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Home , Philosophy of self

OF 1800 FALL 2017 MWF 10-10:50am LANG 304

Instructor: Dr. Samantha Langsdale Office: ENV 320C Office Hours: Tues 11 am – 2pm Email: [email protected]

Course Description/Objectives: This course is an examination of the of the self through readings and discussions of classical and contemporary sources. We will explore the relationships between and body, and society, and , across a range of historical, cultural, and disciplinary perspectives.

Course Materials:

Required Texts: Philosophy of Self: , , persons and human nature

Recommended Texts: The Rowman and Littlefield Guide to Writing with Sources, 4th edition, by James P. Davis [978-1442205697]

The instructor may provide all reading materials for this course. These readings, as well as other pertinent and helpful , can be found on Blackboard. If you have any issues retrieving the readings, please let the instructor know.

Assessment:

Students’ grades will be determined by a combination of attendance record, three reaction papers, a group podcast, three exams, and one research paper.

• Attendance (10%) Your regular attendance is mandatory and will be worth ten percent of your total grade. Please see Attendance Policy below for more details.

• Podcasts (15%) At the beginning of the semester, you will be assigned to a group that you will work with to produce a ten minute podcast on a particular philosophy of self. Your group will be assigned a specific philosopher and be given a due date for submitting your podcast. Every person in the group must speak on the recording, and all must contribute to the planning and production of the podcast. You should practice prior to recording because, in order to receive full credit for the assignment, you need to record ten minutes of good, solid philosophical discussion. This assignment is worth 15% of your overall grade. You will be assessed on the overall of your production, on the quality of your discussion, and on your ability to work together.

• Reaction Papers (15%) Three throughout the course of the semester, you will write 500-750 words in response to the topic for any given week. This is meant to be your own personal and reflections so it may be written in the first person and contain your opinions but, you must ALSO include at least one textual reference complete with page numbers. This is still a class assignment so you need to keep in mind that it should be neatly presented and written with a professionalism. These papers must be emailed to your instructor NO LATER than 5pm Sunday. The three papers together constitute 15% of your overall grade.

• Exams (45%) Exam #1 (15%) will be held at the beginning of Week 5 and will cover the material up to that point. The second exam will cover the assigned content and readings from weeks 5-9 of the term and is worth 15% of your final grade. The final exam (15%) will cover the assigned content and readings from weeks 10-14 of the term and may include questions regarding material covered throughout the course. All exams will consist of several short-answer questions and one long essay question. Exams 1&2 will be taken within the normal class period, Exam 3 during Finals Week. See the Class Schedule below for dates.

• Research Paper (15%) Students will be provided with several possible essay questions and will choose ONE on which to write a 4-5 page paper (1000-1250 words) informed by academic research. The paper must have a clear thesis statement, good organization, appropriate formatting, correct use of academic sources/accurate citations, and a bibliography. You will be required to submit a proposed title and short description of your topic in class on Oct 23rd. The paper must be submitted to TurnItIn on Blackboard by NO LATER THAN 11:59pm Friday, Dec 1st.

Grading Policy: This course is graded according to the requirements specified and weighted below. A = 90%+ B = 80-89% C = 70-79% D = 60-69% F = 0-59%

Attendance Policy:

You are required to regularly attend lectures. However, you are allowed THREE unexcused absences for whatever life throws your way (illness, broken alarm, hangover, existential crises, etc.). After those three absences, every subsequent absence will result in the loss of ten points from an overall total of 100 (i.e. one absence after the initial three drops you from 100 to 90; two additional absences drops you from 100 to 80). If you are required to miss class due to a UNT function, or because of a religious holiday, please notify me IN ADVANCE. If you miss class, YOU AND YOU ALONE, are responsible for finding out what you missed.

ADA Statement:

The University of North Texas is on record as committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation; reference Public Law 92-112 – The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. With the passage of new federal legislation entitled Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, there is renewed focus on providing this population with the same opportunities enjoyed by all citizens. The Office of Disability Accommodation is located in Suite 321 of the University Union Building and can be reached at (940) 565 4323 and TTY (940) 369 8652 or through the Website at http://www.unt.edu/oda/index.html

If you require any special accommodation, please contact me so that we can work together to ensure your success in this class.

Academic Integrity:

“Academic integrity emanates from a culture that embraces the core values of trust and honesty necessary for full learning to occur. As a student-centered public research university, the University of North Texas promotes the integrity of the learning process by establishing and enforcing academic standards. Academic dishonesty breaches the mutual trust necessary in an academic environment and undermines all scholarship”. For a full look at the UNT Policy for Academic Integrity, see https://policy.unt.edu/sites/default/files/untpolicy/pdf/7-Student_Affairs- Academic_Integrity.pdf

If you are caught cheating on a quiz or test, you will receive an F for that assignment. Similarly, if you plagiarize your paper, you will receive an F. This may result in your failing the class.

Classroom Policies & Student Conduct:

Students must be respectful of the Instructor, the TA, and their fellow students. Any behavior which is deemed racist, sexist, ableist or bigoted will not be tolerated. For more on appropriate conduct, see http://deanofstudents.unt.edu/sites/default/files/code_of_student_conduct.pdf

I really, really HATE the use of laptops in class. However, if you feel you learn best with the use of a laptop or tablet I would ask that you sit near the back of the room so as to reduce distraction to those around you. Also be aware that I will randomly ask you to turn your screen around so that I can see what you’re up to. You are NOT permitted to use CELL PHONES at ANY !

Late/Missed Assignments: If you are unable to attend class during the exams, you must notify me ASAP in order to arrange a re-take. You will not be allowed to re- take quizzes or exams for reasons other than illness, UNT functions, or religious holidays.

If you submit your essay after the deadline, you will lose a letter grade for every school day that passes (i.e. if you do not submit the essay until Monday, Dec 4, the best you can hope to achieve is a B. If it is submitted on Tuesday 12/5, the best you may receive is a C).

Add/Drop Schedule for Fall 2017: http://registrar.unt.edu/registration/fall-add-drop

Class Schedule:

Week Topic Reading Week 1 Introduction

Aug. 28 Course Description/Syllabus The Syllabus (no jokes)

Aug. 30 Course Description/Syllabus Mary Midgley, “Philosophical Plumbing” in Philosophy of Self (PS) 8-21 Sept. 1 Introduction & Overview

Week 2 Ancient Views:

Sept. 4 No Class Plato, “The Allegory of the Cave” in PS 22- Sept. 6 Plato’s Cave 28

Sept. 8 In the face of death Plato “Phaedo” in PS 29-55

Week 3 Ancient Views:

Sept. 11 Aristotle Aristotle, “On the ” Bk I in PS 74-88 Sept. 13 Soul as Self?

Sept. 15 Soul as Self? Aristotle, “” Bk III in PS 57-73

Week 4 Ancient Views: & Buddhism

Sept. 18 The “The Upanishads” in PS 128-155

Sept. 20 The Upanishads “The Perfection of Wisdom” in PS 165- Sept. 22 Buddhism 175

Week 5 Medieval Views

Sept. 25 EXAM #1 on Ancient Views Don’t freak out

Sept. 27 Augustine & the will Augustine, “The Freedom of the Will” in PS 110-120 Sept. 29 Aquinas & human nature Aquinas, “Summa Theologica” in PS 121- 127 Week 6 Modern Views: Descartes

Oct. 2 Descartes thinks Descartes, “ I” in PS 182-186

Oct. 4 ...And thinks... Descartes, “Meditation II” in PS 187-193

Oct. 6 ...And thinks some more. Descartes, “Meditation VI” in PS 201-211

Week 7 Modern Views: Hobbes, Locke, Hume Hobbes, “The ” in PS 194- 200 Oct. 9 Hobbes is grumpy Locke, “Of Identity and Diversity” in PS Oct. 11 Locke on Identity 212-219

Oct. 13 Hume & Smith Hume, “A Treatise of Human Nature” in PS 232-239 and “Wealth of Nations” in PS 273-285

Week 8 Social Views: Smith & Marx

Oct. 16 Marx the communist “Preface to Communist Manifesto” in PS 296-99 Oct. 18 Marx on labor Marx, “Alienated Labor” in PS 312-316

Oct. 20 EXAM #2 Medieval, Modern & Social Views

Week 9

Oct. 23 Nietzsche film Paper Title/Topic Due at beginning of Class, Nietzsche, “Beyond Good and Evil” in PS 251-265 Oct. 25 Nietzsche beyond binaries Sartre, “Existentialism is a ” in Oct. 27 Sartre & the humanism of PS 317-327 nothingness Week 10

Oct. 30 Freud “Civilization and It’s Discontents” in PS 266-272 Nov. 1 Freud “The Personal and Collective Nov. 3 Jung Unconscious” in PS 364-374

Week Feminism 11 “Gender Inequality” in PS 411 Nov. 6 Gender Inequality “The Problem that has No Name” in PS Nov. 8 Androcentrism & Misogyny 448-455

Nov. 10 The Godmother: Simone De “The Making of a Woman” in PS 456 Beauvoir Week Race 12 Reading on Blackboard Nov. 13 Analyzing Race DuBois, “The Souls of Black Folk” in PS Nov. 15 Black Souls 387-394

Nov. 17 bell hooks & dreaming “Dreaming Ourselves…” in PS 395-404

Week FILM WEEK (not optional!) 13

Nov. 20 I am Not your Negro This week is REQUIRED! You MUST ATTEND Nov. 22 I am Not your Negro

Nov. 24 No class

Week Cyborg Selves & 14 Reading on Blackboard Nov. 27 Essay workshop Donna Haraway “Cyborg Manifesto” on Nov. 29 Posthumanism Blackboard

Dec. 1 Cyborgs & Monsters ESSAY DUE BY 11:59PM 12/1/17

Week Wrap-up 15 Make sure you have all your Reaction Papers written! Dec. 4 So what is a self? REVIEW Dec. 6 Exam Review REVIEW Dec. 8 No Classes: Reading Day REVIEW Week Exam 16

Dec. 9 Final Exam on Weeks 9–14 Saturday 8am – 10am