SYLLABUS   PHILOSOPHY 307   PHILOSOPHICAL CLASSICS:  DAVID HUME

 

FALL 2002     Tuesday     Thursday     3:00  -  4:15 p.m.        Mr. MacKay        (Office: 122 King Bldg.)

Office hours:           MW 3:30 - 4:20 p.m.,           TTH 4:20 - 5:00 p.m., or by appointment

 

GENERAL AIM OF THE COURSE:  to study the major philosophical works of David Hume.

 

BOOKS                                 David Hume,      A Treatise of Human Nature

                                                                                An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding

                                                                                An Enquiry concerning the Principles of Morals 

                                                                                Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion        

(Also see http://socserv.socsci.mcmaster.ca/~econ/ for McMaster Univ. Archive for the History      of Economic Thought -- Hume, David -- for texts of the Treatise and 1st Enquiry.)

 

FORMAT            The course will proceed by lecture and discussion, in evolving proportions.

 

EVALUATION  will be primarily based on two, equally weighted, c. 3500 word, papers:

 

the first, on some topic in Hume's Epistemology or Metaphysics, will be due 

Thursday, October 17*                                     (the last class meeting before fall break); 

the second, on Hume's Ethics or Philosophy of Religion, will be due

Monday, December 16#                                  (the end of the reading period).

(Consultation on paper topics during office hours or by appointment.)

               

Regular attendance is expected@, as are preparation for and participation in class discussions.

                @ In order to receive credit for this course, you must attend at least 21 class sessions

                                (i.e., You must have no more than six unexcused absences).

 

                                PROVISIONAL CALENDAR (subject to revision)

 

Sept.   3, 5             Week 1                  Background.  Copernicus, Galileo, Descartes

Sept. 10, 12          Week 2                  Background.  Locke, Berkeley, Newton

Sept. 17, 19          Week 3                  Hume, Treatise, Book I, Intro.  Parts I and II

Sept. 24, 26          Week 4                  Hume, Treatise, Book I, Part III

Oct.  1, 3                Week 5                  Hume, Treatise, Book I, Part IV / 1st Enquiry

Oct.  8, 10             Week 6                  Hume, Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding

Oct. 15, 17            Week 7                  Hume, Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding

 

Thursday, Oct. 17*, 4:30 p.m.        First paper due, on some topic in Hume's epistemology or metaphysics, topic to be selected in consultation with the instructor.

 

                          FALL BREAK      October  19 - 27

Oct. 29, 31            Week 8                  Hume, Treatise, Book II

Nov.  5, 7              Week 9                  Hume, Treatise, Book III

Nov. 12, 14          Week 10                Hume, Treatise, Book III / 2nd Enquiry    

Nov. 19, 21          Week 11                Hume, Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals          

Nov. 26                 Week 12                Hume, Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals

 

                THANKSGIVING BREAK    November 28 - December 1

Dec.  3, 5               Week 13                Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion

Dec. 10,12            Week 14                Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion

 

Monday, Dec. 16#, 4:30 p.m.         Second paper due,  on some topic in Hume's ethics or philosophy of religion, topic to be selected in consultation with the instructor.