PHILOSOPHY
490: SENIOR SEMINAR
DR. PAUL NEWBERRY/SPRING, 2003
Office:
E-mail: pnewberry@csubak.edu
Note:
I cannot accept any assigned work or any correspondence as an attachment to an
e-mail message. If you wish to turn in work if you cannot attend class, please
fax it to the number listed above.
Website:
http://www.csubak.edu/~pnewberry/
Office
hours: Mon. and Wed. 11-12:30; Wed
3-3:30
Class
meeting time and location: Mon. and Wed.,
COURSE
DESCRIPTION: Forgiveness and Theories of Emotion
In
a seminar format, which involves class discussions and a workshop-like atmosphere,
we will explore the concepts of forgiveness and emotions. While we will
consider a number of theories of emotions and a variety of views on
forgiveness, our primary concern will be on the complex connection between
these two concepts. Of particular interest will be the way that exploring one
of these concepts helps to illuminate, and teach us about, the other. That is,
forgiveness can tell us important things about theories of emotions, and these
theories, in turn, can help us understand what exactly is involved in
forgiveness. We will be looking at forgiveness in three contexts: forgiveness
between two individuals, forgiveness of oneself, and forgiveness between
countries, groups, or peoples.
Our
course will be concerned throughout the quarter with these five central questions
concerning both emotions and forgiveness:
1.
What is forgiveness/emotion?
2.
What control do we possess over forgiving/changing emotions?
3.
How does forgiveness/emotion figure in our moral lives?
4.
How is forgiveness/emotion related to reason?
5.
What is the connection between forgiveness and emotion?
COURSE
GOALS:
Your
ability to meet these goals will be assessed through the course requirements
listed below. After completing this course, you should be able to do the
following:
1.
Understand the major theories of emotions and the important philosophical views
of forgiveness.
2.
Appreciate the relationship between moral philosophy and forgiveness/emotions.
3.
Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between forgiveness/emotions
and philosophy of mind.
4.
Evaluate the role of forgiveness/emotion in society and in the individual’s
life.
This course and its
assignments support the Philosophy Program’s goals and objectives found in our
Mission Statement in at least the following ways:
Goal
II:
Students will acquire the skills to write effectively about philosophy and
other subjects.
Goal
III:
Students will learn to understand and apply concepts and theories of moral
philosophy.
Goal IV: Students will
develop a critical understanding of major traditions and ideas in the field of
philosophy.
In addition, because this
course is conducted in a seminar style, students will improve their ability to
1. Articulate
philosophical arguments, concepts, and positions.
2. Assist their fellow
students in understanding and evaluating philosophical arguments.
3. Read complex primary
source philosophical texts.
REQUIREMENTS:
Your progress in this
course will be assessed through the following requirements. Required work is
always due at the start of class.
Worksheets, Short Writing
Assignments, and Reading Quizzes-15%. In-class presentations, 20%. Presentation
Papers-20%. Final paper-30%. Final exam-10%. Participation-5%.
Letter
grades and their percentage equivalents:
87-89=B+ 77-79=C+ 67-69=D+
93-100=A 83-86=B 73-76=C 63-66=D
90-92=A- 80-82=B- 70-72=C- 60-62=D- BELOW
60=F
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Turning in work that you
did not do or cheating in any way is academic dishonesty. School policy
dictates that anyone guilty of academic dishonesty receive a grade of “F” for
the course and have a letter sent to the Dean of Arts and Sciences for
inclusion in his or her personal file.
REQUIRED TEXTS
Simon Wiesenthal, The Sunflower, (Revised and Expanded), Schoken Books,1998
Robert Solomon, What is an Emotion?, Second Edition, 2003
Jeffrie Murphy and Jean Hampton, Forgiveness and Mercy,
Donald Shriver, An Ethic for Enemies,
RECOMMENDED TEXT
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Wed 4/02 Introduction
to the class.
Mon 4/07 The
Sunflower, pp. ix-135
*Tue 4/08 Last
Day to ADD classes
Wed 4/09 The Sunflower, pp. 135-274.
Mon 4/14 Newman,
"The Quality of Mercy: On the Duty to Forgive in the Judaic Tradition”
(handout)
Calhoun and Solomon,
Introduction, pp 3-40 (handout).
Wed 4/16 Seneca,
De Clementia (handout)
Solomon, What is an Emotion?: Introduction,
Aristotle, and the Stoics, pp 1-19.
Mon 4/21
Solomon: Descartes and
Spinoza, pp 1-19;
Last Day to WITHDRAW without a W
Wed 4/23
Solomon:
Hume, pp 44-54.
Mon 4/28 Kolnai,
"Forgiveness" (handout)
Solomon:
Wed 4/30 Murphy and
Solomon: Dewey and Freud, pp. 84-109
Mon 5/5 Murphy, “Forgiveness and Resentment,” pp. 14-34
Solomon: Ekman and Lazarus, pp. 110-130.
Wed 5/7
Solomon:
Lutz and Damasio, pp. 142-157.
Mon 5/12 Murphy, “Hatred: a qualified defense,” pp. 88-110
Solomon: Brentano and Scheler, pp. 159-179.
Wed 5/14 Self-forgiveness (handout)
Solomon:
Heidegger and Sartre, pp. 180-195.
Mon 5/19
Solomon:
Ryle, and Kenny, pp. 197-206, 217-223.
Final
Paper topic due
Wed 5/21 Murphy,
“Mercy and Legal Justice,” pp. 162-186
Solomon:
Solomon and De Sousa, pp. 224-235, 248-257.
Mon 5/26 HOLIDAY:
Memorial Day
Wed 5/28 Gehm,
"The Function of Forgiveness in the Criminal Justice System"
(handout); Solomon: Nussbaum, and Griffiths, pp. 271-290.
Mon 6/2 Shriver,
An Ethic for Enemies, pp. 3-72.
Wed 6/4 Shriver, pp. 73-169
Mon 6/9 Shriver, pp. 170-233;
Hayner,
Unspeakable Truths, pp. xi-31
(handout).
Thursday,
June 12, Final Exam: 2-4:30
Additional
details:
You
will be asked to turn in a short writing assignment, worksheet, or reading quiz
for each class meeting. These assignments will help improve both your
reading/comprehension skills and your writing skills. The first writing
assignment will be graded but the grade will not count. However, it must be turned
in.
Since
this is a seminar (and a small group), your attendance and participation is
vital. You should come to each class meeting prepared to discuss the assigned
reading in detail.
Presentations
(20%) and Papers (20%)
Each
student is required to lead class discussion and prepare an accompanying paper
two times during the quarter. I will pass out a rubric to help you prepare your
presentation. For the class presentation, you are expected to find the
pertinent issues in the day's reading and generally to direct the class to the
most important points. In the papers you should analyze the argument of the
article you are assigned—state the major argument in your own words, show what
support the author gives, assumptions he or she makes, and evaluate the whole.
The papers are due at the end of the class session of your presentation and may
not exceed five pages in length.
Due
Monday, June 9 by
Final
Exam (10%)
Each
student will be required to complete an in-class comprehensive final exam based
on the five central questions concerning forgiveness and emotions and the
stated goals for the class.
A
portfolio is required of all senior seminar students. Although the portfolio
itself is not graded, you will not receive credit for the course unless the
portfolio is completed and turned in. I will hand out details separately.
All
written work must be typed with double-spacing, non-italicized typeface,
12-point font, and 1” margins all around. Only the final paper needs a cover
sheet with your name and the paper title. Please staple your pages together; do
not use binders or covers. Include a bibliography for all cited sources. All
quotations or ideas taken from other authors should be documented by placing
the author’s name in parentheses, along with the appropriate page number, at
the end of the cited sentence, like this: (Newberry, 46).
Grading criteria: strength of
argument or analysis; how well the text itself is understood; organization and
clarity of expression; grammar and syntax.