Contact info:
341 Tillinghast, x2460 Email: askoble@bridgew.edu
Web:
http://webhost.bridgew.edu/askoble
Office hours: M 10-11, T,TH
1:45-2:45, or by appointment
Texts:
1. The Philosophy of Money, Georg Simmel (Routledge)
2. Custom course pack and web
sources for other readings
Overview and objectives:
This colloquium will explore
questions of social philosophy pertaining to money. Central questions include: What is money? Where does it come from? What is its function? How should we understand its value in
relation to other values? Does money
stifle individuality and promote alienation, or does it foster individuality
and promote equality? We will read most
of Georg Simmels book The Philosophy of Money,
in addition to readings from Carl Menger, Georg
Knapp, Ludwig von Mises, Friedrich Hayek, J. M.
Keynes, Ayn Rand, Karl Marx, and Adam Smith.
Requirements:
This is a one-credit
class. We will meet once a week to
discuss the readings, and you will write an 8-10 page paper on a topic to be
determined later by mutual agreement, which is due April 29th. In our final meeting, May 6th, we
will discuss the papers.
General Outline: [subject to change]
Jan 28 intro to topic
Feb 4 state theory of money
Feb 11 - market theory of money
Feb 20 money and value - NB:
Wed 2/20 is Monday schedule; we meet today, not 2/18
Feb 25 - money and value continued
Mar 4 - money in the sequence
of purposes
Mar 11- BSU spring break, no
classes
Mar 18 freedom and culture
Mar 25- alienation
Apr 1 money and
individuality
Apr 8 the meaning of wealth
Apr 15- holiday, no classes
Apr 22 value revisited
Apr 29 - papers due; final
discussion of readings
May 6 - discussion of student
papers