PHIL 484:
REASON, SELF, AND WILL
Fall 2009
    M 3:30-6 pm , SKN 1115

Patricia Greenspan, instructor
pg@umd.edu
www.philosophy.umd.edu/Faculty/PGreenspan
1101A Skinner Hall
W 2-3:30 and by appointment

This course deals with issues in philosophy of mind, ethics, and neighboring areas of psychology and related fields concerning such topics as: autonomy, freedom of action, free will; self-control, weakness of will and practical reasoning; the nature of the self or person; the sources of moral motivation.  In its current version the course focuses on a new book offering a systematic account of weakness and strength of will.

Prerequisite: two prior courses in philosophy, at least one of them 300 level or above. 

Required readings or the course will be drawn primarily from:

                    Richard Holton, Willing, Wanting, Waiting (Oxford) [9780199214570],

along with some articles to be made available online, organized roughly as indicated in the schedule of topics and assignments.  The instructor will provide basic structure for the course, particularly in earlier classes, but as the course proceeds, students will be asked to lead discussion in interactive oral reports on some of our readings. 

Written requirements of the course will include a midterm, a final, and possibly some unannounced quizzes.  The midterm will count 35% of the student's grade and the final 45%, with another 20% allotted to class participation (including performance on quizzes and oral reports).  Grades may also be adjusted upward (to a maximum of one full grade) at the end of a course to reflect improvement, the difficulty of the material, and similar factors; but this benefit is extended only to those involved (at least as a reliable and attentive audience) in the ongoing discussion that is central to the course’s aims. 

No laptops or PDAs may be used in class, except by special arrangement with the disabilities office. In general, students are expected to avoid distracting behaviors, such as unscheduled comings and goings (e.g., lateness, bathroom trips), private conversations (even on the topic), extended eating (a drink is OK), or newspaper reading.
 
This syllabus is available, along with the schedule, plus supporting information about policies of the instructor, on the instructor’s website (click on “courses” at the address above).  Later handouts or other material distributed or presented in slide format during class will be posted under “course materials” as the term proceeds. Latecomers to the course should immediately consult the course materials for information about the demands of the course and outlines of classes they missed.