The philosopher selected varies from year to year. Aristotle, Plato, Descartes, Hobbes, Locke, Hume, Berkeley, Kant, Smith, Bentham, Mill. Emphasis on conceptions of human nature, theories of good and right, the state and society. Some discussion of contemporary moral controversies. Analysis of such concepts as freedom, rights, justice, and equality.
Readings are from both philosophy and literature.
Identical to Philosophy 217, but includes additional assignments. Mr. Stell Analysis of the nature and function of law. Various theories of law, relation of law to morality, economic analysis of law. Philosophy 215, Philosophy 220, Political Science 315, Political Science 316, or permission of the instructor. Topics discussed include the nature of mathematical truth, pure versus applied mathematics, the reality of mathematical entities, infinity, paradoxes, axiomatic systems, formal number theory, Godel's Theorem.