Sept. 5: Introduction
Part One: Plato, Meno
Sept. 7: Meno, 70a-72a (you will find these numbers in the left margins of each page)
Sept. 12: 72a-74b
Sept. 14: 74b-77a
Sept. 19: 77a-79e
Sept. 21: 79e-82b
Sept. 26: No class. Make-up class Sept. 27
Sept. 27: (In room G11 at 7:30 pm) 82b-84d
Sept. 28: 84d-86c
Oct. 3: 86c-89c
Oct. 5: No class. Make-up class Oct. 6
Oct. 6: (In room G11 at 7:30 pm) 89c-95a. Receive first paper assignment.
Oct. 10: 95a-end
Part Two: Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals
If you wish you may use the “easy” version of this text published on www.earlymoderntexts.com (also on Moodle), but always bring the assigned version to class.
Oct. 12: pp. ix-xiii, 3-8. Make sure you understand clearly the a prior/a posteriori distinction explained on p. ix. For Kant’s own explanation of this distinction, see the excerpt from his Critique of Pure Reason, pp. 136-38, on Moodle (this last reading is recommended but not required).
Oct. 17: pp. 9-20. First paper due.
Oct. 19: pp. 21-28 (to end of first paragraph)
Oct. 24: pp. 28-37 (to the end of the middle paragraph). To understand the last paragraph on p. 30 and what follows, review p. xi on the meaning of “analytic” and “synthetic.”
Oct. 26: pp. 37-44 (to the end of the paragraph that begins, “Thus the principle”)
Oct. 31: pp. 44-51 (up to the section entitled “The autonomy of the will…”
Nov. 2: pp. 51-55. Receive second paper assignment.
Nov. 7: pp. 56-64 (up to the section entitled “On the extreme boundary…” ); “Introduction to Third Section of the Groundwork” (Moodle).
Nov. 9: pp. 64-72
Part Three: John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism
Feel free to make use of the “easy” version of this text published on www.earlymoderntexts.com (also on Moodle), but always bring the assigned version to class.
Nov. 14: pp. ix-xvi (up to the section entitled “Intellectual commitments”), 113-121 (to the end of the paragraph that begins “The creed…”). Second paper due.
Nov. 16: pp. 121-127 (up to the paragraph that begins “The objectors….”). Optional: “Outline of Mill, chap. 2” (on Moodle).
Nov. 21: pp. 127-135 (up to the paragraph that begins “It may not be superfluous….”)
Nov. 23: pp. 135-139. Receive third paper assignment
Nov. 28: pp. 140-147
Nov. 30: pp. 148-154. Optional: G.E. Moore’s objection to Mill’s argument on p. 148 (Moodle).
Dec. 5: pp. 155-162 (up to the paragraph that begins “This, therefore….”). Third paper due.
Dec. 7: pp. 162-177. Prep for final exam.