship.

An analysis of the meaning, structure, and implications of modern natural sciences, and an examination of some fundamental philosophical problems concerning scientific inquiry and scientific knowledge.

A philosophical critique of the fundamental assumptions, methodologies, and controversies in current social science. Possible topics: behaviorism and its alternatives; mainstream economics versus Marxism and quantitative sociology; functionalism and alternative conceptions in sociology and anthropology.