Hume Seminar

Beijing University
Spring 2012
Professor Collier
Th 13:00-14:50
Room 206, 3rd Class Building

Course Description: This course provides a broad overview of Hume’s theoretical and practical philosophy.  Topics include: induction, universals, causation, free will, personal identity, skepticism, miracles, justice, morality, emotions, aesthetics, intelligent design, and evil. 

Course Objectives: The main goals of this course are (a) to introduce students to the most influential philosophical problems raised by Hume, (b) to help students understand how contemporary philosophers in the analytic tradition have attempted to resolve these problems, and (c) to help students write, speak, and think clearly and critically.

Course Requirements and Grading: This course will be structured around lectures and discussion.  You should come to class having done the reading carefully and be prepared to contribute to class discussion.  Grades will be based on a mid-term exam (30%), final paper (40%), and attendance/participation (30%).

Course Schedule:

1. Empiricism
Locke: "No Innate Principles" (handout)
Treatise: 1.1.1

2. Universals
Berkeley: "Introduction" 6-25
Treatise: 1.1.7

3. Induction
First Enquiry: Section 4 and Section 5

4. Causation
First Enquiry: Section 7

5. Free Will
First Enquiry: Section 8

6. Miracles
First Enquiry: Section 10

7. Religion
First Enquiry: Section 11

8. Skepticism
First Enquiry: Section 12

9. Personal Identity
Treatise: 1.4.6

10. Pride
Treatise: 2.1.2 - 2.1.6

11. Justice
Treatise: 3.2.2, 3.2.7, and 3.2.12

12. Moral Rationalism
Treatise: 2.3.3 and 3.1.1

13. Moral Sentimentalism
Treatise: 2.1.11, 3.1.2, and 3.3.1

14. Moral Disagreement
“A Dialogue”

15. Aesthetics
“Of the Standard of Taste”