Professor: Henry Jackman
Class Room: SH 1004
Class hours: M, W, 3:30-4:45
Office: 1012 Scott Hall
Office hours: M, W, 2-3:30; T, H, 3:30-4:30 (& by apt.).
Office phone: 530 6186
E-mail: hjackma@uoft02.utoledo.edu
Rorty: Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature
Putnam: Reason Truth and History
McCormick: Starmaking
Sellars: Empiricism and the Philosophy of Mind
James: Pragmatism
The course will focus on the 'neo-pragmatist' element in
contemporary American philosophy, tracing its development from the Quine
and Sellars to the conflicting conceptions of pragmatism developed by Rorty
and Putnam. Among the issues considered will be the connection (if any)
between relativism and Pragmatist conception of rationality and truth, and
whether the current resurgence of interest in Pragmatism should be understood
as part of the 'end' of (analytic) philosophy or just a development within
an evolving tradition.
Week 1: Historical Background: Quine
Required Reading: Quine: "Two Dogmas of Empiricism", Rorty: Introduction to Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature .
Week 2: Historical Background: Sellars
Required Reading: Sellars: Empiricism and the Philosophy of Mind; Rorty: Introductions to Empiricism and the Philosophy of Mind.
Weeks 3-9: Rorty
Required Reading: Rorty: Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature
Weeks 10-14: Putnam
Required Reading: Putnam: Reason Truth and History.
Weeks 15-16: Goodman
Required Reading: McCormick: Starmaking
Students should choose one of the following set of assignments for the class. Furthermore, students taking the course for graduate credit should introduce the days material to the class on at least one session.
Option 1:
Class participation: 10% of grade.
Take home midterm or class presentation or literature review: 20% of grade (Due March 16th)
6-8 page paper: 30% of grade. (Due April 6th)
Take home final: 40% of grade. (Due May 4th)
Option 2:
Class participation: 10% of grade.
Take home midterm or class presentation: 20% of grade (Due March 16th)
7-9 page paper: 35% of grade. (Due April 6th)
7-9 page paper: 35% of grade. (Due May 4th)
Option 3:
Class participation: 10% of grade.
3-4 page paper: 15% of grade. (Due Feb 23nd)
Take home midterm or class presentation: 20% of grade (Due March 16th)
5-6 page paper: 20% of grade. (Due April 6th)
7-9 page paper: 35% of grade. (Due May 4th)
Option 4:
Class participation: 10% of grade.
Take home midterm or class presentation: 20% of grade (Due March 16th)
15-20 page paper (Due May 4th)
Students should let me know which option they choose by the Jan 26th.
Papers
Paper topics must be approved by me, and topics will be suggested for those who can't come up with one's of their own. Students without a background in the subject are not encouraged to try the long paper.
Exams
Exams will both be take home and should be typed.
Class Presentations
Presentation should run about 25 minutes and be coordinated with me.
GRADING
94 - 100% A 77-80% C+ 90 - 94% A- 73-77% C 87 - 90% B+ 70-73% C- 83 - 87% B 60-70% D 80 - 83% B- Below 60 F
Students should work together outside of class because talking about the work is an excellent way to learn. However, all work turned in should be original. Any academic dishonesty will be disciplined according to the University of Toledo guidelines in the student handbook.
BOOKS ON RESERVE
Goodman: Ways of Worldmaking
James: Pragmatism
James: The Meaning of Truth
James: The Will to Believe
Putnam: Philosophical Papers vols. 1-3
Putnam: Words and Life
Putnam: Pragmatism, an open question
Putnam: Renewing Philosophy
Quine: From a Logical Point of View
Quine: Word and Object
Rorty: Consequences of Pragmatism
Rorty: Contingency Irony and Solidarity
Rorty: Philosophical Papers, vols. 1-3
Sellars: Science, Perception and Reality
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