Phil 1200: Philosophy and Society

M, Jan 12

Topic: About this course—An Intro to Major Social Theories
No reading assignment

W, Jan 14

A Brief Intro to Philosophy and its Methods
Reread course syllabus

F, Jan 16

 A Brief Intro to Philosophy and its Methods continued
Video- “History of the World”- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOoEJ7ezZv8

M, Jan 19

MLK Day- No Class!

W, Jan 21

Politics and Irrationality
Short Video: http://deadgentlemen.com/2004/10/31/campaign-ad/

F, Jan 23

Politics and Irrationality continued
Re-read: Huemer, “Why People are Irrational about Politics.” P. 1-7
Video: Huemer and Examples of Irrationality- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JYL5VUe5NQ

M, Jan 26

Politics and Irrationality Continued
Reading: Huemer, “Why People are Irrational about Politics.” P. 7-16

W, Jan 28

Logic and Arguments Continued
Reading: :Layman, “Logic, Ch.1”
Suggested  humorous reading: Dave Barry “How to Win an Argument”

F, Jan 30

Logic and Arguments
Reading: Rachels, “On Arguments”

M, Feb 2

Logic Continued
Reread logic readings

W, Feb 4

Cultural Relativism
Reading: Rachels on Cultural Relativism

F, Feb 6

Finish Cultural Relativism

M, Feb 9

Morality and Religion- Is God the Source of Moral Truth
Reading: Shafer-Landau- "Does Ethical Objectivity Require God?" 

W, Feb 11

Arguments for/against God's existence
Reading: Quick Guide to Arguments for God's Existence

F, Feb 13

Problem of Evil Argument
Finish Meta-Ethics discussion

M, Feb 16

The State of Nature
Reading: Hobbes, The Leviathan(excerpts)
Steven Pinker, The Surprising Decline of Violence (20min)
Warning- graphic content
https://www.ted.com/talks/steven_pinker_on_the_myth_of_violence
Recommended Movie: “The Purge”

W, Feb 18

The Social Contract
Reread Hobbes, The Leviathan (excerpts)
Recommended TV show: “The Walking Dead”

F, Feb 20

Game Theory and Prisoner’s Dilemma
Dupre, “The Prisoner’s Dilemma”
Video: Dawkins, Nice Guys Finish First https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I71mjZefg8g
Suggested movie: A Beautiful Mind

M, Feb 23

~Class Cancelled~
Video: Huemer (first 50 minutes)- Psychology of Power 

W, Feb 25

Review Day

F, Feb 27

MIDTERM EXAM

M, Mar 2

Utilitarianism
Reading: Mill- Utilitarianism (excerpt)
Video: “The Trolley Problem” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fs0E69krO_Q
Suggested film: Cabin in the Woods or Watchmen

W, Mar 4

Utilitarianism continued
Reading: none
Suggested film: Ender’s Game           

F, Mar 6

Objections to Utilitarianism
Reading: Rachels, “The Debate over Utilitarianism ” p.1-4
Suggested film: Sophie’s Choice or The Village

M, Mar 9

Objections to Utilitarianism (continued)
Reading: Rachels, “The Debate over Utilitarianism” p.5-8
Ursula K. Le Guin, “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas”

W, Mar 11

Finish Utilitarianism & Objections
Reread Rachels, "The Debate over Utilitarianims"

F,  Mar 13

Why should we have to share? Are we obligated to donate to ease world hunger?
Reading: first half of Singer, “Famine, Affluence, and Morality”
Poverty Facts and Stats

M, Mar 16

HOMEWORK DUE
Midterm exams returned
World Hunger- Singer Continued
Reading: second half of Singer, “Famine, Affluence, and Morality”
Foreign Aid Infographic

W, Mar 18

World Hunger- Singer Continued
Reread Singer, “Famine, Affluence, and Morality”

F, Mar 20

PuZZLe DaY

M, Mar 23

Spring Break- no class

W, Mar 25

Spring Break- no class

F, Mar 27

Spring Break- no class

M, Mar 30

World hunger- Responses to Singer
REREAD Singer article
Video: Singer on the Colbert Report 

W, Apr 1

World hunger- Responses to Singer continued
Reading: TBA
Louis CK skit- "My life is really evil"

F, Apr 3

Singer- Discussion day

M, Apr 6

Distributive Justice, The Original Position and the Veil of Ignorance
Suggested article: Quick Overview of Rawls and Nozick on Distributive Justice
Rawls- A Theory of Justice (excerpt)

W, Apr 8

Rawls and Egalitarianism Continued
Ben Hale- The Veil of Opulence 
Short online articles on the current distribution of wealth: here, here, and here
Rawls In-Class Handout

F, Apr 10

Libertarianism- Distributive Justice revisited
Nozick-Anarchy, State, and Utopia (excerpt)

M, Apr 13

Finish Rawls, Start Nozick
Article: The US is an Oligarchy
Suggested short article: Tax Havens for Big Companies

W, Apr 15

Finish Nozick, Start Marxism
Required Video (Watch first 22 minutes): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8bdndigRA8

F, Apr 17

Marxism and Alienation
Marx Reading TBA
Video (14min): Capitalism and Socialism: Crash Course
Suggested film: Office Space
Humor: Onion Article (Alienation)

M,  Apr 20

Marxism and Socialism
Marx, first half of  The Communist Manifesto
Video (5 min)- Brief Introduction to Marxism
Video (10 min) Political Theory- Marx

W, Apr 22

Marxism, Socialism and Communism
Marx, second half of  The Communist Manifesto

F, Apr 24

Finish Marx
Reread The Communist Manifesto

M, Apr 27

Civil Disobedience- When government fails…
Plato, “Crito”

W, Apr 29

Civil Disobedience continued
MLK ,“Letter from the Birmingham Jail”

F, May 1

Summary day
United Nations: “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”
Video: Sam Harris - What can science tell us about morality?
http://www.ted.com/talks/sam_harris_science_can_show_what_s_right.html

Final Exam              on official day scheduled by Registrar’s office (Posted in your mycuinfo)

Handouts:

Singer

Rawls

Nozick

Marx

Midterm Study Guide

Final Study Guide