Peking University
Spring 2012
Professor Collier
Th 13:00-14:50
Room 206, 3rd Class Building
Course Description: This course provides a broad overview of Hume’s theoretical and practical philosophy.
Course Objectives: The main goals of this course are (a) to introduce students to the most influential philosophical problems raised by Hume, (b) to help students understand how contemporary philosophers in the analytic tradition have attempted to resolve these problems, and (c) to help students write, speak, and think clearly and critically.
Course Requirements and Grading: This course will be structured around lectures and discussion. You should come to class having done the reading carefully and be prepared to contribute to class discussion. Grades will be based on a mid-term exam (35%), final paper (35%), and attendance/participation (30%).
Topics:
1. Empiricism
Treatise: 1.1.1 and 1.1.4 (§1-2 and §6-7)
2. Induction
First Enquiry: Section 4 and Section 5 (Part 1) and Section 12 (§21-25)
3. Causation
First Enquiry: Section 7
4. Free Will
First Enquiry: Section 8
5. Miracles
First Enquiry: Section 10 (Part 1 and Part 2, §14, 19, 24, 35-41)
6. Religion
First Enquiry: Section 11
7. Evil
Dialogues: Part X and Part XI
8. Euthanasia
Essays: "Of Suicide"
9. Personal Identity and Immortality
Treatise: 1.4.6 (§1-4) and Essays: "Of the Immortality of the Soul"
10. Moral Rationalism
Treatise: 2.3.3 and 3.1.1
11. Moral Sentimentalism
Treatise: 3.1.2 (§1-5) and 3.3.1 (§2-8, 14-31)
12. Moral Disagreement
Second Enquiry: "A Dialogue"
13. Aesthetics
Essays: "Of the Standard of Taste"