Reading Assignments

(Readings are listed by author and chapter or page numbers. Readings from the anthology, Moral Relativism: A Reader, edited by Moser and Carson are followed by "(MR)".)

• For Sept. 9: Read Melchert, pp. 1-52.
• For Sept. 14: Read Kirk, Chapters 1-3 (Section 10) (pp. 1-46). This selection is the topic of Response Essay 1, your first short essay option. Check out my Paper Requirements and Policies.
• For Sept. 21: Read Plato, pp. 1-36 (Sections 142a-168c), focusing on Sections 151d-160e. If you did not write Response Essay 1, you must write Response Essay 2, which is due Monday, September 20th. Further non-required/suggested reading for the curious: to learn more about Socrates's life you can look at Plato's Apology or at the link on the ILT Website. Information about Plato himself can also be found at the ILT site. For a famous allegorical depiction of Plato's views on appearance and reality you can look at "The Allegory of the Cave" (the first quarter of "Book VII" from Plato's Republic). For information about basic distinctions in logic and reasoning you can look at Anthony Weston's A Rulebook for Arguments, Jim Prior's Philosophical Terms and Methods, and my Logic Poem.
• For Sept. 23: Read Plato, pp. 36-60 (Sections 168d-186e).
• For Sept. 28: Re-read Plato, pp. 47-60 (Sections 177c-186e). Also read the rest of Kirk, Chapter 3 (pp. 46-54) and Goodman, Chapter I.
• For Oct. 5: Read Goodman, Chapters VI and VII.
• For Oct. 7: Read Kirk, Chapter 6.
• For Oct. 12: Read Kirk, Chapter 9, then read Descartes' Synopsis and Meditations I-II (pp. 8-24). Also, get started on the First Paper, which is due Thursday, Oct. 21st.
• For Oct. 14: Read Descartes' Meditations III-V (pp. 24-47).
• For Oct. 21: First Paper due. Also, finish Descartes' Meditations (pp. 47-59). Then re-read the whole thing. After that read Kirk, Chapter 7.
• For Oct. 26: Re-read Descartes Meditations IV-VI (pp. 35-59). If you want, write Response Essay 3, due Monday, October 25th.
• For Oct. 28: Read Melchert, pp. 53-82.
• For Nov. 2: Read Kirk, Chapters 10 and 11. If you want, write Response Essay 4, due Monday, November 1st. Don't forget to vote!
• For Nov. 4: Review Kirk, Chapter 11. Also review Melchert, pp. 3-31 and read Brandt (MR, pp. 25-31).
• For Nov. 9: Read Sumner (MR, pp. 69-79), Benedict (MR, pp. 80-89), and Wellman (MR, pp. 107-119).
• For Nov. 11: Read Rachels (MR, pp. 53-65).
• For Nov. 16: Read Harman (MR, pp. 165-184). If you want, write Response Essay 5, due Monday, November 15th.
• For Nov. 23: Read Foot (MR, pp. 185-198) and then Scanlon (MR, pp. 142-162). If you are inclined, write Response Essay 6, due Monday, November 22nd.
• For Nov. 25: Have a good Thanksgiving!
• For Nov. 30: Read Mill, Utilitarianism, Chapters I-IV (pp. 1-41). If you want, write Response Essay 7, due Monday, November 29th. Also, take a look at the topics for the Second Paper, which is due at 10am on Moday, Dec. 13th. (Note the newer due date!)
• For Dec. 2: Re-read Mill, Chapters I-II.
• For Dec. 7: Re-read Mill, Chapters III-IV.
• For Dec. 9: Be ready to discuss how Mill's view relates to relativism. Also, don't forget that everyone needs to make at least three postings to the Electronic Discussion Board in the last half of the term.
• For Dec. 14: Last Class! Read Mackie (MR, pp. 259-276). If you want (or must), write Response Essay 8, due at the beginning of class.

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Last updated December 11, 2004

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This document was created on September 9, 2004.