Syllabus

In this course students will examine the philosophy of René Descartes through a close study of his most famous work, the Meditations, including the Objections and Replies. The course will emphasize a close reading of the text in the light of both the seventeenth century intellectual context and also recent debates in secondary literature. Students will be asked to write comments on the readings as well as two short papers. A term paper will be required for graduate students and optional for undergraduates with instructor permission.

1. E-Posts: There are two parts to this assignment. First, for each and every class session I expect that you post a comment or question connected to the day’s assigned reading. If you choose to offer a question, please explain the question fully (i.e., how it arose out of your reading of the text and its significance). I would expect each post to be between 100-250 words. You must post the question or comment to the following site:

http://catalyst.washington.edu/webtools/epost/register.cgi?owner=rosentha&id=8354

Second, I want you to print a copy of your post on a piece of paper (with your name on it) and turn it in to me at the beginning of each class. Please note: you will not receive credit for the assignment without turning it in at the beginning of class. You must complete both parts of each assignment to receive credit. Late assignments will not count. I will often start discussion with your posts and sometimes might ask you to read them in class. This assignment will start on Tuesday, October 5^th. You will have 19 opportunities to contribute a post. I will grade you based on the percentage of satisfactorily completed assignments. However, because it may be difficult to complete all these posts, due to illness or some other problem, I will grade on the basis of 17 assignments. That is, you can miss two of them and still be deemed to have completed the maximum. So if you complete all seventeen of the required posts successfully you will receive a grade of 4. If you complete fifteen of them, for example, you will receive a grade of about 3.5 and so on. The total value of this assignment is approximately 20% of your final grade.

2. Short Papers: Each student will be required to write two short papers (4-6 pages in length). For each essay, you will be able to choose your topic from several options. The first paper is due on Thursday, 11/4 at the beginning of class. The second paper is due on Thursday, 12/16 at noon in the Philosophy department office in Savery Hall. Late papers will be automatically penalized one-half of a grade (0.5 point) for every 24 hours it is late after the due date. Please note: I will not accept papers sent by fax or e-mail. Also, do not turn in these papers electronically through E-submit, as you would for the discussion topics. I need to receive a printed copy of the paper. Each paper will be graded and is worth approximately 30% of your final grade. Please note that you must complete both papers for this requirement to be met and to pass the course.

3. Presentation. At the beginning of the quarter you will be asked to sign-up with another student for a presentation of one article in the “Modern Debates” section of the course. You will be expected to: a) explain how the article relates to the text (i.e. what problem in the text does it address?); b) present the argument of the article; c) raise a possible objection to or problem in the article’s argument; and d) be prepared to lead class discussion on the article (e.g., you might have some questions prepared to ask). The presentation should use some visual aid (such as the board or a handout) and take approximately 5-10 minutes in time. This assignment will count for approximately 20% of your final grade.

4. Term Paper Option (required for graduate students; instructor permission required for other students who wish to take this option). Instead of two, short papers, you will write a longer paper (12-15 pages in length) on a topic of your choosing. Please note that the topic of the paper must be approved by the instructor. This paper is due at 12pm on Thursday, December 16^th in the philosophy department office. The paper will be worth approximately 60% of your final grade.

5. Participation. I expect all students to participate actively in class discussion (which might also include E-Posts and Peer Review comments). In determining your final grade, especially if it is on a borderline, I will consider the quality of your regular participation, and improvement over the semester. (Please note: I count regular attendance as part of class participation. If you are not present you cannot participate.)

The following texts are required and are available for purchase in the college bookstore:

1) Cottingham, J., Stoothoff, R., and Murdoch, D., ThePhilosophical Writings of Descartes, volume II, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988 (ISBN: 0-521-28808-8).

2) Ariew, R., Cottingham, J., and Sorell, T., Descartes’ Meditations: Background Source Materials, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998 (ISBN: 0-521-48579-7)

3) Rorty, A., Essays on Descartes’ Meditations, University of California Press, 1986 (ISBN: 0-520-05509-8).

Tu 10/5 First Meditation: Text (CSM II, 3-15)

Th 10/7 First Meditation: Context

a) Seventh O&R: CSM II, 302-321.

b) Sixth O&R: CSM II, 281-2 (ninth difficulty), 293-96.

c) Third O&R: CSM II, 121.

d) Second O&R: CSM II, 92, 110-20 (Method).

Tu 10/12 First Meditation: Modern Debates

a) Structure: Hatfield, “The Senses and the Fleshless Eye” (Rorty, 21-44)

b) Science: Garber, “Semel in vita” (Rorty, 81-116)

c) Skepticism: Williams, “D. and the Metaphysics of Doubt” (Rorty, 117-140)

Th 10/14 Second Meditation: Text (CSM II, 16-23)

Tu 10/19 Second Meditation: Context

a) Fifth O&R: CSM II, 180, 244; 192-3, 248-9.

b) Second O&R: CSM II, 100.

c) Sixth O&R: CSM II, 278, 285.

d) Third O&R: CSM II, 122-23.

e) Fourth O&R: CSM II, 150, 171-2.

Th 10/21 Second Meditation: Modern Debates

a) Curley, “Analysis in the Meditations” (Rorty, 153-176)

b) Carriero, “The Second Meditation” (Rorty, 199-222)

Tu 10/26 Third Meditation: Text (CSM II, 24-36)

Th 10/28 Third Meditation: Context

a) Third O&R: CSM II, 132; 127-8.

b) Fifth O&R: CSM II, 195-97, 251.

c) First O&R: CSM II, 66-7, 74-5.

Tu 11/2 Third Meditation: Modern Debates

a) Normore, “Meaning and Objective Being” (Rorty, 223-242)

b) Loeb, “Is There Radical Dissimulation” (Rorty, 243-270)

c) Wilson, “Can I Be the Cause of My Idea” (Rorty, 339-358)

Th 11/4 Fourth Meditation: Text (CSM II, 37-43)

[First Paper Due]

Tu 11/9 Fourth Meditation: Context

a) Fifth O&R: CSM II, 219, 259.

b) Sixth O&R: CSM II, 281-2, 291-2.

Th 11/11 NO CLASS – Veterans’ Day

Tu 11/16 Fourth Meditation: Modern Debates

a) Bolton, “Confused and Obscure Ideas of Sense” (Rorty, 389-404)

b) Rosenthal, “Will and the Theory of Judgment” (Rorty, 405-434)

Th 11/18 Fifth Meditation: Text (CSM II, 44-49)

Tu 11/23 Fifth Meditation: Context

a) Fifth O&R: CSM II, 224, 262-3.

b) First O&R: CSM II, 72, 83-5.

c) Second O&R: CSM II, 89-90, 100-105.

d) Fourth O&R: CSM II, 150, 171.

Th 11/25 NO CLASS - Thanksgiving