phil307_2015s

Recent Continental Philosophy (PHIL 307)

Description | Schedule

Study Helps & Philosophy Links

Spring 2015

MWF 1:50-2:50

John R. Howard Hall 101

Email: fritzman@lclark.edu

Class email: 15sp-phil-307-01@lclark.edu

Phone: 503-768-7477

Office: Howard 223

Hours: MW 10:30-12:30, MW 3:00-4:30, and by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Samuel Beckett: "Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better."

Emmanuel Levinas: "The fact that philosophy cannot finally totalize the alterity of meaning in some final presence or simultaneity is not for me a deficiency or fault. Or to put it another way, the best thing about philosophy is that it fails."

In this course, we will study recent German and French philosophy. There are six required texts:

Continental Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction

by Simon Critchley

Oxford University Press, 2001

Paperback

ISBN-10: 0192853597

ISBN-13: 978-0192853592

New: Starting at $9.32

Used: Starting at $6.38

Continental Philosophy is available through the College Bookstore, Amazon.com, or Barnes & Noble.

Basic Writings: From Being and Time (1927) To The Task of Thinking (1964)

by Martin Heidegger

Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2008

Paperback

ISBN-10: 0061627011

ISBN-13: 978-0061627019

New: Starting at $6.21

Used: Starting at $4.99

Basic Writings is available through the College Bookstore, Amazon.com, or Barnes & Noble.

Existentialism is a Humanism

by Jean-Paul Sartre

Yale University Press, 2007

Paperback

ISBN-10: 0300115466

ISBN-13: 978-0300115468

New: Starting at $5.21

Used: Starting at $4.65

Existentialism is a Humanism is available through the College Bookstore, Amazon.com, or Barnes & Noble.

The Primacy of Perception

by Maurice Merleau-Ponty

Northwestern University Press, 1964

Paperback

ISBN-10: 0810101645

ISBN-13: 978-0810101647

New: Starting at $16.25

Used: Starting at $6.44

The Primacy of Perception is available through the College Bookstore, Amazon.com, or Barnes & Noble.

Language, Counter-Memory, Practice

by Michel Foucault

Cornell University Press, 1980

Paperback

ISBN-10: 0801492041

ISBN-13: 978-0801492044

New: Starting at $12.44

Used: Starting at $2.79

Language, Counter-Memory, Practice is available through the College Bookstore, Amazon.com, or Barnes & Noble.

Wittgenstein's Anti-Philosophy

by Alain Badiou

Verso, 2011, Hardback

ISBN-10: 1844676943

ISBN-13: 978-1844676941

New: Starting at $18.67

Used: Starting at $12.00

Wittgenstein's Anti-Philosophy is available through the College Bookstore, Amazon.com, or Barnes & Noble.

There are also learning outcomes for students who graduate with a major in Philosophy.

In preparation for each class meeting, you should have read the assigned material. You should arrive in class with prepared questions or comments about something in the assigned reading.

Each student will write a précis for almost every reading assignment, complete various research exercises that teach research skills, and write and present in class one assessment on a specific reading assignment. There also will be one argumentative research paper (which includes a prospectus, an outline, a draft, and a mandatory rewrite). And a class presentation of the argumentative research paper on the Final Exam Day.

The précis, research exercises, and class participation will be weighted together and will count for 15% of your final grade. The assessment will count for 20% of your final grade. The prospectus will count for 5%, the outline will count for 10%, the draft will count for 15%, and the argumentative research paper will count for 30% of your final grade. The presentation will count for 5% of your final grade. The grading scale is as follows:

A = 93%-100%

A- = 90%-92%

B+ = 86%-89%

B = 83% 85%

B- = 80%-82%

C+ = 76%-79%

C = 73%-75%

C- = 70%-72%

D+ = 66%-69%

D = 60%-65%

F = 0%-59%.

A précis will be due almost every class session. Each précis will be one typed page -- never longer -- double-spaced, with 1 inch margins on the right & left sides and the top & bottom. It must be at least 3/4 of a page in length. Use a 12-point Times or Times Roman font. There will be no spelling or grammatical errors in your précis. Your name will be typed in the upper right-hand corner. In each précis, you will summarize -- in your own words, without using any quotes -- the assigned reading's mainclaims, as well as the reasons which are given to support those claims. You will not include any opinion, evaluation, or commentary. At the bottom of each précis, or on the back, you will write one question that you have about the reading. This question must written prior to, not during, class. I never will accept a late précis, but I will allow you to drop one.

An assessment should be approximately 1500 words, typed, double-spaced. Except for the length, the assessment should follow the same format requirement as the précis. You will sign up for a dates on which you will present your assessments. On the day you present, you will distribute copies to all of the persons in this class. This will require, of course, that you have enough copies made so that each member of the class has one. You first will read your assessment, and then you and I will serve as the main resource persons for fielding questions concerning the material. Since the class discussion will be centered around the assessment, it is crucial that you distribute the assessment the class session when you present it, and that you actually be in class to read your assessment.

The primary purpose of the assessment is to summarize, consolidate, and explicate the central issues, main points, and key motifs of the assigned reading in order to facilitate class discussion of the material. It is important that the assessment contextualize the reading by describing briefly both how the reading is a continuation and development of material which has come before, and how it contributes to the overall trajectory of the thinker's thought.

It is crucial that you critically engage the reading. You might argue that a claim that the author makes is incorrect, for example, or that a criticism in the secondary literature is incorrect. Alternatively, you might argue that an interpretation advanced in the secondary literature is incorrect. The assessment should reflect an acquaintance with the requisite secondary literature. This means that you must incorporate at least four secondary sources you consulted while writing your assessment.

A student presenting an assessment will not submit a précis of that material too.

The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, the Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, and Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy will be useful.

The Philosopher's Index will be vital for the Assessment and Argumentative Research Paper.

The Chicago Manual of Style's Citation Quick Guide is online.

There will be an argumentative research paper, 2000 words, typed, double-spaced. It will be on the same topic as your assessment.

You're welcome to consult the Writing Center, located on the main floor of Watzek Library.

Also useful is the Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University.

If you would find it useful to create concept maps, to help write your assessment or argumentative research papers, you can download the software to create them from IHMC Cmap Tools.

All work must be submitted when it is due. Late work -- précis, assessments, papers -- will not be accepted and will receive no credit.

This class will be successful only if there is a high degree of participation and attendance, and so I want you in class participating. The final grade for the course will be lowered by a full-letter grade if you miss four class sessions, the final grade will be lowered by two full-letter grades if you miss five class sessions, and you will be withdrawn from the course if you miss six or more class sessions. I will not accept make-up work unless you can document the reason for your absence. Documenting the reason for your absence means providing a note from, for example, your doctor explaining why you were absent. Serious illnesses and emergencies will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

Throughout the course you are expected to read carefully the assigned material. It is impossible to do well in this course without reading and studying the books. You should spend a minimum of three hours preparing for each class session. Read the assigned material at least twice and take notes on what you read. You are expected to attend all class sessions, come to class having read thoroughly the assigned material, and to contribute to the discussions.

Gorgias of Leontini maintained that "those who neglect philosophy and spend their time on ordinary studies are like the suitors who desired Penelope but slept with her maids." In philosophy, unlike ordinary studies, there are few right and wrong answers. There are better and worse arguments and ideas, however, usually in direct proportion to thoughtfulness and care. What is important is that you think for yourself, and that you develop and defend your own ideas. It would be an excellent idea to write drafts or outlines of your précis and papers, and to have a comrade read them to check on spelling, grammar, development of arguments, and so forth.

You are strongly encouraged to discuss the class material, your ideas, your puzzles and difficulties with each other. A word to the wise: Find a study partner to discuss things with outside of class. (To see why this is effective for creativity and learning, read Malcolm Gladwell's article, Group Think: What Does "Saturday Night Live" Have in Common with German Philosophy?, The New Yorker, 2 December 2002, pages 102-107).

There's a Bollwood tune for every occasion. Click here.

When it comes to finally writing your précis and essays, though, do your own writing. That is the only way you will get the full benefit of your own efforts. I will be happy to discuss ideas with you, read outlines and rough drafts, and so forth. That is partly why I keep office hours.

A final word to the wise. It is not difficult to do well in this class, but it also is easy to do badly. Let me talk about the bad stuff first. You will receive a major grade reduction -- or fail this course -- if you do not read the material, seldom participate in class discussions, do not write your précis, assessment, or argumentative research paper, plagiarize, cheat, and so forth.

About plagiarizing and cheating. All students are expected to follow Lewis & Clark College's Academic Integrity Policy. Plagiarizers and cheaters will be given an "F" for the entire course (they will not be allowed to drop or withdraw from the course). I also will turn their cases over to the Honor Board; I will recommend that disciplinary penalties be assessed. It is never in your interest to plagiarize or cheat!

Now for the good stuff. With a concerted effort, you will do well in this class. To do well, you must participate in class discussions, read and study the assigned material, write the précis, assessment, argumentative research paper, be in class (almost) all of the time, etc. I do not grade on a curve, and so there is no good reason why you should not get an "A" for the course!

The Festival of Scholars is a campus-wide celebration of student work. It is an opportunity to discuss research, to exhibit, perform, or appreciate art, and to cross disciplinary boundaries. The Festival will be held on Friday, April 17, 2015. Classes will be cancelled on that day, but you are still required to participate in the Festival, either by presenting your work or attending presentations by your fellow students.

Course policy on disability accommodation. If you have a disability or learning difference that may impact your academic performance, you may request accommodations by submitting documentation to Student Support Services, located in Albany 206 (access@lclark.edu, 503-768-7156). They will notify me of the accommodations for which you are eligible.