24.201 Topics in History of Philosophy: Rationalism and Sentimentalism in Ethical Theory
Spring 2017
Instructor: Tamar Schapiro
Lecture: MW11-12.30 (56-167)
Information:
This course is about the foundations of ethics. Is there
anything we genuinely ought to do, and if so, why? We will approach
this question by familiarizing ourselves with a particularly
fruitful period in the development of moral philosophy. This is the
period in Britain from 1650-1780, just prior to the nearly
simultaneous emergence of Kant's moral philosophy and
Bentham's utilitarianism. During this time, rationalists and
sentimentalists engaged in a substantive conversation about the
nature and source of moral obligation. Their conversation
foreshadowed debates between cognitivists and noncognitivists in
20th c. metaethics, and in many ways it addressed the foundational
question more directly than did the later debates. Our readings
will include Hobbes, Clarke, Wollaston, Shaftesbury, Hutcheson,
Butler, Hume, and Smith.
Announcements
Third paper assignments (short and long) are posted
Hi - I've posted two documents in "materials" - the third short exercise I handed out in class, and guidelines for the longer paper.Best,
Tamar
Announced on 14 April 2017 9:03 p.m. by Tamar Schapiro
Topic suggestions coming...
Hi guys,It's become clear to me that I should offer a few suggested paper topics for those who want to take the longer paper option. I will come up with those and post them today or tomorrow.
- Tamar
Announced on 14 April 2017 9:25 a.m. by Tamar Schapiro
Your papers aren't due until Friday 5pm
Hi again,I just want to clarify - your papers are due on Friday at 5pm, not today. Some of you hadn't realized that.
Announced on 22 March 2017 8:31 a.m. by Tamar Schapiro
CLASS CANCELED TODAY - I'M SICK
HI everyone,I am too sick to come to campus, so I have to cancel our class today. We will discuss the last Hutcheson reading on Monday after spring break. You may post a reading response on that section anytime before we discuss it in class. Good luck finishing your papers.
Announced on 22 March 2017 8:16 a.m. by Tamar Schapiro
Replies to reading responses
By the way, so far I have been able to post brief replies to the questions in your reading responses. I'm not sure I will be able to keep this up, but I will try.Announced on 21 February 2017 2:50 p.m. by Tamar Schapiro
