Intellectual History
Philosophy 417, Fall 2010
Instructor: Jeffrey A. Bell, Ph.D.
Time: 2-3:15pm MW, in Fayard 239
Office Hours: MWF 8-10am, 11-12pm, MWF 1-2pm MW, or by
appointment, in Fayard 355C.
Phone: 549-3918
Email: jbell@selu.edu
Course web page:
http://www2.selu.edu/Academics/Faculty/jbell/
Click Courses link and then click on link to this course.
Required Reading:
Randall Collins, The Sociology of Philosophies.
(All page numbers in syllabus refer to this
book)
On-line Readings (available at course website). These readings are
indicated in the syllabus by bold numbers (e.g., 1., 2., 3., etc.).
Course Objectives
The purpose of this course is to discuss many of the influential
periods of intellectual creativity from Ancient Greece and China
up to twentieth-century France. We will also discuss the online
readings as they become relevant.
Course Requirements
There will be one midterm exam (20%), a final (30%). The two
exams will have a section of short answers and essay questions. I
will hand out a study sheet one week prior to each exam. In
addition, you are to write thee online reading summaries (3-4
pages) on any 3 of the 16 supplementary readings that are available
at the course website. Each written summary is worth 5% of your
final grade. You will also need to write a research paper relating
any of the sixteen figures to the themes discussed by Randall
Collins, and be sure to cite the Collins text. This paper is to be 810 pages in length and may be an expanded version of one of your
three summaries. This paper will be worth 35% of your final grade.
It is highly recommended that you refer to additional outside
sources. Extra credit is possible for those who write summaries in
excess of the required three. For each extra summary, a certain
amount of 10 points (depending on the grade the summary
receives) will be added to the final score of your final exam, up to
a maximum of 30 points.
Attendance Requirements
Class participation is an integral part of the course. Failure to
attend class regularly will harm your final grade. Note: the
readings will be supplemented with lectures, and material from
these lectures will appear on the exams. Consequently, to
encourage regular attendance there will be certain rules: 1) only 5
excused and unexcused absences will be allowed. Anyone who
exceeds this limit will receive an F. An absence is accepted if there
is (1) personal illness, (2) illness or death of a family member, (3)
legitimate participation in school activities such as sports and
music, and (4) events beyond your control (e.g., car breaks down, a
wreck, court appearance). You must clear these absences with me,
otherwise I will mark them down as unexcused. And if you are late
be sure to see that I put your name on the role to avoid an
unexcused absence. Note: if any handicaps prohibit the fulfillment
of these requirements, let me know. And finally, a copy of this
syllabus is available on the blackboard site, under the course
information link.
Reading Assignments
Aug 18 Introduction
Aug 23
Aug 25
Collins, pp. 19-53 – “Vying for space”
pp. 54-79 – “Networking”
Aug 30
Anceint Greece, pp. 80-133
Sep 1
1. Plato – Apology (entire)
“
Sep 6
Sep 8
No Class. Labor Day.
Ancient Rome, pp. 109-133
2. Seneca – Of a Happy A Life (entire)
Sep 13
“
3. Plotinus – Six Enneads (read tractate 1-4)
Ancient China, pp. 137-176
4. Chuang Tzu – Writings (read bks. 1-5)
Sep 15
Sep 20
“
5. Confucius – Analects (read 1:1-5:27)
Sep 22
Ancient India – Hinduism and Buddhism
pp. 177-271.
Sep 27
“
6. Nagarjuna – Exposition o f Bodhicitta
(entire)
Islam, pp. 387-428.
Sep 29
Oct 4
Oct 6
“
7. Al-Ghazali – Deliverance from Error (read
through “Concerning Philosophical sects…”
Political breakdown of Intellectual Creativity,
pp. 429-450.
Review.
Oct 11
Oct 13
Midterm.
Medieval Christendom, pp. 451-522.
Oct 18
“
8. Anselm – Proslogium (entire)
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9. Aquinas – On Being and Essence (entire)
Oct 20
Oct 25
Oct 27
“
Scientific Revolution, pp. 523-569
October 24 is last day to drop
Nov 1
“
10. Bacon – Novum Organum read preface
and aphorisms 1-68)
“
11. Boyle - Sceptical Chymist (entire)
Nov 3
Nov 8
Nov 10
German University Revolution, pp. 618-687
“
12. Kant – Prolegomena (read preamble and
first part)
Nov 15
“
13. Hegel – Science of Logic (read secs. 3387)
“
14. Marx – Communist Manifesto (entire)
Nov 17
Nov 22
Nov 24
Nov 29
Dec 1
Twentieth Century, pp. 754-784
15. Nietzsche – Twilight of the Idols (read
through “the Improvers of mankind”)
No Class. Thanksgiving.
“
16. Foucault – What is Enlightenment?
“
Review.
Dec 8 (Wednesday) Final Exam: 8-10am.