Seminar in Contemporary Philosophy

Catalog description

This course will explore some of the influential theories and texts in contemporary philosophy. Contemporary philosophy encompasses a broad range of inquiry, from attention to the treatment of knowledge, reason, and the subject; to ethical and political issues; and to aesthetics and metaphysical problems. Themes may include such questions as: What is the status of the human subject in relation to the world? What is the status of truth once we recognize the radical contingency of our historically-bound existence? What is the relation between aesthetic value and ethical value? What does it mean to exist as a temporal agent? What forms does the exercise of power assume in late-modern societies and what resources does philosophy provide for a critique of societies of control? What resources are there in recent developments in philosophy for revitalizing the ancient ideal of philosophy as a way of life, including the concern with the flourishing life? Through reading and discussion, this course will introduce students to some of the central approaches to contemporary philosophy, some of the most pressing issues, as well as the central controversies of contemporary philosophy. Students will develop their interpretative and philosophical skills, while gaining a deeper understanding of central themes and figures in philosophy over the past century.