Autumn

We will do a close reading of G.E.M. Anscombe's Intention and some of the related essays.

In this course, we will explore Western philosophy's rich skeptical tradition with an eye toward answering two surprisingly difficult questions: 'What is philosophy?' and 'What is skepticism?' The guiding thought (which goes back to the German philosopher G.W.F. Hegel) is that philosophy and skepticism are entwined to such an extent that the one can be properly understood only in relation to the other. We will endeavor to decide whether, or to what extent, this is true. Historical topics will include: the origins of philosophy, ancient skepticism, the reemergence of philosophy in medieval Europe, early-modern skepticism, and skepticism in Kant and post-Kantian German philosophy. Philosophical topics will include: fideism, relativity, disagreement, the Agrippan Trilemma, Cartesian skepticism, ethical skepticism, and sociopolitical skepticism. No prior familiarity with the history of skepticism - only a sense of wonder - will be assumed.

In this course, we will explore Western philosophy's rich skeptical tradition with an eye toward answering two surprisingly difficult questions: 'What is philosophy?' and 'What is skepticism?' The guiding thought (which goes back to the German philosopher G.W.F. Hegel) is that philosophy and skepticism are entwined to such an extent that the one can be properly understood only in relation to the other. We will endeavor to decide whether, or to what extent, this is true. Historical topics will include: the origins of philosophy, ancient skepticism, the reemergence of philosophy in medieval Europe, early-modern skepticism, and skepticism in Kant and post-Kantian German philosophy. Philosophical topics will include: fideism, relativity, disagreement, the Agrippan Trilemma, Cartesian skepticism, ethical skepticism, and sociopolitical skepticism. No prior familiarity with the history of skepticism - only a sense of wonder - will be assumed.

An examination of ancient Greek philosophical texts that are foundational for Western philosophy, especially the work of Plato and Aristotle. Topics will include: the nature and possibility of knowledge and its role in human life; the nature of the soul; virtue; happiness and the human good.

This is a survey of some of the central questions in the philosophy of mind. These questions include: What is consciousness? How can mental states represent things in the world? How do our minds relate to our bodies? Do we have free will? Can we blame someone for the beliefs or desires she has? What are the emotions? To help us with these questions, we will focus on 20th century analytic work (by Putnam, Nagel, Searle, Jackson, Dennett, Chalmers, Block, Dretske, and others), but we will also read important historical texts on the nature of the mind by Aristotle, Descartes, and Hume. (B)

It is a characteristic trait of rational animals that they are self-conscious: able to reflect on their own thoughts and deeds as such. This seminar will be a study of how self-consciousness informs our lives in various dimensions, and of some problems that arise in trying to make sense of it. We'll begin by considering what it is to think of oneself as such and how this capacity relates to abilities to recognize oneself in a mirror, to employ the first person, etc. We'll then turn to some problems connected with the distinctive kinds of relation to oneself that self-consciousness enables. Topics in this part of the seminar may include: awareness of one's own body, concern for one's own well-being, the role of self-consciousness in imagination and empathy, the possibility of self-alienation or bad faith, the role of self-consciousness in grounding a philosophical understanding of mind. Readings will mostly derive from recent philosophy of mind, but we may also read some psychology and/or some relevant discussions from the history of philosophy. (III)

This course is meant as an introduction to Wittgenstein's later work, with a focus on his *Philosophical Investigations.* Our central concerns will be: (1) Wittgenstein's metaphilosophy; (2) meaning, rule-following, and intentionality; and (3) sensations and privacy. (III)

This course will be devoted to the reading of texts of Sartre. Our exploration will elucidate what Sartre names "Existential Psychoanalysis". In order to have an understanding of what is at stake under this concept, we will first explore its role in the economy of Sartre's ontology (Being and Nothingness and Question of Method). In a second step, we will try to explore the several ways in which Sartre is going to put into practice the main principles of his psychoanalytical method, through the readings of his essays on Literature, on Baudelaire, Genet, Flaubert and others.

This course meets in Autumn and Winter quarters.