Department of Global and Interdisciplinary Studies

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PHL300ZA(哲学 / Philosophy 300)
Advanced Topics in Philosophy II

Joel Van Fossen

Class code etc
Faculty/Graduate school Department of Global and Interdisciplinary Studies
Attached documents
Year 2024
Class code A6301
Previous Class code
Previous Class title
Term 秋学期授業/Fall
Day/Period 金3/Fri.3
Class Type
Campus 市ヶ谷 / Ichigaya
Classroom name 市外濠‐S602
Grade 3~4
Credit(s) 2
Notes
Open Program
Open Program (Notes)
Global Open Program
Interdepartmental class taking system for Academic Achievers
Interdepartmental class taking system for Academic Achievers (Notes) 制度ウェブサイトの3.科目別の注意事項(1)GIS主催科目の履修上の注意を参照すること。
Class taught by instructors with practical experience
SDGs CP
Urban Design CP
Diversity CP
Learning for the Future CP
Carbon Neutral CP
Chiyoda Campus Consortium
Duplicate Subjects Taken Under Previous Class Title
Category (commenced 2024 onwards) 300-level Advanced Courses(上級)
Category (commenced 2020-2023) 300-level Advanced Courses(上級)
Category (commenced 2016-2019) 300-level Advanced Courses
Arts and Literature

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Outline and objectives

Philosophy of the Person

Aristotle was an ancient Greek philosopher and one of the most important intellectuals in Western history. His most important book on ethics is titled "Nicomachean Ethics," and it is considered by many to be one of the greatest books ever written on the topic. In this book, Aristotle argues that an ethical life is one in which an individual flourishes through exercising virtue. Even though Aristotle lived long ago, much of what he says about what it means to be a happy and flourishing human being is still relevant today. Topics covered include the nature of virtue, morality, specific virtues, friendship, pleasure, and happiness. This class will be a careful reading of Aristotle’s great book with the aim of helping students become more reflective about some of life’s deepest and most important questions.

Goal

This course has four primary learning goals. First, students will learn about various and diverging ethical views. Second, students will improve critical thinking skills when engaging with abstract reasoning, especially in the context of philosophical debate. Third, students will improve their reading skills when confronting nuanced and challenging text. Finally, students will improve their writing skills to communicate complex ideas clearly and confidently.

Which item of the diploma policy will be obtained by taking this class?

Will be able to gain “DP 1”, “DP 2”, “DP 3”, and “DP 4”.

Default language used in class

英語 / English

Method(s)(学期の途中で変更になる場合には、別途提示します。 /If the Method(s) is changed, we will announce the details of any changes. )

Each meeting will include an interactive lecture and an active learning period. The lectures will occupy roughly one hour of each meeting. Students will then participate in a class discussion or debate. The instructor will assess students primarily on their final paper. Students will produce a paper proposal before writing a paper draft. After the proposal has been approved, students will write a draft of their paper. They will then exchange papers with each other, and they will write a peer-reviewed report of another student’s paper. Students should consider this report when revising their final drafts. The instructor will provide feedback on the paper proposal, final paper, and peer-review report via Hoppii.

Active learning in class (Group discussion, Debate.etc.)

あり / Yes

Fieldwork in class

なし / No

Schedule

授業形態/methods of teaching:対面/face to face

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

1[オンライン/online]:Introduction

Background on Nicomachean Ethics

2[対面/face to face]:Book 1

The chief good

3[対面/face to face]:Book 1 (cont.)

The function argument

4[対面/face to face]:Book 2

Moral virtue

5[対面/face to face]:Book 3

Moral responsibility

6[対面/face to face]:Book 3 (cont.)

Courage and temperance

7[対面/face to face]:Book 4

Money, honor, and anger

8[対面/face to face]:Book 5

Justice

9[対面/face to face]:Book 6

Intellectual virtue

10[対面/face to face]:Book 7

Failing to do what you know you should do

11[対面/face to face]:Book 8

Friendship

12[対面/face to face]:Book 9

Self-love

13[対面/face to face]:Book 10

Pleasure

14[対面/face to face]:Book 11

Happiness

Work to be done outside of class (preparation, etc.)

Students should complete weekly readings before coming to class. Students should also review their own notes after every class. Preparatory study time for this class is 3-4 hours, and review time for this class is 2 hours.

Textbooks

Aristotle. 2012. Nicomachean Ethics. Translated by Robert C. Bartlett and Susan D. Collins. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. ISBN-10: ‎ 0226026752

This textbook is required.

All other readings will be provided by the instructor via Hoppii.

References

The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy is a great resource for delving further into any topics discussed in class: https://plato.stanford.edu

The philosopher Jim Pryor has created helpful guides for writing and reading philosophy papers. Writing: http://www.jimpryor.net/teaching/guidelines/writing.html Reading: http://www.jimpryor.net/teaching/guidelines/reading.html

Grading criteria

Class Participation (15%), Discussion Questions (20%), Peer-review report (15%), Final Paper (50%)

Changes following student comments

Handouts will be provided in place of presentation slides.

Prerequisite

None