|
THE QUEST FOR WISDOM – SCHEDULE,
PART I
Meeting Number, Topic, and Reading Assignment
PART A – WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?
1. Introduction to Course: Syllabus, Grading, Schedule, The
Quest for Wisdom
2. What is philosophy? – Etymological Derivation,
Definition
Reading: "School," from cover; "The Wayfarer," p.1; "A
Philosopher’s Invitation" and "Self-Knowledge," p. 2;
"Patience," p. 3; "First Person Discipline," p. 4; "Influential
Ideas," p. 5.
3. What is philosophy? – Etymological Derivation, Definition
Reading: "School," from cover; "The Wayfarer," p.1; "A
Philosopher’s Invitation" and "Self-Knowledge," p. 2;
"Patience," p. 3; "First Person Discipline," p. 4; "Influential
Ideas," p. 5.
4. Epistemological Conservatism
Reading: "Branches of Philosophy," pp. 6–7; "Epistemological
Conservatism," p. 8; "Physical Concepts," p. 9; "Scientific
Knowledge," p. 10; "The Examination of Assumption," pp. 11–16.
5. Epistemological Conservatism
Reading: "Branches of Philosophy," pp. 6–7; "Epistemological
Conservatism," p. 8; "Physical Concepts," p. 9; "Scientific
Knowledge," p. 10; "The Examination of Assumption," pp. 11–16.
6. The Examination of Assumption – Philosophy as Process
Reading: "The Examination of Assumption," pp. 11–16.
7. Assumptions and Reasoning
Reading: "The Examination of Assumption," pp. 11–16.
8. The Power of Logic
Reading: "The Examination of Assumption," pp. 11–16.
9. Philosophy and Action
Reading: "The Examination of Assumption," pp. 11–16;
"Philosophy and Poetry," p. 17.
10. The Significance of Belief – Philosophy and Language
Reading: "The Examination of Assumption," pp. 11–16;
"Language," p. 18; "Myth," p. 19; "On Catching Life," p. 20.
11. Why Philosophy?
Reading: "The Value of Philosophy," pp. 21 – 24.
IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE ASSIGNMENT, PLEASE DON’T COME TO
CLASS.
12. Why Philosophy?
Reading: "The Value of Philosophy," pp. 21–24.
IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE ASSIGNMENT, PLEASE DON’T COME TO
CLASS.
13. Why Philosophy?
Reading: "The Value of Philosophy," pp. 21–24.
IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE ASSIGNMENT, PLEASE DON’T COME TO
CLASS.
14. FIRST EXAMINATION
15. First Examination Returned and Reviewed
16. The Apology: An Egoistic Argument for Altruistic Behavior
Reading: "The Torchbearers," p. 25; "Socrates and Meletus,"
p. 26.
17. The Apology: An Egoistic Argument for Altruistic Behavior
Reading: "The Torchbearers," p. 25; "Socrates and Meletus,"
p. 26.
PART B – STOICISM AND ZEN, Two Philosophies of Personal
Responsibility
18. Stoicism: The Senior Distinction – Interpretation ("Creating
Meaning")
Reading: from the Enchiridion
Introduction, pp. 7–12; Sections I, p. 17; V, p. 19; XVI, p. 22; XX, p.
23. Also: "From the Introduction to The Enchiridion," p. 27.
19. Stoicism: The Senior Distinction – Interpretation ("Creating
Meaning")
Reading: from the Enchiridion – Introduction, pp.
7–12; Sections I, p. 17; V, p. 19; XVI, p. 22; XX, p. 23.
20. Stoicism: The Senior Distinction – Interpretation ("Creating
Meaning")
Reading: from the Enchiridion – Introduction, pp.
7–12; Sections I, p. 17; V, p. 19; XVI, p. 22; XX, p. 23.
21. Stoicism: The Senior Distinction – Reality ("What Is")
Reading: "The Universe," p. 28; from the Enchiridion –
Sections III, p. 28; IV, pp. 18–19; VIII, p. 20; XIV, pp. 21–22;
XXVI, p. 26; XXIX, p. 27 (only).
22. Stoicism: The Senior Distinction – Reality ("What Is")
Reading: "The Universe," p. 28; from the Enchiridion –
Sections III, p. 28; IV, pp. 18–19; VIII, p. 20; XIV, pp. 21–22;
XXVI, p. 26; XXIX, p. 27 (only).
23. Stoicism: Other Topics
Reading: from the Enchiridion – Sections XV, p. 22;
XIX, p. 23; XXXV, p. 33; XLII, p. 35; XLIII, p. 35; XLV, p. 36;
XLVI, p. 36; XLVIII, p. 37; LI p. 39.
[These topics offer excellent opportunities for
extra-credit presentations.]
24. Stoicism: Other Topics
Reading: from the Enchiridion – Sections XV, p. 22;
XIX, p. 23; XXXV, p. 33; XLII, p. 35; XLIII, p. 35; XLV, p. 36;
XLVI, p. 36; XLVIII, p. 37; LI, p. 39.
[These topics offer excellent opportunities for
extra-credit presentations.]
25. Stoicism: Other Topics
Reading: from the Enchiridion – Sections XV, p. 22;
XIX, p. 23; XXXV, p. 33; XLII, p. 35; XLIII, p. 35; XLV, p. 36;
XLVI, p. 36; XLVIII, p. 37; LI, p. 39.
[These topics offer excellent opportunities for
extra-credit presentations.]
26. Zen Buddhism: The Four Noble Truths
Reading: Buddha’s Four Noble Truths, p. 29.
27. Zen Buddhism: The Senior Distinction – Interpretation
("Making Meaning")
Reading: from Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind – " Mind
Waves," pp. 34–36; "The Marrow of Zen," pp. 38–40; "Nothing
Special," pp. 46–49; "Study Yourself," pp. 76–79.
28. Zen Buddhism: The Senior Distinction – Interpretation
("Making Meaning")
Reading: from Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind – " Mind
Waves," pp. 34–36; "The Marrow of Zen," pp. 38–40; "Nothing
Special," pp. 46–49; "Study Yourself," pp. 76–79.
29. Zen Buddhism: The Senior Distinction – Reality ("What Is")
Reading: from Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind – "Attachment,
Non-Attachment," pp. 118 – 121; "Power and What Is" and "The
Logic of ‘Should,’" p. 30.
30. Zen Buddhism: Other Topics
Reading: from Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind – "Beginner’s
Mind," pp. 21–22; "Posture," pp. 25–28; "Breathing," pp. 29–31;
"Control," pp. 31–34; "Mind Weeds, pp. 36–37; "Marrow of Zen,"
pp. 38–40.
[These topics offer excellent opportunities for
extra-credit presentations.]
31. Zen Buddhism: Other Topics
Reading: from Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind – "Beginner’s
Mind," pp. 21–22; "Posture," pp. 25–28; "Breathing," pp. 29–31;
"Control," pp. 31–34; "Mind Weeds, pp. 36–37; "Marrow of Zen,"
pp. 38–40.
[These topics offer excellent opportunities for
extra-credit presentations.]
32. Zen Buddhism: Other Topics
Reading: from Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind – "Beginner’s
Mind," pp. 21–22; "Posture," pp. 25–28; "Breathing," pp. 29–31;
"Control," pp. 31–34; "Mind Weeds, pp. 36–37; "Marrow of Zen,"
pp. 38–40.
[These topics offer excellent opportunities for
extra-credit presentations.]
33. SECOND EXAMINATION
34. Second Examination Returned and Reviewed
PART C – EXISTENTIALISM, The Philosophy of the Twentieth Century
35. Determinism and Indeterminism
Reading: from the Enchiridion – Section IX, p. 20.
36. Radical Free Will
Reading: from Zen Mind – Emptiness, p. 110.
37. Effective Freedom
Reading: from the Enchiridion – Section LI, p. 39.
38. Existentialism: Existence Precedes Essence, Transcendent
Consciousness
Reading: Existentialism and Human Emotions, pp. 9–17
(Stop after " . . . nothing can be good for us without being
good for all.").
39. Existentialism: "You are not what you are."
Reading: Existentialism and Human Emotions, pp. 9–17
(Stop after " . . . nothing can be good for us without being
good for all.").
40. Existentialism: Theistic existentialism
Reading: Existentialism and Human Emotions, pp. 9–33
(Stop after " . . . the ensemble of the relationships which make
up these undertakings.").
41. Existentialism: "[Human beings] can never choose evil"?
Reading: Existentialism and Human Emotions, pp. 9–33
(Stop after " . . . the ensemble of the relationships which make
up these undertakings.").
42. Existentialism: Phenomenology – Anguish, Forlornness, and
Despair
Reading: Existentialism and Human Emotions, 17–33 (Stop after
" . . . the ensemble of the relationships which make up these
undertakings."). |
