PHIL 226: Mind and Action

DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY
CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY

Winter, 2010
M-W 13:15-14:30
SGW H- 439    

Professor Justin Smith
justismi@alcor.concordia.ca

OFFICE HOURS: MW 12-1
OFFICE LOCATION: PR-402 (2100 MACKAY STREET)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

What is the difference between my doing something, and something merely happening? Or, to cite a famous formulation of this problem, what is left over when, from the fact that I raise my hand, I subtract the fact that my hand goes up? What if there is no difference, and in fact everything we as humans 'do' is just as much a part of the deterministic natural order as, e.g., the orbit of the planets or the coming and going of the tides? If there is no difference, then does this mean that we are not free? If we are not free, then how can we possibly justify praising and blaming other people (and ourselves) for what we 'do'? Is it my soul or mind that causes my body to do things? Can bodily changes bring about changes in my soul or mind? How do these two interact, given that they appear to be different from one another in so many respects? In this class, we will investigate these and related questions, drawing upon a number of classic texts in philosophy from the past four hundred years or so.

REQUIRED TEXTS:

Roger Ariew and Eric Watkins, Modern Philosophy: An Anthology of Primary Sources (Hackett, 2009). ISBN-10: 0872209784; ISBN-13: 978-0872209787.

Friedrich Nietzsche, On the Genealogy of Morality, tr. Maudemarie Clark and Alan Swensen (Hackett, 1998).

Ludwig Wittgenstein, Philosophical Investigations (State University of New York Press, 1999) ISBN-10: 0791442020; ISBN-13: 978-0791442029

In addition, there will be a packet of required readings available at Copies Concordia, on de Maisonneuve between Mackay and Guy.

MEANS OF EVALUATION:

•    Six short quizzes on the assigned reading (60%)
•    One final exam consisting in short answer and essay questions, to be given on the last day of class (30%).
•    Class participation (defined as 'consistent display of interest in the content of the course') (10%).

GRADES:

The following explains my understanding of grades for responses and exams. Prior to the take-home exams, I will detail, in writing, the specific expectations and requirements, and I will give you my grading criteria for the particular assignment. The final course grade will be computed on the basis of the percentages each exam and paper is worth. Thus, I will generally not penalise a student for not taking an exam, other than computing that portion of the final grade as ‘zero.’

•    A:  Work that receives an “A” meets all the expectations and requirements, but goes beyond them in significant ways. For instance, an exam or a paper of this quality may do one or more of the following: it demonstrates an exceptional understanding of the wider questions and scholarly significance of the issues; it promises to make a substantial contribution to the existing scholarship; it is exceptionally well-composed and well-argued.
•    B: Work that receives a “B” fully meets all the expectations and requirements with regard to deadlines, length, content, argumentation, and so forth. It demonstrates full and adequate understanding of the assigned readings, of the lectures, and of the specific task of the assignment.
•    C: Work at this level generally meets the expectations of the assignment and demonstrates adequate understanding of the course material, but falls short in crucial respects. For example, the work is too short, key concepts or aspects are not mentioned, an argument lacks coherence or logical structure, the work is not well written and/or displays too many grammar and spelling errors, and so on.
•    D: At this level, the work handed in does not meet the general expectations and requirements of the assignment. While it endeavours to meet the specific criteria, it shows flaws and gaps in the understanding of the course material that prevent it from being coherent or from taking into account all the relevant sources, ideas, and arguments.
•    F: Work that receives an “F” makes no serious attempt to meet the formal and substantial requirements, or was not handed in at all. The flaws and gaps in understanding are so grave that the reader cannot detect a concerted effort to appropriate and use the course material.

COURSE POLICIES:

•    You are not required to attend every class, but if you miss class you may not ask me to fill you in on whatever you missed. In other words, I give out information once and only once: in class. I will not respond to e-mails requesting information on missed classes.
•    In general, I respond only to e-mails that are sent in exceptional circumstances, when students are unable to make it to my office hours. You should consider my office hours as the primary opportunity to speak to me.
•    The primary purpose of my office hours, in turn, is to discuss philosophy. If you come to my office hours to plead for a change of grade, or to tell me about the exceptional hardships that have caused you to underperform this semester, you will likely find yourself in an impromptu conversation about Spinoza's doctrine of psychophysical parallelism (for example), and it would be nice if you had something interesting to contribute to the conversation.
•    If you miss any of six quizzes, you may not make them up. Instead, you will simply lose 10% of the total course grade, which in itself is a loss that should not lead to a failing grade. Please don't bother your physician with requests for medical excuses, either: just come to class as regularly as you are able, and if you are not able, then consider taking another class.

SCHEDULE OF CLASSES:

Monday, 4 January: Introduction
Wednesday, 6 January: René Descartes, Passions of the Soul (excerpt, in packet)

Monday, 11 January: René Descartes, Passions of the Soul (cont.)
Wednesday, 13 January: Nicolas Malebranche, In Search of Truth (in AW)

Monday, 18 January: Nicolas Malebranche, In Search of Truth (in AW) (cont.)
Wednesday, 20 January: Baruch Spinoza, Ethics Part II (in AW) First Quiz

Monday, 25 January: Baruch Spinoza, Ethics Part II (in AW)
Wednesday, 27 January: G. W. Leibniz, New System of Nature (in AW)

Monday, 1 February: G. W. Leibniz, New System of Nature (in AW) (cont.)
Wednesday, 3 February: G. W. Leibniz, Monadology (excerpts, in AW) Second Quiz

Monday, 8 February: Friedrich Nietzsche, Genealogy of Morals
Wednesday, 10 February: Friedrich Nietzsche, Genealogy of Morals

Monday, 15 February: Friedrich Nietzsche, Genealogy of Morals
Wednesday, 17 February: Friedrich Nietzsche, Genealogy of Morals Third Quiz

Monday, 22 February Midterm Break
Wednesday, 24 February Midterm Break

Monday, 1 March: Bernard Williams, Shame and Necessity (excerpt, in packet)
Wednesday, 3 March: Bernard Williams, Shame and Necessity (cont.) Fourth Quiz

Monday, 8 March: Ludwig Wittgenstein, Philosophical Investigations
Wednesday, 10 March: Ludwig Wittgenstein, Philosophical Investigations

Monday, 15 March: Ludwig Wittgenstein, Philosophical Investigations
Wednesday, 17 March: Ludwig Wittgenstein, Philosophical Investigations Fifth Quiz

Monday, 22 March: Ludwig Wittgenstein, Philosophical Investigations
Wednesday, 24 March: Ludwig Wittgenstein, Philosophical Investigations

Monday, 29 March: Amélie Oksenburg Rorty, "The Social and Political Sources of Akrasia" (in packet)
Wednesday, 31 March: Amélie Oksenburg Rorty, "The Social and Political Sources of Akrasia (cont.) Sixth Quiz

Monday, 5 April: Open
Wednesday, 7 April: Open

Monday, 12 April: Final Exam