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SyllabusAmerican PragmatismSpring 2001Marist CollegeDr. Greg MosesPlease consider the following links:
In this course we will survey classic texts in the development of American Pragmatism, first looking at James and Dewey's studies of religion and art; next exploring the ways in which Locke and Seigfried extend pragmatist philosophy into questions of race and gender; and finally inquiring into the ways that Peirce and Dewey philosophize about the general problem of being critically alive in the world. Required Texts (in order of use):
Assignments and Grades: The final grade will be based on the following components:
By the end of the course, students should be familiar with some of the major contributions offered by American Pragmatism in questions about religion, art, race, gender, logic, science, and reality--and should be able to apply pragmatist philosophy to relevant questions from their own experience. Frequent assignments and papers will assess student competency in these areas. Regular attendance is expected. Documentation of an excused absence will be accepted within two weeks of the absence. More than two unexcused absences will result in the deduction of a letter from the final grade. More than three unexcused absences will result in the deduction of two letters. More than four unexcused absences and the instructor reserves the right to issue a failing grade for the course. Jan. 19-Introduction to course. Pragmatism: America's contribution to the world of philosophy. Preparing for a discussion-centered classroom. Student expectations. Part One: James and Dewey discuss Religion and Art In this section of the course we will review classic pragmatist treatments of religion and art by William James and John Dewey. At the end of the section, students will be asked to write a nine page paper that presents James' philosophy of religion (3 pages), Dewey's philosophy of Art (3pages), and the student's own response to these theories (3 pages). Assessment will be based on completeness of assignment, attention to scholarly habits of citation, composition, soundness of arguments, difficulty, and creativity of your chosen position. Jan. 23-James on Religion, Part I Read: The Varieties, Chs. 1-3. Preparation: Two paragraphs, typed: (1) summarizing your selected chapter and (2) selecting a particular passage for critical response. Workshops: Please allow each participant two to three minutes for initial presentation. Forum: How James approaches religion through religious experience. Jan. 26-James on Religion, Part II Read: The Varieties, Chs. 4-6. Preparation: Two paragraphs, typed: (1) summarizing your selected chapter and (2) selecting a particular passage for critical response. Workshops: Sharing summaries and commentaries. Forum: On the classification of religious experience. Jan. 30-James on Religion, Part III Read: The Varieties, Chs. 7-10. Preparation: As before, two paragraphs, summary and commentary. Workshops: Sharing preparations. Forum: On conversion and saintliness. Feb. 2-James on Religion, Part IV Read: The Varieties, Chs. 11-14. Preparation: Summary and commentary. Workshops: Sharing preparations. Forum: On mysticism, philosophy, and the "live" questions of theology. Early preparation for the paper Feb. 6-Dewey on Art, Part I Read: Art as Experience, Chs. 1-4. Preparation: Summary and commentary. Workshops: Sharing preparations. Forum: On creature, experience, and expression. Feb. 9-Dewey on Art, Part II Read: Art as Experience, Chs. 5-8. Preparation: Summary and commentary. Workshops: Sharing preparations. Forum: On object, substance, form, and energy. Feb. 13-Dewey on Art, Part III Read: Art as Experience, Chs. 9-11. Preparation: Summary and commentary. Workshops: Share preparations. Forum: On the substances (common and varied) and the human contribution. Feb. 16-Dewey on Art, Part IV Read: Art as Experience, Chs. 12-14. Preparation: Summary and commentary. Workshops: Share preparations. Forum: On philosophy, criticism, perception, and civilization. Preparation for the paper Feb. 20-Outlining the paper: preliminary workshop. Prepare: A scholarly outline with your selected key quotes and page numbers, plus a conceptual outline of your anticipated commentary (i.e., what will you argue?). Workshops: Sharing ideas. Questions? Feb. 23-Paper due: First paper workshop Prepare: Complete paper. Note: failure to appear at this workshop will result in a grade reduction. Workshops: Summarize your treatment, with special emphasis on the argument of your commentary. Forum: Selected presentations, with emphasis on commentary. Part Two: Locke and Seigfried on Race and Gender In this section of the course we will review the critical pragmatisms of Alain Locke and Charlene Haddock Seigfried, who work to apply and revise pragmatism in order to address issues that arise in consideration of race and gender. At the end of the section, students will be asked to write a nine-page paper that presents philosophical positions of Locke (3 pages) and Seigfried (3 pages), with the student's own critical response (3 pages). Assessment will be based on completeness of assignment, attention to scholarly habits of citation, composition, soundness of arguments, difficulty, and creativity of your chosen position. Feb. 27-Locke's Critical Pragmatism, Part I Read: Phil. of Alain Locke, I: 1, "Values and Imperatives." Prepare: Summary and response. Workshops: Sharing responses. Forum: On Locke's classification of value. Mar. 2-Locke's Critical Pragmatism, Part II Read: Phil. of Alain Locke, I: 2-4 Preparation: Paper due (see above.) Workshops: Share results. Forum: On pluralism, relativism, and the functional view of values. Mar. 6-Locke's Critical Pragmatism, Part III Read: Phil. of Alain Locke, I: 5 - II: 13. Preparation: Summary and commentary. Workshops: Sharing preps. Forum: On peace, diversity, philosophy, etc. Mar. 9-Locke's Critical Pragmatism, Part IV Read: Phil. of Alain Locke, II: 14 - III: 22. Preparation: Summary and commentary. Workshops: Sharing preps.. Forum: On culture, race, and education. Preliminary preparation for paper Mar. 20-Seigfried's Feminist Turn, Part I Read: Pragmatism and Feminism, Chs. 1-3. Preparation: Summary and commentary. Workshops: Sharing preps.. Forum: A feminist archaeology of pragmatism. Mar. 23-Seigfried's Feminist Turn, Part II Read: Pragmatism and Feminism, Chs. 4-5. Preparation: Summary and commentary. Workshops: Sharing preps.. Forum: Reform and education in Chicago. Mar. 27-Seigfried's Feminist Turn, Part III Read: Pragmatism and Feminism, Chs. 6-8. Preparation: Summary and commentary. Workshops: Sharing preps.. Forum: On the gender of reason. Mar. 30-Seigfried's Feminist Turn, Part IV Read: Pragmatism and Feminism, Chs. 9-11. Preparation: Summary and commentary. Workshops: Sharing preps.. Forum: On pluralism, ethics, and cooperative intelligence. Preparing for the paper Apr. 3- Outlining the paper: preliminary workshop. Prepare: A scholarly outline with your selected key quotes and page numbers, plus a conceptual outline of your anticipated commentary (i.e., what will you argue?). Workshops: Sharing ideas. Questions? Apr. 6- Paper due: Second paper workshop Prepare: Complete paper. Note: failure to appear at this workshop will result in a grade reduction. Workshops: Summarize your treatment, with special emphasis on the argument of your commentary. Forum: Selected presentations, with emphasis on commentary. Part Three: Dewey and Peirce on Logic and Reality In this section of the course we will survey the writings of Charles S. Peirce on topics of logic, science, and knowledge, followed by John Dewey's metaphysical classic, Experience and Nature. At the end of the section, students will be asked to write a nine-page paper that presents the philosophy of Dewey (3 pages) and Peirce (3 pages) and the student's critical evaluation (3 pages). Assessment will be based on completeness of assignment, attention to scholarly habits of citation, composition, soundness of arguments, difficulty, and creativity of your chosen position. Apr. 10-Peirce's Pragmatism, Part I Read: Philosophical Writings, Chs. 2-3 Preparation: Summary and commentary. Workshops: Sharing preps. Forum: Pragmatism invented. Apr. 17--Peirce's Pragmatism, Part II Read: Philosophical Writings, Chs. 4-15 Preparation: Summary and commentary. Workshops: Sharing preps. Forum: On the pragmatist logic of science. Apr. 20- Peirce's Pragmatism, Part III Read: Philosophical Writings, Chs. 16-28 Preparation: Summary and commentary. Workshops: Sharing preps. Forum: On the pragmatist worldview. Preliminary preparation for papers Apr. 23-Dewey's Metaphysics, Part I Read: Experience and Nature, Chs. 1&2 Preparation: Summary and commentary. Workshops: Sharing preps. Forum: On experience and existence (the precarious and stable). Apr. 27-Dewey's Metaphysics, Part II Read: Experience and Nature, Chs. 3-7 Preparation: Summary and commentary. Workshops: Sharing preps. Forum: On pragmatic naturalism. May 1- Dewey's Metaphysics, Part III Read: Experience and Nature, Chs. 8-10 Preparation: Summary and commentary. Workshops: Sharing preps. Forum: Existence and experience revisited. Final Workshop-Sharing results and sample papers. Office: Fontaine 322 Phone: 575-3000 x2217 Email: Greg.Moses@Marist.edu Web: gregmoses.net |