19th Century German Philosophy: Life, Suffering, and Meaning (Spring 2023)
Course Description. What does life and living really mean? Is there a purpose for our existence? How can we justify the search for a meaning for one’s own life in the context of a human existence that involves senseless suffering, death, and evil? 19th Century German Philosophy is one primary place to search for potential answers to these thorny but crucial questions. Germany produced great philosophers, of whom two, Arthur Schopenhauer and Friedrich Nietzsche devoted most of their philosophical careers to tackling the problem of the justification of life. This course exclusively focuses on the works of Schopenhauer and Nietzsche. The overarching theme will be the value and significance of suffering in human life and our practical attitude toward it.
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Philosophy of Women (Fall 2022)
Course Description. Women and issues of special concern to women have been often overlooked or dismissed in philosophy. Furthermore, in the long tradition of philosophy that dates from Plato, ideas and contributions of women philosophers have been systematically dismissed or deemed frivolous. It is well known that women are still not well represented in philosophy. The main goal of this course is twofold: on the one hand, this course will introduce you to the social and cultural reasons for the neglect of women in the canons of philosophy, and on the other hand, we will examine selected works of contemporary women philosophers and their contributions to the major sociocultural issues facing women today.
The works of some thinkers that are discussed in this course include Musonius Rufus, Plato,
Marilyn Frye, Iris Marion Young, Edith Stein, Jennifer Saul, Mirjam Müller, Lisa H. Schwartzman, Erin Beeghly, Mary Kate McGowan, and Carol Hay.
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