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PHIL 372E: Graduate Seminar on Moral Psychology

Recent philosophical works on desire, intention, the motivation of action, valuing, and reasons for action. Readings: Williams, Korsgaard, Smith, Blackburn, Velleman, Stampe, Frankfurt.

Last offered: Winter 2011

PHIL 372M: Ending Wars: A Just Peace or Just a Peace (ETHICSOC 372R)

Much of just war theory focuses on the justifications for resorting to armed force and the conduct of hostilities. But what are the ethical and legal principles that govern ending wars and making peace? This course will explore the theory of "just peace," including such problems as when a party to war may demand the unconditional surrender of its adversary and what kinds of compromises are ethically permissible in order to end ¿ or to avoid ¿ armed conflict. We will also consider the terms and practices the winning party in war may impose on the loser, such as reparations and occupation (particularly transformative occupation). In addition, we will examine the topic of transitional justice, including issues related to amnesty, forgiveness, criminal and other forms of accountability, and reconciliation. Elements used in grading: Class Participation, Written Assignments, Final Exam.

Terms: Win | Units: 2

Instructors: Margalit, A. (PI) ; Weiner, A. (PI)

PHIL 372P: Korsgaard and her Critics

Christine Korsgaard has developed an unusually complex and comprehensive theory of morality, according to which moral authority has it's source in our authority over ourselves simply as human agents. Her view purports to be humanist without falling into relativism, subjectivism, or voluntarism. Our aim is to understand an evaluate Korsgaard's theory, which Derek Parfit has characterized as combining "Kantian, Humean, and existentialist ideas in unexpected, platitude-denying ways." Readings include Korsgaard's own works as well as selected critiques. Graduate level seminar aimed primarily at philosophy students.

Last offered: Autumn 2014

PHIL 372R: Political Realism (POLISCI 435R)

This seminar will explore various articulations of political realism in their historical contexts. Realism is generally taken to be a pragmatic approach to a political world marked by the competition for material interests and the struggle for power. Yet beyond a shared critique of idealism and an insistence on the priority and autonomy of the political, realists tend to have very different normative visions and political projects. We will consider the works of several political realists from the history of political and international relations thought, including: Thucydides, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Carr, Niebuhr, and Morgenthau.

Last offered: Autumn 2011

PHIL 373: GRAD SEMINAR

Grad seminar on ethical topic. May be repeat for credit

Terms: Aut | Units: 4 | Repeatable 3 times (up to 12 units total)

Instructors: Dannenberg, J. (PI)

PHIL 374: Caring and Practical Reasoning

What is it to care about something; how is caring related to desiring, emotions, and having policies; what is the relationship between caring and the will; why do people care about things; can attention to caring help explain the phenomenon of silencing reasons? Readings from contemporary literature, including Frankfurt, Watson, Bratman, Scanlon, Williams, Helm, and Kolodny. May be repeated for credit.

| Repeatable 1 times (up to 4 units total)

PHIL 374C: Democracy and the Constitution (POLISCI 438)

(Same as LAW 268) Connections between democratic theory and constitutional theory. Sources include literature from political philosophy, constitutional law, and jurisprudence, and arguments about freedom of expression, campaign finance, legislative apportionment, federalism, and separation of powers. Readings from Scalia, Breyer, Ely, Ackerman, Dahl, Rawls, Habermas, Dworkin, Riker, and Schumpeter, as well as constitutional cases.

Last offered: Winter 2015

PHIL 374F: Science, Religion, and Democracy (ETHICSOC 374R)

Terms: Win | Units: 4 | Repeatable 3 times (up to 12 units total)

Instructors: Friedman, M. (PI) ; Margalit, A. (PI)

PHIL 375: Ethics, Economics and the Market (ETHICSOC 303R, POLISCI 434A)

Economic analysis inevitably raises moral questions. Getting clear on those moral questions, and the competing answers to them, can help improve both economic analysis and our understanding of the values involved in alternative social policies. This course focuses on a central economic institution: the market. How have the benefits and costs of using markets been understood? For example, it is often claimed that markets are good for welfare, but how is welfare to be understood? What is the connection between markets and different values such as equality and autonomy? What, if anything is wrong with markets in everything? Are there moral considerations that allow us to, distinguish different markets? This course examines competing answers to these questions, drawing on historical and contemporary literature. Readings include Adam Smith, JS Mill, Karl Marx, Michael Walzer, Dan Hausman and Michael McPherson and Debra Satz among others. For graduate students only.