Syllabus – keep handy for
reference
Dr. Aeon J. Skoble
341 Tillinghast, x2460
Email:
askoble@bridgew.edu Web:
http://webhost.bridgew.edu/askoble
Office hours: M 10-11, TR
11-12, or by appointment
Texts:
Douglas J. Den Uyl and Douglas B. Rasmussen, The Perfectionist Turn – at bookstore
Other readings to be
distributed via photocopy or online
Overview and objectives:
“Perfectionism” is a name for the sort of moral theory which stresses
self-development, perfecting or fully
actualizing one’s nature, completely and properly developing one’s
capacities. This semester's 403 Ethics
and Action seminar will primarily focus on different
conceptions of perfectionism:
neo-Aristotelian, Thomistic, and Spinozist. This will chiefly involve discussion of the
ideas of human nature, human good, and human flourishing, but also such things
as responsibility, respect, natural law theory, virtue, and society. The so-called “naturalistic fallacy” will be
considered, as will the relationship between ethical pluralism and the
political/legal order. Our main source
will be the new book by Den Uyl and Rasmussen, in
which they evaluate several different conceptions of perfectionism, criticize
some while defending one, and defend perfectionism generally from
non-perfectionist criticisms. Their
reference points are classical, medieval, and early modern sources (Aristotle,
Aquinas, Spinoza), as well as recent and contemporary thinkers such as Foot, Veatch, Glassen,
Gotthelf, Nussbaum, McDowell, LeBar,
and Jacobs. The main objectives for
the course are for you to get a clear understanding of the central arguments
and perspectives, and to develop a well-justified view on the matter yourself.
Requirements:
Journal: You
will create a Word document called “X’s
PHIL 403 Journal” (where X is your
name). Once a week, you will add
something to it – an observation, a question, an argument or counter-argument –
and email it to me (with “journal” as the subject line). I will reply on the document with the “add
comments” feature and email it back to you.
Journal = 25%
Presentation:
Between 12/6 and 12/13 you will make a 5 minute presentation on a topic you and
I will agree upon later. Presentation = 25%
Paper: for
this class you will write a major paper, around 13-15 pages, in which you
expand on and more fully discuss whatever topic you did your presentation
on. This should be formatted as if for
print (12-point Times New Roman, double-space, 1-inch margins), but emailed to
me with the subject line “final paper for PHIL403” – and, as with the journal,
this should be email sent from your @bridgew.edu account. The final paper is due in my inbox NLT 9:00
am, 12/20. Paper=40%
The remaining 10% is to
reward active, engaged, constructive contributions to class discussions, which are crucial in a philosophy seminar. Downwards adjustments to your grade can
exceed this, and are based on poor attendance, excessive lateness,
non-engagement in discussion, or conduct unbecoming a philosopher.
Statement on Open
Discussion of Controversial Issues:
This course deals with issues that are always provocative and controversial. A
requirement of the class is a willingness to listen to and debate others’
points of view and a commitment to freedom of expression. There is no
requirement to accept any view, but toleration is crucial. If you are not
comfortable with lively and vigorous debate in which your views will be
challenged and in which you may freely challenge others’ views (including the
professor’s), you should not take this class. The willingness to engage in
critical examination and critical re-thinking of what you think you know and
what others think they know to be true is a central prerequisite for the class.
There will not be any “trigger warnings” in this class. The phrase “I’m
offended” indicates an emotional state, not an argument. If you are easily
offended, please do not take this class.
Reference list (You do not need to read everything on this list; it
is provided as a list of sources you may wish to consult as you work on your
paper. We will read a couple of these,
however.)
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics
Aquinas, Thomas, Summa Theologica
Aquinas, Thomas, Summa Contra Gentiles
Den Uyl,
Douglas, God, Man, and Well-Being:
Spinoza’s Modern Humanism
Den Uyl,
Douglas, The Virtue of Prudence
Den Uyl
and Rasmussen, “The Perfectionist Turn”
Foot, Philippa, Natural Goodness
Glassen, P., “A Fallacy in Aristotle’s Argument about the
Good”
Gotthelf, Allan, Philosophical
Issues in Aristotle’s Biology
Jacobs, Jonathan, “Aristotle
and Maimonides: The Ethics of Perfection
and the Perfection of Ethics”
LeBar, Mark, “Aristotelian Constructivism”
Maimonides, Ethical Writings
McDowell, John, “Two Sorts of
Ethical Naturalism”
McInerny, Ralph, Ethica Thomistica: The Moral Philosophy of Thomas Aquinas
Nussbaum, Martha,
“Perfectionist Liberalism and Political Liberalism”
Rasmussen, Douglas (1999),
“Human Flourishing and the Appeal to Human Nature”
Rasmussen, Douglas (2012),
“Perfectionism”
Spinoza, Baruch, Ethics
Veatch, Henry, Rational Man
Veatch, Henry, “Telos and
Teleology in Aristotle’s Ethics”
Veatch, Henry, For an Ontology of Morals
Others may be added as
necessary
Tentative outline, subject
to change if necessary:
Sept. 8 - general intro to
course/syllabus HW: read preface and introduction
Sept. 13-15 – working through
ch. 1
Sept. 20-22 – still in ch. 1;
some additional material
Sept. 27-29 – ch. 2
Oct. 4-6 – ch. 3
Oct 11-13- ch. 4
Oct. 18-20 – ch. 5
Oct. 25-27 – still in ch. 5
Nov. 1 (no class 11/3) – some
additional material; beginning ch. 6
Nov. 8-10- ch. 6
Nov. 15-17 – ch. 7
Nov. 22 (11/24=Thanksgiving)
– ch 8
Nov. 29-Dec. 1 – continuing ch. 8; includes guest lecture
Dec. 6-8 – presentations;
additional material as appropriate
Dec. 13 – presentations continued;
conclusion
Paper due: Dec. 20, 9:00am