PHH 4700
Semester I, 2000-2001
Mr. Silver
AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY
I. Texts:
1. A Jonathan Edwards Reader, ed. John E. Smith, et. al. (New Haven, 1995).
2. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays (Cambridge, MA, 1987).
3. William James, Essays in Pragmatism (New York, 1948).
4. Josiah Royce, The Philosophy of Loyalty (Nashville, 1995).
II. Assigned Readings and Examinations:
8/29: Scope and limits of the course.
8/31: American Philosophy: Features, Trends and Contexts.
9/4-26: A Jonathan Edwards Reader (Selections to be
announced on 8/29).
9/28-10/19: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays (Selections to be
announced by or before 10/3).
10/24: Midterm Examination.
10/26-11/21: William James, Essays in Pragmatism (Essays to be
announced by or before 10/19).
11/28-12/7: Josiah Royce, The Philosophy of Loyalty.
12/12: Final Examination 8:00-10:00 a.m.
III. Critical Papers:
Every student who expects to receive academic credit for this course must submit two critical papers. (1) The first of these papers is on some facet of Jonathan Edwards' philosophical theology. (2) The second paper is on some aspect of the philosophy of any other thinker under "Assigned Readings" (II. above) for the course. I will discuss (1) and (2) during the first meeting of the course. Each paper must be typed or computer-printed and must be a full 6 pages long (1,500 words). The first paper is due not later than 9/28, and the second paper not later than 12/5. I WILL NOT ACCEPT LATE PAPERS OR PAPERS THAT FALL SHORT OF THE REQUIRED LENGTH.
IV. Computation of a Course Grade:
1. Midterm Examination = 15%
2. Final Examination = 30%
3. First Paper = 20%
4. Second Paper = 25%
5. Three Unannounced Quizzes = 10%
V. Course Objective:
The principal aim of this course is to introduce upper division undergraduate students to some of the important thinkers and intellectual trends in American philosophy and speculative thought.
VI. Office and Office Hours:
FAO 233
T 9:30-10:30, Th 2:00-3:00
Phone 813-974-5405
E-mail bsilver@chuma1.cas.usf.edu